Patents by Inventor Hiroharu Tsuji
Hiroharu Tsuji has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8695971Abstract: In a sheet processing apparatus, a pair of regulating members is provided at a pair of joggers so that the regulating members are movable together with the joggers. When the pair of joggers is laterally moved, the pair of regulating members also laterally moves together with the pair of joggers. By moving the pair of joggers to passage positions, the pair of regulating members regulates the lateral ends of a sheet, which falls and is stacked on a first stacking tray.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2010Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Junichi Sekiyama, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Atsushi Ogata, Hiroharu Tsuji, Yuri Yoshimura
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Patent number: 8668198Abstract: A controller controls operations of a sheet conveying portion and a sheet feeding portion in such a manner that an operation for feeding a preceding sheet by the sheet feeding portion is started after a downstream portion of a subsequent sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying portion is overlapped an upstream portion of the preceding sheet stacked on the stacking portion, and the downstream edge of the preceding sheet is caused to abut against the reference member by the sheet feeding portion in a state where the upstream portion of the preceding sheet and the downstream portion of the subsequent sheet are maintained in an overlapped state.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2012Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroharu Tsuji, Masatoshi Yoshida, Tomooku Koyama, Junichi Sekiyama
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Patent number: 8540229Abstract: The alignment unit includes: an upstream-side pressing portion that presses a side edge of the sheet; and a downstream-side pressing portion that presses the side edge of the sheet. The downstream-side pressing portion includes: a first pressing portion that is arranged downstream of the center of gravity of a predetermined-size sheet and upstream of the downstream edge of the predetermined-size sheet and that presses the predetermined-size sheet; and a second pressing portion that is arranged downstream of the downstream edge of the predetermined-size sheet and downstream of the center of gravity of a large-size sheet having twice or more than twice the length of the predetermined-size sheet and that presses the large-size sheet. The second pressing portion is formed to protrude further toward the center side in the width direction than the first pressing portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2012Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroharu Tsuji
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Patent number: 8478161Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a drum cartridge with an image bearing drum and charger for charging a surface of the drum. The apparatus further includes a rotary supporting a plurality of developing devices each having a developer carrying member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the drum, with the rotary being swingably mounted to the main assembly through a supporting member and being rotatable, relative to the supporting member, to bring the developing device to a developing position for developing the latent image. A locking member is provided for spacing between the developing device positioned in the developing position and the image bearing member, the locking member being demountably mounted between the drum cartridge and the rotary, and the locking member being effective to prevent an urging member from moving from a position urging the drum cartridge to the main assembly.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2010Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuya Numata, Hiromi Sakurai, Hiroharu Tsuji
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Patent number: 8444141Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus comprises: an first stack portion which temporarily stacks a sheet thereon; a first stack portion which is disposed under the first stack portion and stacks thereon a sheet discharged from the first stack portion; a second stack portion which is disposed above the first stack portion and stacks a sheet thereon; a stack reference wall which serves as an abutment reference at an end of the sheet on the second stack portion; and an alignment reference wall which is disposed more upstream in the sheet conveyance direction than the stack reference wall and serves as an abutment reference at an end of the sheet on the first stack portion; wherein the second stack portion has such a length that an end of the sheet stacked on the first stack portion cannot project from the second stack portion, as viewed from above in a vertical direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2010Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Junichi Sekiyama, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Atsushi Ogata, Hiroharu Tsuji
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Publication number: 20130049283Abstract: A controller controls operations of a sheet conveying portion and a sheet feeding portion in such a manner that an operation for feeding a preceding sheet by the sheet feeding portion is started after a downstream portion of a subsequent sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying portion is overlapped an upstream portion of the preceding sheet stacked on the stacking portion, and the downstream edge of the preceding sheet is caused to abut against the reference member by the sheet feeding portion in a state where the upstream portion of the preceding sheet and the downstream portion of the subsequent sheet are maintained in an overlapped state.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2012Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroharu Tsuji, Masatoshi Yoshida, Tomooku Koyama, Junichi Sekiyama
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Patent number: 8382109Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a first sheet conveying path, a second sheet conveying path branched from the first sheet conveying path, a switching member capable of moving in the branch portion of the first sheet conveying path and the second sheet conveying path, and a first regulation member and a second regulation member which regulate the movement of the switching member, wherein when the first regulation member is abutted against the switching member, the first regulation member forms a gap having a first interval through which the sheet can pass to the second sheet conveying path, when the switching member is further moved forward, and when the second regulation member is abutted against the switching member, the second regulation member forms a gap having a second interval smaller than the first interval through which the sheet can pass to the second sheet conveying path.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2011Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroharu Tsuji, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Atsushi Ogata, Junichi Sekiyama
