Patents by Inventor Mitsuru Obara
Mitsuru Obara 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: 20110020022Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member that moves at a specified speed; a toner pattern forming section for forming toner patterns of a specified type on the image bearing member under specified image forming conditions; a toner pattern detection member for detecting the toner patterns formed on the image bearing member; a toner amount varying section for varying a target amount of toner to adhere to the toner patterns; and a control section that calculates a toner adherence amount and a toner adherence position from detection results outputted from the toner pattern detection member and that performs image stabilization control to adjust the image forming conditions based on the calculation results. In the image stabilization control, the control section uses detection results of the same toner patterns both to calculate the toner adherence amount and to calculate the toner adherence position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2010Publication date: January 27, 2011Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Mitsuru OBARA, Soh Hirota, Hironori Akashi, Takashi Harashima, Kanako Kibihara
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Patent number: 7840148Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a secondary transfer roller that becomes a pressed state to make an intermediate transfer belt perform a transfer process and can move between the pressed state and a separated state, a press and separation driving device for driving the secondary transfer roller to become the pressed state and the separated state, a press and separation detecting device for detecting a pressed or separated state, and a voltage applying portion for applying a voltage between the intermediate transfer belt and the secondary transfer roller. The press and separation detecting device includes a resistor for detecting a current and a determination portion for determining a pressed or separated state in accordance with the detected current.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2007Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Masaki Tanaka, Katsuyuki Hirata, Mitsuru Obara, Toshio Tsuboi, Tatsuya Isono
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Patent number: 7697856Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a structure in which a toner image formed in an electrophotographic process is transferred from an intermediate transfer belt to a member to be transferred. The apparatus includes a secondary transfer roller that becomes a pressure contact state with respect to the intermediate transfer belt to make it perform a transfer process and can move between the pressure contact state and a separated state, and a press and separation driving device for driving the secondary transfer roller to become the pressure contact state and the separated state. The pressure contact state or the separated state of the secondary transfer roller is detected in accordance with a variation of an output of an IDC sensor for detecting a state of a bare surface of the intermediate transfer belt.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2007Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Toshio Tsuboi, Masaki Tanaka, Tatsuya Isono, Mitsuru Obara, Katsuyuki Hirata
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Patent number: 7676163Abstract: In an image forming apparatus of the present invention, a developing unit for magenta contains magenta-type toner for pseudo full-color image forming whose chromaticity point is shifted closer to yellow hue on a chromaticity diagram, in comparison with genuine-magenta toner for full-color image forming, and likewise, a developing unit for cyan contains cyan-type toner for the pseudo full-color image forming whose chromaticity point is shifted closer to yellow hue on the chromaticity diagram, in comparison with genuine-cyan toner for the full-color image forming.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2008Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kazuomi Sakatani, Soh Hirota, Masahiro Kouzaki, Mitsuru Obara, Masaki Tanaka
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Publication number: 20090310985Abstract: The developing apparatus, having stirring members for conveying and stirring developer-tank-contained developer and a developer holder, comprises a developer replenishing tank; a magnetic-type toner concentration detecting sensor; a trickle-type discharging mechanism; conveying state switching device for temporarily blocking the flow of the developer-tank-contained developer and for temporarily switching the circulating state of the developer-tank-contained developer to the staying state thereof; and a controller for controlling replenishment operation for replenishing the toner and the carrier for replenishment to the developer tank when the toner concentration is lower than a predetermined reference toner concentration, wherein the controller determines the amounts of the toner and the carrier to be replenished on the basis of the calculated toner concentration and the estimated amount of the developer.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2009Publication date: December 17, 2009Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Katsuyuki HIRATA, Kazuomi SAKATANI, Mitsuru OBARA, Yoshinori TSUTSUMI
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Publication number: 20090310984Abstract: The developing apparatus, having stirring members for conveying and stirring developer-tank-contained developer and a developer holder, comprises a developer replenishing tank; a toner concentration detecting sensor; a trickle-type discharging mechanism; a developer amount estimating sensor; and a controller for controlling replenishment operation for replenishing the toner and the carrier for replenishment to the developer tank when the toner concentration is lower than a predetermined reference toner concentration, wherein the controller determines the amounts of the toner and the carrier to be replenished on the basis of the calculated toner concentration and the estimated amount of the developer.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2009Publication date: December 17, 2009Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Kazuomi Sakatani, Katsuyuki Hirata, Mitsuru Obara, Yoshinori Tsutsumi
