Patents by Inventor Kuniaki Kashiwakura
Kuniaki Kashiwakura 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: 20210382431Abstract: A lubrication mechanism applies a lubricant to an image carrier of an image forming device. The lubrication mechanism includes a solidified lubricant rod, an application brush, a lubricant pressing part, and a controller. The application brush scrapes the lubricant from the lubricant rod and supplies the lubricant to the image carrier. The lubricant pressing part presses the lubricant rod against the application brush. The controller controls rotational drive of the application brush. The controller executes a detection mode of controlling a rotation speed of the application brush and detecting a value of a drive load of the application brush which corresponds to the rotation speed. The controller estimates a remaining amount of the lubricant rod based on the value of the drive load of the application brush and/or the rotation speed of the application brush at a time of detection.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2021Publication date: December 9, 2021Inventor: Kuniaki KASHIWAKURA
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Patent number: 10635012Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: an image former; and a hardware processor which detects a density of an image formed by the image former, controls the image former to continuously perform image formation on a predetermined number of sheets and thereafter form a plurality of types of halftone test images on a sheet, determines whether an image defect is generated and determines a factor causing the image defect by analyzing densities of the plurality of types of test images, executes a recovery mode which is set for each of the factor when the image defect is determined to be generated, and controls the image former to form a charged test image which is formed by the charger charging the surface of the image carrier and an uncharged test image which is formed without charging of the surface of the image carrier by the charger.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2019Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventor: Kuniaki Kashiwakura
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Publication number: 20200110353Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a capacitance detector that detects capacitance of an opposing member disposed opposite to a photoconductor, wherein the capacitance detector detects the capacitance of the opposing member, based on a result of measurement of a current flowing due to potential difference between a voltage applied to the opposing member and the photoconductor being charged.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2019Publication date: April 9, 2020Inventor: KUNIAKI KASHIWAKURA
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Patent number: 10509358Abstract: An image formation apparatus having a lubricant application apparatus applying lubricant to an image carrier in an image former, in which the lubricant application apparatus includes: a lubricant stick; an application member disposed on an upstream side in an advancing direction of the image carrier surface with respect to a cleaning apparatus pressing lubricant supplied to the image carrier to form a film, supplying lubricant scraped off from the lubricant stick to the image carrier, and removing residual toner adhering to the image carrier; and a recovery member in contact with the application member, and recovering toner adhering to the application member, and the image formation apparatus includes a hardware processor controlling a lubricant amount on the image carrier by changing each of removability of residual toner on the image carrier by the application member, and recoverability of residual toner on the application member by the recovery member.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2019Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventor: Kuniaki Kashiwakura
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Patent number: 10479119Abstract: The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus is provided with: a first discharge section and a second discharge section, which have multiple discharge nozzles disposed in rows and which discharge molding material from the discharge nozzles toward a fabrication stage; a guide member of a head unit-moving unit, which is equipped with the guide member to guide the movement of the first discharge section and the second discharge section in the main scanning direction (X-direction) that is orthogonal to the direction in which the discharge nozzles are disposed and which moves the first discharge section and the second discharge section relative to the fabrication stage along said guide member; and a stage rotating unit for changing the rotational position of the main scanning direction of the first discharge section and the second discharge section relative to the fabrication stage.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2014Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Taiya Munenaka, Kuniaki Kashiwakura, Yoshiyuki Hashimoto, Teruaki Yagura
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Publication number: 20190258187Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: an image former; and a hardware processor which detects a density of an image formed by the image former, controls the image former to continuously perform image formation on a predetermined number of sheets and thereafter form a plurality of types of halftone test images on a sheet, determines whether an image defect is generated and determines a factor causing the image defect by analyzing densities of the plurality of types of test images, executes a recovery mode which is set for each of the factor when the image defect is determined to be generated, and controls the image former to form a charged test image which is formed by the charger charging the surface of the image carrier and an uncharged test image which is formed without charging of the surface of the image carrier by the charger.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2019Publication date: August 22, 2019Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventor: Kuniaki KASHIWAKURA
