Patents by Inventor Kikuo Mizutani

Kikuo Mizutani 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: 11999584
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus includes a conveyance unit, a discharge port, a tray, an elevation unit, a detection unit, and a control unit. The conveyance unit conveys a print medium supplied from an image forming apparatus. The discharge port discharges the print medium conveyed by the conveyance unit. The tray is stacked with the print medium discharged from the discharge port and can be raised and lowered in a vertical direction. The elevation unit raises and lower the tray in the vertical direction. The detection unit detects a top surface of an uppermost print medium of one or more sheets of print media stacked on the tray. The control unit controls the conveyance unit and the elevation unit and hold a relative position of the top surface with respect to the discharge port if the print medium is discharged from the discharge port at a first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kikuo Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20230219780
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus includes a conveyance unit, a discharge port, a tray, an elevation unit, a detection unit, and a control unit. The conveyance unit conveys a print medium supplied from an image forming apparatus. The discharge port discharges the print medium conveyed by the conveyance unit. The tray is stacked with the print medium discharged from the discharge port and can be raised and lowered in a vertical direction. The elevation unit raises and lower the tray in the vertical direction. The detection unit detects a top surface of an uppermost print medium of one or more sheets of print media stacked on the tray. The control unit controls the conveyance unit and the elevation unit and hold a relative position of the top surface with respect to the discharge port if the print medium is discharged from the discharge port at a first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventor: Kikuo Mizutani
  • Patent number: 11597621
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus includes a conveyance unit, a discharge port, a tray, an elevation unit, a detection unit, and a control unit. The conveyance unit conveys a print medium supplied from an image forming apparatus. The discharge port discharges the print medium conveyed by the conveyance unit. The tray is stacked with the print medium discharged from the discharge port and can be raised and lowered in a vertical direction. The elevation unit raises and lower the tray in the vertical direction. The detection unit detects a top surface of an uppermost print medium of one or more sheets of print media stacked on the tray. The control unit controls the conveyance unit and the elevation unit and hold a relative position of the top surface with respect to the discharge port if the print medium is discharged from the discharge port at a first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kikuo Mizutani
  • Patent number: 11440762
    Abstract: A card separation apparatus includes a movable tray having a surface onto which a sheet is conveyed after a card has been separated from the sheet, and a card separation unit mounted on the surface for movement with the movable tray, the card separation unit having an opening through which the sheet is conveyed, and a controller configured to send an instruction to the movable tray to be moved at a predetermined timing after a leading edge of the sheet to which the card is attached enters the opening, so as to cause the sheet to be initially separated from the card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kikuo Mizutani
  • Patent number: 11272068
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus is connected to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet. The post-processing apparatus includes a post-processor, a sensor, and a controller. The post-processor performs post-processing on the sheet. The sensor is provided in a space where the post-processor operates and provides an output based on a presence of a foreign substance in the space. The controller acquires a first output value from the sensor prior to the image forming apparatus forming the image on the sheet, acquires a second output value from the sensor after the image forming apparatus forms the image on the sheet and before the post-processor performs the post-processing on the sheet, and determines whether or not the foreign substance is present in the space based on the first output value and the second output value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kikuo Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20210371228
    Abstract: A sheet binding method involves holding a tape in at least two different locations of the tape; guiding a sheet bundle to between the two different locations of the tape; bending and holding the tape so as to be convex with respect to a conveying direction on a downstream side of the sheet bundle; and contacting the convex tape with the sheet bundle to bind the sheet bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventor: Kikuo Mizutani
  • Patent number: 11124380
    Abstract: A sheet binding apparatus according to an embodiment includes a tape holding section and a guide section. The tape holding section holds a tape in at least two parts. The guide section guides a sheet bundle to between the two parts of the tape. The tape holding section bends and holds the tape to be convex to a conveying direction downstream side of the sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kikuo Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20210289093
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus is connected to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet. The post-processing apparatus includes a post-processor, a sensor, and a controller. The post-processor performs post-processing on the sheet. The sensor is provided in a space where the post-processor operates and provides an output based on a presence of a foreign substance in the space. The controller acquires a first output value from the sensor prior to the image forming apparatus forming the image on the sheet, acquires a second output value from the sensor after the image forming apparatus forms the image on the sheet and before the post-processor performs the post-processing on the sheet, and determines whether or not the foreign substance is present in the space based on the first output value and the second output value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kikuo MIZUTANI
  • Patent number: 10906767
    Abstract: A sheet binding device includes a sheet shifting unit, a tape cutter, and a tape attachment unit. The sheet shifting unit has a guide and is configured to stack multiple sheets on the guide with edge portions that are shifted from each other to form a sheet bundle. The tape cutter cuts tape with a target length that is varied in accordance with a thickness of the sheet bundle. The tape attachment unit is configured to attach the cut tape having the target length to an edge portion of the sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kikuo Mizutani
  • Patent number: 10766729
