Patents by Inventor Koji Soda
Koji Soda 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: 11221566Abstract: An image forming apparatus performs primary transfer of single-color toner image onto an intermediate transfer belt and performs secondary transfer of the toner image onto a sheet, and includes: single image forming unit forming the single-color toner image; single toner supply bottle containing replenishment toner; and first and second support members supporting the belt. The image forming unit is closer to the first member than the second member in a belt rotation direction. The bottle includes: single bottle body; and supply unit near one end of the body in the rotation direction. The other end is (i) closer to the second member than the one end is in the rotation direction and (ii) distant from the image forming unit in a support member direction from the first member toward the second member by one to three times a length of the image forming unit in the support member direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2020Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Koji Soda, Yusuke Hashimoto, Naoki Nonoyama, Youichi Itagaki, Hitomi Kawata
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Publication number: 20200393777Abstract: An image forming apparatus that performs primary transfer of single-color toner image onto an intermediate transfer belt and performs secondary transfer of the toner image onto a sheet, and includes: single image forming unit forming the single-color toner image; single toner supply bottle containing replenishment toner; and first and second support members supporting the belt. The image forming unit is closer to the first member than the second member in a belt rotation direction. The bottle includes: single bottle body; and supply unit near one end of the body in the rotation direction. The other end is (i) closer to the second member than the one end is in the rotation direction and (ii) distant from the image forming unit in a support member direction from the first member toward the second member by one to three times a length of the image forming unit in the support member direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2020Publication date: December 17, 2020Inventors: Koji SODA, Yusuke HASHIMOTO, Naoki NONOYAMA, Youichi ITAGAKI, Hitomi KAWATA
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Patent number: 10787332Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus that conveys a sheet along a curved path shorter than the sheet and corrects skew of the sheet, includes: a conveyance roller that sends the sheet into the curved path; a guide that guides the sheet along the curved path; and a gate that is hinders advance of the leading end, generates a moment about a normal of the sheet passing through the leading end, and allows advance of the leading end by being pushed away by the leading end, wherein the guide includes a projection projecting toward a movement space for the sheet on a surface facing the movement space, and the projection abuts a center portion of the sheet in a longitudinal direction and generates a moment about an axis parallel to an advance direction of a portion that has come into contact with the projection.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2018Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Naoki Matsui, Koji Soda, Yasuaki Tomoda
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Patent number: 10289059Abstract: A drawer unit includes: a drawer member allowed to shift toward a storage unit in an inserting direction, or shift from the storage unit in a drawing direction; a lock member rotatably supported by the drawer member; a first regulation member that engages with the lock member to regulate a shift of the drawer member when the drawer member is located at a first position; a second regulation member that engages with the lock member to regulate a shift of the drawer member when the drawer member is located at a second position; and an operation unit that receives a first operation that rotates the lock member in the drawing direction to allow engagement between the lock member and the first regulation member, and a second operation that rotates the lock member in the inserting direction to allow engagement between the lock member and the second regulation member.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2017Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Koji Soda, Hideki Narahashi
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Publication number: 20180282093Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus that conveys a sheet along a curved path shorter than the sheet and corrects skew of the sheet, includes: a conveyance roller that sends the sheet into the curved path; a guide that guides the sheet along the curved path; and a gate that is hinders advance of the leading end, generates a moment about a normal of the sheet passing through the leading end, and allows advance of the leading end by being pushed away by the leading end, wherein the guide includes a projection projecting toward a movement space for the sheet on a surface facing the movement space, and the projection abuts a center portion of the sheet in a longitudinal direction and generates a moment about an axis parallel to an advance direction of a portion that has come into contact with the projection.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2018Publication date: October 4, 2018Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Naoki MATSUI, Koji SODA, Yasuaki TOMODA
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Publication number: 20170308029Abstract: A drawer unit includes: a drawer member allowed to shift toward a storage unit in an inserting direction, or shift from the storage unit in a drawing direction; a lock member rotatably supported by the drawer member; a first regulation member that engages with the lock member to regulate a shift of the drawer member when the drawer member is located at a first position; a second regulation member that engages with the lock member to regulate a shift of the drawer member when the drawer member is located at a second position; and an operation unit that receives a first operation that rotates the lock member in the drawing direction to allow engagement between the lock member and the first regulation member, and a second operation that rotates the lock member in the inserting direction to allow engagement between the lock member and the second regulation member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2017Publication date: October 26, 2017Inventors: Koji SODA, Hideki NARAHASHI
