Patents by Inventor Kuniya Matsuura
Kuniya Matsuura 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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Patent number: 10618333Abstract: An image forming method, includes: forming a precoat layer by applying a precoat agent onto a front surface of an intermediate transfer body; forming an ink layer by applying an ink onto a front surface of the formed precoat layer, according to an ink jet method; and transferring the formed precoat layer and ink layer to a recording medium, wherein a contact angle of the precoat agent with respect to the front surface of the intermediate transfer body is less than a contact angle of the ink with respect to the front surface of the intermediate transfer body, and a viscosity of the precoat agent is lower than a viscosity of the ink.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2019Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Midori Shimomura, Yusuke Nishisaka, Taiya Munenaka, Yukimasa Azuma, Kuniya Matsuura
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Publication number: 20190232701Abstract: An image forming method, includes: forming a precoat layer by applying a precoat agent onto a front surface of an intermediate transfer body; forming an ink layer by applying an ink onto a front surface of the formed precoat layer, according to an ink jet method; and transferring the formed precoat layer and ink layer to a recording medium, wherein a contact angle of the precoat agent with respect to the front surface of the intermediate transfer body is less than a contact angle of the ink with respect to the front surface of the intermediate transfer body, and a viscosity of the precoat agent is lower than a viscosity of the ink.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: Midori SHIMOMURA, Yusuke Nishisaka, Taiya Munenaka, Yukimasa Azuma, Kuniya Matsuura
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Publication number: 20190232695Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an inkjet head, a hardware processor that controls an imager former so that an untransferred image is formed on a transferer at a position between two continuous transferred images, and a first cleaning member and a second cleaning member that remove the untransferred image formed on the transferer from the transferer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: Yukimasa AZUMA, Yusuke Nishisaka, Kuniya Matsuura, Taiya Munenaka, Midori Shimomura
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Patent number: 9977400Abstract: An exhaust air cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning duct for cleaning air to be exhausted from an exhaust port of an image forming apparatus. In the cleaning duct, a fan and a filter are provide between an inflow part connected with the exhaust port of the image forming apparatus and a discharge port for discharging air from the inside of the cleaning duct. The exhaust air cleaning apparatus further includes a pressure adjusting part for adjusting the pressure in the cleaning duct. The pressure adjusting part performs pressure adjustment so that the pressure at a pressure adjusting position located between the inflow part and the fan in the cleaning duct falls within an appropriate pressure range determined in advance to be equal to or less than atmospheric pressure.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2014Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Masahiro Yamaguchi, Shigeru Tashiro, Kuniya Matsuura, Hiroshi Mizuno, Masayuki Satou, Shoichi Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 9261858Abstract: An image forming apparatus has: an exhaust air duct capable of forming a first air flow path for an exhaust air cleaning function and a second air flow path for a room air cleaning function, the exhaust air duct having a common use space used in common for the exhaust air cleaning function and the room air cleaning function; a switching member configured to switch a flow path in the exhaust air duct, depending on which of the cleaning functions is activated; a fan configured to discharge air from the common use space in an active state of the exhaust air cleaning function and in an active state of the room air cleaning function; and a control unit configured to control the switching member and to adjust a rotation speed of the fan, depending on which of the cleaning functions is activated.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2015Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Masayuki Satou, Shigeru Tashiro, Kuniya Matsuura, Masahiro Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Mizuno, Shoichi Yoshikawa
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Patent number: 9213310Abstract: An exhaust purification apparatus includes: a purification duct configured to purify air to be discharged from a ventilation port in an image forming apparatus, the purification duct including: at least one inlet communicating with an interior of the purification duct for connection with the ventilation port in the image forming apparatus; an outlet configured to discharge air inside the purification duct to the outside; a fan configured to direct air from the inlet toward the outlet; a filter configured to recover particles in the air, the fan and the filter each being disposed in the purification duct at a position between the inlet and the outlet; an airflow detector configured to detect an airflow at the inlet; and a controller configured to execute a normal mode and an attachment determination mode.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2014Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Hiroshi Mizuno, Shigeru Tashiro, Kuniya Matsuura, Masahiro Yamaguchi, Masayuki Satou, Shoichi Yoshikawa
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Publication number: 20150277372Abstract: An image forming apparatus has: an exhaust air duct capable of forming a first air flow path for an exhaust air cleaning function and a second air flow path for a room air cleaning function, the exhaust air duct having a common use space used in common for the exhaust air cleaning function and the room air cleaning function; a switching member configured to switch a flow path in the exhaust air duct, depending on which of the cleaning functions is activated; a fan configured to discharge air from the common use space in an active state of the exhaust air cleaning function and in an active state of the room air cleaning function; and a control unit configured to control the switching member and to adjust a rotation speed of the fan, depending on which of the cleaning functions is activated.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2015Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Masayuki SATOU, Shigeru TASHIRO, Kuniya MATSUURA, Masahiro YAMAGUCHI, Hiroshi MIZUNO, Shoichi YOSHIKAWA
