Patents by Inventor Wataru Kawata

Wataru Kawata 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: 20080258372
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a winding unit configured to wind a continuous sheet, a binding unit configured to bind the continuous sheet that is wound and stacked by the winding unit, and a first cutting unit configured to cut the continuous sheet that is bound by the binding unit in a state that the continuous sheet is wound by the winding unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Nakane, Yuji Yamanaka, Wataru Kawata, Seiichiro Adachi
  • Patent number: 7429037
    Abstract: The sheet processing apparatus is equipped with a process tray on which sheets conveyed are stacked, a return belt which moves the sheets stacked on the process tray, a trailing edge stopper which receives an end portion of the sheets moved by the return belt, and a conveyance assist roller which comes into contact with the sheets on the upstream side of the return belt with respect to the sheet moving direction and imparts a load to the movement of the sheets. The return belt moves the sheets to which a load has been imparted by the conveyance assist roller and causes them to be abutted on the trailing edge stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Wataru Kawata, Taro Ikeda, Hiroaki Takagishi, Kenichi Hayashi, Tomokazu Nakamura, Hideki Kushida, Hiromasa Katayama
  • Patent number: 7410156
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a processing tray on which sheets are stacked in a bundle form, an intermediate portion stapler which staples the intermediate portion of the sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray, a sheet bundle conveying member which conveys the stapled sheet bundle, a curved sheet bundle conveying path which is downwardly curved on the downstream side of the processing tray with respect to the sheet conveying direction and adapted to guide the sheet bundle conveyed by the sheet bundle conveying member, and a folding device which is arranged in the intermediate portion of the curved sheet bundle conveying path and which folds the stapled sheet bundle, wherein the processing tray is set to be lower on the upstream side than on the downstream side with respect to the sheet conveying direction, and wherein the curved guide path has an extended portion extending to a position under the stacking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taro Ikeda, Hiroaki Takagishi, Kenichi Hayashi, Tomokazu Nakamura, Wataru Kawata, Hideki Kushida, Hiromasa Katayama
  • Publication number: 20080061489
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus configured to bind a sheet bundle includes a folding portion configured to fold the sheet bundle, a sheet processing portion provided upstream of the folding portion and configured to form a groove at a fold position of at least one sheet of the sheet bundle, and a controller configured to control an operation of the sheet processing portion. The controller controls an operation of the sheet processing portion such that a width of a groove formed on a sheet located on an outer side of the folded sheet bundle is larger than that of a groove formed on a sheet located on an inner side of the folded sheet bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Wataru Kawata, Masahiko Yokota, Hideaki Kosasa, Akihiro Shimizu, Shoji Takeda, Toshiro Tomono, Ryuichi Kojima
  • Patent number: 7318584
    Abstract: There is provided a sheet processing apparatus that is capable of allowing a decrease in the speed at which sheets are discharged to a stacking device even if sheets are conveyed into the sheet processing apparatus at short time intervals, or capable of eliminating the necessity of using an aligning device that can perform each alignment at a high speed, or capable of reducing the number of times of operations to be performed by the aligning device, and an image forming apparatus that is provided with the sheet processing apparatus. A plurality of sheets being conveyed is superposed. The sheets conveyed from the sheet superposing device are stacked. The sheets stacked in the stacking device are aligned. A sheet superposing device superposes a plurality of sheets being conveyed. A stacking device stacks thereon the sheets conveyed from said sheet superposing device are stacked. An aligning device aligns the sheets stacked in said stacking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kato, Wataru Kawata
  • Publication number: 20070291102
    Abstract: An engraving processing apparatus includes a laser engraving unit configured to perform engraving processing for forming a recessed portion on a sheet by irradiating a laser beam onto the sheet, and a controller configured to control an engraving processing operation of the laser engraving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideaki Kosasa, Masahiko Yokota, Wataru Kawata, Toshiro Tomono, Ryuichi Kojima, Akihiro Shimizu, Shoji Takeda
  • Publication number: 20070284799
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes an aligning member configured to align an end of a bundle of sheets including a folded sheet by engaging with the edge of the bundle of sheets, and a sheet processing unit configured to process the bundle of sheets having the end aligned by the aligning member. The end of the bundle of sheets engaged with the aligning member is opposite to a folded portion of the folded sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsuteru Oikawa, Kenichi Hayashi, Kenichi Tamura, Takashi Sugiura, Hitoshi Kato, Wataru Kawata, Keiko Fujita, Youichi Chikugo
