Patents by Inventor Riichi Hama
Riichi Hama 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: 10377592Abstract: A sheet loading apparatus for carrying a sheet loaded in a first tray to a second tray includes: a grip portion configured to grip the sheet; a sliding portion configured to move the grip portion between a sheet gripping position and a sheet release position; a lift portion configured to move the grip portion and cause the grip portion to emerge from the sheet loading surface; and a common power transmission portion configured to transmit power to both the sliding portion and the lift portion, wherein in one cycle, after the sliding portion moves the grip portion to a downstream side, the lift portion moves the grip portion downward of the sheet loading surface to cause the grip portion to reach the release position, and after the sliding portion moves the grip portion to the upstream side, the lift portion moves the grip portion to the gripping position.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventor: Riichi Hama
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Patent number: 10087035Abstract: A folding processing unit in a sheet post-processing device comprises a first conveying path, upstream side conveying rollers, downstream side conveying rollers, folding rollers between the upstream side conveying rollers and the downstream side conveying rollers, and the second folding rollers. The folding rollers fold a sheet at the first nip portion between the two rollers. The second folding rollers are placed at a downstream side of the first nip portion. An edge face detection sensor for detecting the edge face of the sheet is placed on the first conveying path, at a downstream side of the first nip portion. The second folding rollers pinch the sheet folded by the first nip portion at the second nip portion, to further fold the sheet, based on the detection result of the edge face detection sensor. Herewith, degree of accuracy for folding behavior improves.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Riichi Hama, Takuya Inoue
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Patent number: 10065829Abstract: A sheet post-processing device for, after sheets that are ejected from an image forming device are stored on a storage tray, transporting the sheets in a transport direction to a post-processing position and performing post processing at the post-processing position, including: an aligner configured to align sheets on the storage tray; and a transporter configured to transport to the post-processing position a stack of sheets aligned by the aligner. The transporter includes a first contact member and a second contact member, and transports the stack to the post-processing position by causing the first contact member and the second contact member to simultaneously move in the transport direction while causing the first contact member to be in contact with a rear end portion of the stack in the transport direction and the second contact member to be in contact with a leading end portion of the stack in the transport direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2015Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Naoya Nakayama, Riichi Hama, Ryo Morita, Takuya Inoue
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Publication number: 20180022561Abstract: A sheet loading apparatus for carrying a sheet loaded in a first tray to a second tray includes: a grip portion configured to grip the sheet; a sliding portion configured to move the grip portion between a sheet gripping position and a sheet release position; a lift portion configured to move the grip portion and cause the grip portion to emerge from the sheet loading surface; and a common power transmission portion configured to transmit power to both the sliding portion and the lift portion, wherein in one cycle, after the sliding portion moves the grip portion to a downstream side, the lift portion moves the grip portion downward of the sheet loading surface to cause the grip portion to reach the release position, and after the sliding portion moves the grip portion to the upstream side, the lift portion moves the grip portion to the gripping position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2017Publication date: January 25, 2018Inventor: Riichi HAMA
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Patent number: 9736324Abstract: A sheet post-processing device is mounted in an image forming apparatus that includes an image reading unit and an image forming unit. The image forming unit is located under the image reading unit with a space therebetween. The sheet post-processing device includes: a first tray that is located in the space and houses a sheet ejected from the image forming unit; a post-processing unit that is located in the space and performs post-processing on a sheet in the first tray; a transfer member that, after the post-processing is performed on a sheet in the first tray, transfers the sheet to a front side of the image forming apparatus; and a second tray that is located closer to the front side of the image forming apparatus than the first tray and houses a sheet transferred by the transfer member.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2014Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Riichi Hama, Ryo Morita, Akiyoshi Johdai, Shinobu Seki, Naoya Nakayama, Masaki Matsui, Hidehito Kishi, Shigeki Nozawa
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Patent number: 9708141Abstract: Sheet transport device including: first tray having receiving area receiving sheets ejected in first direction; second tray in second direction intersecting first direction with respect to first tray; transporter causing pushing member to move between first and second positions at respective sides of receiving area along second direction, second position closer to second tray than first position, transporter transporting first sheet set to second tray by putting pushing member in contact with end of first sheet set facing first position and causing pushing member to move from first to second position when first sheet set is ejected onto first tray; and direction changer causing guide member to guide, in subsequent second sheet set, at least sheet ejected while pushing member moves across receiving area and to change sheet traveling direction to upward direction over pushing member by putting guide member in predetermined angle with respect to horizontal direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2015Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Hidehito Kishi, Riichi Hama, Ryo Morita, Naoya Nakayama
