Patents by Inventor Tadahisa KISHIMOTO

Tadahisa KISHIMOTO 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).

  • Publication number: 20240101385
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing device includes a discharge port, a discharge tray, and a sheet holding member. On the discharge tray, a sheet discharged through the discharge port is stacked. The sheet holding member is swingably attached above the discharge port, and holds the sheet stacked on the discharge tray. The sheet holding member has a plurality of link members and a joint portion. The plurality of link members are coupled to each other along a discharge direction of the sheet. The joint portion couples the plurality of link members to each other. The sheet holding member is capable of changing a shape thereof by being bent at the joint portion in an up-down direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Koji MURATA, Tadahisa KISHIMOTO
  • Patent number: 11939183
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus (1) includes a first conveyance path (41), a first processing part (55), a second conveyance path (95) and a merging conveyance path (97), and the first processing part (55) includes a conveying rollers pair (80) including a first roller (81) and a second roller (83) conveying the sheet along a first direction; a first folding rollers pair (84) including the first roller (81) and a third roller (85) forming a first nip, conveying the sheet along a second direction and performing a folding processing along a first fold line; a second folding rollers pair (86) including the third roller (85) and a fourth roller (87) forming a second nip, conveying the sheet along a third direction and performing a folding processing along a second fold line; a first folding guide (89) movable to the first nip; and a second folding guide (91) movable to the second nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tadahisa Kishimoto, Yoshiaki Tashiro, Koji Murata, Masahiko Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20240092600
    Abstract: The sheet post-processing device includes a discharge port, a discharge tray, a first sheet holding member, and a second sheet holding member. The discharge port has a pair of discharge rollers that discharge a sheet including a folded sheet subjected to folding processing. The first sheet holding member and the second sheet holding member are, on a downstream side of the pair of discharge rollers in the discharge direction of the folded sheet, selectively disposed at a holding position, at which the first sheet holding member and the second sheet holding member intersect a discharge route for the folded sheet and extend downward from above the pair of discharge rollers toward the discharge tray to hold the folded sheet, and a retreat position retreated to above the discharge route for the folded sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tadahisa KISHIMOTO
  • Patent number: 11926500
    Abstract: A sheet folding device includes a sheet conveyance path, a first folding conveyance path, a first folding roller pair, a first folding guide, and a conveyance roller. The first folding roller pair is composed of a first roller and a second roller forming a first folding nip by being brought into pressure contact with an upstream side of the first roller. The first folding guide is movable between a folding position at which it approaches the first folding nip, guiding a to-be-folded part of a sheet to the first folding nip, and a retracted position at which it is away from the first folding nip. The conveyance roller forms, together with the second roller, a first assist roller pair that conveys the sheet along the sheet conveyance path. The first folding guide has a pivot fulcrum on a downstream side relative to the first folding nip in the conveyance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tadahisa Kishimoto, Koji Murata
  • Publication number: 20230303356
    Abstract: The sheet discharge device includes: a sheet discharge part; a sheet discharge tray having a tray upper surface and a rear wall portion; a fullness detection sensor for detecting that a height of a stack surface of folded sheets; and a first sheet presser member and a second sheet presser member for pressing a rear end side and a fore end side in a discharge direction, of the folded sheet. In a first pressing position in which the first sheet presser member extends from above the detection sensor to below the detection region, and is brought into contact with the folded sheet of a minimum size stacked on the tray upper surface. When a stack number of the folded sheets has exceeded a specified number, the first sheet presser member is retracted upward from the first pressing position by the rise of the stack surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tadahisa KISHIMOTO
  • Patent number: 11712866
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a first sheet conveyance passage, a second sheet conveyance passage, a sheet folding portion, and a merging portion. The second sheet conveyance passage branches off from a branch portion on the first sheet conveyance passage. The merging portion is located downstream of the branch portion on the first sheet conveyance passage, and there a folding conveyance passage of the sheet folding portion merges with the first sheet conveyance passage. When performing a folding process on a sheet, a controller guides the sheet conveyed from a sheet introduction port into the first sheet conveyance passage via the branch portion to the second sheet conveyance passage, then reverses the conveyance direction to guide the sheet to the sheet folding portion to perform the folding process, and passes the sheet through the folding conveyance passage, merges the sheet into the first sheet conveyance passage at the merging portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Tadahisa Kishimoto, Koji Murata, Yoshiaki Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20230227285
    Abstract: A sheet folding device includes a sheet conveyance path, first and second side plates, a first folding roller pair, a first folding guide, and a guide drive mechanism. The first folding guide is reciprocatable between a folding position and a retracted position, and includes a guide main body and first and second arms provided respectively at both ends of the guide main body. The guide drive mechanism includes a drive source provided on the first side plate, a first drive transmission portion that transmits a drive force of the drive source to the first arm, a second drive transmission portion that transmits the drive force to the second arm, and a drive coupling portion that couples the first drive transmission portion to the second drive transmission portion and transmits the drive force from the first drive transmission portion to the second drive transmission portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tadahisa KISHIMOTO, Koji MURATA