  • Publication number: 20070287622
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is operable to cut an edge portion of a sheet. The sheet processing apparatus is operable to calculate a sheet utilization efficiency based on an area of the sheet before cutting and an area of a sheet obtained by cutting the edge portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kato, Wataru Kawata, Keiko Fujita, Youichi Chikugo
  • Patent number: 7288059
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a processing tray on which sheets are stacked in a bundle form, an intermediate portion stapler which staples the intermediate portion of the sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray, a sheet bundle conveying member which conveys the stapled sheet bundle, a curved sheet bundle conveying path which is downwardly curved on the downstream side of the processing tray with respect to the sheet conveying direction and adapted to guide the sheet bundle conveyed by the sheet bundle conveying member, and a folding device which is arranged in the intermediate portion of the curved sheet bundle conveying path and which folds the stapled sheet bundle, wherein the processing tray is set to be lower on the upstream side than on the downstream side with respect to the sheet conveying direction, and wherein the curved guide path has an extended portion extending to a position under the stacking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taro Ikeda, Hiroaki Takagishi, Kenichi Hayashi, Tomokazu Nakamura, Wataru Kawata, Hideki Kushida, Hiromasa Katayama
  • Publication number: 20070161489
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a processing tray on which sheets are stacked in a bundle form, an intermediate portion stapler which staples the intermediate portion of the sheet bundle stacked on the processing tray, a sheet bundle conveying member which conveys the stapled sheet bundle, a curved sheet bundle conveying path which is downwardly curved on the downstream side of the processing tray with respect to the sheet conveying direction and adapted to guide the sheet bundle conveyed by the sheet bundle conveying member, and a folding device which is arranged in the intermediate portion of the curved sheet bundle conveying path and which folds the stapled sheet bundle, wherein the processing tray is set to be lower on the upstream side than on the downstream side with respect to the sheet conveying direction, and wherein the curved guide path has an extended portion extending to a position under the stacking portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: TARO IKEDA, Hiroaki Takagishi, Kenichi Hayashi, Tomokazu Nakamura, Wataru Kawata, Hideki Kushida, Hiromasa Katayama
  • Publication number: 20070132176
    Abstract: After an image was formed, a position in the width direction of the sheet stacked on a stacking portion is aligned by fixing one of aligning plates which can independently be driven and moving the other aligning plate in one direction. When the image is formed onto the sheet, a side edge of the sheet on the side which is come into contact with the aligning plate on the side fixed as a reference wall upon aligning is used as a reference and the image is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Wataru KAWATA
  • Publication number: 20070132169
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus for covering a sheet bundle with a cover sheet includes a creasing unit for making a crease along an end portion of the cover sheet adjacent the edge of the sheet bundle opposite the spine edge of the sheet bundle. The sheet processing apparatus further includes a folding-back unit for folding-back the end portion of the cover sheet along the crease made by the creasing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiko Fujita, Hitoshi Kato, Wataru Kawata, Youichi Chikugo
  • Publication number: 20070126165
    Abstract: A sheet bundle stored in a sheet storage portion is pushed from a predetermined folded position with a first pushing plate, and the sheet bundle is normally conveyed along with the first pushing plate and plunged into a nip between first folding grollers to make a fold. The first folding rollers are reversely rotated while the first pushing plate is retreated, and the sheet bundle with the fold is reversely conveyed and returned to the sheet storage portion. Then, a second pushing plate pushes the sheet bundle, conveyed through a U-shape conveyance path, from a backside of the fold to reversely fold the sheet bundle, and the sheet bundle is completely folded. Therefore, the sheet bundle having good appearance can be realized in good bundle folding processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Wataru Kawata, Hitoshi Kato, Keiko Fujita, Youichi Chikugo
  • Patent number: 7080830
