Patents Assigned to Konica
  • Illumination optical system and projector
    Patent number: 8408709
    Abstract: First and second light sources emit first and second light beams, respectively. A light condensing system condenses the beams, and a polarization separation system separates each of the beams into first and second polarization components. A ½ phase plate converts the polarization state of the first polarization component to one equal to that of the second polarization component, and a rod integrator uniformizes spatial energy distribution of the beams condensed by the light condensing system. A relay system forms an image of an exit face of the rod integrator on a region to be illuminated. The light condensing system condenses the first and second polarization components onto first and second regions, respectively, of an entrance face of the rod integrator; and the ½ phase plate is placed at the first region of the entrance face of the rod integrator or at a position conjugate with the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasumasa Sawai, Iwao Adachi
  • Induction heating unit, fixing device and method for attaching coil for induction heating unit
    Patent number: 8410408
    Abstract: An induction heating unit enabling to attaching coil on coil attaching surface of bobbin with a high degree of accuracy, and a fixing device capable of maintaining the distance between the coil and the member to be heated at a high degree of accuracy, ensuring uniformity of temperature distribution of the member to be heated, rising temperature at a high speed, and enhancing quality of fixation. In an induction heating unit 30 including a magnetizing coil 39 attached on a coil bobbin 38 which is disposed outside of annular body 19 to be heated, the unit including: a layer of elastic adhesive 44a provided on the outer surface of the coil bobbin 38; a magnetizing coil 39 provided on the layer of elastic adhesive 44a, the magnetizing coil 39 being wound beforehand following an attaching surface; and a layer of elastic adhesive 44b provided on the magnetizing coil 39.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Kanou, Noboru Yonekawa
  • Image forming apparatus and image forming system involving sharing member information and a check image being associated with each other
    Patent number: 8411297
    Abstract: An image forming system comprises an access control part, a storage part, an extraction part, and an acquisition part. The access control part determines whether to allow or prohibit access to a security image in which a password for access control is embedded. The storage part stores sharing member information which is information on sharing members who are users allowed to share the security image and a check image which is an image for check on the security image, being associated with each other. The extraction part for extracts the check image out of one or more images including the check image on the basis of a determination result on coidentity between the security image and each of the one or more images. The acquisition part acquires the sharing member information associated with the check image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuji Takeuchi, Tomoyuki Okamoto, Nobuo Kamei, Tomo Tsuboi, Yosuke Taniguchi
  • Radiological image capturing apparatus and radiological image capturing system
    Patent number: 8411816
    Abstract: There is described a radiological image capturing apparatus, which makes it possible to obtain a good X ray image in which contrast of the peripheral portions are emphasized by employing the Talbot interferometer method and the Talbot-Lau interferometer method. The apparatus is provided with an X-ray tube, a multi-slit member, a first diffraction grating, a second diffraction grating and an X-ray detector. The second diffraction grating contacts the X-ray detector. A distance L between the multi-slit element and the first diffraction grating is set to be not less than 0.5 m, a distance Z1 between the first diffraction grating and the second diffraction grating is set to be not less than 0.05 m, and a slit interval distance d0 of the multi-slit element is set to be not less than 2 ?m. With the settings, the abovementioned good X-ray image can be obtained by using the Talbot-Lau interferometer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiromu Ohara
  • Sheet ejection device, post-processing apparatus and image forming system
    Patent number: 8408540
    Abstract: A sheet ejection device including: a sheet stacking section; a sheet trailing edge hitting section; a pair of sheet holding members for holding a sheet or plural sheets placed one on top of another at a sheet holding position, and moving the same to the sheet stacking position; and a friction member that is provided on one of the sheet holding members and that comes in contact with the topmost sheet of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking section; wherein, when the sheet holding members reach the sheet stacking position, one of the sheet holding members is moved upstream in the sheet ejecting direction, whereby the trailing edge of the held sheet is made to hit against the sheet trailing edge hitting section, and the friction member comes in contact with the topmost sheet, and then the topmost sheet is biased toward the sheet trailing edge hitting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Masaaki Uchiyama, Hiroyuki Wakabayashi
  • Image rasterization processing apparatus using intermediate language form data, computer-readable recording medium storing program and image processing method
    Patent number: 8411949
    Abstract: The image processing apparatus includes: a storage section including a region to be used when rasterization processing is performed with respect to intermediate language form data created by a band based on page description language form data; a plurality of operation sections; and a control section to perform the rasterization processing with respect to the intermediate language form data by using the operation sections. The control section generates a plurality of segmented regions by dividing the band constituting each pieces of the intermediate language form data into a plurality of pieces based on the number of the operation sections, and assigns a segmented region for executing the rasterization processing among the segmented regions to each of the operation sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Kuroki, Fumihito Akiyama, Masahiro Ozawa, Takahisa Matsunaga, Hiroshi Nogawa, Yasufumi Aoyama, Kunikazu Satou, Yasutaka Shimohara
