Patents by Inventor Hiroharu Tsuji
Hiroharu Tsuji 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: 11807482Abstract: A sheet alignment apparatus includes a supporting portion configured to support a sheet, a first alignment member configured to abut an end portion in a first direction of the sheet supported by the supporting portion and align a position of the sheet in the first direction, a first moving unit configured to move the first alignment member in the first direction, a second alignment member configured to abut an end portion in a second direction of the sheet supported by the supporting portion and align a position of the sheet in the second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, and a second moving unit configured to move the second alignment member in the second direction, wherein the first moving unit is disposed below the supporting portion, and wherein the second moving unit is disposed above the supporting portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroharu Tsuji
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Publication number: 20230348220Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a conveyance path including a first path through which the sheet is conveyed toward a sheet processing apparatus, and a second path branched from the first path, a switching guide configured to switch a conveyance route of the sheet between the first path and the second path, an air blowing unit configured to send air toward the conveyance path, and an air blowing port configured to blow the air from the air blowing unit to the conveyance path. The air blowing port is arranged upstream of the switching guide in a sheet conveyance direction of the first path, and configured to blow the air toward a downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2023Publication date: November 2, 2023Inventors: Hiroyuki Yamano, Hiroharu Tsuji, Koji Miwa
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Patent number: 11662683Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet, a stacking portion on which the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit is stacked, a first regulation member configured to regulate a position of an edge portion, in a conveyance direction, of the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, a second regulation member configured to regulate a position of an edge portion, in a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, of the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, a binding unit supported movably in the conveyance direction and configured to perform a binding process of binding the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, and a moving unit configured to move the second regulation member in the conveyance direction accompanied with a movement, in the conveyance direction, of the binding unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomooku Koyama, Jun Agata, Yasuhiro Nakahara, Hiroharu Tsuji
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Publication number: 20230131520Abstract: A sheet alignment apparatus includes a supporting portion configured to support a sheet, a first alignment member configured to abut an end portion in a first direction of the sheet supported by the supporting portion and align a position of the sheet in the first direction, a first moving unit configured to move the first alignment member in the first direction, a second alignment member configured to abut an end portion in a second direction of the sheet supported by the supporting portion and align a position of the sheet in the second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, and a second moving unit configured to move the second alignment member in the second direction, wherein the first moving unit is disposed below the supporting portion, and wherein the second moving unit is disposed above the supporting portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2022Publication date: April 27, 2023Inventor: Hiroharu Tsuji
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Publication number: 20230075706Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a controller controlling a driver to cause a guide to start rotation in a state in which a trailing end in a sheet conveyance direction of a preceding sheet conveyed by a roller pair having a first roller and a second roller such that the trailing end of the preceding sheet is moved from the position above a first guide to a position between a second guide and a sheet support by the rotation of the guide and that a succeeding sheet conveyed by the roller pair subsequently to the preceding sheet passes the position above the first guide after the rotation of the guide. The first roller is rotated by a driving force supplied from a driving source, and the guide rotates about a rotation axis of the first roller while rotating relatively to the first roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2022Publication date: March 9, 2023Inventors: Hiroyuki Yamano, Jun Agata, Hiroharu Tsuji
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Patent number: 11577929Abstract: A stacking device which is detachably attached to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus having an abutting member that abuts on a recording material and on which a recording material is stacked includes: a first supporting unit that supports the recording material from a lower side of the recording material; and a second supporting unit that supports an end of the recording material in an attachment/detachment direction of the stacking device. The second supporting unit includes a corresponding region, and a position of the corresponding region agrees with a position of the abutting member abut with the recording material in a width direction which is orthogonal to the attachment/detachment direction. At least a height of the corresponding region in a direction orthogonal to the attachment/detachment direction and the width direction is lower than a height of the abutting member.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2022Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroharu Tsuji
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Patent number: 11565903Abstract: A sheet alignment apparatus includes a supporting portion configured to support a sheet, a first alignment member configured to abut an end portion in a first direction of the sheet supported by the supporting portion and align a position of the sheet in the first direction, a first moving unit configured to move the first alignment member in the first direction, a second alignment member configured to abut an end portion in a second direction of the sheet supported by the supporting portion and align a position of the sheet in the second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, and a second moving unit configured to move the second alignment member in the second direction, wherein the first moving unit is disposed below the supporting portion, and wherein the second moving unit is disposed above the supporting portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2021Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroharu Tsuji