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Patent number: 9031441Abstract: An image forming apparatus orientatable in either a first position or a second position, the second position being different from the first position in inclination with respect to a horizontal plane, including a fixing unit including a fixing roller and a pressurizing roller, pressing the pressurizing roller against a surface of the fixing roller to form a fixing nip, and thermally fixing a toner image on a recording sheet passing through the fixing nip; at least one temperature sensor detecting surface temperature of the fixing roller without contact with the surface; a heater heating the fixing roller; and a controller controlling the heater according to the surface temperature, thereby controlling the surface temperature, wherein a heat sensitive portion of the temperature sensor is located above a horizontal plane passing through a rotational axis of the fixing roller regardless of the orientation of the image forming apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2013Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Koji Soda, Yasuo Nakamura, Masahide Wakayama, Yasuaki Tomoda
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Patent number: 9025984Abstract: An image forming apparatus orientatable in either a first position or a second position, the second position being different from the first position in inclination with respect to a horizontal plane, comprising: a fixing device including a heating roller and a pressurizing member, pressing the pressurizing member against a surface of the heating roller to form a fixing nip, and thermally fixing a toner image on a recording sheet passing through the fixing nip; at least one temperature detector detecting surface temperature of the heating roller without contact with the surface; a heater heating the heating roller; a controller controlling the heater according to the surface temperature, thereby controlling the surface temperature; and a switcher switching a detection point of the temperature detector between a first and a second detection point according to whether the image forming apparatus is in the first or the second position.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2013Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Koji Soda, Junichi Tanimoto, Masashi Kawai
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Publication number: 20140169841Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: an imaging unit including imaging subunits that are arranged in a vertical direction, each of the imaging subunits forming a toner image of a different color; an intermediate transfer belt having a running surface that runs vertically along the imaging subunits, and on which the toner images are primary-transferred and superposed; a secondary transfer unit secondary-transferring the toner images on the intermediate transfer belt to the recording sheet; and an ejection unit having an outlet and a conveyance path extending vertically, the ejection unit conveying, to the outlet via the conveyance path, the recording sheet on which the toner images have been secondary-transferred, wherein when viewed from a front of the image forming apparatus, the imaging unit is arranged behind the intermediate transfer belt, and the conveyance path is arranged in front of the intermediate transfer belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Hiroshi MIZUNO, Osamu Akiyama, Yasuaki Tomoda, Naoki Nonoyama, Kiyomitsu Koyama, Masaki Hata, Shiro Umeda, Koji Soda
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Publication number: 20130302055Abstract: An image forming apparatus orientatable in either a first position or a second position, the second position being different from the first position in inclination with respect to a horizontal plane, comprising: a fixing device including a heating roller and a pressurizing member, pressing the pressurizing member against a surface of the heating roller to form a fixing nip, and thermally fixing a toner image on a recording sheet passing through the fixing nip; at least one temperature detector detecting surface temperature of the heating roller without contact with the surface; a heater heating the heating roller; and a controller controlling the heater according to the surface temperature, thereby controlling the surface temperature, wherein a detection point of the temperature detector is located above a horizontal plane passing through a rotational axis of the heating roller regardless of the orientation of the image forming apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2013Publication date: November 14, 2013Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Koji Soda, Yasuo Nakamura, Masahide Wakayama, Yasuaki Tomoda
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Publication number: 20130302056Abstract: An image forming apparatus orientatable in either a first position or a second position, the second position being different from the first position in inclination with respect to a horizontal plane, comprising: a fixing device including a heating roller and a pressurizing member, pressing the pressurizing member against a surface of the heating roller to form a fixing nip, and thermally fixing a toner image on a recording sheet passing through the fixing nip; at least one temperature detector detecting surface temperature of the heating roller without contact with the surface; a heater heating the heating roller; a controller controlling the heater according to the surface temperature, thereby controlling the surface temperature; and a switcher switching a detection point of the temperature detector between a first and a second detection point according to whether the image forming apparatus is in the first or the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2013Publication date: November 14, 2013Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Koji SODA, Junichi Tanimoto, Masashi Kawai
