Patents by Inventor Takahiro Yokoya

Takahiro Yokoya 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: 11130646
    Abstract: A paper feeding parameter management system may include air paper feeding devices and a management device. Each of the air paper feeding devices may be provided with an air paper feeder which may feed paper by blowing air and by absorption to paper and which may be provided with a paper feeding parameter capable of being switched. Each of the air paper feeding devices may be provided with a paper type information obtaining unit and a hardware processor. The paper type information obtaining unit may obtain paper type information of paper to be fed. The hardware processor (i) may adjust the paper feeding parameter of the air paper feeder and (ii) may transmit the paper type information, device configuration information regarding a device configuration of the air paper feeding device, and the adjusted paper feeding parameter to the management device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Eiji Nishikawa, Takahiro Yokoya
  • Patent number: 11003121
    Abstract: There is provided printing equipment that enhances the overprinting position accuracy in overprinting and a printing method for the printing equipment. In the printing method, a paper meandering profile acquisition part acquires a meandering profile of paper from a result of detection by a paper deviation detection sensor. A paper speed profile acquisition part acquires a paper speed profile from a result of detection by a paper conveyance speed detection sensor. A paper feed error calculator calculates a paper feed error on the basis of the meandering profile and paper speed profile. A paper feed error corrector corrects the image formation timing on the basis of a result of calculation by the paper feed error calculator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Eiji Nishikawa, Takahiro Yokoya
  • Patent number: 10703595
    Abstract: A sheet feeding parameter management system includes: a plurality of air sheet feeding apparatuses each including an air sheet feeder that feeds a sheet and enabled to change a sheet feeding parameter; and a management apparatus connected to the plurality of air sheet feeding apparatuses, wherein each of the plurality of air sheet feeding apparatuses includes: a sheet type information acquisitor that acquires sheet type information; and a hardware processor that: adjusts the sheet feeding parameter; and transmits the sheet type information and the sheet feeding parameter to the management apparatus, and the management apparatus includes the hardware processor that: causes a storage to store an adjustment result associated with the sheet type information and the sheet feeding parameter; and sets, based on the adjustment result, for an air sheet feeding apparatus to be processed among the plurality of air sheet feeding apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Eiji Nishikawa, Takahiro Yokoya, Noritaka Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20200017326
    Abstract: A paper feeding parameter management system may include air paper feeding devices and a management device. Each of the air paper feeding devices may be provided with an air paper feeder which may feed paper by blowing air and by absorption to paper and which may be provided with a paper feeding parameter capable of being switched. Each of the air paper feeding devices may be provided with a paper type information obtaining unit and a hardware processor. The paper type information obtaining unit may obtain paper type information of paper to be fed. The hardware processor (i) may adjust the paper feeding parameter of the air paper feeder and (ii) may transmit the paper type information, device configuration information regarding a device configuration of the air paper feeding device, and the adjusted paper feeding parameter to the management device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Eiji NISHIKAWA, Takahiro YOKOYA
  • Publication number: 20190185280
    Abstract: A sheet feeding parameter management system includes: a plurality of air sheet feeding apparatuses each including an air sheet feeder that feeds a sheet and enabled to change a sheet feeding parameter; and a management apparatus connected to the plurality of air sheet feeding apparatuses, wherein each of the plurality of air sheet feeding apparatuses includes: a sheet type information acquisitor that acquires sheet type information; and a hardware processor that: adjusts the sheet feeding parameter; and transmits the sheet type information and the sheet feeding parameter to the management apparatus, and the management apparatus includes the hardware processor that: causes a storage to store an adjustment result associated with the sheet type information and the sheet feeding parameter; and sets, based on the adjustment result, for an air sheet feeding apparatus to be processed among the plurality of air sheet feeding apparatuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Eiji NISHIKAWA, Takahiro YOKOYA, Noritaka SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20180329347
