Patents by Inventor Hidenori Mine

Hidenori Mine 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: 11838469
    Abstract: An image forming system includes: an image forming device that is disposed at a first conveyance path and forms an image on a recording medium that is a continuous sheet or a long sheet; a first conveyor that conveys the recording medium on the first conveyance path in a conveyance direction; an image reader that reads the image formed on the recording medium at a second conveyance path on a downstream side of the first conveyance path in the conveyance direction; a second conveyor that conveys the recording medium on the second conveyance path; and a controller that controls a speed of a drive source of the first conveyor and controls a torque of a drive source of the second conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Hidenori Mine, Masayuki Watanabe, Harumitsu Fujimori, Takanobu Shiki
  • Patent number: 11708231
    Abstract: A paper sheet sensing device includes: a sheet thickness sensor that includes a reference member and a displacement sensor, and senses a sheet thickness of a conveyed recording medium by bringing the reference member into contact with the recording medium and sensing a position of a height of the reference member with the displacement sensor, the position of the height having changed with the recording medium; a first attacher to which the sheet thickness sensor is attached; a conveyor that nips and conveys the recording medium, and is disposed adjacent to the sheet thickness sensor at a predetermined distance equal to or shorter than a length of the recording medium being conveyed, in a conveyance direction of the recording medium; and a displacement preventer that prevents a change in an output of the displacement sensor due to a shift of a relative position of the height of the reference member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Yoshimura, Satoshi Ogata, Masayuki Watanabe, Hidenori Mine
  • Patent number: 11627234
    Abstract: A post-processing device includes: multiple types of post-processing modules that are disposed at predetermined installation positions within the post-processing device and each execute post-processing to an output sheet on which an image is formed; and a controller that (i) detects the post-processing modules at the installation positions and (ii) determines and controls adjustment contents of the post-processing modules based on a detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Masayuki Watanabe, Hidenori Mine, Satoshi Ogata, Kazutoshi Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20230095964
    Abstract: An image forming system includes: an image forming device that is disposed at a first conveyance path and forms an image on a recording medium that is a continuous sheet or a long sheet; a first conveyor that conveys the recording medium on the first conveyance path in a conveyance direction; an image reader that reads the image formed on the recording medium at a second conveyance path on a downstream side of the first conveyance path in the conveyance direction; a second conveyor that conveys the recording medium on the second conveyance path; and a controller that controls a speed of a drive source of the first conveyor and controls a torque of a drive source of the second conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Hidenori Mine, Masayuki Watanabe, Harumitsu Fujimori, Takanobu Shiki
  • Publication number: 20230091128
    Abstract: A control device of an image forming system including an image former that forms an image on a recording medium formed of a continuous sheet or a long sheet includes a hardware processor that calculates a width of the recording medium on a downstream side of a fixer included in the image former in a transport direction of the recording medium and outputs a shrinkage amount or a shrinkage rate of the recording medium in the transport direction due to the fixer based on the width of the recording medium and shrinkage characteristic information of the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi YAMAGUCHI, Masayuki WATANABE, Hiroshi OYAMA, Hidenori MINE, Takanobu SHIKI, Kyouhei KUBOTA, Kazuya OGIWARA
  • Publication number: 20220380164
    Abstract: A reading apparatus includes a reader, a conveyor, motors and a hardware processor. The reader reads a surface of a recording medium with an image formed. The conveyor includes rollers disposed along a conveyance path that passes through a reading area of the reader, and conveys the recording medium being laid across the rollers. The motors rotate the rollers. The hardware processor controls operations of the motors such that the rollers located farther downstream in a conveyance direction of the recording medium rotate faster. As to at least one motor of the motors, the hardware processor switches between and performs a first control to adjust a rotational speed and a second control to adjust a torque, depending on an operating state of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Masayuki WATANABE, Hidenori MINE, Harumitsu FUJIMORI, Takanobu SHIKI
  • Publication number: 20220176715
