Patents by Inventor Kenji Kawatsu

Kenji Kawatsu 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: 11902474
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a reader that reads an image formed on a print medium; and a backing part that is disposed at a position facing the reader and is capable of switching a color of a portion to be a background of the print medium upon reading by the reader to a plurality of colors according to a type of the print medium and/or a color read from the print medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kenji Kawatsu
  • Patent number: 11856163
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a reader that reads an image on a print medium, and is arranged at a reading position of a conveyance path for conveying the print medium that is continuous and has a long length; a shading unit including a reference color member to perform shading correction of correcting a read value of an image sensor in the reader; a mover that moves the shading unit between the reading position of the reader and a retreated position; and a retractor that retracts the print medium from the reading position of the reader, wherein the retractor arranges the print medium at the reading position of the reader at a time of reading by the reader, and retracts the print medium from the reading position of the reader at an end of reading by the reader, to secure a predetermined space between the reader and the print medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kenji Kawatsu
  • Publication number: 20220360677
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a reader that reads an image on a print medium, and is arranged at a reading position of a conveyance path for conveying the print medium that is continuous and has a long length; a shading unit including a reference color member to perform shading correction of correcting a read value of an image sensor in the reader; a mover that moves the shading unit between the reading position of the reader and a retreated position; and a retractor that retracts the print medium from the reading position of the reader, wherein the retractor arranges the print medium at the reading position of the reader at a time of reading by the reader, and retracts the print medium from the reading position of the reader at an end of reading by the reader, to secure a predetermined space between the reader and the print medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventor: Kenji KAWATSU
  • Publication number: 20220350286
    Abstract: An image forming device includes: a conveyance path that conveys a printing medium; an image former that is arranged in a first place in the middle of the conveyance path, forms an image on one surface of the printing medium, and fixes the formed image by heating; a cooler that is arranged in a second place downstream in a conveyance direction from the first place in the middle of the conveyance path, and cools the printing medium by blowing air for cooling to the printing medium; and a reader that is arranged in a third place downstream in the conveyance direction from the second place in the middle of the conveyance path, and reads the image formed on the printing medium, wherein between the first place and the second place of the conveyance path, one or a plurality of guide members is provided, and a guide member is not provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventor: Kenji KAWATSU
  • Publication number: 20220353382
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a reader that reads an image formed on a print medium; and a backing part that is disposed at a position facing the reader and is capable of switching a color of a portion to be a background of the print medium upon reading by the reader to a plurality of colors according to a type of the print medium and/or a color read from the print medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventor: Kenji KAWATSU
  • Patent number: 11070692
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus includes a cutting device, one or both of an inclination detector and a side-edge detector, an inclination corrector and a hardware processor. The cutting device cuts a sheet along one or both of a feed direction in which the sheet is conveyed and a cross direction perpendicular to the feed direction. The inclination detector detects a front edge of the sheet in the feed direction at multiple positions in the cross direction. The side-edge detector detects a position of a side edge of the sheet in the cross direction. The inclination corrector performs an inclination correction operation of correcting an inclination of the sheet. The hardware processor causes the cutting device to cut the sheet after causing the inclination corrector to perform the inclination correction operation for an amount of the inclination based on the detection by the inclination detector or the detection by the side-edge detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kenji Kawatsu
  • Publication number: 20210099595
    Abstract: A post-processing apparatus includes a cutting device, one or both of an inclination detector and a side-edge detector, an inclination corrector and a hardware processor. The cutting device cuts a sheet along one or both of a feed direction in which the sheet is conveyed and a cross direction perpendicular to the feed direction. The inclination detector detects a front edge of the sheet in the feed direction at multiple positions in the cross direction. The side-edge detector detects a position of a side edge of the sheet in the cross direction. The inclination corrector performs an inclination correction operation of correcting an inclination of the sheet. The hardware processor causes the cutting device to cut the sheet after causing the inclination corrector to perform the inclination correction operation for an amount of the inclination based on the detection by the inclination detector or the detection by the side-edge detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kenji KAWATSU
