Patents by Inventor Hisanobu Ajima

Hisanobu Ajima 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: 11681240
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a photoconductor, an exposure device, a developing device, a toner concentration sensor, a supply motor, and a processor. The exposure device exposes the photoconductor based on image data. The developing device forms a toner image on the photoconductor with toner supplied from a toner cartridge. The toner concentration sensor detects a toner concentration in the developing device. The supply motor supplies the toner from the toner cartridge to the developing device based on the toner concentration. The processor detects a toner container supply abnormality based on a toner supply rate and a print rate of the image data, the toner supply rate being calculated based on a pixel count value that is an integrated value of pixel values of the image data and a supply motor count value that is an integrated value of drive times of the supply motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hisanobu Ajima
  • Publication number: 20220050402
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a photoconductor, an exposure device, a developing device, a toner concentration sensor, a supply motor, and a processor. The exposure device exposes the photoconductor based on image data. The developing device forms a toner image on the photoconductor with toner supplied from a toner cartridge. The toner concentration sensor detects a toner concentration in the developing device. The supply motor supplies the toner from the toner cartridge to the developing device based on the toner concentration. The processor detects a toner container supply abnormality based on a toner supply rate and a print rate of the image data, the toner supply rate being calculated based on a pixel count value that is an integrated value of pixel values of the image data and a supply motor count value that is an integrated value of drive times of the supply motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventor: Hisanobu Ajima
  • Patent number: 11215939
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a photoconductor, an exposure device, a developing device, a toner concentration sensor, a supply motor, and a processor. The exposure device exposes the photoconductor based on image data. The developing device forms a toner image on the photoconductor with toner supplied from a toner cartridge. The toner concentration sensor detects a toner concentration in the developing device. The supply motor supplies the toner from the toner cartridge to the developing device based on the toner concentration. The processor detects a toner container supply abnormality based on a toner supply rate and a print rate of the image data, the toner supply rate being calculated based on a pixel count value that is an integrated value of pixel values of the image data and a supply motor count value that is an integrated value of drive times of the supply motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hisanobu Ajima
  • Publication number: 20210263444
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a photoconductor, an exposure device, a developing device, a toner concentration sensor, a supply motor, and a processor. The exposure device exposes the photoconductor based on image data. The developing device forms a toner image on the photoconductor with toner supplied from a toner cartridge. The toner concentration sensor detects a toner concentration in the developing device. The supply motor supplies the toner from the toner cartridge to the developing device based on the toner concentration. The processor detects a toner container supply abnormality based on a toner supply rate and a print rate of the image data, the toner supply rate being calculated based on a pixel count value that is an integrated value of pixel values of the image data and a supply motor count value that is an integrated value of drive times of the supply motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventor: Hisanobu Ajima
  • Patent number: 11016416
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a developing device, a sensor, a control information obtaining unit, and a control unit. The developing device forms an image on an image carrier using a developer. The sensor generates a signal indicating a measurement value related to the developer. The control information obtaining unit obtains, as control information of the developing device, one or more pieces of the control information pre-associated with the measurement value, from a recording medium associated with the developer. The control unit selects the control information associated with the measurement value indicated by the signal, from the one or more pieces of control information obtained from the recording medium. The control unit controls an operation of the developing device based on the selected control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hisanobu Ajima, Nobuo Tohata, Yuichiro Takeda
  • Patent number: 11009808
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a toner cartridge used in an image forming apparatus including a processor which forms a toner pattern image on a photoconductive member, transfers the toner pattern image on a medium, and changes an image forming condition based on a detection result obtained by optically detecting the toner pattern image transferred onto the medium, the toner cartridge including: a toner accommodating container accommodating a toner, and a memory. The memory stores reference data which is determined according to toner characteristics in the toner accommodating container, and is used for applying a reference value for an optical detection result of a toner pattern formed by the toner on the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Itou, Kazuhisa Takeda, Masahiro Ikuta, Takafumi Hara, Hiromichi Mitamura, Shigeru Fujiwara, Hisanobu Ajima
  • Patent number: 10915054
