Patents by Inventor Fumiharu Yoneyama

Fumiharu Yoneyama 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: 11718081
    Abstract: A sheet separation device includes a rotator, a nipping member to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a first conveyor to convey the two-ply sheet in a first direction toward the rotator and a second direction reverse thereto, a winding member to wind the two-ply sheet around the rotator, a second conveyor to convey a sheet medium in the second direction, a separation claw to move in a width direction; a sheet guide to guide the separated two sheets to different passages; and control circuitry. The first conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet to the rotator with a bonded portion at an upstream end. The control circuitry inserts the separation claw into a space between the two sheets, adjusts a projection amount of the two-ply sheet from a nip of the first conveyor in the second direction, and inserts the sheet medium in two-ply sheet adjusted in the projection amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Takahashi, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 11485602
    Abstract: An embodiment of this disclosure provides a folding apparatus configured to stack and fold a designated number of sheets at a time. The folding apparatus includes a conveyor configured to sequentially convey the designated number of sheets, a stacker configured to temporarily store a sheet conveyed by the conveyor to stack the designated number of sheets, a sheet folding device configured to fold the designated number of sheets at a time, and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to cause the sheet folding device to fold the stored sheet in response to an occurrence of a sheet jam upstream from the stacker in a direction of sheet conveyance, in processing the designated number of sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Hidaka, Takahiro Watanabe, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Wataru Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20220153008
    Abstract: A sheet separation device includes a rotator, a nipping member to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a first conveyor to convey the two-ply sheet in a first direction toward the rotator and a second direction reverse thereto, a winding member to wind the two-ply sheet around the rotator, a second conveyor to convey a sheet medium in the second direction, a separation claw to move in a width direction; a sheet guide to guide the separated two sheets to different passages; and control circuitry. The first conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet to the rotator with a bonded portion at an upstream end. The control circuitry inserts the separation claw into a space between the two sheets, adjusts a projection amount of the two-ply sheet from a nip of the first conveyor in the second direction, and inserts the sheet medium in two-ply sheet adjusted in the projection amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru TAKAHASHI, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Michitaka SUZUKI, Tomomichi HOSHINO, Fumiharu YONEYAMA, Kazuyoshi MATSUO, Makoto HIDAKA, Koki SAKANO, Akira KUNIEDA, Takahiro WATANABE, Takuya MORINAGA, Yohsuke HARAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 11273629
    Abstract: A sheet separation device includes a rotator, a nipping member to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a first conveyor to convey the two-ply sheet in a first direction toward the rotator and a second direction reverse thereto, a winding member to wind the two-ply sheet around the rotator, a second conveyor to convey a sheet medium in the second direction, a separation claw to move in a width direction; a sheet guide to guide the separated two sheets to different passages; and control circuitry. The first conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet to the rotator with a bonded portion at an upstream end. The control circuitry inserts the separation claw into a space between the two sheets, adjusts a projection amount of the two-ply sheet from a nip of the first conveyor in the second direction, and inserts the sheet medium in two-ply sheet adjusted in the projection amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Takahashi, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 11267671
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a roller pair configured to convey a sheet, a sheet bundle conveyer configured to convey a sheet bundle to the roller pair, and circuitry configured to cause the sheet bundle conveyer to contact leading edges of sheets of the sheet bundle to the roller pair and cause the roller pair to rotate in reverse to align the leading edges of the sheets of the sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohsuke Haraguchi, Shinji Asami, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano
  • Patent number: 11161710
    Abstract: A sheet separation device to open a two-ply sheet includes a rotator; a nipping member disposed opposite the rotator and configured to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator; a conveyor configured to convey the two-ply sheet between the rotator and the nipping member, and a winding member disposed adjacent to the rotator. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet with a bonded portion of the two-ply sheet being an upstream end or a downstream end of the two-ply sheet in a conveyance direction of the two-ply sheet. The winding member winds the two-ply sheet around the rotator, to create a difference in winding circumferential length between the two sheets and separate the two sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Furuhashi, Akihiro Iwasaki, Michitaka Suzuki, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Tomomichi Hoshino, Wataru Takahashi, Takuya Morinaga, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Makoto Hidaka
  • Patent number: 11111098
    Abstract: A sheet folding system includes a plurality of sheet folding apparatuses configured to receive and perform a folding process on a sheet and circuitry configured to distribute sheets to the plurality of sheet folding apparatuses. Each of the plurality of sheet folding apparatuses includes a folding device configured to fold the sheet, a first conveyance passage configured to convey the sheet downstream in a sheet conveyance direction without passing through the folding device, a second conveyance passage configured to convey the sheet to the folding device, a third conveyance passage configured to convey the sheet from the folding device downstream in the sheet conveyance direction, and a junction between the first conveyance passage and the third conveyance passage. The circuitry controls sheet conveyance to prevent an interference, at the junction, between the sheet conveyed from the first conveyance passage and the sheet conveyed from the third conveyance passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michitaka Suzuki, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 11099507