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Patent number: 9609158Abstract: An image forming device having a printer unit, a post-processing unit, and an eject tray. The printer unit forms images on recording sheets, and the post-processing unit performs processing on a recoding sheet stack composed of one or more recording sheets output from the printer unit before the recording sheet stack is ejected onto the eject tray. The image forming device includes: a buffer unit that, while a first recording sheet resides in the post-processing unit for the post-processing, holds a second recording sheet therein, the second recording sheet output from the printer unit subsequent to the first recording sheet; and a reverse path that reverses recording sheets when the image forming device performs duplex printing. In a plan view of the image forming device taken along a vertical direction, the post-processing unit, the buffer unit, and the reverse path at least partially cover one another.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2015Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Masaki Matsui, Naoya Nakayama, Riichi Hama, Hidehito Kishi, Ryo Morita
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Publication number: 20160340146Abstract: A folding processing unit in a sheet post-processing device comprises a first conveying path, upstream side conveying rollers, downstream side conveying rollers, folding rollers between the upstream side conveying rollers and the downstream side conveying rollers, and the second folding rollers. The folding rollers fold a sheet at the first nip portion between the two rollers. The second folding rollers are placed at a downstream side of the first nip portion. An edge face detection sensor for detecting the edge face of the sheet is placed on the first conveying path, at a downstream side of the first nip portion. The second folding rollers pinch the sheet folded by the first nip portion at the second nip portion, to further fold the sheet, based on the detection result of the edge face detection sensor. Herewith, degree of accuracy for folding behavior improves.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2016Publication date: November 24, 2016Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Riichi HAMA, Takuya INOUE
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Patent number: 9294640Abstract: A sheet post-processing device is mounted in an image forming apparatus that includes an image reading unit and an image forming unit. The image forming unit is located under the image reading unit with a space therebetween. The sheet post-processing device includes: a first tray that is located in the space and houses a sheet ejected from the image forming unit; a post-processing unit that is located in the space and performs post-processing on a sheet in the first tray; a transfer member that, after the post-processing is performed on a sheet in the first tray, transfers the sheet to a front side of the image forming apparatus; and a second tray that is located closer to the front side of the image forming apparatus than the first tray and houses a sheet transferred by the transfer member.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2014Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Riichi Hama, Ryo Morita, Akiyoshi Johdai, Shinobu Seki, Naoya Nakayama, Masaki Matsui, Hidehito Kishi, Shigeki Nozawa
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Publication number: 20160080595Abstract: An image forming device having a printer unit, a post-processing unit, and an eject tray. The printer unit forms images on recording sheets, and the post-processing unit performs processing on a recoding sheet stack composed of one or more recording sheets output from the printer unit before the recording sheet stack is ejected onto the eject tray. The image forming device includes: a buffer unit that, while a first recording sheet resides in the post-processing unit for the post-processing, holds a second recording sheet therein, the second recording sheet output from the printer unit subsequent to the first recording sheet; and a reverse path that reverses recording sheets when the image forming device performs duplex printing. In a plan view of the image forming device taken along a vertical direction, the post-processing unit, the buffer unit, and the reverse path at least partially cover one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2015Publication date: March 17, 2016Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Masaki MATSUI, Naoya NAKAYAMA, Riichi HAMA, Hidehito KISHI, Ryo MORITA
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Publication number: 20160009519Abstract: Sheet transport device including: first tray having receiving area receiving sheets ejected in first direction; second tray in second direction intersecting first direction with respect to first tray; transporter causing pushing member to move between first and second positions at respective sides of receiving area along second direction, second position closer to second tray than first position, transporter transporting first sheet set to second tray by putting pushing member in contact with end of first sheet set facing first position and causing pushing member to move from first to second position when first sheet set is ejected onto first tray; and direction changer causing guide member to guide, in subsequent second sheet set, at least sheet ejected while pushing member moves across receiving area and to change sheet traveling direction to upward direction over pushing member by putting guide member in predetermined angle with respect to horizontal direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2015Publication date: January 14, 2016Inventors: Hidehito KISHI, Riichi HAMA, Ryo MORITA, Naoya NAKAYAMA
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Publication number: 20150368059Abstract: A sheet post-processing device for, after sheets that are ejected from an image forming device are stored on a storage tray, transporting the sheets in a transport direction to a post-processing position and performing post processing at the post-processing position, including: an aligner configured to align sheets on the storage tray; and a transporter configured to transport to the post-processing position a stack of sheets aligned by the aligner. The transporter includes a first contact member and a second contact member, and transports the stack to the post-processing position by causing the first contact member and the second contact member to simultaneously move in the transport direction while causing the first contact member to be in contact with a rear end portion of the stack in the transport direction and the second contact member to be in contact with a leading end portion of the stack in the transport direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2015Publication date: December 24, 2015Inventors: Naoya NAKAYAMA, Riichi HAMA, Ryo MORITA, Takuya INOUE
