Patents by Inventor Hirotada Seki

Hirotada Seki 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: 11866292
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image former that forms an image on a sheet of paper, a detector that detects a physical property of a sheet of paper, a receiver that receives paper identification information used in identification of a sheet of paper designated by a user, and a hardware processor. The hardware processor performs: first judgement of judging whether or not there is a correspondence between the paper identification information received by the receiver and a detection result by the detector, second judgement of judging whether or not there is a correspondence between a detection result by the detector of a first sheet of paper conveyed and a detection result by the detector of a second sheet of paper conveyed; and operation control of the image former based on a first judgement result in the first judgement and a second judgement result in the second judgement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Atsushi Takahashi, Hitoshi Asano, Yumiko Izumiya, Hirotada Seki, Akimasa Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11740580
    Abstract: Provided are an image forming system and a method for detecting glossiness capable of accurately detecting glossiness in various media having different conditions. The image forming system includes a sensor unit including a light source that irradiates a medium being conveyed with light and a gloss sensor that receives light emitted from the light source and specularly reflected on the medium and detects a diffusion distribution of light in the medium, and a detection condition setting unit that identifies a type of the medium being conveyed and sets a light amount of the light source and/or exposure time of the gloss sensor at the time of glossiness detection in accordance with the type of the medium. The image forming system further includes a glossiness detector that detects glossiness of the medium from a diffusion distribution of light detected by the gloss sensor under the detection condition set by the detection condition setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Akimasa Ishikawa, Hitoshi Asano, Yumiko Izumiya, Hirotada Seki, Kazutoshi Yoshimura, Yasuo Koyanagi
  • Patent number: 11533408
    Abstract: To provide a sheet conveyance device capable of preventing degradation in quality of conveying a sheet and image quality even when a stiffness of the sheet is different between a sheet conveyance direction and a sheet width direction. A sheet conveyance device of an image forming apparatus includes an image forming part that conveys a sheet along a conveyance path; and a stiffness acquisition part that acquires a stiffness of the sheet in a first direction including a component in the sheet conveyance direction by bending the sheet in the first direction, and acquires a stiffness of the sheet in a second direction including a component in the sheet width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction by bending the sheet in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Hirotada Seki, Hitoshi Asano, Yumiko Izumiya, Akimasa Ishikawa, Kazutoshi Yoshimura, Yasuo Koyanagi
  • Publication number: 20220390889
    Abstract: Provided are an image forming system and a method for detecting glossiness capable of accurately detecting glossiness in various media having different conditions. The image forming system includes a sensor unit including a light source that irradiates a medium being conveyed with light and a gloss sensor that receives light emitted from the light source and specularly reflected on the medium and detects a diffusion distribution of light in the medium, and a detection condition setting unit that identifies a type of the medium being conveyed and sets a light amount of the light source and/or exposure time of the gloss sensor at the time of glossiness detection in accordance with the type of the medium. The image forming system further includes a glossiness detector that detects glossiness of the medium from a diffusion distribution of light detected by the gloss sensor under the detection condition set by the detection condition setting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Akimasa ISHIKAWA, Hitoshi ASANO, Yumiko IZUMIYA, Hirotada SEKI, Kazutoshi YOSHIMURA, Yasuo KOYANAGI
  • Patent number: 11507007
    Abstract: A glossiness inspection device includes an illumination device that emits irradiation light to a glossiness detection target and a light receiving device that receives reflected light of the irradiation light reflected by the glossiness detection target and outputs a light reception detection signal according to an amount of the received light. A dimmer of the device adjusts an amount of the irradiation light, and a detection signal adjuster of the device adjusts a gain for amplifying the light reception detection signal. An irradiation position controller of the device selectively irradiates a first gloss region and a second gloss region of a correction plate with the irradiation light. A hardware processor of the device adjusts at least one of the amount of the irradiation light, an offset of the detection signal adjuster, a characteristic straight line for calculating a glossiness, or a calculated glossiness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Atsushi Takahashi, Hitoshi Asano, Yumiko Izumiya, Hirotada Seki, Akimasa Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20220191340
    Abstract: To provide a sheet conveyance device capable of preventing degradation in quality of conveying a sheet and image quality even when a stiffness of the sheet is different between a sheet conveyance direction and a sheet width direction. A sheet conveyance device of an image forming apparatus includes an image forming part that conveys a sheet along a conveyance path; and a stiffness acquisition part that acquires a stiffness of the sheet in a first direction including a component in the sheet conveyance direction by bending the sheet in the first direction, and acquires a stiffness of the sheet in a second direction including a component in the sheet width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction by bending the sheet in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Hirotada SEKI, Hitoshi ASANO, Yumiko IZUMIYA, Akimasa ISHIKAWA, Kazutoshi YOSHIMURA, Yasuo KOYANAGI
  • Publication number: 20220185615
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image former that forms an image on a sheet of paper, a detector that detects a physical property of a sheet of paper, a receiver that receives paper identification information used in identification of a sheet of paper designated by a user, and a hardware processor. The hardware processor performs: first judgement of judging whether or not there is a correspondence between the paper identification information received by the receiver and a detection result by the detector, second judgement of judging whether or not there is a correspondence between a detection result by the detector of a first sheet of paper conveyed and a detection result by the detector of a second sheet of paper conveyed; and operation control of the image former based on a first judgement result in the first judgement and a second judgement result in the second judgement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Atsushi TAKAHASHI, Hitoshi ASANO, Yumiko IZUMIYA, Hirotada SEKI, Akimasa ISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 11286125
