Patents by Inventor Kazuhiro Hirota
Kazuhiro Hirota 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: 6796559Abstract: In an automatic document feeder for use in an image forming device such as copy machine and facsimile machine: a document shunting path for temporarily shunting a document is provided at an upstream side of a document reading portion; in a different-size mixed mode where different sizes of documents are placed in a mixed manner, the leading edge and rear edge of the document are detected by a sensor during conveyance of the document in the direction toward the document reading portion, so that the length of the document is detected; thereafter the document is conveyed in the reverse direction so that the rear edge of the document is shunted into the document shunting path; and thereafter the document is again conveyed in the forward direction to conduct reading. Thus, it becomes unnecessary to provide a longer conveyance path for detecting the length of the documents, so that the size of the feeder itself can be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2003Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Assignees: Konica Corporation, Nisca CorporationInventors: Kazuhiro Hirota, Hiroshi Nakagomi, Yasuhito Watanabe, Hiroshi Maeshima, Kazunori Yoshioka
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Publication number: 20030160386Abstract: In an automatic document feeder for use in an image forming device such as copy machine and facsimile machine: a document shunting path for temporarily shunting a document is provided at an upstream side of a document reading portion; in a different-size mixed mode where different sizes of documents are placed in a mixed manner, the leading edge and rear edge of the document are detected by a sensor during conveyance of the document in the direction toward the document reading portion, so that the length of the document is detected; thereafter the document is conveyed in the reverse direction so that the rear edge of the document is shunted into the document shunting path; and thereafter the document is again conveyed in the forward direction to conduct reading. Thus, it becomes unnecessary to provide a longer conveyance path for detecting the length of the documents, so that the size of the feeder itself can be reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2003Publication date: August 28, 2003Applicant: Konica CorporationInventors: Kazuhiro Hirota, HIroshi Nakagomi, Yasuhito Watanabe, Hiroshi Maeshima, Kazunori Yoshioka
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Patent number: 6585258Abstract: In an automatic document feeder for use in an image forming device such as copy machine and facsimile machine: a document shunting path for temporarily shunting a document is provided at an upstream side of a document reading portion; in a different-size mixed mode where different sizes of documents are placed in a mixed manner, the leading edge and rear edge of the document are detected by a sensor during conveyance of the document in the direction toward the document reading portion, so that the length of the document is detected; thereafter the document is conveyed in the reverse direction so that the rear edge of the document is shunted into the document shunting path; and thereafter the document is again conveyed in the forward direction to conduct reading. Thus, it becomes unnecessary to provide, a longer conveyance path for detecting the length of the documents, so that the size of the feeder itself can be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2000Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignees: Konica Corporation, Nisca CorporationInventors: Kazuhiro Hirota, Hiroshi Nakagomi, Yasuhito Watanabe, Hiroshi Maeshima, Kazunori Yoshioka
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Publication number: 20030062666Abstract: A postprocessing apparatus stops and positions an image recording sheet delivered from an image forming apparatus at a predetermined position, punches the sheet with a punching unit, and thereafter folds the sheet with a folding unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2002Publication date: April 3, 2003Inventors: Hisao Hosoya, Kazuhiro Hirota, Kazuyoshi Omi, Kazuaki Fukuda, Yuji Kanazawa, Hideyo Ohashi, Tomoki Nagaoka
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Patent number: 6427997Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus is provided with a sheet passage; a conveyor to covey a sheet along the sheet passage; an intermediate stacker on which the sheet conveyed along the sheet passage is placed so that a bundle of sheets is formed on the intermediate stacker; a finisher to conduct a finishing process for the bundle of sheets formed on the intermediate stacker; a sheet delivering section to which the bundle of sheets is delivered; and a sheet delivering device to true up edges of the bundle of sheets on the intermediate stacker before the finisher conducts the finishing process and to deliver the bundle of sheets from the intermediate stacker to the sheet delivering section after the finisher has conducted the finishing process.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2000Date of Patent: August 6, 2002Assignee: Konica CorporationInventors: Kazuhiro Hirota, Hisao Hosoya, Masanobu Kawano, Yuji Kanazawa, Mamoru Tomotsune, Takanori Yoshida, Hideyo Ohashi, Yukihiko Nishimoto
