Patents by Inventor Kiichiro Shimosaka

Kiichiro Shimosaka 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).

  • Publication number: 20240150141
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a mounting table having a mounting surface on which a medium is to be placed, a side guide disposed on the mounting surface and including a restricting surface to restrict the medium in a width direction of the medium, and a recessed portion disposed at an upstream or downstream end portion of the side guide in a medium conveyance direction of the medium. The recessed portion has an upper surface and a side surface. The side surface includes a first portion having a first angle with respect to the restricting surface and a second portion having a second angle with respect to the restricting surface. The second angle is different from the first angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Kiichiro SHIMOSAKA, Syuichi MORIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20240132314
    Abstract: A medium conveyance apparatus includes a first sensor located at a center part in a direction perpendicular to a medium conveyance direction; a second sensor located at a downstream side from the first sensor in the medium conveyance direction and at the center part in the direction perpendicular to the medium conveyance direction, a third sensor located at a downstream side from the second sensor in the medium conveyance direction and at the one side in the direction perpendicular to the medium conveyance direction, and a processor to determine whether a tilt angle of the medium being conveyed has changed based on a time from when the first sensor detects the medium to when the second sensor detects the medium when the first sensor detects the medium first, the third sensor detects the medium second, and the second sensor detects the medium third.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Kiichiro Shimosaka, Syuichi Morikawa
  • Patent number: 11952238
    Abstract: Provided are a multi-feed detection apparatus, a control method, and a control program to suitably determine whether or not the multi-feed detection apparatus returns a fed medium to a direction of a medium tray when multi-feed has occurred. A multi-feed detection apparatus includes an ultrasonic sensor to generate an ultrasonic signal, a multi-feed determination module to determine that feeding of the medium is normal when a signal value of the ultrasonic signal is equal to or more than a first threshold value, and determine that a multi-feed of the medium has occurred when the signal value of the ultrasonic signal is less than the first threshold value, and a control module to control the feed module to return the fed medium to a direction of the medium tray when the signal value of the ultrasonic signal is less than a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventors: Kiichiro Shimosaka, Masaaki Sakai
  • Publication number: 20240092604
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a loading tray to place media, a feed roller to separate and sequentially feed the media placed on the loading tray, a motor to drive the feed roller, a sensor located on a downstream side of the feed roller in a medium conveying direction to detect a medium, and a processor to control the motor. In a separation period from a start of medium feeding by the feed roller to detection of a front edge of the first medium by the sensor, when feeding a first medium of a plurality of media placed on the loading tray, the processor controls the motor to rotate the feed roller at a constant speed, and when feeding a second or subsequent medium, the processor controls the motor to rotate the feed roller at a first speed and then at a second speed higher than the first speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Kiichiro SHIMOSAKA, Syuichi MORIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20240043231
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a pair of conveyance rollers including a first roller and a second roller facing the first roller on an upward side of the first roller, to convey a medium between the first roller and the second roller, and a pair of guides including a lower guide located on an upstream side of the pair of conveyance rollers in a medium conveying direction and an upper guide facing the lower guide, to guide the medium to the pair of conveyance rollers. The upper guide is movably located upwardly according to a conveyance of the medium and the lower guide is movably located downwardly according to the conveyance of the medium so that a space between the pair of guides is changed according to the medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Kiichiro Shimosaka, Hirotoshi Kakuda
  • Publication number: 20230406653
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a first optical sensor located on an upper part of the housing and in a central part of the housing in a direction perpendicular to a medium conveying direction, a second optical sensor located on an upper part of the housing and on a side of the first optical sensor in the direction perpendicular to the medium conveying direction, and a processor to detect a folding of a medium based on the first signal or the second signal, and stop feeding of the medium by the feed roller in accordance with a detection result of the folding of the medium. The first light emitter emits first light toward a downstream side of the medium in the medium conveying direction, and the second light emitter emits second light toward an upstream side of the medium in the medium conveying direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Kiichiro Shimosaka, Masato Shimura
  • Patent number: 11827482
