Patents by Inventor Yohei Ito

Yohei Ito 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: 9989882
    Abstract: A development device includes: a developer carrier including a magnet roller and a sleeve around the magnet roller; and a restriction member provided opposed to the sleeve surface. When a region on the surface opposed to the restriction member is defined as a first region and regions adjacent to the first region are defined as second and third regions, a magnetic flux density is largest in the second region. When a position where the density is largest in the second region is defined as a reference position, a position where the density is a predetermined value in the second region is defined as a downstream position, and a position where the density is the predetermined value in the third region is defined as an upstream position, the width between the reference position and the upstream position is longer than the width between the reference position and the downstream position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Shima, Masanori Kawada, Yohei Ito, Shinya Tokutake, Hiroaki Umemoto
  • Publication number: 20180120752
    Abstract: A transport member, that transports a developer by rotating in a rotation direction that is predetermined around a rotation axis, includes: a shaft part including the rotation axis; and a blade part spirally provided on an outer peripheral surface of the shaft part, wherein the blade part includes a transport surface that is a surface facing a downstream side in a transport direction of the developer along the rotation axis, and a non-transport surface that is a surface other than the transport surface, and the transport member further includes a fin protruding from the non-transport surface of the blade part, the fin being provided with an interval from the outer peripheral surface of the shaft part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC
    Inventors: Toshiaki SHIMA, Yohei ITO, Kazuyoshi OTA, Hiroaki UMEMOTO
  • Publication number: 20180100068
    Abstract: A color material dispersion liquid comprising: (A) a color material, (B) a dispersant and (C) a solvent, wherein the color material (A) contains a lake color material of a combination of an acid dye and a polyaluminum chloride; a basicity of the polyaluminum chloride is 70% or more; and a value of a ratio (I4/I6) between an integral value (I4) of a peak corresponding to a four-coordinate aluminum in a solid-state 27Al-NMR spectrum of the lake color material and an integral value (I6) a peak corresponding to a six-coordinate aluminum therein, is from 0 to 0.50.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Michihiro OGURA, Tomoki MURATA, Fumiyasu MURAKAMI, Daisuke ENDO, Yohei ITO
  • Publication number: 20180088508
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image former which forms an image on an image carrying member with toner stored in a storage, a toner supplier which supplies toner to the storage by driving a conveyance member, a density measurer which causes the image former to form an image having a predetermined density at a predetermined timing and measures density of the formed image, a corrector which corrects a driving amount of the conveyance member based on the density measured by the density measurer, and a changer which changes a timing when the density measurer measures the density in response to an event that a predetermined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Masanori KAWADA, Hiroaki UMEMOTO, Yohei ITO, Toshiaki SHIMA, Kazuyoshi OTA, Shinya TOKUTAKE, Hidetoshi NOGUCHI, Shinichi YOSHIMOTO, Futoshi OKAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20180062042
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor light emitting device with a simple structure and capable of improving light extraction efficiency. The semiconductor light emitting device 1 includes a substrate 2, a metal layer 3 on the substrate 2, a light-transmitting conductive layer 4 on the metal layer 3, an insulation layer 30 on the light-transmitting conductive layer 4, and a III-V semiconductor structure 5 on the insulation layer 30. The III-V semiconductor structure 5 includes a light emitting layer 8, a p-type semiconductor layer 9, and an n-type semiconductor layer 10. A refractive index n1 of a p-type GaP contact layer 11 of the p-type semiconductor layer 9, a refractive index n2 of the insulation layer 30, and a refractive index n3 of the light-transmitting conductive layer 4 satisfy the relation: n1>n2<n3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Yohei ITO, Yoichi MUGINO
  • Publication number: 20170235248
    Abstract: A development device includes: a developer carrier including a magnet roller and a sleeve around the magnet roller; and a restriction member provided opposed to the sleeve surface. When a region on the surface opposed to the restriction member is defined as a first region and regions adjacent to the first region are defined as second and third regions, a magnetic flux density is largest in the second region. When a position where the density is largest in the second region is defined as a reference position, a position where the density is a predetermined value in the second region is defined as a downstream position, and a position where the density is the predetermined value in the third region is defined as an upstream position, the width between the reference position and the upstream position is longer than the width between the reference position and the downstream position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Toshiaki SHIMA, Masanori KAWADA, Yohei ITO, Shinya TOKUTAKE, Hiroaki UMEMOTO
