Patents by Inventor Masatoshi Hitaka
Masatoshi Hitaka 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: 11834286Abstract: A paper feeder, includes: a sheet storage that stores sheets; a pick roller that delivers the sheets stored in the sheet storage to a downstream side of a conveyance path; a pair of conveyance rollers that is located on a downstream side of the pick roller in the conveyance path and conveys the sheets delivered from the pick roller to further downstream side in the conveyance path; a drive source that drives the pair of conveyance rollers; and a hardware processor that cleans the pair of conveyance rollers by driving the drive source to rotate the pair of conveyance rollers in a state of being in contact with each other, when the pick roller cannot deliver sheets.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2020Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Toshiyuki Tokuno, Masatoshi Hitaka
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Patent number: 11468279Abstract: An image forming device includes: an image former that executes image forming processing to form an image on a sheet; a primary controller; a secondary controller that controls the image former; a sensor that detects a state of the image former and transmits sensor data indicating the state to the secondary controller; a first transmission path between the secondary controller and the primary controller; and a second transmission path different from the first transmission path. The primary controller instructs the secondary controller to execute the image forming processing. Data related to the execution of the image forming processing is transmitted through the first transmission path. The secondary controller generates diagnostic data for failure diagnostics from the sensor data and life prediction relating to the image forming device and transmits the diagnostic data to the primary controller via the second transmission path.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2020Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventor: Masatoshi Hitaka
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Patent number: 11470206Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image former that executes image forming processing; a primary controller; a secondary controller that controls the image former; a sensor that detects a state of at least a unit of the image forming apparatus and transmits sensor data indicating the state to the secondary controller; a first transmission path for duplex communication between the primary and secondary controllers; and a second transmission path. The secondary controller: generates, from the sensor data, diagnostic data for failure diagnostics or life prediction, transmits data other than the diagnostic data to the primary controller via the first transmission path and transmits the diagnostic data to the diagnostic server via the second transmission path, or transmits data other than the sensor data to the primary controller via the first transmission path and transmits the sensor data to the diagnostic server via the second transmission path.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2021Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventor: Masatoshi Hitaka
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Patent number: 11316984Abstract: An image forming device including an image former, a primary controller, a secondary controller, one or more sensors, an interface, and a writer. The image former executes image forming processing to form an image on a sheet. The primary controller instructs the secondary controller to control the image former to execute the image forming processing. Each sensor detects a state of the image former and outputs sensor data to the secondary controller. The interface can be connected to a storage medium. The secondary controller generates diagnostic data based on the sensor data. The writer writes the diagnostic data to the storage medium via the interface. The diagnostic data is used by a diagnostic server to perform failure diagnostics and life prediction pertaining to the image forming device, after transfer to the diagnostic server via a transfer device when the storage medium is mounted to the transfer device.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2020Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Masatoshi Hitaka, Yasufumi Naitou
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Patent number: 11310370Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that performs image forming processing on a recording sheet; a primary central processing unit (CPU) and a secondary CPU, where the primary CPU receives a job externally and instructs the secondary CPU to monitor and control the image forming unit to perform the image forming processing; sensors that sense a state of the image forming unit and output sensor data indicating the state of the image forming unit, a first transceiver; and a second transceiver. The secondary CPU monitors the sensor data to generate diagnostic data. The first transceiver performs duplex communication with the primary CPU to send and receive data other than the diagnostic data. The second transceiver sends the diagnostic data to the diagnostic server without relaying via the primary CPU.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2020Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventor: Masatoshi Hitaka
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Publication number: 20220116503Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image former that executes image forming processing; a primary controller; a secondary controller that controls the image former; a sensor that detects a state of at least a unit of the image forming apparatus and transmits sensor data indicating the state to the secondary controller; a first transmission path for duplex communication between the primary and secondary controllers; and a second transmission path. The secondary controller: generates, from the sensor data, diagnostic data for failure diagnostics or life prediction, transmits data other than the diagnostic data to the primary controller via the first transmission path and transmits the diagnostic data to the diagnostic server via the second transmission path, or transmits data other than the sensor data to the primary controller via the first transmission path and transmits the sensor data to the diagnostic server via the second transmission path.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2021Publication date: April 14, 2022Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventor: Masatoshi Hitaka
