Patents by Inventor Akinori Kimata

Akinori Kimata 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: 8579283
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus which enables quick removal of remaining sheets in the image forming apparatus via an orthogonal reverse section in case a jam occurs inside the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a main conveyance section to convey a sheet in the image forming apparatus and to convey the sheet to an ejected sheet section; an orthogonal reverse section to receive the sheet from the main conveyance section and turn over the sheet without swapping a front edge for a rear edge of the sheet by conveying the sheet in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction of the main conveyance section and a sheet ejection section to eject the sheet in the orthogonal reverse section outside the orthogonal reverse section along a direction to turn over the sheet by the orthogonal reverse section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Akifumi Isobe, Masashi Sugano, Akinori Kimata, Katsunori Takahashi, Kenji Tamaki, Satoshi Shimao
  • Patent number: 8480079
    Abstract: A sheet reversing apparatus including: a right angle reversing conveyance section which reverses front/back sides of a sheet while changing a conveyance direction of the sheet, being conveyed in a first conveyance direction, to a second conveyance direction perpendicular to the first conveyance direction; a sheet skew sensor which detects a sheet skew of the sheet being conveyed by the right angle reversing conveyance section; and a sheet skew correction mechanism which corrects the sheet skew of the sheet while the sheet is being conveyed by the right angle reversing conveyance section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Masashi Sugano, Akinori Kimata, Katsunori Takahashi, Akifumi Isobe, Kenji Tamaki, Satoshi Shimao
  • Patent number: 8451310
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including; an exposure section provided with, a light emitting element, a polygon mirror to receive light beams from the light emitting element, and to expose an image carrier using light beam via the polygon mirror based on image data; an image processing section to adjust image magnification by image processing of the image data; and, a control section configured to select at least either of a first magnification adjustment to change a rotation speed of the polygon mirror and a second magnification adjustment to carry out image processing of the image data by the image processing section, based on comparison results between a paper interval time during recording paper conveyance in image formation and the first magnification adjustment time required to stabilize polygon mirror rotation in the first magnification adjustment, when adjusting image magnification with respect to recording paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Tamaki, Masashi Sugano, Akinori Kimata, Katsunori Takahashi, Akifumi Isobe, Satoshi Shimao
  • Patent number: 8380092
    Abstract: In this toner concentration sensor, as the magnetic permeability of a two-component developer 3 containing toner and carrier in a two-component developing unit 1 has changed with changing TC ratio of the two-component developer, the oscillation frequency of a first oscillation circuit 20 having a detection coil 5 changes, on the other hand the oscillation frequency of a second oscillation circuit 30 having a reference coil 6 does not change. While, changes in temperature conditions cause the oscillation frequency of the second oscillation circuit to change in the same way as the oscillation frequency of the first oscillation circuit. Therefore, utilizing a difference between the oscillation frequencies of the first and second oscillation circuits makes it possible to cancel out changes in the temperature conditions so that a value corresponding to only the magnetic permeability of the two-component developer can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hirotada Seki, Akinori Kimata, Satoru Sasaki, Natsuyo Higashi, Hiroaki Takatsu
  • Patent number: 8320789
    Abstract: In an image formation state, to cool a recording sheet on a route from a fixer to a paper ejection roller, a blast fan assumes a first position restrained by a first fixture. Also, in another state, to cool a recording sheet on the catch tray, the blast fan assumes a second position restrained by a second fixture. To transition from the image formation state to another state, the blast fan sends a strong blast in a reverse direction from the normal blast direction. A bias is generated on the blast fan due to the resulting reactive force, the blast fan becomes free from the restraint of the first fixture, and shifts from the first position to the second position. Conversely, to transition from another state to the image formation state, a strong blast is sent in the same direction as the normal blast direction, and the blast fan shifts from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takatsu, Satoru Sasaki, Akinori Kimata, Natsuyo Higashi, Hirotada Seki
  • Publication number: 20120250058
    Abstract: A printing control apparatus connected via a network with one or more of image forming apparatuses includes: a power source detection section which detects an image forming apparatus turned on; and a setting section which sets a mode shift time for shifting from a normal power mode to a power saving power mode a power consumption of which is less than a power consumption of the normal power mode of each of the image forming apparatuses; and a notice section which notices the set mode shift time to the image forming apparatus corresponding to the mode shift time, wherein the setting section changes the mode shift time when a plurality of image forming apparatuses which has been turned on is connected with the network, by comparing with a case when the network is connected with only one image forming apparatus turned on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Takeshi Tamada, Akinori Kimata, Kenji Yamamoto, Akihiro Hayashi, Yoshihito Sasamoto, Kenji Tamaki
  • Publication number: 20120217698
