Patents by Inventor Sho ASANO

Sho ASANO 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: 20240253341
    Abstract: A sheet processing system includes a sheet processing device and a lamination processing device. The sheet processing device includes a sheet separator that separates a two-ply sheet and inserts an inner sheet between the two-ply sheet to form a first enclosed two-ply sheet. The lamination processing device bonds the first enclosed two-ply sheet, and bonds a second enclosed two-ply sheet in which the inner sheet is inserted outside the sheet separator. The sheet processing system includes a relay conveyor that conveys the first enclosed two-ply sheet from the sheet separator to the lamination processing device attachable to a sheet feeder to directly feed the second enclosed two-ply sheet to the lamination processing device. The sheet processing device includes a cord holder to hold the power cord of the lamination processing device at a position where feeding and ejecting the two-ply sheet after bonding the two-ply sheet are not hindered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2024
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki SHIMODATE, Naoki TAKAI, Yuichiro KATO, Sho ASANO, Ruki MIDORIKAWA, Yosuke SAITO
  • Publication number: 20240246329
    Abstract: A sheet separation device for separating two sheets of a two-ply sheet, in which the two sheets are overlapped and a part of the two sheets are joined, and inserting at least one sheet medium between the two sheets includes an upper surface, an ejection tray, and a conveyor. A lamination fixing device that laminates the two-ply sheet including the at least one sheet medium inserted between the two sheets is to be mounted on the upper surface. The ejection tray is disposed on the upper surface. The two-ply sheet laminated and ejected from an ejection port of the lamination fixing device is to be stacked on the ejection tray. The conveyor is coupled to the lamination fixing device to convey the two-ply sheet including the at least one sheet medium from the sheet separation device to the lamination fixing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki TAKAI, Ruki MIDORIKAWA, Kazuki SHIMODATE, Yuichiro KATO, Sho ASANO, Yosuke SAITO
  • Publication number: 20240239092
    Abstract: A lamination processing system includes a sheet separation device, a lamination fixing device, and a conveyor. The sheet separation device separates a two-ply sheet to insert a sheet medium between two sheets of the two-ply sheet to form an enclosed two-ply sheet. The lamination fixing device includes an inlet port and a heater. The conveyor conveys the enclosed two-ply sheet from the sheet separation device to the lamination fixing device in a conveyance direction. The conveyor includes a conveyance passage and a guide. The conveyance passage guides the enclosed two-ply sheet from the sheet separation device toward the lamination fixing device. The guide guides the enclosed two-ply sheet to the inlet port. The guide forms a space accommodatable a deflected part of the enclosed two-ply sheet formed by a difference in a conveyance speed of the enclosed two-ply sheet between the sheet separation device and the lamination fixing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2023
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosuke SAITO, Yuichiro KATO, Sho ASANO, Ruki MIDORIKAWA, Naoki TAKAI, Kazuki SHIMODATE
  • Publication number: 20240190121
    Abstract: A laminating system sandwiches a sheet medium in a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and partially joined together and applies heat and pressure to bond the two-ply sheet. The laminating system includes a sheet separating device, a laminate-fixing device, and a conveyor. The sheet separating device separates the two sheets of the two-ply sheet and sandwiches the sheet medium between the two sheets. The laminate-fixing device heats and presses the two-ply sheet sandwiching the sheet medium. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet sandwiching the sheet medium from the sheet separating device to the laminate-fixing device. The laminate-fixing device is disposed above the sheet separating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2023
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ruki MIDORIKAWA, Kazuki SHIMODATE, Yuichiro KATO, Naoki TAKAI, Sho ASANO, Yosuke SAITO
  • Patent number: 11981525
    Abstract: A sheet processing device sandwiches a sheet-shaped medium in a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlaid and partially bonded. The sheet processing device includes a separator, a conveyor, and a switching member. The separator separates the two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The conveyor is disposed downstream from the separator in a sheet conveyance direction and conveys the two-ply sheet. The switching member is disposed downstream from the conveyor in the sheet conveyance direction. The switching member switches a conveyance path of the two-ply sheet to convey the two-ply sheet to a fixing path on which fixing processing is performed on the two-ply sheet or a non-fixing path on which no fixing processing is performed on the two-ply sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshito Suzuki, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Wataru Takahashi, Sho Asano, Shinya Monma, Joji Akiyama, Wataru Nozaki, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Yuji Suzuki, Yuusuke Shibasaki, Takuya Morinaga
