Patents by Inventor Tetsuo Hirata

Tetsuo Hirata 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).

  • Publication number: 20200166428
    Abstract: A road damage calculation system of the present invention includes a load detector that detects a load applied to a road from a vehicle on the road, and a server including a hardware processor that calculates road damage from the load obtained by the load detector and accumulates the calculated road damage to calculate accumulated road damage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Asahi EBE, Takayuki DOUI, Shinichi IIZUKA, Tetsuo HIRATA, Masashi AOKI, Tadaaki SUMITANI
  • Publication number: 20200164884
    Abstract: A road damage control system of the present invention includes a load detector that detects a load applied to a road from a vehicle on the road, and a server including a hardware processor that calculates road damage from the load obtained by the load detector, accumulates the calculated road damage to calculate accumulated road damage, estimates a road life from an allowable total road damage amount and the accumulated road damage, and outputs information about traffic regulation to be performed on the road to extend the estimated road life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Asahi EBE, Shinichi IIZUKA, Takayuki DOUI, Tetsuo HIRATA, Masashi AOKI, Tadaaki SUMITANI
  • Patent number: 8422936
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming system including: an image forming apparatus; finishing apparatuses; and a conveyance unit apparatus; wherein the image forming apparatus include: a control section to judge which of the finishing apparatuses performs finishing and to transmit a judgment result to the conveyance unit apparatus, and the conveyance unit apparatus includes: placement sections, a conveyance path, discharging sections, discharging-section switching sections among which a discharging-section switching section corresponding to a discharging section discharging the sheet is switched, and a control section which judges the discharging section as discharging the sheet based on the judgment result and which switches the discharging-section switching section so that the sheet is discharged to the judged discharging section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Tetsuo Hirata
  • Patent number: 7866643
    Abstract: An image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a book binding apparatus, the image forming system includes: a first detection section which detects maximum and minimum book-body sheet length in the bundle of the book-body sheets; a second detection section which detects a thickness of the bundle of the book-body sheets; a third detection section which detects a cover sheet length; a selection section to select whether the cover sheet length is determined based on the maximum book-body sheet length or on the minimum book-body sheet length; a calculation section which calculates a cutting amount of the cover sheet according to the selection; a trimming section which cuts the cover sheet based on the calculated cutting amount; and a book binding section which encases the bundle of sheets of the book-body with the U-shaped cover sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Motoki Nakamichi, Tetsuo Hirata, Norishige Kato, Takehiro Ogushi, Yasushi Saitsu
  • Publication number: 20110002722
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming system including: an image forming apparatus; finishing apparatuses; and a conveyance unit apparatus; wherein the image forming apparatus include: a control section to judge which of the finishing apparatuses performs finishing to transmit a judgment result to the conveyance unit apparatus, and the conveyance unit apparatus includes: placement sections, a conveyance path, discharging sections, discharging-section switching sections among which a discharging-section switching section corresponding to a discharging section discharging the sheet is switched, and a control section to judges the discharging section which discharges the sheet on the basis of the judgment result to switch the discharging-section switching section so that the sheet is discharged to the judged discharging section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Tetsuo HIRATA
  • Patent number: 7783245
    Abstract: A book-binding apparatus having: a reception vessel to receive glue in liquid form; application section to apply the glue in the reception vessel to a sheet; a hopper to receive a raw material of the glue for refill; a refilling section to refill the raw material of the glue from the hopper to the reception vessel; and a control section to control the refilling section, wherein the raw material of the glue is refilled into the reception vessel in a period where application of the glue is not carried out after application of the glue is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Motoki Nakamichi, Tetsuo Hirata, Norishige Kato, Takehiro Ogushi, Yasushi Saitsu
  • Patent number: 7673866