    Abstract: A sheet separation device configured to separate a two-ply sheet, in which two sheets are bonded together at a portion, includes a rotator, a nipping member disposed opposite the rotator and configured to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a conveyor configured to convey the two-ply sheet between the rotator and the nipping member, and a winding member disposed adjacent to the rotator. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet with a bonded portion of the two-ply sheet being an upstream end or a downstream end of the two-ply sheet in a conveyance direction of the two-ply sheet. The winding member winds the two-ply sheet around the rotator, to create a difference in winding circumferential length between the two sheets and separate the two sheets. The sheet separation device further includes control circuitry configured to adjust a winding amount of the two-ply sheet around the rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Watanabe, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Wataru Takahashi, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 11097920
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus includes a conveyance member to convey a sheet from an ejection member at a first speed lower than a conveyance speed by the ejection member or a second speed substantially same as or higher than the conveyance speed; a registration member; a pair of first and second rollers to rotate in forward and reverse directions; a plurality of folding rollers downstream from the second roller, to rotate in forward and reverse directions to fold the sheet; and circuitry to determine whether the sheet is equal to or smaller than a reference length from an exit position from the ejection member to a folding start position downstream from the pair of the first and second rollers. The circuitry performs first-speed folding when the sheet is equal to or smaller than the reference length and performs second-speed folding when the sheet is longer than the reference length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kunieda, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Wataru Takahashi, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Makoto Hidaka, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 10899572
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a folding device to fold a sheet and a fold-enhancing device to press a folded portion of the sheet folded by the folding device to perform enhanced folding processing on the sheet whose trailing edge has exited the folding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Koki Sakano, Shinji Asami, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Makoto Hidaka, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 10899573
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes an entry portion, a sheet conveyance path extending from the entry portion, a skew correction roller pair that contacts a leading edge of a sheet conveyed in a predetermined direction from the entry portion to correct skew of the sheet, and a receiving path. The skew correction roller pair conveys the skew-corrected sheet in a direction opposite the predetermined direction. The receiving path branches from the sheet conveyance path from the entry portion to the skew correction roller pair to receive the sheet conveyed in the direction opposite the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Furuhashi, Shinji Asami, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Publication number: 20200407187
    Abstract: An embodiment of this disclosure provides a folding apparatus configured to stack and fold a designated number of sheets at a time. The folding apparatus includes a conveyor configured to sequentially convey the designated number of sheets, a stacker configured to temporarily store a sheet conveyed by the conveyor to stack the designated number of sheets, a sheet folding device configured to fold the designated number of sheets at a time, and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to cause the sheet folding device to fold the stored sheet in response to an occurrence of a sheet jam upstream from the stacker in a direction of sheet conveyance, in processing the designated number of sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto HIDAKA, Takahiro WATANABE, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Michitaka SUZUKI, Fumiharu YONEYAMA, Kazuyoshi MATSUO, Koki SAKANO, Akira KUNIEDA, Takuya MORINAGA, Yohsuke HARAGUCHI, Wataru TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20200385231
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus includes a conveyance member to convey a sheet from an ejection member at a first speed lower than a conveyance speed by the ejection member or a second speed substantially same as or higher than the conveyance speed; a registration member; a pair of first and second rollers to rotate in forward and reverse directions; a plurality of folding rollers downstream from the second roller, to rotate in forward and reverse directions to fold the sheet; and circuitry to determine whether the sheet is equal to or smaller than a reference length from an exit position from the ejection member to a folding start position downstream from the pair of the first and second rollers. The circuitry performs first-speed folding when the sheet is equal to or smaller than the reference length and performs second-speed folding when the sheet is longer than the reference length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira KUNIEDA, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Michitaka SUZUKI, Wataru TAKAHASHI, Fumiharu YONEYAMA, Kazuyoshi MATSUO, Makoto HIDAKA, Takahiro WATANABE, Takuya MORINAGA, Yohsuke HARAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10857776