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a pair of conveyance rollers including a first roller and a second roller facing the first roller on an upward side of the first roller, to convey a medium between the first roller and the second roller, and a pair of guides including a lower guide located on an upstream side of the pair of conveyance rollers in a medium conveying direction and an upper guide facing the lower guide, to guide the medium to the pair of conveyance rollers. The upper guide is movably located upwardly according to a conveyance of the medium and the lower guide is movably located downwardly according to the conveyance of the medium so that a space between the pair of guides is changed according to the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventors: Kiichiro Shimosaka, Hirotoshi Kakuda
  • Patent number: 11772918
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a first optical sensor located on an upper part of the housing and in a central part of the housing in a direction perpendicular to a medium conveying direction, a second optical sensor located on an upper part of the housing and on a side of the first optical sensor in the direction perpendicular to the medium conveying direction, and a processor to detect a folding of a medium based on the first signal or the second signal, and stop feeding of the medium by the feed roller in accordance with a detection result of the folding of the medium. The first light emitter emits first light toward a downstream side of the medium in the medium conveying direction, and the second light emitter emits second light toward an upstream side of the medium in the medium conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventors: Kiichiro Shimosaka, Masato Shimura
  • Publication number: 20230038655
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes feed roller pairs spaced and located in a direction perpendicular to a medium conveying direction, to separate and feed a medium, and conveying roller pairs located on a downstream side of the feed roller pairs in the medium conveying direction, and spaced and located in the direction perpendicular to the medium conveying direction. For each of the conveying roller pairs, a diameter of an outer end in the direction perpendicular to the medium conveying direction of at least one conveying roller is larger than a diameter of an inner end in the direction perpendicular to the medium conveying direction of said conveying roller, and a total D of differences between the diameter of the outer end and the diameter of the inner end of each conveying roller is 0.06 mm or more and 1.00 mm or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Kiichiro SHIMOSAKA, Hideyuki OKUMURA
  • Publication number: 20220380167
    Abstract: Provided are a medium conveying apparatus, a control method, and a control program is to enable further reduction in the time required for conveying the medium while suppressing the occurrence of the conveyance abnormality of the medium. A medium conveying apparatus includes a conveying mechanism to convey a medium, a determination module to determine whether a conveyance abnormality of the medium has occurred, and a control module to control the conveying mechanism so as to increase a conveyance speed of the medium to be conveyed thereafter, or reduce a conveyance interval of the medium to be conveyed thereafter if the conveyance abnormality of the medium has not occurred when a predetermined number of medium is conveyed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Kiichiro SHIMOSAKA, Sachiko FUDEYASU, Hisashi OGI
  • Publication number: 20220234847
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a first optical sensor located on an upper part of the housing and in a central part of the housing in a direction perpendicular to a medium conveying direction, a second optical sensor located on an upper part of the housing and on a side of the first optical sensor in the direction perpendicular to the medium conveying direction, and a processor to detect a folding of a medium based on the first signal or the second signal, and stop feeding of the medium by the feed roller in accordance with a detection result of the folding of the medium. The first light emitter emits first light toward a downstream side of the medium in the medium conveying direction, and the second light emitter emits second light toward an upstream side of the medium in the medium conveying direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Kiichiro Shimosaka, Masato Shimura
  • Patent number: 11332332
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a first optical sensor located on an upper part of the housing and in a central part of the housing in a direction perpendicular to a medium conveying direction, a second optical sensor located on an upper part of the housing and on a side of the first optical sensor in the direction perpendicular to the medium conveying direction, and a processor to detect a folding of a medium based on the first signal or the second signal, and stop feeding of the medium by the feed roller in accordance with a detection result of the folding of the medium. The first light emitter emits first light toward a downstream side of the medium in the medium conveying direction, and the second light emitter emits second light toward an upstream side of the medium in the medium conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventors: Kiichiro Shimosaka, Masato Shimura
  • Patent number: 11332329
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a medium tray, a pair of side guides to regulate a width direction of a medium, and a housing on which the medium tray is located and including a conveyance path capable of conveying the medium placed on the medium tray. The pair of side guides are located on the medium tray so that outer ends of the pair of side guides can be positioned from an inside of the medium tray to an outside of a maximum width of the medium tray. The conveyance path can convey a medium having a width of an inside of the pair of side guides even when the outer ends of the pair of side guides are positioned outside the maximum width of the medium tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventors: Kiichiro Shimosaka, Yoshito Hirai, Norihiro Takayama
