Patents by Inventor Makoto Ui

Makoto Ui 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: 10705468
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a conveyer that conveys continuous paper; an image creator that outputs an image onto the continuous paper, a heat source that imparts heat to the continuous paper; and a hardware processor that controls a printing action for forming an image on the continuous paper conveyed in a forward direction by the conveyer, using the image creator and the heat source, wherein when interrupting the printing action, the hardware processor performs withdrawal control in which the continuous paper is conveyed in a reverse direction such that a final image formed on the continuous paper before interruption of the printing action reaches a withdrawal position defined upstream of the heat source in the forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Masahiro Matsuo, Makoto Ui
  • Publication number: 20190179247
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a conveyer that conveys continuous paper; an image creator that outputs an image onto the continuous paper, a heat source that imparts heat to the continuous paper; and a hardware processor that controls a printing action for forming an image on the continuous paper conveyed in a forward direction by the conveyer, using the image creator and the heat source, wherein when interrupting the printing action, the hardware processor performs withdrawal control in which the continuous paper is conveyed in a reverse direction such that a final image formed on the continuous paper before interruption of the printing action reaches a withdrawal position defined upstream of the heat source in the forward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Masahiro MATSUO, Makoto UI
  • Publication number: 20190070871
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is connected to a paper processing apparatus and includes an image forming unit, a nip part and a hardware processor. The image forming unit performs image forming on continuous paper being conveyed on a conveyance path. The nip part nips the paper on the conveyance path. The processor selectively performs first control and second control according to an output timing of a conveyance control signal if the signal is output from the paper processing apparatus or the image forming apparatus. In the first control, the processor notifies the paper processing apparatus of permission to start or stop conveying the paper after causing the nip part to perform a press-and-contact operation or a separation operation. In the second control, the processor notifies the paper processing apparatus of the permission without causing the nip part to perform either operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Masahiro MATSUO, Shingo SASAMI, Ken MIYAZAKI, Makoto UI, Motoki NAKAMICHI, Tomoo KUDO
  • Patent number: 9885980
    Abstract: The image formation apparatus includes a transport frame including a maximum front-to-back medium width passage area defined in an area between a first back side passage line and a first front side passage line, and allowing a continuous medium of a maximum front-to-back width to pass therethrough, and a minimum front-to-back medium width passage area defined in an area located inside the maximum front-to-back medium width passage area between a second back side passage line and a second front side passage line, and allowing a continuous medium of a minimum front-to-back width to pass therethrough, in a state where the transport frame is drawn out most frontward and a toner replenishment door is opened most wide downward, when the toner replenishment door is seen downward projectively, at least a portion of the first back side passage line being covered with the toner replenishment door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Makoto Ui
  • Patent number: 9845214
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a sheet conveyance section configured to convey a long sheet along a sheet feeding path; and an image forming section configured to form an image on the long sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyance section, the sheet conveyance section including a conveyance unit that includes a first conveyance roller and a second conveyance roller for conveying the long sheet in a sandwiching manner, and is movable along a sheet conveyance direction in a state where the long sheet is conveyed through the sheet feeding path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Makoto Ui
  • Publication number: 20170255130
    Abstract: The image formation apparatus includes a transport frame including a maximum front-to-back medium width passage area defined in an area between a first back side passage line and a first front side passage line, and allowing a continuous medium of a maximum front-to-back width to pass therethrough, and a minimum front-to-back medium width passage area defined in an area located inside the maximum front-to-back medium width passage area between a second back side passage line and a second front side passage line, and allowing a continuous medium of a minimum front-to-back width to pass therethrough, in a state where the transport frame is drawn out most frontward and a toner replenishment door is opened most wide downward, when the toner replenishment door is seen downward projectively, at least a portion of the first back side passage line being covered with the toner replenishment door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventor: Makoto UI
  • Patent number: 9688497
