Patents by Inventor Taichiro Yamashita
Taichiro Yamashita 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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Patent number: 6748182Abstract: A low cost and high accuracy replacing part identification system capable of detecting and excluding the dishonest use of an image forming apparatus containing a consumable. A memory storage device having a particular ID number stored therein is attached to a toner cartridge. If the toner cartridge is used, hysteresis data (data that cannot be re-written to its original value) is stored in the memory storage device and the ID number is stored in an ID storing unit to prevent the cartridge from being able to be used by other apparatuses. Since a control unit detects the number of time of use and a toner level detecting unit detects the data of a toner level in the toner cartridge to store as the hysteresis data in the memory storage device, a toner cartridge which imitation toner was refilled can be detected and prevented from being used.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2001Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Takashi Yoshida, Taichiro Yamashita, Junichi Tamamoto
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Publication number: 20040091290Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus comprises a plurality of image forming devices overlapped one another. The image forming device comprises a developing device comprising a tip end part and a toner storage part coupled to the tip end part. A thickness of the tip end part in an overlapped direction is smaller than a thickness of the toner storage part. An exposure device is arranged in a location, in which the tip end part is small in thickness. A toner regulatory blade extends in a direction along a normal to the overlapped direction and arranged so as to come into contact with a developing roller from a direction following rotation of the developing roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2003Publication date: May 13, 2004Inventors: Shintaro Yamada, Toru Miyasaka, Taichiro Yamashita, Kenji Asuwa, Masahiro Yagi
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Publication number: 20040085431Abstract: Provided is a small-sized electrophotographic apparatus for which maintenance such as disposal of a jam of sheets, replacement of consumables including toner, or replacement of components to be periodically replaced can be facilitated.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2003Publication date: May 6, 2004Inventors: Kenji Asuwa, Toru Miyasaka, Taichiro Yamashita, Masahiro Yagi, Shintaro Yamada
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Publication number: 20030193273Abstract: Provided is a banknote handling device embedded in an outer wall, in which a shutter for a deposit/withdrawal port is stably operated even in a rainy weather condition. According to the present invention, the banknote handling device including a door having an outer surface exposed outdoors, for covering a deposit/withdrawal port, incorporates a rain water draining means for draining rain water falling onto the outer surface of the door, outside of the device. The rain water draining means comprises an inclined surface incorporated in the outer surface of the door, a water channel through which rain water dripping from the outer surface of the door flows, and a drain pipe for receiving rain water flowing from the water channel, and draining the rain water outside of the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2002Publication date: October 16, 2003Inventors: Taichiro Yamashita, Kazushi Yoshida, Riichi Katou
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Publication number: 20020085847Abstract: A low cost and high accuracy replacing part identification system capable of detecting and excluding the dishonest use of a replacing part containing a consumable and an image forming apparatus employing the same. A data carrier having a peculiar ID number stored therein is attached to a toner cartridge. If the toner cartridge is used once, hysteresis data is stored in a data carrier and the ID number is stored in an ID storing unit to prevent the toner cartridge from being able to be used in other apparatuses. Since a control unit detects the number of times of use and a toner level detecting unit detects the data of a toner level to store the data as hysteresis data in the data carrier, the toner cartridge in which imitation toner was refilled can be detected from the fluctuation thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2001Publication date: July 4, 2002Inventors: Takashi Yoshida, Taichiro Yamashita, Junichi Tamamoto
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Patent number: 6373013Abstract: An apparatus for sorting and distributing sheet-like items, such as postal matter. A feeder successively feeds the sheet-like items to a stacker which is positioned above the feeder and on which the sheet-like items are stacked in an upright position. Both the feeder and the stacker have a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the stacker is normally positioned at a first distance above the bottom surface of the feeder. A bottom surface opening mechanism is able to open the bottom surface of the stacker to permit sheet-like items stacked in the stacker to be transferred to the feeder. A bottom surface moving mechanism is able to move the bottom surface of the feeder unit and the bottom surface of the stacker unit toward each other so as to position the stacker bottom surface at a second distance above the feeder bottom surface, with the second distance being less than the first distance, and is able to return the bottom surfaces to a position in which they are spaced by the first distance.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2000Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Taichiro Yamashita, Yasunori Hamada, Kazushi Yoshida, Tadashi Osaka, Junichi Tamamoto