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Patent number: 6381439Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a both-sided document having images on both sides thereof is provided with a document stand; a reading section; a feeder having a feeding passage and to feed the both-sided document from the document stand to the reading section along the feeding passage; a pair of reversing rollers provided on a reversing passage to reverse the both-sided document after an image of the both-sided document is read at the reading section and to reefed the reversed both-sided document from the reversing passage to the feeding passage so that an image on another side of the both-sided document is read at the reading section; a pair of ejecting rollers provided on an ejecting passage and to eject the both-sided document to a delivery section after the images on both sides of the both-sided document are read at the reading section; and a switching mechanism to connect an outlet passage of the reading section to one of the reversing passage and the ejecting passage; wherein one of the pair of reversing rollType: GrantFiled: January 19, 2001Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: Konica CorporationInventors: Kazuhiro Hirota, Junichi Fujita, Satoru Endo, Kazuaki Ito, Nobutaka Kato, Osamu Kato
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Patent number: 6329888Abstract: A surface acoustic wave transducer is provided having three electrode fingers disposed as one reference segment (&lgr;) on a piezoelectric substrate, each segment including an electrode finger 1 having a width W1, an electrode finger 2 having a width W2 with a gap of g1, and an electrode 3 having a width 3 with a gap g2. The electrode fingers 1 and 3 are set in-phase, and the electrode finger 2 is set in an opposite phase for driving. Further, W1 is set equal to W3, and g1 is set equal to g2. Thus, it is possible to provide a SAW transducer that has improved a shape factor at a high-pass side near a pass band of a primary-third order longitudinally coupled double mode SAW filter.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 1999Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Toyo Communication Equipment Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kazuhiro Hirota
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Patent number: 6283354Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus has a function of stapling sheets together, wherein the sheets are fed from an image forming apparatus one by one after images are formed on the sheets. The sheet processing apparatus includes a stapler to staple the sheets together, a sheet guide which guides the sheets along a sheet transporting path from the image forming apparatus to a position at which the sheets are stapled by the stapler, and a reference surface against which edges of the sheets are butted to stop movement of the sheets. The sheets are guided along the sheet transporting path by the sheet guide and the edges of the sheets are butted against the reference surface at a same position relative to a sheet conveying direction, irrespective of whether the sheet processing apparatus is in a stapling mode in which the stapler staples the sheets or a non-stapling mode in which the stapler does not staple the sheets, and irrespective of sizes of the sheets.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1998Date of Patent: September 4, 2001Assignee: Konica CorporationInventors: Kazuhiro Hirota, Hisao Hosoya, Satoru Endo, Kazuyoshi Omi, Yuji Kanazawa, Takanori Yoshida, Mamoru Tomotsune, Yukihiko Nishimoto
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Publication number: 20010016133Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a both-sided document having images on both sides thereof is provided with a document stand; a reading section; a feeder having a feeding passage and to feed the both-sided document from the document stand to the reading section along the feeding passage; a pair of reversing rollers provided on a reversing passage to reverse the both-sided document after an image of the both-sided document is read at the reading section and to reefed the reversed both-sided document from the reversing passage to the feeding passage so that an image on another side of the both-sided document is read at the reading section; a pair of ejecting rollers provided on an ejecting passage and to eject the both-sided document to a delivery section after the images on both sides of the both-sided document are read at the reading section; and a switching mechanism to connect an outlet passage of the reading section to one of the reversing passage and the ejecting passage; wherein one of the pair of reversing rollType: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2001Publication date: August 23, 2001Inventors: Kazuhiro Hirota, Junichi Fujita, Satoru Endo, Kazuaki Ito, Nobutaka Kato, Osamu Kato
