Patents by Inventor Kouei CHO

Kouei CHO 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).

  • Publication number: 20230375968
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming system capable of accurately detecting the resistance of a recording material. The image forming system includes an application roller that applies a voltage to a recording material on a conveyance path, and a controller that calculates the electric resistance of the recording material from a relationship between the voltage applied to the application roller and a current. The controller calculates the resistance of the recording material based on first profile information that is acquired by changing the applied voltage and corresponds to a change in the resistance of the application roller, and second profile information that is acquired by changing the applied voltage in a state where the recording material is sandwiched and corresponds to the change in the resistance of the application roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yuhei TATSUMOTO, Akimasa ISHIKAWA, Makoto SHIMAZOE, Yuta TACHIBANA, Kouei CHO
  • Publication number: 20230008381
    Abstract: A rotation detector includes a motor, a current detector and a hardware processor. The motor includes coils of two or more phases and a rotor. The current detector detects currents flowing in coils of at least two phases among the coils of two or more phases. The hardware processor estimates an initial position of the rotor based on current values of the currents detected by the current detector to start the motor, controls an energization pattern on the phases to rotate and start the motor based on the estimated initial position, and determines whether the rotor stops or is rotating before completing the estimation of the initial position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuta TACHIBANA, Hiroyuki YOSHIKAWA, Kazumichi YOSHIDA, Satoshi MIYAJIMA, Kouei CHO
  • Patent number: 11221578
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a conveyance path that conveys a sheet; registration rollers that are arranged across the conveyance path and each comprise a nip part; a sheet locking member that locks a front end of a sheet conveyed in the conveyance path, where the sheet locking member swings between a first attitude and a second attitude, in the first attitude the sheet locking member locks the sheet on an upstream side of the nip part, and in the second attitude the sheet locking member is retracted to a downstream side of the nip part and allows the sheet to pass through the nip part; an energizer that energizes the sheet locking member to maintain the first attitude; and a hardware processor that detects deterioration of the energizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Taku Kimura, Masahiro Kamiya, Junichi Masuda, Masahiro Nonoyama, Kouei Cho, Akimasa Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20200201233
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a conveyance path that conveys a sheet; registration rollers that are arranged across the conveyance path and each comprise a nip part; a sheet locking member that locks a front end of a sheet conveyed in the conveyance path, where the sheet locking member swings between a first attitude and a second attitude, in the first attitude the sheet locking member locks the sheet on an upstream side of the nip part, and in the second attitude the sheet locking member is retracted to a downstream side of the nip part and allows the sheet to pass through the nip part; an energizer that energizes the sheet locking member to maintain the first attitude; and a hardware processor that detects deterioration of the energizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Taku Kimura, Masahiro Kamiya, Junichi Masuda, Masahiro Nonoyama, Kouei Cho, Akimasa Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20200084321
    Abstract: An image processing system includes: a mobile terminal; and a server apparatus, wherein the mobile terminal includes a camera, a display that displays an apparatus image of an image forming apparatus, a microphone that collects sound output from the image forming apparatus, and a first hardware processor that controls the camera, the microphone and the display, the server apparatus includes a second hardware processor that controls the server apparatus, the second hardware processor performs identifying a portion of the image forming apparatus, setting the portion identified as a sound collection target position, and clipping a partial image including the sound collection target position and representing an outline of a part of the image forming apparatus, from a main body image generated in advance as an image representing an outer shape of the image forming apparatus, and the display displays the partial image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Shiro UMEDA, Masayuki WATANABE, Takeshi ISHIDA, Akinori KIMATA, Takashi WATANABE, Kouei CHO
  • Patent number: 10313546
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus for separating and conveying documents from a bundle of documents, causing the document to pass through a reading position, and reading an image from the document, includes: a reading translucent plate; a rotation member capable of rotating around a shaft; and a rotation driver that rotates the rotation member, wherein in the rotation member, each of: a cleaning member; a white reference area; and an end portion detection area is formed partially with regard to a circumferential direction, the cleaning member and the end portion detection area are arranged adjacent to each other, the rotation driver is arranged so that the end portion detection area faces an opposing surface, and the rotation member is rotated in a paper interval period from when a trailing edge of the document passes the reading position to when a leading edge of a subsequent document reaches the reading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Watanabe, Kazutoshi Yoshimura, Kiyohito Tsujihara, Akinori Kimata, Shiro Umeda, Kouei Cho
  • Patent number: 10148167
