Patents by Inventor Kazuhisa Hirahara
Kazuhisa Hirahara 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: 11953848Abstract: A belt unit includes a belt that is endless, a plurality of stretching rollers, a pair of side frames and one or more shafts. The side frames are each provided with bearing holes that rotatably support opposite end parts of the stretching rollers, and positioning holes into which opposite end parts of the shafts are inserted. The shafts each have formed therein a first engagement groove that engages with a first holding jig. The stretching rollers each have formed therein a second engagement groove that engages with a second holding jig. When the first engagement groove is in engagement with the first holding jig, the shafts are arranged opposite the positioning holes corresponding thereto, and have a phase thereof restricted in a circumferential direction thereof. When the second engagement groove is in engagement with the second holding jig, the stretching rollers are arranged opposite the bearing holes corresponding thereto.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2023Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.Inventors: Takashi Kainuma, Kazuhisa Hirahara
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Publication number: 20230418207Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor drum, a developing roller, a first shaft provided for one of the photoconductor drum and the developing roller, a second shaft provided for the other of the photoconductor drum and the developing roller, a first housing supporting the first shaft, and removable in an axial direction of the first shaft, a second housing supporting the second shaft, and removable in an axial direction of the second shaft, a first contact member provided on an axial end portion of the first housing, a second contact member provided on an axial end portion of the second housing, and located in contact with the first contact member, a first cover covering the first contact member, and a first cleaning device provided on the first cover, and configured to rub against the second contact member, when the second housing is inserted or removed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Takashi KAINUMA, Kazuhisa HIRAHARA
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Patent number: 11774907Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoelectric conversion portion, a housing, a housing support portion, and a posture adjustment portion. The photoelectric conversion portion receives light reflected by a document sheet placed on a document sheet mounting surface and outputs an electric signal based on the light. The housing has a box shape with an open top and forms a housing space for housing the photoelectric conversion portion on a lower side of the document sheet mounting surface. The housing support portion supports a bottom portion of the housing. The posture adjustment portion includes an operation portion provided outside the housing, and adjusts a posture of the photoelectric conversion portion in accordance with an operation on the operation portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2022Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Kenichiro Kawasaki, Kazuhisa Hirahara
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Publication number: 20230288868Abstract: An image forming apparatus (100) includes a photoelectric conversion portion (24) that receives light reflected by a document sheet and outputs an electric signal based on the light, a posture adjustment portion (400) having an operation shaft (34) rotatable about a first axis (AX1) and that adjusts a posture of the photoelectric conversion portion (24) according to rotation of the operation shaft (34), and a stimulus output portion (402) that outputs a stimulus perceivable by an operator of the operation shaft (34) each time the operation shaft (34) is rotated by a predetermined specific angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2022Publication date: September 14, 2023Inventors: Kenichiro KAWASAKI, Kazuhisa HIRAHARA
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Publication number: 20230259055Abstract: A belt unit includes a belt that is endless, a plurality of stretching rollers, a pair of side frames and one or more shafts. The side frames are each provided with bearing holes that rotatably support opposite end parts of the stretching rollers, and positioning holes into which opposite end parts of the shafts are inserted. The shafts each have formed therein a first engagement groove that engages with a first holding jig. The stretching rollers each have formed therein a second engagement groove that engages with a second holding jig. When the first engagement groove is in engagement with the first holding jig, the shafts are arranged opposite the positioning holes corresponding thereto, and have a phase thereof restricted in a circumferential direction thereof. When the second engagement groove is in engagement with the second holding jig, the stretching rollers are arranged opposite the bearing holes corresponding thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2023Publication date: August 17, 2023Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Takashi KAINUMA, Kazuhisa HIRAHARA
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Publication number: 20230147582Abstract: An object of the present invention is to increase the dimensional accuracy of a structure including a plurality of rectangular pipes. A structure (6) includes a plurality of rectangular pipes (60) joined together. The plurality of rectangular pipes (60) include a first rectangular pipe (60a) and a second rectangular pipe (60b) joined by welding. Two or three of four sides that constitute an end face (62) of the first rectangular pipe (60a) are joint sides (62a) welded to a side face (63) of the second rectangular pipe (60b), whereas the rest of the four sides is a non-joint side (62b) separated from the side face (63) of the second rectangular pipe (60b) by a gap.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2021Publication date: May 11, 2023Inventor: Kazuhisa HIRAHARA
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Patent number: 11567442Abstract: A skeleton frame has a pair of corner columns facing each other. An image forming apparatus includes a pair of support shafts protruding inward from respective inner side surfaces in the pair of corner columns, and an opening/closing member rotatably supported on a lower end portion by the pair of support shafts. A specific member moves horizontally from an outer side of the skeleton frame through between the pair of corner columns and is attached inside the skeleton frame. At least one of the pair of support shafts is also used as a guide portion that guides the specific member when the specific member is inserted into the skeleton frame through between the pair of corner columns.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2021Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.Inventor: Kazuhisa Hirahara