  • Image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 8408830
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a moving roller capable of axial movement; a medium end position detecting section for detection in the main scanning direction; and a control section for calculating the amount of misalignment of the medium from the detected end position; wherein the control section obtains the correction amount of the image forming position of the medium according to the amount of misalignment of the medium having been calculated, or the amount of misalignment of the medium and information of moving position of the roller, and provides control such that the medium or another medium coming later than the medium by a predetermined number of pages is moved by the moving roller by the difference between the correction amount of the image forming position and the amount of misalignment of the target medium, and the image forming position is corrected according to the correction amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Ogata, Jun Onishi, Shinpei Kawasaki
  • Image forming apparatus, imposition method for booklet-shaped prints, and booklet-shaped prints
    Patent number: 8411312
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a function for binding a plurality of sheets, both sides of each of which have been printed, and outputting a booklet-shaped print, the image forming apparatus including: a shifting section which shifts drawing information to be printed on each page of at least one set of spread two pages of the booklet-shaped print so that the drawing information is separated from a bound position; and a synthesizing section which synthesizes drawing information near a bound side of one page of the two pages, information based on the drawing information, or predetermined background information, in a blank portion formed by a shift on a bound side of an other page of the two pages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Motoki Kanzawa
  • Image forming apparatus, clear layer forming apparatus, and image forming system
    Patent number: 8412086
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image forming section which transfers a toner image according to image data onto a recording sheet, a first fixing section which fixes the toner image with heat of the first fixing roller, a clear layer forming section which forms a clear layer on the toner image which the first fixing section has fixed, a second fixing section which fixes the clear layer with heat of the second fixing roller and a control section which controls the clear layer forming section to increase the thickness of the clear layer in a recording sheet area corresponding to a fixed area during the second revolution of the first fixing roller on the recording sheet, compared with a recording sheet area corresponding to a fixed area during the first revolution thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tadashi Matsudaira, Akihiro Hayashi, Youbao Peng, Satoshi Ogata, Takashi Nara, Toshiaki Tanaka
  • Photoelectric conversion element and solar cell
    Patent number: 8410356
    Abstract: Provided is a photoelectric conversion element for which a novel compound (dye) exhibiting excellent adsorption to an oxide semiconductor and exhibiting high photoelectric conversion efficiency is used, and also provided is a solar cell employing the photoelectric conversion element. Disclosed is a dye-sensitizing type photoelectric conversion element possessing at least a pair of facing electrodes, a semiconductor layer possessing a semiconductor and a sensitizing dye supported on the semiconductor, and a charge transport layer, wherein the semiconductor layer and the charge transport layer are provided between the facing electrodes, and wherein the sensitizing dye comprises a compound represented by the following Formula (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Kawasaki, Akihiko Itami, Kazuya Isobe, Hideya Miwa, Kazukuni Nishimura, Mayuko Ushiro
  • Method and program for custom spool page printing
    Patent number: 8411293
    Abstract: A method and a printer for post-submission and post-rendering custom spooled page printing of a raw print file sent directly to the printer without a printer driver or print application. Embodiments of the method and printer implement a process that includes the steps of sending a raw print file directly to a printer and the printer receiving the raw print file for direct printing, rendering the raw print file by the printer's interpreter, after all pages of the raw print file are spooled, pausing the printer's print engine, providing page printing options on the printer's control panel to allow a user to select pages to be printed, and after receiving the user's page selection, starting the print engine to print only the pages selected by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Laboratory U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: John Phuong Tran
  • DEVELOPER DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20130078008
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES INC
    Inventors: Nofumi Mizumoto, Takeshi Maeyama, Junya Hirayama, Shigeo Uetake, Makiko Watanabe, Toshiya Natsuhara
  • SURFACE PLASMON RESONANCE FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS DEVICE AND SURFACE PLASMON RESONANCE FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS METHOD
    Publication number: 20130078146
    Abstract: A surface plasmon resonance fluorescence analysis device emits a light beam to a prism in which a metal film is formed on a prescribed surface while changing an angle of incidence relative to the metal film in a state in which the light beam is totally reflected, measures light generated on a surface of the metal film, determines an angle at which the light beam enters the metal film based on a change in intensity of the measured light, adjusts the emitting direction of the light beam so that the light beam enters the metal film at the determined angle of incidence, and measures fluorescence generated on the surface of the metal film in a state in which the light beam is emitted the adjusted direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sando, Takahiro Mohri, Gou Yanagihara, Kenichi Miyata, Masataka Matsuo
