Patents by Inventor Kenji TSURU

Kenji TSURU 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: 12064991
    Abstract: An image forming device comprises: a receiving part that receives image data containing first image data relating to a black and white image and second image data relating to a foil image; a carrying path along which a recording medium is carried in a predetermined direction; an inkjet printing part, arranged on the carrying path, injects an ink based on the first image data to the recording medium, and forms the black and white image or the color image on the recording medium; a toner image printing part, arranged on the carrying path, forms the toner image for adhesion based on the second image data, and transfers the toner image to the recording medium; and a foil image forming part, arranged on the carrying path, enables the toner image transferred to the recording medium to melt and attaches the foil to the melted toner image to form the foil image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sakai, Yoshinori Tsutsumi, Kenji Tsuru, Munenori Nakano
  • Patent number: 11204569
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus fixes a toner image onto a sheet by a fixer, and includes: a re-feeding path that normally conveys the sheet having passed through the fixer and guides the sheet toward the fixer; and a hardware processor that switches between first control to discharge the sheet having passed through the fixer toward a discharge destination and second control to re-feed the sheet having passed through the fixer to the fixer through the re-feeding path, depending on a type of an image which is a source of formation of the toner image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sakai, Yoshinori Tsutsumi, Kenji Tsuru, Munenori Nakano
  • Publication number: 20210008921
    Abstract: An image forming device comprises: a receiving part that receives image data containing first image data relating to a black and white image and second image data relating to a foil image; a carrying path along which a recording medium is carried in a predetermined direction; an inkjet printing part, arranged on the carrying path, injects an ink based on the first image data to the recording medium, and forms the black and white image or the color image on the recording medium; a toner image printing part, arranged on the carrying path, forms the toner image for adhesion based on the second image data, and transfers the toner image to the recording medium; and a foil image forming part, arranged on the carrying path, enables the toner image transferred to the recording medium to melt and attaches the foil to the melted toner image to form the foil image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Tetsuya SAKAI, Yoshinori TSUTSUMI, Kenji TSURU, Munenori NAKANO
  • Publication number: 20200333739
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus fixes a toner image onto a sheet by a fixer, and includes: a re-feeding path that normally conveys the sheet having passed through the fixer and guides the sheet toward the fixer; and a hardware processor that switches between first control to discharge the sheet having passed through the fixer toward a discharge destination and second control to re-feed the sheet having passed through the fixer to the fixer through the re-feeding path, depending on a type of an image which is a source of formation of the toner image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: TETSUYA SAKAI, YOSHINORI TSUTSUMI, KENJI TSURU, MUNENORI NAKANO
  • Patent number: 10795313
    Abstract: An image forming device that prints a first image using first toner and prints a second image using foil on a sheet of paper, includes: a former that forms a first toner image by the first toner of the first image on the paper and forms a second toner image by second toner different from the first toner of the second image on the paper; a fixer that fixes the first toner image and the second toner image formed on the paper; a melter that melts the second toner out of the first toner and the second toner fixed to the paper; and a foil printer that prints the second image by bonding the foil to the melted second toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sakai, Yoshinori Tsutsumi, Kenji Tsuru, Munenori Nakano
  • Patent number: 10613452
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming part that forms a toner image on a recording medium; and a hardware processor that controls the image forming part, wherein the image forming part includes an image carrier, the hardware processor executes: a first adjustment process of adjusting the image forming part with use of a first image formation condition determined in accordance with a toner adhesion amount at a plurality of points in a first direction on the image carrier; and a second adjustment process of adjusting the image forming part with use of a second image formation condition determined in accordance with a toner adhesion amount at one point in a first direction on the image carrier, the image carrier rotates as a recording medium is conveyed, the first direction is a direction intersecting with a rotational direction of the image carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Shigeki Naiki, Teppei Kunihisa, Soh Hirota, Hironori Akashi, Kenji Tsuru
  • Publication number: 20200073326
    Abstract: An image forming device that prints a first image using first toner and prints a second image using foil on a sheet of paper, includes: a former that forms a first toner image by the first toner of the first image on the paper and forms a second toner image by second toner different from the first toner of the second image on the paper; a fixer that fixes the first toner image and the second toner image formed on the paper; a melter that melts the second toner out of the first toner and the second toner fixed to the paper; and a foil printer that prints the second image by bonding the foil to the melted second toner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Tetsuya SAKAI, Yoshinori TSUTSUMI, Kenji TSURU, Munenori NAKANO
