Patents by Inventor Reiji Murakami

Reiji Murakami 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: 20090057995
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of an embodiment of the invention includes a paper feed cassette to contain a sheet on which an image is to be printed, a pair of conveyance rollers to nip and convey the sheet taken out from the paper feed cassette, a paper thickness detection unit that is provided downstream of the sheet conveyed by the pair of conveyance rollers and near a nip point between the pair of conveyance rollers, has a rotator brought into contact with the sheet, and detects a thickness of the sheet by a shift generated when the sheet contacts with the rotator, a register roller to align the sheet after the thickness of the sheet is detected by the paper thickness detection unit, and a print ejection mechanism that prints and fixes an image to the sheet passing through the register roller and then ejects it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Reiji MURAKAMI, Tokihiko ISE, Naofumi SOGA
  • Patent number: 7472900
    Abstract: A sheet post-process apparatus of the present invention has a standby tray for stably dropping sheets of paper onto a processing tray, so that a pair of tray members for loading ejected sheets of paper is formed so as to project from the wall face of the standby tray and the loading face of sheets of paper is narrowed from the front end side of the sheets of paper toward the rear end side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunobu Terao, Tokihiko Ise, Hajime Yamamoto, Reiji Murakami, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Publication number: 20080267644
    Abstract: Using an operation panel a user selects group to which a recording medium to be subjected to image formation belongs out of plural groups of recording media classified according to grammages, a classification processing unit sub-classifies the group selected, to which the recording medium belongs, into plural sub-groups of recording media according to a detecting result of the media sensor provided further upstream in a conveying direction of a recording medium than a fixing unit, and a control unit sets, for the recording medium belonging to the group selected, the temperature of the fixing unit to a fixing temperature in a fixing temperature range and controls this fixing temperature according to any one of the sub-groups sub-classified. Consequently, it is possible to perform fixing processing at an optimum temperature according to a type of a recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Reiji Murakami
  • Publication number: 20080226314
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the invention conveys paper fed by a paper feeding mechanism piece by piece to a paper discharging unit through a paper conveying path. An image forming unit is arranged in a midway portion of this paper conveying path and executes an image forming process for printing an image based on image data on paper being conveyed. A sensor that detects a type of the paper conveyed is arranged on an upstream side with respect to the image forming unit on the paper conveying path. Image forming process conditions for the image forming unit are set in accordance with a detection result of the sensor. When the paper fed to the paper conveying path is paper not detected by the sensor, the image forming process is started awaiting a detection result by the sensor. On the other hand, when the paper is detected by the sensor, the image forming process is started without awaiting paper type detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Reiji Murakami
  • Publication number: 20080225318
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the invention conveys paper fed by a paper feeding mechanism piece by piece to a paper discharging unit through a paper conveying path. An image forming unit is arranged in a midway portion of this paper conveying path and executes an image forming process for printing an image based on image data on paper being conveyed. A sensor that detects a type of the paper conveyed is arranged on an upstream side with respect to the image forming unit on the paper conveying path. Image forming process conditions for the image forming unit are set in accordance with a detection result of the sensor. When the paper fed is paper not detected by the sensor, the image forming process is not started. After paper type detection by the sensor, the paper is directly discharged. When the paper fed is paper of the same type as paper detected by the sensor, the image forming process is started without performing paper type detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Reiji Murakami
  • Publication number: 20080205918
    Abstract: With respect to principal papers distributed in the market and used in an image forming apparatus, a boundary between grammage ranges is set at the center of a section where neighboring grammage values of paper has a large difference, and an image is formed under optimum image forming conditions in accordance with the determined grammage range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Reiji Murakami
  • Publication number: 20080204681