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner cartridge, a developer, and a processor. The toner cartridge includes an accommodation container accommodating toner and a memory storing a first toner residual amount display threshold value. The developer performs development by the toner supplied from the toner cartridge. The processor calculates a second toner residual amount display threshold value based on a toner supply index, indicating an amount of the toner supplied to the developer from at least one toner cartridge used before a toner cartridge mounted on the image forming apparatus, and the first toner residual amount display threshold value. The processor outputs notification relating to a toner residual amount when a toner supply index indicating an amount of toner supplied to the developer from the toner cartridge mounted on the image forming apparatus exceeds the second toner residual amount display threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hisanobu Ajima
  • Publication number: 20210003939
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a toner cartridge used in an image forming apparatus including a processor which forms a toner pattern image on a photoconductive member, transfers the toner pattern image on a medium, and changes an image forming condition based on a detection result obtained by optically detecting the toner pattern image transferred onto the medium, the toner cartridge including: a toner accommodating container accommodating a toner, and a memory. The memory stores reference data which is determined according to toner characteristics in the toner accommodating container, and is used for applying a reference value for an optical detection result of a toner pattern formed by the toner on the medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Itou, Kazuhisa Takeda, Masahiro Ikuta, Takafumi Hara, Hiromichi Mitamura, Shigeru Fujiwara, Hisanobu Ajima
  • Patent number: 10816912
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a toner cartridge used in an image forming apparatus including a processor which forms a toner pattern image on a photoconductive member, transfers the toner pattern image on a medium, and changes an image forming condition based on a detection result obtained by optically detecting the toner pattern transferred onto the medium, the toner cartridge including: a toner accommodating container accommodating a toner, and a memory. The memory stores a plurality of reference data which are determined according to toner characteristics in the toner accommodating container and a value indicating an image forming execution amount, and are used for applying reference values for an optical detection result of a toner pattern formed by the toner on the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Itou, Kazuhisa Takeda, Masahiro Ikuta, Takafumi Hara, Hiromichi Mitamura, Shigeru Fujiwara, Hisanobu Ajima
  • Patent number: 10809646
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a toner cartridge used in an image forming apparatus including a processor which forms a toner pattern image on a photoconductive member, transfers the toner pattern image on a medium, and changes an image forming condition based on a detection result obtained by optically detecting the toner pattern image transferred onto the medium, the toner cartridge including: a toner accommodating container accommodating a toner, and a memory. The memory stores reference data which is determined according to toner characteristics in the toner accommodating container, and is used for applying a reference value for an optical detection result of a toner pattern formed by the toner on the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Itou, Kazuhisa Takeda, Masahiro Ikuta, Takafumi Hara, Hiromichi Mitamura, Shigeru Fujiwara, Hisanobu Ajima
  • Publication number: 20200319586
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner cartridge, a developer, and a processor. The toner cartridge includes an accommodation container accommodating toner and a memory storing a first toner residual amount display threshold value. The developer performs development by the toner supplied from the toner cartridge. The processor calculates a second toner residual amount display threshold value based on a toner supply index, indicating an amount of the toner supplied to the developer from at least one toner cartridge used before a toner cartridge mounted on the image forming apparatus, and the first toner residual amount display threshold value. The processor outputs notification relating to a toner residual amount when a toner supply index indicating an amount of toner supplied to the developer from the toner cartridge mounted on the image forming apparatus exceeds the second toner residual amount display threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hisanobu AJIMA
  • Publication number: 20200310285
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a toner cartridge used in an image forming apparatus including a processor which forms a toner pattern image on a photoconductive member, transfers the toner pattern image on a medium, and changes an image forming condition based on a detection result obtained by optically detecting the toner pattern transferred onto the medium, the toner cartridge including: a toner accommodating container accommodating a toner, and a memory. The memory stores a plurality of reference data which are determined according to toner characteristics in the toner accommodating container and a value indicating an image forming execution amount, and are used for applying reference values for an optical detection result of a toner pattern formed by the toner on the medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Itou, Kazuhisa Takeda, Masahiro Ikuta, Takafumi Hara, Hiromichi Mitamura, Shigeru Fujiwara, Hisanobu Ajima
  • Publication number: 20200249593
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a developing device, a sensor, a control information obtaining unit, and a control unit. The developing device forms an image on an image carrier using a developer. The sensor generates a signal indicating a measurement value related to the developer. The control information obtaining unit obtains, as control information of the developing device, one or more pieces of the control information pre-associated with the measurement value, from a recording medium associated with the developer. The control unit selects the control information associated with the measurement value indicated by the signal, from the one or more pieces of control information obtained from the recording medium. The control unit controls an operation of the developing device based on the selected control information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hisanobu AJIMA, Nobuo TOHATA, Yuichiro TAKEDA