    Abstract: A conveyance device includes a conveyance path on which a medium is carried; a first detector that detects the medium on the conveyance path and generates first property data; and a hardware processor that acquires the first property data and second property data generated by detecting the medium disposed at a position away from the conveyance path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: KAZUTOSHI YOSHIMURA, SATOSHI OGATA, MASAYUKI WATANABE, HIDENORI MINE
  • Patent number: 11345562
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus includes: a cutter that cuts a transported sheet; a waste bin that stores a cutting waste generated by a cutting operation of the cutter and falling from the cutter; a sensor that detects the cutting waste at a predetermined position in a depth direction in the waste bin; and a hardware processor that controls the cutting operation of the cutter according to a cutting mode, sets a predetermined value according to the cutting mode when the sensor detects the cutting waste, counts the number of times of cutting by the cutter after the sensor starts to detect the cutting waste, and detects that the waste bin is full when the counted number of times of cutting reaches the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Teruhiko Toyoizumi, Masayuki Watanabe, Hidenori Mine
  • Publication number: 20220046142
    Abstract: A post-processing device includes: multiple types of post-processing modules that are disposed at predetermined installation positions within the post-processing device and each execute post-processing to an output sheet on which an image is formed; and a controller that (i) detects the post-processing modules at the installation positions and (ii) determines and controls adjustment contents of the post-processing modules based on a detection result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Masayuki Watanabe, Hidenori Mine, Satoshi Ogata, Kazutoshi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 11201573
    Abstract: A driving device includes: a first motor that transmits power to a rotation shaft of a conveyance roller for conveying a paper sheet; a second motor that transmits power to the rotation shaft of the conveyance roller; and a motor controller that controls rotational speeds of the first and second motors by changing a control value, wherein the motor controller controls the control value of the first motor at multiple steps at a time of acceleration or deceleration and changes the control value of the second motor according to a change range of the control value of the first motor in synchronization with a timing when the control value of the first motor is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Keigo Ogura, Takumi Shirakuma, Kenji Izumiya, Hidenori Mine, Hirokatsu Kodama
  • Publication number: 20210354941
    Abstract: A paper sheet sensing device includes: a sheet thickness sensor that includes a reference member and a displacement sensor, and senses a sheet thickness of a conveyed recording medium by bringing the reference member into contact with the recording medium and sensing a position of a height of the reference member with the displacement sensor, the position of the height having changed with the recording medium; a first attacher to which the sheet thickness sensor is attached; a conveyor that nips and conveys the recording medium, and is disposed adjacent to the sheet thickness sensor at a predetermined distance equal to or shorter than a length of the recording medium being conveyed, in a conveyance direction of the recording medium; and a displacement preventer that prevents a change in an output of the displacement sensor due to a shift of a relative position of the height of the reference member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: KAZUTOSHI YOSHIMURA, SATOSHI OGATA, MASAYUKI WATANABE, HIDENORI MINE
  • Publication number: 20200317461
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus includes: a cutter that cuts a transported sheet; a waste bin that stores a cutting waste generated by a cutting operation of the cutter and falling from the cutter; a sensor that detects the cutting waste at a predetermined position in a depth direction in the waste bin; and a hardware processor that controls the cutting operation of the cutter according to a cutting mode, sets a predetermined value according to the cutting mode when the sensor detects the cutting waste, counts the number of times of cutting by the cutter after the sensor starts to detect the cutting waste, and detects that the waste bin is full when the counted number of times of cutting reaches the predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Teruhiko TOYOIZUMI, Masayuki WATANABE, Hidenori MINE
  • Publication number: 20200052615
    Abstract: A motor drive apparatus drives and controls a plurality of motors that rotate a common drive shaft. The motor drive apparatus includes a motor drive hardware processor that outputs equal drive power to each of the plurality of motors, and manipulates the drive power with a rotational speed detection signal of any one of the plurality of motors as a feedback signal. The feedback signal is switched based on conditions such as responsiveness and efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Takumi Shirakuma, Hirokatsu Kodama, Hidenori Mine, Keigo Ogura, Kenji Izumiya
