Patents by Inventor Makoto Hidaka

Makoto Hidaka 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: 20240140132
    Abstract: An envelope processing apparatus for enclosing an enclosure in an envelope includes an envelope conveyance path, an enclosure supplier, an envelope supplier, a flap opener, and an envelope stacker. The envelope conveyance path extends in a substantially vertical direction to convey the envelope. The enclosure supplier supplies the enclosure to the envelope via the envelope conveyance path. The envelope supplier supplies the envelope to the envelope conveyance path, The flap opener opens a flap portion of the envelope between the envelope supplier and the envelope conveyance path. The envelope stacker stacks the envelope ejected from the envelope conveyance path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi SUZUKI, Michitaka SUZUKI, Yuusuke SHIBASAKI, Makoto HIDAKA, Akira KUNIEDA, Takahiro WATANABE, Takuya MORINAGA, Takahiro MATSUDA, Shingo YOSHIZAWA, Shinji ASAMI, Kazuyoshi MATSUO
  • Patent number: 11919325
    Abstract: An enclosing-sealing apparatus includes a flap opener that opens a flap of an envelope while the envelope is conveyed to an enclosing position. A first envelope detector is disposed upstream from the flap opener in an envelope conveyance direction and detects both ends of the envelope in the envelope conveyance direction. A second envelope detector is disposed downstream from the flap opener in the envelope conveyance direction and detects both ends of the envelope in the envelope conveyance direction in an open state in which the flap opens. A controller determines the open state of the flap based on a first detection result sent from the first envelope detector and a second detection result sent from the second envelope detector. The controller performs troubleshooting for enclosing the enclosure into the envelope if the controller determines that the open state of the flap is faulty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kunieda, Michitaka Suzuki, Shinji Asami, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Yuusuke Shibasaki, Takahiro Matsuda, Makoto Hidaka, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Shingo Yoshizawa, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga
  • Publication number: 20240067101
    Abstract: The vehicle-mounted device-fixing structure includes a vehicle-mounted device, a first bracket that is fixed to the vehicle-mounted device, and a second bracket that is fixed to the vehicle-mounted device. The first bracket has a first fastening member that is fastened to a first fastening surface provided on a vehicle. The second bracket has a second fastening member that is fastened to a second fastening surface provided on the vehicle. The first fastening member includes a first contact surface that contacts the first fastening surface, and the second fastening member includes a second contact surface that contacts the second fastening surface. An angle formed between the first contact surface and the second contact surface is an obtuse angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto HIDAKA
  • Patent number: 11897279
    Abstract: An envelope processing apparatus for enclosing an enclosure into an envelope conveyed to an enclosing position includes a conveyance roller that conveys the envelope to the enclosing position. A first envelope length calculator calculates a first envelope length of the envelope in an envelope conveyance direction in which the envelope is conveyed in a close state in which a flap of the envelope closes. A flap opener opens the flap while the conveyance roller conveys the envelope. A second envelope length calculator calculates a second envelope length of the envelope in the envelope conveyance direction in an open state in which the flap opens. A controller calculates a flap length of the flap in the envelope conveyance direction based on the first envelope length and the second envelope length. The controller controls enclosing of the enclosure into the envelope based on the flap length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shingo Yoshizawa, Michitaka Suzuki, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Yuusuke Shibasaki, Shinji Asami, Takahiro Matsuda, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Makoto Hidaka, Akira Kunieda, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga
  • Patent number: 11718081
    Abstract: A sheet separation device includes a rotator, a nipping member to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a first conveyor to convey the two-ply sheet in a first direction toward the rotator and a second direction reverse thereto, a winding member to wind the two-ply sheet around the rotator, a second conveyor to convey a sheet medium in the second direction, a separation claw to move in a width direction; a sheet guide to guide the separated two sheets to different passages; and control circuitry. The first conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet to the rotator with a bonded portion at an upstream end. The control circuitry inserts the separation claw into a space between the two sheets, adjusts a projection amount of the two-ply sheet from a nip of the first conveyor in the second direction, and inserts the sheet medium in two-ply sheet adjusted in the projection amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Takahashi, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Publication number: 20220380168
    Abstract: An enclosing apparatus for enclosing an enclosure into an envelope at an enclosing position includes a conveyance roller that conveys the envelope to the enclosing position and an envelope conveyance path through which the envelope is conveyed. An enclosing support is disposed in the envelope conveyance path and supports enclosing of the enclosure into the envelope. The enclosing support retracts a flap of the envelope from the envelope conveyance path while the conveyance roller conveys the envelope to the enclosing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuusuke SHIBASAKI, Michitaka SUZUKI, Shinji ASAMI, Nobuyoshi SUZUKI, Takahiro MATSUDA, Makoto HIDAKA, Kazuyoshi MATSUO, Shingo YOSHIZAWA, Akira KUNIEDA, Takahiro WATANABE, Takuya MORINAGA, Atsushi SHINODA
  • Publication number: 20220379653