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Patent number: 11142418Abstract: An image forming device comprising: a tray in which multiple number of sheets are stored; a feeder that feeds the sheet stored in the tray; and a hardware processor that: measures a carrying speed of the sheet fed by the feeder; determines whether or not the measured carrying speed is affected by the following sheet; corrects the carrying speed upon determining the carrying speed is affected by the following sheet; and detects a wear status on the feeder based on the measured carrying speed or the corrected carrying speed.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2019Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventor: Masatoshi Hitaka
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Publication number: 20210084175Abstract: An image forming device including an image former, a primary controller, a secondary controller, one or more sensors, an interface, and a writer. The image former executes image forming processing to form an image on a sheet. The primary controller instructs the secondary controller to control the image former to execute the image forming processing. Each sensor detects a state of the image former and outputs sensor data to the secondary controller. The interface can be connected to a storage medium. The secondary controller generates diagnostic data based on the sensor data. The writer writes the diagnostic data to the storage medium via the interface. The diagnostic data is used by a diagnostic server to perform failure diagnostics and life prediction pertaining to the image forming device, after transfer to the diagnostic server via a transfer device when the storage medium is mounted to the transfer device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Masatoshi HITAKA, Yasufumi NAITOU
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Publication number: 20210081733Abstract: An image forming device includes: an image former that executes image forming processing to form an image on a sheet; a primary controller; a secondary controller that controls the image former; a sensor that detects a state of the image former and transmits sensor data indicating the state to the secondary controller; a first transmission path between the secondary controller and the primary controller; and a second transmission path different from the first transmission path. The primary controller instructs the secondary controller to execute the image forming processing. Data related to the execution of the image forming processing is transmitted through the first transmission path. The secondary controller generates diagnostic data for failure diagnostics from the sensor data and life prediction relating to the image forming device and transmits the diagnostic data to the primary controller via the second transmission path.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventor: Masatoshi Hitaka
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Publication number: 20210061593Abstract: A paper feeder, includes: a sheet storage that stores sheets; a pick roller that delivers the sheets stored in the sheet storage to a downstream side of a conveyance path; a pair of conveyance rollers that is located on a downstream side of the pick roller in the conveyance path and conveys the sheets delivered from the pick roller to further downstream side in the conveyance path; a drive source that drives the pair of conveyance rollers; and a hardware processor that cleans the pair of conveyance rollers by driving the drive source to rotate the pair of conveyance rollers in a state of being in contact with each other, when the pick roller cannot deliver sheets.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: Toshiyuki TOKUNO, Masatoshi HITAKA
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Publication number: 20210037144Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that performs image forming processing on a recording sheet; a primary central processing unit (CPU) and a secondary CPU, where the primary CPU receives a job externally and instructs the secondary CPU to monitor and control the image forming unit to perform the image forming processing; sensors that sense a state of the image forming unit and output sensor data indicating the state of the image forming unit, a first transceiver; and a second transceiver. The secondary CPU monitors the sensor data to generate diagnostic data. The first transceiver performs duplex communication with the primary CPU to send and receive data other than the diagnostic data. The second transceiver sends the diagnostic data to the diagnostic server without relaying via the primary CPU.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2020Publication date: February 4, 2021Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventor: Masatoshi Hitaka
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Publication number: 20200285184Abstract: A sheet feeder includes: a tray in which sheets are stored; a feeding part that feeds the sheets in the tray; and a hardware processor that: measures a conveyance speed of the sheets fed by the feeding part; compares the measured conveyance speed with a first standard speed and detects wear in the feeding part; detects an interval between a previous sheet and a following sheet when the following sheet is continuously fed after the previous sheet; and carries out a control to change the conveyance speed of the sheet from a predetermined speed based on the detected interval to correct the interval between the previous sheet and the following sheet. The hardware processor detects the wear in the feeding part based on the conveyance speed measured while the control to change the conveyance speed is not carried out.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2020Publication date: September 10, 2020Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventor: Masatoshi Hitaka
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Patent number: 10733059Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes a first non-volatile memory, a second non-volatile memory smaller in allowable number of times of rewriting of data than the first non-volatile memory and higher in rate of reading of data than the first non-volatile memory, and a processor. The processor backs up control data for the image formation apparatus to the first non-volatile memory, backs up the control data to the second non-volatile memory less frequently than to the first non-volatile memory, and reads the control data from the second non-volatile memory when the control data stored in the first non-volatile memory matches with the control data stored in the second non-volatile memory at the time of start-up of the image formation apparatus and otherwise reads the control data from the first non-volatile memory.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2018Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventor: Masatoshi Hitaka
