Patents by Inventor Masanobu Kimata
Masanobu Kimata 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).
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Publication number: 20230331507Abstract: A medium processing apparatus includes a conveyor, a tray, a binder, a mover, and a switcher. The switcher includes a first passage, a second passage, and a movable wall. The movable wall guides a guided portion of the binder to the second passage when the guided portion moving along the first passage from an end side to a center side contacts the movable wall; causes the guided portion to pass when the guided portion moving along the second passage from the end side to the center side contacts the movable wall; guides the guided portion to the first passage when the guided portion moving along the second passage from the center side to the end side contacts the movable wall; and causes the guided portion to pass when the guided portion moving along the first passage from the center side to the end side contacts the movable wall.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuki Ota, Yohei Yamazaki, Yuji Miyachi, Yusuke Hirono, Yuta Yanai, Yuji Susaki, Masanobu Kimata
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Patent number: 11420455Abstract: A conveying device includes a plurality of conveyance passages, a plurality of conveyors, a conveyance passage guide, a conveyance sensor, a conveyance availability detector, and circuitry. The conveyance passages are disposed in parallel to each other. Each conveyors is disposed in corresponding one of the conveyance passages. The circuitry is configured to: set a set retention time for which a conveyance object is to be retained in available one of the conveyance passages; control one of the conveyors to convey and stop conveying the conveyance object guided by the conveyance passage guide; measure a retention time of the conveyance object conveyed in the available one of the conveyance passages; and cause the one of the conveyors to eject the conveyance object from the available one of the conveyance passages in a case in which the retention time of the conveyance object is longer than the set retention time.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2021Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Masanobu Kimata
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Patent number: 11155432Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes an output tray on which a sheet ejected from a sheet outlet is stacked; a wall disposed downstream from the output tray in a sheet ejection direction; and an alignment member configured to contact and move the sheet on the output tray, to bring a rear end of the sheet in the sheet ejection direction into contact with the wall for alignment. The alignment member is selectively set at three positions of: an alignment position protruding beyond the wall toward the output tray to contact the sheet on the output tray; a withdrawn position inward of the wall; and a home position between the alignment position and the withdrawn position.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2019Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hidefumi Shibata, Yohei Yamazaki, Masanobu Kimata, Yasuki Matsuura
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Publication number: 20210309023Abstract: A conveying device includes a plurality of conveyance passages, a plurality of conveyors, a conveyance passage guide, a conveyance sensor, a conveyance availability detector, and circuitry. The conveyance passages are disposed in parallel to each other. Each conveyors is disposed in corresponding one of the conveyance passages. The circuitry is configured to: set a set retention time for which a conveyance object is to be retained in available one of the conveyance passages; control one of the conveyors to convey and stop conveying the conveyance object guided by the conveyance passage guide; measure a retention time of the conveyance object conveyed in the available one of the conveyance passages; and cause the one of the conveyors to eject the conveyance object from the available one of the conveyance passages in a case in which the retention time of the conveyance object is longer than the set retention time.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2021Publication date: October 7, 2021Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Masanobu KIMATA
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Publication number: 20200231399Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes an output tray on which a sheet ejected from a sheet outlet is stacked; a wall disposed downstream from the output tray in a sheet ejection direction; and an alignment member configured to contact and move the sheet on the output tray, to bring a rear end of the sheet in the sheet ejection direction into contact with the wall for alignment. The alignment member is selectively set at three positions of: an alignment position protruding beyond the wall toward the output tray to contact the sheet on the output tray; a withdrawn position inward of the wall; and a home position between the alignment position and the withdrawn position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2019Publication date: July 23, 2020Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hidefumi SHIBATA, Yohei YAMAZAKI, Masanobu KIMATA, Yasuki MATSUURA
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Patent number: 10023417Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes: a sheet stack tray; a rear-end-position regulating member, against which a rear end of the sheet on the tray is butted to align a position of the sheet in a sheet conveying direction to the stack tray, the rear end of the sheet being a rear end in the conveying direction; and a roller member that comes in contact with an upper surface of the sheet conveyed to an upper side of the tray, before the sheet is stacked on a stacking surface on the tray, and conveys the sheet stacked on the stacking surface toward the rear-end-position regulating member, wherein a rotation speed before stacking is set to be smaller than a rotation speed after stacking, and the rotation speed of before stacking is greater than zero.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2016Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hidefumi Shibata, Masanobu Kimata, Masaaki Kawasaki, Ryohei Morisaki, Norihiko Murakami, Maki Nishide
