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).

  • Publication number: 20120319348
    Abstract: A sheet feed apparatus which includes a sheet feed tray in which a plurality of sheets is loaded in piles; a sheet feed roller which is provided at a forward position of the sheet feed tray in a sheet feed direction, and sends the loaded sheets inside thereof; and a lift detection sensor which detects, by using a movable lever, a lift of a sheet bundle which occurs when the sheet bundle, of which a rear or a side in a sheet feed direction is bound, is sent by the sheet feed roller therein, the lift detection sensor being provided at a side position of the sheet bundle in a width direction and at a backward position with respect to the center of the sheet bundle in the sheet feed direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Toshiaki OSHIRO, Ken Iguchi, Isao Yahata, Kikuo Mizutani, Hiroyuki Taki, Chiaki Iizuka, Hidetoshi Yokochi, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi, Hiroyuki Hazu, Yoichi Yamaguchi, Hiroyuki Sugiyama, Yuichi Saito, Jun Ishii
  • Publication number: 20120315591
    Abstract: An erasing apparatus of embodiments has a color erasing device, the color erasing device has: a first heating member; a second heating member provided at a position facing the first heating member so as to form a nip portion therebetween through which the sheet is passed; a halogen lamp configured to heat the second heating member from outside thereof; and a reflector provided at a position opposite to the second heating member with the halogen lamp interposed therebetween and having a reflective surface configured to reflect heat received from the halogen lamp toward the second heating member, the reflector forming a guiding section configured to be in sliding contact with the sheet being conveyed so as to guide the sheet to the nip portion, the guiding section being heated by the halogen lamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki TSUCHIHASHI, Kikuo Mizutani, Hidetoshi Yokochi, Isao Yahata, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Hiroyuki Taki, Ken Iguchi, Chiaki Iizuka
  • Publication number: 20120306983
    Abstract: In general, according to an embodiment, an erasing section erases the image on the sheet. A first conveying path conveys the sheet fed from a sheet feeding section and is provided with a reading section and a discharge section downstream of the reading section in a sheet conveying direction. A second conveying path is branched from the first conveying path downstream of the reading section in the sheet conveying direction and upstream of the discharge section in the sheet conveying direction. The second conveying path merges with the first conveying path upstream of the reading section in the sheet conveying direction and is provided with the erasing section. A sorting member, which is located at a branch point at which the second conveying path is branched from the first conveying path. A recording section is located on the first conveying path and records count information indicative of an erase count.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kikuo MIZUTANI, Isao YAHATA, Takahiro KAWAGUCHI, Yoshiaki SUGIZAKI, Ken IGUCHl, Hiroyuki TAKI, Hiroyuki TSUCHIHASHI, Chiaki IIZUKA, Hidetoshi YOKOCHI
  • Publication number: 20120306144
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a image erasing apparatus includes a paper feeding section configured to feed a sheet having a erasable image, a erasing section configured to erase the image, a paper discharge section including a paper discharge member configured to discharge, downstream in a conveying path of the erasing section, the sheet from which the image is erased and a paper discharge tray on which the discharged sheet is stacked, and a longitudinal alignment plate pivotably provided above the paper discharge tray and configured to align the leading end of the sheet stacked on the paper discharge tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki TAKI, Isao YAHATA, Takahiro KAWAGUCHI, Yoshiaki SUGIZAKI, Kikuo MIZUTANI, Ken IGUCHI, Hiroyuki TSUCHIHASHI, Chiaki IIZUKA, Hidetoshi YOKOCHI
  • Publication number: 20120307314
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a first discharging unit and a second discharging unit discharge a sheet. A first conveying path extends from a scanning unit to the first discharging unit. A second conveying path branches off from the first conveying path at a branch point of the first conveying path and extends to the second discharging unit. A conveying member discharges the sheet to the first discharging unit when a discharging destination of the sheet is the first discharging unit, and the conveying member makes part of the sheet project from the first conveying path to the first discharging unit, locates an upstream tip end of the sheet in a sheet conveying direction, at a position downstream in the sheet conveying direction from the branch point, and conveys the sheet to switchback to the second conveying path, when the discharging destination of the sheet is the second discharging unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshiaki SUGIZAKI, Hiroyuki TAKI, Hidetoshi YOKOCHI, Isao YAHATA, Takahiro KAWAGUCHI, Ken IGUCHI, Kikuo MIZUTANI, Hiroyuki TSUCHIHASHI, Chiaki IIZUKA, Toshiaki OSHIRO, Hiroyuki HAZU, Yoichi YAMAGUCHI, Hiroyuki SUGIYAMA, Yuichi SAITO