    Abstract: There is provided printing equipment that enhances the overprinting position accuracy in overprinting and a printing method for the printing equipment. In the printing method, a paper meandering profile acquisition part acquires a meandering profile of paper from a result of detection by a paper deviation detection sensor. A paper speed profile acquisition part acquires a paper speed profile from a result of detection by a paper conveyance speed detection sensor. A paper feed error calculator calculates a paper feed error on the basis of the meandering profile and paper speed profile. A paper feed error corrector corrects the image formation timing on the basis of a result of calculation by the paper feed error calculator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Eiji Nishikawa, Takahiro Yokoya
  • Publication number: 20180162146
    Abstract: A sheet conveying system includes: an upstream apparatus provided on an upstream side in a conveyance direction of a paper sheet; a downstream apparatus provided on a downstream side of the upstream apparatus; an upstream conveyor that conveys the paper sheet; an upstream driver that drives the upstream conveyor; a downstream conveyor that receives the paper sheet conveyed from the upstream conveyor, and conveys the paper sheet received from the upstream conveyor; a downstream driver that drives the downstream conveyor; an upstream controller that is connected to the upstream and downstream drivers; and a downstream controller that is connected to the downstream and upstream drivers, wherein the sheet conveying system switches control on the basis of sheet information between first control in which the upstream controller controls the upstream and downstream drivers and second control in which the downstream controller controls the downstream and upstream drivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Kiyoto KOJIMA, Takahiro YOKOYA, Eiji NISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 9994050
    Abstract: A sheet conveying system includes: an upstream apparatus provided on an upstream side in a conveyance direction of a paper sheet; a downstream apparatus provided on a downstream side of the upstream apparatus; an upstream conveyor that conveys the paper sheet; an upstream driver that drives the upstream conveyor; a downstream conveyor that receives the paper sheet conveyed from the upstream conveyor, and conveys the paper sheet received from the upstream conveyor; a downstream driver that drives the downstream conveyor; an upstream controller that is connected to the upstream and downstream drivers; and a downstream controller that is connected to the downstream and upstream drivers, wherein the sheet conveying system switches control on the basis of sheet information between first control in which the upstream controller controls the upstream and downstream drivers and second control in which the downstream controller controls the downstream and upstream drivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Kiyoto Kojima, Takahiro Yokoya, Eiji Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 9955045
    Abstract: A reading apparatus configured to read a plurality of colorimetric patches in different colors formed on a paper sheet and trigger patches formed so as to correspond to the colorimetric patches includes: a colorimeter configured to read the colorimetric patches; a trigger sensor configured to read the trigger patches; and a controller configured to control a reading region, wherein the controller has a colorimetry region determination mode in which the reading region is determined and a colorimetry adjustment mode in which the reading region is controlled, and in the colorimetry region determination mode, after the reading regions are set to states where the reading regions are gradually shifted in a reading direction, the reading results for the colorimetric patches are collected and thereafter, a region for which a state consistent with a characteristic of the colorimetric patch has been obtained as the reading result is determined as the reading region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenichi Hayashi, Katsunori Takahashi, Takashi Nara, Takahiro Yokoya, Tatsuhiro Noutomi
  • Publication number: 20170134617
    Abstract: A reading apparatus configured to read a plurality of colorimetric patches in different colors formed on a paper sheet and trigger patches formed so as to correspond to the colorimetric patches includes: a colorimeter configured to read the colorimetric patches; a trigger sensor configured to read the trigger patches; and a controller configured to control a reading region, wherein the controller has a colorimetry region determination mode in which the reading region is determined and a colorimetry adjustment mode in which the reading region is controlled, and in the colorimetry region determination mode, after the reading regions are set to states where the reading regions are gradually shifted in a reading direction, the reading results for the colorimetric patches are collected and thereafter, a region for which a state consistent with a characteristic of the colorimetric patch has been obtained as the reading result is determined as the reading region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenichi HAYASHI, Katsunori TAKAHASHI, Takashi NARA, Takahiro YOKOYA, Tatsuhiro NOUTOMI
