Patents by Inventor Nofumi MIZUMOTO
Nofumi MIZUMOTO 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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Publication number: 20230359658Abstract: A business matching support device includes: a hardware processor that: acquires company information of a company searching for a matching candidate destination; extracts a phrase relating to the company from the company information; creates a search keyword group by excluding a phrase included in information on a competitor of the company from a plurality of the extracted phrases; and searches a predetermined database using the search keyword group to extract the matching candidate destination.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2023Publication date: November 9, 2023Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Nofumi MIZUMOTO, Hideyuki MATSUDA, Yutaka YASUNAGA
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Patent number: 10678175Abstract: An image forming device includes: an endless intermediate transfer belt; and a secondary transferrer, wherein the secondary transferrer includes a secondary transfer roller and a counter roller, a value calculated from w/Vsys is defined as a nip time N [sec], when the secondary transferrer is deemed as an equivalent circuit including a resistance R1 [?·m2] of the secondary transfer roller, a resistance R2 [?·m2] of the intermediate transfer belt, a resistance R3 [?·m2] of the counter roller, and capacitance Cmed [F/m2] of a recording medium, in a case where a combined resistance in the equivalent circuit is defined as Rtotal [?·m2], and combined capacitance in the equivalent circuit is defined as Ctotal [F/m2], a value calculated from Rtotal×Ctotal is defined as a time constant ? [sec], and the image forming device further includes: a sheet detector; and a hardware processor.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2018Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Eiji Tabata, Nofumi Mizumoto, Makiko Watanabe, Shigeo Uetake, Toshiya Natsuhara
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Patent number: 10656569Abstract: Prevention of an image defect due to discharging in a transfer portion and ensured transfer efficiency are both achieved. A control electrode is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of a secondary transfer roller on an upstream side of a position of contact between the secondary transfer roller and a recording medium in a direction of rotation of the secondary transfer roller. The control electrode has a potential set to a repel a toner image with respect to the secondary transfer roller. The control electrode is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the secondary transfer roller under such a condition that discharging occurs in a gap between the secondary transfer roller and the intermediate transfer belt and a discharging current flows through the recording medium.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2019Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Makiko Watanabe, Eiji Tabata, Nofumi Mizumoto, Toshiya Natsuhara
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Publication number: 20190346793Abstract: Prevention of an image defect due to discharging in a transfer portion and ensured transfer efficiency are both achieved. A control electrode is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of a secondary transfer roller on an upstream side of a position of contact between the secondary transfer roller and a recording medium in a direction of rotation of the secondary transfer roller. The control electrode has a potential set to a repel a toner image with respect to the secondary transfer roller. The control electrode is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the secondary transfer roller under such a condition that discharging occurs in a gap between the secondary transfer roller and the intermediate transfer belt and a discharging current flows through the recording medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2019Publication date: November 14, 2019Inventors: Makiko WATANABE, Eiji TABATA, Nofumi MIZUMOTO, Toshiya NATSUHARA
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Publication number: 20190094780Abstract: An image forming device includes: an endless intermediate transfer belt; and a secondary transferrer, wherein the secondary transferrer includes a secondary transfer roller and a counter roller, a value calculated from w/Vsys is defined as a nip time N [sec], when the secondary transferrer is deemed as an equivalent circuit including a resistance R1 [?·m2] of the secondary transfer roller, a resistance R2 [?·m2] of the intermediate transfer belt, a resistance R3 [?·m2] of the counter roller, and capacitance Cmed [F/m2] of a recording medium, in a case where a combined resistance in the equivalent circuit is defined as Rtotal [?·m2], and combined capacitance in the equivalent circuit is defined as Ctotal [F/m2], a value calculated from Rtotal×Ctotal is defined as a time constant ? [sec], and the image forming device further includes: a sheet detector; and a hardware processor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2018Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: Eiji TABATA, Nofumi MIZUMOTO, Makiko WATANABE, Shigeo UETAKE, Toshiya NATSUHARA
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Patent number: 10025231Abstract: A transfer belt includes: an elastic layer, wherein the transfer belt is used to transfer a toner image onto a recording medium, the toner image being carried on a first main surface which is one of a pair of main exposed surfaces including the first main surface and a second main surface, when, using a lower block and an upper block, the transfer belt is placed on an upper surface of the lower block, a part of the transfer belt is interposed between a curved convex surface and a curved concave surface, and a pressed region reaches a pressing force of 200 [kPa] and is constantly pressed by the pressing force, if “a” represents a maximum value of displacement of a measurement region, and “b” represents displacement of the measurement region after convergence, E [?] calculated by (a?b)/b satisfies a condition of 0.2?E?3.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2017Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Nofumi Mizumoto, Shigeo Uetake, Keiko Momotani, Eiji Tabata, Makiko Watanabe, Toshiya Natsuhara