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Patent number: 11518638Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a controller controlling a driver to cause a guide to start rotation in a state in which a trailing end in a sheet conveyance direction of a preceding sheet conveyed by a roller pair having a first roller and a second roller such that the trailing end of the preceding sheet is moved from the position above a first guide to a position between a second guide and a sheet support by the rotation of the guide and that a succeeding sheet conveyed by the roller pair subsequently to the preceding sheet passes the position above the first guide after the rotation of the guide. The first roller is rotated by a driving force supplied from a driving source, and the guide rotates about a rotation axis of the first roller while rotating relatively to the first roller.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroyuki Yamano, Jun Agata, Hiroharu Tsuji
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Publication number: 20220269212Abstract: A sheet processing includes a first conveyance path, a buffering portion, a second conveyance path, a conveyance roller pair, a supporting portion, a moving member, a regulating portion, and a processing unit. The buffering portion is configured to superimpose a first sheet and a second sheet on each other in a state of being offset from each other in a sheet conveyance direction. An offset amount, by which a leading end of the first sheet in the sheet conveyance direction projects downstream in the sheet conveyance direction with respect to a leading end of the second sheet in the sheet conveyance direction in a state before the first sheet and the second sheet are discharged onto the supporting portion, is larger than a distance from a sheet contact position of the moving member to the regulating portion in the sheet conveyance direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2022Publication date: August 25, 2022Inventors: Jun Agata, Hiroharu Tsuji, Masayoshi Fukatsu
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Patent number: 11353817Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a buffering portion having a reverse conveyance roller pair and an intermediate roller pair, with the reverse conveyance roller pair reversing a conveyance direction of a sheet received from a first conveyance path and delivering the reversed sheet into a second conveyance path and being configured to come into contact with and be separated from each other. The intermediate roller pair is disposed in the second conveyance path and disposed upstream of a conveyance roller pair in a sheet conveyance direction, and the reverse conveyance roller pair is caused to nip a first sheet and a second sheet by causing the reverse conveyance roller pair to abut each other after receiving the second sheet by the reverse conveyance roller pair from the first conveyance path in a state in which the intermediate roller pair nips the first sheet reversed by the reverse conveyance roller pair and the reverse conveyance roller pair is separated from each other.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2020Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Jun Agata, Hiroharu Tsuji, Masayoshi Fukatsu
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Publication number: 20220162032Abstract: A stacking device which is detachably attached to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus having an abutting member that abuts on a recording material and on which a recording material is stacked includes: a first supporting unit that supports the recording material from a lower side of the recording material; and a second supporting unit that supports an end of the recording material in an attachment/detachment direction of the stacking device. The second supporting unit includes a corresponding region, and a position of the corresponding region agrees with a position of the abutting member abut with the recording material in a width direction which is orthogonal to the attachment/detachment direction. At least a height of the corresponding region in a direction orthogonal to the attachment/detachment direction and the width direction is lower than a height of the abutting member.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2022Publication date: May 26, 2022Inventor: Hiroharu Tsuji
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Patent number: 11279585Abstract: A stacking device which is detachably attached to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus having an abutting member that abuts on a recording material and on which a recording material is stacked includes: a first supporting unit that supports the recording material from a lower side of the recording material; and a second supporting unit that supports an end of the recording material in an attachment/detachment direction of the stacking device. The second supporting unit includes a corresponding region, and a position of the corresponding region agrees with a position of the abutting member abut with the recording material in a width direction which is orthogonal to the attachment/detachment direction. At least a height of the corresponding region in a direction orthogonal to the attachment/detachment direction and the width direction is lower than a height of the abutting member.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2019Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroharu Tsuji
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Publication number: 20220082981Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet, a stacking portion on which the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit is stacked, a first regulation member configured to regulate a position of an edge portion, in a conveyance direction, of the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, a second regulation member configured to regulate a position of an edge portion, in a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, of the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, a binding unit supported movably in the conveyance direction and configured to perform a binding process of binding the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, and a moving unit configured to move the second regulation member in the conveyance direction accompanied with a movement, in the conveyance direction, of the binding unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2021Publication date: March 17, 2022Inventors: Tomooku Koyama, Jun Agata, Yasuhiro Nakahara, Hiroharu Tsuji
