Patents by Inventor Kenji Hari
Kenji Hari 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: 11548752Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is configured to press a fold line that is formed on a sheet. The sheet processing apparatus includes: a sheet supporting unit configured to support the sheet in a pressing direction for pressing the fold line; a pressing unit configured to press the fold line that is formed on the sheet that is supported by the sheet supporting unit; and a pressing-force generating unit configured to generate a pressing force for pressing the sheet supporting unit against the pressing unit at a central part in a direction along which the fold line is formed.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITEDInventors: Kenji Hari, Manabu Yamanaka, Nagayasu Yoshida
-
Publication number: 20220297963Abstract: A sheet feeding device feeds a sheet in a feed direction. The sheet feeding device includes a loading portion, a feeler, and a first detection sensor. The sheet is to be placed on the loading portion. The feeler rotates from a reference position to a pushed position around a support shaft in response to a push by a downstream end of the sheet, which is placed on the loading portion, in the feeding direction. The first detection sensor detects a rotation of the feeler from one of the reference position and the pushed position to the other of the reference position and the pushed position. The loading portion includes a second detection sensor to detect a state in which the sheet is placed on the loading portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2022Publication date: September 22, 2022Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Ryo SUZUKI, Ryohei MORISAKI, Kenji HARI, Nagayasu YOSHIDA, Katsuji YAMAGUCHI
-
Patent number: 11117770Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes an ejector, a stacker, a wall, and an upper surface detector. The ejector ejects a sheet, and the stacker stacks the sheet ejected from the ejector. The wall contacts a trailing end of the sheet ejected from the ejector in an ejection direction to align the sheet. The upper surface detector detects an upper surface on a trailing end side of the sheet stacked on the stacker in the ejection direction. When the sheet moves toward the wall, the upper surface detector moves from a home position in which the upper surface detector detects the upper surface of the sheet to a retracted position in which the upper surface detector does not contact the sheet moving toward the wall.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2020Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Hisayoshi Sugawara, Kei Sasaki, Junya Suzuki, Koji Furuta, Yasuo Niikura, Kazuki Mishina, Kenji Hari, Yuuta Mori, Yuusuke Shibasaki
-
Patent number: 11066268Abstract: A binding device includes a stacking device configured to receive sheets, a sheet alignment member configured to align the sheets on the stacking device, a binder configured to bind the sheets on the stacking device, a binder moving device configured to move the binder, and a retreat device configured to retreat the sheet alignment member from a range of movement of the binder. The retreat device retreats the sheet alignment member in response to a pressing force acting on the sheet alignment member in a direction of movement of the binder.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2020Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Yuusuke Shibasaki, Kei Sasaki, Junya Suzuki, Koji Furuta, Yasuo Niikura, Kazuki Mishina, Kenji Hari, Yuuta Mori, Hisayoshi Sugawara
-
Patent number: 11014772Abstract: A fold-enforcing assembly includes a fold-enforcing device, a moving device to move the fold-enforcing device in a direction of a fold of a sheet bundle, and control circuitry. The fold-enforcing device includes a pressing member pair to nip and press the fold of the sheet bundle in a direction of thickness, a pressing mechanism to pressurize and depressurize the pressing member pair, and a driver to drive the pressing mechanism. Controlled by the control circuitry, the moving device moves the fold-enforcing device in accordance with a size of the sheet bundle in the direction of the fold; pressing mechanism pressurizes the pressing member pair to press a first end portion of the sheet bundle in the direction of the fold; the moving device moves the fold-enforcing device to a second end portion of the sheet bundle; and pressing mechanism depressurizes the pressing member pair in the second end portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2020Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yuuta Mori, Kei Sasaki, Junya Suzuki, Koji Furuta, Yasuo Niikura, Kazuki Mishina, Kenji Hari, Hisayoshi Sugawara, Yuusuke Shibasaki
-
Publication number: 20210107761Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is configured to press a fold line that is formed on a sheet. The sheet processing apparatus includes: a sheet supporting unit configured to support the sheet in a pressing direction for pressing the fold line; a pressing unit configured to press the fold line that is formed on the sheet that is supported by the sheet supporting unit; and a pressing-force generating unit configured to generate a pressing force for pressing the sheet supporting unit against the pressing unit at a central part in a direction along which the fold line is formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2020Publication date: April 15, 2021Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kenji HARI, Manabu YAMANAKA, Nagayasu YOSHIDA
-