    Abstract: A sheet separation device separates a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are bonded together at a portion. The sheet separation device includes a rotator, a nipping member opposite the rotator, to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a conveyor to convey the two-ply sheet between the rotator and the nipping member, a winding member adjacent to the rotator, to wind the two-ply sheet around the rotator, and control circuitry. In winding the two-ply sheet, the control circuitry rotates the rotator at a first speed faster than a second speed at which the two-ply sheet moves to the rotator via the conveyor, and creates a difference in winding circumferential length between the two sheets, thereby separating the two sheets. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet with a bonded portion of the two-ply sheet being an upstream end or a downstream end in a conveyance direction of the two-ply sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Morinaga, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Tomomichi Hoshino, Wataru Takahashi, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Makoto Hidaka, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Takahiro Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20200338877
    Abstract: A sheet separation device includes a rotator, a nipping member to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a first conveyor to convey the two-ply sheet in a first direction toward the rotator and a second direction reverse thereto, a winding member to wind the two-ply sheet around the rotator, a second conveyor to convey a sheet medium in the second direction, a separation claw to move in a width direction; a sheet guide to guide the separated two sheets to different passages; and control circuitry. The first conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet to the rotator with a bonded portion at an upstream end. The control circuitry inserts the separation claw into a space between the two sheets, adjusts a projection amount of the two-ply sheet from a nip of the first conveyor in the second direction, and inserts the sheet medium in two-ply sheet adjusted in the projection amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru TAKAHASHI, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Michitaka SUZUKI, Tomomichi HOSHINO, Fumiharu YONEYAMA, Kazuyoshi MATSUO, Makoto HIDAKA, Koki SAKANO, Akira KUNIEDA, Takahiro WATANABE, Takuya MORINAGA, Yohsuke HARAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20200341414
    Abstract: A sheet separation device configured to separate a two-ply sheet, in which two sheets are bonded together at a portion, includes a rotator, a nipping member disposed opposite the rotator and configured to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a conveyor configured to convey the two-ply sheet between the rotator and the nipping member, and a winding member disposed adjacent to the rotator. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet with a bonded portion of the two-ply sheet being an upstream end or a downstream end of the two-ply sheet in a conveyance direction of the two-ply sheet. The winding member winds the two-ply sheet around the rotator, to create a difference in winding circumferential length between the two sheets and separate the two sheets. The sheet separation device further includes control circuitry configured to adjust a winding amount of the two-ply sheet around the rotator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro WATANABE, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Michitaka SUZUKI, Tomomichi HOSHINO, Wataru TAKAHASHI, Fumiharu YONEYAMA, Kazuyoshi MATSUO, Makoto HIDAKA, Koki SAKANO, Akira KUNIEDA, Takuya MORINAGA, Yohsuke HARAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10807825
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a blade having a plurality of teeth aligned in a row, a mover to move in a direction in which the plurality of teeth is aligned and form a perforation in a sheet sandwiched by the blade and the mover, and a pressure device to press the mover toward the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomomichi Hoshino, Shinji Asami, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 10745236
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes conveyers to convey a sheet. The conveyers include a registration conveyer which a plurality of sheets is to sequentially contact and is configured to bend a preceding sheet contacting the registration conveyer toward a direction in which the preceding sheet does not obstruct an entry of a following sheet to the registration conveyer when the conveyers overlay and convey the plurality of sheets after the plurality of sheets sequentially contacts the registration conveyer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Michitaka Suzuki, Shinji Asami, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Publication number: 20200247636
    Abstract: A sheet separation device to open a two-ply sheet includes a rotator; a nipping member disposed opposite the rotator and configured to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator; a conveyor configured to convey the two-ply sheet between the rotator and the nipping member, and a winding member disposed adjacent to the rotator. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet with a bonded portion of the two-ply sheet being an upstream end or a downstream end of the two-ply sheet in a conveyance direction of the two-ply sheet. The winding member winds the two-ply sheet around the rotator, to create a difference in winding circumferential length between the two sheets and separate the two sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Akihiro Iwasaki, Michitaka Suzuki, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Tomomichi Hoshino, Wataru Takahashi, Takuya Morinaga, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Makoto Hidaka
  • Publication number: 20200247107
    Abstract: A sheet separation device separates a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are bonded together at a portion. The sheet separation device includes a rotator, a nipping member opposite the rotator, to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a conveyor to convey the two-ply sheet between the rotator and the nipping member, a winding member adjacent to the rotator, to wind the two-ply sheet around the rotator, and control circuitry. In winding the two-ply sheet, the control circuitry rotates the rotator at a first speed faster than a second speed at which the two-ply sheet moves to the rotator via the conveyor, and creates a difference in winding circumferential length between the two sheets, thereby separating the two sheets. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet with a bonded portion of the two-ply sheet being an upstream end or a downstream end in a conveyance direction of the two-ply sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya MORINAGA, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Michitaka SUZUKI, Fumiharu YONEYAMA, Tomomichi HOSHINO, Wataru TAKAHASHI, Koki SAKANO, Akira KUNIEDA, Yohsuke HARAGUCHI, Makoto HIDAKA, Kazuyoshi MATSUO, Takahiro WATANABE