Patents by Inventor Hisashi Murata
Hisashi Murata 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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Publication number: 20240087777Abstract: A thermistor layer of the present invention is configured to be disposed in an electrical current path. The thermistor layer comprises a thermosensitive particle, a plurality of electro-conductive particles covering a surface of the thermosensitive particle, and a binder adhering the electro-conductive particles, the electro-conductive particles form an electro-conductive network, at least the surface of the thermosensitive particle is made of a thermoplastic resin, the thermoplastic resin softens at a temperature lower than a temperature at which the binder softens, and the thermistor layer is provided to become highly resistive due to softening and deformation of the thermoplastic resin.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2021Publication date: March 14, 2024Inventors: Nobuhiro TSUJI, Manabu MURATA, Hisashi KAWAKAMI, Yasuto IMAI, Yoshiro KOJIMA, Takao FUKUNAGA
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Publication number: 20190391523Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a first charging portion and a cleaning portion. The image carrier is configured to be rotatable. The cleaning portion is configured to come into contact with the image carrier to thereby clean the image carrier. The first charging portion is arranged on a downstream side of the cleaning portion in a rotation direction of the image carrier. The first charging portion is configured to charge the image carrier. The first charging portion is provided at the cleaning portion. A voltage is applied to the image carrier by the first charging portion, and the cleaning portion is thereby pressed against the image carrier.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2019Publication date: December 26, 2019Inventor: Hisashi MURATA
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Patent number: 10372055Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, a charging member, a first power supply circuit which supplies electric power to the charging member, a detector configured to detect a current value of an alternating current which flows to the charging member, and a controller configured to control an operation of the first power supply circuit. The controller is configured to lower a frequency of alternating-current power supplied to the charging member by the first power supply circuit when the current value detected by the detector in application of a voltage of a prescribed value to the charging member by the first power supply circuit is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2017Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventor: Hisashi Murata
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Publication number: 20180173130Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, a charging member, a first power supply circuit which supplies electric power to the charging member, a detector configured to detect a current value of an alternating current which flows to the charging member, and a controller configured to control an operation of the first power supply circuit. The controller is configured to lower a frequency of alternating-current power supplied to the charging member by the first power supply circuit when the current value detected by the detector in application of a voltage of a prescribed value to the charging member by the first power supply circuit is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2017Publication date: June 21, 2018Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventor: Hisashi MURATA
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Patent number: 9846383Abstract: An image formation device in which an image carrier is charged by a charging member includes: a power source configured to supply a charge voltage to the charging member, the charge voltage being formed such that an AC voltage is superimposed on a DC voltage; a detection unit configured to detect an alternating current value flowing through the charging member; and a control unit configured to control a peak-to-peak voltage value of the AC voltage, wherein the control unit executes: first processing of sequentially supplying a plurality of charge voltages from the power source to the charging member in non-image formation; second processing of obtaining, from an alternating current value detection result, a third approximate function indicating a difference value between a first approximate function and a second approximate function; and third processing of determining one of different predetermined ranges and determining a peak-to-peak voltage value in image formation.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2016Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventor: Hisashi Murata
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Publication number: 20170219950Abstract: An image formation device in which an image carrier is charged by a charging member includes: a power source configured to supply a charge voltage to the charging member, the charge voltage being formed such that an AC voltage is superimposed on a DC voltage; a detection unit configured to detect an alternating current value flowing through the charging member; and a control unit configured to control a peak-to-peak voltage value of the AC voltage, wherein the control unit executes: first processing of sequentially supplying a plurality of charge voltages from the power source to the charging member in non-image formation; second processing of obtaining, from an alternating current value detection result, a third approximate function indicating a difference value between a first approximate function and a second approximate function; and third processing of determining one of different predetermined ranges and determining a peak-to-peak voltage value in image formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2016Publication date: August 3, 2017Inventor: Hisashi MURATA
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Patent number: 9665030Abstract: An image forming apparatus has: an image supporting member, a charger, a power source unit, an amperometric detector, and a processor. The power source unit applies a plurality of charging voltages, which includes alternating voltages respectively, to the charger sequentially while no print medium is fed. The alternating voltages have different peak-to-peak voltages for a forward discharge range and different peak-to-peak voltages for a reverse discharge range, respectively. The amperometric detector detects values of alternating current flowing in the charger during application of the charging voltages. The processor derives characteristic lines of alternating current value with respect to alternating voltage for the forward discharge range and for the reverse discharge range, respectively, from the values detected by the amperometric detector. The processor derives a peak-to-peak voltage to be used in a process in a different way depending on a difference in slope between the characteristic lines.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2016Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Tomohiro Kato, Kazuki Kobori, Hirohisa Shirai, Hisashi Murata, Masato Kimura