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Patent number: 8360421Abstract: With representative configurations of the sheet processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the sheet processing apparatus which includes an intermediate stacking portion in which a sheet is temporarily placed, an aligning portion which supports a part of a lower surface of the sheet stacked in the intermediate stacking portion and which presses a lateral surface end portion of a sheet width direction to align the sheet, and a stapler which processes the sheet aligned by the aligning portion, includes a sheet supporting member which can support the lower surface of the sheet conveyed while sheet stacked in the intermediate stacking portion is processed and a sheet discharging member which presses the rear end of the sheet processed by the stapler and discharges the sheet to the stack tray.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2011Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroharu Tsuji, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Junichi Sekiyama, Tomooku Koyama, Masatoshi Yoshida
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Patent number: 8170463Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet processing apparatus that can prevent, with higher certainty, lift of the trailing end of each sheet placed in sheet stacking portion. This apparatus includes a first holding member and a second holding member that prevent lift of the trailing end of each sheet from an intermediate stacking portion. When introduced to the intermediate stacking portion, the subsequent sheet comes into contact with the first holding member, so that the first holding member moves to the retracting position. As the subsequent sheet continues to be conveyed, the subsequent sheet comes into contact with the second holding member, so that the second holding member moves from the restricting position to the retracting position. As the trailing end of the sheet is introduced, the first holding member moves from the retracting position to the restricting position, to hold down the trailing end of the sheet.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2010Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsushi Ogata, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Junichi Sekiyama, Hiroharu Tsuji
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Patent number: 8132803Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus according to an aspect of the invention can process a first-size sheet having a first length and a second-size sheet having a second length smaller than the first length. The sheet processing apparatus includes an intermediate stacking portion on which the sheets are stacked; a stapler which performs a stapling process to the sheets; a second alignment reference wall and a first jogger which align the sheets with a stapling process position; and a second jogger which is moved toward the second alignment reference wall and first jogger. Irrespective of a sheet size, the second jogger is moved toward the second alignment reference wall and first jogger by an alignment distance necessary to align the second-size sheet with a stapling process position, which allows the stapler to staple the sheets with at least one of two staple legs.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2007Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsushi Ogata, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Junichi Sekiyama, Hiroharu Tsuji, Akihiro Nakamura
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Publication number: 20120025455Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a first sheet conveying path, a second sheet conveying path branched from the first sheet conveying path, a switching member capable of moving in the branch portion of the first sheet conveying path and the second sheet conveying path, and a first regulation member and a second regulation member which regulate the movement of the switching member, wherein when the first regulation member is abutted against the switching member, the first regulation member forms a gap having a first interval through which the sheet can pass to the second sheet conveying path, when the switching member is further moved forward, and when the second regulation member is abutted against the switching member, the second regulation member forms a gap having a second interval smaller than the first interval through which the sheet can pass to the second sheet conveying path.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2011Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: HIROHARU TSUJI, MASAYOSHI FUKATSU, ATSUSHI OGATA, JUNICHI SEKIYAMA
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Patent number: 8061712Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a first sheet conveying path, a second sheet conveying path branched from the first sheet conveying path, a switching member capable of moving in the branch portion of the first sheet conveying path and the second sheet conveying path, and a first regulation member and a second regulation member which regulate the movement of the switching member, wherein when the first regulation member is abutted against the switching member, the first regulation member forms a gap having a first interval through which the sheet can pass to the second sheet conveying path, when the switching member is further moved forward, and when the second regulation member is abutted against the switching member, the second regulation member forms a gap having a second interval smaller than the first interval through which the sheet can pass to the second sheet conveying path.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2008Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroharu Tsuji, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Atsushi Ogata, Junichi Sekiyama
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Patent number: 8038147Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes an intermediate stacking portion which temporarily stacks, thereon, a sheet conveyed thereto; a discharge portion which discharges sheet stacked on the intermediate stacking portion; an aligning member which is provided downstream of the discharge portion in a sheet conveying direction and has a sheet holding surface capable of holding the lower surfaces of the sheet and a sheet aligning surface capable of abutting against end portions of the sheet in the widthwise direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, the aligning member being movable in the widthwise direction; a first stacking portion which is provided below the aligning member and stacks, thereon, a sheet discharged from the discharge portion; and a second stacking portion which is provided above the aligning member and stacks, thereon, a sheet conveyed thereto; wherein a standby position of the aligning member is at a position more inward than the outermost position in the widthwise direction, withinType: GrantFiled: December 16, 2010Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsushi Ogata, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Junichi Sekiyama, Hiroharu Tsuji, Akihiro Nakamura