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Patent number: 8238765Abstract: A fitting structure for process cartridges and an image forming apparatus body of an image forming apparatus capable of fitting the process cartridges for plural colors thereto, the fitting structure including: an incompatible member with its cross-sectional shape in an axial direction being rotationally symmetrical, the incompatible member having at least one attaching projection and one displaying hole or one displaying notched portion formed on a position different from a rotational shaft of the rotationally symmetrical shape; an attached portion of the process cartridge capable of holding the incompatible member, having identification display portions for identifying the plural colors arranged on the position corresponding to the displaying hole or the displaying notched portion; and an acceptance portion of the image forming apparatus body having an acceptance concave portion for accepting the at least one attaching projection of the incompatible member.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2010Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Shinya Naoi, Takeshi Hashimoto, Koji Soda, Michiya Takeda, Taiichi Ominami, Akira Matsue
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Patent number: 7929886Abstract: A toner cartridge includes, a housing which forms an internal space for housing toner to be fed to an image forming apparatus and which has a filling port for filling the internal space with the toner, a divider plate which is movably provided in the housing so as to be able to divide the internal space, and a fixing portion which can fix the divider plate in a state of dividing the internal space.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2008Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kyoichi Yoshizawa, Yukio Yamada, Koji Soda, Hideaki Katsuoka
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Publication number: 20100329731Abstract: A fitting structure for process cartridges and an image forming apparatus body of an image forming apparatus capable of fitting the process cartridges for plural colors thereto, the fitting structure including: an incompatible member with its cross-sectional shape in an axial direction being rotationally symmetrical, the incompatible member having at least one attaching projection and one displaying hole or one displaying notched portion formed on a position different from a rotational shaft of the rotationally symmetrical shape; an attached portion of the process cartridge capable of holding the incompatible member, having identification display portions for identifying the plural colors arranged on the position corresponding to the displaying hole or the displaying notched portion; and an acceptance portion of the image forming apparatus body having an acceptance concave portion for accepting the at least one attaching projection of the incompatible member.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2010Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Shinya NAOI, Takeshi HASHIMOTO, Koji SODA, Michiya TAKEDA, Taiichi OMINAMI, Akira MATSUE
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Patent number: 7555256Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a development unit for forming a toner image on the image carrier by supplying a toner contained in a developer reservoir to a latent image formed on the image carrier by means of a developer carrier; a transfer unit for transferring the toner image formed on the image carrier onto a transfer medium; a recovery unit for recovering the toner remaining on the image carrier after image transfer; a return unit for transporting the recover toner recovered by the recovery unit so as to return the recover toner into the developer reservoir of the development unit; and a separator/feeder for separating the toner contained in the developer reservoir from the recover toner thereby exclusively feeding the toner contained in the developer reservoir to the latent image formed on the image carrier by means of the developer carrier.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2005Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Takayuki Ogawa, Koji Soda, Noboru Oomoto, Yoshitaka Otani
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Publication number: 20090097886Abstract: There is provided a toner cartridge capable of suppressing the use of the toner cartridge beyond its lifetime due to excessive refilling of toner, the toner cartridge including a housing 2 which forms an internal space for housing toner to be fed to an image forming apparatus and which has a filling port 6 for filling the internal space with the toner, a divider plate 4 which is pivotably supported in a swingable manner inside the housing 2 and which can divide the internal space when being hung down by gravity, and a fixing means which can fit the divider plate 4 in between an engaging projection 9 and a stopper 10 by screw-feeding the lower end of the divider plate 4 by a feed screw 3 for feeding toner and which can fix the divider plate 4 in the state of dividing the internal space.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2008Publication date: April 16, 2009Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kyoichi YOSHIZAWA, Yukio YAMADA, Koji SODA, Hideaki KATSUOKA
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Publication number: 20060263124Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a development unit for forming a toner image on the image carrier by supplying a toner contained in a developer reservoir to a latent image formed on the image carrier by means of a developer carrier; a transfer unit for transferring the toner image formed on the image carrier onto a transfer medium; a recovery unit for recovering the toner remaining on the image carrier after image transfer; a return unit for transporting the recover toner recovered by the recovery unit so as to return the recover toner into the developer reservoir of the development unit; and a separator/feeder for separating the toner contained in the developer reservoir from the recover toner thereby exclusively feeding the toner contained in the developer reservoir to the latent image formed on the image carrier by means of the developer carrier.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2005Publication date: November 23, 2006Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Takayuki Ogawa, Koji Soda, Noboru Oomoto, Yoshitaka Otani