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Publication number: 20150168912Abstract: An exhaust purification apparatus includes: a purification duct configured to purify air to be discharged from a ventilation port in an image forming apparatus, the purification duct including: at least one inlet communicating with an interior of the purification duct for connection with the ventilation port in the image forming apparatus; an outlet configured to discharge air inside the purification duct to the outside; a fan configured to direct air from the inlet toward the outlet; a filter configured to recover particles in the air, the fan and the filter each being disposed in the purification duct at a position between the inlet and the outlet; an airflow detector configured to detect an airflow at the inlet; and a controller configured to execute a normal mode and an attachment determination mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2014Publication date: June 18, 2015Applicant: Konica Minolta Inc.Inventors: Hiroshi MIZUNO, Shigeru TASHIRO, Kuniya MATSUURA, Masahiro YAMAGUCHI, Masayuki SATOU, Shoichi YOSHIKAWA
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Publication number: 20150168913Abstract: An exhaust air cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning duct for cleaning air to be exhausted from an exhaust port of an image forming apparatus. In the cleaning duct, a fan and a filter are provide between an inflow part connected with the exhaust port of the image forming apparatus and a discharge port for discharging air from the inside of the cleaning duct. The exhaust air cleaning apparatus further includes a pressure adjusting part for adjusting the pressure in the cleaning duct. The pressure adjusting part performs pressure adjustment so that the pressure at a pressure adjusting position located between the inflow part and the fan in the cleaning duct falls within an appropriate pressure range determined in advance to be equal to or less than atmospheric pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2014Publication date: June 18, 2015Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Masahiro YAMAGUCHI, Shigeru TASHIRO, Kuniya MATSUURA, Hiroshi MIZUNO, Masayuki SATOU, Shoichi YOSHIKAWA
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Patent number: 9046831Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image onto a recording paper includes a heating member for heating the recording paper, a pressing member for pressing the heating member by pressure-applying contact, a casing accommodating the heating member and the pressing member, and being provided with an exit port for discharging the recording paper, and a closing unit added to the exit port for keeping a temperature of the casing. The closing unit has a rotation member, and an opposed member forming a nip region together with the rotation member.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2011Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Takayuki Ito, Hiroshi Mizuno, Kuniya Matsuura, Masayuki Satou, Takashi Fujiwara
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Patent number: 9037034Abstract: An image forming apparatus having; a fusing unit that heats and presses a recording medium with an image transferred thereto, thereby fixing the image thereon; a first duct section in which air that contains emissions generated by the fusing unit flows; an ion generation unit provided away from the first duct section to generate ions; a second duct section in which air that contains the ions generated by the ion generation unit flows; a third duct section connected to the first and second duct sections, such that air flows in from the first and second duct sections, whereby the emissions are charged by the ions; a filter unit provided in the third duct section to trap the charged emissions; and a blowing unit that generates air flows from the connections with the first and second duct sections in the third duct section toward the filter unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2013Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Tomofumi Ikeda, Shoichi Yoshikawa, Kuniya Matsuura, Masayuki Satou, Ryo Oshima, Noboru Oomoto
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Publication number: 20140140525Abstract: A sound output device to be mounted in equipment, the device comprises: a memory unit configured to store correction information for at least one from among date, day and time; a sound reproducing unit configured to reproduce a sound signal representing an additional sound for an operation sound of the equipment, to read, from the memory unit, correction information corresponding to at least one of the current date, day, and time from the memory unit, and to then output a reproduced sound signal after correcting its sound pressure level in accordance with the correction information being read; and a sound output unit configured to emit the additional sound based on the sound signal outputted by the sound reproducing unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2013Publication date: May 22, 2014Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Masayuki Satou, Shoichi Yoshikawa, Shigeru Tashiro, Kuniya Matsuura, Masahiro Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 8666285Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image onto a recording paper sheet includes a heating member for heating the recording paper sheet, a pressing member for applying a pressure by forming contact with the heating member, a casing accommodating the heating member and the pressing member, and provided with an exit port for discharging the recording paper sheet, and a closing portion arranged at the exit port for keeping a temperature of the casing. The closing portion has a rotation member, and an opposed member forming a nip region together with the rotation member. A separating unit for changing at least a part of the closing portion from a closed state to an open state.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hiroshi Mizuno, Kuniya Matsuura, Takayuki Ito, Masayuki Satou, Takashi Fujiwara
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Patent number: 8626045Abstract: A fixing device fixes a toner image on a recording medium. In the fixing device, a heating unit heats a recording medium. A pressing unit presses a recording medium in pressure contact with the heating unit. The heating unit and the pressing unit are accommodated in a casing. A heat reflecting unit is provided between the heating unit and the casing. An intermediate member is provided between the heating unit and the heat reflecting unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2011Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kuniya Matsuura, Takayuki Ito, Shigeru Tashiro, Noboru Oomoto, Masayuki Satou