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Patent number: 6233427Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a sheet ejection section, provided in an upper portion of the image forming apparatus, for ejecting a recording sheet onto an upper surface portion of the image forming apparatus; a sheet post-processing apparatus for receiving the recording sheet, ejected from the sheet ejection section, so as to perform a post-processing operation upon the recording sheet; and a coupler for coupling the sheet post-processing apparatus with the image forming apparatus so that at least a part of the post-processing apparatus is located on the upper surface portion of the image forming apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 1999Date of Patent: May 15, 2001Assignee: Konica CorporationInventors: Kazuhiro Hirota, Hisao Hosoya, Masanobu Kawano, Shogo Kato, Naoki Otomo, Yuji Kanazawa, Takanori Yoshida, Yukihiko Nishimoto, Mamoru Tomotsune
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Patent number: 6206359Abstract: An automatic document feeder includes a feed tray 2 on which documents are placed, a feeder 4 for feeding documents on the feed tray 2 to a conveyor path, conveying 8 for conveying the fed documents to an image reading position, a discharging 9 for discharging the read documents onto a discharging tray 37, and a controller by which the discharging speed of the documents after being read so that the discharging speed varies with respect to the conveying speed, wherein, if the conveying speed when reading a document is within a predetermined range, the discharging speed after reading the document is controlled to be equal to the conveying speed when reading the document, and if the conveying speed when reading the document is out of the predetermined range, the discharging speed after reading the document is controlled to be within the predetermined range.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1998Date of Patent: March 27, 2001Assignees: Konica Corporation, Nisca CorporationInventors: Kazuhiro Hirota, Eiichi Kubo
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Sheet conveying apparatus and method wherein the sheet is fed without contacting the discharge layer
Patent number: 6152445Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a guide for the recording sheet formed by a discharging layer. The layer includes an electrically grounded conductive substrate and an organic conductive fiber thereon. The surface of the guide is in close proximity to the surface of the recording sheet.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1998Date of Patent: November 28, 2000Assignee: Konica CorporationInventors: Kazuhiro Hirota, Hisao Hosoya, Satoru Endo, Mamoru Tomotsune, Yuji Kanazawa, Kazuyoshi Omi -
Patent number: 6145834Abstract: In an automatic document feeder for use in an image forming device such as copy machine and facsimile machine: a document shunting path for temporarily shunting a document is provided at an upstream side of a document reading portion; in a different-size mixed mode where different sizes of documents are placed in a mixed manner, the leading edge and rear edge of the document are detected by a sensor during conveyance of the document in the direction toward the document reading portion, so that the length of the document is detected; thereafter the document is conveyed in the reverse direction so that the rear edge of the document is shunted into the document shunting path; and thereafter the document is again conveyed in the forward direction to conduct reading. Thus, it becomes unnecessary to provide a longer conveyance path for detecting the length of the documents, so that the size of the feeder itself can be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1998Date of Patent: November 14, 2000Assignees: Konica Corporation, Nisca CorporationInventors: Kazuhiro Hirota, Hiroshi Nakagomi, Yasuhito Watanabe, Hiroshi Maeshima, Kazunori Yoshioka
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Patent number: 6109605Abstract: In an sheet finishing apparatus for receiving a sheet on which an image has been formed by an image forming apparatus, and for ejecting the sheet after a front side thereof is reversed, the sheet finishing apparatus includes: a sheet conveyor for conveying the sheet fed from the image forming apparatus downstream; a sheet reversing device for receiving the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyor, and for reversing the front side of the sheet by rotation; a sheet holder provided on a peripheral portion of the sheet reversing device for holding a leading edge portion of the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyor, the sheet holder capable of being opened or closed; a sheet stopper for blocking the leading edge portion of the sheet to be stopped at a position where the front side of the sheet is reversed by a rotation of the sheet reversing device; and a sheet stacking member for stacking the sheet separated from the sheet reversing device by a further rotation of the reversing device after the leading edge of the sheType: GrantFiled: March 18, 1998Date of Patent: August 29, 2000Assignee: Konica CorporationInventors: Kazuhiro Hirota, Hisao Hosoya, Satoru Endo, Yuji Kanazawa, Takanori Yoshida, Kazuyoshi Omi, Mamoru Tomotsune, Masanobu Kawano, Yukihiko Nishimoto