  • Patent number: 11975520
    Abstract: A sheet processing device is configured to separate a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at one end as a bonding portion of the two-ply sheet. The sheet processing device includes a first sheet feeder configured to feed the two-ply sheet, a second sheet feeder configured to feed an inner sheet to be inserted between the two sheets of the two-ply sheet in a state in which the non-bonding portion of the two-ply sheet is separated, and circuitry configured to cause the first sheet feeder to feed the two-ply sheet, perform a sheet separating operation on the two-ply sheet to separate the non-bonding portion of the two-ply sheet, and cause the second sheet feeder to start feeding the inner sheet before completion of the sheet separating operation on the two-ply sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Joji Akiyama, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Wataru Takahashi, Sho Asano, Yoshito Suzuki, Shinya Monma, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Wataru Nozaki
  • Patent number: 11947287
    Abstract: A sheet separation device separates a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at one end of the two-ply sheet. The sheet separation device includes a separator that includes a first separator and a second separator. The first separator is inserted into a gap between the two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The second separator is inserted between the two sheets at said another end of the two-ply sheet that is opposite to the one end of the two-ply sheet and moves in a width direction of the two-ply sheet after the first separator is inserted into the gap and relatively moves from the one end to said another end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru Takahashi, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Shinya Monma, Yoshito Suzuki, Joji Akiyama, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Sho Asano, Wataru Nozaki
  • Patent number: 11926133
    Abstract: A sheet laminator includes a sheet lamination device, a heater, and circuitry. The sheet lamination device performs a sheet laminating operation on an object by application of heat and pressure. The heater heats the sheet lamination device. The circuitry changes between a first mode in which the heater constantly heats the sheet lamination device while the sheet lamination device is turned on and a second mode in which the heater starts heating the sheet lamination device in response to a request of the sheet laminating operation and stops heating the sheet lamination device after a given time has elapsed from completion of the sheet laminating operation. The circuitry adjusts the given time in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Monma, Keisuke Sugiyama, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Wataru Takahashi, Ruki Midorikawa, Sho Asano
  • Patent number: 11886143
    Abstract: A sheet laminator laminates a two-ply sheet and a sheet-shaped medium inserted in the two-ply sheet. The sheet laminator includes a sheet feeder, a multi-feeding detector, a fixing device, an ejection device, a purging portion, a passage switcher, and circuitry. The sheet feeder feeds the two-ply sheet. The multi-feeding detector detects multiple feeding of the two-ply sheet. The fixing device fixes the two-ply sheet by application of heat and pressure. The ejection device ejects the two-ply sheet that has been fixed by the fixing device. The purging portion is disposed at a position different from the ejection device. The passage switcher switches a conveyance passage of the two-ply sheet to the fixing device or to the purging portion. The circuitry conveys the two-ply sheet to the purging portion and retries sheet feeding with another two-ply sheet, in response to detection of multiple feeding of the two-ply sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke Sugiyama, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Wataru Takahashi, Ruki Midorikawa, Shinya Monma, Sho Asano
  • Patent number: 11884503
    Abstract: A sheet separation device separates a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at a bonding portion of the two-ply sheet. The sheet separation device includes a winding roller and a gripper. The winding roller rotates and winds the two-ply sheet to separate the two-ply sheet. The gripper is disposed in the winding roller and configured to grip a gripped portion of the two-ply sheet at one end of the two-ply sheet without abutting a tip of the gripped portion at the one end of the two-ply sheet on a member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshito Suzuki, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Wataru Takahashi, Shinya Monma, Joji Akiyama, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Sho Asano, Wataru Nozaki
