Patents by Inventor Ryoei IKARI

Ryoei IKARI 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: 20240085841
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developing section, and a controller that functions as a sign detector, a charge amount measurement section, and a charge amount adjuster. On the image bearing member, an electrostatic latent image is formed based on image data. The developing section contains a developer, and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member with the developer to form a toner image. The sign detector detects a sign that the charge amount of the developer contained in the developing section changes. The charge amount measurement section measures the charge amount of the developer in accordance with the detection result by the sign detector. The charge amount adjuster adjusts the charge amount of the developer according to the measurement result by the charge amount measurement section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Wataru WATANABE, Ryoei IKARI
  • Publication number: 20200292967
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries a toner image, a developer that develops a toner image on the image carrier, with a developing agent containing toner and carrier, a transferor that transfers the toner image being carried by the image carrier, a collection mechanism that collects the carrier on the image carrier by a magnetic force and an electrostatic force, and a hardware processor that controls removal of the toner adhering to the collection mechanism. The collection mechanism includes a collection roller that incorporates a magnet and that is rotatable while facing the image carrier, and a voltage applicator that applies a voltage to the collection roller. The hardware processor performs a toner removal mode to remove the toner, by setting a peripheral speed of at least one of the image carrier and the collection roller to less than a peripheral speed thereof for image formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Kazutoshi KOBAYASHI, Junji MURAUCHI, Ryoei IKARI, Shunichi TAKAYA, Kei YUASA
  • Patent number: 10649365
    Abstract: A developing device for forming an image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier with a developer, includes: a developing container that accommodates the developer; a developing roller that faces the image carrier, is disposed adjacent to the developing container, and conveys the developer accommodated in the developing container to the image carrier, and a developer discharging part that is provided in the developing container and discharges a part of the developer, wherein a discharge amount of the developer discharged by the developer discharging part is controlled on the basis of a charge amount of a toner included in the developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Wataru Watanabe, Shota Sakurai, Tomohiro Kawasaki, Takenobu Kimura, Ryoei Ikari
  • Patent number: 10534305
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image former that forms a toner image based on input image information by superposing toners of plural colors on a recording material; a fixer that fixes the toner image formed on the recording material; a toner amount calculator that calculates, from the input image information, an amount of toners to be superposed on the recording material; and a hardware processor that controls the image former to supply an assistance toner that assists melting of the toners used for forming the toner image based on the input image information by an amount corresponding to the calculated amount of toners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Saito, Tetsuya Ishikawa, Tomohiro Kawasaki, Tatsuya Furuta, Ryoei Ikari, Aiko Kubota
  • Patent number: 10481537
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a transfer material in an image forming mode, includes: a photoreceptor rotatable in a predetermined rotation direction; a developer that forms a toner image on the photoreceptor using a two-component developing agent including toner and a carrier; a transferor that transfers the toner image on the photoreceptor onto the transfer material; a carrier collector that applies an electric field corresponding to a collecting bias to a carrier adhering to the photoreceptor to collect the carrier; a carrier detector that detects a carrier remaining on the photoreceptor after collecting the carrier by the carrier collector; and a hardware processor that sets the collecting bias in the image forming mode on the basis of the amount of carriers detected by the carrier detector when a carrier adhesion detecting mode for forcibly causing a carrier to adhere to the photoreceptor is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Saito, Tetsuya Ishikawa, Tomohiro Kawasaki, Ryoei Ikari, Tatsuya Furuta, Aiko Kubota
  • Patent number: 10459392
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries a toner image; a developing part that accommodates two-component developer containing toner and a carrier, and supplies the toner to the image carrier; a transferor that transfers the toner image on the image carrier onto paper; a cleaning member that removes the toner remaining on the image carrier; and a hardware processor that controls toner discharge operation in the developing part according to a toner discharge condition, in which the hardware processor sets the toner discharge condition so that a replacement time of the cleaning member overlaps with a replacement time of another consumable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Takenobu Kimura, Shota Sakurai, Tomohiro Kawasaki, Wataru Watanabe, Ryoei Ikari
  • Publication number: 20190286037
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries a toner image; a developing part that accommodates two-component developer containing toner and a carrier, and supplies the toner to the image carrier; a transferor that transfers the toner image on the image carrier onto paper; a cleaning member that removes the toner remaining on the image carrier; and a hardware processor that controls toner discharge operation in the developing part according to a toner discharge condition, in which the hardware processor sets the toner discharge condition so that a replacement time of the cleaning member overlaps with a replacement time of another consumable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: TAKENOBU KIMURA, SHOTA SAKURAI, TOMOHIRO KAWASAKI, WATARU WATANABE, RYOEI IKARI