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Patent number: 6106462Abstract: Disclosed is a celiac diagnostic apparatus in which the characteristics of a filter for filtering a wave reflected by a tissue inside an object are made steep, and an ultrasonic wave capable of making a high-accuracy diagnosis for the object is used. C1, C2, and C3 are constituted using variable capacitance diodes. Three LC filters, i.e., an LC filter constituted by L1 and C1, an LC filter constituted by L2 and C2, and an LC filter constituted by L3 and C3 are serially connected to constitute the filter, whose cutoff characteristics is still practical even when the cutoff frequency exceeds 20 MHz.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 1997Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Mitsutoshi Yaegashi, Kazuhiro Hirota
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Patent number: 6091929Abstract: In an image forming apparatus provided with an image reader to read an image on an image surface of a document and to output image data corresponding to the image; an image processor to process the image data; an image forming device to successively form images on sheets on the basis of the processed image data; there are further provided a post processing device having a stapling stand on which the sheets are placed and a stapler to staple at a predetermined position on the stapling stand, wherein the predetermined position locates at only a single side of the sheet placed on the stapling stand; and a stapling position selector to select a stapling position on the image formed on the sheets, wherein the image processor processes the image data so that when the sheets are placed on the stapling stand, the stapling position on the image formed on the sheets selected by the stapling position selector coincides with the predetermined position on the stapling stand.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 1998Date of Patent: July 18, 2000Assignee: Konica CorporationInventors: Hirohiko Yamazaki, Akihiko Oda, Koichi Kitamoto, Kazuhiro Hirota, Masaki Kakutani
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Patent number: 5984299Abstract: A sheet finishing apparatus for finishing a sheet, on which an image has been formed, conveyed from an image forming apparatus, the sheet finishing apparatus includes: a sheet ejecting member for ejecting the sheet after finishing; and an exit tray for receiving the sheet ejected by the sheet ejecting member after finishing is conducted. The exit tray includes a movable exit tray member on which the sheet is stacked, and a stationary exit tray member for supporting the movable exit tray member. The movable exit tray member has a sheet stacking surface on which the sheet is stacked, and a stopper portion provided adjacent to the sheet ejecting member to bring an edge of the sheet into contact with the stopper portion. The movable exit tray member is pivotally supported around a supporting shaft provided on a leading edge portion of the stationary exit tray member.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 1998Date of Patent: November 16, 1999Assignee: Konica CorporationInventors: Kazuhiro Hirota, Hisao Hosoya, Satoru Endo, Yuji Kanazawa, Takanori Yoshida, Kazuyoshi Omi, Mamoru Tomotsune
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Patent number: 5449158Abstract: A sorter distributes plural sheets to plural sheet holding bins. The sorter includes the plural sheet holding bins for holding the plural sheets, in which inserting portions of the plural sheet holding bins are aligned in a line in a predetermined direction; a conveyance belt for conveying the plural sheets along the line; a distributor, that is reciprocally movable along the line, for distributing the plural sheets to the plural sheet holding bins; motorized pulleys for winding and unwinding a wire member; the wire member being connected between the motorized pulleys and the distributor; nipping apparatus for nipping and for conveying each of the plural sheets, the nipping apparatus being positioned between the conveyance belt and the wire member.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1993Date of Patent: September 12, 1995Assignee: Konica CorporationInventors: Kazuhiro Hirota, Keisuke Tanaka, Izumi Hamanaka, Minoru Kawano, Hisao Hosoya, Akihiko Nishiki
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Patent number: 5292112Abstract: A sheet feed cassette for loading a recording sheet for an image forming apparatus in which the recording sheet can be loaded in a form of U between a lower supporting base and an upper casing member. The cassette further includes a sheet delivery guide member disposed between the supporting base and the casing member, wherein the U-shaped recording sheet is folded around the sheet delivery guide member.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1992Date of Patent: March 8, 1994Assignee: Konica CorporationInventors: Kazuhiro Hirota, Kohji Yoshie
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Patent number: D438889Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2000Date of Patent: March 13, 2001Assignee: Konica CorporationInventors: Kenji Matsumoto, Hisao Hosoya, Junichi Fujita, Hiroto Ito, Kazuhiro Hirota