Patents by Inventor Masayoshi Fukatsu

Masayoshi Fukatsu 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: 8444141
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus comprises: an first stack portion which temporarily stacks a sheet thereon; a first stack portion which is disposed under the first stack portion and stacks thereon a sheet discharged from the first stack portion; a second stack portion which is disposed above the first stack portion and stacks a sheet thereon; a stack reference wall which serves as an abutment reference at an end of the sheet on the second stack portion; and an alignment reference wall which is disposed more upstream in the sheet conveyance direction than the stack reference wall and serves as an abutment reference at an end of the sheet on the first stack portion; wherein the second stack portion has such a length that an end of the sheet stacked on the first stack portion cannot project from the second stack portion, as viewed from above in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Sekiyama, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Atsushi Ogata, Hiroharu Tsuji
  • Patent number: 8382109
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a first sheet conveying path, a second sheet conveying path branched from the first sheet conveying path, a switching member capable of moving in the branch portion of the first sheet conveying path and the second sheet conveying path, and a first regulation member and a second regulation member which regulate the movement of the switching member, wherein when the first regulation member is abutted against the switching member, the first regulation member forms a gap having a first interval through which the sheet can pass to the second sheet conveying path, when the switching member is further moved forward, and when the second regulation member is abutted against the switching member, the second regulation member forms a gap having a second interval smaller than the first interval through which the sheet can pass to the second sheet conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroharu Tsuji, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Atsushi Ogata, Junichi Sekiyama
  • Patent number: 8360421
    Abstract: With representative configurations of the sheet processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the sheet processing apparatus which includes an intermediate stacking portion in which a sheet is temporarily placed, an aligning portion which supports a part of a lower surface of the sheet stacked in the intermediate stacking portion and which presses a lateral surface end portion of a sheet width direction to align the sheet, and a stapler which processes the sheet aligned by the aligning portion, includes a sheet supporting member which can support the lower surface of the sheet conveyed while sheet stacked in the intermediate stacking portion is processed and a sheet discharging member which presses the rear end of the sheet processed by the stapler and discharges the sheet to the stack tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroharu Tsuji, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Junichi Sekiyama, Tomooku Koyama, Masatoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8170463
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet processing apparatus that can prevent, with higher certainty, lift of the trailing end of each sheet placed in sheet stacking portion. This apparatus includes a first holding member and a second holding member that prevent lift of the trailing end of each sheet from an intermediate stacking portion. When introduced to the intermediate stacking portion, the subsequent sheet comes into contact with the first holding member, so that the first holding member moves to the retracting position. As the subsequent sheet continues to be conveyed, the subsequent sheet comes into contact with the second holding member, so that the second holding member moves from the restricting position to the retracting position. As the trailing end of the sheet is introduced, the first holding member moves from the retracting position to the restricting position, to hold down the trailing end of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogata, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Junichi Sekiyama, Hiroharu Tsuji
  • Patent number: 8132803
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus according to an aspect of the invention can process a first-size sheet having a first length and a second-size sheet having a second length smaller than the first length. The sheet processing apparatus includes an intermediate stacking portion on which the sheets are stacked; a stapler which performs a stapling process to the sheets; a second alignment reference wall and a first jogger which align the sheets with a stapling process position; and a second jogger which is moved toward the second alignment reference wall and first jogger. Irrespective of a sheet size, the second jogger is moved toward the second alignment reference wall and first jogger by an alignment distance necessary to align the second-size sheet with a stapling process position, which allows the stapler to staple the sheets with at least one of two staple legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogata, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Junichi Sekiyama, Hiroharu Tsuji, Akihiro Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20120025455
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a first sheet conveying path, a second sheet conveying path branched from the first sheet conveying path, a switching member capable of moving in the branch portion of the first sheet conveying path and the second sheet conveying path, and a first regulation member and a second regulation member which regulate the movement of the switching member, wherein when the first regulation member is abutted against the switching member, the first regulation member forms a gap having a first interval through which the sheet can pass to the second sheet conveying path, when the switching member is further moved forward, and when the second regulation member is abutted against the switching member, the second regulation member forms a gap having a second interval smaller than the first interval through which the sheet can pass to the second sheet conveying path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: HIROHARU TSUJI, MASAYOSHI FUKATSU, ATSUSHI OGATA, JUNICHI SEKIYAMA
  • Patent number: 8061712