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus is connected between an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus to receive the sheet ejected from the image forming apparatus, and to eject the sheet to the post-processing apparatus. The sheet conveying apparatus receives, from the post-processing apparatus, a sheet reception line speed information showing a line speed for the post-processing apparatus to receive the sheet, and receives, from the image forming apparatus, a sheet ejection line speed information showing a line speed for the image forming apparatus to eject the sheet. A conveyance line speed control section controls the conveyance line speed at the time of receiving the sheet from the image forming apparatus based on a sheet ejection line speed information, and controls the conveyance line speed at the time of ejecting the sheet to the post-processing apparatus based on a sheet reception line speed information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Saitsu, Tetsuo Hirata, Motoki Nakamichi, Norishige Kato, Takehiro Ogushi
  • Patent number: 7660556
    Abstract: In a sheet post processing apparatus having a folding device that carries out the process of book folding by folding either one sheet or a plurality of sheets at a time on the sheets discharge from the image forming apparatus, a sheet stacking section that successively stacks the booklet-folded sheets, and a control unit that controls the sheet post processing apparatus, said control unit controls said folding device so that said booklet folding process of said sheets is carried out at the portions of two folding lines which are almost parallel thereby obtaining a square-shaped back of booklet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Saitsu, Tetsuo Hirata, Motoki Nakamichi, Norishige Kato, Takehiro Ogushi
  • Patent number: 7586634
    Abstract: An image forming system having an image forming apparatus for forming an image onto a recording medium, and a plurality of finishing apparatus for processing the recoding medium ejected from the image forming apparatus, each finishing apparatus of the plurality of finishing apparatuses includes, a communication device for controlling communication between the image forming apparatus and the finishing apparatus itself, a first communication line for sending and receiving data between the finishing apparatus and the image forming apparatus through the communication device for controlling the finishing apparatus, and a second communication line adapted for bypassing the communication device arranged in the finishing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Takehiro Ogushi, Tetsuo Hirata, Motoki Nakamichi, Norishige Kato, Yasushi Saitsu
  • Patent number: 7522855
    Abstract: An image forming system including: an image forming apparatus which executes a print job to form an image on a recording medium; and a post processing apparatus which carries out a post processing to the medium on which the image has been formed; wherein, the image forming apparatus includes a control section to control the image forming apparatus such that, if there is a waiting period in a preceding print job being under execution, a succeeding print job is executed during the waiting period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Motoki Nakamichi, Tetsuo Hirata, Norishige Kato, Takehiro Ogushi, Yasushi Saitsu
  • Patent number: 7497427
    Abstract: When a job cancellation instruction has been specified, if the number of the recording sheets loaded on the stacker device of a post-processing apparatus is not greater than the predetermined number of sheets, the aforementioned recording sheets are ejected without being subjected to the process of stapling and if it is greater than the predetermined number of sheets, the recording sheets having been stapled are ejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Takehiro Ogushi, Tetsuo Hirata, Motoki Nakamichi, Norishige Kato, Yasushi Saitsu
  • Patent number: 7413176
    Abstract: A sheet finisher includes a sheet stacker for stacking sheets conveyed from an image forming apparatus to form a sheet bundle and a binding device for binding the sheet bundle with a staple, further includes a center folding device for center folding sheets conveyed from the image forming apparatus, a first conveying device for conveying sheets conveyed from the image forming apparatus to the sheet stacker without passing through the center folding device, and a second conveying device for conveying the sheets to the sheet stacker via the center folding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Hirata, Motoki Nakamichi, Norishige Kato, Takehiro Ogushi, Yasushi Saitsu
  • Patent number: 7341247
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming member to form an image to an recording material, a plurality of sheet finisher units, each of which performs different sheet finishing to the recording material on which the image has formed, a plurality of indicating member provided respectively at least one to the each sheet finisher unit, an input member to accept an input of a sheet finishing mode corresponding to the sheet finishing performed by the sheet finisher unit, a sheet finishing judging member to judge the sheet finisher unit performing the sheet finishing corresponding to the input sheet finishing mode, and an indicating control member to light the indicating member provided to the judged sheet finisher unit in a first display mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Hirata, Motoki Nakamichi, Eiji Anzai, Norishige Kato, Takehiro Ogushi
  • Publication number: 20080038092
