Patents by Inventor Yoshinori Tsutsumi

Yoshinori Tsutsumi 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: 20220155714
    Abstract: An image forming device including a forming unit, an adhesion amount detector, a correction coefficient determiner, and a correction unit. The forming unit forms line images each having a different line width. The adhesion amount detector detects a toner adhesion amount for each of the line images. The correction coefficient determiner determines, according to the toner adhesion amounts detected for each line width, correction coefficients for a gradation value of the line images of each line width. The correction unit corrects a gradation value of a line image using a correction coefficient corresponding to the line width of the line image when forming the line image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Munenori NAKANO, Soh HIROTA, Yoshinori TSUTSUMI
  • Patent number: 11204569
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus fixes a toner image onto a sheet by a fixer, and includes: a re-feeding path that normally conveys the sheet having passed through the fixer and guides the sheet toward the fixer; and a hardware processor that switches between first control to discharge the sheet having passed through the fixer toward a discharge destination and second control to re-feed the sheet having passed through the fixer to the fixer through the re-feeding path, depending on a type of an image which is a source of formation of the toner image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sakai, Yoshinori Tsutsumi, Kenji Tsuru, Munenori Nakano
  • Publication number: 20210008921
    Abstract: An image forming device comprises: a receiving part that receives image data containing first image data relating to a black and white image and second image data relating to a foil image; a carrying path along which a recording medium is carried in a predetermined direction; an inkjet printing part, arranged on the carrying path, injects an ink based on the first image data to the recording medium, and forms the black and white image or the color image on the recording medium; a toner image printing part, arranged on the carrying path, forms the toner image for adhesion based on the second image data, and transfers the toner image to the recording medium; and a foil image forming part, arranged on the carrying path, enables the toner image transferred to the recording medium to melt and attaches the foil to the melted toner image to form the foil image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Tetsuya SAKAI, Yoshinori TSUTSUMI, Kenji TSURU, Munenori NAKANO
  • Publication number: 20200333739
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus fixes a toner image onto a sheet by a fixer, and includes: a re-feeding path that normally conveys the sheet having passed through the fixer and guides the sheet toward the fixer; and a hardware processor that switches between first control to discharge the sheet having passed through the fixer toward a discharge destination and second control to re-feed the sheet having passed through the fixer to the fixer through the re-feeding path, depending on a type of an image which is a source of formation of the toner image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: TETSUYA SAKAI, YOSHINORI TSUTSUMI, KENJI TSURU, MUNENORI NAKANO
  • Patent number: 10795313
    Abstract: An image forming device that prints a first image using first toner and prints a second image using foil on a sheet of paper, includes: a former that forms a first toner image by the first toner of the first image on the paper and forms a second toner image by second toner different from the first toner of the second image on the paper; a fixer that fixes the first toner image and the second toner image formed on the paper; a melter that melts the second toner out of the first toner and the second toner fixed to the paper; and a foil printer that prints the second image by bonding the foil to the melted second toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sakai, Yoshinori Tsutsumi, Kenji Tsuru, Munenori Nakano
  • Publication number: 20200073326
    Abstract: An image forming device that prints a first image using first toner and prints a second image using foil on a sheet of paper, includes: a former that forms a first toner image by the first toner of the first image on the paper and forms a second toner image by second toner different from the first toner of the second image on the paper; a fixer that fixes the first toner image and the second toner image formed on the paper; a melter that melts the second toner out of the first toner and the second toner fixed to the paper; and a foil printer that prints the second image by bonding the foil to the melted second toner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Tetsuya SAKAI, Yoshinori TSUTSUMI, Kenji TSURU, Munenori NAKANO
  • Patent number: 9880487
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for electrifying a surface of a photoreceptor with the use of an electrification member includes: a first output unit configured to output a first AC voltage; a second output unit configured to output a second AC voltage having the same frequency as a frequency of the first AC voltage and having a phase different from a phase of the first AC voltage; a superimposition unit configured to superimpose, on a DC component, an AC component containing at least one of the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage; and an application unit configured to apply a voltage that has been subjected to superimposition by the superimposition unit to the electrification member, wherein the superimposition unit changes the AC component to be superimposed on the DC component at a predetermined timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kouzaki, Munenori Nakano, Hironori Akashi, Kenji Tsuru, Yoshinori Tsutsumi
  • Publication number: 20170168411
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for electrifying a surface of a photoreceptor with the use of an electrification member includes: a first output unit configured to output a first AC voltage; a second output unit configured to output a second AC voltage having the same frequency as a frequency of the first AC voltage and having a phase different from a phase of the first AC voltage; a superimposition unit configured to superimpose, on a DC component, an AC component containing at least one of the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage; and an application unit configured to apply a voltage that has been subjected to superimposition by the superimposition unit to the electrification member, wherein the superimposition unit changes the AC component to be superimposed on the DC component at a predetermined timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kouzaki, Munenori Nakano, Hironori Akashi, Kenji Tsuru, Yoshinori Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 9008524
    Abstract: For each of N imaginary regions divided at predetermined intervals in the direction of the rotation shaft of a developer roller (12), the amount of toner consumed when an image is formed is previously calculated. Then, the same amount of toner as a toner consumption amount calculated for each imaginary region is supplied to a development device (2) earlier by a time in which the toner supplied from a toner hopper (5) is transported to each imaginary region than at the time of the development. Thus, it is possible to maintain a toner concentration within the development device within a predetermined range without the toner being dispersed and an image formation speed being reduced even if an image having a high print rate is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Yusuke Mamiya, Soh Hirota, Hironori Akashi, Yoshinori Tsutsumi, Kanako Kibihara
  • Patent number: 8781349
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries a toner image, an image forming device that forms the toner image on the image carrier, a sensing device that senses a toner concentration of the image carrier and a control device that makes the image forming device form a test toner image on the image carrier, and determines necessity to execute each adjustment operation for adjusting a plurality of kinds of driving conditions for the image forming device at the time of forming the toner images, based upon a toner concentration of the test toner image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Hirata, Tomiko Imoto, Yoshinori Tsutsumi
  • Publication number: 20140147132
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which can execute an image stabilization operation and which includes: a determination portion that determines whether or not the image stabilization operation can be executed when a constituent member of the apparatus is replaced or when a consumable item is supplied; and an image stabilization control portion that executes the image stabilization operation when the determination portion determines that the image stabilization operation can he executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Konica Minolta , Inc.
