Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Hirako

Hiroshi Hirako 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: 11352233
    Abstract: A sheet stacking device includes a pair of first sheet stackers, a pair of sheet alignment members, a second sheet stacker, a sheet removal portion, and control circuitry. The first sheet stackers stack both end portions of a sheet in a direction orthogonal to a sheet ejecting direction. The sheet alignment members contact both ends of the sheet in the orthogonal direction to align the sheet on the first sheet stackers. The second sheet stacker is disposed lower than the first sheet stackers and stacks the sheet dropped from between the first sheet stackers. The sheet removal portion is disposed on one side in the orthogonal direction. The control circuitry causes one of the first sheet stackers and one of the sheet alignment members to move toward an opposite side of the sheet removal portion in the orthogonal direction after the sheet is dropped from between the first sheet stackers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hirako, Kentaroh Fukami
  • Patent number: 10865064
    Abstract: A sheet stacker includes a sheet ejector, a sheet stack portion, and air blowers. The sheet ejector ejects a sheet. The sheet stack portion stacks the sheet ejected by the sheet ejector. The air blowers blow air from blow ports toward the sheet ejected from the sheet ejector. Each of the air blowers includes an air generator, an air guide, a first blow portion, a second blow portion, and a switcher. The air generator generates the air. The air guide guides the air to each of the blow ports. The first blow portion blows the air toward the sheet. The second blow portion blows the air in a direction different from a direction in which the first blow portion blows the air. The switcher performs switching so that the air guide guides the air to one of the first blow portion and the second blow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Kawasaki, Takahiro Itou, Hiroshi Hirako
  • Publication number: 20200239263
    Abstract: A sheet stacking device includes a pair of first sheet stackers, a pair of sheet alignment members, a second sheet stacker, a sheet removal portion, and control circuitry. The first sheet stackers stack both end portions of a sheet in a direction orthogonal to a sheet ejecting direction. The sheet alignment members contact both ends of the sheet in the orthogonal direction to align the sheet on the first sheet stackers. The second sheet stacker is disposed lower than the first sheet stackers and stacks the sheet dropped from between the first sheet stackers. The sheet removal portion is disposed on one side in the orthogonal direction. The control circuitry causes one of the first sheet stackers and one of the sheet alignment members to move toward an opposite side of the sheet removal portion in the orthogonal direction after the sheet is dropped from between the first sheet stackers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hirako, Kentaroh Fukami
  • Publication number: 20190233237
    Abstract: A sheet stacker includes a sheet ejector, a sheet stack portion, and air blowers. The sheet ejector ejects a sheet. The sheet stack portion stacks the sheet ejected by the sheet ejector. The air blowers blow air from blow ports toward the sheet ejected from the sheet ejector. Each of the air blowers includes an air generator, an air guide, a first blow portion, a second blow portion, and a switcher. The air generator generates the air. The air guide guides the air to each of the blow ports. The first blow portion blows the air toward the sheet. The second blow portion blows the air in a direction different from a direction in which the first blow portion blows the air. The switcher performs switching so that the air guide guides the air to one of the first blow portion and the second blow portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Kawasaki, Takahiro ITOU, Hiroshi HIRAKO
  • Patent number: 9049328
    Abstract: A CPU checks a detecting state of a document set sensor at a point when the trailing end of a document sheet is assumed to pass through a separating position at which the document sheet is separated by a separation roller, based on a document length determined based on a detecting output from an abutting sensor. If the document set sensor does not detect a document sheet, the CPU determines that the next document sheet is not present. If the document set sensor detects a document sheet, the CPU checks a detecting state of the document presence detecting sensor. If the document presence detecting sensor detects a document sheet, the CPU determines that the next document sheet is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Hiroshi Hirako
  • Publication number: 20130236227
    Abstract: A CPU checks a detecting state of a document set sensor at a point when the trailing end of a document sheet is assumed to pass through a separating position at which the document sheet is separated by a separation roller, based on a document length determined based on a detecting output from an abutting sensor. If the document set sensor does not detect a document sheet, the CPU determines that the next document sheet is not present. If the document set sensor detects a document sheet, the CPU checks a detecting state of the document presence detecting sensor. If the document presence detecting sensor detects a document sheet, the CPU determines that the next document sheet is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Hiroshi HIRAKO
  • Patent number: 5281768
    Abstract: An insulator for use in a suspension-type line arrester that supports a transmission line is disclosed. Such line arresters have a plurality of insulators connected in a string. The insulators have linking members configured to prevent relative rotation between adjacent insulators in the line arrester's insulator string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignees: Tokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated, NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Sawada, Takeshi Yamada, Hiroshi Hirako, Toshiyuki Takagi