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus includes a first sheet conveying path, a second sheet conveying path branched from the first sheet conveying path, a switching member capable of moving in the branch portion of the first sheet conveying path and the second sheet conveying path, and a first regulation member and a second regulation member which regulate the movement of the switching member, wherein when the first regulation member is abutted against the switching member, the first regulation member forms a gap having a first interval through which the sheet can pass to the second sheet conveying path, when the switching member is further moved forward, and when the second regulation member is abutted against the switching member, the second regulation member forms a gap having a second interval smaller than the first interval through which the sheet can pass to the second sheet conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroharu Tsuji, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Atsushi Ogata, Junichi Sekiyama
  • Patent number: 8038147
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes an intermediate stacking portion which temporarily stacks, thereon, a sheet conveyed thereto; a discharge portion which discharges sheet stacked on the intermediate stacking portion; an aligning member which is provided downstream of the discharge portion in a sheet conveying direction and has a sheet holding surface capable of holding the lower surfaces of the sheet and a sheet aligning surface capable of abutting against end portions of the sheet in the widthwise direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, the aligning member being movable in the widthwise direction; a first stacking portion which is provided below the aligning member and stacks, thereon, a sheet discharged from the discharge portion; and a second stacking portion which is provided above the aligning member and stacks, thereon, a sheet conveyed thereto; wherein a standby position of the aligning member is at a position more inward than the outermost position in the widthwise direction, within
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogata, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Junichi Sekiyama, Hiroharu Tsuji, Akihiro Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20110215523
    Abstract: With representative configurations of the sheet processing apparatus and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the sheet processing apparatus which includes an intermediate stacking portion in which a sheet is temporarily placed, an aligning portion which supports a part of a lower surface of the sheet stacked in the intermediate stacking portion and which presses a lateral surface end portion of a sheet width direction to align the sheet, and a stapler which processes the sheet aligned by the aligning portion, includes a sheet supporting member which can support the lower surface of the sheet conveyed while sheet stacked in the intermediate stacking portion is processed and a sheet discharging member which presses the rear end of the sheet processed by the stapler and discharges the sheet to the stack tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroharu Tsuji, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Junichi Sekiyama, Tomooku Koyama, Masatoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7963523
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet stacking apparatus, whose lifting and lowering mechanism having excellent assembly properties and maintenance properties. A sheet stacking apparatus includes: a stacking portion which stacks a discharged sheet thereon; a housing portion which can support the stacking portion so as to lift and lower the stacking portion; and a lifting and lowering mechanism which lifts and lowers the stacking portion. In the sheet stacking apparatus, the stacking portion has a connecting portion which connects the stacking portion to the housing portion. The connecting portion can connect the stacking portion to the housing portion in a direction perpendicular to the lifting and lowering direction of the stacking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuri Yoshimura, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Atsushi Ogata, Junichi Sekiyama, Hiroharu Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20110084442
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes an intermediate stacking portion which temporarily stacks, thereon, a sheet conveyed thereto; a discharge portion which discharges sheet stacked on the intermediate stacking portion; an aligning member which is provided downstream of the discharge portion in a sheet conveying direction and has a sheet holding surface capable of holding the lower surfaces of the sheet and a sheet aligning surface capable of abutting against end portions of the sheet in the widthwise direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, the aligning member being movable in the widthwise direction; a first stacking portion which is provided below the aligning member and stacks, thereon, a sheet discharged from the discharge portion; and a second stacking portion which is provided above the aligning member and stacks, thereon, a sheet conveyed thereto; wherein a standby position of the aligning member is at a position more inward than the outermost position in the widthwise direction, within
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogata, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Junichi Sekiyama, Hiroharu Tsuji, Akihiro Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20110024973
    Abstract: In a sheet processing apparatus, a pair of regulating members is provided at a pair of joggers so that the regulating members are movable together with the joggers. When the pair of joggers is laterally moved, the pair of regulating members also laterally moves together with the pair of joggers. By moving the pair of joggers to passage positions, the pair of regulating members regulates the lateral ends of a sheet, which falls and is stacked on a first stacking tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junichi Sekiyama, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Atsushi Ogata, Hiroharu Tsuji, Yuri Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 7874558
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes an intermediate stacking portion which temporarily stacks, thereon, a sheet conveyed thereto; a discharge portion which discharges sheet stacked on the intermediate stacking portion; an aligning member which is provided downstream of the discharge portion in a sheet conveying direction and has a sheet holding surface capable of holding the lower surfaces of the sheet and a sheet aligning surface capable of abutting against end portions of the sheet in the widthwise direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction, the aligning member being movable in the widthwise direction; a first stacking portion which is provided below the aligning member and stacks, thereon, a sheet discharged from the discharge portion; and a second stacking portion which is provided above the aligning member and stacks, thereon, a sheet conveyed thereto; wherein a standby position of the aligning member is at a position more inward than the outermost position in the widthwise direction, within