  • Patent number: 9501005
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a roller, a plurality of heaters, a temperature detection unit, and a control unit, wherein when the temperature detection unit detects that the temperature of longitudinal end portions of the roller is lower than a preset reference temperature, the control unit performs full-lighting control on the heater with the largest amount of heat supply to the end portions of the roller, out of the plurality of heaters, and performs lighting control on the heater with the second largest amount of heat supply to the end portions of the roller in a pattern at a predetermined duty ratio, or performs lighting control on the heater with the largest amount of heat supply to the end portions of the roller in a pattern at a predetermined duty ratio, and turns off the heater with the second largest amount of heat supply to the end portions of the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Akira Okamoto, Kenji Yamamoto, Keigo Ogura, Takahiro Yokoya, Hiroyuki Futami
  • Publication number: 20150286175
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a roller, a plurality of heaters, a temperature detection unit, and a control unit, wherein when the temperature detection unit detects that the temperature of longitudinal end portions of the roller is lower than a preset reference temperature, the control unit performs full-lighting control on the heater with the largest amount of heat supply to the end portions of the roller, out of the plurality of heaters, and performs lighting control on the heater with the second largest amount of heat supply to the end portions of the roller in a pattern at a predetermined duty ratio, or performs lighting control on the heater with the largest amount of heat supply to the end portions of the roller in a pattern at a predetermined duty ratio, and turns off the heater with the second largest amount of heat supply to the end portions of the roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Akira OKAMOTO, Kenji YAMAMOTO, Keigo OGURA, Takahiro YOKOYA, Hiroyuki FUTAMI
  • Patent number: 9042742
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus receives setting of an object to be adjusted, on an adjustment object selection screen when selecting an adjustment mode. After the object to be adjusted is set, camera(s) photograph(s) the object to be adjusted so that the image forming apparatus obtains photographed data of current object to be adjusted. Next, the apparatus searches photographed data of the object to be adjusted in the ideal state thereof from the database. Name of the object to be adjusted and related information in the photographed data agree with those of the photographed data of current object to be adjusted. The higher ranked related information is preferentially searched and it is determined whether or not pieces of the higher ranked related information thus preferentially searched agree with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Yoshimura, Katsunori Takahashi, Hiroyuki Watanabe, Kenichi Hayashi, Keigo Ogura, Takahiro Yokoya, Kenji Tamaki
  • Patent number: 8811847
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms a color image by overlaying toner images formed on respective first, second, and third photoreceptors, comprising: first, second, and third voltage-applied members respectively facing the first, second, and third photoreceptors; a first AC power supply generating first AC voltage, and superimposing the first AC voltage on first DC voltage to generate first voltage for causing a first electric field between the first voltage-applied member and the first photoreceptor; a second AC power supply generating second AC voltage, and superimposing the second AC voltage on second DC voltage to generate second voltage for causing a second electric field between the second voltage-applied member and the second photoreceptor; and a composite circuit superimposing a composite of the first voltage and the second voltage on third DC voltage, to generate third voltage for causing a third electric field between the third voltage-applied member and the third photoreceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikiyuki Aoki, Junichi Masuda, Taku Kimura, Takahiro Yokoya
  • Publication number: 20140140710
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus receives setting of an object to be adjusted, on an adjustment object selection screen when selecting an adjustment mode. After the object to be adjusted is set, camera(s) photograph(s) the object to be adjusted so that the image forming apparatus obtains photographed data of current object to be adjusted. Next, the apparatus searches photographed data of the object to be adjusted in the ideal state thereof from the database. Name of the object to be adjusted and related information in the photographed data agree with those of the photographed data of current object to be adjusted. The higher ranked related information is preferentially searched and it is determined whether or not pieces of the higher ranked related information thus preferentially searched agree with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi YOSHIMURA, Katsunori TAKAHASHI, Hiroyuki WATANABE, Kenichi HAYASHI, Keigo OGURA, Takahiro YOKOYA, Kenji TAMAKI