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Patent number: 9989877Abstract: A transfer belt transfers a toner image carried on a first main surface to a recording medium. When the transfer belt is pressed by using a lower block provided with a hole and an upper block with pressurization force increased at a prescribed rate and thereafter kept constant, E [-] and t0 are curve-fitted to a function E=?×exp(?t0/?) defined by a time constant ? [s] with respect to an amount of displacement of the transfer belt and a constant ? [-], where E [-] is calculated as (a?b)/b, a [?m] represents a maximum value of an amount of displacement of a measurement region, b [?m] represents an amount of displacement of the measurement region after converged, and t0 [s] represents a time period from start of pressurization until the maximum pressurization force, and time constant ? satisfies a condition of 0.015???0.1.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2017Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Eiji Tabata, Makiko Watanabe, Nofumi Mizumoto, Keiko Momotani, Shigeo Uetake, Toshiya Natsuhara
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Patent number: 9983520Abstract: A transfer belt is configured to transfer a toner image carried on a first main surface of the transfer belt to a recording medium. When the transfer belt is pressed with pressure application three increased at a predetermined pressure application rate and is then pressed with certain pressure application force by using a lower block provided with a hole and an upper block, k2 [?m/s] satisfies 6?k2?30, k2 [?m/s] being determined by (a?b)/{2×(t2?t1)}, where a [?m/s] represents a maximum value of a displacement amount of a measurement region that is a portion of the first main surface corresponding to the hole, b [?m] represents a convergence value thereof, t1 [s] represents a time when the maximum value is observed, and t2 [s] represents a time when the displacement amount reaches (a+b)/2 again after the maximum value is observed.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2017Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Eiji Tabata, Nofumi Mizumoto, Toshiya Natsuhara, Shigeo Uetake, Keiko Momotani, Makiko Watanabe
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Publication number: 20180095376Abstract: A transfer belt transfers a toner image carried on a first main surface to a recording medium. When the transfer belt is pressed by using a lower block provided with a hole and an upper block with pressurization force increased at a prescribed rate and thereafter kept constant, E [-] and t0 are curve-fitted to a function E=?×exp(?t0/?) defined by a time constant ? [s] with respect to an amount of displacement of the transfer belt and a constant ? [-], where E [-] is calculated as (a?b)/b, a [?m] represents a maximum value of an amount of displacement of a measurement region, b [?m] represents an amount of displacement of the measurement region after converged, and t0 [s] represents a time period from start of pressurization until the maximum pressurization force, and time constant ? satisfies a condition of 0.015???0.1.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2017Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventors: Eiji TABATA, Makiko WATANABE, Nofumi MIZUMOTO, Keiko MOMOTANI, Shigeo UETAKE, Toshiya NATSUHARA
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Publication number: 20180011429Abstract: A transfer belt includes: an elastic layer, wherein the transfer belt is used to transfer a toner image onto a recording medium, the toner image being carried on a first main surface which is one of a pair of main exposed surfaces including the first main surface and a second main surface, when, using a lower block and an upper block, the transfer belt is placed on an upper surface of the lower block, a part of the transfer belt is interposed between a curved convex surface and a curved concave surface, and a pressed region reaches a pressing force of 200 [kPa] and is constantly pressed by the pressing force, if “a” represents a maximum value of displacement of a measurement region, and “b” represents displacement of the measurement region after convergence, E [?] calculated by (a?b)/b satisfies a condition of 0.2?E?3.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2017Publication date: January 11, 2018Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Nofumi MIZUMOTO, Shigeo UETAKE, Keiko MOMOTANI, Eiji TABATA, Makiko WATANABE, Toshiya NATSUHARA
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Publication number: 20180011428Abstract: A transfer belt is configured to transfer a toner image carried on a first main surface of the transfer belt to a recording medium. When the transfer belt is pressed with pressure application three increased at a predetermined pressure application rate and is then pressed with certain pressure application force by using a lower block provided with a hole and an upper block, k2[?m/s] satisfies 6?k2?30, k2[?m/s] being determined by (a?b)/{2×(t2?t1)}, where a [?m/s] represents a maximum value of a displacement amount of a measurement region that is a portion of the first main surface corresponding to the hole, b [?m] represents a convergence value thereof, t1 [s] represents a time when the maximum value is observed, and t2 [s] represents a time when the displacement amount reaches (a+b)/2 again after the maximum value is observed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2017Publication date: January 11, 2018Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Eiji TABATA, Nofumi MIZUMOTO, Toshiya NATSUHARA, Shigeo UETAKE, Keiko MOMOTANI, Makiko WATANABE
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Patent number: 9316939Abstract: A liquid developer is obtained by dispersing toner particles containing a core resin, a shell resin different from the core resin, and a coloring agent in an insulating liquid. The core resin contains a crystalline urethane-modified polyester resin. A solid content of the liquid developer corresponding to a portion of the liquid developer excluding the insulating liquid has a storage elastic modulus at 80° C., not lower than 1×104 Pa and not higher than 5×106 Pa. A lowest temperature at the time when an absolute value of an amount of change in a logarithmic value (log(G?)) of a storage elastic modulus (G?) of the solid content of the liquid developer with respect to a temperature T (° C.) (|? log(G?)/?T|) satisfies an Equation (1) below is not lower than 45° C.: |? log(G?)/?T|>0.1??Equation (1).Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2014Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Nofumi Mizumoto, Naoki Yoshie, Yuya Iwagoe, Satoshi Matsumoto