  • Patent number: 11858287
    Abstract: An image forming system includes a sheet processing apparatus, a heat presser, an image forming apparatus, and control circuitry. The sheet processing apparatus separates a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlaid and bonded together at a portion of the two-ply sheet, and sandwiches a sheet medium between the sheets of the two-ply sheet. The heat presser heats and presses the two-ply sheet. The control circuitry performs a first mode to cause the sheet processing apparatus to sandwich the sheet medium, on which an image has been formed by the image forming apparatus, between the two sheets of the two-ply sheet and cause the heat presser to laminate the two-ply sheet, and a second mode to cause the heat presser to laminate a sheet set that includes the sheet medium sandwiched between the two sheets of the two-ply sheet by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yohsuke Haraguchi, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Wataru Takahashi, Sho Asano, Yoshito Suzuki, Shinya Monma, Joji Akiyama, Wataru Nozaki
  • Patent number: 11851301
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus laminates a partially joined two-ply sheet and a sheet medium inserted in the two-ply sheet. The sheet processing apparatus includes a heat presser, an information acquisition device, and control circuitry. The heat presser heats and presses the two-ply sheet and the sheet medium. The information acquisition device acquires information on the two-ply sheet and the sheet medium. The control circuitry sets a fixing temperature of the heat presser in accordance with the information of the two-ply sheet and the sheet medium acquired by the information acquisition device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru Nozaki, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Yoshito Suzuki, Wataru Takahashi, Shinya Monma, Joji Akiyama, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Sho Asano
  • Patent number: 11845254
    Abstract: A sheet separation device is configured to separate a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at one end as a bonding portion of the two-ply sheet. The sheet separation device includes a conveyance roller pair and circuitry. The conveyance roller pair is configured to convey the two-ply sheet while nipping the two-ply sheet, when separating the non-bonding portion of the two-ply sheet. The circuitry is configured to control sheet conveyance. The circuitry is configured to stop the conveyance roller pair, cause a leading end of the two-ply sheet conveyed toward the conveyance roller pair to contact a nip region of the conveyance roller pair while the conveyance roller pair is stopped, and start the conveyance roller pair to rotate to nip the two-ply sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Furuhashi, Wataru Takahashi, Sho Asano, Yoshito Suzuki, Shinya Monma, Joji Akiyama, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Wataru Nozaki
  • Patent number: 11801705
    Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus, a sheet processing device, and control circuitry. The image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet. The sheet processing device performs post-processing on the sheet. The sheet processing device includes a first conveyance path through which the sheet is conveyed and subjected to the post-processing and a second conveyance path through which the sheet is conveyed without the post-processing. In response to an instruction of print jobs including both a print job of one or N copies subjected to the post-processing and a print job not subjected to the post-processing, the circuitry executes the job not subjected to the post-processing during execution of an M-th copy of the job subjected to the post-processing and causes the sheet to be conveyed through the second conveyance path, where N is two or greater and M satisfies 1?M<N.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Sho Asano, Wataru Takahashi, Yoshito Suzuki, Shinya Monma, Joji Akiyama, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Wataru Nozaki, Tomohiro Furuhashi
  • Publication number: 20230221672
    Abstract: A sheet laminator laminates a two-ply sheet and a sheet-shaped medium inserted in the two-ply sheet. The sheet laminator includes a sheet feeder, a multi-feeding detector, a fixing device, an ejection device, a purging portion, a passage switcher, and circuitry. The sheet feeder feeds the two-ply sheet. The multi-feeding detector detects multiple feeding of the two-ply sheet. The fixing device fixes the two-ply sheet by application of heat and pressure. The ejection device ejects the two-ply sheet that has been fixed by the fixing device. The purging portion is disposed at a position different from the ejection device. The passage switcher switches a conveyance passage of the two-ply sheet to the fixing device or to the purging portion. The circuitry conveys the two-ply sheet to the purging portion and retries sheet feeding with another two-ply sheet, in response to detection of multiple feeding of the two-ply sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke SUGIYAMA, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Wataru TAKAHASHI, Ruki MIDORIKAWA, Shinya MONMA, Sho ASANO