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Publication number: 20160355364Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes: a sheet stack tray; a rear-end-position regulating member, against which a rear end of the sheet on the tray is butted to align a position of the sheet in a sheet conveying direction to the stack tray, the rear end of the sheet being a rear end in the conveying direction; and a roller member that comes in contact with an upper surface of the sheet conveyed to an upper side of the tray, before the sheet is stacked on a stacking surface on the tray, and conveys the sheet stacked on the stacking surface toward the rear-end-position regulating member, wherein a rotation speed before stacking is set to be smaller than a rotation speed after stacking, and the rotation speed of before stacking is greater than zero.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hidefumi SHIBATA, Masanobu KIMATA, Masaaki KAWASAKI, Ryohei MORISAKI, Norihiko MURAKAMI, Maki NISHIDE
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Patent number: 8939878Abstract: Plural conveying paths including guide plates are arranged on both sides of a sheet in its thickness direction, being linked from an upstream side to a downstream side in a conveying direction of the sheet. A stopper is arranged in at least one of the conveying paths to make contact with a leading edge of the sheet conveyed through the conveying paths thereby stopping the sheet and forming a bending portion at the sheet. A pair of folding rollers is arranged between the conveying paths to nip the bending portion of the sheet to form a folding line at the sheet. An adjusting member is provided on the guide plates to adjust a space between the guide plates.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2008Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Kenichi Takekawa, Yasuki Matsuura, Masanobu Kimata, Isao Yasuda
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Patent number: 8909126Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a folding unit that folds a sheet, a sheet storing unit that stores the sheet folded by the folding unit, a post-processing unit that performs a non-fold process on the sheet transported from the folding unit, a path select unit that switches the sheet destination to the sheet storing unit or the post-processing unit, and a control unit that detects whether there is a fold process command and/or a non-fold process command, and controls the path select unit according to the detecting result. The control unit controls the path select unit to switch the sheet destination to the post-processing unit when there is a non-fold process command, regardless of a fold process command.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2008Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kenichi Takekawa, Yasuki Matsuura, Masanobu Kimata, Isao Yasuda
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Patent number: 8888088Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a stapling unit that staples a sheet member; a moving unit that linearly moves the stapling unit; a rotating unit that rotates the stapling unit by abutment of an abutting member against an abutted member when the stapling unit is moved; a holding unit that holds the stapling unit rotated; and a restricting member that restricts rotation of the stapling unit by abutting against the abutting member.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Masanobu Kimata
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Patent number: 8777824Abstract: A sheet folding device for performing single-sheet folding and multi-sheet folding with a single feed path, the device including: a conveying unit that conveys a sheet; a restraining unit that stops a leading edge of the sheet; a pair of folding rollers that fold the sheet; and a guiding member that guides a bend of the sheet to a nip between the pair of folding rollers, wherein the guiding member is positioned at different sheet-guiding positions for single-sheet folding and multi-sheet folding.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventor: Masanobu Kimata
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Publication number: 20130270761Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a stapling unit that staples a sheet member; a moving unit that linearly moves the stapling unit; a rotating unit that rotates the stapling unit by abutment of an abutting member against an abutted member when the stapling unit is moved; a holding unit that holds the stapling unit rotated; and a restricting member that restricts rotation of the stapling unit by abutting against the abutting member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2013Publication date: October 17, 2013Applicant: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventor: Masanobu KIMATA
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Patent number: 8366103Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes: a sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet; a sheet accumulating feed path that is arranged on a downstream side of the sheet conveying unit in a sheet conveying direction and being capable of accumulating therein a plurality of sheets; a stopping member that stops a leading edge of a sheet conveyed into the sheet accumulating feed path; a width aligning unit that aligns a width of the sheet stopped by the stopping member and accumulated in the sheet accumulating feed path; and a control unit that performs control to cause: the sheet conveying unit to convey a sheet into the sheet accumulating feed path; the stopping member to stop the leading edge of the sheet; and the width aligning unit to align the width of a sheet every time a sheet is accumulated in the sheet accumulating feed path.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2011Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventor: Masanobu Kimata
