Patents by Inventor Akira Tsunoda

Akira Tsunoda 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: 20230389250
    Abstract: A component supply device includes: a picker base on which a component is to be loaded; a supplier that picks up the component loaded on the picker base and supplies the component to a predetermined position; a detector that detects the component loaded on the picker base; and a hardware processor that determines a state of the component loaded on the picker base, on a basis of information detected by the detector, wherein the hardware processor determines whether the component is a component that is pickable or a component that is unpickable by the supplier on a basis of the state of the component, and calculates an operation amount for adjusting the component that is unpickable to a pickable state and adjusts only a state of the component that is unpickable by an adjuster on a basis of the calculated operation amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Akihiro Nakamura, Yasuyuki Kamai, Yusuke Murakami, Akira Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 11782374
    Abstract: Disclosed is a post-processing apparatus configured to be coupled to an image forming apparatus or another post-processing apparatus. The post-processing apparatus includes: a post-processing unit that performs post-processing to a sheet that is conveyed; and a standby path arranged on an upstream side or a downstream side of the post-processing unit and capable of holding the sheet. The post-processing unit performs the post-processing in a state in which the sheet is partly in the standby path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Akira Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 11511949
    Abstract: A movable object holding system for holding a movable object including a body portion 11 and a protruding portion protruding from the body portion, comprising a hand part 40 holding a movable object, the hand part 40 comprising plural guide portions limiting movement of the movable object in a first axis direction and a second axis direction that are perpendicular to each other and a pair of positioning portions 43e limiting movement of the movable object in a third axis direction that is perpendicular to the first and second axis directions, wherein the hand part 40 holds the movable object with the protruding portion of the movable object disposed in a space surrounded by the plural guide portions and touching the pair of the positioning portions 43e and with a part of the body portion of the movable object exposed out of the hand part 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Akira Tsunoda, Shinichi Kawabata, Yuki Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20210362960
    Abstract: A movable object holding system for holding a movable object including a body portion 11 and a protruding portion protruding from the body portion, comprising a hand part 40 holding a movable object, the hand part 40 comprising plural guide portions limiting movement of the movable object in a first axis direction and a second axis direction that are perpendicular to each other and a pair of positioning portions 43e limiting movement of the movable object in a third axis direction that is perpendicular to the first and second axis directions, wherein the hand part 40 holds the movable object with the protruding portion of the movable object disposed in a space surrounded by the plural guide portions and touching the pair of the positioning portions 43e and with a part of the body portion of the movable object exposed out of the hand part 40.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Akira TSUNODA, Shinichi KAWABATA, Yuki HIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210080893
    Abstract: Provided is a post-processing apparatus including a cutting unit that cuts a sheet in a width direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction, and that is capable of cutting out part of the sheet as cutting waste, the sheet being conveyed on a conveyance path, a guide that is disposed at an upstream part and/or a downstream part from the cutting unit in the conveyance direction and that is switchable between an open position or a close position; a moving mechanism to move the guide; and a hardware processor that controls the moving mechanism such that the guide is in the open position when the sheet is cut by the cutting unit and that the guide is in the close position when the sheet is conveyed. In the open position, the guide forms a space for the cutting waste to fall down from the conveyance path, and in the close position, the guide shuts the space to guide the sheet to be conveyed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventor: Akira TSUNODA
  • Publication number: 20200133186
    Abstract: Disclosed is a post-processing apparatus configured to be coupled to an image forming apparatus or another post-processing apparatus. The post-processing apparatus includes: a post-processing unit that performs post-processing to a sheet that is conveyed; and a standby path arranged on an upstream side or a downstream side of the post-processing unit and capable of holding the sheet. The post-processing unit performs the post-processing in a state in which the sheet is partly in the standby path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Akira TSUNODA
  • Patent number: 10254701