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Publication number: 20220009740Abstract: A sheet alignment apparatus includes a supporting portion configured to support a sheet, a first alignment member configured to abut an end portion in a first direction of the sheet supported by the supporting portion and align a position of the sheet in the first direction, a first moving unit configured to move the first alignment member in the first direction, a second alignment member configured to abut an end portion in a second direction of the sheet supported by the supporting portion and align a position of the sheet in the second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, and a second moving unit configured to move the second alignment member in the second direction, wherein the first moving unit is disposed below the supporting portion, and wherein the second moving unit is disposed above the supporting portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2021Publication date: January 13, 2022Inventor: Hiroharu Tsuji
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Patent number: 11215946Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet, a stacking portion on which the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit is stacked, a first regulation member configured to regulate a position of an edge portion, in a conveyance direction, of the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, a second regulation member configured to regulate a position of an edge portion, in a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, of the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, a binding unit supported movably in the conveyance direction and configured to perform a binding process of binding the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, and a moving unit configured to move the second regulation member in the conveyance direction accompanied with a movement, in the conveyance direction, of the binding unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2020Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomooku Koyama, Jun Agata, Yasuhiro Nakahara, Hiroharu Tsuji
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Publication number: 20210155438Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a guide member rotatably provided above a supporting portion and including a first guide portion and a second guide portion. The sheet conveyance apparatus further includes a controller configured to control a driving portion to start a rotation of the guide member in a state in which a trailing end of a preceding sheet is at a position above the first guide portion such that the trailing end of the preceding sheet is moved from the position above the first guide portion to a position between the second guide portion and the supporting portion by the rotation of the guide member and that a succeeding sheet conveyed by the conveyance member subsequently to the preceding sheet passes the position above the first guide portion after the rotation of the guide member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2020Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: Hiroyuki Yamano, Jun Agata, Hiroharu Tsuji
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Patent number: 11001468Abstract: A mount apparatus to be mounted on a top surface, in a vertical direction, of a main body of an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet, includes a latch member extending toward the main body from a surface facing the top surface of the main body and being rotatable around a rotational axis extending in a direction along a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction, and a biasing member configured to bias the latch member in a predetermined rotation direction. The latch member is inserted into the main body through an opening that is provided on the top surface of the main body and is engaged with the main body by a biasing force of the biasing member in a state where the mount apparatus is mounted on the main body.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroharu Tsuji
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Publication number: 20200387101Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet, a stacking portion on which the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit is stacked, a first regulation member configured to regulate a position of an edge portion, in a conveyance direction, of the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, a second regulation member configured to regulate a position of an edge portion, in a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, of the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, a binding unit supported movably in the conveyance direction and configured to perform a binding process of binding the sheet stacked on the stacking portion, and a moving unit configured to move the second regulation member in the conveyance direction accompanied with a movement, in the conveyance direction, of the binding unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2020Publication date: December 10, 2020Inventors: Tomooku Koyama, Jun Agata, Yasuhiro Nakahara, Hiroharu Tsuji
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Publication number: 20200379397Abstract: A sheet processing includes a first conveyance path, a buffering portion, a second conveyance path, a conveyance roller pair, a supporting portion, a moving member, a regulating portion, and a processing unit. The buffering portion is configured to superimpose a first sheet and a second sheet on each other in a state of being offset from each other in a sheet conveyance direction. An offset amount, by which a leading end of the first sheet in the sheet conveyance direction projects downstream in the sheet conveyance direction with respect to a leading end of the second sheet in the sheet conveyance direction in a state before the first sheet and the second sheet are discharged onto the supporting portion, is larger than a distance from a sheet contact position of the moving member to the regulating portion in the sheet conveyance direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Jun Agata, Hiroharu Tsuji, Masayoshi Fukatsu
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Patent number: 10669114Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes: a guide member configured to guide a sheet in a first direction in a first state, and in a second direction in a second state; a driving source configured to generate a driving force; a transfer member configured to change the state of the guide member from the first state to the second state by being moved by the driving force; and a control unit configured to control the driving force. The control unit is further configured to set the driving force to a value smaller than a force necessary to move the transfer member to change the guide member from the first state to the second state, and subsequently cause the driving force to increase to a value larger than the force necessary to move the transfer member.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2019Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideaki Yamaguchi, Hiroharu Tsuji, Genki Takahashi