Patents by Inventor Ikuhisa Okamoto

Ikuhisa Okamoto 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).

  • Patent number: 11442391
    Abstract: A drive control device is configured to control a plurality of drive sources configured to drive a single output shaft. The drive control device includes a control unit configured to generate a single drive control signal and transmit the drive control signal to the plurality of drive sources. The drive control device has, as operation modes, a first mode for driving the plurality of drive sources and a second mode for driving a part of the plurality of drive sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Keisuke Sugiyama, Hidehiko Fujiwara, Jun Yamada, Takashi Saito, Ikuhisa Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20200103811
    Abstract: A drive control device is configured to control a plurality of drive sources configured to drive a single output shaft. The drive control device includes a control unit configured to generate a single drive control signal and transmit the drive control signal to the plurality of drive sources. The drive control device has, as operation modes, a first mode for driving the plurality of drive sources and a second mode for driving a part of the plurality of drive sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke SUGIYAMA, Hidehiko FUJIWARA, Jun YAMADA, Takashi SAITO, Ikuhisa OKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 10097720
    Abstract: A sound absorber, which is included in a sheet feeder included in an image reading device, an image forming apparatus, and an electronic device, includes a cavity, a communication portion through which the cavity communicates with an outside of a sheet feeder, and a communication direction changing device configured to change a communication direction of the communicating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaya Ochiai, Takeshi Akai, Ikuhisa Okamoto, Takehisa Shimazu, Youhei Niitsuma
  • Patent number: 9938099
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveyer to convey a sheet and a primary sheet guide, disposed downstream from the conveyer in a sheet conveyance direction, to guide the sheet conveyed by the conveyer in the sheet conveyance direction. A secondary sheet guide is disposed opposite the primary sheet guide and includes a bending portion to bend the sheet while the sheet slides over the bending portion to change the sheet conveyance direction. A sheet conveyance path is defined by the primary sheet guide and the secondary sheet guide. The primary sheet guide includes a cavity disposed opposite the sheet conveyance path and a communication through-hole communicating with the cavity and the sheet conveyance path. The communication through-hole is disposed opposite the bending portion in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Akai, Ikuhisa Okamoto, Takehisa Shimazu, Youhei Niitsuma, Takaya Ochiai
  • Patent number: 9834398
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a primary sheet guide including a bending portion to bend a sheet while the sheet slides over the bending portion to change a sheet conveyance direction and a secondary sheet guide disposed opposite the primary sheet guide with an interval between the primary sheet guide and the secondary sheet guide. A noise attenuator intakes and attenuates slide noise generated by the bending portion while the sheet slides over the bending portion. The noise attenuator includes a resonant cavity disposed opposite an outer face of one of the primary sheet guide and the secondary sheet guide. A sound inlet is disposed in proximity to the bending portion and intakes the slide noise generated by the bending portion. A sound guide communicates with the sound inlet and the resonant cavity to guide the slide noise from the sound inlet to the resonant cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Youhei Niitsuma, Takeshi Akai, Ikuhisa Okamoto, Takehisa Shimazu, Takaya Ochiai
  • Publication number: 20170180586
    Abstract: A sound absorber, which is included in a sheet feeder included in an image reading device, an image forming apparatus, and an electronic device, includes a cavity, a communication portion through which the cavity communicates with an outside of a sheet feeder, and a communication direction changing device configured to change a communication direction of the communicating portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaya Ochiai, Takeshi Akai, Ikuhisa Okamoto, Takehisa Shimazu, Youhei Niitsuma
  • Publication number: 20170108812
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a primary sheet guide including a bending portion to bend a sheet while the sheet slides over the bending portion to change a sheet conveyance direction and a secondary sheet guide disposed opposite the primary sheet guide with an interval between the primary sheet guide and the secondary sheet guide. A noise attenuator intakes and attenuates slide noise generated by the bending portion while the sheet slides over the bending portion. The noise attenuator includes a resonant cavity disposed opposite an outer face of one of the primary sheet guide and the secondary sheet guide. A sound inlet is disposed in proximity to the bending portion and intakes the slide noise generated by the bending portion. A sound guide communicates with the sound inlet and the resonant cavity to guide the slide noise from the sound inlet to the resonant cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Youhei NIITSUMA, Takeshi Akai, Ikuhisa Okamoto, Takehisa Shimazu, Takaya Ochiai
  • Patent number: 9624061