    Abstract: A paper correction apparatus B corrects a curl of a sheet S by passing the sheet S through curved paper conveying routes CCP1 and CCP2 whose curving amounts can be changed. The paper correction apparatus B is provided with a control unit B3 which sets the curving amounts of the curved paper conveying routes CCP1 and CCP2, and changes a sheet interval in accordance with the curving amounts which are set. By this configuration, it is possible to inhibit the productivity from being reduced due to paper correction during performing post-printing processes in a finisher which is located in the downstream side of the paper correction apparatus B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Akira Tsunoda
  • Publication number: 20180203399
    Abstract: A finisher corrects curl of a sheet with a decurler which includes: an endless belt; a pushing shaft which pushes the endless belt; an upstream guide which guides the sheet between the endless belt and the pushing shaft; and a downstream guide which guides the sheet. The upstream guide includes: an upstream movable guide which follows motion of the pushing shaft; and an upstream fixed guide which covers the upstream side of the upstream movable guide. The curvature radius of the conveying route of the sheet which is guided by the upstream and downstream guides is set to a value greater than or equal to a reference curvature radius which is set in accordance with the sheet as a threshold value of whether a permanent distortion is formed in the sheet by the conveying route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventor: Akira TSUNODA
  • Publication number: 20180074450
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a curl correcting section including a conveying member configured to convey a sheet, and a pushing shaft configured to push, toward the conveying member, the sheet conveyed by the conveying member, the curl correcting section being capable of adjusting a correction amount of a curl of the sheet by adjusting a pushing amount of the pushing shaft for pushing the conveying member; and a moving guide section configured to guide the sheet toward a pushing position of the sheet in the conveying member, the moving guide section being configured to move along with a pushing operation of the pushing shaft while maintaining a distance from the pushing shaft at a predetermined distance or smaller such that a conveyance error of the sheet is not caused when the moving guide section guides the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventor: Akira TSUNODA
  • Publication number: 20170261908
    Abstract: A paper correction apparatus B corrects a curl of a sheet S by passing the sheet S through curved paper conveying routes CCP1 and CCP2 whose curving amounts can be changed. The paper correction apparatus B is provided with a control unit B3 which sets the curving amounts of the curved paper conveying routes CCP1 and CCP2, and changes a sheet interval in accordance with the curving amounts which are set. By this configuration, it is possible to inhibit the productivity from being reduced due to paper correction during performing post-printing processes in a finisher which is located in the downstream side of the paper correction apparatus B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventor: AKIRA TSUNODA
  • Patent number: 9682841
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet folding apparatus which performs a first folding and a second folding on one or a plurality of sheets including a first roller which is one of rollers that form a first nip which performs the first folding, a second roller which forms the first nip with the first roller, a third roller which forms a second nip with the second roller which performs the second folding, a roller drive unit which operates the first, second and third rollers, a first pushing member which pushes a sheet in the first nip, a first push drive unit which operates the first pushing member, a second pushing member which pushes the sheet in the second nip, a second push drive unit which operates the second pushing member, and a control unit which controls the roller driver unit, the first push drive unit and the second push drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Akira Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 9352919
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus including: an accumulating section on which a sheet is accumulated; a staple inserting section which is provided above the accumulating section; a staple receiving section which is provided so as to face the staple inserting section across a sheet bundle accumulated on the accumulating section; and a movement section which moves an inserting unit or the accumulating section according to a thickness of the sheet bundle so that the inserting unit faces a predetermined position on an upmost sheet of the sheet bundle, wherein the staple inserting section includes the inserting unit which inserts a staple into the sheet bundle by rotating toward the sheet bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Akira Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 9039313
    Abstract: A sheet processing device includes a cutter including a movable unit moving toward or away from a predetermined position and cutting a sheet held in the predetermined position, a door provided to a housing having an opening, the door opening and closing the opening for an operation for the cutter. The sheet processing device further includes the housing holding the cutter, a locking member locking and unlocking the door closing the opening and a locking mechanism mechanically connecting the movable unit to the locking member and causing the locking member to lock or unlock the door depending on a position of the movable unit relative to the predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Akira Tsunoda
  • Publication number: 20150065327
