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: 20200385231
    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: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: 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: 10857776
    Abstract: A sheet separation device separates a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are bonded together at a portion. The sheet separation device includes a rotator, a nipping member opposite the rotator, to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a conveyor to convey the two-ply sheet between the rotator and the nipping member, a winding member adjacent to the rotator, to wind the two-ply sheet around the rotator, and control circuitry. In winding the two-ply sheet, the control circuitry rotates the rotator at a first speed faster than a second speed at which the two-ply sheet moves to the rotator via the conveyor, and creates a difference in winding circumferential length between the two sheets, thereby separating the two sheets. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet with a bonded portion of the two-ply sheet being an upstream end or a downstream end in a conveyance direction of the two-ply sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Morinaga, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Tomomichi Hoshino, Wataru Takahashi, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Makoto Hidaka, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Takahiro Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20200362882
    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: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicants: MINEBEA MITSUMI Inc., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiko FUJITA, Shuhei KIMPARA, Seiya YOSHITOME, Hideaki GODA, Makoto HIDAKA
  • Publication number: 20200362881
    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: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicants: MINEBEA MITSUMI Inc., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuhei KIMPARA, Seiya YOSHITOME, Hideaki GODA, Makoto HIDAKA
  • Publication number: 20200338877
    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: April 8, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    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
  • Publication number: 20200341414
    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: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: 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: 10807825
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a blade having a plurality of teeth aligned in a row, a mover to move in a direction in which the plurality of teeth is aligned and form a perforation in a sheet sandwiched by the blade and the mover, and a pressure device to press the mover toward the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomomichi Hoshino, Shinji Asami, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 10745236
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes conveyers to convey a sheet. The conveyers include a registration conveyer which a plurality of sheets is to sequentially contact and is configured to bend a preceding sheet contacting the registration conveyer toward a direction in which the preceding sheet does not obstruct an entry of a following sheet to the registration conveyer when the conveyers overlay and convey the plurality of sheets after the plurality of sheets sequentially contacts the registration conveyer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Michitaka Suzuki, Shinji Asami, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Publication number: 20200247636
    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: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: 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
  • Publication number: 20200247107
    Abstract: A sheet separation device separates a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are bonded together at a portion. The sheet separation device includes a rotator, a nipping member opposite the rotator, to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a conveyor to convey the two-ply sheet between the rotator and the nipping member, a winding member adjacent to the rotator, to wind the two-ply sheet around the rotator, and control circuitry. In winding the two-ply sheet, the control circuitry rotates the rotator at a first speed faster than a second speed at which the two-ply sheet moves to the rotator via the conveyor, and creates a difference in winding circumferential length between the two sheets, thereby separating the two sheets. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet with a bonded portion of the two-ply sheet being an upstream end or a downstream end in a conveyance direction of the two-ply sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya MORINAGA, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Michitaka SUZUKI, Fumiharu YONEYAMA, Tomomichi HOSHINO, Wataru TAKAHASHI, Koki SAKANO, Akira KUNIEDA, Yohsuke HARAGUCHI, Makoto HIDAKA, Kazuyoshi MATSUO, Takahiro WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20200239265
    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: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: 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: 10723581
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a first conveyer to convey a sheet, a first folding device to fold the sheet and put a crease in the sheet, a second conveyer to convey the sheet folded by the first folding device, a second folding device to fold the sheet and put a crease in the sheet, and a guide. The first conveyer and the second conveyer are rotatable in reverse. The guide guides the sheet conveyed downstream from the first conveyer and the sheet conveyed downstream from the second conveyer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Asami, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 10710834
    Abstract: A folding apparatus includes a folding device to fold a sheet bundle, an additional folding device, a conveyer, and control circuitry. The additional folding device includes a pressure roller disposed downstream from the folding device in a sheet conveyance direction and configured to press the sheet bundle after the folding device folds the sheet bundle and a sheet support member disposed opposite the pressure roller via the sheet bundle. The conveyer conveys the sheet bundle to a position at which the additional folding device presses the sheet bundle and hold the sheet bundle at the position. The control circuitry causes the additional folding device to perform additional folding processing on a first position of the sheet bundle, the conveyer to move the sheet bundle to a second position different from the first position, and the additional folding device to perform the additional folding processing at the second position again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Hidaka, Shinji Asami, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Takuya Morinaga, Tomomichi Hoshino, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Koki Sakano, Michitaka Suzuki, Akira Kunieda, Fumiharu Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 10689222
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a rotatable pressing member, a guide, and a contact member. The rotatable pressing member includes a pressing portion that is disposed in a predetermined range in a rotation direction of the pressing member to press a folded portion of a sheet. The guide is disposed opposite the pressing member. The contact member contacts the guide and is rotatably disposed at at least one end of the pressing member in an axial direction of the pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Fumiharu Yoneyama, Shinji Asami, Akira Kunieda, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 10689221
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a conveying unit configured to convey a sheet along a sheet conveyance path; a conveyance-path supporting unit configured to support both ends of the sheet conveyance path with respect to a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveying direction; a first stitching unit configured to stitch the sheets conveyed; a second stitching unit configured to stitch the sheets conveyed; a first moving unit configured to move the first stitching unit in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction; and a second moving unit configured to move the second stitching unit in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction, wherein any one of the first stitching unit and the second stitching unit is movable to outside of the conveyance-path supporting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Koki Sakano, Nobuyoshi Suzuki, Hidehiko Fujiwara, Yuusuke Shibasaki, Wataru Takahashi, Katsuhiro Kosuge, Makoto Hidaka, Shohichi Satoh, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Publication number: 20190367317
    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: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohsuke HARAGUCHI, Shinji ASAMI, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Michitaka SUZUKI, Tomomichi HOSHINO, Fumiharu YONEYAMA, Akira KUNIEDA, Takuya MORINAGA, Makoto HIDAKA, Koki SAKANO
  • Publication number: 20190284010
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a first conveyer to convey a sheet, a first folding device to fold the sheet and put a crease in the sheet, a second conveyer to convey the sheet folded by the first folding device, a second folding device to fold the sheet and put a crease in the sheet, and a guide. The first conveyer and the second conveyer are rotatable in reverse. The guide guides the sheet conveyed downstream from the first conveyer and the sheet conveyed downstream from the second conveyer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Asami, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Publication number: 20190284012
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a rotatable pressing member, a guide, and a contact member. The rotatable pressing member includes a pressing portion that is disposed in a predetermined range in a rotation direction of the pressing member to press a folded portion of a sheet. The guide is disposed opposite the pressing member. The contact member contacts the guide and is rotatably disposed at at least one end of the pressing member in an axial direction of the pressing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumiharu Yoneyama, Shinji Asami, Akira Kunieda, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Publication number: 20190284009
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes conveyers to convey a sheet. The conveyers include a registration conveyer which a plurality of sheets is to sequentially contact and is configured to bend a preceding sheet contacting the registration conveyer toward a direction in which the preceding sheet does not obstruct an entry of a following sheet to the registration conveyer when the conveyers overlay and convey the plurality of sheets after the plurality of sheets sequentially contacts the registration conveyer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michitaka SUZUKI, Shinji ASAMI, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Tomomichi HOSHINO, Fumiharu YONEYAMA, Makoto HIDAKA, Koki SAKANO, Akira KUNIEDA, Takuya MORINAGA, Yohsuke HARAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20190284008
    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: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koki SAKANO, Shinji ASAMI, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Michitaka SUZUKI, Tomomichi HOSHINO, Fumiharu YONEYAMA, Makoto HIDAKA, Akira KUNIEDA, Takuya MORINAGA, Yohsuke HARAGUCHI