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Publication number: 20200122941Abstract: An image forming device comprising: a tray in which multiple number of sheets are stored; a feeder that feeds the sheet stored in the tray; and a hardware processor that: measures a carrying speed of the sheet fed by the feeder; determines whether or not the measured carrying speed is affected by the following sheet; corrects the carrying speed upon determining the carrying speed is affected by the following sheet; and detects a wear status on the feeder based on the measured carrying speed or the corrected carrying speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2019Publication date: April 23, 2020Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventor: Masatoshi HITAKA
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Patent number: 10623588Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image former that performs image forming processing to a plurality of sheets included in each of a plurality of sheet groups; and a hardware processor that detects occurrence of a jam, wherein the image former completes the image forming processing to each of the plurality of sheets included in a sheet group not including a jammed sheet that has generated the jam.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2018Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Yasufumi Naitou, Masatoshi Hitaka, Hideki Matsumoto
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Patent number: 10496000Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming controller forming a toner image on an image carrying member, and transferring at a transfer position the toner image formed on the image carrying member onto a sheet being conveyed on a conveyance path, and a hardware-processor. The hardware-processor determines an image position indicating a position for an image to be formed on the sheet, determines a grace period based on the image position, stops the sheet at a waiting position on an upstream side from the transfer position, restarts paper conveyance at a second point when a predetermined period elapses from a first point of starting formation of the toner image on the image carrying member, and conveys the sheet to the transfer position if paper conveyance can be restarted before the grace period elapses from the second point though paper conveyance cannot be restarted at the second point.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2017Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventor: Masatoshi Hitaka
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Patent number: 10367955Abstract: A storage unit stores therein registered data about image forming devices connected to each other via a network. An acquisition unit refers to the registered data to acquire the number of the image forming devices. A consumption ratio monitor unit monitors a consumption ratio of consumables in at least one of the image forming devices. A prediction unit predicts a predicted time for replenishment or replacement of consumables for each image forming device monitored by the consumption rate monitor, based on the consumption ratio of consumables thereof, and corrects the predicted time based on comparison between a number that the acquisition unit has acquired and another number that the acquisition unit previously acquired. A requisition unit issues a request for replenishment or replacement of consumables at the predicted time.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2016Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventor: Masatoshi Hitaka
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Publication number: 20180357128Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes a first non-volatile memory, a second non-volatile memory smaller in allowable number of times of rewriting of data than the first non-volatile memory and higher in rate of reading of data than the first non-volatile memory, and a processor. The processor backs up control data for the image formation apparatus to the first non-volatile memory, backs up the control data to the second non-volatile memory less frequently than to the first non-volatile memory, and reads the control data from the second non-volatile memory when the control data stored in the first non-volatile memory matches with the control data stored in the second non-volatile memory at the time of start-up of the image formation apparatus and otherwise reads the control data from the first non-volatile memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2018Publication date: December 13, 2018Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventor: Masatoshi HITAKA
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Publication number: 20180255188Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image former that performs image forming processing to a plurality of sheets included in each of a plurality of sheet groups; and a hardware processor that detects occurrence of a jam, wherein the image former completes the image forming processing to each of the plurality of sheets included in a sheet group not including a jammed sheet that has generated the jam.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2018Publication date: September 6, 2018Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Yasufumi NAITOU, Masatoshi HITAKA, Hideki MATSUMOTO
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Publication number: 20180143560Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming controller forming a toner image on an image carrying member, and transferring at a transfer position the toner image formed on the image carrying member onto a sheet being conveyed on a conveyance path, and a hardware-processor. The hardware-processor determines an image position indicating a position for an image to be formed on the sheet, determines a grace period based on the image position, stops the sheet at a waiting position on an upstream side from the transfer position, restarts paper conveyance at a second point when a predetermined period elapses from a first point of starting formation of the toner image on the image carrying member, and conveys the sheet to the transfer position if paper conveyance can be restarted before the grace period elapses from the second point though paper conveyance cannot be restarted at the second point.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2017Publication date: May 24, 2018Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventor: Masatoshi HITAKA