Patents by Inventor Toshiyuki TOKUNO

Toshiyuki TOKUNO 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: 11834286
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Tokuno, Masatoshi Hitaka
  • Publication number: 20210061593
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Toshiyuki TOKUNO, Masatoshi HITAKA
  • Patent number: 9342032
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a time setting unit that sets a print allowable time according to the amount of advance payment, a usage time count unit that counts a usage time and a print allowance determination unit that determines, from the time setting unit and the usage time count unit, whether printing is allowed or prohibited. Before the time counted by the usage time count unit reaches the print allowable time, the print allowance determination unit allows the printing to be performed whereas after the time counted by the usage time count unit reaches the print allowable time, the print allowance determination unit prohibits the printing from being performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Michio Takahashi, Toshiyuki Tokuno, Kenji Taki, Junichi Arai
  • Publication number: 20150248092
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a time setting unit that sets a print allowable time according to the amount of advance payment, a usage time count unit that counts a usage time and a print allowance determination unit that determines, from the time setting unit and the usage time count unit, whether printing is allowed or prohibited. Before the time counted by the usage time count unit reaches the print allowable time, the print allowance determination unit allows the printing to be performed whereas after the time counted by the usage time count unit reaches the print allowable time, the print allowance determination unit prohibits the printing from being performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Michio TAKAHASHI, Toshiyuki TOKUNO, Kenji TAKI, Junichi ARAI
  • Patent number: 8543015
    Abstract: A replacement toner cartridge management apparatus is provided with: a receiver which receives toner cartridge replacement information indicating a toner cartridge loaded on an image forming apparatus which the replacement toner cartridge management apparatus can access via a communication circuit, has been replaced with a new one; an information obtainer which obtains remaining toner information of the toner cartridge removed from the image forming apparatus, when the toner cartridge replacement information is received by the receiver; a time determiner which, if the remaining toner information obtained by the information obtainer indicates a value smaller than a predetermined value, determines that an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge should be outputted when the toner cartridge replacement information is received, or if the remaining toner information indicates a value larger than or equal to a predetermined value, determines that an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Tokuno, Atsushi Kawai
  • Publication number: 20120014701
    Abstract: A replacement toner cartridge management apparatus is provided with: a receiver which receives toner cartridge replacement information indicating a toner cartridge loaded on an image forming apparatus which the replacement toner cartridge management apparatus can access via a communication circuit, has been replaced with a new one; an information obtainer which obtains remaining toner information of the toner cartridge removed from the image forming apparatus, when the toner cartridge replacement information is received by the receiver; a time determiner which, if the remaining toner information obtained by the information obtainer indicates a value smaller than a predetermined value, determines that an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge should be outputted when the toner cartridge replacement information is received, or if the remaining toner information indicates a value larger than or equal to a predetermined value, determines that an instruction to deliver a replacement toner cartridge s
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki TOKUNO, Atsushi Kawai