Patents by Inventor Tomohiro Furuhashi

Tomohiro Furuhashi 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: 20210289090
    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 separator, an abnormality detection device, and circuitry. The separator is configured to move to be inserted into a gap formed between the two sheets of the two-ply sheet. The abnormality detection device is configured to detect an abnormal state in which the gap larger than a predetermined size is not formed between the two sheets before the separator is inserted into the gap. The circuitry is configured to control movement of the separator based on a result detected by the abnormality detection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya MONMA, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Wataru TAKAHASHI, Sho ASANO, Yoshito SUZUKI, Joji AKIYAMA, Yohsuke HARAGUCHI, Wataru NOZAKI
  • Patent number: 11111098
    Abstract: A sheet folding system includes a plurality of sheet folding apparatuses configured to receive and perform a folding process on a sheet and circuitry configured to distribute sheets to the plurality of sheet folding apparatuses. Each of the plurality of sheet folding apparatuses includes a folding device configured to fold the sheet, a first conveyance passage configured to convey the sheet downstream in a sheet conveyance direction without passing through the folding device, a second conveyance passage configured to convey the sheet to the folding device, a third conveyance passage configured to convey the sheet from the folding device downstream in the sheet conveyance direction, and a junction between the first conveyance passage and the third conveyance passage. The circuitry controls sheet conveyance to prevent an interference, at the junction, between the sheet conveyed from the first conveyance passage and the sheet conveyed from the third conveyance passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michitaka Suzuki, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 11097920
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus includes a conveyance member to convey a sheet from an ejection member at a first speed lower than a conveyance speed by the ejection member or a second speed substantially same as or higher than the conveyance speed; a registration member; a pair of first and second rollers to rotate in forward and reverse directions; a plurality of folding rollers downstream from the second roller, to rotate in forward and reverse directions to fold the sheet; and circuitry to determine whether the sheet is equal to or smaller than a reference length from an exit position from the ejection member to a folding start position downstream from the pair of the first and second rollers. The circuitry performs first-speed folding when the sheet is equal to or smaller than the reference length and performs second-speed folding when the sheet is longer than the reference length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kunieda, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Wataru Takahashi, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Makoto Hidaka, Takahiro Watanabe, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 11099507
    Abstract: A sheet separation device configured to separate a two-ply sheet, in which two sheets are bonded together at a portion, includes a rotator, a nipping member disposed opposite the rotator and configured to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a conveyor configured to convey the two-ply sheet between the rotator and the nipping member, and a winding member disposed adjacent to the rotator. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet with a bonded portion of the two-ply sheet being an upstream end or a downstream end of the two-ply sheet in a conveyance direction of the two-ply sheet. The winding member winds the two-ply sheet around the rotator, to create a difference in winding circumferential length between the two sheets and separate the two sheets. The sheet separation device further includes control circuitry configured to adjust a winding amount of the two-ply sheet around the rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Watanabe, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Wataru Takahashi, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Publication number: 20210253385
    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: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshito SUZUKI, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Wataru TAKAHASHI, Shinya MONMA, Joji AKIYAMA, Yohsuke HARAGUCHI, Sho ASANO, Wataru NOZAKI
  • Patent number: 11084682
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a second conveying roller pair that receives and conveys a sheet conveyed by a first conveying roller pair; a first folding roller pair that forms a first fold on the sheet; and a first rotation unit capable of rotating the second conveying roller pair and the first folding roller pair. One roller of the second conveying roller pair and one roller of the first folding roller pair are a common roller shared therebetween. The second conveying roller pair causes the sheet to be deflected and guided to the first folding roller pair, and the first folding roller pair forms the first fold on the deflected sheet by rotating the first rotation unit in a certain direction in a state in which the sheet is held by the first conveying roller pair and the second conveying roller pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takahiro Watanabe, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Yuji Suzuki, Satoshi Saito, Takao Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20210220537
    Abstract: A blood purification apparatus that includes a blood circuit including an arterial blood circuit and a venous blood circuit and that allows a patient's blood to extracorporeally circulate, with a blood purifier that is interposed between the arterial blood circuit and the venous blood circuit and purifies; a dialysate temporary chamber that temporarily stores dialysate received from a dialysate storage supported by a supporting unit; a substitution-fluid temporary chamber that temporarily stores substitution fluid received from a substitution-fluid storage supported by the supporting unit; a first dialysate introduction line through which the dialysate in the dialysate storage flows into the dialysate temporary chamber; and a substitution line through which the substitution fluid in the substitution-fluid storage flows into the substitution-fluid temporary chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Tomohiro Furuhashi, Yuki Eda, Masaaki Ohta, Kenji Furuhashi