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Patent number: 6340804Abstract: A paper sheet sorting apparatus comprising a device for reading the information recorded in paper sheets and a device for sorting the paper sheets in accordance with the information thus read, is disclosed. The load of recognizing the information is detected by a load detector. In accordance with the load detected by the load detector, the interval between the paper sheets supplied or the speed at which the paper sheets are transported is changed. In this way, the interval of the papers sheets entering the reading device is changed. The number of paper sheets having the information that cannot be recognized and hence cannot be sorted is reduced, while at the same time improving the processing speed.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 1998Date of Patent: January 22, 2002Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Junichi Tamamoto, Taichiro Yamashita, Kichio Nakajima
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Patent number: 6166346Abstract: An apparatus for sorting and distributing sheet-like items, such as postal matter. A feeder successively feeds the sheet-like items to a stacker which is positioned above the feeder and on which the sheet-like items are stacked in an upright position. Both the feeder and the stacker have a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the stacker is normally positioned at a first distance above the bottom surface of the feeder. A bottom surface opening mechanism is able to open the bottom surface of the stacker to permit sheet-like items stacked in the stacker to be transferred to the feeder. A bottom surface moving mechanism is able to move the bottom surface of the feeder unit and the bottom surface of the stacker unit toward each other so as to position the stacker bottom surface at a second distance above the feeder bottom surface, with the second distance being less than the first distance, and is able to return the bottom surfaces to a position in which they are spaced by the first distance.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 1999Date of Patent: December 26, 2000Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Taichiro Yamashita, Yasunori Hamada, Kazushi Yoshida, Tadashi Osaka, Junichi Tamamoto
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Patent number: 6129351Abstract: An overlap detection apparatus having a conveyance path for conveying letters including a letter release section where the letters are not held, a bending section formed in the letter release section, and a butt into which the forward end of the letters released from the conveyance path in the bending section is brought into contact. A detector is provided for detecting the forward end of a letter on the butt and an overlap judging arrangement for judging an overlap of letters based on the result of detection by the detector. The detector includes a light source for projecting light on the surface of a letter and a line sensor having a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in a line, wherein the line sensor detects a shadow of the forward end of the letters cast by the light source.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1999Date of Patent: October 10, 2000Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Shunichi Oohara, Taichiro Yamashita, Naoki Sasaki, Masahisa Aoyagi, Hideo Inui, Junji Fujita
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Patent number: 6107589Abstract: A small-size apparatus for sorting sheets or the like can form a delivery route by repeating sorting operation and prevent an overflow of sheets or the like. To this end, auxiliary sorting compartments are provided in an accumulator in the sorting operation for the first time, and when an overflow occurs, the allocated sorting compartments are shifted each by one compartment to the side of the auxiliary sorting compartment. In the first-time sorting operation, destination codes and thicknesses are stored in memory, and by the destination codes and thicknesses stored, overflow is predicted, a plurality of sorting compartments are allocated. By this arrangement, the sheets or the like can be prevented from overflowing, so that those sheets or the like which are rejected need not be manually added afterwards, and the efficiency of the sorting work can be improved.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1999Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Taichiro Yamashita, Kazushi Yoshida, Yasunori Hamada, Junichi Tamamoto, Toshihiko Tajiri