Patent number: 10894690Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is configured to press a fold line that is formed on a sheet. The sheet processing apparatus includes: a sheet supporting unit configured to support the sheet in a pressing direction for pressing the fold line; a pressing unit configured to press the fold line that is formed on the sheet that is supported by the sheet supporting unit; and a pressing-force generating unit configured to generate a pressing force for pressing the sheet supporting unit against the pressing unit at a central part in a direction along which the fold line is formed.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2018Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITEDInventors: Kenji Hari, Manabu Yamanaka, Nagayasu Yoshida
-
Publication number: 20200307944Abstract: A binding device includes a stacking device configured to receive sheets, a sheet alignment member configured to align the sheets on the stacking device, a binder configured to bind the sheets on the stacking device, a binder moving device configured to move the binder, and a retreat device configured to retreat the sheet alignment member from a range of movement of the binder. The retreat device retreats the sheet alignment member in response to a pressing force acting on the sheet alignment member in a direction of movement of the binder.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yuusuke SHIBASAKI, Kei SASAKI, Junya SUZUKI, Koji FURUTA, Yasuo NIIKURA, Kazuki MISHINA, Kenji HARI, Yuuta MORI, Hisayoshi SUGAWARA
-
Publication number: 20200307945Abstract: A fold-enforcing assembly includes a fold-enforcing device, a moving device to move the fold-enforcing device in a direction of a fold of a sheet bundle, and control circuitry. The fold-enforcing device includes a pressing member pair to nip and press the fold of the sheet bundle in a direction of thickness, a pressing mechanism to pressurize and depressurize the pressing member pair, and a driver to drive the pressing mechanism. Controlled by the control circuitry, the moving device moves the fold-enforcing device in accordance with a size of the sheet bundle in the direction of the fold; pressing mechanism pressurizes the pressing member pair to press a first end portion of the sheet bundle in the direction of the fold; the moving device moves the fold-enforcing device to a second end portion of the sheet bundle; and pressing mechanism depressurizes the pressing member pair in the second end portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yuuta MORI, Kei SASAKI, Junya SUZUKI, Koji FURUTA, Yasuo NIIKURA, Kazuki MISHINA, Kenji HARI, Hisayoshi SUGAWARA, Yuusuke SHIBASAKI
-
Publication number: 20200307936Abstract: A sheet stacking apparatus includes an ejector, a stacker, a wall, and an upper surface detector. The ejector ejects a sheet, and the stacker stacks the sheet ejected from the ejector. The wall contacts a trailing end of the sheet ejected from the ejector in an ejection direction to align the sheet. The upper surface detector detects an upper surface on a trailing end side of the sheet stacked on the stacker in the ejection direction. When the sheet moves toward the wall, the upper surface detector moves from a home position in which the upper surface detector detects the upper surface of the sheet to a retracted position in which the upper surface detector does not contact the sheet moving toward the wall.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: Ricoh Company, LtdInventors: Hisayoshi SUGAWARA, Kei SASAKI, Junya SUZUKI, Koji FURUTA, Yasuo NIIKURA, Kazuki Mishina, Kenji Hari, Yuuta Mori, Yuusuke Shibasaki
-
Patent number: 10124973Abstract: A sheet conveying device, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes a first guide, a second guide, and a lever. The first guide is fixedly disposed to the sheet conveying device. The second guide is disposed opposite the first guide and defining a sheet conveyance passage with the first guide and is configured to rotate about a support shaft thereof operable to open and close the sheet conveyance passage. The lever is configured to rotate about a rotation shaft thereof operable to rotate the second guide. The second guide is configured to change from a closed state in which the sheet conveyance passage is closed to an open state in which the sheet conveyance passage is open, after an angle of rotation of the lever exceeds a threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2017Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Kenji Hari
-
Publication number: 20180251332Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is configured to press a fold line that is formed on a sheet. The sheet processing apparatus includes: a sheet supporting unit configured to support the sheet in a pressing direction for pressing the fold line; a pressing unit configured to press the fold line that is formed on the sheet that is supported by the sheet supporting unit; and a pressing-force generating unit configured to generate a pressing force for pressing the sheet supporting unit against the pressing unit at a central part in a direction along which the fold line is formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2018Publication date: September 6, 2018Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kenji HARI, Manabu YAMANAKA, Nagayasu YOSHIDA
-
Patent number: 9994414Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is configured to press a fold line that is formed on a sheet. The sheet processing apparatus includes: a sheet supporting unit configured to support the sheet in a pressing direction for pressing the fold line; a pressing unit configured to press the fold line that is formed on the sheet that is supported by the sheet supporting unit; and a pressing-force generating unit configured to generate a pressing force for pressing the sheet supporting unit against the pressing unit at a central part in a direction along which the fold line is formed.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2017Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITEDInventors: Kenji Hari, Manabu Yamanaka, Nagayasu Yoshida
