Patents by Inventor Hirofumi KUROKI
Hirofumi KUROKI 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: 10054897Abstract: The image reading unit (2) reads an image from a document. The image forming unit (3) is located below the image reading unit (2) and forms an image on a sheet. The operation unit (5) is rotatably supported at a position forward of the image reading unit (2) and receives user's operation. The post-process unit (7) is provided between the image reading unit (2) and the image forming unit (3), and has, at a position interfering with the rotation range of the operation unit (5), a retracted portion (772) retracted rearward in the post-process unit (7). The post-process unit (7) performs a post-process on a sheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit (3).Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2016Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Hirofumi Kuroki, Mikiya Kitagawa, Seiichi Shirasaki
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Patent number: 10009491Abstract: The operation unit (5) is configured to receive user's operation and supported at a position frontward of the image reading unit (2) by the support housing (10) so as to be rotatable within a predetermined rotation range around a rotation shaft parallel to a right-left direction of the image formation apparatus (100). The information reading unit (6) is configured to read information about the user and housed in the housing side surface (12) so that a part of the information reading unit (6) is present rearward of the operation unit (5) in a first attitude in which a surface of the operation unit (5) is closest to a vertical plane, and a part of the information reading unit (6) is present downward of the operation unit (5) in a second attitude in which the surface of the operation unit (5) is closest to a horizontal plane.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2016Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Hirofumi Kuroki, Mikiya Kitagawa, Keiji Okumura
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Publication number: 20180013905Abstract: The operation unit (5) is configured to receive user's operation and supported at a position frontward of the image reading unit (2) by the support housing (10) so as to be rotatable within a predetermined rotation range around a rotation shaft parallel to a right-left direction of the image formation apparatus (100). The information reading unit (6) is configured to read information about the user and housed in the housing side surface (12) so that a part of the information reading unit (6) is present rearward of the operation unit (5) in a first attitude in which a surface of the operation unit (5) is closest to a vertical plane, and a part of the information reading unit (6) is present downward of the operation unit (5) in a second attitude in which the surface of the operation unit (5) is closest to a horizontal plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2016Publication date: January 11, 2018Inventors: Hirofumi Kuroki, Mikiya Kitagawa, Keiji Okumura
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Publication number: 20180011440Abstract: The image reading unit (2) reads an image from a document. The image forming unit (3) is located below the image reading unit (2) and forms an image on a sheet. The operation unit (5) is rotatably supported at a position forward of the image reading unit (2) and receives user's operation. The post-process unit (7) is provided between the image reading unit (2) and the image forming unit (3), and has, at a position interfering with the rotation range of the operation unit (5), a retracted portion (772) retracted rearward in the post-process unit (7). The post-process unit (7) performs a post-process on a sheet on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit (3).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2016Publication date: January 11, 2018Inventors: Hirofumi Kuroki, Mikiya Kitagawa, Seiichi Shirasaki
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Patent number: 9807261Abstract: An image forming apparatus (1) includes a scanner unit (12U), a scanner housing (12), and a contactless card reader (42). The scanner unit (12U) optically reads an image of an original document to generate image data. The scanner housing (12) accommodates the scanner unit (12U). The card reader (42) has a flat information reading surface (421) and reads information recorded on an information card C. The scanner housing (12) has a confronting surface (12F) that a user confronts. The card reader (42) is mounted inside the scanner housing (12) such that the information reading surface (421) takes an upstanding posture, and is disposed behind the confronting surface (12F) of the scanner housing (12). The confronting surface (12F) of the scanner housing (12) includes a surface (41) that covers the information reading surface (421) and over which a card is held.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2014Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Takashi Tamura, Hirofumi Kuroki
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Patent number: 9769341Abstract: An image forming apparatus (100) includes an image reading portion (2), an image forming portion (3), an in-body discharge portion (7), an information reading portion (6), a reading cover (61), and an operation portion (5). The information reading portion (6) is stored in a front of the image reading portion (2) and reads information of a user. The reading cover (61) covers the information reading portion (6). A first area including surfaces of the reading cover (61) and the operation portion (5) and a second area including surfaces of the image reading portion (2), the image forming portion (3), and the in-body discharge portion (7) are substantially different in outer appearance.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2016Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Hirofumi Kuroki, Takashi Tamura, Hajime Sejima, Mikiya Kitagawa
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Publication number: 20170180573Abstract: An image forming apparatus (100) includes an image reading portion (2), an image forming portion (3), an in-body discharge portion (7), an information reading portion (6), a reading cover (61), and an operation portion (5). The information reading portion (6) is stored in a front of the image reading portion (2) and reads information of a user. The reading cover (61) covers the information reading portion (6). A first area including surfaces of the reading cover (61) and the operation portion (5) and a second area including surfaces of the image reading portion (2), the image forming portion (3), and the in-body discharge portion (7) are substantially different in outer appearance.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2016Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: Hirofumi Kuroki, Takashi Tamura, Hajime Sejima, Mikiya Kitagawa