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Patent number: 6054666Abstract: A letter sorting apparatus which can perform the sorting for each letter carrier and a delivery sequence organization sorting work in accordance with bar codes. The apparatus includes a first accumulating arrangement provided above and adjacent to a supplying section and having a letter returning mechanism, and second accumulating arrangement of a fixed type provided above and adjacent to the first accumulating means. The sorting for each letter carrier by use of the first accumulating arrangement and the second accumulating arrangement is effected. Further, the delivery sequence sorting can be performed in such a manner that letters accumulated in the first accumulating arrangement are returned to the supplying section to repeat the sorting.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 1998Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Taichiro Yamashita, Yasunori Hamada, Takao Terayama, Nobuyoshi Sasaki, Toshihiko Tajiri
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Patent number: 6023034Abstract: A paper sorting apparatus includes first to fourth gap measuring units to measure gaps between sheets of paper. Using the gaps between the sheets varying between the respective gap measuring units, target gap correction values are stored for respective sort shelves. In accordance with gaps between sheets changed between the first and second gap measuring units, there are predicted gap variations possibly taking place by when the sheets reach the associated sort shelves. Depending on the predicted gap variations, a gap adjuster is controlled to set the gaps to appropriate values at a point where the pertinent sheets reach the associated sort shelves.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1998Date of Patent: February 8, 2000Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Kichio Nakajima, Junichi Tamamoto, Takashi Yoshida, Toshihiko Tajiri, Junji Fujita, Taichiro Yamashita, Kazushi Yoshida, Shunichi Oohara
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Patent number: 5990438Abstract: Apparatus for sorting and distributing sheet-like items, such as postal matter. A feeder successively feeds the sheet-like items with the front surfaces of all the items facing in the same direction. A stacker is positioned above the feeder for stacking the sheet-like items in an upright position. As the sheet-like items are conveyed from the feeder to the stacker, a selector activates either a first reader or a second reader to read address codes applied to the front surfaces or the back surfaces of the sheet-like items. The selector selects the one of the first reader and the second reader to be activated based on which of the front surfaces and the back surfaces of the sheet like items have address codes thereon.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1998Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Taichiro Yamashita, Yasunori Hamada, Kazushi Yoshida, Tadashi Osaka, Junichi Tamamoto
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Patent number: 5984303Abstract: An overlapped mail detection apparatus and method are disclosed. Since the postcard is shorter than the letter, the change in length is not sometimes detected even when the postcard is displaced. In the case where the exterior of the letter is deformed outward and an overlap is detected from the rise of the tail end of the letter after passing a guide, a thin letter or the like low in rigidity is hard to detect due to the slow rise after deformation in the guide. In view of this, a separator has a bent conveyance path for deforming the exterior of the letter outward. The conveyance surfaces constituting the inner and outer sides of the bent portion of the separator are spaced appropriately from each other. A detector detects the state of the letter surface in the neighborhood of the outer conveyance surface with which the forward end of the letter first comes into contact. An overlap of letters is judged from the result of detection by the detector.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1998Date of Patent: November 16, 1999Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Shunichi Oohara, Taichiro Yamashita, Naoki Sasaki, Masahisa Aoyagi, Hideo Inui, Junji Fujita
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Patent number: 5981891Abstract: A hopper for feeding documents also serves as a stacker for stacking therein documents in a generally upright position. When the fed documents or the once-stacked documents are to be fed to a singulation mechanism, the hopper or stacker is put into a feeding mode, and when the documents are to be stacked or sorted, the hopper or stacker is switched to a stacking mode. Such hoppers or stackers are arranged in a plurality of stages, and when each sorting is to be effected, addresses are read while changing the mode of each hopper or stacker to repeat the sorting, so that the documents are sequenced by a radix sort method.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 1997Date of Patent: November 9, 1999Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Taichiro Yamashita, Takao Terayama, Yasunori Hamada, Itsunori Utsumi, Noriaki Hagiwara