  • Publication number: 20120306984
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a sheet discharging device includes: a first conveying path configured to guide a sheet to be conveyed; a second conveying path branched from the first conveying path at a branch point of the first conveying path; a sorting section configured to sort a sheet being conveyed on the first conveying path into either a downstream side of the branch point on the first conveying path or the second conveying path; a first discharge tray configured to receive a sheet discharged from the first conveying path at a first sheet loading surface; and a second discharge tray placed below the first discharge tray and configured to receive a sheet discharged from the second conveying path at a second sheet loading surface whose distance to the first sheet loading surface increases toward a downstream side thereof in a sheet discharging direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Isao YAHATA, Kikuo Mizutani, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Ken Iguchi, Hiroyuki Taki, Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi, Chiaki Iizuka, Hidetoshi Yokochi, Toshiaki Oshiro, Hiroyuki Hazu, Yoichi Yamaguchi, Hiroyuki Sugiyama, Yuichi Saito
  • Publication number: 20120306985
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a first conveying path to form a conveying path from a sheet supply portion toward an ejector, a reader arranged on the first conveying path to read an image on a surface of the sheet, an erasure to erase the image on the sheet formed with image erasable material, a switching portion arranged on the first conveying path at a downstream side of the reader in a sheet conveying direction to switch the sheet conveying direction to a direction of the ejector or a direction of the erasure, and a second conveying path having the erasure which, at a position where the switching portion is arranged, branches from the first conveying path at the downstream side of the reader and merges with the first conveying path at a meeting point between the sheet supply portion and the reader.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ken IGUCHI, Hidetoshi Yokochi, Isao Yahata, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Kikuo Mizutani, Hiroyuki Taki, Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi, Chiaki Ilzuka
  • Publication number: 20120306982
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a color erasing apparatus includes a color erasing section which erases a color of an image formed with an erasable color material on a sheet conveyed at first speed, a reading section which reads an image on the surface of the sheet conveyed at second speed higher than the first speed, a first conveying section, and a second conveying section. The first conveying section includes a first conveying roller arranged downstream in a sheet conveying direction of the color erasing section and conveys the sheet at the first speed. The second conveying section includes a second conveying roller arranged upstream in the sheet conveying direction of the reading section and in a position where the second conveying roller nips the conveyed sheet simultaneously with the first conveying roller. The second conveying section conveys the sheet to the reading section at the second speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki TAKI, Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Isao Yahata, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Kikuo Mizutani, Ken Iguchi, Chiaki Ilzuka, Hidetoshi Yokochi, Toshiaki Oshiro, Hiroyuki Hazu, Yoichi Yamaguchi, Hiroyuki Sugiyama, Yuichi Saito
  • Patent number: 8240595
    Abstract: Disclosed is a printer including a paper feeder for accommodating a rolled paper to be pulled out and recorded thereon. The feeder has a container section to set the roll, in which first and second support walls are arranged to rotatably support the roll. While paper from the roil is taken out, a contact force produced by the roll against the first support wall is kept larger than that in a stationary state, and a contact force produced by the roll against second support wall is kept smaller than that in the stationary state. A friction coefficient between the second support wall and the roll is larger than one between first support wall and the roll, the roll being in slidable contact with the first and second support walls. Therefore, when the recording is started, an impact force to the roll can be alleviated, resulting in reducing unevenness in image in a feeding direction of the paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Sato, Kikuo Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20120147398
