Patents by Inventor Kazuki Kobori
Kazuki Kobori 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: 20200241443Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a latent image carrier on which a latent image is formed; a developing device that develops the latent image formed on the latent image carrier, using developer; a supply member that supplies the developer to the developing device; and a hardware processor that: performs control of the supply member; and acquires an atmospheric pressure value in a position where the image forming apparatus is installed, wherein the hardware processor changes a method of controlling the supply member based on the atmospheric pressure value acquired by the hardware processor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2019Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventor: Kazuki KOBORI
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Patent number: 10416589Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoreceptor having a photosensitive layer formed on a surface; a charging device that electrically charges the surface of the photoreceptor through electric discharge between the charging device and the photoreceptor; and a hardware processor that: calculates a peak-to-peak voltage to be applied to the charging device, using a measured value of a relative dielectric constant of the charging device, the relative dielectric constant having been measured in advance; and controls a voltage to be applied to the charging device, to apply the peak-to-peak voltage calculated by the hardware processor to the charging device.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2018Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventor: Kazuki Kobori
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Publication number: 20190086830Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoreceptor having a photosensitive layer formed on a surface; a charging device that electrically charges the surface of the photoreceptor through electric discharge between the charging device and the photoreceptor; and a hardware processor that: calculates a peak-to-peak voltage to be applied to the charging device, using a measured value of a relative dielectric constant of the charging device, the relative dielectric constant having been measured in advance; and controls a voltage to be applied to the charging device, to apply the peak-to-peak voltage calculated by the hardware processor to the charging device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2018Publication date: March 21, 2019Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventor: Kazuki Kobori
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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: 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: 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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Patent number: 9335711Abstract: A fitting structure for fitting a plate-form member to a fitting destination member such that a position of the plate-form member relative to a target member is adjustable, the fitting structure has an adjustment pin inserted, in a fashion movable in a position adjustment direction, in an adjustment hole formed in the plate-form member; and a screw member for fastening the plate-form member to the fitting destination member, wherein a direction of a force of the screw member that acts upon the plate-form member when the screw member is in a position where the screw member fastens the plate-form member points from a side where a gap formed between the adjustment pin and the adjustment hole is smaller to a side where the gap is larger.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2013Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Yuusuke Okuno, Yasuyuki Inada, Kazuki Kobori
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Patent number: 9261847Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes photoconductors. Electrifiers uniformly electrify surfaces of the photoconductors. A power source applies an electrifying voltage to the electrifiers. A current measurer measures alternating current caused to flow by application of AC voltage by the power source. A controller calculates discharge starting voltage. Environment detectors detect an environment inside of the apparatus. The controller operates the current measurer at each predetermined timing to acquire the discharge starting voltage. When acquiring the discharge starting voltage, the controller changes peak-to-peak voltage at pre-discharge voltage and at post-discharge voltage. The current measurer measures alternating current at measurement points of each of the pre-discharge and post-discharge voltages. The controller calculates a voltage value at an intersection of a first line and a second line.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2015Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Junji Murauchi, Morio Osada, Kazuki Kobori, Tomo Kitada
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Publication number: 20150234338Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes photoconductors. Electrifiers uniformly electrify surfaces of the photoconductors. A power source applies an electrifying voltage to the electrifiers. A current measurer measures alternating current caused to flow by application of AC voltage by the power source. A controller calculates discharge starting voltage. Environment detectors detect an environment inside of the apparatus. The controller operates the current measurer at each predetermined timing to acquire the discharge starting voltage. When acquiring the discharge starting voltage, the controller changes peak-to-peak voltage at pre-discharge voltage and at post-discharge voltage. The current measurer measures alternating current at measurement points of each of the pre-discharge and post-discharge voltages. The controller calculates a voltage value at an intersection of a first line and a second line.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2015Publication date: August 20, 2015Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Junji MURAUCHI, Morio OSADA, Kazuki KOBORI, Tomo KITADA
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Publication number: 20140119781Abstract: A fitting structure for fitting a plate-form member to a fitting destination member such that a position of the plate-form member relative to a target member is adjustable, the fitting structure has an adjustment pin inserted, in a fashion movable in a position adjustment direction, in an adjustment hole formed in the plate-form member; and a screw member for fastening the plate-form member to the fitting destination member, wherein a direction of a force of the screw member that acts upon the plate-form member when the screw member is in a position where the screw member fastens the plate-form member points from a side where a gap formed between the adjustment pin and the adjustment hole is smaller to a side where the gap is larger.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2013Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: Konica Minolta Inc.Inventors: Yuusuke OKUNO, Yasuyuki Inada, Kazuki Kobori