  • Patent number: 10401761
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing roller that carries a developer; a developing tank that supplies the developing roller with the developer replenished from a replenishing port; a discharger that has a discharge port connecting to the developing tank and discharges the developer from the developing tank; a supply amount acquirer that acquires a supply amount of the developer to be supplied to the developing tank; a discharge amount acquirer that acquires a discharge amount of the developer to be discharged through the discharge port; a developer amount adjuster that adjusts an amount of the developer in the developing tank; and a hardware processor that controls the developer amount adjuster to adjust the amount of the developer in the developing tank to a value within a predetermined range, in accordance with the acquired supply amount and the acquired discharge amount of the developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Shota Sakurai, Takenobu Kimura, Tomohiro Kawasaki, Wataru Watanabe, Ryoei Ikari
  • Publication number: 20190129328
    Abstract: A developing device for forming an image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier with a developer, includes: a developing container that accommodates the developer, a developing roller that faces the image carrier, is disposed adjacent to the developing container, and conveys the developer accommodated in the developing container to the image carrier, and a developer discharging part that is provided in the developing container and discharges a part of the developer, wherein a discharge amount of the developer discharged by the developer discharging part is controlled on the basis of a charge amount of a toner included in the developer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Wataru Watanabe, Shota Sakurai, Tomohiro Kawasaki, Takenobu Kimura, Ryoei Ikari
  • Patent number: 10274865
    Abstract: A developing device includes: an image bearing member; a plurality of developing rollers each supplying toner to the image bearing member, and developing an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member into a toner image; and a hardware processor analyzing values representing density fluctuations during the toner being supplied from the developing rollers to the image bearing member, for the respective developing rollers, and correcting a control value for an image density of at least one developing roller among the developing rollers based on an result of the analyzing so as to eliminate the density fluctuations, in consideration of an effect caused at the developing roller on a downstream side in a rotational direction of the image bearing member by correcting the control value for the image density of the developing roller on an upstream side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Furuta, Tetsuya Ishikawa, Hiroyuki Saito, Tomohiro Kawasaki, Ryoei Ikari, Aiko Kubota
  • Patent number: 10222727
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image former that forms on a recording material a toner image based on input image information; a fixer that fixes a toner image formed on the recording material; and a hardware processor that controls the image former and the fixer in which the hardware processor controls the image former to supply, to a region where no toner is provided between toner images based on the input image information, complementing toner having a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of toner for forming the toner image based on input image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Kawasaki, Tetsuya Ishikawa, Hiroyuki Saito, Ryoei Ikari, Tatsuya Furuta, Aiko Kubota
  • Publication number: 20190049878
    Abstract: A developing device includes: an image bearing member; a plurality of developing rollers each supplying toner to the image bearing member, and developing an electrostatic latent image on the image bearing member into a toner image; and a hardware processor analyzing values representing density fluctuations during the toner being supplied from the developing rollers to the image bearing member, for the respective developing rollers, and correcting a control value for an image density of at least one developing roller among the developing rollers based on an result of the analyzing so as to eliminate the density fluctuations, in consideration of an effect caused at the developing roller on a downstream side in a rotational direction of the image bearing member by correcting the control value for the image density of the developing roller on an upstream side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Tatsuya FURUTA, Tetsuya ISHIKAWA, Hiroyuki SAITO, Tomohiro KAWASAKI, Ryoei IKARI, Aiko KUBOTA
  • Patent number: 10203632
    Abstract: A developing device, includes a first storage chamber that stores developer; a first conveyor that is disposed in the first storage chamber and conveys developer; a developer supporter that is disposed so as to face an image supporter, supports developer conveyed from the first conveyor, and conveys the supported developer to a developing position where an electrostatic latent image formed on the image supporter is developed; a second storage chamber that stores developer conveyed via the developing position and communicates with the first storage chamber at a confluent opening; a second conveyor that is disposed in the second storage chamber and conveys developer conveyed via the developing position toward the confluent opening; and a third storage chamber that stores developer overflowing in a case where an amount of developer in the second storage chamber becomes a predetermined amount or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC
    Inventors: Tatsuya Furuta, Hiroyuki Saito, Tetsuya Ishikawa, Tomohiro Kawasaki, Ryoei Ikari, Aiko Kubota
  • Patent number: 10198663