  • Publication number: 20190278197
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming part that forms a toner image on a recording medium; and a hardware processor that controls the image forming part, wherein the image forming part includes an image carrier, the hardware processor executes: a first adjustment process of adjusting the image forming part with use of a first image formation condition determined in accordance with a toner adhesion amount at a plurality of points in a first direction on the image carrier, and a second adjustment process of adjusting the image forming part with use of a second image formation condition determined in accordance with a toner adhesion amount at one point in a first direction on the image carrier, the image carrier rotates as a recording medium is conveyed, the first direction is a direction intersecting with a rotational direction of the image carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: SHIGEKI NAIKI, TEPPEI KUNIHISA, SOH HIROTA, HIRONORI AKASHI, KENJI TSURU
  • Patent number: 10274864
    Abstract: A developing device of an image forming apparatus includes a casing, two-component developer accommodated in the casing, and a stirring screw for conveying and stirring the developer in the casing by rotation in a predetermined direction. The image forming apparatus includes a toner concentration sensor that outputs a value indicative of the toner concentration of the developer in the casing. The image forming apparatus determines whether or not the developer in the casing has become uniform, based on the amount of change per unit time of the output value of the toner concentration sensor, acquired after the stirring of the developer in the casing by the stirring screw is started. It is possible to appropriately measure the reference value of the toner concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenji Tsuru
  • Publication number: 20180259878
    Abstract: A developing device of an image forming apparatus includes a casing, two-component developer accommodated in the casing, and a stirring screw for conveying and stirring the developer in the casing by rotation in a predetermined direction. The image forming apparatus includes a toner concentration sensor that outputs a value indicative of the toner concentration of the developer in the casing. The image forming apparatus determines whether or not the developer in the casing has become uniform, based on the amount of change per unit time of the output value of the toner concentration sensor, acquired after the stirring of the developer in the casing by the stirring screw is started. It is possible to appropriately measure the reference value of the toner concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kenji TSURU
  • Patent number: 9880487
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for electrifying a surface of a photoreceptor with the use of an electrification member includes: a first output unit configured to output a first AC voltage; a second output unit configured to output a second AC voltage having the same frequency as a frequency of the first AC voltage and having a phase different from a phase of the first AC voltage; a superimposition unit configured to superimpose, on a DC component, an AC component containing at least one of the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage; and an application unit configured to apply a voltage that has been subjected to superimposition by the superimposition unit to the electrification member, wherein the superimposition unit changes the AC component to be superimposed on the DC component at a predetermined timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kouzaki, Munenori Nakano, Hironori Akashi, Kenji Tsuru, Yoshinori Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 9835997
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a toner image forming section; a transfer section; a fixing section; a conveyance roller section disposed on a downstream side of the fixing section in a sheet conveyance direction; a conveyance guide section disposed on a downstream side of the conveyance roller section and including a first guide member disposed on a fixing side of a sheet and a second guide member disposed on a rear surface side of the sheet; a feeding-path-switching section disposed on a downstream side of the conveyance guide section and configured to switch sheet feeding paths; and a nip angle adjusting section configured to change a nip angle of a conveyance nip in accordance with whether a sheet on which an image is formed on a first surface thereof is conveyed, or a sheet on which an image is formed on a second surface thereof is conveyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Kenji Tsuru
  • Publication number: 20170168411
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for electrifying a surface of a photoreceptor with the use of an electrification member includes: a first output unit configured to output a first AC voltage; a second output unit configured to output a second AC voltage having the same frequency as a frequency of the first AC voltage and having a phase different from a phase of the first AC voltage; a superimposition unit configured to superimpose, on a DC component, an AC component containing at least one of the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage; and an application unit configured to apply a voltage that has been subjected to superimposition by the superimposition unit to the electrification member, wherein the superimposition unit changes the AC component to be superimposed on the DC component at a predetermined timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kouzaki, Munenori Nakano, Hironori Akashi, Kenji Tsuru, Yoshinori Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 9405263