    Abstract: A color erasing apparatus includes a conveyance member to convey a sheet on which an image is formed of a color erasable coloring material, a color erasing part to erase a color of the coloring material of the image formed on the sheet conveyed by the conveyance member, a control part that counts the processed number of sheets images of which are color-erased by the color erasing part and determines whether the processed number of sheets exceeds a previously set threshold, and a notification interface to output a signal for notifying that, cleaning of the color erasing part is required if the processed number of sheets exceeds the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Ken Iguchi, Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi, Isao Yahata, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroyuki Taki, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Kikuo Mizutani, Chiaki Iizuka, Hidetoshi Yokochi
  • Publication number: 20120148327
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a erasing apparatus includes: a paper feeding section configured to feed a recording medium on which a erasable image is recorded to a conveying path; a conveying section configured to convey the recording medium along the conveying path; a erasing section configured to erase a color of the image on the recording medium; a sensor configured to detect the recording medium conveyed through the erasing section by the conveying section; and a control section configured to perform, if the sensor detects occurrence of a jam of the recording medium, control to convey the recording medium present in the conveying path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Taki, Ken Iguchi, Isao Yahata, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroyuki Taguchi, Hiroyuki Tsuchihashi, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Kikuo Mizutani, Chiaki Iizuka, Hidetoshi Yokochi, Toshiaki Oshiro, Hiroyuki Hazu, Yoici Yamaguchi, Hiroyuki Sugiyama, Yuichi Saito, Jun Ishii
  • Publication number: 20120025441
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet processing device includes a jogger fence configured to carry out a crosswise direction alignment to a stack of image formed sheets ejected from an image forming apparatus, a rear end fence acting as a lengthwise reference edge, a stapling device configured to staple the aligned sheet stack, a discharge belt configured to move the stapled sheet stack to a sheet ejection tray, and a controller to control movement of the jogger fence during the sheet stack being moved by the discharge belt so as to move the jogger fence more than once between a position where the jogger fence does not contact the edge of the sheet stack and a position where the jogger fence pressing contact the edge of the sheet stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Naofumi Soga, Kikuo Mizutani, Tomomi Iijima
  • Publication number: 20110215517
    Abstract: A sheet guide device according to an embodiment includes: a sheet carrying unit which carries a sheet from a paper discharge port of an image forming apparatus to a paper supply port of a finishing apparatus; and a pair of guide plates having one end attached to an inner side of the paper discharge port so as to be narrowed in a tapered form from the paper discharge port toward the paper supply port and having the other end attached to an inner side of the paper supply port. The pair of guide plates has one of the one end and the other end as a fulcrum and has the other as a turning end. When the paper discharge port and the paper supply port are shifted from each other in height position, the turning end turns according to the quantity of shift in the height position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kikuo MIZUTANI, Katsuya Sasahara
  • Publication number: 20110216338
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a sheet finishing apparatus includes a supporting unit, a positioning unit, a socket mechanism, and a moving unit. The supporting unit supports a sheet fed from an image forming unit. The positioning unit has a contact surface which a side end of the sheet placed on the supporting unit is come into contact with. The socket mechanism projects from the contact surface of the positioning unit and is located above the supporting unit. The moving unit comes into contact with the upper surface of the sheet placed on the supporting unit and moves the sheet in the direction of the contact surface of the positioning unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shogo OZAWA, Kikuo MIZUTANI
  • Patent number: 7992865
    Abstract: A tray comprises a main body to support a sheet, an extension member rotatably mounted to the main body and extending from the main body in the discharging direction of the sheet to support a part of the sheet discharged from the main body, first and second shafts provided at the end of the extension member and inserted in first and second holes formed on the main body, and a projection provided on the second shaft inserted in the second hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Kikuo Mizutani
  • Patent number: 7954802