  • Patent number: 9568883
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having: an image supporting member; a developing device configured to supply a developer to the image supporting member to develop a latent image; a transfer member configured to transfer the developed image from the image supporting member to a transfer medium; a blade configured to remove the developer left on the image supporting member after transfer therefrom; a storing member located downstream from the transfer member and upstream from the blade, the storing member configured to temporarily store a part of the developer left after transfer therein; and a control unit. The storing member is controlled by the control unit to release the temporarily stored developer therefrom toward the image supporting member after a lapse of a predetermined time from when an image density of an image to be formed becomes lower than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yohei Ito, Tsugihito Yoshiyama, Yoshiki Nakane
  • Patent number: 9437773
    Abstract: A semiconductor light-emitting element includes a substrate, a first metal layer, a second metal layer, a translucent conductive layer, and a semiconductor layer with a light-emitting region. The translucent conductive layer includes an end face intersecting a plane orthogonal to the thickness direction of the substrate. The substrate includes an end face intersecting a plane orthogonal to the thickness direction. The end face of the translucent conductive layer is located inwardly of the end face of the substrate as viewed in the thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yohei Ito
  • Publication number: 20160161900
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having; an image supporting member; a developing device configured to supply a developer to the image supporting member to develop a latent image; a transfer member configured to transfer the developed image from the image supporting member to a transfer medium; a blade configured to remove the developer left on the image supporting member after transfer therefrom; a storing member located downstream from the transfer member and upstream from the blade, the storing member configured to temporarily store a part of the developer left after transfer therein; and a control unit. The storing member is controlled by the control unit to release the temporarily stored developer therefrom toward the image supporting member after a lapse of a predetermined time from when an image density of an image to be formed becomes lower than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yohei ITO, Tsugihito YOSHIYAMA, Yoshiki NAKANE
  • Patent number: 9349916
    Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting device includes a substrate structure; a semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate structure, the semiconductor layer including a light emitting layer; and an electrode formed on a surface of the semiconductor layer, wherein a relatively coarse uneven portion and a relatively fine uneven portion are formed by a frost process on a surface of the semiconductor layer at a side of the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yohei Ito
  • Patent number: 9335712
    Abstract: A method applicable to an image forming apparatus with a lubricant to be applied to a surface of a photoreceptor for measuring surface roughness of the surface of the photoreceptor after lubricant application, the method including: a first step of measuring a surface profile of the photoreceptor and obtaining first data indicating the surface profile; a second step of generating second data on the basis of the first data, the second data indicating arithmetic mean roughness Ra within a predetermined range; and a third step of calculating a difference value ?Ra between second data before lubricant application and second data after lubricant application obtained by performing the first and second steps both before and after the lubricant is applied to the photoreceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Tomohisa Yoshida, Tsugihito Yoshiyama, Yoshiki Nakane, Yohei Ito, Masanori Kawada
  • Patent number: 9268256
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, when some of a plurality of image supporters which are preceded by another image supporter on an upstream side of the carrying direction are referred to as downstream side image supporters, a control section derives a toner supply amount for each of positions in a main-scanning direction for each of downstream side image supporters based on image data for the downstream side image supporters and image data for an upstream side image supporter, and thereafter generates patch image data that represents the derived toner supply amount, and the exposure section further scans each of the downstream side image supporters in the main-scanning direction with an optical beam modulated according to the patch image data generated by the control section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Nakane, Tsugihito Yoshiyama, Yohei Ito
  • Publication number: 20160004183