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Publication number: 20130243471Abstract: An image forming apparatus having; a fusing unit that heats and presses a recording medium with an image transferred thereto, thereby fixing the image thereon; a first duct section in which air that contains emissions generated by the fusing unit flows; an ion generation unit provided away from the first duct section to generate ions; a second duct section in which air that contains the ions generated by the ion generation unit flows; a third duct section connected to the first and second duct sections, such that air flows in from the first and second duct sections, whereby the emissions are charged by the ions; a filter unit provided in the third duct section to trap the charged emissions; and a blowing unit that generates air flows from the connections with the first and second duct sections in the third duct section toward the filter unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2013Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Tomofumi IKEDA, Shoichi Yoshikawa, Kuniya Matsuura, Masayuki Satou, Ryo Oshima, Noboru Oomoto
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Patent number: 8391767Abstract: A fusing apparatus allows a recording member to pass through between a heat member and a pressure member, to transport and heat the recording member, and thereby fuses a toner image on the recording member. The fusing apparatus includes a temperature detector for detecting a surface temperature of the heat member in a non-contact manner. A surface of the heat member is configured such that a region of the surface all around a cylindrical configuration that faces a temperature detection area of the temperature detector has a higher emissivity than other regions.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2011Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Takayuki Ito, Shoichi Yoshikawa, Kuniya Matsuura, Noboru Oomoto, Masayuki Satou
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Publication number: 20120121301Abstract: Provided is a fixing device successively pressurizing and heating a toner image on a recording member being conveyed to fix the toner image onto the recording member, including a pressure roller, a heating roller arranged opposite to the pressure roller and sandwiching, with the pressure roller, the recording member with the toner image formed thereon to pressurize and heat the toner image on the recording member, thereby fixing the toner image onto the recording member, and a housing storing the pressure roller and the heating roller. The housing has a region covered with an emission reducing member smaller in emission rate than the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2011Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Atsuhiko SHIMOYAMA, Hiroshi MIZUNO, Kuniya MATSUURA, Masayuki SATOU, Yasuhiro SUZUKI
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Patent number: 8180253Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus has an electrostatic latent image bearing members, developing devices each including developer and capable of developing corresponding electrostatic latent images on the electrostatic latent image bearing members into visualized developer images, a transfer device capable of transferring the developer images to a sheet, first collecting devices each capable of collecting untransferred developer from the electrostatic latent image bearing members, developer supply devices each capable of supplying the developer to the corresponding developing devices, accommodating sections each combined with the corresponding developer supply devices and capable of accommodating the untransferred developer, a collecting and distributing device capable of collecting the untransferred developer collected by the first collecting devices and distributing the collected untransferred developer to the accommodating sections, and a housing capable of retaining the developer supply deviceType: GrantFiled: January 2, 2008Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hideaki Hayashi, Kuniya Matsuura, Junji Kanda, Yasuaki Tomoda
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Patent number: 8126379Abstract: The present invention provides a developing device which is capable of suppressing the generation of a fogging phenomenon and deposition of carrier particles to an electrostatic latent image carrier and developing the electrostatic latent image efficiently, the device includes a development sleeve and a magnet body onto which the sleeve is fitted, and using a two-component developer. An angular position which indicates the peak value of the magnetic flux density in the normal direction produced by a development pole of the magnet body is shifted downstream from the center position of the development pole in the direction of movement of the surface of a photosensitive member in a development region. The present invention also provides an image forming apparatus which can form high-quality images with reduced noise such as fogging by mounting the developing device.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2009Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Toru Hayase, Yuusuke Okuno, Shigeki Yamamoto, Kuniya Matsuura, Hiroshi Murasaki
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Patent number: 8095043Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention is arranged to hold an intermediate transfer belt and a photoconductive drum out of contact with each other. In a non image formation process in a first mode, the intermediate transfer belt and the photoconductive drum are separated from each other upon completion of the image formation, thereby preventing contamination of the photoconductive drum due to back transfer. In a non image formation process in a second mode, the intermediate transfer belt and the photoconductive drum are separated from each other upon completion of the image formation, and then the intermediate transfer belt and the photoconductive drum are contacted with each other again upon completion of secondary transfer of an image. They are driven for a predetermined time with a speed difference therebetween, thereby abrading the surface of the photoconductive drum to refresh it.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2008Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Kuniya Matsuura