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet folding apparatus which performs a first folding and a second folding on one or a plurality of sheets including a first roller which is one of rollers that form a first nip which performs the first folding, a second roller which forms the first nip with the first roller, a third roller which forms a second nip with the second roller which performs the second folding, a roller drive unit which operates the first, second and third rollers, a first pushing member which pushes a sheet in the first nip, a first push drive unit which operates the first pushing member, a second pushing member which pushes the sheet in the second nip, a second push drive unit which operates the second pushing member, and a control unit which controls the roller driver unit, the first push drive unit and the second push drive unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Akira TSUNODA
  • Publication number: 20150008635
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus including: an accumulating section on which a sheet is accumulated; a staple inserting section which is provided above the accumulating section; a staple receiving section which is provided so as to face the staple inserting section across a sheet bundle accumulated on the accumulating section; and a movement section which moves an inserting unit or the accumulating section according to a thickness of the sheet bundle so that the inserting unit faces a predetermined position on an upmost sheet of the sheet bundle, wherein the staple inserting section includes the inserting unit which inserts a staple into the sheet bundle by rotating toward the sheet bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventor: Akira TSUNODA
  • Patent number: 8609389
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved type protease which comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 75% identical to SEQ ID NO:3, said improved type protease has at least one mutation selected from the group consisting of: (A) replacement of glutamine corresponding to glutamine at position 265 in SEQ ID NO: 3 with an acidic amino acid; and (B) replacement of glutamine at position 266 in SEQ ID NO: 3 with an acidic amino acid, and wherein said improved type protease has milk-clotting activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Meito Sangyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Harada, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Taro Suga, Hiroyuki Yamaguchi, Akira Tsunoda, Shigeaki Kato
  • Publication number: 20130259558
    Abstract: A sheet processing device includes a cutter including a movable unit moving toward or away from a predetermined position and cutting a sheet held in the predetermined position, a door provided to a housing having an opening, the door opening and closing the opening for an operation for the cutter. The sheet processing device further includes the housing holding the cutter, a locking member locking and unlocking the door closing the opening and a locking mechanism mechanically connecting the movable unit to the locking member and causing the locking member to lock or unlock the door depending on a position of the movable unit relative to the predetermined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Akira TSUNODA
  • Patent number: 8398533
    Abstract: A paper folding apparatus includes a ruling unit that rules a line on each of sheets, a pushing unit that pushes the sheets on which the lines are ruled by the ruling unit, and a pair of folding rollers that comes into contact under pressure with the sheets pushed by the pushing unit and discharges the sheets. The ruling unit includes a plurality of pressing blades for ruling a line on each of the sheets, a swinging unit that swings the pressing blades from a pressing position where the pressing blade presses the sheets to a retracted position where the pressing blades are retracted from the sheets, and a moving unit that moves the pressing blades and the swinging unit along the sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Akira Tsunoda
  • Publication number: 20120040436
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved type protease which comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 75% identical to SEQ ID NO:3, said improved type protease has at least one mutation selected from the group consisting of: (A) replacement of glutamine corresponding to glutamine at position 265 in SEQ ID NO: 3 with an acidic amino acid; and (B) replacement of glutamine at position 266 in SEQ ID NO: 3 with an acidic amino acid, and wherein said improved type protease has milk-clotting activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Meito Sangyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Harada, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Taro Suga, Hiroyuki Yamaguchi, Akira Tsunoda, Shigeaki Kato
  • Publication number: 20100323869
    Abstract: A paper folding apparatus includes a ruling unit that rules a line on each of sheets, a pushing unit that pushes the sheets on which the lines are ruled by the ruling unit, and a pair of folding rollers that comes into contact under pressure with the sheets pushed by the pushing unit and discharges the sheets. The ruling unit includes a plurality of pressing blades for ruling a line on each of the sheets, a swinging unit that swings the pressing blades from a pressing position where the pressing blade presses the sheets to a retracted position where the pressing blades are retracted from the sheets, and a moving unit that moves the pressing blades and the swinging unit along the sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Akira TSUNODA