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention includes: an image generating unit configured to generate an image to be printed on a recording paper; a paper type designating unit configured for a user to directly designate a type of the recording paper or to designate automatic identification of a type of the recording paper; a paper type identification device configured to identify the type of the recording paper presented by the user when automatic identification of the type of the recording paper is designated by the paper type designating unit; and a printing unit configured to print the image generated by the image generating unit onto the recording paper in accordance with the type of the recording paper identified by the paper type identification device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Reiji Murakami, Masahiro Ohno, Naofumi Soga
  • Patent number: 7416181
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which an automatic double-side unit 81 is provided free to open and close on the side of an apparatus body 1a, and a manual paper feeding device 61 is provide adjacent to the automatic double-side unit. And, there are provided manual moving mechanisms 75, 86, 86a for moving the manual paper feeding device in a direction away from the side of the apparatus body in association with opening operation of the automatic double-side unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Reiji Murakami, Masahiro Kodo
  • Patent number: 7354035
    Abstract: In a sheet post-process apparatus of the present invention, a processing tray for loading sheets of paper fed via a standby tray for making ejected sheets of paper stand by or not via the standby tray and a standby tray roller for performing a first operation of making contact with sheets of paper loaded on the standby tray and matching and a second operation of making contact with sheets of paper loaded on the standby tray and conveying them toward a paper ejection tray are installed in the neighborhood of the standby tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunobu Terao, Reiji Murakami, Tokihiko Ise, Hajime Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Publication number: 20080073830
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which an automatic double-side unit 81 is provided free to open and close on the side of an apparatus body 1a, and a manual paper feeding device 61 is provide adjacent to the automatic double-side unit. And, there are provided manual moving mechanisms 75, 86, 86a for moving the manual paper feeding device in a direction away from the side of the apparatus body in association with opening operation of the automatic double-side unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Reiji Murakami, Masahiro Kodo
  • Patent number: 7336922
    Abstract: A sheet post-process apparatus includes a waiting tray and a processing tray. The waiting tray is provided in the middle of a conveying path and makes standby sheets in the case where a post-process is required. The processing tray has a function which causes the sheets made standby on the waiting sheet to be dropped by self-weight. With this function, the processing tray receives the sheets moved to be dropped and the sheets conveyed from the conveying path without intervening the waiting tray, before carrying out the post-process. Sheet bundles formed on the processing tray are stacked on a storage tray by a sheet conveying mechanism after they have been post-processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunobu Terao, Mikio Yamamoto, Tomomi Iijima, Reiji Murakami, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Patent number: 7300050
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which an automatic double-side unit 81 is provided free to open and close on the side of an apparatus body 1a, and a manual paper feeding device 61 is provide adjacent to the automatic double-side unit. And, there are provided manual moving mechanisms 75, 86, 86a for moving the manual paper feeding device in a direction away from the side of the apparatus body in association with opening operation of the automatic double-side unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Reiji Murakami, Masahiro Kodo
  • Patent number: 7300045
    Abstract: A sheet post-process apparatus includes a waiting tray and a processing tray. The waiting tray is provided in the middle of a conveying path and makes standby sheets in the case where a post-process is required. The processing tray has a function which causes the sheets made standby on the waiting sheet to be dropped by self-weight. With this function, the processing tray receives the sheets moved to be dropped and the sheets conveyed from the conveying path without intervening the waiting tray, before carrying out the post-process. Sheet bundles formed on the processing tray are stacked on a storage tray by a sheet conveying mechanism after they have been post-processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunobu Terao, Mikio Yamamoto, Tomomi Iijima, Reiji Murakami, Hiroyuki Taki, Tokihiko Ise, Hajime Yamamoto, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Katsuya Sasahara, Chiaki Iizuka
  • Patent number: 7296788
