Patents by Inventor Hitoshi Asano

Hitoshi Asano 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: 11940750
    Abstract: Paper physical property detecting device includes a first detector that measures a sheet of paper (hereinafter, merely referred to as a paper) made to stop temporarily on a conveyance path and acquires a first value corresponding to a first physical property, a second detector that measures a paper while conveying the paper on the conveyance path and acquires a second value corresponding to a second physical property with regard to a physical property different from the first physical property; and a corrector that corrects the first value on a basis of the second value and creates post correction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yoshikawa, Hitoshi Asano, Yumiko Izumiya, Yasuhiro Koide
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20230370556
    Abstract: A recording material determination device, includes: a conveyor that conveys recording materials along a conveyance path; a detector that is provided at a middle of the conveyance path, and detects a characteristic value of each of the recording materials in conveyance; and a hardware processor that controls driving of the conveyor, stops a first recording material among the recording materials at the detector, and does not stop a second recording material that is conveyed after the first recording material, wherein the hardware processor determines whether the second recording material changes with respect to the first recording material, based on a first characteristics detection result of the first recording material detected by the detector, and on a second characteristics detection result of the second recording material detected by the detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yumiko IZUMIYA, Hitoshi ASANO, Yasuhiro KOIDE, Hiroyuki YOSHIKAWA
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20230176515
    Abstract: Paper physical property detecting device includes a first detector that measures a sheet of paper (hereinafter, merely referred to as a paper) made to stop temporarily on a conveyance path and acquires a first value corresponding to a first physical property, a second detector that measures a paper while conveying the paper on the conveyance path and acquires a second value corresponding to a second physical property with regard to a physical property different from the first physical property; and a corrector that corrects the first value on a basis of the second value and creates post correction data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki YOSHIKAWA, Hitoshi ASANO, Yumiko IZUMIYA, Yasuhiro KOIDE
  • 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: 20220045256
    Abstract: A method of producing a shaped product for a thermoelectric conversion element is provided. The method comprises: mixing a coarse mixture that contains metal nanoparticle-supporting carbon nanotubes, a resin component, and a solvent by dispersion treatment that brings about a cavitation effect or a crushing effect, to obtain a composition for a thermoelectric conversion element; and removing the solvent from the composition for a thermoelectric conversion element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicants: ZEON CORPORATION, PUBLIC UNIVERSITY CORPORATION TOKYO UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE, SANYO ONODA YAMAGUO
    Inventors: Naoki TOSHIMA, Yukihide SHIRAISHI, Hitoshi ASANO, Keisuke OSHIMA, Junta INOUE
  • 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: 10710829
    Abstract: A paper conveyance device includes: an upstream roller and a downstream roller being arranged at an interval in a paper conveyance path; paper conveyance guides being arranged between the upstream and downstream roller in the paper conveyance path to guide both surfaces of paper along the paper conveyance path during paper conveyance; drivers that drive the upstream and downstream roller independently; and a processor that measures the load torques on the upstream and downstream roller, that judges whether or not the paper is rubbing against one of the paper conveyance guides with reference to the load torques on the upstream and downstream roller, the load torques being obtained by the processor, and that performs controlled paper conveyance with reference to the load torques on the upstream and downstream roller depending on the result of the judgment being obtained by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Hitoshi Asano, Toshikazu Higashi, Tomonobu Tamura
  • Patent number: 10710349
    Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a thermoplastic adhesive film capable of, in a thermobonding step of a laminated body of different materials used particularly in automobile members, electronic members, construction members, etc., such as a polypropylene resin material, a polyamide resin material, and a metal material such as aluminum or steel plates, preventing deformation of the resin material and peeling due to thermal history after molding. Provided as a solution is a thermoplastic adhesive film comprising a resin composition (D) which contains a thermoplastic olefin elastomer resin (A), an acid-modified polypropylene resin (B) and a nucleating agent (C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: AICELLO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigenori Saito, Hitoshi Asano, Hiroyuki Matsuda
  • Publication number: 20190177102
    Abstract: A paper conveyance device includes: an upstream roller and a downstream roller being arranged at an interval in a paper conveyance path; paper conveyance guides being arranged between the upstream and downstream roller in the paper conveyance path to guide both surfaces of paper along the paper conveyance path during paper conveyance; drivers that drive the upstream and downstream roller independently; and a processor that measures the load torques on the upstream and downstream roller, that judges whether or not the paper is rubbing against one of the paper conveyance guides with reference to the load torques on the upstream and downstream roller, the load torques being obtained by the processor, and that performs controlled paper conveyance with reference to the load torques on the upstream and downstream roller depending on the result of the judgment being obtained by the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi YAMAGUCHI, Hitoshi ASANO, Toshikazu HIGASHI, Tomonobu TAMURA