  • Patent number: 10719045
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner cartridge, a developer, and a processor. The toner cartridge includes an accommodation container accommodating toner and a memory storing a first toner residual amount display threshold value. The developer performs development by the toner supplied from the toner cartridge. The processor calculates a second toner residual amount display threshold value based on a toner supply index, indicating an amount of the toner supplied to the developer from at least one toner cartridge used before a toner cartridge mounted on the image forming apparatus, and the first toner residual amount display threshold value. The processor outputs notification relating to a toner residual amount when a toner supply index indicating an amount of toner supplied to the developer from the toner cartridge mounted on the image forming apparatus exceeds the second toner residual amount display threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hisanobu Ajima
  • Patent number: 10712686
    Abstract: A toner cartridge for use with an image forming apparatus includes a memory storing identification data of the toner cartridge and parameter information including image formation process parameters dependent on toner characteristic or ambient conditions. A transceiver unit communicates with the image forming apparatus to send the process parameter information stored in the memory to the image forming apparatus when the identification data is authentic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOSHIBA AMERICA BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Toru Homma, Hiroshi Hashidume, Hisanobu Ajima, Nobuo Tohata, Takahiro Nakajima, Takumi Hatano
  • Publication number: 20200019089
    Abstract: A toner cartridge for use with an image forming apparatus includes a memory storing identification data of the toner cartridge and parameter information including image formation process parameters dependent on toner characteristic or ambient conditions. A transceiver unit communicates with the image forming apparatus to send the process parameter information stored in the memory to the image forming apparatus when the identification data is authentic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Toru HOMMA, Hiroshi Hashidume, Hisanobu Ajima, Nobuo Tohata, Takahiro Nakajima, Takumi Hatano
  • Publication number: 20190377281
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a toner cartridge used in an image forming apparatus including a processor which forms a toner pattern image on a photoconductive member, transfers the toner pattern image on a medium, and changes an image forming condition based on a detection result obtained by optically detecting the toner pattern image transferred onto the medium, the toner cartridge including: a toner accommodating container accommodating a toner, and a memory. The memory stores reference data which is determined according to toner characteristics in the toner accommodating container, and is used for applying a reference value for an optical detection result of a toner pattern formed by the toner on the medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Itou, Kazuhisa Takeda, Masahiro Ikuta, Takafumi Hara, Hiromichi Mitamura, Shigeru Fujiwara, Hisanobu Ajima
  • Patent number: 10444662
    Abstract: A toner cartridge for use with an image forming apparatus includes a memory storing identification data of the toner cartridge and parameter information including image formation process parameters dependent on toner characteristic or ambient conditions. A transceiver unit communicates with the image forming apparatus to send the process parameter information stored in the memory to the image forming apparatus when the identification data is authentic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignees: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOSHIBA AMERICA BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Toru Homma, Hiroshi Hashidume, Hisanobu Ajima, Nobuo Tohata, Takahiro Nakajima, Takumi Hatano
  • Publication number: 20190286039
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a toner cartridge, a developer, and a processor. The toner cartridge includes an accommodation container accommodating toner and a memory storing a first toner residual amount display threshold value. The developer performs development by the toner supplied from the toner cartridge. The processor calculates a second toner residual amount display threshold value based on a toner supply index, indicating an amount of the toner supplied to the developer from at least one toner cartridge used before a toner cartridge mounted on the image forming apparatus, and the first toner residual amount display threshold value. The processor outputs notification relating to a toner residual amount when a toner supply index indicating an amount of toner supplied to the developer from the toner cartridge mounted on the image forming apparatus exceeds the second toner residual amount display threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hisanobu AJIMA
  • Publication number: 20190033748
    Abstract: A toner cartridge for use with an image forming apparatus includes a memory storing identification data of the toner cartridge and parameter information including image formation process parameters dependent on toner characteristic or ambient conditions. A transceiver unit communicates with the image forming apparatus to send the process parameter information stored in the memory to the image forming apparatus when the identification data is authentic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Toru HOMMA, Hiroshi Hashidume, Hisanobu Ajima, Nobuo Tohata, Takahiro Nakajima, Takumi Hatano