    Abstract: A sheet processing device includes a sheet processing unit that is moved to perform sheet processing on a sheet; a sheet-processing moving unit that moves the sheet processing unit; a drive-mode determining unit that determines a drive mode of the sheet-processing moving unit; and a drive control unit that drives the sheet-processing moving unit in accordance with the drive mode. The drive-mode determining unit determines the drive mode such that the sheet processing unit is moved at combination acceleration that is a combination of first acceleration and second acceleration with a shift of time that is determined based on the cycle of the natural vibration that occurs during acceleration of the sheet processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Shingo Matsushita, Keisuke Sugiyama, Kiyoshi Hata, Takashi Saito, Akihiro Musha, Ikuhisa Okamoto, Takehisa Shimazu, Takeshi Akai, Kyosuke Nakada, Jun Yamada, Joh Ebara, Takaya Ochiai, Takuya Sano, Masatada Satoh
  • Publication number: 20170101280
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveyer to convey a sheet and a primary sheet guide, disposed downstream from the conveyer in a sheet conveyance direction, to guide the sheet conveyed by the conveyer in the sheet conveyance direction. A secondary sheet guide is disposed opposite the primary sheet guide and includes a bending portion to bend the sheet while the sheet slides over the bending portion to change the sheet conveyance direction. A sheet conveyance path is defined by the primary sheet guide and the secondary sheet guide. The primary sheet guide includes a cavity disposed opposite the sheet conveyance path and a communication through-hole communicating with the cavity and the sheet conveyance path. The communication through-hole is disposed opposite the bending portion in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi AKAI, Ikuhisa OKAMOTO, Takehisa SHIMAZU, Youhei NIITSUMA, Takaya OCHIAI
  • Patent number: 9415560
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a sheet fastening unit of a pressing fastener method in which a bundle of sheets is fastened by using a pair of pressing fastener members; a conveying unit that conveys the bundle of sheets that are fastened by the sheet fastening unit; a separating unit that, after the sheet fastening unit performs a fastening operation on the bundle of sheets, moves both one and the other pressing fastener members, between which the bundle of sheets is interposed, so as to separate a sheet that adheres to the pressing fastener member; and a control unit that, after the separating unit finishes an operation to separate the sheet, controls the conveying unit so as to convey the bundle of sheets that are fastened by the sheet fastening unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Morinaga, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Katsuhiro Kosuge, Yuusuke Shibasaki, Ryuji Yoshida, Wataru Takahashi, Takashi Saito, Akihiro Musha, Ikuhisa Okamoto, Shingo Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20160221787
    Abstract: A sheet processing device includes a sheet processing unit that is moved to perform sheet processing on a sheet; a sheet-processing moving unit that moves the sheet processing unit; a drive-mode determining unit that determines a drive mode of the sheet-processing moving unit; and a drive control unit that drives the sheet-processing moving unit in accordance with the drive mode. The drive-mode determining unit determines the drive mode such that the sheet processing unit is moved at combination acceleration that is a combination of first acceleration and second acceleration with a shift of time that is determined based on the cycle of the natural vibration that occurs during acceleration of the sheet processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Shingo MATSUSHITA, Keisuke SUGIYAMA, Kiyoshi HATA, Takashi SAITO, Akihiro MUSHA, Ikuhisa OKAMOTO, Takehisa SHIMAZU, Takeshi AKAI, Kyosuke NAKADA, Jun YAMADA, Joh EBARA, Takaya OCHIAI, Takuya SANO, Masatada SATOH
  • Patent number: 9359167
    Abstract: A sheet processing device comprising: a pressing unit that presses a fold line part of a folded sheet bundle; and a moving unit that moves a pressing position of the pressing unit in a fold direction of the folded sheet bundle, wherein the pressing unit includes a pair of pressing rollers that holds the folded sheet bundle therebetween, and the pair of pressing rollers changes an angle ? between a thickness direction of the folded sheet bundle and a line connecting the rotational centers of the pressing rollers in the middle of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Musha, Keisuke Sugiyama, Kiyoshi Hata, Takeshi Akai, Ikuhisa Okamoto, Jun Yamada, Takao Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9315356
    Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a sheet processing apparatus includes: a conveying unit configured to convey sheets; a stacking unit configured to stack the conveyed sheets to form a sheet stack; and a binding unit configured to include a pair of toothed jaw and bind the sheet stack by pressing the sheet stack between the pair of toothed jaw, wherein at least one portion of edges of the toothed jaw is rounded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuji Yoshida, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Shingo Matsushita, Katsuhiro Kosuge, Yuusuke Shibasaki, Wataru Takahashi, Takashi Saito, Akihiro Musha, Takuya Morinaga, Ikuhisa Okamoto, Nagayasu Yoshida, Hirotaka Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9254621
    Abstract: The present invention is concerning a method for attaching a pair of crimping members in a sheet binding device that binds a sheet bundle by engagement of the pair of crimping members, wherein at least one of the crimping members is attached to a member to which the one of the crimping members is to be attached in a state where the pair of crimping members is in engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Wataru Takahashi, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Shingo Matsushita, Katsuhiro Kosuge, Yuusuke Shibasaki, Ryuji Yoshida, Takashi Saito, Akihiro Musha, Takuya Morinaga, Ikuhisa Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9221648