  • NEAR FIELD-ENHANCED FLUORESCENCE SENSOR CHIP
    Publication number: 20130078148
    Abstract: A surface plasmon-field enhanced fluorescence spectroscopy [SPFS] sensor chip may include a transparent support, a metal thin film formed on one surface of the transparent support, a self-assembled monolayer [SAM] formed on a surface of the metal thin film, said surface not being in contact with the transparent support, a solid phase layer formed on a surface of the SAM and having a three-dimensional structure, said surface not being in contact with the metal thin film, and a ligand immobilized in the solid phase layer. A fluctuation ratio represented by the following formula is not less than 0% but not more than 30%: {half-width (?)?half-width (?)}/half-width (?)×100.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Takatoshi Kaya, Naoki Hikage, Hidetaka Ninomiya
  • SHEET-THROUGH DOCUMENT READING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20130077137
    Abstract: A sheet-through document reading apparatus including: a document tray for containing a plurality of documents; a determination unit that determines a length of a document on the document tray; a feed unit that separates and feeds a document on the document tray; a resist convey unit that performs consistency processing on the document fed by the feed unit; a first drive unit that rotationally drives the resist convey unit; a read convey unit that feeds the document subjected to consistency processing by the resist convey unit; a second drive unit that rotationally drives the read convey unit; a reading unit that reads, at a fixed reading position, the document conveyed by the read convey unit; and a control unit for changing a relative conveying velocity between the resist convey unit and the read convey unit on the basis of a result of the determination by the determination unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
  • IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20130078015
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus according to the present invention has a fixing member and a paper separation part. The fixing member fixes an image by heating and applying a pressure to a sheet of printing paper S on which a toner image is transferred, while transferring the paper S. The paper separation part has a blower part and an air ejecting part that ejects the air sent out from the blower part against a paper outlet port of a nipping part N of the fixing member. The air ejection part has ribs that divide the air flow sent out from said blower part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Masami MARUKO
  • IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20130077985
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having; image supporting members provided for a plurality of colors; chargers to be impressed with charging biases to charge the respective image supporting members; developing devices to be impressed with developing biases to develop latent images formed on the image supporting members; a charging bias power supply, including high-voltage DC power supply circuits and an AC power supply circuit, for applying the charging biases, which are generated by superposition of direct-current voltages and an alternate-current voltage, to the chargers; and a control circuit that performs stop processing to stop applications of the charging biases and the developing biases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Junichi Arai, Hironori Akashi
  • TONER FOR ELECTROSTATIC IMAGE DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION PROCESS THEREOF
    Publication number: 20130078566
    Abstract: Disclosed are a low-environmental load toner for electrostatic image development and a production process of the toner. The toner for electrostatic image development includes toner particles containing a resin. The resin contains a vinyl polymer having a structural unit represented by the following general formula (1): [in the general formula (1), R1 is a hydrogen atom, —CH2OH, —CH2OR2, or —CH2O(C?O)R3, and R2 and R3 are each an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms].
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mikio KOUYAMA, Ken OHMURA
  • Electrostatic image developing toner
    Patent number: 8404419
    Abstract: Provided is an electrostatic image developing toner containing, (i) toner particles containing: a binder resin having a domain-matrix structure; and (ii) a colorant; wherein the toner particles have a volume-based median diameter of 4.3 to 7.0 ?m; a domain phase in the binder resin contains a polymer containing a structure unit derived from a diene monomer, the domain phase has a Feret diameter of 50 to 300 nm; and a glass transition temperature of the polymer composing the domain phase is ?85 to +35° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Konno, Kazuhiko Nakajima
  • Image processing apparatus, image processing system, image processing method and image processing program for performing color classification of image data
    Patent number: 8406516
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus MFP includes a memory for storing color data of a plurality of picture elements together with a correlation to identification information for identifying each picture element, and storing a reference value and a statistical value for each of a predetermined number of baskets; a classifying unit for classifying each of the plurality of picture elements into one of the baskets based on the color data and the reference value corresponding to the basket; a calculating unit for calculating the statistical value and the reference value of the basket accommodating the classified picture element based on the color data corresponding to the picture element; and a determining unit for determining a representative color of each basket based on the statistical value, and outputting the representative color of each basket and a result of the classification of each picture element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Toshitsugu Yamamoto