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Patent number: 9568851Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a medium includes: an image carrying member; a charging unit disposed in proximity to the image carrying member; a power supply unit configured to sequentially apply a plurality of charging voltages to the charging unit when the medium is not fed through; a current detecting unit configured to detect an AC value flowing through the charging unit; a processing unit configured to perform first charging voltage determination control to derive a peak-to-peak voltage value to be used in a process; and a storage unit configured to pre-store a reference peak-to-peak voltage value for each wastage level of the image carrying member, wherein the processing unit: prohibits execution of the first charging voltage determination control and performs second charging voltage determination control; and obtains a reference peak-to-peak voltage value and derives a peak-to-peak voltage value to be used in the process.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2016Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Hisashi Murata, Kazuki Kobori, Hirohisa Shirai, Masato Kimura
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Patent number: 9482981Abstract: An image forming apparatus has: an image supporting member; a charger in proximity to the image supporting member; a power source unit configured to apply charging voltages to the charger sequentially, the charging voltages including alternating voltages having different peak-to-peak voltages, respectively; an amperometric detector configured to detect values of alternating currents flowing in the charger during application of the charging voltages; and a processor configured to carry out a first charging voltage determination process or a second charging voltage determination process requiring a shorter time than the first charging voltage determination process selectively based on a detection result of the amperometric detector.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2016Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Tomohiro Kato, Kazuki Kobori, Hirohisa Shirai, Hisashi Murata, Masato Kimura
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Publication number: 20160252839Abstract: An image forming apparatus has: an image supporting member, a charger, a power source unit, an amperometric detector, and a processor. The power source unit applies a plurality of charging voltages, which includes alternating voltages respectively, to the charger sequentially while no print medium is fed. The alternating voltages have different peak-to-peak voltages for a forward discharge range and different peak-to-peak voltages for a reverse discharge range, respectively. The amperometric detector detects values of alternating current flowing in the charger during application of the charging voltages. The processor derives characteristic lines of alternating current value with respect to alternating voltage for the forward discharge range and for the reverse discharge range, respectively, from the values detected by the amperometric detector. The processor derives a peak-to-peak voltage to be used in a process in a different way depending on a difference in slope between the characteristic lines.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2016Publication date: September 1, 2016Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Tomohiro KATO, Kazuki KOBORI, Hirohisa SHIRAI, Hisashi MURATA, Masato KIMURA
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Publication number: 20160252838Abstract: An image forming apparatus has: an image supporting member; a charger in proximity to the image supporting member; a power source unit configured to apply charging voltages to the charger sequentially, the charging voltages including alternating voltages having different peak-to-peak voltages, respectively; an amperometric detector configured to detect values of alternating currents flowing in the charger during application of the charging voltages; and a processor configured to carry out a first charging voltage determination process or a second charging voltage determination process requiring a shorter time than the first charging voltage determination process selectively based on a detection result of the amperometric detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2016Publication date: September 1, 2016Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Tomohiro KATO, Kazuki KOBORI, Hirohisa SHIRAI, Hisashi MURATA, Masato KIMURA
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Publication number: 20160252840Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a medium includes: an image carrying member; a charging unit disposed in proximity to the image carrying member; a power supply unit configured to sequentially apply a plurality of charging voltages to the charging unit when the medium is not fed through; a current detecting unit configured to detect an AC value flowing through the charging unit; a processing unit configured to perform first charging voltage determination control to derive a peak-to-peak voltage value to be used in a process; and a storage unit configured to pre-store a reference peak-to-peak voltage value for each wastage level of the image carrying member, wherein the processing unit: prohibits execution of the first charging voltage determination control and performs second charging voltage determination control; and obtains a reference peak-to-peak voltage value and derives a peak-to-peak voltage value to be used in the process.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2016Publication date: September 1, 2016Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Hisashi MURATA, Kazuki KOBORI, Hirohisa SHIRAI, Masato KIMURA
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Publication number: 20150328522Abstract: Provided is a golf swing analysis apparatus that enables the trajectory of the swing of an athlete or enthusiast to be artificially viewed, checked and analyzed. The golf swing analysis apparatus (1) consists of: a base plate (2); an artificial human body (3) comprising a leg part (5), a body part (6) and an arm part (7); and an artificial club (4). The upper end of the leg part (5) and the lower end of the body part (6) are rotatably linked, and the upper end of the body part (6) and the upper end of the arm part (7) are rotatably linked. The body part (6) and the arm part (7) each comprise cylinders (11, 12) so as to allow the length of each to be adjusted.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2013Publication date: November 19, 2015Inventor: Hisashi MURATA