    Abstract: A measuring device, includes a physical property value detector and a push contact member that pushes to bring a sheet material in contact with the physical property value detector; and further includes a first processor that stops conveyance of the sheet material, pushes to bring the sheet material in contact with the physical property value detector, and detects a physical property value of the sheet material; a second processor that, after having detected the physical property value, cancels the pushing by the push contact member, separates the sheet material from the physical property value detector, and starts conveyance of the sheet material; and a physical property value specifier that specifies the physical property value on a basis of physical property values of a plurality of positions within a surface of the sheet material detected by executing the first processing and the second processing repeatedly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yumiko Izumiya, Satoshi Ogata, Kazutoshi Yoshimura, Hitoshi Asano, Hirotada Seki, Akimasa Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20220011703
    Abstract: A glossiness inspection device includes: an illumination device that emits irradiation light; a light receiving device that receives reflected light of the irradiation light reflected by a glossiness detection target and outputs a light reception detection signal according to an amount of the received light; a correction plate that includes at least a first gloss region and a second gloss region; a dimmer that adjusts an amount of the irradiation light; a detection signal adjuster that adjusts a gain for amplifying the light reception detection signal; an irradiation position controller that selectively irradiates the first gloss region and the second gloss region with the irradiation light; and a hardware processor that adjusts at least one of the amount of the irradiation light, an offset of the detection signal adjuster, a characteristic straight line for calculating a glossiness, or a calculated glossiness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Atsushi TAKAHASHI, Hitoshi ASANO, Yumiko IZUMIYA, Hirotada SEKI, Akimasa ISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20210325810
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to detect gloss of a toner image from which the influence of heat applied to a sheet by a fixing unit is eliminated. An image forming device according to an aspect of the invention includes: a gloss sensor irradiating a recording medium on which a toner image is formed and fixed with light, measuring reflectance of reflection light from the recording medium, and measuring gloss of the toner image on the basis of the reflectance; and a gloss correcting unit correcting the gloss of the toner image measured by the gloss sensor in a situation that the temperature of the toner image fixed on the recording medium is assumed to be higher than a predetermined threshold temperature or in the case where it is determined that the temperature of the toner image is higher than the predetermined threshold temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Akimasa ISHIKAWA, Atsushi TAKAHASHI, Hitoshi ASANO, Yumiko IZUMIYA, Hirotada SEKI
  • Publication number: 20210078813
    Abstract: Provided is a recording medium detection device which prevents a recording medium from jamming. The device comprises: a first roller and a second roller which nip and transport a recording medium; a roller shaft which rotatably supports the second roller; a shaft support; and a displacement detector. The shaft support supports the roller shaft movably in the thickness direction of the recording medium. The displacement detector detects displacement of the second roller in the thickness direction. The shaft support further supports the second roller movably in the transportation direction of the recording medium through the roller shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Yumiko Izumiya, Satoshi Ogata, Kazutoshi Yoshimura, Hitoshi Asano, Hirotada Seki, Akimasa Ishikawa, Masashi Sugano, Tsuyoshi Yoneyama, Hiroyuki Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20210078816
    Abstract: Provided is a recording medium detection device which prevents the decline in productivity. The recording medium detection device comprises a first detecting section and a second detecting section. The first detecting section performs a first adjustment process and makes a detection of a recording medium being transported. The second detecting section is located more downstream than the first detecting section in the transportation direction of the recording medium, performs a second adjustment process which takes a longer time than the first adjustment process, and makes a detection of the recording medium being transported.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Yumiko Izumiya, Satoshi Ogata, Kazutoshi Yoshimura, Hitoshi Asano, Hirotada Seki, Akimasa Ishikawa, Masashi Sugano, Tsuyoshi Yoneyama, Hiroyuki Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20200255239
    Abstract: A measuring device, includes a physical property value detector and a push contact member that pushes to bring a sheet material in contact with the physical property value detector; and further includes a first processor that stops conveyance of the sheet material, pushes to bring the sheet material in contact with the physical property value detector, and detects a physical property value of the sheet material; a second processor that, after having detected the physical property value, cancels the pushing by the push contact member, separates the sheet material from the physical property value detector, and starts conveyance of the sheet material; and a physical property value specifier that specifies the physical property value on a basis of physical property values of a plurality of positions within a surface of the sheet material detected by executing the first processing and the second processing repeatedly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Yumiko IZUMIYA, Satoshi OGATA, Kazutoshi YOSHIMURA, Hitoshi ASANO, Hirotada SEKI, Akimasa ISHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 10520846