  • Publication number: 20220073302
    Abstract: Provided are a multi-feed detection apparatus, a control method, and a control program to suitably determine whether or not the multi-feed detection apparatus returns a fed medium to a direction of a medium tray when multi-feed has occurred. A multi-feed detection apparatus includes an ultrasonic sensor to generate an ultrasonic signal, a multi-feed determination module to determine that feeding of the medium is normal when a signal value of the ultrasonic signal is equal to or more than a first threshold value, and determine that a multi-feed of the medium has occurred when the signal value of the ultrasonic signal is less than the first threshold value, and a control module to control the feed module to return the fed medium to a direction of the medium tray when the signal value of the ultrasonic signal is less than a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Kiichiro SHIMOSAKA, Masaaki SAKAI
  • Publication number: 20210188579
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a pair of conveyance rollers including a first roller and a second roller facing the first roller on an upward side of the first roller, to convey a medium between the first roller and the second roller, and a pair of guides including a lower guide located on an upstream side of the pair of conveyance rollers in a medium conveying direction and an upper guide facing the lower guide, to guide the medium to the pair of conveyance rollers. The upper guide is movably located upwardly according to a conveyance of the medium and the lower guide is movably located downwardly according to the conveyance of the medium so that a space between the pair of guides is changed according to the medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Kiichiro Shimosaka, Hirotoshi Kakuda
  • Publication number: 20210188573
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a medium tray, a pair of side guides to regulate a width direction of a medium, and a housing on which the medium tray is located and including a conveyance path capable of conveying the medium placed on the medium tray. The pair of side guides are located on the medium tray so that outer ends of the pair of side guides can be positioned from an inside of the medium tray to an outside of a maximum width of the medium tray. The conveyance path can convey a medium having a width of an inside of the pair of side guides even when the outer ends of the pair of side guides are positioned outside the maximum width of the medium tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Kiichiro Shimosaka, Yoshito Hirai, Norihiro Takayama
  • Publication number: 20200198908
    Abstract: A medium conveying apparatus includes a first optical sensor located on an upper part of the housing and in a central part of the housing in a direction perpendicular to a medium conveying direction, a second optical sensor located on an upper part of the housing and on a side of the first optical sensor in the direction perpendicular to the medium conveying direction, and a processor to detect a folding of a medium based on the first signal or the second signal, and stop feeding of the medium by the feed roller in accordance with a detection result of the folding of the medium. The first light emitter emits first light toward a downstream side of the medium in the medium conveying direction, and the second light emitter emits second light toward an upstream side of the medium in the medium conveying direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Kiichiro Shimosaka, Masato Shimura
  • Patent number: 10597244
    Abstract: The document conveying apparatus includes a body, a document tray, a guiding tray, a first support member that supports the document tray movably between a open position where a document is placed on the first document stacking face, and a close position where the document tray is closed, and a second support member that supports the guiding tray. The second support member positions the guiding tray at a first distance from the document tray, when the document tray is at the open position. The second support member positions the guiding tray at a second distance from the document tray, when the document tray is at the close position. The second distance is smaller than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Niwata, Kiichiro Shimosaka
  • Publication number: 20190185281
    Abstract: The document conveying apparatus includes a body, a document tray, a guiding tray, a first support member that supports the document tray movably between a open position where a document is placed on the first document stacking face, and a close position where the document tray is closed, and a second support member that supports the guiding tray. The second support member positions the guiding tray at a first distance from the document tray, when the document tray is at the open position. The second support member positions the guiding tray at a second distance from the document tray, when the document tray is at the close position. The second distance is smaller than the first distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Tomoyuki NIWATA, Kiichiro SHIMOSAKA
  • Patent number: 10138081
    Abstract: A feeding roller for a document conveying apparatus includes a plurality of groove portions arranged with a regular interval in a width direction of the feeding roller on a surface of the feeding roller, and a projection portion provided between each pair of adjacent groove portions to scrape off paper particles on the external peripheral. The projection portion has a regular pattern extending in the width direction of the feeding roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: KIANA ANALYTICS INC.
    Inventors: Kiichiro Shimosaka, Shuichi Morikawa