  • Publication number: 20230202159
    Abstract: A sheet laminator includes a sheet lamination device, a heater, and circuitry. The sheet lamination device performs a sheet laminating operation on an object by application of heat and pressure. The heater heats the sheet lamination device. The circuitry changes between a first mode in which the heater constantly heats the sheet lamination device while the sheet lamination device is turned on and a second mode in which the heater starts heating the sheet lamination device in response to a request of the sheet laminating operation and stops heating the sheet lamination device after a given time has elapsed from completion of the sheet laminating operation. The circuitry adjusts the given time in the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya MONMA, Keisuke SUGIYAMA, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Wataru TAKAHASHI, Ruki MIDORIKAWA, Sho ASANO
  • Publication number: 20230202790
    Abstract: A sheet stacker for use in a device including a stacker portion, a fence, and a guide face. The stacker portion includes a stacker face that is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a horizontal plane and receives a plurality of sheets ejected from above and stack the plurality of sheets on the stacker face. The fence includes an angled face to contact an end of the plurality of sheets stacked on the stacker face. The angled face rises in a direction in which the plurality of sheets is stacked, with respect to a lower side of the stacker face. The guide face guides the sheet conveyed along the lower side toward an outlet port to a lower end of the outlet port, the outlet port opening in an exterior of the device to remove the sheet to an outside of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sho ASANO, Keisuke SUGIYAMA, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Wataru TAKAHASHI, Ruki MIDORIKAWA, Shinya MONMA
  • Publication number: 20230202780
    Abstract: A sheet separation device includes a sheet separator and a conveyor. The sheet separator separates a non-bonding portion of a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlapped and bonded together at a bonding portion of the two-ply sheet. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet toward the sheet separator while bending the two-ply sheet in a direction that intersects a conveyance direction of the two-ply sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru TAKAHASHI, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Keisuke SUGIYAMA, Ruki MIDORIKAWA, Shinya MONMA, Sho ASANO
  • Patent number: 11679582
    Abstract: A sheet processing device includes a conveyor, a rotator, a separator, and control circuitry. The conveyor conveys a sheet-shaped medium into a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlaid and partially bonded, and includes a drive roller and a driven roller. The rotator winds the two-ply sheet. The separator separates the two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The control circuitry causes the conveyor to convey the two-ply sheet in a winding direction to wind the two-ply sheet around the rotator to generate a space between the two sheets, and causes the separator to insert into the space between the two sheets to separate the two sheets. The drive roller and the rotator are disposed on a same side with respect to a sheet conveyance passage of the two-ply sheet, and the driven roller and the rotator are disposed on opposite sides with respect to the sheet conveyance passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Suzuka Fujita, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Wataru Takahashi, Yoshito Suzuki, Shinya Monma, Joji Akiyama, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Sho Asano, Wataru Nozaki
  • Patent number: 11642878
    Abstract: A laminating device inserts a sheet-shaped medium into a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are overlaid and partially bonded, and includes a loader, a fixing device, and control circuitry. The loader loads the sheet-shaped medium or a cleaning sheet. The fixing device laminates the two-ply sheet in which the sheet-shaped medium is sandwiched between the two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The control circuitry performs a cleaning mode of conveying a plurality of cleaning sheets from the loader to clean the fixing device. The cleaning mode is to convey a subsequent cleaning sheet of the plurality of cleaning sheets at a position different from a position of a preceding cleaning sheet of the plurality of cleaning sheets in a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the plurality of cleaning sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Monma, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Wataru Takahashi, Sho Asano, Yoshito Suzuki, Joji Akiyama, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Wataru Nozaki, Suzuka Fujita