  • Patent number: 10599089
    Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet, and a finisher that performs a post-printing process with the sheet. The image forming system comprises: a paper path through which the sheet is passed; an electricity eliminator that is arranged in the upstream side of the finisher to apply at least one agent of water and charge to the sheet; and a hardware processor that controls an application amount of the agent to be applied to the sheet by the electricity eliminator based on an amount of charge which is generated on the sheet when the sheet is passing through the paper path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Akio Kasuga, Kenji Kawatsu
  • Patent number: 10506126
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reader, a conveying path, a conveyer, a conveyer driving unit, a conveyer housing, a lighting unit, a cooler, and a frame. The reader reads an image on a sheet at a predetermined reading position. The conveying path guides the sheet having the image to the reading position and guides the sheet read by the reader in an ejecting direction. The conveyer conveys the sheet along the conveying path. The conveyer driving unit drives the conveyer. The conveyer housing supports the conveying path, the conveyer, and the conveyer driving unit. The lighting unit is fixed to an interior of the reader and illuminates the sheet conveyed by the conveyer to the reading position. The cooler cools the lighting unit. The frame separately fixes the reader and the conveyer housing. The cooler is fixed to the conveyer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kenji Kawatsu
  • Patent number: 10491766
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reader, a conveying path, a conveyer, a conveyer housing, and a frame. The conveying path guides the sheet having the image to a reading position and guides the sheet read by the reader in an ejecting direction. The conveyer conveys the sheet along the conveying path. The conveyer housing supports the conveying path and the conveyer. The frame comprises columns and beams that connect adjacent columns. The frame individually fixes the reader and the conveyer housing. The columns are provided with resilient conveying-housing fixing members, the conveying-housing fixing members each having a length smaller than the distance between adjacent columns. The conveying-housing fixing members comprise a material having rigidity lower than the material of the beams. The conveyer housing is fixed to the frame by the conveying-housing fixing members. The reader is fixed to the beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kenji Kawatsu
  • Patent number: 10477035
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a conveyor that conveys paper on which an image is formed along a conveyance path; a first guide member including a first opening on a reference surface opposed to the conveyance path that guides the conveyed paper; a first opposing member that arranges the image on the paper in a colorimetric range set in the first opening on the reference surface by pressing the reference surface via the paper to allow the paper to abut the reference surface; a second opposing member that presses the reference surface by a pressing surface including a calibrating member in a reference color to arrange the calibrating member in the colorimetric range; and a colorimeter arranged on a side opposite to the conveyance path across the first guide member that performs colorimetry on the image on the paper and the calibrating member arranged in the colorimetric range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenji Kawatsu
  • Patent number: 10440204
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a paper path; an image reader which reads a side of the sheet conveyed along the paper path in a reading position; a sheet support member located opposite to the image reader to support a rear surface opposite to a surface to be read of the sheet; a spectrophotometer which colorimetrically measures color of an image formed on the sheet; and an image reading housing which accommodates the image reader and the spectrophotometer. The image reader includes: a reading housing; and a drawer guide provided in the reading housing such that it can be drawn from the image reading housing, and maintains the distance between a light transmitting member housed in the reading housing and the sheet support member to be greater than a reading distance lower limit. The drawer guide transfers heat to the outside of the reading housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kenji Kawatsu
  • Patent number: 10338511
    Abstract: A reading apparatus includes: a reader that reads an image formed on a sheet; an opposed reading member provided opposite to the reader; a first feeding path that feeds a sheet on an upstream of the reader in a sheet feeding direction; a second feeding path that is continuous to the first feeding path and feeds a sheet between the reader and the opposed reading member; a pair of feeding rollers that feeds a sheet on the first feeding path to the second feeding path; a guide member that guides a sheet fed from the first feeding path to the second feeding path; and a roller that is arranged on the second feeding path and is rotatably driven, wherein the first feeding path and the second feeding path form a feeding path bent, a downstream end of the guide member is positioned in a first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kenji Kawatsu
  • Patent number: 10298801
    Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus which forms an image on a sheet, an image reading apparatus which reads the image formed on the sheet by the image forming apparatus, and a finisher which performs a post-printing process with the sheet. The image forming system further includes: a paper path which is provided in the image reading apparatus and through which the sheet is passed; and an electricity eliminator which is arranged in the upstream side of the finisher to eliminate static electricity of the sheet, wherein the electricity eliminator applies at least one of water and charge to front and back sides of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Akio Kasuga, Kenji Kawatsu