    Inventors: Masahiro KOUZAKI, Mitsuru OBARA, Soh HIROTA, Yoshinori TSUTSUMI
  • Patent number: 8626017
    Abstract: There are provided a powder supply element adapted to supply powders containing at least toner; developing element adapted to develop an electrostatic latent image by agitating and conveying a developer containing the powders that are supplied by the powder supply element; a toner amount detecting element that is placed in the middle of a conveyance path to connect the powder supply element with the developing element and detects a toner amount per unit volume to be supplied to the developing element; and control element that controls a correction amount with respect to a reference supply amount due to the powder supply element on the basis of a toner amount per unit volume that is detected by the toner amount detecting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuomi Sakatani, Katsuyuki Hirata, Yoshinori Tsutsumi
  • Publication number: 20130322896
    Abstract: For each of N imaginary regions divided at predetermined intervals in the direction of the rotation shaft of a developer roller (12), the amount of toner consumed when an image is formed is previously calculated. Then, the same amount of toner as a toner consumption amount calculated for each imaginary region is supplied to a development device (2) earlier by a time in which the toner supplied from a toner hopper (5) is transported to each imaginary region than at the time of the development. Thus, it is possible to maintain a toner concentration within the development device within a predetermined range without the toner being dispersed and an image formation speed being reduced even if an image having a high print rate is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Yusuke Mamiya, Soh Hirota, Hironori Akashi, Yoshinori Tsutsumi, Kanako Kibihara
  • Patent number: 8218982
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Hirata, Kazuomi Sakatani, Mitsuru Obara, Yoshinori Tsutsumi
  • Publication number: 20110229160
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries a toner image, an image forming device that forms the toner image on the image carrier, a sensing device that senses a toner concentration of the image carrier and a control device that makes the image forming device form a test toner image on the image carrier, and determines necessity to execute each adjustment operation for adjusting a plurality of kinds of driving conditions for the image forming device at the time of forming the toner images, based upon a toner concentration of the test toner image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Hirata, Tomiko Imoto, Yoshinori Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 8023839
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuomi Sakatani, Katsuyuki Hirata, Mitsuru Obara, Yoshinori Tsutsumi
  • Publication number: 20110170890
    Abstract: There are provided a powder supply means 23 adapted to supply powders containing at least toner; developing means 11 adapted to develop an electrostatic latent image by agitating and conveying a developer containing the powders that are supplied by the powder supply means 23; a toner amount detecting means 31 that is placed in the middle of a conveyance path to connect the powder supply means 23 with the developing means 11 and detects a toner amount per unit volume to be supplied to the developing means 11; and control means 6 that controls a correction amount with respect to a reference supply amount due to the powder supply means 23 on the basis of a toner amount per unit volume that is detected by the toner amount detecting means 31.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc
    Inventors: Kazuomi Sakatani, Katsuyuki Hirata, Yoshinori Tsutsumi
  • Publication number: 20090317105
    Abstract: A developer is appropriately replenished at the desired toner concentration even with bare minimum stirring. A developer container (11) in which a developer containing toner and carrier is received, a developer replenishing container (23) in which a developer containing toner and carrier is received and which replenishes the developer container (11) with the developer, a replenishment path (25) which connects a upper portion of the developer container 11 with an lower portion of the developer replenishing container (23), stirring member (24) for stirring the developer in the developer replenishing container (23), toner concentration detecting member (27) for detecting the toner concentration of the developer in the replenishment path (25), and control unit (6) for stirring the developer in the developer replenishing container (23) by controlling driving of the stirring member (24) on the basis of the toner concentration detected by the toner concentration detecting member (27) are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshinori TSUTSUMI, Katsuyuki Hirata, Kazuomi Sakatani
  • Publication number: 20090310984
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kazuomi Sakatani, Katsuyuki Hirata, Mitsuru Obara, Yoshinori Tsutsumi
  • Publication number: 20090310985
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Katsuyuki HIRATA, Kazuomi SAKATANI, Mitsuru OBARA, Yoshinori TSUTSUMI