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Publication number: 20190219961Abstract: An image formation apparatus having a lubricant application apparatus applying lubricant to an image carrier in an image former, in which the lubricant application apparatus includes: a lubricant stick; an application member disposed on an upstream side in an advancing direction of the image carrier surface with respect to a cleaning apparatus pressing lubricant supplied to the image carrier to form a film, supplying lubricant scraped off from the lubricant stick to the image carrier, and removing residual toner adhering to the image carrier; and a recovery member in contact with the application member, and recovering toner adhering to the application member, and the image formation apparatus includes a hardware processor controlling a lubricant amount on the image carrier by changing each of removability of residual toner on the image carrier by the application member, and recoverability of residual toner on the application member by the recovery member.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventor: Kuniaki Kashiwakura
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Patent number: 10203625Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes: an electrophotographic photosensitive body including an electroconductive substrate, and a charge generating layer, a charge transfer layer and a surface protective layer laminated on the substrate in this order, and a charging roller for causing contact electrification on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive body, wherein at least the surface protective layer contains inorganic microparticles having a fluorine compound on the surfaces and a binder resin, and the surface of the charging roller has a maximum height roughness Rz?0.5 ?m.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2017Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Kazuhiro Kuramochi, Seisuke Maeda, Kuniaki Kashiwakura
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Publication number: 20180164710Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes: an electrophotographic photosensitive body including an electroconductive substrate, and a charge generating layer, a charge transfer layer and a surface protective layer laminated on the substrate in this order, and a charging roller for causing contact electrification on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive body, wherein at least the surface protective layer contains inorganic microparticles having a fluorine compound on the surfaces and a binder resin, and the surface of the charging roller has a maximum height roughness Rz?0.5 ?m.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2017Publication date: June 14, 2018Inventors: Kazuhiro KURAMOCHI, Seisuke MAEDA, Kuniaki KASHIWAKURA
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Publication number: 20160339724Abstract: The three-dimensional fabrication apparatus is provided with: a first discharge section and a second discharge section, which have multiple discharge nozzles disposed in rows and which discharge molding material from the discharge nozzles toward a fabrication stage; a guide member of a head unit-moving unit, which is equipped with the guide member to guide the movement of the first discharge section and the second discharge section in the main scanning direction (X-direction) that is orthogonal to the direction in which the discharge nozzles are disposed and which moves the first discharge section and the second discharge section relative to the fabrication stage along said guide member; and a stage rotating unit for changing the rotational position of the main scanning direction of the first discharge section and the second discharge section relative to the fabrication stage.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2014Publication date: November 24, 2016Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Taiya MUNENAKA, Kuniaki KASHIWAKURA, Yoshiyuki HASHIMOTO, Teruaki YAGURA
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Patent number: 9213300Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, the charging bias supply circuit generates a second charging bias voltage that causes no positive discharge between the charging unit and the photoreceptor drum, during a recovery mode, the charging unit charges the surface of the photoreceptor drum upon application of the second charging bias voltage during the recovery mode, and the cleaning unit rubs the surface of the photoreceptor drum charged by the second charging bias voltage, during the recovery mode.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2013Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Kuniaki Kashiwakura, Noritoshi Hagimoto, Hokuto Hatano, Eri Kusano
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Patent number: 8977182Abstract: Fiber bundle forms loops protruding beyond a surface side of a base member with constant spaces therebetween, in at least one of opposite ends located in a direction perpendicular to a weaving direction (W) of a ribbon brush, a weft extending between neighboring loops passes under a warp, and a weft extending through the loop passes above the warp.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2012Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Yoshiki Nakane, Kuniaki Kashiwakura, Hokuto Hatano, Yohei Ito
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Patent number: 8965264Abstract: A blade member having; a contact layer in contact with a surface of an image carrier; and a support layer superimposed on the contact layer, wherein a first curve indicating a relation between loss tangent and temperature of the contact layer and a second curve indicating a relation between loss tangent and temperature of the support layer intersect with each other in a temperature range of not lower than 25° C. and not higher than 45° C.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2012Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Yoshiki Nakane, Kuniaki Kashiwakura, Yohei Ito
