Patents Assigned to Konica
  • Publication number: 20220139397
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: a hardware processor that executes, based on recognized information obtained by voice recognition, a process requiring an execution authority; and an authenticator that performs authentication to determine, using first confidential information that is preset, whether the execution authority has been given. Upon determining that the recognized information corresponds to the preset confidential information, the hardware processor provides a user with a predetermined notification regarding security of the preset confidential information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Atsushi Tomita
  • Publication number: 20220141346
    Abstract: An inspection system includes: an inspection part that compares a scanned image obtained by scanning a sheet on which an image is formed on the basis of a job with a reference image prepared in advance and thereby performs inspection of the scanned image; and a hardware processor that sets an inspection target page to be a target of inspection and a non-inspection target page to be excluded from inspection, for the job, wherein the hardware processor causes the inspection part to perform inspection for the inspection target page and not to perform inspection for the non-inspection target page on the basis of the setting of the hardware processor, and the hardware processor creates an inspection report including scanned images of all pages of the job including the non-inspection target page.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Takao KUROHATA
  • Patent number: 11320758
    Abstract: An image forming system includes: a first image forming apparatus including a first fixer that fixes an image formed on a recording medium to the recording medium; a second image forming apparatus including a second fixer that fixes an image formed on the recording medium to the recording medium, the second image forming apparatus being connected to a downstream side of the first image forming apparatus in a transport direction of the recording medium; and a hardware processor that determines first transport control content in which the recording medium is transported in the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus, and sets second transport control content so that the recording medium that has been processed by the first fixer is processed in a different position by the second fixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Hideo Isohara
  • Patent number: 11320757
    Abstract: An image forming method includes forming an image by transferring and fixing white toner and color toner of at least one color to a recording medium, wherein when an endothermic peak top temperature and a toner softening point in a first temperature increasing process in differential scanning calorimetry of the white toner are Tmw (° C.) and Tspw (° C.), respectively, and an endothermic peak top temperature and a toner softening point in a first temperature increasing process in differential scanning calorimetry of the color toner are Tmc (° C.) and Tspc (° C.), respectively, Equations (1) and (2) below are satisfied: [Math.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yuya Kubo, Kazuhiko Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11311276
    Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes an image generating unit configured to generate a plurality of different ultrasound image data items from reception signals corresponding to a plurality of different steering angles, on the basis of the reception signals which an ultrasound probe has generated on the basis of reflected ultrasonic waves received from a reflecting surface of a subject body by transmitting ultrasonic waves at the plurality of different steering angles, and a regression estimate generating unit configured to perform regression analysis on the basis of the different steering angles and the ultrasound image data items, and generate regression estimates which are weighting values on the basis of the result of the regression analysis, and an image synthesis unit configured to perform weighting on the plurality of ultrasound image data items on the basis of the regression estimates, and synthesize them, thereby generating synthetic image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Jo Shikama
  • Patent number: 11316987
    Abstract: A voice information processing apparatus includes: a hardware processor that: receives a user question; acquires answer information responsive to the received question; acquires state information on a user state; and selects an output mode of the answer information from among a plurality of output modes, based on the answer information and the state information, the plurality of output modes including a voice output mode; and an output device that outputs the answer information in the selected output mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kubota, Junichi Hase
  • Patent number: 11311265
    Abstract: A radiographic imaging system includes a radiation emitter, an image generator and a hardware processor. The radiation emitter emits radiation. The image generator generates a dynamic image composed of a plurality of frames according to received radiation The hardware processor determines at a predetermined timing whether at least one imaging allowing condition is satisfied. In response to determining that the at least one imaging allowing condition is satisfied, the hardware processor allows at least one of the radiation emitter and the image generator to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Taketoh Muraoka
  • Patent number: 11316984
    Abstract: An image forming device including an image former, a primary controller, a secondary controller, one or more sensors, an interface, and a writer. The image former executes image forming processing to form an image on a sheet. The primary controller instructs the secondary controller to control the image former to execute the image forming processing. Each sensor detects a state of the image former and outputs sensor data to the secondary controller. The interface can be connected to a storage medium. The secondary controller generates diagnostic data based on the sensor data. The writer writes the diagnostic data to the storage medium via the interface. The diagnostic data is used by a diagnostic server to perform failure diagnostics and life prediction pertaining to the image forming device, after transfer to the diagnostic server via a transfer device when the storage medium is mounted to the transfer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Hitaka, Yasufumi Naitou
  • Patent number: 11314466
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a hardware processor that stores intermediate data of a plurality of print jobs in a storage. The hardware processor is configured to perform, read first intermediate data of a first prim job; rasterize the read first intermediate data to generate print data; output the print data to an image forming apparatus; determine whether reading the first intermediate data allows extra, time in relation to a throughput of a print engine; determine whether reading second intermediate data of a second print job is a bottleneck of a printing time; and execute in parallel reading the first intermediate data and reading the second intermediate data, in response to a determination that the operation of reading the first intermediate data allows extra time in relation to the throughput of the print engine and a determination that reading the second intermediate data is a bottleneck of the printing time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Ryohei Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11314464
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a processor that performs: after a user starts to configure settings for printing, making a first judgment on whether or not a printing apparatus specified for printing is a printer model supported by print setting software installed on the information processing apparatus; making a second judgment on whether or not switching to a machine-independent print control method is necessary, with reference to the first judgment; and if switching to a machine-independent print control method is necessary, performing: switching to the machine-independent print control method; generating a print job by the machine-independent print control method; and transmitting the print job to the specified printing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Masuda
  • Patent number: 11313812