  • Publication number: 20230202793
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus (1) includes a first conveyance path (41), a first processing part (55), a second conveyance path (95) and a merging conveyance path (97), and the first processing part (55) includes a conveying rollers pair (80) including a first roller (81) and a second roller (83) conveying the sheet along a first direction; a first folding rollers pair (84) including the first roller (81) and a third roller (85) forming a first nip, conveying the sheet along a second direction and performing a folding processing along a first fold line; a second folding rollers pair (86) including the third roller (85) and a fourth roller (87) forming a second nip, conveying the sheet along a third direction and performing a folding processing along a second fold line; a first folding guide (89) movable to the first nip; and a second folding guide (91) movable to the second nip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tadahisa KISHIMOTO, Yoshiaki TASHIRO, Koji MURATA, Masahiko MIYAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20230192437
    Abstract: A sheet folding device includes a sheet conveyance path, a first folding conveyance path, a first folding roller pair, a first folding guide, and a conveyance roller. The first folding roller pair is composed of a first roller and a second roller forming a first folding nip by being brought into pressure contact with an upstream side of the first roller. The first folding guide is movable between a folding position at which it approaches the first folding nip, guiding a to-be-folded part of a sheet to the first folding nip, and a retracted position at which it is away from the first folding nip. The conveyance roller forms, together with the second roller, a first assist roller pair that conveys the sheet along the sheet conveyance path. The first folding guide has a pivot fulcrum on a downstream side relative to the first folding nip in the conveyance direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tadahisa KISHIMOTO, Koji MURATA
  • Patent number: 11560286
    Abstract: A sheet folding device includes a folding rollers pair, a folding blade and a sheet guide. The folding rollers pair causes a sheet to pass through a first nip area to fold the sheet. The folding blade includes a blade portion and a pair of arm portions. The blade portion is selectively disposed in a folding position where the blade portion pushes a folded portion of the sheet into the first nip area and in a retracting position where the blade portion is retracted from the folding position. The pair of arm portions couples both end portions of the blade portion with the pivot shaft. The sheet guide can be passed between the pair of arm portions. Between the blade portion and the sheet guide, a retreating path in which a part of the sheet is retreated when the folded portion is pushed into the first nip area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Koji Murata, Tadahisa Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 11459204
    Abstract: A sheet folding device includes a folding rollers pair, a folding blade, a movable guide, and a driving mechanism. The folding rollers pair includes a first roller and a second roller, and causes a sheet conveyed in a first conveyance direction to pass through a first nip area between the rollers. The folding blade is selectively disposed in a folding position and in a retracting position. The movable guide can reciprocate between a covering position covering the second roller disposed downstream of the first roller in the first conveyance direction and the first nip area and a non-covering position exposing the second roller and the first nip area. The drive mechanism disposes the folding blade in the folding position while disposing the movable guide in the non-covering position, and disposes the folding blade in the retracting position while disposing the movable guide in the covering position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Koji Murata, Tadahisa Kishimoto
  • Publication number: 20220242084
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a first sheet conveyance passage, a second sheet conveyance passage, a sheet folding portion, and a merging portion. The second sheet conveyance passage branches off from a branch portion on the first sheet conveyance passage. The merging portion is located downstream of the branch portion on the first sheet conveyance passage, and there a folding conveyance passage of the sheet folding portion merges with the first sheet conveyance passage. When performing a folding process on a sheet, a controller guides the sheet conveyed from a sheet introduction port into the first sheet conveyance passage via the branch portion to the second sheet conveyance passage, then reverses the conveyance direction to guide the sheet to the sheet folding portion to perform the folding process, and passes the sheet through the folding conveyance passage, merges the sheet into the first sheet conveyance passage at the merging portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tadahisa KISHIMOTO, Koji MURATA, Yoshiaki TASHIRO
  • Publication number: 20220089402
    Abstract: A sheet folding device includes a folding rollers pair, a folding blade and a sheet guide. The folding rollers pair causes a sheet to pass through a first nip area to fold the sheet. The folding blade includes a blade portion and a pair of arm portions. The blade portion is selectively disposed in a folding position where the blade portion pushes a folded portion of the sheet into the first nip area and in a retracting position where the blade portion is retracted from the folding position. The pair of arm portions couples both end portions of the blade portion with the pivot shaft. The sheet guide can be passed between the pair of arm portions. Between the blade portion and the sheet guide, a retreating path in which a part of the sheet is retreated when the folded portion is pushed into the first nip area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Koji MURATA, Tadahisa KISHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20220089401
