Patents by Inventor Hiromasa Ueno
Hiromasa Ueno 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).
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Patent number: 8086151Abstract: A mono-component developing apparatus including a developing roller which transports toner supported on an outer circumferential face of a center portion toward a developing area by rotating while frictionally sliding on a sealing member on each of two end portions. The developing roller includes surface processing areas having a spiral shape, placed on each of outer circumferential faces of the two end portions. An angle, made by a spiral direction of each surface processing area and the rotation direction, is an acute angle. The developing roller inhibits toner leakage, with the driving torque of the developing roller being only slightly increased.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2008Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Tomoharu Nishikawa, Toshihide Taniguchi, Toshiyuki Sakai, Norikazu Okabe, Hiromasa Ueno
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Patent number: 7853161Abstract: A potential difference between the photoreceptor and the development roller is set at a value at which the normally charged toner on the development roller can be flown toward the photoreceptor in the development phase at the time of compulsorily consuming the toner, and this potential difference is set at a value at which the flown normally charged toner can be returned to the development roller in the recovery phase.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2008Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Toru Hayase, Kuniya Matsuura, Yuusuke Okuno, Kentaro Katori, Hiromasa Ueno, Hideaki Hayashi
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Publication number: 20100209123Abstract: A toner cartridge for a printer includes a species detection key which forms a part of an outer shape of the cartridge and an IC chip which stores individual information, wherein a part of a harness for connecting to the IC chip or between the IC chip and a connector portion is mounted on the species detection key. A main body of the printer has a key receiving portion which mates with the species detection key. Thereby, the printer can detect erroneous attachment of a cartridge at early stage and surely cope with various types of cartridges requiring only compact space with the aid of its detection means.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2010Publication date: August 19, 2010Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Syuichi Katogi, Hiroshi Mizuno, Hiromasa Ueno
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Patent number: 7742709Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a cartridge equipped with a toner reservoir, and an apparatus body. The cartridge is attached to the apparatus body when used and developer in the toner reservoir is used for image development. The cartridge comprises a storage unit which is provided inside the toner reservoir and capable of communicating with the apparatus body. The apparatus body comprises a communication unit which is capable of communicating with the storage unit and communication state between the storage unit and the communication unit varies depending on amount of residual developer in the toner reservoir. Thus there is provided a developer cartridge and an image forming apparatus surely capable of carrying out both residual-toner-amount detection and transmission of cartridge information with space saving design.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2007Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Syuichi Katogi, Hiroshi Mizuno, Hiromasa Ueno, Yasuhiro Suzuki
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Publication number: 20090175636Abstract: To prevent image defects such as fog and irregularities caused by the accumulation of the oppositely charged toner by flying the toner toward a photoreceptor to compulsorily consume the toner even though the toner is oppositely charged toner having a small charged amount. A potential difference between the photoreceptor and the development roller is set at a value at which the normally charged toner on the development roller can be flown toward the photoreceptor in the development phase at the time of compulsorily consuming the toner, and this potential difference is set at a value at which the flown normally charged toner can be returned to the development roller in the recovery phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2008Publication date: July 9, 2009Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Toru Hayase, Kuniya Matsuura, Yuusuke Okuno, Kentaro Katori, Hiromasa Ueno, Hideaki Hayashi
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Publication number: 20080310889Abstract: To provide a developing roller which makes it possible to sufficiently prevent toner leakage, with the driving torque of the developing roller being scarcely increased, and a mono-component developing apparatus having such a developing roller. A developing roller for a mono-component developing apparatus, which transports toner supported on an outer circumferential face of a center portion 12 toward a developing area by rotating while frictionally sliding on a sealing member on each of two end portions 11a, 11b, comprising: surface processing areas 13 having a spiral shape, placed on each of outer circumferential faces of the two end portions, wherein an angle ?, made by a spiral direction y of each surface processing area and the rotation direction x, is allowed to have an acute angle, and a mono-component developing apparatus having such a developing roller.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2008Publication date: December 18, 2008Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Tomoharu NISHIKAWA, Toshihide Taniguchi, Toshiyuki Sakai, Norikazu Okabe, Hiromasa Ueno