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a feeder having a longer side direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of a recording medium, and feeds a maximum size recording medium with a longer side first, an image forming unit having a maximum sheet feed width corresponding to a longer side length of the maximum size recording medium, and prints a toner image onto the recording medium, and a sub feeder that can feed the maximum size recording medium to the image forming unit independently from the feeder. A post processing apparatus receives a printed recording medium and executes post processing on a side of the recording medium. A feeding source of the maximum size recording medium is selected from the feeder and the sub feeder for executing the post processing on the longer and shorter sides of the maximum size recording medium, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sendo, Teruo Nagashima, Osamu Okada, Hideyuki Kurahashi, Kenji Tsuru, Shigeo Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20160026134
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a toner image forming section; a transfer section; a fixing section; a conveyance roller section disposed on a downstream side of the fixing section in a sheet conveyance direction; a conveyance guide section disposed on a downstream side of the conveyance roller section and including a first guide member disposed on a fixing side of a sheet and a second guide member disposed on a rear surface side of the sheet; a feeding-path-switching section disposed on a downstream side of the conveyance guide section and configured to switch sheet feeding paths; and a nip angle adjusting section configured to change a nip angle of a conveyance nip in accordance with whether a sheet on which an image is formed on a first surface thereof is conveyed, or a sheet on which an image is formed on a second surface thereof is conveyed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventor: Kenji TSURU
  • Patent number: 9046855
    Abstract: A feeder is configured to feed a recording medium. An image forming unit has a maximum sheet feed width corresponding to a longer side length of a maximum size recording medium to be accommodated in the feeder, and is disposed above the feeder in such a manner as to allow the maximum size recording medium to enter the image forming unit with a longer side first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kurahashi, Osamu Okada, Teruo Nagashima, Kenji Tsuru
  • Patent number: 8942608
    Abstract: The print performance of an image forming apparatus is improved by adequately estimating the behavior of a sheet receiving separation air and controlling the output of separation air. A fixing control unit 50 controls a shutter drive unit 52 defining the flow passage area on the basis of the displacement detected of the separation claw 42 to control the output of separation air. Since the sheet receiving separation air exerts a force on the separation claw 42, it is possible to estimate whether or not the behavior of the sheet is appropriate by monitoring the displacement of the separation claw 42. While different types of paper may move in different ways, the influence of separation air is dominant in the behavior of a sheet which is conveyed, and therefore the sheet can be prevented from moving in an inappropriate condition by controlling the output of separation air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Tsuru, Yoshito Hashimura
  • Patent number: 8774698
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus wherein a developing unit forms a toner image on an image carrier by using a developer including a toner and a carrier, wherein a toner recovery unit recovers the toner remaining on the image carrier after the transfer of the toner image to a transfer receiving body and wherein the recovered toner is returned to the developing unit by a return transport mechanism, a recovered toner reservoir for storing the toner recovered by the toner recovery unit is disposed independently from the return transport mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Tsuru, Teruo Nagashima
  • Patent number: 8750746
    Abstract: A feeder has a longer side direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of a recording medium, and is configured to feed a maximum size recording medium with a longer side first. An image forming unit has a maximum sheet feed width corresponding to a longer side length of the maximum size recording medium, and is configured to print a toner image corresponding to digital image data onto the recording medium. An electrical component unit is configured to control the feeder and the image forming unit. The image forming unit and the electrical component unit are respectively disposed on both sides of the feeder in a shorter side direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Tsuru, Hideyuki Kurahashi, Teruo Nagashima, Osamu Okada
  • Publication number: 20130266351
    Abstract: The print performance of an image forming apparatus is improved by adequately estimating the behavior of a sheet receiving separation air and controlling the output of separation air. A fixing control unit 50 controls a shutter drive unit 52 defining the flow passage area on the basis of the displacement detected of the separation claw 42 to control the output of separation air. Since the sheet receiving separation air exerts a force on the separation claw 42, it is possible to estimate whether or not the behavior of the sheet is appropriate by monitoring the displacement of the separation claw 42. While different types of paper may move in different ways, the influence of separation air is dominant in the behavior of a sheet which is conveyed, and therefore the sheet can be prevented from moving in an inappropriate condition by controlling the output of separation air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kenji TSURU, Yoshito HASHIMURA