    Abstract: A sheet folding device includes a folding rollers pair, a folding blade, a movable guide, and a driving mechanism. The folding rollers pair includes a first roller and a second roller, and causes a sheet conveyed in a first conveyance direction to pass through a first nip area between the rollers. The folding blade is selectively disposed in a folding position and in a retracting position. The movable guide can reciprocate between a covering position covering the second roller disposed downstream of the first roller in the first conveyance direction and the first nip area and a non-covering position exposing the second roller and the first nip area. The drive mechanism disposes the folding blade in the folding position while disposing the movable guide in the non-covering position, and disposes the folding blade in the retracting position while disposing the movable guide in the covering position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Koji MURATA, Tadahisa KISHIMOTO
  • Patent number: 11077694
    Abstract: A post-processing device includes a carrying roller, a conveying member, a transporting member and a processing part. The carrying roller is configured to be rotated to carry a sheet one by one to a processing tray along a conveyance direction. The conveying member is configured to convey the sheet carried by the carrying roller to a receiving position on the processing tray. The conveying member has a rotation shaft and a plurality of contact pieces protruding from the rotation shaft so as to come into contact with the sheet carried on the processing tray. The contact piece is made of elastic material. The conveying member is rotated at a rotation speed higher than a rotation speed of the carrying roller when the sheet carried by the carrying roller is conveyed to the receiving position on the processing tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Terumitsu Noso, Tadahisa Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 11021340
    Abstract: A sheet stacking device includes a conveyance part and a stopper. The conveyance part includes a tray and a conveyance member. On the tray, sheet stacks are stacked. The conveyance member conveys the sheet stack on the tray. The stopper is located on a downstream side of the tray and prevents the sheet stack from falling from the tray. The stopper has a main plate and an anti-slip member. The main plate is inclined upward. The main plate has a contact face coming into contact with the sheet stack and a bent face bent downward from a downstream side tip end of the contact face. The anti-slip member is provided from a downstream side end portion of the contact face to the bent face. A frictional coefficient between the anti-slip member and the sheet stack is larger than a frictional coefficient between the sheet stack and the contact face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tadahisa Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 11021341
    Abstract: A sheet aligning device includes a support member, a regulation member, a regulation member moving mechanism, and an alignment member. The support member supports leading ends of sheets. The regulation member is connected to the support member and is provided to face an inclined tray in such a way as to define a sheet entry space in which the leading ends of the sheets enter. The regulation member moving mechanism is configured to, each time a sheet is conveyed onto the inclined tray, move the regulation member in a separating direction to widen the sheet entry space, and then in an approaching direction to narrow the sheet entry space. The alignment member aligns the sheets by abutting on rear ends of the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tadahisa Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 10781066
    Abstract: A sheet postprocessing device includes a sheet conveying passage, a sheet tray, an inlet guide, a processing device, and a blowing device. Though the sheet conveying passage, a sheet on which an image has been formed is conveyed. The sheet tray is arranged downstream of the sheet conveying passage and has sheets stacked on it. The inlet guide is arranged at the downstream end of the sheet conveying passage and guides a sheet to the sheet tray. The processing device performs predetermined processing on a sheet stacked on the sheet tray. The blowing device blows air, from the upstream side in the sheet conveying direction, between the top face of the top-most sheet in the sheets stacked on the sheet tray and the bottom face of the subsequent sheet sent from the inlet guide into the sheet tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Tadahisa Kishimoto, Terumitsu Noso
  • Publication number: 20200262671
    Abstract: A sheet stacking device includes a conveyance part and a stopper. The conveyance part includes a tray and a conveyance member. On the tray, sheet stacks are stacked. The conveyance member conveys the sheet stack on the tray. The stopper is located on a downstream side of the tray and prevents the sheet stack from falling from the tray. The stopper has a main plate and an anti-slip member. The main plate is inclined upward. The main plate has a contact face coming into contact with the sheet stack and a bent face bent downward from a downstream side tip end of the contact face. The anti-slip member is provided from a downstream side end portion of the contact face to the bent face. A frictional coefficient between the anti-slip member and the sheet stack is larger than a frictional coefficient between the sheet stack and the contact face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tadahisa KISHIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20200017325
    Abstract: A sheet aligning device includes a support member, a regulation member, a regulation member moving mechanism, and an alignment member. The support member supports leading ends of sheets. The regulation member is connected to the support member and is provided to face an inclined tray in such a way as to define a sheet entry space in which the leading ends of the sheets enter. The regulation member moving mechanism is configured to, each time a sheet is conveyed onto the inclined tray, move the regulation member in a separating direction to widen the sheet entry space, and then in an approaching direction to narrow the sheet entry space. The alignment member aligns the sheets by abutting on rear ends of the sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventor: Tadahisa Kishimoto