    Abstract: An image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a book binding apparatus, the image forming system includes: a first detection section which detects maximum and minimum book-body sheet length in the bundle of the book-body sheets; a second detection section which detects a thickness of the bundle of the book-body sheets; a third detection section which detects a cover sheet length; a selection section to select whether the cover sheet length is determined based on the maximum book-body sheet length or on the minimum book-body sheet length; a calculation section which calculates a cutting amount of the cover sheet according to the selection; a trimming section which cuts the cover sheet based on the calculated cutting amount; and a book binding section which encases the bundle of sheets of the book-body with the U-shaped cover sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Motoki NAKAMICHI, Tetsuo Hirata, Norishige Kato, Takehiro Ogushi, Yasushi Saitsu
  • Publication number: 20070175386
    Abstract: A book-binding apparatus having: a reception vessel to receive glue in liquid form: application section to apply the glue in the reception vessel to a sheet; a hopper to receive a raw material of the glue for refill; refilling section to refill the raw material of the glue from the hopper to the reception vessel; and a control section to control the refilling section, wherein the raw material of the glue is refilled into the reception vessel in a period where application of the glue is not carried out after application of the glue is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Motoki Nakamichi, Tetsuo Hirata, Norishige Kato, Takehiro Ogushi, Yasushi Saitsu
  • Publication number: 20070170635
    Abstract: A sheet conveying apparatus is connected between an image forming apparatus and a post-processing apparatus to receive the sheet ejected from the image forming apparatus, and to eject the sheet to the post-processing apparatus. The sheet conveying apparatus receives, from the post-processing apparatus, a sheet reception line speed information showing a line speed for the post-processing apparatus to receive the sheet, and receives, from the image forming apparatus, a sheet ejection line speed information showing a line speed for the image forming apparatus to eject the sheet. A conveyance line speed control section controls the conveyance line speed at the time of receiving the sheet from the image forming apparatus based on a sheet ejection line speed information, and controls the conveyance line speed at the time of ejecting the sheet to the post-processing apparatus based on a sheet reception line speed information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Yasushi Saitsu, Tetsuo Hirata, Motoki Nakamichi, Norishige Kato, Takehiro Ogushi
  • Publication number: 20070170631
    Abstract: A bookbinding apparatus that binds a book by stacking a plurality of sheets to generate a bundle of sheets, and by wrapping the aforesaid bundle of sheets with a cover sheet in a U-shaped form, wherein there are provided the first holding member for holding the bundle of sheets, the second holding member that is arranged to have an initial gap between itself and the first holding member at an initial position, a moving device that moves at least the second holding member from its initial position, a measuring device that measures a thickness of the bundle of sheets by causing the moving device to operate so that the first holding member and the second holding member may hold the bundle of the sheets and a control device that practices measurement operation to measure the initial gap between the first holding member and the second holding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Norishige Kato, Tetsuo Hirata, Motoki Nakamichi, Takehiro Ogushi, Yasushi Saitsu
  • Publication number: 20070048056
    Abstract: When a job cancellation instruction has been specified, if the number of the recording sheets loaded on the stacker device of a post-processing apparatus is not greater than the predetermined number of sheets, the aforementioned recording sheets are ejected without being subjected to the process of stapling and if it is greater than the predetermined number of sheets, the recording sheets having been stapled are ejected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Takehiro Ogushi, Tetsuo Hirata, Motoki Nakamichi, Norishige Kato, Yasushi Saitsu
  • Publication number: 20070036574
    Abstract: An image forming system including: an image forming apparatus which executes a print job to form an image on a recording medium; and a post processing apparatus which carries out a post processing to the medium on which the image has been formed; wherein, the image forming apparatus includes a control section to control the image forming apparatus such that, if there is a waiting period in a preceding print job being under execution, a succeeding print job is executed during the waiting period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Publication date: February 15, 2007
    Inventors: Motoki Nakamichi, Tetsuo Hirata, Norishige Kato, Takehiro Ogushi, Yasushi Saitsu
  • Patent number: 7175173
    Abstract: An image forming system includes: an image forming apparatus capable of conveying a recording sheet at a predetermined speed; at least one finisher capable of conveying the sheet eject from the image forming apparatus at a prescribed speed to process the sheet; and a controller for changing a conveyance speed of the recording sheet in the finisher to be higher than that of the sheet in the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eiji Anzai, Tetsuo Hirata, Motoki Nakamichi, Norishige Kato, Takehiro Ogushi, Yasushi Saitsu