    Abstract: An enclosing-sealing apparatus includes a flap opener that opens a flap of an envelope while the envelope is conveyed to an enclosing position. A first envelope detector is disposed upstream from the flap opener in an envelope conveyance direction and detects both ends of the envelope in the envelope conveyance direction. A second envelope detector is disposed downstream from the flap opener in the envelope conveyance direction and detects both ends of the envelope in the envelope conveyance direction in an open state in which the flap opens. A controller determines the open state of the flap based on a first detection result sent from the first envelope detector and a second detection result sent from the second envelope detector. The controller performs troubleshooting for enclosing the enclosure into the envelope if the controller determines that the open state of the flap is faulty.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira KUNIEDA, Michitaka SUZUKI, Shinji ASAMI, Nobuyoshi SUZUKI, Yuusuke SHIBASAKI, Takahiro MATSUDA, Makoto HIDAKA, Kazuyoshi MATSUO, Shingo YOSHIZAWA, Takahiro WATANABE, Takuya MORINAGA
  • Publication number: 20220363088
    Abstract: An envelope processing apparatus for enclosing an enclosure into an envelope conveyed to an enclosing position includes a conveyance roller that conveys the envelope to the enclosing position. A first envelope length calculator calculates a first envelope length of the envelope in an envelope conveyance direction in which the envelope is conveyed in a close state in which a flap of the envelope closes. A flap opener opens the flap while the conveyance roller conveys the envelope. A second envelope length calculator calculates a second envelope length of the envelope in the envelope conveyance direction in an open state in which the flap opens. A controller calculates a flap length of the flap in the envelope conveyance direction based on the first envelope length and the second envelope length. The controller controls enclosing of the enclosure into the envelope based on the flap length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shingo YOSHIZAWA, Michitaka SUZUKI, Nobuyoshi SUZUKI, Yuusuke SHIBASAKI, Shinji ASAMI, Takahiro MATSUDA, Kazuyoshi MATSUO, Makoto HIDAKA, Akira KUNIEDA, Takahiro WATANABE, Takuya MORINAGA
  • Patent number: 11485602
    Abstract: An embodiment of this disclosure provides a folding apparatus configured to stack and fold a designated number of sheets at a time. The folding apparatus includes a conveyor configured to sequentially convey the designated number of sheets, a stacker configured to temporarily store a sheet conveyed by the conveyor to stack the designated number of sheets, a sheet folding device configured to fold the designated number of sheets at a time, and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to cause the sheet folding device to fold the stored sheet in response to an occurrence of a sheet jam upstream from the stacker in a direction of sheet conveyance, in processing the designated number of sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Hidaka, Takahiro Watanabe, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Wataru Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20220153008
    Abstract: A sheet separation device includes a rotator, a nipping member to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a first conveyor to convey the two-ply sheet in a first direction toward the rotator and a second direction reverse thereto, a winding member to wind the two-ply sheet around the rotator, a second conveyor to convey a sheet medium in the second direction, a separation claw to move in a width direction; a sheet guide to guide the separated two sheets to different passages; and control circuitry. The first conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet to the rotator with a bonded portion at an upstream end. The control circuitry inserts the separation claw into a space between the two sheets, adjusts a projection amount of the two-ply sheet from a nip of the first conveyor in the second direction, and inserts the sheet medium in two-ply sheet adjusted in the projection amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru TAKAHASHI, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Michitaka SUZUKI, Tomomichi HOSHINO, Fumiharu YONEYAMA, Kazuyoshi MATSUO, Makoto HIDAKA, Koki SAKANO, Akira KUNIEDA, Takahiro WATANABE, Takuya MORINAGA, Yohsuke HARAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 11273629
    Abstract: A sheet separation device includes a rotator, a nipping member to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a first conveyor to convey the two-ply sheet in a first direction toward the rotator and a second direction reverse thereto, a winding member to wind the two-ply sheet around the rotator, a second conveyor to convey a sheet medium in the second direction, a separation claw to move in a width direction; a sheet guide to guide the separated two sheets to different passages; and control circuitry. The first conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet to the rotator with a bonded portion at an upstream end. The control circuitry inserts the separation claw into a space between the two sheets, adjusts a projection amount of the two-ply sheet from a nip of the first conveyor in the second direction, and inserts the sheet medium in two-ply sheet adjusted in the projection amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Takahashi, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 11267671
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a roller pair configured to convey a sheet, a sheet bundle conveyer configured to convey a sheet bundle to the roller pair, and circuitry configured to cause the sheet bundle conveyer to contact leading edges of sheets of the sheet bundle to the roller pair and cause the roller pair to rotate in reverse to align the leading edges of the sheets of the sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohsuke Haraguchi, Shinji Asami, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano
  • Patent number: 11193500
    Abstract: It is possible to provide a blower device in which the fixing position of the blower device is easily changed and the increase in cost is greatly suppressed. A blower device 100 in which a flange 201 having a fixing attaching foot 200 is attached to rails 108 and 109 formed on an outer circumferential surface of a casing 103, and a retaining block 205 is attached to the flange 201 to secure the flange 201 to the casing 103, the retaining block 205 includes a first block, a second block, and a connecting portion having smaller width and connecting the first block and the second block, and the first block and the second block each include a retaining leg portion and a latching leg portion, and a projecting portion is formed on a side surface of the retaining leg portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignees: MINEBEA MITSUMI INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuhei Kimpara, Seiya Yoshitome, Hideaki Goda, Makoto Hidaka