    Abstract: The present invention is concerning a sheet processing device comprising: a pressing unit that includes a first pressing roller arranged on one side of a thickness direction of a folded sheet bundle, and a second pressing roller and a third pressing roller arranged on the other side across a fold line part of the folded sheet bundle, and a moving unit that moves the pressing unit in a state in which each of a first line and a second line is not parallel to the thickness direction of the folded sheet bundle, the first line connecting the rotational center of the first pressing roller and the rotational center of the second pressing roller, and the second line connecting the rotational center of the first pressing roller and the rotational center of the third pressing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Keisuke Sugiyama, Kiyoshi Hata, Takeshi Akai, Ikuhisa Okamoto, Jun Yamada, Takao Watanabe, Akihiro Musha
  • Patent number: 9102492
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a conveyance unit to transport a sheet bundle including multiple sheets in a sheet conveyance direction and a binding device including a clamping unit. The clamping unit includes multiple projections and multiple recesses to engage the respective projections to clamp the sheet bundle inserted therebetween. At least one of the multiple projections includes an inclined portion facing a sheet conveyance direction, and an inclination of the inclined portion is 45 degrees or smaller relative to a face parallel to the sheet conveyance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Saito, Katsuhiro Kosuge, Shingo Matsushita, Yuusuke Shibasaki, Satoshi Saito, Makoto Hidaka, Akihiro Musha, Takuya Morinaga, Ikuhisa Okamoto, Shohichi Satoh, Nobuyoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9096091
    Abstract: A postprocessing apparatus includes a stacking unit that stacks a sheet, an abutting unit that corrects a conveying direction of the sheet, a return roller that abuts the sheet against the abutting unit, a shift conveying unit that shifts the sheet in a width direction, and a width direction detector that detects a width direction position of the sheet. When the sheet is shifted by the shift conveying unit by a predetermined amount, passed to the return roller, and abutted against the abutting unit, distances A and B are nearly the same, where the distance A is a distance from a conveying direction position of a side of the sheet to a rear end of the sheet and the distance B is a distance from the return roller to the abutting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yuusuke Shibasaki, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Katsuhiro Kosuge, Takashi Saito, Shingo Matsushita, Akihiro Musha, Ikuhisa Okamoto, Wataru Takahashi, Takuya Morinaga, Ryuji Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9090051
    Abstract: A sheet binding device binds a sheet bundle by causing a movable-crimping-member moving unit to move a movable crimping member thereby holding a sheet bundle between crimping members. The movable-crimping-member moving unit includes: a link mechanism that includes a first link member rotatably connected to the movable crimping member, a second link member rotatably connected to a fixed member fixed to a device body and connected to the first link member through a connecting part; a connecting member rotatably connected to the connecting part, and capable of moving between a first position causing the link mechanism to be extended and a second position causing the link mechanism to be more flexed than in the first position; and a connecting-member moving unit that includes a rotary member capable of rotating on a displaceable rotating shaft, and reciprocates the connecting member by rotation of the rotary member in one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Wataru Takahashi, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Yuusuke Shibasaki, Ryuji Yoshida, Takashi Saito, Akihiro Musha, Katsuhiro Kosuge, Shingo Matsushita, Takuya Morinaga, Ikuhisa Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9028189
    Abstract: A booklet stacker to stack multiple booklets each bound with a ring member includes a stack tray on which multiple booklets are stacked, a shifter disposed upstream from the stack tray in a booklet conveyance direction in which a booklet is conveyed, the shifter to adjust a position of the booklet in a width direction perpendicular to the booklet conveyance direction by shifting the booklet a distance shorter than a ring pitch of the ring member in the width direction, and a booklet conveyer disposed upstream from the stack tray in the booklet conveyance direction, to convey the booklet positioned by the shifter to the stack tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Sasaki, Junichi Iida, Shingo Matsushita, Satoshi Saito, Ikuhisa Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9010753
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus including a stacking tray that stacks sheets, a conveying member that conveys a sheet to the stacking tray and discharges the sheet bundle from the stacking tray, wherein the conveying member includes a conveying roller and a conveying belt stretched by a plurality of stretch rollers, and a sheet processor that performs predetermined processing to the sheet bundle. When the conveying member conveys the sheet to the stacking tray, a part of the conveying belt that is not wound on the stretch roller contacts the conveying roller by moving the conveying belt as such a nip for conveying the sheet is formed. When the conveying member discharges the sheet bundle from the stacking tray, a part of the conveying belt that is wound on the stretch roller contacts the conveying roller by moving the conveying belt so that a nip for conveying the sheet is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuusuke Shibasaki, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Shingo Matsushita, Katsuhiro Kosuge, Ryuji Yoshida, Wataru Takahashi, Takashi Saito, Akihiro Musha, Takuya Morinaga, Ikuhisa Okamoto