  • Publication number: 20210220544
    Abstract: The present teachings provide a blood purification apparatus including a drain-liquid temporary chamber that stores drain liquid drained from a blood purifier that purifies blood of a patient, a first drain-liquid drain line through which the drain liquid flows into the drain-liquid temporary chamber, a second drain-liquid drain line through which the drain liquid stored in the drain-liquid temporary chamber is drained to an outside of the apparatus, a draining unit provided to the second drain-liquid drain line and that drains the drain liquid stored in the drain-liquid temporary chamber to the outside of the apparatus, a remaining-amount-detecting unit that detects an amount of drain liquid remaining in the drain-liquid temporary chamber, a judging unit that judges whether or not a reference remaining amount is reached by the drain liquid in the drain-liquid temporary chamber from a result of detection by the remaining-amount-detecting unit, and a control unit that controls the draining unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Hideto Maki, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Kazuhide Ono
  • Publication number: 20210213189
    Abstract: A blood purification apparatus capable of performing pre-substitution and post-substitution simultaneously is provided. A patient's blood flows through an arterial blood circuit and reaches a dialyzer. The blood purified by the dialyzer flows through a venous blood circuit and returns into the patient. A first substitution pump delivers substitution fluid through a substitution line to a branching point. A pre-substitution line connects the branching point and the arterial blood circuit to each other and is provided with a second substitution pump at a halfway position thereof. A post-substitution line connects the branching point and the venous blood circuit to each other and is provided with a check valve at a halfway position thereof. When the two pumps are activated simultaneously, the substitution fluid is supplied to the arterial blood circuit (pre-substitution). When only the first substitution pump is activated, the substitution fluid is supplied to the venous blood circuit (post-substitution).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Tomohiro Furuhashi, Yuki Eda, Masaaki Ohta, Kazuhide Ono
  • Patent number: 10974923
    Abstract: A sheet processing device includes a conveying unit, a presser, an end detector, and a setting unit. The conveying unit conveys a sheet having a crease formed therein. The presser presses the crease in the sheet. The end detector detects an end in a conveying direction of the sheet at a position upstream of the presser in the conveying direction. The setting unit sets a crease position where the crease is to be formed. Upon detection of the end in the conveying direction, the conveying unit conveys the sheet to a position where the crease faces the presser, on the basis of the crease position set by the setting unit. The presser presses the crease in the conveyed sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Michitaka Suzuki, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Tomomichi Hoshino, Satoshi Saito, Takahiro Watanabe, Takao Watanabe, Yuji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10953622
    Abstract: A sheet processing device includes: a conveying module that conveys a folded sheet; and a pressing module that presses a folded part of the folded sheet by rotating about a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction of the conveying module as a rotation axis. The pressing module includes a projecting part arranged in a certain range in a direction of the rotation axis along a circumferential surface about the rotation axis. The projecting part is formed to be symmetric with respect to a middle part of the rotation axis in the direction of the rotation axis, and the projecting part arranged on one side from the middle part along the direction of the rotation axis are formed such that a position of the projecting part in a rotational direction of the circumferential surface varies along the direction of the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Michitaka Suzuki, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Tomomichi Hoshino, Akira Kunieda, Takahiro Watanabe, Yuji Suzuki, Satoshi Saito, Koki Sakano, Takao Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20210039916
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet conveyor configured to convey a sheet, a processing tool configured to perform processing to the sheet, a tool contact separation device, a tool moving device, and a tool facing device. The tool contact separation device is configured to contact and separate the processing tool to the sheet. The tool moving device is configured to move the processing tool in a direction intersecting a conveyance direction of the sheet. The tool facing device has an opposing face and is disposed at a position at which the tool facing portion faces the processing tool via the sheet. The tool facing device is configured to move to change the tool facing portion in accordance with a relative moving direction of the sheet with respect to the processing tool when the processing tool performs the processing to the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke SUGIYAMA, Tomohiro FURUHASHI
  • Publication number: 20210039900
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a sheet conveyor, a plurality of processing tools, and a tool moving device. The sheet conveyor is configured to convey a sheet. The plurality of processing tools is disposed in a conveyance direction of the sheet and is configured to perform processing to the sheet. The tool moving device is configured to move the plurality of processing tools in an intersecting direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehisa SHIMAZU, Keisuke SUGIYAMA, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Wataru TAKAHASHI, Yuji SUZUKI, Joji AKIYAMA, Yosuke IIDA
  • Patent number: 10899572
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a folding device to fold a sheet and a fold-enhancing device to press a folded portion of the sheet folded by the folding device to perform enhanced folding processing on the sheet whose trailing edge has exited the folding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Koki Sakano, Shinji Asami, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Makoto Hidaka, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 10899573