    Abstract: A sheet reversing apparatus including: a right angle reversing conveyance section which reverses front/back sides of a sheet while changing a conveyance direction of the sheet, being conveyed in a first conveyance direction, to a second conveyance direction perpendicular to the first conveyance direction; a sheet skew sensor which detects a sheet skew of the sheet being conveyed by the right angle reversing conveyance section; and a sheet skew correction mechanism which corrects the sheet skew of the sheet while the sheet is being conveyed by the right angle reversing conveyance section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Masashi SUGANO, Akinori KIMATA, Katsunori TAKAHASHI, Akifumi ISOBE, Kenji TAMAKI, Satoshi SHIMAO
  • Publication number: 20120200025
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus which enables quick removal of remaining sheets in the image forming apparatus via an orthogonal reverse section in case a jam occurs inside the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a main conveyance section to convey a sheet in the image forming apparatus and to convey the sheet to an ejected sheet section; an orthogonal reverse section to receive the sheet from the main conveyance section and turn over the sheet without swapping a front edge for a rear edge of the sheet by conveying the sheet in a direction perpendicular to a sheet conveyance direction of the main conveyance section and a sheet ejection section to eject the sheet in the orthogonal reverse section outside the orthogonal reverse section along a direction to turn over the sheet by the orthogonal reverse section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Akifumi ISOBE, Masashi SUGANO, Akinori KIMATA, Katsunori TAKAHASHI, Kenji TAMAKI, Satoshi SHIMAO
  • Publication number: 20120189329
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus having a first sheet dimension sensor at a conveyance path in a reverse conveyance section 50, wherein the first sheet detection sensor 75 detects a front edge and a rear edge of the sheet P in a sheet conveyance direction so as to detect a first sheet dimension. According to the above configuration, since only a sensor has to be disposed at the conveyance path in the reverse conveyance section 50 so as to detect the sheet dimension in the sheet conveyance direction, a first sheet dimension can be detected by an economical sensor configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kenji TAMAKI, Masashi SUGANO, Akinori KIMATA, Katsunori TAKAHASHI, Akifumi ISOBE, Satoshi SHIMAO
  • Publication number: 20120147115
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including; an exposure section provided with, a light emitting element, a polygon mirror to receive light beams from the light emitting element, and to expose an image carrier using light beam via the polygon minor based on image data; an image processing section to adjust image magnification by image processing of the image data; and, a control section configured to select at least either of a first magnification adjustment to change a rotation speed of the polygon mirror and a second magnification adjustment to carry out image processing of the image data by the image processing section, based on comparison results between a paper interval time during recording paper conveyance in image formation and the first magnification adjustment time required to stabilize polygon mirror rotation in the first magnification adjustment, when adjusting image magnification with respect to recording paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kenji TAMAKI, Masashi SUGANO, Akinori KIMATA, Katsunori TAKAHASHI, Akifumi ISOBE, Satoshi SHIMAO
  • Publication number: 20120127520
    Abstract: Provided is an operation panel using a touch panel method disposed on an image forming apparatus, wherein a CPU judges whether the same coordinate of an input section is in a pressurization when the operation panel is turned on and whether the first time period has elapsed while the above pressurization continues at the same coordinate, makes a display section to display a massage that the input section is unusable and a message to prompt a user to switch the input section to a substitution device, judges whether the pressurization continues after the second time period and the first time period have elapsed and makes the display section to display a warning to indicate that a malfunction occurs at the input section of the operation panel in case the input section is judged to be in the pressurization after the second time period elapsed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi SHIMAO, Masashi SUGANO, Akinori KIMATA, Katsunori TAKAHASHI, Akifumi ISOBE, Kenji TAMAKI
  • Publication number: 20120098917
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus to form an image by scanning with a light beam through a polygon mirror, having a motor drive section to rotate and drive the polygon mirror based on a polygon drive clock pulse and an image processing section capable of adjusting image magnification through image processing, and a control section to control that at least image magnification adjustment by changing revolution of the polygon mirror or image magnification adjustment through the image processing in the image processing section is selected in accordance with an output form of the image when the image magnification is adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Akinori KIMATA, Masashi SUGANO, Katsunori TAKAHASHI, Akifumi ISOBE, Kenji TAMAKI, Satoshi SHIMAO
  • Publication number: 20120027443
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a photoreceptor for bearing a toner image; a transfer body onto which the toner image borne by the photoreceptor is transferred; a drive section for driving the photoreceptor and transfer body respectively, and a control section for controlling the drive section so as to drive the photoreceptor and transfer body at a predetermined driving speed, wherein the control section, under a state in which the control section controls to drive the transfer body at the predetermined driving speed, controls to: a) drive the photoreceptor while changing the driving speed of the photoreceptor within a range of driving speeds between low speed and high speed, including the predetermined driving speed, b) extract torque characteristics under the control which includes the change of driving speed of the photoreceptor, and c) determine the driving speed of the photoreceptor based on the extracted torque characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Katsunori TAKAHASHI, Masashi Sugano, Akinori Kimata, Akifumi Isobe, Jun Onishi, Masahito Takano, Kenji Tamaki
  • Publication number: 20110305492