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Publication number: 20110215523Abstract: With representative configurations of the sheet processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the sheet processing apparatus which includes an intermediate stacking portion in which a sheet is temporarily placed, an aligning portion which supports a part of a lower surface of the sheet stacked in the intermediate stacking portion and which presses a lateral surface end portion of a sheet width direction to align the sheet, and a stapler which processes the sheet aligned by the aligning portion, includes a sheet supporting member which can support the lower surface of the sheet conveyed while sheet stacked in the intermediate stacking portion is processed and a sheet discharging member which presses the rear end of the sheet processed by the stapler and discharges the sheet to the stack tray.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2011Publication date: September 8, 2011Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroharu Tsuji, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Junichi Sekiyama, Tomooku Koyama, Masatoshi Yoshida
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Patent number: 7963523Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet stacking apparatus, whose lifting and lowering mechanism having excellent assembly properties and maintenance properties. A sheet stacking apparatus includes: a stacking portion which stacks a discharged sheet thereon; a housing portion which can support the stacking portion so as to lift and lower the stacking portion; and a lifting and lowering mechanism which lifts and lowers the stacking portion. In the sheet stacking apparatus, the stacking portion has a connecting portion which connects the stacking portion to the housing portion. The connecting portion can connect the stacking portion to the housing portion in a direction perpendicular to the lifting and lowering direction of the stacking portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2008Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuri Yoshimura, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Atsushi Ogata, Junichi Sekiyama, Hiroharu Tsuji
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Publication number: 20110103825Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, includes a drum cartridge including an image bearing drum and charger for charging a surface of the drum, the drum cartridge being demountably mounted to a main assembly of the apparatus; a rotary supporting a plurality of developing devices each having a developer carrying member for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the drum, the rotary being swingably mounted to the main assembly through a supporting member and being rotatable, relative to the supporting member, to bring the developing device to a developing position for developing the latent image; an urging member for urging the drum cartridge to the main assembly to position it in place; and a locking member for spacing between the developing device positioned in the developing position and the image bearing member, the locking member being demountably mounted between the drum cartridge and the rotary, and the locking member being is effective tType: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2010Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuya Numata, Hiromi Sakurai, Hiroharu Tsuji
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Publication number: 20110084442Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes an intermediate stacking portion which temporarily stacks, thereon, a sheet conveyed thereto; a discharge portion which discharges sheet stacked on the intermediate stacking portion; an aligning member which is provided downstream of the discharge portion in a sheet conveying direction and has a sheet holding surface capable of holding the lower surfaces of the sheet and a sheet aligning surface capable of abutting against end portions of the sheet in the widthwise direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, the aligning member being movable in the widthwise direction; a first stacking portion which is provided below the aligning member and stacks, thereon, a sheet discharged from the discharge portion; and a second stacking portion which is provided above the aligning member and stacks, thereon, a sheet conveyed thereto; wherein a standby position of the aligning member is at a position more inward than the outermost position in the widthwise direction, withinType: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2010Publication date: April 14, 2011Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Atsushi Ogata, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Junichi Sekiyama, Hiroharu Tsuji, Akihiro Nakamura
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Publication number: 20110024973Abstract: In a sheet processing apparatus, a pair of regulating members is provided at a pair of joggers so that the regulating members are movable together with the joggers. When the pair of joggers is laterally moved, the pair of regulating members also laterally moves together with the pair of joggers. By moving the pair of joggers to passage positions, the pair of regulating members regulates the lateral ends of a sheet, which falls and is stacked on a first stacking tray.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2010Publication date: February 3, 2011Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Junichi Sekiyama, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Atsushi Ogata, Hiroharu Tsuji, Yuri Yoshimura
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Patent number: 7874558Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes an intermediate stacking portion which temporarily stacks, thereon, a sheet conveyed thereto; a discharge portion which discharges sheet stacked on the intermediate stacking portion; an aligning member which is provided downstream of the discharge portion in a sheet conveying direction and has a sheet holding surface capable of holding the lower surfaces of the sheet and a sheet aligning surface capable of abutting against end portions of the sheet in the widthwise direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, the aligning member being movable in the widthwise direction; a first stacking portion which is provided below the aligning member and stacks, thereon, a sheet discharged from the discharge portion; and a second stacking portion which is provided above the aligning member and stacks, thereon, a sheet conveyed thereto; wherein a standby position of the aligning member is at a position more inward than the outermost position in the widthwise direction, withinType: GrantFiled: January 22, 2008Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Atsushi Ogata, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Junichi Sekiyama, Hiroharu Tsuji, Akihiro Nakamura
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Patent number: 7850161Abstract: A pressing member pressed against a sheet stack portion can be moved to both a retracting portion where alignment of the sheet by the aligning portion is not prevented and a pressing position where the aligned sheet S1 is pressed against the sheet stack portion. Moreover, a regulation member for regulating upward movement of the end of the aligned sheet in a conveyance direction can be moved in association with movement of the pressing member to both a retracting portion where alignment of the sheet S1 by the aligning portion is not prevented and a regulating position where upward movement of the end of the aligned sheet S1 in a conveyance direction is regulated.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2007Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masayoshi Fukatsu, Atsushi Ogata, Junichi Sekiyama, Hiroharu Tsuji, Kimihiko Nagano