-
Publication number: 20180148286Abstract: A sheet conveying device, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes a first guide, a second guide, and a lever. The first guide is fixedly disposed to the sheet conveying device. The second guide is disposed opposite the first guide and defining a sheet conveyance passage with the first guide and is configured to rotate about a support shaft thereof operable to open and close the sheet conveyance passage. The lever is configured to rotate about a rotation shaft thereof operable to rotate the second guide. The second guide is configured to change from a closed state in which the sheet conveyance passage is closed to an open state in which the sheet conveyance passage is open, after an angle of rotation of the lever exceeds a threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2017Publication date: May 31, 2018Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Kenji Hari
-
Publication number: 20170203935Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is configured to press a fold line that is formed on a sheet. The sheet processing apparatus includes: a sheet supporting unit configured to support the sheet in a pressing direction for pressing the fold line; a pressing unit configured to press the fold line that is formed on the sheet that is supported by the sheet supporting unit; and a pressing-force generating unit configured to generate a pressing force for pressing the sheet supporting unit against the pressing unit at a central part in a direction along which the fold line is formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2017Publication date: July 20, 2017Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kenji HARI, Manabu YAMANAKA, Nagayasu YOSHIDA
-
Patent number: 9637342Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is configured to press a fold line that is formed on a sheet. The sheet processing apparatus includes: a sheet supporting unit configured to support the sheet in a pressing direction for pressing the fold line; a pressing unit configured to press the fold line that is formed on the sheet that is supported by the sheet supporting unit; and a pressing-force generating unit configured to generate a pressing force for pressing the sheet supporting unit against the pressing unit at a central part in a direction along which the fold line is formed.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2015Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Kenji Hari, Manabu Yamanaka, Nagayasu Yoshida
-
Publication number: 20150321872Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus is configured to press a fold line that is formed on a sheet. The sheet processing apparatus includes: a sheet supporting unit configured to support the sheet in a pressing direction for pressing the fold line; a pressing unit configured to press the fold line that is formed on the sheet that is supported by the sheet supporting unit; and a pressing-force generating unit configured to generate a pressing force for pressing the sheet supporting unit against the pressing unit at a central part in a direction along which the fold line is formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2015Publication date: November 12, 2015Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITEDInventors: Kenji HARI, Manabu YAMANAKA, Nagayasu YOSHIDA
-
Patent number: 8336874Abstract: A solenoid device including a plunger, a solenoid configured to cause a displacement of the plunger, and a driving control unit configured to control driving of the solenoid. The driving control unit supplies current pulses to the solenoid and changes a pulse interval of the current pulses.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2008Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Chisa Kato, Kenji Hari, Toshihisa Takada
-
Publication number: 20090152792Abstract: A solenoid device including a plunger, a solenoid configured to cause a displacement of the plunger, and a driving control unit configured to control driving of the solenoid. The driving control unit supplies current pulses to the solenoid and changes a pulse interval of the current pulses.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2008Publication date: June 18, 2009Inventors: Chisa Kato, Kenji Hari, Toshihisa Takada
-
Patent number: 7548720Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a body and an auto document feeder. The body includes an exposure glass, a reader for reading an image of an original sheet through the exposure glass, and a guide disposed on the exposure glass and configured to support the original sheet. The auto document feeder is swingably moved between an open position and a closed position relative to the body and feeds the original sheet onto the exposure glass when situated at the closed position. The auto document feeder includes a press and a regulator. The press presses the original sheet onto the exposure glass. The regulator is mounted to the press and contacts the guide when the auto document feeder is situated at the closed position so as to form a slit between the exposure glass and the press. The slit is barely enough to allow the original sheet to pass therethrough.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2006Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Kenji Hari