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus forms an image on a roll sheet. A printer receives the roll sheet, forms the image thereon and ejects the image-formed roll sheet to a reel. A sheet position sensor, which is positioned near the printer, measures a position of the roll sheet along a width direction thereof. A control portion receives positional measurement data about the position of the roll sheet along the width direction thereof from the sheet position sensor and controls at least one of start time of image-forming operation in the printer and an image-writing position of the printer by settling at least one of the start time of image-forming operation and the image-writing position based on the positional measurement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Masahiro Matsuo, Makoto Ui
  • Patent number: 9690239
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes the following. A conveying unit conveys a continuous sheet at least longer than a length of the apparatus itself. A first rotating member can be pressed to and separated from a second rotating member. The first rotating member can be rotated separated from the second rotating member. The continuous sheet can be stopped and held when the first rotating member is separated from the second rotating member. The image forming apparatus further includes a control unit. When the continuous sheet is stopped and held and the rotation of the first rotating member is started separated from the second rotating member, the control unit moves at least one of the first rotating member and the continuous sheet so that the continuous sheet is not in contact with the first rotating member, and then the control unit starts rotation of the first rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Makoto Ui, Kazunori Katada, Toshiaki Tomino
  • Patent number: 9671733
    Abstract: A fixing device and An image forming apparatus include: a first pressure roller having an elastic layer in a surface layer section; a fixing belt wound on the elastic layer of the first pressure roller; a second pressure roller that presses the elastic layer of the first pressure roller via the fixing belt, the second pressure roller forming a fixing nip portion between the fixing belt and the second pressure roller; and a guide member that guides the fixing belt in such a manner as to separate the fixing belt from a protruding portion of the elastic layer, the protruding portion being formed on an entrance side of the fixing nip portion in a sheet conveying direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC
    Inventors: Asahi Ebe, Toshihiro Wazumi, Makoto Ui, Tomoyuki Hayakawa, Akihiko Ooishi
  • Publication number: 20160282775
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes the following. A conveying unit conveys a continuous sheet at least longer than a length of the apparatus itself. A first rotating member can be pressed to and separated from a second rotating member. The first rotating member can be rotated separated from the second rotating member. The continuous sheet can be stopped and held when the first rotating member is separated from the second rotating member. The image forming apparatus further includes a control unit. When the continuous sheet is stopped and held and the rotation of the first rotating member is started separated from the second rotating member, the control unit moves at least one of the first rotating member and the continuous sheet so that the continuous sheet is not in contact with the first rotating member, and then the control unit starts rotation of the first rotating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Makoto UI, Kazunori KATADA, Toshiaki TOMINO
  • Publication number: 20160185142
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus forms an image on a roll sheet. A printer receives the roll sheet, forms the image thereon and ejects the image-formed roll sheet to a reel. A sheet position sensor, which is positioned near the printer, measures a position of the roll sheet along a width direction thereof. A control portion receives positional measurement data about the position of the roll sheet along the width direction thereof from the sheet position sensor and controls at least one of start time of image-forming operation in the printer and an image-writing position of the printer by settling at least one of the start time of image-forming operation and the image-writing position based on the positional measurement data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Masahiro MATSUO, Makoto UI
  • Publication number: 20160060063
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a sheet conveyance section configured to convey a long sheet along a sheet feeding path; and an image forming section configured to form an image on the long sheet conveyed by the sheet conveyance section, the sheet conveyance section including a conveyance unit that includes a first conveyance roller and a second conveyance roller for conveying the long sheet in a sandwiching manner, and is movable along a sheet conveyance direction in a state where the long sheet is conveyed through the sheet feeding path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventor: Makoto UI
  • Patent number: 8746691
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section to form an image on a sheet, a reversing section to reverse the sheet between front and rear surfaces, and an apparatus main body that houses the image forming section and the reversing section. The reversing section includes a lower-side horizontal conveying path arranged horizontally and adapted to convey the sheet, an upper-side horizontal conveying path arranged vertically above the lower-side horizontal conveying path and extending parallel to the lower-side horizontal conveying path, and a connection conveying path which connects the lower-side horizontal conveying path and the upper-side horizontal conveying path and is detachably coupled to the upper-side horizontal conveying path. The reversing section is horizontally supported by the apparatus main body so as to be movable along a direction in which the sheet is sent from the lower-side horizontal conveying path or upper-side horizontal conveying path to the connection conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Hajime Nakamura, Makoto Ui