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Publication number: 20150055200Abstract: A sheet post-processing device is mounted in an image forming apparatus that includes an image reading unit and an image forming unit. The image forming unit is located under the image reading unit with a space therebetween. The sheet post-processing device includes: a first tray that is located in the space and houses a sheet ejected from the image forming unit; a post-processing unit that is located in the space and performs post-processing on a sheet in the first tray; a transfer member that, after the post-processing is performed on a sheet in the first tray, transfers the sheet to a front side of the image forming apparatus; and a second tray that is located closer to the front side of the image forming apparatus than the first tray and houses a sheet transferred by the transfer member.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2014Publication date: February 26, 2015Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Riichi HAMA, Ryo MORITA, Akiyoshi JOHDAI, Shinobu SEKI, Naoya NAKAYAMA, Masaki MATSUI, Hidehito KISHI, Shigeki NOZAWA
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Patent number: 8303230Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus for binding a book by coating adhesive on a spine of an aligned sheet bundle and pasting a cover sheet on the adhesive-coated spine, the bookbinding apparatus having: a coating section for coating adhesive on the spine of the sheet bundle with a variable coating thickness of the adhesive; a cover sheet pasting section for pasting a cover sheet on the adhesive-coated spine of the sheet bundle, and a control section for changing a time period from a time when adhesive coating ends to a time when the cover sheet pasting starts according to the coating thickness.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2007Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Riichi Hama
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Patent number: 7658584Abstract: There are provided bookbinding apparatuses that wrap a bundle of sheets with a cover and form back corners, and have a detecting unit for detecting a wave amount of a bundle of sheets. A type of such an apparatus includes a controller to control a time period to form back corners, based on a result of detection by the detecting unit. Another type of such an apparatus includes a controller to control a pressure applied to form back corners, based on a result of detection by the detecting unit. Still another type of such an apparatus includes a controller to control a time period and pressure applied to form back corners, based on a result of detection by the detecting unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2006Date of Patent: February 9, 2010Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kohji Yoshie, Saburo Shimizu, Riichi Hama, Masahiro Kaneko, Kiyoshi Hata
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Patent number: 7584949Abstract: By controlling the recording position of images on the cover sheet by the image recording section based on the thickness information of the bundle of sheets, image recording at the appropriate position has been made possible irrespective at the amount of trimming of the cover sheet that is trimmed to an appropriate length in accordance with the thickness of the bundle of sheets to be wrapped and bound with the cover sheet.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2006Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Masahiro Kaneko, Saburo Shimizu, Kohji Yoshie, Riichi Hama, Kiyoshi Hata
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Patent number: 7543805Abstract: A bookbinding system wherein, when additional printing is conducted on a cover sheet which has been printed thereon outside an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus is provided with an ejection-outlet through which the image forming apparatus accepts the cover sheet coming from a bookbinding apparatus and the cover sheet printed by a printing device of the image forming apparatus is fed out to the bookbinding apparatus for bookbinding.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2006Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kohji Yoshie, Saburo Shimizu, Riichi Hama, Masahiro Kaneko, Kiyoshi Hata
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Patent number: 7524155Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus for bookbinding such that a cover sheet forms a front and a back cover by bonding the cover sheet to a spine portion of a bundle of sheets, the bookbinding apparatus including a cover-sheet outfitting device which can be raised and lowered for holding and conveying a cover sheet to the cover sheet bonding position where the cover sheet is bonded to a bundle of sheets and a cover-sheet trimming device for trimming a cover sheet conveyed from the cover-sheet outfitting device, to a predetermined length prior to bonding the cover sheet to the bundle of sheets wherein the cover-sheet outfitting device is integrally formed with the cover-sheet trimming device.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2006Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kiyoshi Hata, Saburo Shimizu, Kohji Yoshie, Riichi Hama, Masahiro Kaneko
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Publication number: 20080267735Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus for binding a book by coating adhesive on a spine of an aligned sheet bundle and pasting a cover sheet on the adhesive-coated spine, the bookbinding apparatus having: a coating section for coating adhesive on the spine of the sheet bundle with a variable coating thickness of the adhesive; a cover sheet pasting section for pasting a cover sheet on the adhesive-coated spine of the sheet bundle, and a control section for changing a time period from a time when adhesive coating ends to a time when the cover sheet pasting starts according to the coating thickness.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2007Publication date: October 30, 2008Inventor: Riichi Hama
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Publication number: 20080054550Abstract: In a sheet stacking device including a sheet stacking section, a holding member for holding sheets on the sheet stacking section, and a driving device for moving the holding member to the holding position and retreating position, the holding of the holding member which retreats when a sheet is being fed in and which holds the sheet when the sheet has reached, is canceled on the basis of approaching information of a succeeding sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2007Publication date: March 6, 2008Inventor: Riichi Hama