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Publication number: 20150068627Abstract: An actuator device includes a pin that performs translatory motion along a groove of a cam to which a three-way stopcock is connected, the cam that performs rotary motion, and a control unit that causes the pin to perform the translatory motion along an extending direction of the cam, and rotates the cam with respect to a central axis of rotation, thereby to divert a passage of the three-way stopcock. A first, second, third, and fourth grooves that form the groove have a linked shape. Directions of inclinations of the first inclination angle and the third inclination angle are opposite with respect to the central axis, and directions of inclinations of the second inclination angle and the fourth inclination angle are opposite with respect to the central axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2014Publication date: March 12, 2015Inventors: Kunio HARADA, Akihiro FURUKAWA, Masakazu SUGAYA, Norihito KUNO, Hisashi MURATA
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Patent number: 8185011Abstract: A first roll brush is formed from material having the positive triboelectric charge polarity against toner. A positive bias is applied to the first roll brush through a first collection roller by a first bias application device. A second roll brush is formed from material having the negative triboelectric charge polarity against toner. A negative bias is applied to the second roll brush through a second collection roller by a second bias application device. Thus, the first and second roll brushes are applied by each of biases having polarity identical to the triboelectric charge polarity of material of the roll brush against toner. This enhances cleaning performance of both the roll brushes and prevents degradation of the cleaning performance.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2009Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Satoru Shibuya, Hidetoshi Noguchi, Hisashi Murata, Kazuyoshi Hara
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Patent number: 8103184Abstract: When a number of print pages, a driving time or a toner adhering amount exceeds a cleaning trigger value during no transfer operation, a circumferential speed of a secondary transfer roller is changed with respect to a circumferential speed of an intermediate transfer belt so as to clean the secondary transfer roller. Particularly, a surface of the secondary transfer roller is totally cleaned when the circumferential speed of the secondary transfer roller is made relatively faster and then slower or vice versa than the circumferential speed of the intermediate transfer belt because the surface of the secondary transfer roller is elastically deformed in both upstream and downstream directions so that the residual toner on the uneven foam surface of the secondary transfer roller is extruded.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2009Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hidetoshi Noguchi, Satoru Shibuya, Hisashi Murata, Kazuyoshi Hara
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Patent number: 7865108Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning residual toner that, in an image forming device of an intermediate transfer type, remains on an outer circumferential surface of an intermediate transfer member after a transfer. The cleaning device includes: a charging brush operable to contact with and charge the residual toner; and a cleaner that is disposed downstream of the charging brush in a toner transport direction of the intermediate transfer member, and is operable to electrostatically adsorb the charged residual toner, wherein electrically conductive bristles have been planted randomly in the charging brush to be distributed evenly in density.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2008Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Satoru Shibuya, Hisashi Murata, Kazuyoshi Hara, Hidetoshi Noguchi
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Publication number: 20090317123Abstract: When a number of print pages, a driving time or a toner adhering amount exceeds a cleaning trigger value during no transfer operation, a circumferential speed of a secondary transfer roller is changed with respect to a circumferential speed of an intermediate transfer belt so as to clean the secondary transfer roller. Particularly, a surface of the secondary transfer roller is totally cleaned when the circumferential speed of the secondary transfer roller is made relatively faster and then slower or vice versa than the circumferential speed of the intermediate transfer belt because the surface of the secondary transfer roller is elastically deformed in both upstream and downstream directions so that the residual toner on the uneven foam surface of the secondary transfer roller is extruded.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2009Publication date: December 24, 2009Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hidetoshi Noguchi, Satoru Shibuya, Hisashi Murata, Kazuyoshi Hara
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Publication number: 20090311002Abstract: A first roll brush is formed from material having the positive triboelectric charge polarity against toner. A positive bias is applied to the first roll brush through a first collection roller by a first bias application device. A second roll brush is formed from material having the negative triboelectric charge polarity against toner. A negative bias is applied to the second roll brush through a second collection roller by a second bias application device. Thus, the first and second roll brushes are applied by each of biases having polarity identical to the triboelectric charge polarity of material of the roll brush against toner. This enhances cleaning performance of both the roll brushes and prevents degradation of the cleaning performance.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2009Publication date: December 17, 2009Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Satoru Shibuya, Hidetoshi Noguchi, Hisashi Murata, Kazuyoshi Hara
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Publication number: 20090214276Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning residual toner that, in an image forming device of an intermediate transfer type, remains on an outer circumferential surface of an intermediate transfer member after a transfer. The cleaning device includes: a charging brush operable to contact with and charge the residual toner; and a cleaner that is disposed downstream of the charging brush in a toner transport direction of the intermediate transfer member, and is operable to electrostatically adsorb the charged residual toner, wherein electrically conductive bristles have been planted randomly in the charging brush to be distributed evenly in density.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2008Publication date: August 27, 2009Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Satoru Shibuya, Hisashi Murata, Kazuyoshi Hara, Hidetoshi Noguchi