    Abstract: A sheet post-process apparatus includes a waiting tray and a processing tray. The waiting tray is provided in the middle of a conveying path so that a downward side end in a conveying direction of sheets is oriented upwardly. In the case where a postprocess is required, sheets are made standby. The processing tray has a function which causes the sheets made standby on the waiting sheet to be dropped by self-weight. With this function, the processing tray receives the sheets moved to be dropped and the sheets conveyed from the conveying path without intervening the waiting tray, before carrying out the post-process. In addition, an upstream side end in a conveying direction of the sheets on the waiting tray and a downstream side end in a conveying direction of the sheets on the processing tray are allocated to overlap on each other in the conveying direction of the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunobu Terao, Mikio Yamamoto, Tomomi Iijima, Reiji Murakami, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Publication number: 20070262510
    Abstract: A sheet post-process apparatus of the present invention has a standby tray for stably dropping sheets of paper onto a processing tray, so that a pair of tray members for loading ejected sheets of paper is formed so as to project from the wall face of the standby tray and the loading face of sheets of paper is narrowed from the front end side of the sheets of paper toward the rear end side thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventors: Yasunobu Terao, Tokihiko Ise, Hajime Yamamoto, Reiji Murakami, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Patent number: 7295803
    Abstract: A waiting tray is provided in a sheet-conveying path and holds sheets if the sheets need to be post-processed. A processing tray receives sheets conveyed from the waiting tray. It may receive sheets conveyed through the sheet-conveying path and coming not via the waiting tray, before the sheets are post-processed. A conveying mechanism is provided, which causes the sheets to fall, due to gravity, from the waiting tray onto a processing tray. A sheet-aligning mechanism aligns the sheets on the processing tray, at their transverse edges and longitudinal edges. On the processing tray, the sheets are post-processed, forming a bundle. The conveying mechanism conveys the bundle of sheets to a storage tray. Input rollers are spaced by a vertical distance from sheet-feeding rollers which are positioned at upstream of the waiting tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunobu Terao, Hajime Yamamoto, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Reiji Murakami, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Publication number: 20070252320
    Abstract: A sheet post-process apparatus includes a waiting tray and a processing tray. The waiting tray is provided in the middle of a conveying path and makes standby sheets in the case where a post-process is required. The processing tray has a function which causes the sheets made standby on the waiting sheet to be dropped by self-weight. With this function, the processing tray receives the sheets moved to be dropped and the sheets conveyed from the conveying path without intervening the waiting tray, before carrying out the post-process. Sheet bundles formed on the processing tray are stacked on a storage tray by a sheet conveying mechanism after they have been post-processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: Yasunobu Terao, Mikio Yamamoto, Tomomi Iijima, Reiji Murakami, Hiroyuki Taki, Tokihiko Ise, Hajime Yamamoto, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Katsuya Sasahara, Chiaki Iizuka
  • Patent number: 7286792
    Abstract: A waiting tray has left and right lower face support members releasably provided in left and right directions, the support members supporting left and right lower faces in a transport direction of a sheet transported to a waiting tray, and an upper face slash member which slashes an upper face of the sheet transported to the waiting tray to drop the sheet onto a processing tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunobu Terao, Tokihiko Ise, Hajime Yamamoto, Reiji Murakami, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Patent number: 7243913
    Abstract: A sheet post-process apparatus of the present invention, when sending sheets of paper collected on a standby tray to a processing tray, has a standby tray realizing an improved lining capacity of sheets of paper and a pair of tray members for loading ejected sheets of paper is formed so as to project from the wall face of the standby tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunobu Terao, Tokihiko Ise, Hajime Yamamoto, Reiji Murakami, Hiroyuki Taki
  • Patent number: 7222843
    Abstract: A sheet post-process apparatus has a standby tray for putting a sheet delivered from an image forming apparatus on standby, a process tray arranged under the standby tray for stacking the sheet dropped from the standby tray or the sheet delivered from the image forming apparatus not through the standby tray, a matching mechanism for matching a lateral direction of the sheet stacked on the process tray by a lateral matching plate to form a sheet bundle, a post-process mechanism for post-processing the sheet bundle matched by the matching mechanism, and a delivery tray for delivering the sheet bundle post-processed by the post-process mechanism, in which the process tray and the standby tray are arranged so as to make a height of an upper end of the lateral matching plate of the process tray higher than a height of a lower end of the standby tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasunobu Terao, Hajime Yamamoto, Yoshiaki Sugizaki, Reiji Murakami, Hiroyuki Taki