  • Publication number: 20200019108
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a resist roller feeding a sheet of paper toward an image forming unit; a first detector arranged upstream of the resist roller in a feeding direction to detect a front edge of the sheet of paper; a first calculator computing a first misalignment amount of the sheet of paper based on detection results by the first detector; a corrector correcting misalignment of the sheet of paper based on the computed first misalignment amount; a second detector arranged downstream of the resist roller in the feeding direction to detect a position of an end of the sheet of paper in a widthwise direction; a second calculator computing a second misalignment amount of the sheet of paper based on detection results by the second detector; and an adjuster adjusting a correction amount by the corrector based on the computed second misalignment amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Hidenori MINE, Kenji IZUMIYA, Keigo OGURA, Takumi SHIRAKUMA, Hirokatsu KODAMA
  • Publication number: 20190393810
    Abstract: A driving device includes: a first motor that transmits power to a rotation shaft of a conveyance roller for conveying a paper sheet; a second motor that transmits power to the rotation shaft of the conveyance roller; and a motor controller that controls rotational speeds of the first and second motors by changing a control value, wherein the motor controller controls the control value of the first motor at multiple steps at a time of acceleration or deceleration and changes the control value of the second motor according to a change range of the control value of the first motor in synchronization with a timing when the control value of the first motor is changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Keigo OGURA, Takumi SHIRAKUMA, Kenji IZUMIYA, Hidenori MINE, Hirokatsu KODAMA
  • Patent number: 10509349
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a first fixing section, a second fixing section, the first fixing section and the second fixing section forming a fixing nip therebetween, a nip width adjusting section capable of adjusting a nip width of the fixing nip, a rotation speed detecting section that detects a rotation speed of the second fixing section, and a hardware processor that controls the nip width adjusting section to make the nip width equal to a predetermined reference nip width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenji Izumiya, Takumi Shirakuma, Keigo Ogura, Hidenori Mine, Hirokatsu Kodama
  • Publication number: 20190146397
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a first fixing section, a second fixing section, the first fixing section and the second fixing section forming a fixing nip therebetween, a nip width adjusting section capable of adjusting a nip width of the fixing nip, a rotation speed detecting section that detects a rotation speed of the second fixing section, and a hardware processor that controls the nip width adjusting section to make the nip width equal to a predetermined reference nip width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji IZUMIYA, Takumi SHIRAKUMA, Keigo OGURA, Hidenori MINE, Hirokatsu KODAMA
  • Patent number: 10054894
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that controls to cut off exciting currents supplied to a plurality of motors to drive conveyance roller pairs after a leading end of a paper sheet is brought in contact with a registration roller pair, and, when cutting off the exciting currents, cut off the exciting current for at least one of the motors at a different timing from the other motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Hidenori Mine, Kenji Izumiya, Satoshi Ogata, Kenji Tamaki, Hirokatsu Kodama
  • Patent number: 10025235
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image holder that holds a toner image; a transferer that is disposed opposite to the image holder so as to be in contact with the image holder and transfers the toner image from the image holder onto a recording sheet that is going through a contact part where the transferer contacts the image holder, by applying a transfer voltage between the transferer and the image holder; a first power source that applies a voltage of a first polarity to the image holder; and a second power source that applies a voltage of a second polarity, which is reverse to the first polarity, to the transferer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kenji Tamaki, Kenji Izumiya, Satoshi Ogata, Hidenori Mine, Hirokatsu Kodama
  • Publication number: 20180113410
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that controls to cut off exciting currents supplied to a plurality of motors to drive conveyance roller pairs after a leading end of a paper sheet is brought in contact with a registration roller pair, and, when cutting off the exciting currents, cut off the exciting current for at least one of the motors at a different timing from the other motors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Hidenori MINE, Kenji IZUMIYA, Satoshi OGATA, Kenji TAMAKI, Hirokatsu KODAMA