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes an entry portion, a sheet conveyance path extending from the entry portion, a skew correction roller pair that contacts a leading edge of a sheet conveyed in a predetermined direction from the entry portion to correct skew of the sheet, and a receiving path. The skew correction roller pair conveys the skew-corrected sheet in a direction opposite the predetermined direction. The receiving path branches from the sheet conveyance path from the entry portion to the skew correction roller pair to receive the sheet conveyed in the direction opposite the predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Furuhashi, Shinji Asami, Michitaka Suzuki, Tomomichi Hoshino, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Makoto Hidaka, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Takuya Morinaga, Yohsuke Haraguchi
  • Publication number: 20200407187
    Abstract: An embodiment of this disclosure provides a folding apparatus configured to stack and fold a designated number of sheets at a time. The folding apparatus includes a conveyor configured to sequentially convey the designated number of sheets, a stacker configured to temporarily store a sheet conveyed by the conveyor to stack the designated number of sheets, a sheet folding device configured to fold the designated number of sheets at a time, and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to cause the sheet folding device to fold the stored sheet in response to an occurrence of a sheet jam upstream from the stacker in a direction of sheet conveyance, in processing the designated number of sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto HIDAKA, Takahiro WATANABE, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Michitaka SUZUKI, Fumiharu YONEYAMA, Kazuyoshi MATSUO, Koki SAKANO, Akira KUNIEDA, Takuya MORINAGA, Yohsuke HARAGUCHI, Wataru TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20200385231
    Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus includes a conveyance member to convey a sheet from an ejection member at a first speed lower than a conveyance speed by the ejection member or a second speed substantially same as or higher than the conveyance speed; a registration member; a pair of first and second rollers to rotate in forward and reverse directions; a plurality of folding rollers downstream from the second roller, to rotate in forward and reverse directions to fold the sheet; and circuitry to determine whether the sheet is equal to or smaller than a reference length from an exit position from the ejection member to a folding start position downstream from the pair of the first and second rollers. The circuitry performs first-speed folding when the sheet is equal to or smaller than the reference length and performs second-speed folding when the sheet is longer than the reference length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira KUNIEDA, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Michitaka SUZUKI, Wataru TAKAHASHI, Fumiharu YONEYAMA, Kazuyoshi MATSUO, Makoto HIDAKA, Takahiro WATANABE, Takuya MORINAGA, Yohsuke HARAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10857776
    Abstract: A sheet separation device separates a two-ply sheet in which two sheets are bonded together at a portion. The sheet separation device includes a rotator, a nipping member opposite the rotator, to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a conveyor to convey the two-ply sheet between the rotator and the nipping member, a winding member adjacent to the rotator, to wind the two-ply sheet around the rotator, and control circuitry. In winding the two-ply sheet, the control circuitry rotates the rotator at a first speed faster than a second speed at which the two-ply sheet moves to the rotator via the conveyor, and creates a difference in winding circumferential length between the two sheets, thereby separating the two sheets. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet with a bonded portion of the two-ply sheet being an upstream end or a downstream end in a conveyance direction of the two-ply sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Morinaga, Tomohiro Furuhashi, Michitaka Suzuki, Fumiharu Yoneyama, Tomomichi Hoshino, Wataru Takahashi, Koki Sakano, Akira Kunieda, Yohsuke Haraguchi, Makoto Hidaka, Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Takahiro Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20200341414
    Abstract: A sheet separation device configured to separate a two-ply sheet, in which two sheets are bonded together at a portion, includes a rotator, a nipping member disposed opposite the rotator and configured to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a conveyor configured to convey the two-ply sheet between the rotator and the nipping member, and a winding member disposed adjacent to the rotator. The conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet with a bonded portion of the two-ply sheet being an upstream end or a downstream end of the two-ply sheet in a conveyance direction of the two-ply sheet. The winding member winds the two-ply sheet around the rotator, to create a difference in winding circumferential length between the two sheets and separate the two sheets. The sheet separation device further includes control circuitry configured to adjust a winding amount of the two-ply sheet around the rotator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro WATANABE, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Michitaka SUZUKI, Tomomichi HOSHINO, Wataru TAKAHASHI, Fumiharu YONEYAMA, Kazuyoshi MATSUO, Makoto HIDAKA, Koki SAKANO, Akira KUNIEDA, Takuya MORINAGA, Yohsuke HARAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20200338877
    Abstract: A sheet separation device includes a rotator, a nipping member to nip the two-ply sheet with the rotator, a first conveyor to convey the two-ply sheet in a first direction toward the rotator and a second direction reverse thereto, a winding member to wind the two-ply sheet around the rotator, a second conveyor to convey a sheet medium in the second direction, a separation claw to move in a width direction; a sheet guide to guide the separated two sheets to different passages; and control circuitry. The first conveyor conveys the two-ply sheet to the rotator with a bonded portion at an upstream end. The control circuitry inserts the separation claw into a space between the two sheets, adjusts a projection amount of the two-ply sheet from a nip of the first conveyor in the second direction, and inserts the sheet medium in two-ply sheet adjusted in the projection amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru TAKAHASHI, Tomohiro FURUHASHI, Michitaka SUZUKI, Tomomichi HOSHINO, Fumiharu YONEYAMA, Kazuyoshi MATSUO, Makoto HIDAKA, Koki SAKANO, Akira KUNIEDA, Takahiro WATANABE, Takuya MORINAGA, Yohsuke HARAGUCHI