Patents by Inventor Fusako Akimoto

Fusako Akimoto 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: 7911641
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having: a reading section that reads out an image of an original document placed on a document table; a storage section that stores image data obtained by reading out the image by the reading section; a sheet feeding section including a sheet feeding tray and an attachment detection sensor that detects whether or not the sheet feeding tray has been attached; and a control section that executes reading out of the image in a mode in which the image is read while the reading section scans the image of the original document placed on the document table, wherein the control section, when the attachment or detachment of the tray is detected during execution in the mode, suspends the reading out of the image, deletes the image data obtained from the original document image whose reading was suspended, and moves the scanning unit to a home position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fusako Akimoto, Kenji Taki, Chikatsu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7899380
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which forms an image on a sheet, includes a controller which executes a cleaning mode in which the controller conveys the sheet from a sheet feed tray to a fixing device without forming a toner image on the sheet, removes toner that has been adhered to a fixing member to clean. In case the cleaning mode is executed, the controller controls a releasing section to release pressure contact of a pressing member before a leading edge of the sheet in a sheet conveyance direction reaches a nip portion between the fixing member and the pressing member, and to bring the pressing member into pressure contact with the fixing member after the leading edge of the sheet has passed through the nip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chikatsu Suzuki, Kenji Taki, Fusako Akimoto
  • Patent number: 7672608
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an image forming section which conducts image formation on a sheet based on an image data, a tray which accommodates the sheets to be supplied to the image forming section, a humidity detecting unit which detects humidity inside the tray, a dehumidifying device which conducts dehumidification inside the tray; and a control section which controls the image forming section to prohibit image formation when the humidity inside the tray is higher than a predetermined value, the control section further controls the dehumidifying device to conduct the dehumidification inside the tray when the humidity inside the tray is equal to or lower than the predetermined value, and the control section still further controls the image forming section to conduct the image formation on the when the humidity inside the tray has been equal to or lower than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Taki, Chikatsu Suzuki, Fusako Akimoto
  • Patent number: 7657202
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an image forming section which forms image on a recording sheet based on image data, plural trays which accommodate the sheets to be supplied to the image forming section, a humidity detecting unit which detects humidity inside the paper tray, a dehumidifying device which dehumidify inside the paper tray, and a control section which controls the dehumidifying device and management of jobs, and controls the image forming section to execute the jobs, wherein if the humidity inside the paper tray to be used for a first priority job is higher than a predetermined value, the control section suspends execution of the first priority job, and the control section controls the image forming section to execute a reserved job which is executable from among reserved jobs with low priority order, before executing the first priority job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Taki, Chikatsu Suzuki, Fusako Akimoto
  • Patent number: 7577393
    Abstract: There is described an image forming apparatus comprising a tray that outputs information by which various kinds of fixed form sized of recording mediums can be discriminated and a controller to acquire a approximate size of a recording medium having an unfixed form size by conducting an operation for detecting a fixed form size of the recording medium by referring to the information if the recording medium having the unfixed form size is stacked on the tray, wherein, according to the approximate size, the controller controls an operation for displaying information corresponding to unfixed form size or sizes registered in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chikatsu Suzuki, Kenji Taki, Fusako Akimoto
  • Publication number: 20080204828
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having: a reading section that reads out an image of an original document placed on a document table; a storage section that stores image data obtained by reading out the image by the reading section; a sheet feeding section including a sheet feeding tray and an attachment detection sensor that detects whether or not the sheet feeding tray has been attached; and a control section that executes reading out of the image in a mode in which the image is read while the reading section scans the image of the original document placed on the document table, wherein the control section, when the attachment or detachment of the tray is detected during execution in the mode, suspends the reading out of the image, deletes the image data obtained from the original document image whose reading was suspended, and moves the scanning unit to a home position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Fusako Akimoto, Kenji Taki, Chikatsu Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20080199197
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which forms an image on a sheet, includes a controller which executes a cleaning mode in which the controller conveys the sheet from a sheet feed tray to a fixing device without forming a toner image on the sheet, removes toner that has been adhered to a fixing member to clean. In case the cleaning mode is executed, the controller controls a releasing section to release pressure contact of a pressing member before a leading edge of the sheet in a sheet conveyance direction reaches a nip portion between the fixing member and the pressing member, and to bring the pressing member into pressure contact with the fixing member after the leading edge of the sheet has passed through the nip portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Chikatsu Suzuki, Kenji TAKI, Fusako AKIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20080003000