    Abstract: A power supply device includes: a first transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding; a first control circuit controlling a switching operation of a switch element, and cause the primary winding to generate a first AC voltage; an application circuit receiving a second AC voltage generated in the secondary winding by mutual induction with the primary winding, and apply an output voltage according to the second AC voltage to a load; a voltage detection circuit detecting a magnitude of a DC voltage obtained by rectifying the first AC voltage or the second AC voltage; and an output circuit outputting a stop signal indicating stop of the power supply device, when a result of comparison between the magnitude of the DC voltage and a threshold value set according to a magnitude of the load satisfies a predetermined condition, after reception of an instruction to stop voltage supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Toru Kasamatsu, Mikiyuki Aoki, Kouei Cho
  • Patent number: 10069425
    Abstract: A power supply device having a transformer and a control circuit for controlling a power input to the transformer in accordance with a set value of an output voltage is provided. The power supply device includes an auxiliary winding provided in the transformer and a control power supply circuit configured to rectify AC power produced in the auxiliary winding to output a control voltage for operating the control circuit. The control power supply circuit includes a smoothing capacitor which is connected between output terminals for the control voltage and is to be charged with power obtained by rectifying the AC power, and a charge thinning circuit configured to intermittently charge the smoothing capacitor so that a voltage value between both ends of the smoothing capacitor reaches a set value of the control voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Kouei Cho, Mikiyuki Aoki, Toru Kasamatsu
  • Publication number: 20180229956
    Abstract: Provided is a document conveyance apparatus that conveys a document along a document conveyance path including a reading position at which an image on a surface of the document is read, the document conveyance apparatus including: a hardware processor; an end detector that detects an angle of a corner portion of a front edge of the document; and an inclination detector that detects an amount of inclination of the front edge, wherein, in a case where it has been determined that the corner portion of the front edge includes a right angle portion on the basis of information obtained from the end detector, the hardware processor determines the amount of inclination of the front edge obtained from the inclination detector as an amount of inclination of the document, and performs inclination correction of the image read at the reading position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi YOSHIMURA, Kiyohito TSUJIHARA, Akinori KIMATA, Takashi WATANABE, Shiro UMEDA, Kouei CHO
  • Publication number: 20180109693
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus for separating and conveying documents from a bundle of documents, causing the document to pass through a reading position, and reading an image from the document, includes: a reading translucent plate; a rotation member capable of rotating around a shaft; and a rotation driver that rotates the rotation member, wherein in the rotation member, each of: a cleaning member; a white reference area; and an end portion detection area is formed partially with regard to a circumferential direction, the cleaning member and the end portion detection area are arranged adjacent to each other, the rotation driver is arranged so that the end portion detection area faces an opposing surface, and the rotation member is rotated in a paper interval period from when a trailing edge of the document passes the reading position to when a leading edge of a subsequent document reaches the reading position,
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Watanabe, Kazutoshi Yoshimura, Kiyohito Tsujihara, Akinori Kimata, Shiro Umeda, Kouei Cho
  • Patent number: 9927759
    Abstract: A first rectification circuit includes a bypass element connected to both ends of a rectification element. The bypass element is smaller in voltage drop amount than the rectification element. A power supply device is configured to perform switching between a first mode and a second mode based on at least one of information showing a magnitude of electric power that is being supplied to a load and information showing a magnitude of electric power that is to be supplied to the load. In the first mode, an AC voltage is rectified in a path including the rectification element. In the second mode, the AC voltage is rectified in a path including the bypass element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Toru Kasamatsu, Mikiyuki Aoki, Kouei Cho
  • Publication number: 20180026524
    Abstract: A power supply device includes: a first transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding; a first control circuit controlling a switching operation of a switch element, and cause the primary winding to generate a first AC voltage; an application circuit receiving a second AC voltage generated in the secondary winding by mutual induction with the primary winding, and apply an output voltage according to the second AC voltage to a load; a voltage detection circuit detecting a magnitude of a DC voltage obtained by rectifying the first AC voltage or the second AC voltage; and an output circuit outputting a stop signal indicating stop of the power supply device, when a result of comparison between the magnitude of the DC voltage and a threshold value set according to a magnitude of the load satisfies a predetermined condition, after reception of an instruction to stop voltage supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Toru KASAMATSU, Mikiyuki AOKI, Kouei CHO
  • Publication number: 20170271994
    Abstract: A power supply device having a transformer and a control circuit for controlling a power input to the transformer in accordance with a set value of an output voltage is provided. The power supply device includes an auxiliary winding provided in the transformer and a control power supply circuit configured to rectify AC power produced in the auxiliary winding to output a control voltage for operating the control circuit. The control power supply circuit includes a smoothing capacitor which is connected between output terminals for the control voltage and is to be charged with power obtained by rectifying the AC power, and a charge thinning circuit configured to intermittently charge the smoothing capacitor so that a voltage value between both ends of the smoothing capacitor reaches a set value of the control voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Kouei Cho, Mikiyuki Aoki, Toru Kasamatsu
  • Publication number: 20170261910