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Publication number: 20090311009Abstract: In a developer cartridge of toner and carrier, uneven distribution of the carrier at least in the vicinity of a replenishing port is eliminated regardless of the composition ratio between the carrier and the toner and the specific gravity of the carrier. Provided is a construction including a developer container in which a developer containing toner and carrier is received and which has a developing roller to supply the toner to an image carrier, a developer cartridge in which a replenishing developer containing the toner and the carrier is received and which has a replenishing port connected to the developer container to allow the developer container to be replenished with the developer via the replenishing port, and stirring means capable of stirring the developer located at least in the vicinity of the replenishing port in the developer cartridge.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2009Publication date: December 17, 2009Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Shigeki NAIKI, Hironori Akashi, Soh Hirota, Mitsuru Obara
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Patent number: 7522864Abstract: In an image forming apparatus of the present invention, a developing unit for magenta contains magenta-type toner for pseudo full-color image forming whose chromaticity point is shifted closer to yellow hue on a chromaticity diagram, in comparison with genuine-magenta toner for full-color image forming, and likewise, a developing unit for cyan contains cyan-type toner for the pseudo full-color image forming whose chromaticity point is shifted closer to yellow hue on the chromaticity diagram, in comparison with genuine-cyan toner for the full-color image forming.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2006Date of Patent: April 21, 2009Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kazuomi Sakatani, Soh Hirota, Masahiro Kouzaki, Mitsuru Obara, Masaki Tanaka
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Publication number: 20080292336Abstract: In an image forming apparatus of the present invention, a developing unit for magenta contains magenta-type toner for pseudo full-color image forming whose chromaticity point is shifted closer to yellow hue on a chromaticity diagram, in comparison with genuine-magenta toner for full-color image forming, and likewise, a developing unit for cyan contains cyan-type toner for the pseudo full-color image forming whose chromaticity point is shifted closer to yellow hue on the chromaticity diagram, in comparison with genuine-cyan toner for the full-color image forming.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2008Publication date: November 27, 2008Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Kazuomi Sakatani, Soh Hirota, Masahiro Kouzaki, Mitsuru Obara, Masaki Tanaka
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Publication number: 20080232937Abstract: A substrate transfer apparatus 100 includes a substrate transport means 4 having a transport base 5 and a plurality of retention arms 41a-41e for retaining substrates W, an optical sensor 62 that is used to define a horizontal optical axis L, an elevator means 52 for moving the transport base 5 up and down, and a height detection means 54 for detecting the height of the transport base 5 relative to the optical axis L. In accordance with a light-reception/no-light-reception detection result fed from the optical sensor 62 and the height of the transport base 5, a judgment means 72a of a control section 7 judges whether the postures of the retention arms 41a-41e relative to the horizontal plane are normal. When the judgment means 72a judges that the postures of the retention arms 41a-41e relative to the horizontal plane are abnormal, the control section 7 exercises control to stop the substrate transport means 4.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2008Publication date: September 25, 2008Inventors: Yo Abe, Mitsuru Obara, Takahiro Abe
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Publication number: 20070217801Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a structure in which a toner image formed in an electrophotographic process is transferred from an intermediate transfer belt to a member to be transferred. The apparatus includes a secondary transfer roller that becomes a pressure contact state with respect to the intermediate transfer belt to make it perform a transfer process and can move between the pressure contact state and a separated state, and a press and separation driving device for driving the secondary transfer roller to become the pressure contact state and the separated state. The pressure contact state or the separated state of the secondary transfer roller is detected in accordance with a variation of an output of an IDC sensor for detecting a state of a bare surface of the intermediate transfer belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2007Publication date: September 20, 2007Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Toshio Tsuboi, Masaki Tanaka, Tatsuya Isono, Mitsuru Obara, Katsuyuki Hirata
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Publication number: 20070196126Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a secondary transfer roller that becomes a pressed state to make an intermediate transfer belt perform a transfer process and can move between the pressed state and a separated state, a press and separation driving device for driving the secondary transfer roller to become the pressed state and the separated state, a press and separation detecting device for detecting a pressed or separated state, and a voltage applying portion for applying a voltage between the intermediate transfer belt and the secondary transfer roller. The press and separation detecting device includes a resistor for detecting a current and a determination portion for determining a pressed or separated state in accordance with the detected current.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2007Publication date: August 23, 2007Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Masaki Tanaka, Katsuyuki Hirata, Mitsuru Obara, Toshio Tsuboi, Tatsuya Isono
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Patent number: 7248805Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a developing device including a developer reservoir for accommodating a mixed developer. The mixed developer includes a plurality of types of toner having a generally identical hue and different reflection densities. The apparatus also includes a replenishment device having a plurality of toner containers each accommodating one of the plurality of types of toner for replenishing the plurality of types of toner to the developer reservoir; a first detector for detecting whether each of the toner containers is completely empty of toner; and a second detector for detecting whether the developer reservoir is nearly or completely empty of mixed developer. A controller controls the replenishment device and allows or prohibits a printing operation based on the detection result of the first and the second detectors.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2004Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Soh Hirota, Masaki Tanaka, Masahiro Kouzaki, Kazuomi Sakatani, Mitsuru Obara