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Patent number: 5954207Abstract: A small-size apparatus for sorting sheets or the like can form a delivery route by repeating sorting operation and prevent an overflow of sheets or the like. To this end, auxiliary sorting compartments are provided in accumulating means in the sorting operation for the first time, and when an overflow occurs, the allocated sorting compartments are shifted each by one compartment to the side of the auxiliary sorting compartment. In the first-time sorting operation, destination codes 15 and thicknesses are stored in memory, and by the destination codes and thicknesses stored, overflow is predicted, a plurality of sorting compartments are allocated. By this arrangement, the sheets or the like can be prevented from overflowing, so that those sheets or the like which are rejected need not be manually added afterwards, and the efficiency of the sorting work can be improved.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1997Date of Patent: September 21, 1999Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Taichiro Yamashita, Kazushi Yoshida, Yasunori Hamada, Junichi Tamamoto, Toshihiko Tajiri
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Patent number: 5810174Abstract: The present invention provides a sorter system wherein sorters that can perform sorting operations such as destination and delivery sorting operations and sequencing operations such as a carrier route sequencing operation for sheets with sorting information attached thereto as required can be configured. Transfer devices are coupled to sorting information readers means for reading sorting information from sheets transferred by transfer devices. A plurality of sorters for loading the sheets therein according to the sorting information read by the sorting information readers are coupled to the transfer devices in such a way that any number of sorters can be added or removed from said sorters as required. This invention can provide a sorter system capable of expanding sorting and sequencing functions, and also reduce costs and a required installation space.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 1995Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Yasunori Hamada, Taichiro Yamashita, Kazushi Yoshida, Takao Terayama, Tadashi Osaka, Junichi Tamamoto, Toshihiko Tajiri
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Patent number: 5749473Abstract: Apparatus for sorting sheets or the like, in which mail distributed to a number of collection sections can be easily recycled to a feeder for sorting the mail in accordance with the delivery order. Stackers, in which mail is sorted in accordance with address codes, are provided on an upper portion of the feeder. By pulling out a bottom plate of the stackers, the mail in the stackers falls down into the feeder. The mail distributed once can be recycled to the feeder in a short period of time, thereby reducing the time for carrier route sequencing of the mail. The mail is conveyed in a path extending both above and below the feeder and the stackers, thereby reducing the area required for the apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 1996Date of Patent: May 12, 1998Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Taichiro Yamashita, Yasunori Hamada, Kazushi Yoshida, Tadashi Osaka, Junichi Tamamoto
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Patent number: 5740921Abstract: A smal-size apparatus for sorting sheets or the like can form a delivery route by repeating sorting operation and prevent an overflow of sheets or the like. To this end, auxiliary sorting compartments are provided in an accumulator means in the sorting operation for the first time, and when an overflow occurs, the allocated sorting compartments are shifted each by one compartment to the side of the auxiliary sorting compartment. In the first-time sorting operation, destination codes and thicknesses are stored in memory, and by the destination codes and thicknesses stored, overflow is predicted, a plurality of sorting compartments are allocated. By this arrangement, the sheets or the like can be prevented from overflowing, so that those sheets or the like which are rejected need not be manually added afterwards, and the efficiency of the sorting work can be improved.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1995Date of Patent: April 21, 1998Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Taichiro Yamashita, Kazushi Yoshida, Yasunori Hamada, Junichi Tamamoto, Toshihiko Tajiri
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Patent number: 5739976Abstract: As a method of increasing the storage capacity of a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing information to and from a magnetic tape in a cartridge, there is a helical scan recording method in which the magnetic tape is diagonally wound around a drum which rotates a magnetic head. With an apparatus adapted to this method, the disposition of the cartridge and the take-up reel for taking up the magnetic tape on the same plane arises a necessity of considerably bending the magnetic tape at the drum portion and, accordingly, the magnetic tape is damaged. In order to prevent the damage of the foregoing type, the tape passage surface from the cartridge to the drum and the tape passage from the drum to the take-up reel are formed by an angle at which the direction in which the magnetic tape is moved is changed due to winding of the magnetic tape around the drum so that the magnetic tape is not bent excessively.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1995Date of Patent: April 14, 1998Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuo Sakai, Fumio Takeda, Taichiro Yamashita, Fujio Tajima, Takao Terayama, Tomokazu Ishii, Kooetsu Okuyama, Takayuki Munemoto, Nobuyuki Kaku, Kenmei Masuda, Shigeyuki Kobata, Fukuyasu Abe, Kenji Ogiro, Shigemitsu Higuchi