    Abstract: A first rectification circuit includes a bypass element connected to both ends of a rectification element. The bypass element is smaller in voltage drop amount than the rectification element. A power supply device is configured to perform switching between a first mode and a second mode based on at least one of information showing a magnitude of electric power that is being supplied to a load and information showing a magnitude of electric power that is to be supplied to the load. In the first mode, an AC voltage is rectified in a path including the rectification element. In the second mode, the AC voltage is rectified in a path including the bypass element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Toru Kasamatsu, Mikiyuki Aoki, Kouei Cho
  • Patent number: 9645541
    Abstract: Image forming apparatus comprises an electric power supply circuit board, an electric power control unit, functional circuits, and an electrical power saving circuit. The electric power control unit executes constant voltage control, to make electrical potential of a remote sensing location constant. The functional circuits are connected with the electric power supply circuit board. The electrical power saving circuit switches the state of functional circuits between the state in which they are provided with electric power and the state in which they are not provided with electric power. The electrical power saving circuit sets the contact point of the input side of the circuit, in which the consumption electrical current or the behavior guarantee minimum electrical voltage is the largest, out of the electrical power saving circuit and functional circuits provided with electric power, as the remote sensing location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kouei Cho, Toru Kasamatsu, Mikiyuki Aoki, Yohei Yamada
  • Patent number: 9372470
    Abstract: The apparatus includes first and second terminals, an electrical conductor placed around at least the second terminal, a first current applying unit, an abnormal circumstances determining unit, a second current applying unit, and an informing unit. The first current applying unit applies current between the first terminal and the second terminal. The abnormal circumstances determining unit determines whether there is an abnormal circumstance at the connection between the apparatus and the unit side circuit, under the condition that the current is applied by the first current applying unit. The second current applying unit applies current between the first terminal and the second terminal, in case that the abnormal circumstances determining unit determined that there is not an abnormal circumstance of the connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yohei Yamada, Toru Kasamatsu, Mikiyuki Aoki, Kouei Cho
  • Patent number: 9335710
    Abstract: An electric power supply control device comprises a first converter, at least one second converter, and an electrical voltage control unit. The second converter can work in intermittent oscillation, and converts outputting electrical voltage from the first converter. The electrical voltage control unit controls the outputting electrical voltage of the first converter, so that the outputting electrical voltage is equal to or less than a minimum value of upper limits of operating electrical voltage of the second converter, and is more than or equal to a maximum value of lower limits of operating electrical voltage of the second converter, and at least one of the second converter performs low electric power behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Mikiyuki Aoki, Taku Kimura, Yohei Yamada, Morio Kinoshita, Toru Kasamatsu, Kouei Cho
  • Publication number: 20160085199
    Abstract: An electric power supply control device comprises a first converter, at least one second converter, and an electrical voltage control unit. The second converter can work in intermittent oscillation, and converts outputting electrical voltage from the first converter. The electrical voltage control unit controls the outputting electrical voltage of the first converter, so that the outputting electrical voltage is equal to or less than a minimum value of upper limits of operating electrical voltage of the second converter, and is more than or equal to a maximum value of lower limits of operating electrical voltage of the second converter, and at least one of the second converter performs low electric power behavior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Mikiyuki AOKI, Taku KIMURA, Yohei YAMADA, Morio KINOSHITA, Toru KASAMATSU, Kouei CHO
  • Patent number: 9256188
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having image supporting members and developing devices provided for a plurality of colors respectively, and a developing bias source. The developing bias source includes DC power circuits provided for the colors respectively, an AC power circuit provided for use in common for all of the colors, and an element provided for at least one of the colors other than black. The developing bias source generates developing biases by superimposing an AC voltage output from the AC power circuit on DC voltages output from the DC power circuits and applies the developing biases to the respectively corresponding developing devices. The element maintains a constant voltage having a potential of an opposite polarity to a potential of charged toner used for the development. The developing bias source further superimposes the constant voltage on the developing bias for the at least one of the colors other than black.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Toru Kasamatsu, Mikiyuki Aoki, Yohei Yamada, Kouei Cho
  • Patent number: 9250556
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having; an electrostatic latent image support; a charger for charging the electrostatic latent image support; an exposure unit for exposing the electrostatic latent image support with a light beam to form an electrostatic latent image; a development unit for developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image; a sheet feeding unit for feeding a recording sheet in an image forming operation; a transfer member for transferring the toner image to the recording sheet; a fuser for fusing the toner image onto the recording sheet; and a high-voltage power supply circuit for, in an image forming operation, applying a plurality of bias voltages at least to the charger and to the development unit, wherein the high-voltage power supply circuit supplies a high voltage only to the charger in an operation in an ion generation mode so as to cause the charger to generate ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Munehiro Natsume, Teruhiko Toyoizumi, Nobuhiro Matsuo, Kouei Cho