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus discharges and conveys a sheet from a process tray to a storage tray, and decelerates a bundle hook and a paper discharge roller when the bundle hook reaches a discharge start position of a bundle of sheets. At this time, a tangential speed of the paper discharge roller is faster than a movement speed of the bundle hook. Subsequently, the sheet post-processing apparatus stops the paper discharge roller in accordance with a rotation position of the bundle hook, and then decelerates the movement speed of the bundle hook. After the sheets are stacked on the storage tray, the bundle hook accelerates to return to a home position. Additionally, the sheet post-processing apparatus includes a spool 17 having a sheet pressing guide member 16 with a bent portion 16A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kikuo Mizutani, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Hiroyuki Taki, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Yasunobu Terao, Tomomi Iijima, Mikio Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20110002726
    Abstract: Disclosed is a printer including a paper feeder for accommodating a rolled paper to be pulled out and recorded thereon. The feeder has a container section to set the roll, in which first and second support walls are arranged to rotatably support the roll. While paper from the roil is taken out, a contact force produced by the roll against the first support wall is kept larger than that in a stationary state, and a contact force produced by the roll against second support wall is kept smaller than that in the stationary state. A friction coefficient between the second support wall and the roll is larger than one between first support wall and the roll, the roll being in slidable contact with the first and second support walls. Therefore, when the recording is started, an impact force to the roll can be alleviated, resulting in reducing unevenness in image in a feeding direction of the paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsutoshi SATO, Kikuo MIZUTANI
  • Publication number: 20100316425
    Abstract: A connecting apparatus includes a rotation conveyance section whose end is positioned below a recording medium discharge port of a recording medium discharging apparatus, and which is constructed separately from an inlet roller to nip and convey a recording medium and is rotated to receive and guide the recording medium discharged from the recording medium discharging apparatus to an inside of a recording medium receiving apparatus, and an upper conveyance mechanism whose end is positioned above the recording medium discharge port of the recording medium discharging apparatus and which is constructed separately from the inlet roller. An upper end of the connecting apparatus at a recording medium discharging apparatus side is positioned above the recording medium discharge port of the recording medium discharging apparatus, and a lower end is positioned below the recording medium discharge port of the recording medium discharging apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuya SASAHARA, Kikuo MIZUTANI
  • Publication number: 20100252982
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus discharges and conveys a sheet from a process tray to a storage tray, and decelerates a bundle hook and a paper discharge roller when the bundle hook reaches a discharge start position of a bundle of sheets. At this time, a tangential speed of the paper discharge roller is faster than a movement speed of the bundle hook. Subsequently, the sheet post-processing apparatus stops the paper discharge roller in accordance with a rotation position of the bundle hook, and then decelerates the movement speed of the bundle hook. After the sheets are stacked on the storage tray, the bundle hook accelerates to return to a home position. Additionally, the sheet post-processing apparatus includes a spool 17 having a sheet pressing guide member 16 with a bent portion 16A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kikuo MIZUTANI, Yoshiaki SUGIZAKI, Hiroyuki TAKI, Takahiro KAWAGUCHI, Yasunobu TERAO, Tomomi IIJIMA, Mikio YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 7806361
    Abstract: Disclosed is a printer including a paper feeder for accommodating a rolled paper to be pulled out and recorded thereon. The feeder has a container section to set the roll, in which first and second support walls are arranged to rotatably support the roll. While paper from the roll is taken out, a contact force produced by the roll against the first support wall is kept larger than that in a stationary state, and a contact force produced by the roll against second support wall is kept smaller than that in the stationary state. A friction coefficient between the second support wall and the roll is larger than one between first support wall and the roll, the roll being in slidable contact with the first and second support walls. Therefore, when the recording is started, an impact force to the roll can be alleviated, resulting in reducing unevenness in image in a feeding direction of the paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Sato, Kikuo Mizutani