    Abstract: The invention provides a sheet processing apparatus including a sheet processing portion for processing a sheet, and a sheet conveying portion for conveying a sheet to the sheet processing portion, wherein the sheet conveying portion includes a sheet conveying unit having a sheet intake port, a sheet discharge port, and a linear sheet conveying path for conveying the sheet from the sheet intake port to the sheet discharge port, and a plurality of sheet conveying units are disposed in parallel such that respective sheet conveying paths thereof are positioned on the substantially same plane and in a rearrangeable fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshimasa Suzuki, Wataru Kawata
  • Publication number: 20060120780
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming section for forming images on sheets; a sheet supply section for holding the sheets and supplying them to the image forming section; and a reverse section, disposed between the sheet supply section and the image forming section, for selectively reversing the sheets from the sheet supply section. An inserter set holds and supplies sheets for insertion between sheets having images formed thereon by the image forming section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiko Kudo, Wataru Kawata
  • Patent number: 7020430
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming section for forming images on sheets; a sheet supply section for holding the sheets and supplying them to the image forming section; and a reverse section, disposed between the sheet supply section and the image forming section, for selectively reversing the sheets from the sheet supply section. An inserter set holds and supplies sheets for insertion between sheets having images formed thereon by the image forming section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiko Kudo, Wataru Kawata
  • Publication number: 20060061031
    Abstract: A feeding tray for feeding sheets from the left side thereof and a feeding tray for feeding sheets from the right side thereof are disposed on a multiple inserter, and selectively employing the feeding tray for feeding sheets from the left side thereof and the feeding tray for feeding sheets from the right side thereof allows reversal actions of sheets to be eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Wataru Kawata
  • Publication number: 20060055766
    Abstract: An image forming system including: at least one image forming apparatus for forming images on sheets on the basis of image data; at least one temporary containing apparatus disposed downstream of the image forming apparatus for temporarily containing therein the sheets on which the images have been formed; a separating and conveying apparatus for separating and conveying the sheets contained in the temporary containing apparatus one by one; and a sheet post-processing apparatus for conveying the sheets conveyed by the separating and conveying apparatus and the sheets on which the images have been formed by the image forming apparatus and which bypass the temporary containing apparatus in an arbitrary order, and effecting a set post-process on the conveyed sheets; wherein the aforementioned at least one image forming apparatus makes the order of outputting of the image data to the sheets contained in the temporary containing apparatus and the order of outputting of the image data to the sheets which bypass the
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Wataru Kawata, Akihiro Sato
  • Patent number: 7011306
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a sheet processing unit which can control the timing in conveying successively fed sheets to a sheet ejecting mechanism in accordance with operating conditions. The sheet processing unit comprises a sheet overlapping mechanism which overlaps successively fed sheets together, a conveying mechanism which conveys the sheets from the sheet overlapping mechanism, an ejecting mechanism which ejects the sheets conveyed by the conveying mechanism, and a control unit which electrically controls operations of the sheet overlapping mechanism, the conveying mechanism, and the ejecting mechanism. The control unit changes the number of sheets to be overlapped together at the sheet overlapping mechanism in accordance with information on the conditions for operation of the sheet processing unit inputted from an input unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kato, Wataru Kawata
  • Publication number: 20060017209
    Abstract: When a sheet bundle is being conveyed by any one pair of plural pairs of rollers independently movable toward and away from the bundle sheet, before the bound portion of the sheet bundle passes the pair of rollers, the pair of rollers on the downstream side nearest to the bound portion are separated from the sheet bundle, and the pairs of rollers more downstream than that pair convey the sheet bundle. Thereby, it happens less often that the pairs of rollers gather the air collected between adjacent ones of the sheets of the sheet bundle to the bound portion to thereby cause a slack to the sheets, and the occurrence of wrinkles or twists in the sheet bundle can be reduced. Also, the pair of rollers are separated from the sheet bundle before the bound portion passes the pair of rollers, whereby it happens less often that the pair of rollers are damaged by the bound portion, and the sheet bundle can be conveyed smoothly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Kushida, Taro Ikeda, Hiroaki Takagishi, Kenichi Hayashi, Tomokazu Nakamura, Wataru Kawata, Hiromasa Katayama