    Abstract: A radiation detector includes an image generator and a case. The image generator generates a radiograph according to received radiation. The case stores the image generator and includes a first component and a second component screwed to the first component. The second component is movable with respect to the first component in a direction along a seat surface of a screw by a screw hole of the second component being formed such that a diameter is larger than a diameter of a shaft of the screw but smaller than a diameter of a head of the screw. A loosening torque that acts, in a direction to loosen the screw, on the screw when the seat surface receives a frictional force from the second component is smaller than a loosening start torque that is the loosening torque of when the screw starts to loosen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Junichiro Otaki
  • Patent number: 11315284
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a display which can display an image; and a hardware processor. The hardware processor obtains image data of a dynamic image or a moving image including a plurality of frames generated by a radiation imaging apparatus. The hardware processor displays on the display as a failure image at least one failure frame included in the dynamic image or the moving image based on the obtained image data or analyzed image data obtained by analyzing the image data, the failure frame including a reason why the dynamic image or the moving image cannot be provided for diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Hidetake Tezuka, Masahiro Kuwata
  • Patent number: 11312865
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming method capable of coating a photocurable varnish without unevenness on a toner image formed using an electrostatic latent image developing toner, and further having good adhesion between a varnish layer and the toner image. The image forming method of the present invention comprises: forming a toner image on a recording medium using an electrostatic latent image developing toner containing a toner particle comprising a binder resin and a release agent; and forming a varnish layer on the toner image by applying and curing a photocurable varnish comprising a photocurable compound. The binder resin comprised in the electrostatic latent image developing toner contains a crystalline polyester resin. The photocurable compound comprised in the photocurable varnish comprises a diol di(meth)acrylate having a straight hydrocarbon chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Takaki Kawamura, Noboru Ueda, Natsuki Ito, Yusuke Takigaura, Ami Motohashi
  • Publication number: 20220124210
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a document tray in which a document is to be set, a medium container that contains a recording medium, a document detection sensor that detects a document set in the document tray, a medium detection sensor that detects a recording medium contained in the medium container. A hardware processor executes a copy operation of forming an image obtained by scanning a document set in the document tray on a recording medium, determines to automatically execute the copy operation in case an elapsed period of time between a document detection time when a document is detected by the document detection sensor and a medium detection time when a recording medium is detected by the medium detection sensor is equal to or smaller than a predetermined operation period of time, and automatically executes the copy operation based on determination of automatic execution of the copy operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Hidekazu TAKAHAMA, Hiroyuki SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 11308344
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided, which includes: an input unit that receives input of a first image and a second image; a high-frequency image extractor that extracts a high-frequency image from the first image; a low-frequency image extractor that extracts a low-frequency image from the second image; an edge portion extractor that extracts an edge image of the second image; a determination unit that determines a composite position of the high-frequency image and the low-frequency image so that a degree of overlap between the first image and an edge portion is small, and a combiner that combines the high-frequency image and the low-frequency image at the composite position determined by the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Misaki Funato
  • Patent number: 11307521
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include: a fixer that includes a fixing nip and makes an image formation medium pass through the fixing nip, to apply heat and pressure to the image formation medium, and fix toner containing wax to the image formation medium, an image formed with the toner having been transferred onto the image formation medium; and a hardware processor that controls the fixer in such a manner that an amount of wax precipitating on a surface of the image formation medium, when a laminating process is performed on the image formation medium to which the toner has been fixed, becomes smaller than when the laminating process is not performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 11307093
    Abstract: Creating a model calibrating spectral apparatus having an optical system that converts light to be measured into a spectrum, and a light-receiving sensor including a plurality of sensors that outputs signals, the sensors include sensors that output signals indicating respective energy amounts of a plurality of wavelength components. The model shows where a linear function of an indicator indicating a mechanical error in the spectral apparatus, expresses deviation of an indicator indicating spectral sensitivity of the sensor from the indicator indicating the reference spectral sensitivity of the sensor. The method comprises: a) acquiring reference spectral sensitivity; b) acquiring an indicator indicating the reference spectral sensitivity of the sensor acquired at a); and c) creating the model where the linear function of the mechanical error indicator expresses deviation of the spectral sensitivity indicator from the indicator indicating the reference spectral sensitivity of the sensor, acquired at b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiroh Nagai, Toshio Kawano, Takashi Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 11310370
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that performs image forming processing on a recording sheet; a primary central processing unit (CPU) and a secondary CPU, where the primary CPU receives a job externally and instructs the secondary CPU to monitor and control the image forming unit to perform the image forming processing; sensors that sense a state of the image forming unit and output sensor data indicating the state of the image forming unit, a first transceiver; and a second transceiver. The secondary CPU monitors the sensor data to generate diagnostic data. The first transceiver performs duplex communication with the primary CPU to send and receive data other than the diagnostic data. The second transceiver sends the diagnostic data to the diagnostic server without relaying via the primary CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Hitaka
  • Publication number: 20220116512
    Abstract: An electronic document managing apparatus for managing an electronic document includes a hardware processor. The hardware processor obtains the electronic document and manages an approval state of the obtained electronic document. In response to receiving an instruction to output the electronic document, the hardware processor refers to the approval state. The hardware processor permits the output of an approved electronic document only when all of a predesignated approver has approved the electronic document, the approved electronic document being the electronic document bearing a seal image of all of the approver. The hardware processor does not permit the output of the electronic document bearing any of the seal image when any of the approver has not approved the electronic document yet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kosuke MASUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20220112045
    Abstract: A finishing system includes a piercing unit, an image reader, and a controller. The piercing unit includes a piercing member that performs piercing processing on a sheet. The image reader reads the sheet on which the piercing processing is performed to acquire a read image. The controller determines abnormality of the piercing member based on the read image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Shohei YAMAZAKI