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Patent number: 9682832Abstract: A sheet feed cassette is a sheet feed cassette in which a sheet is stored, the sheet feed cassette being mountable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus, the sheet feed cassette including a mounting portion and a cover. The mounting portion is formed so as to be recessed in a front surface of the sheet feed cassette. One or a plurality of information display members on which information concerning the sheet is described can be inserted to and pulled out from the mounting portion. The cover is capable of opening/closing relative to the mounting portion and has a surface flush with the front surface of the sheet feed cassette in a state where the cover is closed.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2016Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Hirofumi Kuroki, Takashi Tamura, Hajime Sejima, Mikiya Kitagawa
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Patent number: 9632445Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet. A casing constituting an outer shell of the image forming apparatus is formed in a table shape including a top plate and a leg portion supporting the top plate, the top plate including a flat working surface. The image forming unit is located inside the top plate. The top plate includes a recording sheet outlet from which the recording sheet having an image formed thereon is discharged.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2016Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Toshihiko Watanabe, Hirofumi Kuroki
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Patent number: 9625868Abstract: An image forming apparatus (1) includes an apparatus body (2) including an image forming part (5) implementing an image forming process on a recording material (S); and a discharge tray (7) disposed at an upper part of the apparatus body (2), the discharge tray including a stacking surface (22) receiving the recording material (S) discharged after the image forming process; an outer edge part (23) located above the stacking surface (22) and provided while surrounding a periphery of the stacking surface (22); and a connecting surface (24) provided between the stacking surface (22) and the outer edge part (23), wherein the stacking surface (22) being formed such that a width thereof in a direction orthogonal to a discharge direction downstream in the discharge direction is wider than the width thereof upstream in the discharge direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Hirofumi Kuroki
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Publication number: 20160289019Abstract: A sheet feed cassette is a sheet feed cassette in which a sheet is stored, the sheet feed cassette being mountable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus, the sheet feed cassette including a mounting portion and a cover. The mounting portion is formed so as to be recessed in a front surface of the sheet feed cassette. One or a plurality of information display members on which information concerning the sheet is described can be inserted to and pulled out from the mounting portion. The cover is capable of opening/closing relative to the mounting portion and has a surface flush with the front surface of the sheet feed cassette in a state where the cover is closed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2016Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Hirofumi Kuroki, Takashi Tamura, Hajime Sejima, Mikiya Kitagawa
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Publication number: 20160246232Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet. A casing constituting an outer shell of the image forming apparatus is formed in a table shape including a top plate and a leg portion supporting the top plate, the top plate including a flat working surface. The image forming unit is located inside the top plate. The top plate includes a recording sheet outlet from which the recording sheet having an image formed thereon is discharged.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2016Publication date: August 25, 2016Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Toshihiko WATANABE, Hirofumi KUROKI
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Publication number: 20160200541Abstract: An image forming apparatus (1) includes an apparatus body (2) including an image forming part (5) implementing an image forming process on a recording material (S); and a discharge tray (7) disposed at an upper part of the apparatus body (2), the discharge tray including a stacking surface (22) receiving the recording material (S) discharged after the image forming process; an outer edge part (23) located above the stacking surface (22) and provided while surrounding a periphery of the stacking surface (22); and a connecting surface (24) provided between the stacking surface (22) and the outer edge part (23), wherein the stacking surface (22) being formed such that a width thereof in a direction orthogonal to a discharge direction downstream in the discharge direction is wider than the width thereof upstream in the discharge direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2015Publication date: July 14, 2016Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Hirofumi KUROKI
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Publication number: 20160057296Abstract: An image forming apparatus (1) includes a scanner unit (12U), a scanner housing (12), and a contactless card reader (42). The scanner unit (12U) optically reads an image of an original document to generate image data. The scanner housing (12) accommodates the scanner unit (12U). The card reader (42) has a flat information reading surface (421) and reads information recorded on an information card C. The scanner housing (12) has a confronting surface (12F) that a user confronts. The card reader (42) is mounted inside the scanner housing (12) such that the information reading surface (421) takes an upstanding posture, and is disposed behind the confronting surface (12F) of the scanner housing (12). The confronting surface (12F) of the scanner housing (12) includes a surface (41) that covers the information reading surface (421) and over which a card is held.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2014Publication date: February 25, 2016Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Takashi TAMURA, Hirofumi KUROKI