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an image forming section which conducts image formation on a sheet based on an image data, a tray which accommodates the sheets to be supplied to the image forming section, a humidity detecting unit which detects humidity inside the tray, a dehumidifying device which conducts dehumidification inside the tray; and a control section which controls the image forming section to prohibit image formation when the humidity inside the tray is higher than a predetermined value, the control section further controls the dehumidifying device to conduct the dehumidification inside the tray when the humidity inside the tray is equal to or lower than the predetermined value, and the control section still further controls the image forming section to conduct the image formation on the when the humidity inside the tray has been equal to or lower than the predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Kenji Taki, Chikatsu Suzuki, Fusako Akimoto
  • Publication number: 20080002999
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an image forming section which forms image on a recording sheet based on image data, plural trays which accommodate the sheets to be supplied to the image forming section, a humidity detecting unit which detects humidity inside the paper tray, a dehumidifying device which dehumidify inside the paper tray, and a control section which controls the dehumidifying device and management of jobs, and controls the image forming section to execute the jobs, wherein if the humidity inside the paper tray to be used for a first priority job is higher than a predetermined value, the control section suspends execution of the first priority job, and the control section controls the image forming section to execute a reserved job which is executable from among reserved jobs with low priority order, before executing the first priority job.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Kenji Taki, Chikatsu Suzuki, Fusako Akimoto
  • Patent number: 7242881
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a fixing device for fixing a toner image formed on a recording medium onto the recording medium, the fixing device comprising a first fixing member equipped with a heating device and a second fixing member for making pressure contact of the recording medium to the first fixing member; a moving section for relatively moving the first fixing member and the second fixing member; a temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the first fixing member; and a controller for controlling the moving section so as to reduce a relative distance between the first fixing member and the second fixing member, when the temperature of the first fixing member detected by the temperature detector is higher than a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Taki, Hiroyuki Arai, Chikatsu Suzuki, Fusako Akimoto
  • Patent number: 7212757
    Abstract: This invention provides an image printing method and apparatus which accurately correct the read timing of a sensor system used to correct the position of a toner image in the correction operation mode, and accurately corrects the magnification of an image in the vertical direction in the print operation mode. An image printing apparatus according to the invention includes an image printing unit which prints a toner image on an intermediate transfer belt, and a control unit which controls the rotational speed of the intermediate transfer belt by detecting a toner image printing on the intermediate transfer belt by the image printing unit. When the correction operation mode is selected, the control unit executes feedback control on the rotational speed of the intermediate transfer belt on the basis of vertical magnification adjustment value data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomoo Kudou, Fusako Akimoto, Hiroyuki Arai
  • Publication number: 20060239731
    Abstract: There is described an image forming apparatus comprising a tray that outputs information by which various kinds of fixed form sized of recording mediums can be discriminated and a controller to acquire a approximate size of a recording medium having an unfixed form size by conducting an operation for detecting a fixed form size of the recording medium by referring to the information if the recording medium having the unfixed form size is stacked on the tray, wherein, according to the approximate size, the controller controls an operation for displaying information corresponding to unfixed form size or sizes registered in advance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: Chikatsu Suzuki, Kenji Taki, Fusako Akimoto
  • Publication number: 20050254845
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a fixing device for fixing a toner image formed on a recording medium onto the recording medium, the fixing device comprising a first fixing member equipped with a heating device and a second fixing member for making pressure contact of the recording medium to the first fixing member; a moving section for relatively moving the first fixing member and the second fixing member; a temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the first fixing member; and a controller for controlling the moving section so as to reduce a relative distance between the first fixing member and the second fixing member, when the temperature of the first fixing member detected by the temperature detector is higher than a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Inventors: Kenji Taki, Hiroyuki Arai, Chikatsu Suzuki, Fusako Akimoto
  • Publication number: 20040202489
    Abstract: This invention provides an image printing method and apparatus which accurately correct the read timing of a sensor system used to correct the position of a toner image in the correction operation mode, and accurately corrects the magnification of an image in the vertical direction in the print operation mode. An image printing apparatus according to the invention includes an image printing unit which prints a toner image on an intermediate transfer belt, and a control unit which controls the rotational speed of the intermediate transfer belt by detecting a toner image printing on the intermediate transfer belt by the image printing unit. When the correction operation mode is selected, the control unit executes feedback control on the rotational speed of the intermediate transfer belt on the basis of vertical magnification adjustment value data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Tomoo Kudou, Fusako Akimoto, Hiroyuki Arai
  • Publication number: 20020149791
    Abstract: An image forming system, including: an image forming machine, provided with a rewritable storage for storing a first program, for operating based on the first program so as to conduct image forming on a recording medium; the file administrative system, provided with an administrative storage for storing the second program which is an upgraded version of the first program; and a network for connecting the image forming machine with the file administrative system. The image forming machine includes: a setting controller for setting a first area, where contents of the storage is rewritable, and a second area where contents of the storage is not rewritable; an accessing controller for accessing a file administrative system with a program in the second area to obtain a second program; and rewriting controller for rewriting the first program stored in the first area to the second program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Kenichi Ozawa, Fusako Akimoto, Hiroyuki Arai, Toshiyuki Maeshima