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes an image carrier, a first charging member which abuts on the image carrier and charges the image carrier, a second charging member which abuts on the image carrier and charges the image carrier, the second charging member having such resistance characteristics as being less in variation with environmental variation than the first charging member, a power supply apparatus which can apply a voltage to each of the first and second charging members, and a control device which sets a voltage to be applied to the first charging member by the power supply apparatus based on a first amount of current which flows from the power supply apparatus through the first charging member to the image carrier and a second amount of current which flows to the image carrier through the second charging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Takahiro Tsujimoto, Natsuyo Higashi, Hirotada Seki, Hiroshi Eguchi
  • Publication number: 20190187601
    Abstract: An abnormality determination apparatus includes: an audio data acquisitor that acquires audio data of an apparatus to be judged for determining presence or absence of abnormality; an abnormal sound detector that detects an abnormal sound based on the audio data acquired by the audio data acquisitor; and a hardware processor that determines whether the abnormal sound is such a sound that an operation of the apparatus to be judged should be restricted based on a subsequent secular change of the abnormal sound when the abnormal sound is detected by the abnormal sound detector, and restricts the operation of the apparatus to be judged when the hardware processor determines that the abnormal sound is such a sound that the operation of the apparatus to be judged should be restricted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Hirotada SEKI, Hiroshi EGUCHI, Natsuyo IDA, Junichi MASUDA, Masahiro NONOYAMA, Akimasa ISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20180321610
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes an image carrier, a first charging member which abuts on the image carrier and charges the image carrier, a second charging member which abuts on the image carrier and charges the image carrier, the second charging member having such resistance characteristics as being less in variation with environmental variation than the first charging member, a power supply apparatus which can apply a voltage to each of the first and second charging members, and a control device which sets a voltage to be applied to the first charging member by the power supply apparatus based on a first amount of current which flows from the power supply apparatus through the first charging member to the image carrier and a second amount of current which flows to the image carrier through the second charging member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Takahiro Tsujimoto, Natsuyo Higashi, Hirotada Seki, Hiroshi Eguchi
  • Patent number: 10095163
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes a plurality of heaters and in which a combination of each of the heaters to be turned on can be changed includes a current detection unit including a through-type current transformer in which current supply lines are inserted into or wound around a through hole; a turn-on information acquisition unit that acquires information on a turn-on mode indicating the combination of each of the heaters to be turned on as turn-on information; a connection information acquisition unit that acquires connection information on additive polarity connection and subtractive polarity connection of the heaters, wherein the current supply lines include an additive polarity connection line, and a subtractive polarity connection line; and an energization information acquisition unit that acquires information on an energized state of the plurality of heaters as energization information, based on the turn-on information, the connection information, and a current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Shigetaka Kato, Natsuyo Higashi, Takahiro Tsujimoto, Hirotada Seki, Yoshihiko Hikari
  • Publication number: 20170371276
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that includes a plurality of heaters and in which a combination of each of the heaters to be turned on can be changed includes a current detection unit including a through-type current transformer in which current supply lines are inserted into or wound around a through hole; a turn-on information acquisition unit that acquires information on a turn-on mode indicating the combination of each of the heaters to be turned on as turn-on information; a connection information acquisition unit that acquires connection information on additive polarity connection and subtractive polarity connection of the heaters, wherein the current supply lines include an additive polarity connection line, and a subtractive polarity connection line; and an energization information acquisition unit that acquires information on an energized state of the plurality of heaters as energization information, based on the turn-on information, the connection information, and a current value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Shigetaka KATO, Natsuyo Higashi, Takahiro Tsujimoto, Hirotada Seki, Yoshihiko Hikari
  • Patent number: 9207607
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus that heat-fixes a toner image onto a recording sheet passing through a fixing nip formed by pressing a pressurizing member against a heating rotational body heated by a heater, comprising: a storage unit storing a basic power consumption level of the heater determined in advance in a situation where inflow of inrush current to the heater is not occurring; an estimation unit calculating an estimated power consumption level of the heater by estimating an increase in the power consumption level, with respect to the basic power consumption level, brought about by inflow of inrush current to the heater; and an output unit outputting the estimated power consumption level. The heater switches between a heating state of receiving power supply and a non-heating state of not receiving power supply. The increase is estimated according to a duration of a non-heating state immediately preceding the heating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Natsuyo Higashi, Shigetaka Kato, Hideki Nakamura, Katsufumi Suzuki, Hirotada Seki
  • Patent number: 9188925
    Abstract: After a toner image is transferred from a photoreceptor to an intermediate transfer belt, a surface of the photoreceptor is destaticized by a static eraser including a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in an axial direction of the photoreceptor. A first density sensor and a second density sensor for detecting densities of toner applied to the intermediate transfer belt are provided at a position where a large quantity of light from the static eraser is applied to the photoreceptor surface and a position where a small quantity of light from the static eraser is applied to the photoreceptor surface. In a case where a density difference between the detected toner densities exceeds a predetermined threshold value, a destaticization controller carries out an additional destaticizing operation by the static eraser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Takafumi Tanaka, Shigetaka Kato, Satoru Sasaki, Natsuyo Higashi, Hirotada Seki, Hiroshi Eguchi