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogata, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Junichi Sekiyama, Hiroharu Tsuji, Akihiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7850161
    Abstract: A pressing member pressed against a sheet stack portion can be moved to both a retracting portion where alignment of the sheet by the aligning portion is not prevented and a pressing position where the aligned sheet S1 is pressed against the sheet stack portion. Moreover, a regulation member for regulating upward movement of the end of the aligned sheet in a conveyance direction can be moved in association with movement of the pressing member to both a retracting portion where alignment of the sheet S1 by the aligning portion is not prevented and a regulating position where upward movement of the end of the aligned sheet S1 in a conveyance direction is regulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayoshi Fukatsu, Atsushi Ogata, Junichi Sekiyama, Hiroharu Tsuji, Kimihiko Nagano
  • Publication number: 20100264581
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus comprises: an first stack portion which temporarily stacks a sheet thereon; a first stack portion which is disposed under the first stack portion and stacks thereon a sheet discharged from the first stack portion; a second stack portion which is disposed above the first stack portion and stacks a sheet thereon; a stack reference wall which serves as an abutment reference at an end of the sheet on the second stack portion; and an alignment reference wall which is disposed more upstream in the sheet conveyance direction than the stack reference wall and serves as an abutment reference at an end of the sheet on the first stack portion; wherein the second stack portion has such a length that an end of the sheet stacked on the first stack portion cannot project from the second stack portion, as viewed from above in a vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: JUNICHI SEKIYAMA, MASAYOSHI FUKATSU, ATSUSHI OGATA, HIROHARU TSUJI
  • Patent number: 7753368
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus comprises: an first stack portion which temporarily stacks a sheet thereon; a first stack portion which is disposed under the first stack portion and stacks thereon a sheet discharged from the first stack portion; a second stack portion which is disposed above the first stack portion and stacks a sheet thereon; a stack reference wall which serves as an abutment reference at an end of the sheet on the second stack portion; and an alignment reference wall which is disposed more upstream in the sheet conveyance direction than the stack reference wall and serves as an abutment reference at an end of the sheet on the first stack portion; wherein the second stack portion has such a length that an end of the sheet stacked on the first stack portion cannot project from the second stack portion, as viewed from above in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Sekiyama, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Atsushi Ogata, Hiroharu Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20100171256
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet processing apparatus that can prevent, with higher certainty, lift of the trailing end of each sheet placed in sheet stacking portion. This apparatus includes a first holding member and a second holding member that prevent lift of the trailing end of each sheet from an intermediate stacking portion. When introduced to the intermediate stacking portion, the subsequent sheet comes into contact with the first holding member, so that the first holding member moves to the retracting position. As the subsequent sheet continues to be conveyed, the subsequent sheet comes into contact with the second holding member, so that the second holding member moves from the restricting position to the retracting position. As the trailing end of the sheet is introduced, the first holding member moves from the retracting position to the restricting position, to hold down the trailing end of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogata, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Junichi Sekiyama, Hiroharu Tsuji
  • Patent number: 7697883
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sheet processing apparatus that can prevent, with higher certainty, lift of the trailing end of each sheet placed in sheet stacking portion. This apparatus includes a first holding member and a second holding member that prevent lift of the trailing end of each sheet from an intermediate stacking portion. When introduced to the intermediate stacking portion, the subsequent sheet comes into contact with the first holding member, so that the first holding member moves to the retracting position. As the subsequent sheet continues to be conveyed, the subsequent sheet comes into contact with the second holding member, so that the second holding member moves from the restricting position to the retracting position. As the trailing end of the sheet is introduced, the first holding member moves from the retracting position to the restricting position, to hold down the trailing end of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogata, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Junichi Sekiyama, Hiroharu Tsuji
  • Patent number: 7681880
    Abstract: Provided is a sheet delivery apparatus for delivering a sheet to a delivery tray, including: a pair of delivery rotary members for nipping and delivering the sheet guided by the guide portion; and a projection that rotates about an axis being the same as an axis of one of the pair of delivery rotary members, is abutted against a trailing end of the sheet, and pushes out the trailing end of the sheet toward a delivery tray side. The guide portion deforms the sheet so that the sheet does not contact the projection, and after the trailing end of the sheet has passed through the guide portion, the projection and the trailing end of the sheet are abutted against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Sekiyama, Masayoshi Fukatsu, Atsushi Ogata, Hiroharu Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20100052241
    Abstract: A presser member which abuts on a sheet which passes through a sheet conveyance path, and rotates toward a sheet conveyance direction while being pressed by the sheet is provided rotatably in the sheet conveyance path where the sheet conveyed to a sheet stack portion passes, and a move portion to which this presser member is retracted from the sheet conveyance path is provided. When drawing out a jammed sheet from the sheet conveyance path in a direction reverse in a sheet conveyance direction, a jam recovery door is opened, the move portion is operated in connection with this opening motion, and the presser member is retracted from the sheet conveyance path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: JUNICHI SEKIYAMA, MASAYOSHI FUKATSU, ATSUSHI OGATA, HIROHARU TSUJI