  • Publication number: 20140086650
    Abstract: A fixing device and An image forming apparatus include: a first pressure roller having an elastic layer in a surface layer section; a fixing belt wound on the elastic layer of the first pressure roller; a second pressure roller that presses the elastic layer of the first pressure roller via the fixing belt, the second pressure roller forming a fixing nip portion between the fixing belt and the second pressure roller; and a guide member that guides the fixing belt in such a manner as to separate the fixing belt from a protruding portion of the elastic layer, the protruding portion being formed on an entrance side of the fixing nip portion in a sheet conveying direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Asahi EBE, Toshihiro WAZUMI, Makoto UI, Tomoyuki HAYAKAWA, Akihiko OOISHI
  • Publication number: 20130320615
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section to form an image on a sheet, a reversing section to reverse the sheet between front and rear surfaces, and an apparatus main body that houses the image forming section and the reversing section. The reversing section includes a lower-side horizontal conveying path arranged horizontally and adapted to convey the sheet, an upper-side horizontal conveying path arranged vertically above the lower-side horizontal conveying path and extending parallel to the lower-side horizontal conveying path, and a connection conveying path which connects the lower-side horizontal conveying path and the upper-side horizontal conveying pathand is detachably coupled to the upper-side horizontal conveying path. The reversing section is horizontally supported by the apparatus main body so as to be movable along a direction in which the sheet is sent from the lower-side horizontal conveying path or upper-side horizontal conveying path to the connection conveying path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Hajime NAKAMURA, Makoto UI
  • Patent number: 8459640
    Abstract: A transporting device includes steering rollers, a center roller which is disposed between the steering rollers and deflection-detecting sensors that are positioned downstream from the steering rollers. When a sheet of paper has a width which is narrower than a width of a reference sheet of paper, the positional deflection of the sheet of paper is corrected by transporting the sheet of paper to a shift roller with the sheet of paper being nipped by the center roller and thrusting a forward end of the sheet of paper against a shift roller. When a sheet of paper has a width which exceeds the width of the reference sheet of paper, the positional deflection of the sheet of paper is corrected by rotating the steering rollers separately based on a detected result of the sensors with the sheet of paper being nipped by the steering rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Makoto Ui
  • Publication number: 20120286468
    Abstract: A transporting device includes steering rollers, a center roller which is disposed between the steering rollers and deflection-detecting sensors that are positioned downstream from the steering rollers. When a sheet of paper has a width which is narrower than a width of a reference sheet of paper, the positional deflection of the sheet of paper is corrected by transporting the sheet of paper to a shift roller with the sheet of paper being nipped by the center roller and thrusting a forward end of the sheet of paper against a shift roller. When a sheet of paper has a width which exceeds the width of the reference sheet of paper, the positional deflection of the sheet of paper is corrected by rotating the steering rollers separately based on a detected result of the sensors with the sheet of paper being nipped by the steering rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Makoto UI
  • Publication number: 20120269563
    Abstract: In a transporting device that transports a sheet of paper which is transporting on a first direction, a control unit has a detection-unit-cleaning mode in which when roller members move to a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction, to perform a correction of the positional deflection of the sheet of paper, the control unit controls the roller members to move the sheet of paper to an outside position from an image forming position and a position of the side end of the sheet of paper when the sheet of paper passes through the detection unit, and then to move the sheet of paper to the image forming position, based on the image forming position and the position of a side end of the sheet of paper, which is detected by a detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Makoto UI
  • Patent number: 6473112
    Abstract: The invention concerns an image forming apparatus provided with an automatic writing-position determining device for forming an image always at a correct position on the recording material. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming section to form an image by writing each of scanning lines, an end position detecting section to detect an end position of a recording material in a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the recording material, and a selecting section to select either an automatic writing-position determining mode or a predetermined writing-position determining mode. When the selecting section selects the automatic writing-position determining mode, the image forming section commences an image writing action from a writing start position determined on the basis of a detected result of the end position detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Ui, Fumio Haibara, Jun Yokobori, Tetsuya Niitsuma, Norio Joichi
  • Patent number: D559389
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Noriaki Takahashi, Makoto Ui