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Publication number: 20150072288Abstract: A liquid developer is obtained by dispersing toner particles containing a core resin, a shell resin different from the core resin, and a coloring agent in an insulating liquid. The core resin contains a crystalline urethane-modified polyester resin. A solid content of the liquid developer corresponding to a portion of the liquid developer excluding the insulating liquid has a storage elastic modulus at 80° C., not lower than 1×104 Pa and not higher than 5×106 Pa. A lowest temperature at the time when an absolute value of an amount of change in a logarithmic value (log(G?)) of a storage elastic modulus (G?) of the solid content of the liquid developer with respect to a temperature T (° C.) (|? log(G?)/?T|) satisfies an Equation (1) below is not lower than 45° C.: |? log(G?)/?T|>0.1??Equation (1).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2014Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Nofumi MIZUMOTO, Naoki YOSHIE, Yuya IWAGOE, Satoshi MATSUMOTO
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Patent number: 8934790Abstract: A development apparatus and an image forming apparatus wherein optical high-precision detection of the toner amount of a toner layer formed on a toner carrying member is ensured even when the great amount of the toner is deposited on the toner carrying member by transferring all or a part of the toner on the surface of the toner carrying member onto a detecting roller, and wherein stable images are provided at all times.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2010Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Shigeo Uetake, Toshiya Natsuhara, Junya Hirayama, Takeshi Maeyama, Nofumi Mizumoto, Makiko Watanabe
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Patent number: 8699901Abstract: Provided is a deposited-toner measuring apparatus capable of accurate detection of the amount of toner deposited on the toner carrying member, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the aforementioned measuring apparatus and capable of controlling the amount of toner deposited on the toner carrying member to a desired level so as to provide stable image quality at all times. A deposited-toner measuring apparatus that removes a toner layer in a part of the surface of the toner carrying member, detects change in the capacitance at the portion with a toner layer and the portion without such a toner layer, and detects the amount of the deposited toner based on the detection result of the said change in the capacitance.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2011Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Junya Hirayama, Toshiya Natsuhara, Takeshi Maeyama, Shigeo Uetake, Nofumi Mizumoto, Makiko Watanabe
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Patent number: 8489004Abstract: A developer device includes two developer rollers arranged opposite to an image carrier. A first developer bias voltage (waveform Z) of a rectangular waveform obtained by superimposing an AC voltage on a DC voltage is applied to one of the developer rollers. A second developer bias voltage (waveform A) obtained by superimposing an AC voltage on a DC voltage is applied to the other developer roller. The waveform A is a waveform obtained by deforming the rectangular wave in the first developer bias voltage such that toner adhered to the image carrier is prevented from being dislodged by toner being subsequently scattered. According to the developer device, an optimal image density can be obtained at a low-density potential.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2011Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Nofumi Mizumoto, Takeshi Maeyama, Junya Hirayama, Shigeo Uetake, Makiko Watanabe, Toshiya Natsuhara
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Publication number: 20130078008Abstract: A developer device includes two developer rollers arranged opposite to an image carrier. A first developer bias voltage (waveform Z) of a rectangular waveform obtained by superimposing an AC voltage on a DC voltage is applied to one of the developer rollers. A second developer bias voltage (waveform A) obtained by superimposing an AC voltage on a DC voltage is applied to the other developer roller. The waveform A is a waveform obtained by deforming the rectangular wave in the first developer bias voltage such that toner adhered to the image carrier is prevented from being dislodged by toner being subsequently scattered. According to the developer device, an optimal image density can be obtained at a low-density potential.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES INCInventors: Nofumi Mizumoto, Takeshi Maeyama, Junya Hirayama, Shigeo Uetake, Makiko Watanabe, Toshiya Natsuhara
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Publication number: 20110222884Abstract: Provided is a deposited-toner measuring apparatus capable of accurate detection of the amount of toner deposited on the toner carrying member, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the aforementioned measuring apparatus and capable of controlling the amount of toner deposited on the toner carrying member to a desired level so as to provide stable image quality at all times. A deposited-toner measuring apparatus that removes a toner layer in a part of the surface of the toner carrying member, detects change in the capacitance at the portion with a toner layer and the portion without such a toner layer, and detects the amount of the deposited toner based on the detection result of the said change in the capacitance.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2011Publication date: September 15, 2011Inventors: Junya HIRAYAMA, Toshiya Natsuhara, Takeshi Maeyama, Shigeo Uetake, Nofumi Mizumoto, Makiko Watanabe
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Publication number: 20110116816Abstract: A development apparatus and an image forming apparatus wherein optical high-precision detection of the toner amount of a toner layer formed on a toner carrying member is ensured even when the great amount of the toner is deposited on the toner carrying member by transferring all or a part of the toner on the surface of the toner carrying member onto a detecting roller, and wherein stable images are provided at all times.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2010Publication date: May 19, 2011Inventors: Shigeo UETAKE, Toshiya NATSUHARA, Junya HIRAYAMA, Takeshi MAEYAMA, Nofumi MIZUMOTO, Makiko WATANABE