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Patent number: 11531299Abstract: An image carrier unit includes an image carrier including a cylindrical main body portion and a pair of flange portions attached to both ends of the main body portion, a first cleaning member that rotates in contact under a prescribed pressure with an outer circumferential surface of the main body portion, a unit frame that rotatably supports the image carrier and the first cleaning member, and an image carrier protective cover that includes a cover main body extending in an axial direction of the image carrier and a side surface portion that is disposed on one end side of the cover main body. On the side surface portion, an image carrier holding portion is formed that performs positioning of the image carrier with respect to the unit frame and releases a pressure contact state between the image carrier and the first cleaning member.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2021Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Hayato Mori, Kazuhisa Hirahara
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Publication number: 20220342364Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoelectric conversion portion, a housing, a housing support portion, and a posture adjustment portion. The photoelectric conversion portion receives light reflected by a document sheet placed on a document sheet mounting surface and outputs an electric signal based on the light. The housing has a box shape with an open top and forms a housing space for housing the photoelectric conversion portion on a lower side of the document sheet mounting surface. The housing support portion supports a bottom portion of the housing. The posture adjustment portion includes an operation portion provided outside the housing, and adjusts a posture of the photoelectric conversion portion in accordance with an operation on the operation portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2022Publication date: October 27, 2022Inventors: Kenichiro Kawasaki, Kazuhisa Hirahara
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Publication number: 20220155723Abstract: An image carrier unit includes an image carrier including a cylindrical main body portion and a pair of flange portions attached to both ends of the main body portion, a first cleaning member that rotates in contact under a prescribed pressure with an outer circumferential surface of the main body portion, a unit frame that rotatably supports the image carrier and the first cleaning member, and an image carrier protective cover that includes a cover main body extending in an axial direction of the image carrier and a side surface portion that is disposed on one end side of the cover main body. On the side surface portion, an image carrier holding portion is formed that performs positioning of the image carrier with respect to the unit frame and releases a pressure contact state between the image carrier and the first cleaning member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2021Publication date: May 19, 2022Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Hayato MORI, Kazuhisa HIRAHARA
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Publication number: 20210333741Abstract: A skeleton frame has a pair of corner columns facing each other. An image forming apparatus includes a pair of support shafts protruding inward from respective inner side surfaces in the pair of corner columns, and an opening/closing member rotatably supported on a lower end portion by the pair of support shafts. A specific member moves horizontally from an outer side of the skeleton frame through between the pair of corner columns and is attached inside the skeleton frame. At least one of the pair of support shafts is also used as a guide portion that guides the specific member when the specific member is inserted into the skeleton frame through between the pair of corner columns.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Inventor: Kazuhisa HIRAHARA
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Patent number: 10870299Abstract: A moving body reciprocation mechanism has a rotation shaft and a moving body that engages with a spiral ridge part of the rotation shaft and reciprocates along an axial direction. The state of the moving body changes among: a first state in which the moving body moves in a first movement direction; a second state in which the moving body releases the engagement; and a third state in which the moving body reengages with the spiral ridge part and moves in a second movement direction. The rotation shaft has a planar part and a cylindrical protrusion part. A cylinder part of the moving body has: a first end part that fits onto the cylindrical protrusion part in the second state; and a second end part that radially faces an outer circumferential surface of the spiral ridge part in the second state.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2018Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Inventors: Akihiro Masaki, Kazuhisa Hirahara
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Publication number: 20200255241Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a conveying roller pair, a correction unit, and a control unit. The correction unit includes a correction roller pair and a roller holder. The control unit moves the roller holder from a reference position, and returns the roller holder to the reference position after the sheet is nipped by the correction roller pair, and after this sheet correction operation, the control unit releases the nip of the conveying roller pair. At least either a swing speed vh when returning the roller holder to the reference position, or a deflection amount of the sheet before the roller holder is returned to the reference position, is adjusted so that tension is not applied to the sheet between the conveying roller pair and the correction roller pair.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2020Publication date: August 13, 2020Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Kazuhisa HIRAHARA