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Publication number: 20070122198Abstract: In an image forming apparatus of the present invention, a developing unit for magenta contains magenta-type toner for pseudo full-color image forming whose chromaticity point is shifted closer to yellow hue on a chromaticity diagram, in comparison with genuine-magenta toner for full-color image forming, and likewise, a developing unit for cyan contains cyan-type toner for the pseudo full-color image forming whose chromaticity point is shifted closer to yellow hue on the chromaticity diagram, in comparison with genuine-cyan toner for the full-color image forming.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2006Publication date: May 31, 2007Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Kazuomi Sakatani, Soh Hirota, Masahiro Kouzaki, Mitsuru Obara, Masaki Tanaka
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Patent number: 7212752Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a developer reservoir for accommodating a single-component mixed developer including two types of toner having a generally identical hue and different reflection densities. A magnetic substance is added to one of the two types of toner. The apparatus also includes a detector for detecting a magnetic permeability of the developer in the developer reservoir and a unit for determining a mixture ratio of the two types of toner based on the magnetic permeability of the developer detected by the detector.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2004Date of Patent: May 1, 2007Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Soh Hirota, Masaki Tanaka, Masahiro Kouzaki, Kazuomi Sakatani, Mitsuru Obara
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Publication number: 20060029403Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a developer reservoir for accommodating a single-component mixed developer including two types of toner having a generally identical hue and different reflection densities. A magnetic substance is added to one of the two types of toner. The apparatus also includes a detector for detecting a magnetic permeability of the developer in the developer reservoir and a unit for determining a mixture ratio of the two types of toner based on the magnetic permeability of the developer detected by the detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2004Publication date: February 9, 2006Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Soh Hirota, Masaki Tanaka, Masahiro Kouzaki, Kazuomi Sakatani, Mitsuru Obara
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Publication number: 20060029404Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a developing device including a developer reservoir for accommodating a mixed developer. The mixed developer includes a plurality of types of toner having a generally identical hue and different reflection densities. The apparatus also includes a replenishment device having a plurality of toner containers each accommodating one of the plurality of types of toner for replenishing the plurality of types of toner to the developer reservoir; a first detector for detecting whether each of the toner containers is completely empty of toner; and a second detector for detecting whether the developer reservoir is nearly or completely empty of mixed developer. A controller controls the replenishment device and allows or prohibits a printing operation based on the detection result of the first and the second detectors.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2004Publication date: February 9, 2006Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Soh Hirota, Masaki Tanaka, Masahiro Kouzaki, Kazuomi Sakatani, Mitsuru Obara
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Patent number: 6957956Abstract: A vertical heat-processing apparatus (1) includes a vertical heat-processing furnace (2) having a furnace port (3), a lid (5) movable up and down to open and close the furnace port, and a rotation mechanism (15) disposed on the lid to rotate a holder (13) that holds a number of target substrates (W). The rotation mechanism (15) includes a rotary shaft (16), and a support unit (19) that supports the rotary shaft (16) rotatably through a bearing (17) and sealing member (18). The rotary shaft (16) has a hollow structure with a thin wall, and is supplied with a cooling gas to flow inside and outside the rotary shaft. The support unit (19) has a cooling passage (32) surrounding an upper portion of the rotary shaft (16), and is supplied with a coolant to flow through the cooling passage.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2003Date of Patent: October 25, 2005Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Katsuya Toba, Kiichi Takahashi, Mitsuru Obara
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Publication number: 20050175952Abstract: A vertical heat-processing apparatus (1) includes a vertical heat-processing furnace (2) having a furnace port (3), a lid (5) movable up and down to open and close the furnace port, and a rotation mechanism (15) disposed on the lid to rotate a holder (13) that holds a number of target substrates (W). The rotation mechanism (15) includes a rotary shaft (16), and a support unit (19) that supports the rotary shaft (16) rotatably through a bearing (17) and sealing member (18). The rotary shaft (16) has a hollow structure with a thin wall, and is supplied with a cooling gas to flow inside and outside the rotary shaft. The support unit (19) has a cooling passage (32) surrounding an upper portion of the rotary shaft (16), and is supplied with a coolant to flow through the cooling passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2003Publication date: August 11, 2005Applicant: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Katsuya Toba, Kiichi Takahashi, Mitsuru Obara
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Patent number: 6891644Abstract: An image processing system provided with a line sensor for reading image signals in line units. First, the line sensor scans a document in a normal direction. At this time the image data obtained by the scan are subjected to image processing such as compression and the like. Areas of image data that cannot be processed to the high moving speed of the scanner are subjected to image processing by later performing a scan in the reverse direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1999Date of Patent: May 10, 2005Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiro Ishiguro, Junji Nishigaki, Mitsuru Obara