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Publication number: 20080095554Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a cartridge equipped with a toner reservoir, and an apparatus body. The cartridge is attached to the apparatus body when used and developer in the toner reservoir is used for image development. The cartridge comprises a storage unit which is provided inside the toner reservoir and capable of communicating with the apparatus body. The apparatus body comprises a communication unit which is capable of communicating with the storage unit and communication state between the storage unit and the communication unit varies depending on amount of residual developer in the toner reservoir. Thus there is provided a developer cartridge and an image forming apparatus surely capable of carrying out both residual-toner-amount detection and transmission of cartridge information with space saving design.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2007Publication date: April 24, 2008Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Syuichi KATOGI, Hiroshi Mizuno, Hiromasa Ueno, Yasuhiro Suzuki
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Publication number: 20070189781Abstract: A toner cartridge for a printer includes a species detection key which forms a part of an outer shape of the cartridge and an IC chip which stores individual information, wherein a part of a harness for connecting to the IC chip or between the IC chip and a connector portion is mounted on the species detection key. A main body of the printer has a key receiving portion which mates with the species detection key. Thereby, the printer can detect erroneous attachment of a cartridge at early stage and surely cope with various types of cartridges requiring only compact space with the aid of its detection means.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2006Publication date: August 16, 2007Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Syuichi Katogi, Hiroshi Mizuno, Hiromasa Ueno
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Patent number: 7106981Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of printing units each having an image bearing member for rotation about an axis and a process member which cooperates with the image bearing member in an image forming process; a transfer member for moving in contact with the image bearing member of each of the plurality of printing units, an image on each of the image bearing members being transferred onto the transfer member or a recording medium that is transported on the transfer member; a switch unit for switching between a contact state where the image bearing members in the plurality of printing units are in contact with the transfer member and a separate state where the image bearing member(s) in the printing unit(s) other than one of the plurality of printing units are separated from the transfer member; a memory for storing life expectancies of the image bearing member and the process member with regard to the printing unit(s) other than the one of the plurality of printing units; and a control sectioType: GrantFiled: March 1, 2004Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Kyoichi Yoshizawa, Hiroshi Mizuno, Tomoyuki Imura, Hiromasa Ueno, Takanobu Yamada
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Publication number: 20050069334Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of printing units each having an image bearing member for rotation about an axis and a process member which cooperates with the image bearing member in an image forming process; a transfer member for moving in contact with the image bearing member of each of the plurality of printing units, an image on each of the image bearing members being transferred onto the transfer member or a recording medium that is transported on the transfer member; a switch unit for switching between a contact state where the image bearing members in the plurality of printing units are in contact with the transfer member and a separate state where the image bearing member(s) in the printing unit(s) other than one of the plurality of printing units are separated from the transfer member; a memory for storing life expectancies of the image bearing member and the process member with regard to the printing unit(s) other than the one of the plurality of printing units; and a control sectioType: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2004Publication date: March 31, 2005Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Junichi Hashimoto, Kyoichi Yoshizawa, Hiroshi Mizuno, Tomoyuki Imura, Hiromasa Ueno, Takanobu Yamada
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Patent number: 6070039Abstract: An apparatus for removing developer from a developer carrier includes a developer-charge-eliminating means including a first elastic member. The first elastic member is electrically conductive and contacts the developer carrier with an uneven surface. Preferably, the uneven surface includes exposed cells of a foamed body. The uneven surface of the first elastic member insures that sufficient contact and frictional resistance is applied to excess developer on a developer carrier. Preferably, the first elastic body is backed by a backing member which is more flexible than the first elastic member. The flexible second elastic body further insures that the charge-eliminating member sufficiently contacts the developer carried by the developer carrier even with extended use.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 1998Date of Patent: May 30, 2000Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideo Yamaki, Hiroyuki Maeda, Hiromasa Ueno