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Patent number: 10386783Abstract: An grounding structure of an equipment includes a coil spring provided between a first member of an equipment side and a second member, which includes a metal plate member, of a ground side, wherein the first member and the second member are disposed opposite to each other, one end of the coil spring is brought into press contact with the first member, and the other end of the coil spring is brought into press contact with the second member. An engraved groove is formed at an abutting point of the second member with the coil spring, and is formed such that at least a part of a convex burr part generated along an end edge of the engraved groove abuts the other end of the coil spring.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2018Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.Inventors: Mitsuki Hattori, Yoshifumi Okauchi, Kazuhisa Hirahara
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Publication number: 20190202221Abstract: A moving body reciprocation mechanism has a rotation shaft and a moving body that engages with a spiral ridge part of the rotation shaft and reciprocates along an axial direction. The state of the moving body changes among: a first state in which the moving body moves in a first movement direction; a second state in which the moving body releases the engagement; and a third state in which the moving body reengages with the spiral ridge part and moves in a second movement direction. The rotation shaft has a planar part and a cylindrical protrusion part. A cylinder part of the moving body has: a first end part that fits onto the cylindrical protrusion part in the second state; and a second end part that radially faces an outer circumferential surface of the spiral ridge part in the second state.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2018Publication date: July 4, 2019Inventors: Akihiro Masaki, Kazuhisa Hirahara
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Publication number: 20190113883Abstract: An grounding structure of an equipment includes a coil spring provided between a first member of an equipment side and a second member, which includes a metal plate member, of a ground side, wherein the first member and the second member are disposed opposite to each other, one end of the coil spring is brought into press contact with the first member, and the other end of the coil spring is brought into press contact with the second member. An engraved groove is formed at an abutting point of the second member with the coil spring, and is formed such that at least a part of a convex burr part generated along an end edge of the engraved groove abuts the other end of the coil spring.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2018Publication date: April 18, 2019Inventors: Mitsuki HATTORI, Yoshifumi OKAUCHI, Kazuhisa HIRAHARA
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Patent number: 9950883Abstract: A sheet feeding cartridge attached to or detached from a cartridge storing part formed between a pair of side face covers which constitute a part of an exterior cover of an apparatus main body. The sheet feeding cartridge includes a cartridge base on which a sheet is stacked, a cartridge cover attached so as to be slidable in a width direction perpendicular to the attachment direction, a first positioning part configured to position the cartridge base to the cartridge storing part and a second positioning part configured to position the cartridge cover with respect to the side face covers in the width direction perpendicular to the attachment direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2015Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Kazuhisa Hirahara
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Patent number: 9918415Abstract: A shield structure includes a main body portion and a lid portion. An electronic circuit is stored in the main body portion. The lid portion is attached to the main body portion in a detachable manner, and includes a first contact portion. The main body portion includes an opening portion, a second contact portion, and a pressurizing portion. When the first contact portion moves in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the lid portion attached to the main body portion, in a state of being inserted in the opening portion, the first contact portion is elastically deformed in a first direction by contacting the second contact portion and comes into pressure contact with the second contact portion. When the first contact portion is inserted in the opening portion, the pressurizing portion contacts and pressurizes the first contact portion in a second direction opposite to the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2017Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Kazuhisa Hirahara
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Patent number: 9857753Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first conveying path, a second conveying path, a detector, a conveyance guide member and an interlock mechanism. The first conveying path communicates the second conveying path through which a sheet supplied from a supply part is conveyed. The detector detects whether or not the sheet is present in the first conveying path. The conveyance guide member composes the second conveying path and one end part thereof is pivotally supported so as to be able to open/close the second conveying path. The interlock mechanism interlocks the detector with the opening/closing operation of the conveyance guide member. The detector detects the opening/closing operation of the conveyance guide member.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2016Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Kazuhisa Hirahara, Tetsuro Kawashima
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Publication number: 20170367224Abstract: A shield structure includes a main body portion and a lid portion. An electronic circuit is stored in the main body portion. The lid portion is attached to the main body portion in a detachable manner, and includes a first contact portion. The main body portion includes an opening portion, a second contact portion, and a pressurizing portion. When the first contact portion moves in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the lid portion attached to the main body portion, in a state of being inserted in the opening portion, the first contact portion is elastically deformed in a first direction by contacting the second contact portion and comes into pressure contact with the second contact portion. When the first contact portion is inserted in the opening portion, the pressurizing portion contacts and pressurizes the first contact portion in a second direction opposite to the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2017Publication date: December 21, 2017Inventor: Kazuhisa Hirahara