    Abstract: A fixing device includes: a fixing section which passes a sheet through a fixing nip portion formed by a pair of fixing members and thereby fixes a toner image on the sheet by heating; a blowing section which separates the sheet from the fixing members by blowing separation wind from a sheet discharge side of the fixing nip portion to the fixing members; an opening setting section which is provided with an opening region in which an opening width in a sheet width direction is adjustable, and adjusts a blowing range in the sheet width direction of the separation wind blown through the opening range from the blowing section to the fixing members; a temperature detection sensor for detecting temperature of the fixing members; and a control section which controls the opening width of the opening setting section based on the temperature detected of the fixing members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Kenji Tamaki, Masashi Sugano, Akinori Kimata, Katsunori Takahashi, Akifumi Isobe, Satoshi Shimao
  • Publication number: 20110280603
    Abstract: In order that the air surrounding a fixing member is prevented from entering a blowing section for blowing separation air, a wind speed setting section is provided with switchable control modes, namely, a first control mode (control mode for operating the blower fan at a wind speed for separation) and a second control mode (control mode for operating the blower fan at a low speed). This structure allows the blower fan to be controlled in conformity to any one of these first and second control modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Katsunori TAKAHASHI, Masashi Sugano, Akinori Kimata, Akifumi Isobe, Kenji Tamaki, Satoshi Shimao
  • Publication number: 20110274456
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device having a heater, a signal generator for generating a prescribed cyclic signal in conformity with a waveform of an AC power supply applied to the heater, and a controller for controlling power feed to the heater. The controller determines whether a cycle of the prescribed cyclic signal becomes shorter than a prescribed period or not. When the controller has determined that the cycle has become shorter than the prescribed period, the controller controls power feed to the heater under phase control and when the controller has determined that the cycle has not become shorter than the prescribed period, the controller controls power feed to the heater under zero crossing control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Natsuyo HIGASHI, Akinori KIMATA, Satoru SASAKI, Hirotada SEKI, Hiroaki TAKATSU
  • Publication number: 20110222922
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fixing device, which makes it possible to prevent the air blasting section from deterioration, caused by heat transferred from the duct to the air blasting section. The fixing device includes a fixing section to fix the toner image onto the paper sheet; a heat source; and a separating section to separate the paper sheet from the pair of fixing members. On the other hand, the separating section includes: a gas blasting section to blast a gas; and a duct to guide the gas towards the pair of fixing members, and that is provided with a duct wall serving as a heat receiving surface to receive radiation heat irradiated from the fixing section, and at least one of the gas blasting section and the duct is provided with such a connection structure that suppresses heat transferring action from the duct to the gas blasting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Akinori KIMATA, Masashi Sugano, Katsunori Takahashi, Akifumi Isobe, Kenji Tamaki, Satoshi Shimao
  • Publication number: 20110150530
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including, a photosensitive body for carrying toner images, a transfer section for nipping the recording sheet at a position facing the photosensitive body and transferring the toner images carried on the photosensitive body onto a recording sheet, a driving section for driving the photosensitive body, and a control section for giving instructions to the driving section to conduct a velocity control to rotate the photosensitive body at a predetermined velocity, wherein the control section sets a gain of velocity control to be greater than normal condition, at a time which is at least one of a time when the recording sheet enters the transfer section, or a time when the recording sheet separates from the transfer section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Katsunori TAKAHASHI, Masashi SUGANO, Akinori KIMATA, Akifumi ISOBE, Kenji TAMAKI, Satoshi SHIMAO
  • Patent number: 7885568
    Abstract: An image forming device that uses only one temperature sensor to detect temperatures of the recording sheet and a rotation member for fixing, and can perform the temperature adjustment control carefully in detail during the image forming operation. The CPU 61 performs the temperature adjustment control 1 by executing the temperature adjustment program 64b (step S109), then executes the paper passing judgment program 64a to judge whether or not paper is passing (step S110). As far as it judges that no paper is passing (NO in step S110), the CPU 61 continues to perform the temperature adjustment control 1 by executing the temperature adjustment program 64b. When it judges that paper is passing (YES in step S110), the CPU 61 performs the temperature adjustment control (step S112).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Natsuyo Higashi, Hirotada Seki, Satoru Sasaki, Akinori Kimata
  • Patent number: 7869077
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided that can easily distribute material suitable for each person or each place to which the material is distributed compared to conventional apparatuses and methods. A material delivery server is provided with a box for each user, a print data sorting portion for making the box for a user to whom material is delivered memorize print data of the material to be delivered, a print conditions memorizing portion for memorizing print conditions information for each user, a transmission data generation portion for generating print data for transmission by setting the print conditions information of a user relating to the box for the print data memorized in the box, and a print data transmission portion for transmitting the print data generated from the print data memorized in the box to a material reception terminal of the user relating to the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kouji Ohara, Akinori Kimata, Ryotaro Iwase