  • Patent number: 10200565
    Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming device, a reading device and a hardware processor. The image forming device includes an image former that forms an image on a sheet. The reading device includes a line sensor and a lens unit. The line sensor reads the sheet with the image formed, thereby obtaining a read image. The lens unit includes a plurality of lenses and forms an image of the sheet on the line sensor. The hardware processor identifies a sheet region of the sheet in the read image, and corrects a magnification of each subregion in a main scanning direction of the sheet region according to a characteristic of a portion in the main scanning direction of the lens unit, the portion having being used in forming an image of the subregion on the line sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isokawa, Kenji Kawatsu
  • Publication number: 20180284677
    Abstract: A reading apparatus includes: a reader that reads an image formed on a sheet; an opposed reading member provided opposite to the reader; a first feeding path that feeds a sheet on an upstream of the reader in a sheet feeding direction; a second feeding path that is continuous to the first feeding path and feeds a sheet between the reader and the opposed reading member; a pair of feeding rollers that feeds a sheet on the first feeding path to the second feeding path; a guide member that guides a sheet fed from the first feeding path to the second feeding path; and a roller that is arranged on the second feeding path and is rotatably driven, wherein the first feeding path and the second feeding path form a feeding path bent, a downstream end of the guide member is positioned in a first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventor: Kenji KAWATSU
  • Publication number: 20180288269
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reader, a conveying path, a conveyer, a conveyer driving unit, a conveyer housing, a lighting unit, a cooler, and a frame. The reader reads an image on a sheet at a predetermined reading position. The conveying path guides the sheet having the image to the reading position and guides the sheet read by the reader in an ejecting direction. The conveyer conveys the sheet along the conveying path. The conveyer driving unit drives the conveyer. The conveyer housing supports the conveying path, the conveyer, and the conveyer driving unit. The lighting unit is fixed to an interior of the reader and illuminates the sheet conveyed by the conveyer to the reading position. The cooler cools the lighting unit. The frame separately fixes the reader and the conveyer housing. The cooler is fixed to the conveyer housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventor: Kenji KAWATSU
  • Publication number: 20180288252
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reader, a conveying path, a conveyer, a conveyer housing, and a frame. The conveying path guides the sheet having the image to a reading position and guides the sheet read by the reader in an ejecting direction. The conveyer conveys the sheet along the conveying path. The conveyer housing supports the conveying path and the conveyer. The frame comprises columns and beams that connect adjacent columns. The frame individually fixes the reader and the conveyer housing. The columns are provided with resilient conveying-housing fixing members, the conveying-housing fixing members each having a length smaller than the distance between adjacent columns. The conveying-housing fixing members comprise a material having rigidity lower than the material of the beams. The conveyer housing is fixed to the frame by the conveying-housing fixing members. The reader is fixed to the beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kenji KAWATSU
  • Publication number: 20180288235
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a conveyor that conveys paper on which an image is formed along a conveyance path; a first guide member including a first opening on a reference surface opposed to the conveyance path that guides the conveyed paper; a first opposing member that arranges the image on the paper in a colorimetric range set in the first opening on the reference surface by pressing the reference surface via the paper to allow the paper to abut the reference surface; a second opposing member that presses the reference surface by a pressing surface including a calibrating member in a reference color to arrange the calibrating member in the colorimetric range; and a colorimeter arranged on a side opposite to the conveyance path across the first guide member that performs colorimetry on the image on the paper and the calibrating member arranged in the colorimetric range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kenji KAWATSU
  • Publication number: 20180278762
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a paper path; an image reader which reads a side of the sheet conveyed along the paper path in a reading position; a sheet support member located opposite to the image reader to support a rear surface opposite to a surface to be read of the sheet; a spectrophotometer which colorimetrically measures color of an image formed on the sheet; and an image reading housing which accommodates the image reader and the spectrophotometer. The image reader includes: a reading housing; and a drawer guide provided in the reading housing such that it can be drawn from the image reading housing, and maintains the distance between a light transmitting member housed in the reading housing and the sheet support member to be greater than a reading distance lower limit. The drawer guide transfers heat to the outside of the reading housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kenji KAWATSU