    Abstract: A system for predicting occurrence of a defective image includes: an input device configured to input image data into an image forming apparatus; and a hardware processor configured to analyze a spatial frequency of gradient distribution of an image in accordance with a size of a density irregularity specific to the image forming apparatus with respect to the input image data and to calculate a probability of a conspicuous density irregularity of the size in regard to the image formed by the image forming apparatus based on the image data with reference to an index of correlation between an analysis result and an evaluation value of the density irregularity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Natsuko Kawai, Takashi Akazawa, Tetsuya Ishikawa, Ryoei Ikari, Kei Okamura, Keiji Uchikawa
  • Publication number: 20190033750
    Abstract: A developing device includes: a developing roller that carries a developer; a developing tank that supplies the developing roller with the developer replenished from a replenishing port; a discharger that has a discharge port connecting to the developing tank and discharges the developer from the developing tank; a supply amount acquirer that acquires a supply amount of the developer to be supplied to the developing tank; a discharge amount acquirer that acquires a discharge amount of the developer to be discharged through the discharge port; a developer amount adjuster that adjusts an amount of the developer in the developing tank; and a hardware processor that controls the developer amount adjuster to adjust the amount of the developer in the developing tank to a value within a predetermined range, in accordance with the acquired supply amount and the acquired discharge amount of the developer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Shota Sakurai, Takenobu Kimura, Tomohiro Kawasaki, Wataru Watanabe, Ryoei Ikari
  • Publication number: 20180217547
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a transfer material in an image forming mode, includes: a photoreceptor rotatable in a predetermined rotation direction; a developer that forms a toner image on the photoreceptor using a two-component developing agent including toner and a carrier; a transferor that transfers the toner image on the photoreceptor onto the transfer material; a carrier collector that applies an electric field corresponding to a collecting bias to a carrier adhering to the photoreceptor to collect the carrier; a carrier detector that detects a carrier remaining on the photoreceptor after collecting the carrier by the carrier collector; and a hardware processor that sets the collecting bias in the image forming mode on the basis of the amount of carriers detected by the carrier detector when a carrier adhesion detecting mode for forcibly causing a carrier to adhere to the photoreceptor is executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Saito, Tetsuya Ishikawa, Tomohiro Kawasaki, Ryoei Ikari, Tatsuya Furuta, Aiko Kubota
  • Publication number: 20180217521
    Abstract: A developing device, includes a first storage chamber that stores developer; a first conveyor that is disposed in the first storage chamber and conveys developer; a developer supporter that is disposed so as to face an image supporter, supports developer conveyed from the first conveyor, and conveys the supported developer to a developing position where an electrostatic latent image formed on the image supporter is developed; a second storage chamber that stores developer conveyed via the developing position and communicates with the first storage chamber at a confluent opening; a second conveyor that is disposed in the second storage chamber and conveys developer conveyed via the developing position toward the confluent opening; and a third storage chamber that stores developer overflowing in a case where an amount of developer in the second storage chamber becomes a predetermined amount or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Tatsuya FURUTA, Hiroyuki Saito, Tetsuya Ishikawa, Tomohiro Kawasaki, Ryoei Ikari, Aiko Kubota
  • Publication number: 20180136582
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image former that forms a toner image based on input image information by superposing toners of plural colors on a recording material; a fixer that fixes the toner image formed on the recording material; a toner amount calculator that calculates, from the input image information, an amount of toners to be superposed on the recording material; and a hardware processor that controls the image former to supply an assistance toner that assists melting of the toners used for forming the toner image based on the input image information by an amount corresponding to the calculated amount of toners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki SAITO, Tetsuya ISHIKAWA, Tomohiro KAWASAKI, Tatsuya FURUTA, Ryoei IKARI, Aiko KUBOTA
  • Publication number: 20180113401
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image former that forms on a recording material a toner image based on input image information; a fixer that fixes a toner image formed on the recording material; and a hardware processor that controls the image former and the fixer in which the hardware processor controls the image former to supply, to a region where no toner is provided between toner images based on the input image information, complementing toner having a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of toner for forming the toner image based on input image information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Tomohiro KAWASAKI, Tetsuya ISHIKAWA, Hiroyuki SAITO, Ryoei IKARI, Tatsuya FURUTA, Aiko KUBOTA
  • Publication number: 20170236036
    Abstract: A system for predicting occurrence of a defective image includes: an input device configured to input image data into an image forming apparatus; and a hardware processor configured to analyze a spatial frequency of gradient distribution of an image in accordance with a size of a density irregularity specific to the image forming apparatus with respect to the input image data and to calculate a probability of a conspicuous density irregularity of the size in regard to the image formed by the image forming apparatus based on the image data with reference to an index of correlation between an analysis result and an evaluation value of the density irregularity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Natsuko KAWAI, Takashi AKAZAWA, Tetsuya ISHIKAWA, Ryoei IKARI, Kei OKAMURA, Keiji UCHIKAWA