  • Publication number: 20130235622
    Abstract: A power supply device comprises: a rectifier circuit converting AC input voltage to DC; a smoothing capacitor connected to an output terminal of the rectifier circuit; a switching element turning on and off output from the smoothing capacitor to provide to a load; a switching controller controlling the switching of the switching element; a first signal input part generating a first signal for stopping the switching and keeping it stopped and inputting the first signal to the switching controller via a particular terminal thereof, when a trouble occurs on the power supply device; a detector detecting that the AC input voltage is a predetermined value or less; and a second signal input part generating a second signal for stopping the switching and keeping it stopped and inputting the second signal to the switching controller via the particular terminal, when the AC input voltage is the predetermined value or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Junichi Masuda, Mikiyuki Aoki, Taku Kimura, Takahiro Yokoya
  • Publication number: 20130183057
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms a color image by overlaying toner images formed on respective first, second, and third photoreceptors, comprising: first, second, and third voltage-applied members respectively facing the first, second, and third photoreceptors; a first AC power supply generating first AC voltage, and superimposing the first AC voltage on first DC voltage to generate first voltage for causing a first electric field between the first voltage-applied member and the first photoreceptor; a second AC power supply generating second AC voltage, and superimposing the second AC voltage on second DC voltage to generate second voltage for causing a second electric field between the second voltage-applied member and the second photoreceptor; and a composite circuit superimposing a composite of the first voltage and the second voltage on third DC voltage, to generate third voltage for causing a third electric field between the third voltage-applied member and the third photoreceptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Inventors: Mikiyuki Aoki, Junichi Masuda, Taku Kimura, Takahiro Yokoya
  • Patent number: 8292294
    Abstract: A sheet transportation device includes a transportation path for transportation of a sheet, a transportation unit for applying force to a sheet on the transportation path, and an electromagnetic component for driving the transportation unit by receiving supply of electric power. At the sheet transportation device, the absence/presence of a sheet is detected at a downstream side of the region where the transportation unit applies force to a sheet in the transportation path, and counter electromotive force induced in response to electric power being supplied to the electromagnetic component is supplied as the electric power for the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Junichi Masuda, Masayuki Watanabe, Takeshi Ishida, Takahiro Tsujimoto, Takahiro Yokoya
  • Publication number: 20120250357
    Abstract: A power supplying device provides power to the body of an image forming apparatus and an optional device connected to the body of the same. The power supplying device comprises: a rectifier circuit which rectifies an alternating current inputted from an alternating-current source; a booster circuit which boosts and smooths the direct-current voltage caused by the rectifier circuit; a judgment portion which judges whether or not there is an optional device connected to the body of the image forming apparatus; an identification portion which identifies the type of the optional device connected thereto; and a controller which, if there is an optional device connected thereto according to the judgment portion, adjusts the boosted voltage obtained by the booster circuit to a higher value than that if there is no optional device connected thereto, which depends on the type of the optional device identified by the identification portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Takahiro YOKOYA, Mikiyuki Aoki, Junichi Masuda, Taku Kimura
  • Publication number: 20110187043
    Abstract: A sheet transportation device includes a transportation path for transportation of a sheet, a transportation unit for applying force to a sheet on the transportation path, and an electromagnetic component for driving the transportation unit by receiving supply of electric power. At the sheet transportation device, the absence/presence of a sheet is detected at a downstream side of the region where the transportation unit applies force to a sheet in the transportation path, and counter electromotive force induced in response to electric power being supplied to the electromagnetic component is supplied as the electric power for the detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Junichi Masuda, Masayuki Watanabe, Takeshi Ishida, Takahiro Tsujimoto, Takahiro Yokoya