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Patent number: 8838005Abstract: A loop brush includes a shaft and a ribbon having loop-shaped fiber bundles arranged regularly on a base cloth. The ribbon is wound around the shaft at a prescribed angle. An arrangement angle that is an angle of an arrangement line, which is a straight line connecting adjacent fiber bundles, with respect to a longitudinal direction of the ribbon differs from a winding angle that is an angle of the longitudinal direction of the ribbon with respect to a circumferential direction of the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2012Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Kuniaki Kashiwakura, Yoshiki Nakane, Yohei Ito
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Patent number: 8781384Abstract: A cleaning blade, which is configured to be pressed against a toner image carrier that rotates in one direction, for removing residual toner from the toner image carrier, the cleaning blade having: a contact layer that is located in a side to come into contact with the toner image carrier; and a supporting layer that is located in a side not to come into contact with the toner image carrier, wherein tensile stress characteristic curves of a material of the contact layer and a material of the supporting layer intersect with each other. An image forming apparatus having a toner image carrier and the cleaning blade.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Kuniaki Kashiwakura, Tsugihito Yoshiyama, Yoshiki Nakane, Hokuto Hatano, Yohei Ito
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Patent number: 8768233Abstract: A solid lubricant-coating device is provided with a solid lubricant to be applied to the surface of a latent image-supporting member; a supply roller for scraping and supplying the solid lubricant onto the surface of the latent image-supporting member by self rotation; a pressing unit for pressing the solid lubricant onto the supply roller; a flattening unit for forming a thin film of the supplied solid lubricant on the surface of the latent image-supporting member; and a cleaning unit for removing the residual toner on the surface of the latent image-supporting member and recovering the solid lubricant thin film on the surface of the latent image-supporting member, wherein, when a thickness of the solid lubricant thin film immediately before the supply roller in the rotation direction of the latent image-supporting member is designated as thickness A (nm) and a thickness immediately after the flattening unit is designated as thickness B (nm), the thicknesses A and B satisfy the following relational formulaeType: GrantFiled: December 14, 2010Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Yoshiki Nakane, Kuniaki Kashiwakura, Ikuko Kanazawa
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Publication number: 20140099132Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, the charging bias supply circuit generates a second charging bias voltage that causes no positive discharge between the charging unit and the photoreceptor drum, during a recovery mode, the charging unit charges the surface of the photoreceptor drum upon application of the second charging bias voltage during the recovery mode, and the cleaning unit rubs the surface of the photoreceptor drum charged by the second charging bias voltage, during the recovery mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2013Publication date: April 10, 2014Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Kuniaki KASHIWAKURA, Noritoshi Hagimoto, Hokuto Hatano, Eri Kusano
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Patent number: 8626049Abstract: In the lubricant application device, including a brush roller which rotates while contacting an image carrying member and a solid lubricant, shaves the solid lubricant and applies the shaved solid lubricant onto the image carrying member, and a flicker which abuts against the brush roller and knocks off a developer adhering to the brush roller through a rotation of the brush roller, the brush roller has looped bristles implanted in a state of endless loop, and the flicker has a contact surface which forms an acute angle.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2009Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Yoshiki Nakane, Kuniaki Kashiwakura, Ikuko Kanazawa
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Patent number: 8538308Abstract: An image forming device includes a rotation member being held rotatably while making contact with an image carrier, a solid lubricant pressed so as to make contact with the rotation member, and a potential application unit for applying a potential to the rotation member, wherein the material of the solid lubricant and the material of the rotation member are selected so that the charged polarity of the solid lubricant charged due to the friction between the rotation member and the solid lubricant becomes identical with the charged polarity of toner, and the potential to be applied to the rotation member is set so as to be higher or lower than the surface potential of the neutralized image carrier so that the charges having the same polarity as the charged polarity of the solid lubricant are attracted from the rotation member to the neutralized image carrier.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2010Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kuniaki Kashiwakura, Yoshiki Nakane, Ikuko Kanazawa
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Patent number: 8503920Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member which carries an image composed of a developer, a lubricant application device which applies a lubricant onto the image carrying member, and a cleaning blade which abuts against the image carrying member to scrape the developer. The cleaning blade is formed of a material whose tensile stress-elongation test shows that the definite integral of a tensile stress with respect to an elongation percentage on an interval between the elongation percentage of zero and the elongation percentage at which the stress is a predetermined value is a predetermined upper limit value or less.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2009Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kuniaki Kashiwakura, Yoshiki Nakane, Ikuko Kanazawa