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet binding device includes a first mounting part, a second mounting part, and a mounting adjustment part. The first mounting part mounts a tape on an edge part of a sheet bundle. The second mounting part is opposite to the first mounting part in a sheet bundle thickness direction. The mounting adjustment part is capable of adjusting a mounting gap between the first mounting part and the second mounting part based upon a thickness of the sheet bundle. The mounting gap is equal to or smaller than the thickness of the sheet bundle before the sheet bundle is inserted between the first mounting part and the second mounting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kikuo Mizutani
  • Patent number: 10768568
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet binding apparatus includes a first roller, a second roller, and a nip-pressure adjusting section. The first roller attaches a tape to an edge portion of a sheet bundle. The second roller is opposed to the first roller in the sheet bundle thickness direction. The nip-pressure adjusting section is capable of adjusting, on the basis of the position of an edge portion leading end of the sheet bundle, a pressing force of a nip formed by the first roller and the second roller. Before the sheet bundle is inserted between the first roller and the second roller, an interval between the first roller and the second roller is equal to or smaller than the thickness of the sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kikuo Mizutani
  • Patent number: 10766658
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a label peeling device includes a tray, a pressing unit, and a control unit. The tray is configured to support a label sheet thereon. The pressing unit is configured to be driven in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the label sheet. The control unit is configured to drive the pressing unit toward a central portion of the label sheet supported on the tray. The control unit performs peeling control to peel a liner sheet and a label body of the label sheet from each other by pressing an edge of the label sheet and thereby curving the label sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kikuo Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20200262232
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet binding device includes a first mounting part, a second mounting part, and a mounting adjustment part. The first mounting part mounts a tape on an edge part of a sheet bundle. The second mounting part is opposite to the first mounting part in a sheet bundle thickness direction. The mounting adjustment part is capable of adjusting a mounting gap between the first mounting part and the second mounting part based upon a thickness of the sheet bundle. The mounting gap is equal to or smaller than the thickness of the sheet bundle before the sheet bundle is inserted between the first mounting part and the second mounting part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventor: Kikuo Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20200264551
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet binding apparatus includes a first roller, a second roller, and a nip-pressure adjusting section. The first roller attaches a tape to an edge portion of a sheet bundle. The second roller is opposed to the first roller in the sheet bundle thickness direction. The nip-pressure adjusting section is capable of adjusting, on the basis of the position of an edge portion leading end of the sheet bundle, a pressing force of a nip formed by the first roller and the second roller. Before the sheet bundle is inserted between the first roller and the second roller, an interval between the first roller and the second roller is equal to or smaller than the thickness of the sheet bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventor: Kikuo Mizutani
  • Patent number: 10744810
    Abstract: A binding mechanism has a base, a feeder, a tape cutting unit, a tape holding unit and a tape support driving unit. The feeder is supported by the base. The feeder feeds an adhesive tape. The tape cutting unit is supported by the base. The tape cutting unit cuts the fed adhesive tape. The tape holding unit can hold the fed adhesive tape. The tape support units are installed as a pair. The tape support driving unit drives the pair of tape support units such that the pair of tape support units hold the fed adhesive tape simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takamitsu Sunaoshi, Takahiro Kokubo, Shunsuke Hattori, Kikuo Mizutani
  • Patent number: 10710833
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus includes a sheet discharge tray to which a sheet or a sheet bundle is discharged, and a shift mechanism configured to shift a discharge position of the sheet or the sheet bundle discharged to the sheet discharge tray from a reference position. The apparatus further includes a controller configured to control the shift mechanism to divide the sheet or the sheet bundle in a first direction in a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the sheet or the sheet bundle and a second direction opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kikuo Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20200180891
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus includes a sheet discharge tray to which a sheet or a sheet bundle is discharged, and a shift mechanism configured to shift a discharge position of the sheet or the sheet bundle discharged to the sheet discharge tray from a reference position. The apparatus further includes a controller configured to control the shift mechanism to divide the sheet or the sheet bundle in a first direction in a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the sheet or the sheet bundle and a second direction opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kikuo MIZUTANI
  • Publication number: 20200172366
    Abstract: A sheet binding apparatus according to an embodiment includes a tape holding section and a guide section. The tape holding section holds a tape in at least two parts. The guide section guides a sheet bundle to between the two parts of the tape. The tape holding section bends and holds the tape to be convex to a conveying direction downstream side of the sheet bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventor: Kikuo Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20200017250
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a label peeling device includes a tray, a pressing unit, and a control unit. The tray is configured to support a label sheet thereon. The pressing unit is configured to be driven in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the label sheet. The control unit is configured to drive the pressing unit toward a central portion of the label sheet supported on the tray. The control unit performs peeling control to peel a liner sheet and a label body of the label sheet from each other by pressing an edge of the label sheet and thereby curving the label sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventor: Kikuo MIZUTANI
  • Patent number: 10509347
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a detector, a heater, and a controller. The detector detects an image formed on a sheet. The heater applies a predetermined heat amount onto the sheet to carry out erasing processing on the sheet. The controller controls, based on a detection result of the detector, the number of times the erasing processing is to be carried out on the sheet and a heat amount to be applied onto the sheet in the erasing processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kikuo Mizutani