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, when some of a plurality of image supporters which are preceded by another image supporter on an upstream side of the carrying direction are referred to as downstream side image supporters, a control section derives a toner supply amount for each of positions in a main-scanning direction for each of downstream side image supporters based on image data for the downstream side image supporters and image data for an upstream side image supporter, and thereafter generates patch image data that represents the derived toner supply amount, and the exposure section further scans each of the downstream side image supporters in the main-scanning direction with an optical beam modulated according to the patch image data generated by the control section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiki NAKANE, Tsugihito YOSHIYAMA, Yohei ITO
  • Patent number: 9223283
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a rotative image carrier and transferring the image onto an object, including: a cleaning unit removing a residual material from the image carrier; and a lubricant applying unit applying lubricant to a circumferential surface of the image carrier, the lubricant applying unit including: a rotative transporter picking up and retaining lubricant, transporting the lubricant to a lubricant application point, and supplying a portion of the lubricant to the image carrier at the lubricant application point; an ejector causing the transporter to eject a portion of the lubricant retained by the transporter; a collector collecting the portion of the lubricant ejected from the transporter; and a controller controlling ejection of the portion of the lubricant so as to maintain the amount of the lubricant retained by the transporter as no greater than a predetermined upper limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Yohei Ito, Tsugihito Yoshiyama, Yoshiki Nakane, Tomohisa Yoshida, Masanori Kawada
  • Publication number: 20150318440
    Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting device includes a substrate structure; a semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate structure, the semiconductor layer including a light emitting layer; and an electrode formed on a surface of the semiconductor layer, wherein a relatively coarse uneven portion and a relatively fine uneven portion are formed by a frost process on a surface of the semiconductor layer at a side of the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yohei ITO
  • Patent number: 9099628
    Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting device includes a substrate structure; a semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate structure, the semiconductor layer including a light emitting layer; and an electrode formed on a surface of the semiconductor layer, wherein a relatively coarse uneven portion and a relatively fine uneven portion are formed by a frost process on a surface of the semiconductor layer at a side of the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yohei Ito
  • Publication number: 20150137170
    Abstract: A semiconductor light-emitting element includes a substrate, a first metal layer, a second metal layer, a translucent conductive layer, and a semiconductor layer with a light-emitting region. The translucent conductive layer includes an end face intersecting a plane orthogonal to the thickness direction of the substrate. The substrate includes an end face intersecting a plane orthogonal to the thickness direction. The end face of the translucent conductive layer is located inwardly of the end face of the substrate as viewed in the thickness direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Yohei ITO
  • Patent number: 8977182
    Abstract: Fiber bundle forms loops protruding beyond a surface side of a base member with constant spaces therebetween, in at least one of opposite ends located in a direction perpendicular to a weaving direction (W) of a ribbon brush, a weft extending between neighboring loops passes under a warp, and a weft extending through the loop passes above the warp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Nakane, Kuniaki Kashiwakura, Hokuto Hatano, Yohei Ito
  • Patent number: 8965264
    Abstract: A blade member having; a contact layer in contact with a surface of an image carrier; and a support layer superimposed on the contact layer, wherein a first curve indicating a relation between loss tangent and temperature of the contact layer and a second curve indicating a relation between loss tangent and temperature of the support layer intersect with each other in a temperature range of not lower than 25° C. and not higher than 45° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Nakane, Kuniaki Kashiwakura, Yohei Ito
  • Publication number: 20150030364
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a rotative image carrier and transferring the image onto an object, including: a cleaning unit removing a residual material from the image carrier; and a lubricant applying unit applying lubricant to a circumferential surface of the image carrier, the lubricant applying unit including: a rotative transporter picking up and retaining lubricant, transporting the lubricant to a lubricant application point, and supplying a portion of the lubricant to the image carrier at the lubricant application point; an ejector causing the transporter to eject a portion of the lubricant retained by the transporter; a collector collecting the portion of the lubricant ejected from the transporter; and a controller controlling ejection of the portion of the lubricant so as to maintain the amount of the lubricant retained by the transporter as no greater than a predetermined upper limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yohei Ito, Tsugihito Yoshiyama, Yoshiki Nakane, Tomohisa Yoshida, Masanori Kawada