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Patent number: 8276899Abstract: A media-sheet post-processing apparatus performs post-processing on a media sheet delivered thereto. The sheet media post-processing apparatus includes a media-sheet conveying unit configured to convey a media sheet while moving in a media-sheet conveying direction; and a move drive unit configured to move the media-sheet conveying unit in the media-sheet conveying direction in such a manner that a difference between an amount that the media sheet is conveyed by the media-sheet conveying unit and an amount that the media-sheet conveying unit is moved is kept constant.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2010Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Masanobu Kimata, Yohzoh Dohki
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Publication number: 20110221125Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes: a sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet; a sheet accumulating feed path that is arranged on a downstream side of the sheet conveying unit in a sheet conveying direction and being capable of accumulating therein a plurality of sheets; a stopping member that stops a leading edge of a sheet conveyed into the sheet accumulating feed path; a width aligning unit that aligns a width of the sheet stopped by the stopping member and accumulated in the sheet accumulating feed path; and a control unit that performs control to cause: the sheet conveying unit to convey a sheet into the sheet accumulating feed path; the stopping member to stop the leading edge of the sheet; and the width aligning unit to align the width of a sheet every time a sheet is accumulated in the sheet accumulating feed path.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2011Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventor: Masanobu Kimata
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Publication number: 20110190109Abstract: A sheet folding device for performing single-sheet folding and multi-sheet folding with a single feed path, the device including: a conveying unit that conveys a sheet; a restraining unit that stops a leading edge of the sheet; a pair of folding rollers that fold the sheet; and a guiding member that guides a bend of the sheet to a nip between the pair of folding rollers, wherein the guiding member is positioned at different sheet-guiding positions for single-sheet folding and multi-sheet folding.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2011Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicant: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventor: Masanobu Kimata
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Publication number: 20100252981Abstract: A media-sheet post-processing apparatus performs post-processing on a media sheet delivered thereto. The sheet media post-processing apparatus includes a media-sheet conveying unit configured to convey a media sheet while moving in a media-sheet conveying direction; and a move drive unit configured to move the media-sheet conveying unit in the media-sheet conveying direction in such a manner that a difference between an amount that the media sheet is conveyed by the media-sheet conveying unit and an amount that the media-sheet conveying unit is moved is kept constant.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2010Publication date: October 7, 2010Inventors: Masanobu Kimata, Yohzoh Dohki
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Patent number: 7731187Abstract: A sheet medium adjustment apparatus, e.g., in an image forming system, includes: an ejector to eject a conveyed sheet; a stacking device to stack each sheet ejected from the sheet ejector into a stack on a tray; a moving device to shift the stacking device in a movement direction perpendicular to a sheet-ejecting direction; a sheet aligning member to align ends of the sheets in the stack that are parallel to the sheet-ejecting direction; a stepping motor to move the sheet aligning member; and an evacuation device to evacuate the aligning member by an amount representing an evacuation displacement in the movement direction at a timing of aligning the sheet, the evacuation displacement being determined adaptively according to at least one of an attribute of a given sheet in the stack, an attribute of the stack as a whole and an attribute of the tray.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2007Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toru Horio, Minoru Hattori, Shigeru Mizuno, Ikumi Takashima, Koji Furuta, Masanobu Kimata, Miyuki Ito, Yoshihide Sugiyama, Akihiro Tsuno, Nakayama Naoya, Ueno Shinichi
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Publication number: 20090129840Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a folding unit that folds a sheet, a sheet storing unit that stores the sheet folded by the folding unit, a post-processing unit that performs a non-fold process on the sheet transported from the folding unit, a path select unit that switches the sheet destination to the sheet storing unit or the post-processing unit, and a control unit that detects whether there is a fold process command and/or a non-fold process command, and controls the path select unit according to the detecting result. The control unit controls the path select unit to switch the sheet destination to the post-processing unit when there is a non-fold process command, regardless of a fold process command.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2008Publication date: May 21, 2009Inventors: Kenichi Takekawa, Yasuki Matsuura, Masanobu Kimata, Isao Yasuda
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Publication number: 20090062100Abstract: Plural conveying paths including guide plates are arranged on both sides of a sheet in its thickness direction, being linked from an upstream side to a downstream side in a conveying direction of the sheet. A stopper is arranged in at least one of the conveying paths to make contact with a leading edge of the sheet conveyed through the conveying paths thereby stopping the sheet and forming a bending portion at the sheet. A pair of folding rollers is arranged between the conveying paths to nip the bending portion of the sheet to form a folding line at the sheet. An adjusting member is provided on the guide plates to adjust a space between the guide plates.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2008Publication date: March 5, 2009Inventors: Kenichi Takekawa, Yasuki Matsuura, Masanobu Kimata, Isao Yasuda