  • Patent number: 11193501
    Abstract: A blower device has a fixing position which is easily changed and the increase in cost is greatly suppressed. A blower device in which a flange having a fixing attaching foot is attached to rails formed on an outer circumferential surface of a casing, and a retaining block is attached to the flange to secure the flange to the casing, the retaining block includes a first block, a second block, and a connecting portion having smaller width and connecting the first block and the second block, the first block and the second block each include a retaining leg portion and a latching leg portion, and a projecting portion is formed on a side surface of the retaining leg portion and ribs are formed at both sides of the projecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignees: MINEBEA MITSUMI INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Fujita, Shuhei Kimpara, Seiya Yoshitome, Hideaki Goda, Makoto Hidaka
  • Patent number: 11161710
    Abstract: A sheet separation device to open a two-ply sheet includes a rotator; a nipping member disposed opposite the rotator and configured to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator; a conveyor configured to convey the two-ply sheet between the rotator and the nipping member, and a winding member disposed adjacent to the rotator. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet with a bonded portion of the two-ply sheet being an upstream end or a downstream end of the two-ply sheet in a conveyance direction of the two-ply sheet. The winding member winds the two-ply sheet around the rotator, to create a difference in winding circumferential length between the two sheets and separate the two sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Furuhashi, Akihiro Iwasaki, Michitaka Suzuki, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Tomomichi Hoshino, Wataru Takahashi, Takuya Morinaga, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Makoto Hidaka
  • Patent number: 11111098
    Abstract: A sheet folding system includes a plurality of sheet folding apparatuses configured to receive and perform a folding process on a sheet and circuitry configured to distribute sheets to the plurality of sheet folding apparatuses. Each of the plurality of sheet folding apparatuses includes a folding device configured to fold the sheet, a first conveyance passage configured to convey the sheet downstream in a sheet conveyance direction without passing through the folding device, a second conveyance passage configured to convey the sheet to the folding device, a third conveyance passage configured to convey the sheet from the folding device downstream in the sheet conveyance direction, and a junction between the first conveyance passage and the third conveyance passage. The circuitry controls sheet conveyance to prevent an interference, at the junction, between the sheet conveyed from the first conveyance passage and the sheet conveyed from the third conveyance passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michitaka Suzuki, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 11097920
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus includes a conveyance member to convey a sheet from an ejection member at a first speed lower than a conveyance speed by the ejection member or a second speed substantially same as or higher than the conveyance speed; a registration member; a pair of first and second rollers to rotate in forward and reverse directions; a plurality of folding rollers downstream from the second roller, to rotate in forward and reverse directions to fold the sheet; and circuitry to determine whether the sheet is equal to or smaller than a reference length from an exit position from the ejection member to a folding start position downstream from the pair of the first and second rollers. The circuitry performs first-speed folding when the sheet is equal to or smaller than the reference length and performs second-speed folding when the sheet is longer than the reference length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kunieda, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Wataru Takahashi, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Makoto Hidaka, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 11099507
    Abstract: A sheet separation device configured to separate a two-ply sheet, in which two sheets are bonded together at a portion, includes a rotator, a nipping member disposed opposite the rotator and configured to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a conveyor configured to convey the two-ply sheet between the rotator and the nipping member, and a winding member disposed adjacent to the rotator. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet with a bonded portion of the two-ply sheet being an upstream end or a downstream end of the two-ply sheet in a conveyance direction of the two-ply sheet. The winding member winds the two-ply sheet around the rotator, to create a difference in winding circumferential length between the two sheets and separate the two sheets. The sheet separation device further includes control circuitry configured to adjust a winding amount of the two-ply sheet around the rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Watanabe, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Wataru Takahashi, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 10899573
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes an entry portion, a sheet conveyance path extending from the entry portion, a skew correction roller pair that contacts a leading edge of a sheet conveyed in a predetermined direction from the entry portion to correct skew of the sheet, and a receiving path. The skew correction roller pair conveys the skew-corrected sheet in a direction opposite the predetermined direction. The receiving path branches from the sheet conveyance path from the entry portion to the skew correction roller pair to receive the sheet conveyed in the direction opposite the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Furuhashi, Shinji Asami, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 10899572
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a folding device to fold a sheet and a fold-enhancing device to press a folded portion of the sheet folded by the folding device to perform enhanced folding processing on the sheet whose trailing edge has exited the folding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Koki Sakano, Shinji Asami, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Makoto Hidaka, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi