Patents by Inventor Yusuke KAWANAGO

Yusuke KAWANAGO 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: 9523957
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section; a pair of rollers; a displacement detection section; a displacement correction section; a translation amount determination section; and a control section configured to refer to a translation control table, operate the displacement correction section in accordance with a translation command value corresponding to a detection result obtained by the displacement detection section, obtain at a predetermined timing a relationship between the translation command value and a translation amount of the sheet, and update the translation control table on the basis of the relationship. The control section updates the translation control table when a displacement of a sheet is correctable, but does not update the translation control table when a displacement of a sheet is correctable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kawabata, Yusuke Kawanago, Takahiro Okubo
  • Publication number: 20160048101
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section; a pair of rollers; a displacement detection section; a displacement correction section; a translation amount determination section; and a control section configured to refer to a translation control table, operate the displacement correction section in accordance with a translation command value corresponding to a detection result obtained by the displacement detection section, obtain at a predetermined timing a relationship between the translation command value and a translation amount of the sheet, and update the translation control table on the basis of the relationship. The control section updates the translation control table when a displacement of a sheet is correctable, but does not update the translation control table when a displacement of a sheet is correctable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Shinichi KAWABATA, Yusuke KAWANAGO, Takahiro OKUBO
  • Patent number: 9205685
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a notification section that provides information to a user; a sheet feeding section that feeds a sheet; an image forming section that forms an image on a sheet; a first conveyance section that conveys a sheet fed from the sheet feeding section to the image forming section; a displacement detection section that detects a displacement of a sheet in the first conveyance section; a displacement correction section that corrects a lateral position of a sheet on the basis of a result of detection by the displacement detection section; and a control section that controls the notification section to notify an occurrence of a displacement error which cannot be corrected by the displacement correction section and a cause of the displacement error when the displacement error is detected by the displacement detection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Ken Nonaka, Takahiro Okubo, Yusuke Kawanago
  • Patent number: 9207619
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section; a pair of registration rollers; a displacement detection section; a displacement correction section; a translation amount determination section; and a control section configured to refer to a translation control table, operate the displacement correction section in accordance with a translation command value corresponding to a detection result obtained by the displacement detection section, obtain at a predetermined timing a relationship between the translation command value and a translation amount of the sheet, and update the translation control table on the basis of the relationship. The control section updates the translation control table when a displacement of a sheet is correctable, but does not update the translation control table when a displacement of a sheet is correctable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kawabata, Yusuke Kawanago, Takahiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 9158262
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus contains a registration correction portion correcting an inclination of the sheet of paper by hitting a forward end of the sheet of paper against a pair of registration rollers, a detection portion that detects an amount of deviation in the sheet of paper, a control portion that calculates a command value of movement for correcting the amount of deviation and a moving portion that moves the registration rollers toward a direction which is perpendicular to a sheet-conveying direction based on the command value of movement with the sheet of paper being nipped with the registration rollers. The control portion controls the moving portion so that the movement of the registration rollers finishes before a limited time of movement or below an upper limit of movement set in relation to the command value of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yusuke Kawanago, Takahiro Okubo, Ken Nonaka
  • Patent number: 9042805
    Abstract: A control section controls the rotation of a registration roller that corrects the skew of a sheet and conveys the sheet, and the rotation of a loop forming roller which forms a loop of the sheet, as well as the nipping and releasing of the nip of the loop forming roller. This control section controls so that the sheet with a loop formed between the registration roller and loop forming roller is conveyed downstream in the sheet conveyance direction, and the sheet is released from the nipping of the loop forming roller during the conveyance. This control section further controls so that the total number of rotations of the registration roller from the start of sheet conveyance till releasing of the sheet from nipping of the loop forming roller is kept at a prescribed total number of rotations preset in conformance to the paper type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kunihiro Kawachi, Tarou Miyamoto, Kyoichi Mizuno, Yusuke Kawanago
  • Publication number: 20150023712
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section; a pair of registration rollers; a displacement detection section; a displacement correction section; a translation amount determination section; and a control section configured to refer to a translation control table, operate the displacement correction section in accordance with a translation command value corresponding to a detection result obtained by the displacement detection section, obtain at a predetermined timing a relationship between the translation command value and a translation amount of the sheet, and update the translation control table on the basis of the relationship. The control section updates the translation control table when a displacement of a sheet is correctable, but does not update the translation control table when a displacement of a sheet is correctable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Shinichi KAWABATA, Yusuke KAWANAGO, Takahiro OKUBO
  • Publication number: 20150023711
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section configured to form an image on a sheet; a pair of registration rollers configured to convey the sheet to the image forming section; a displacement detection section configured to detect a lateral position of the sheet; a displacement correction section configured to reset the lateral position of the sheet to a reference position; a translation amount determination section configured to determine a translation amount of the sheet during a displacement correction; and a control section configured to refer to a translation control table, operate the displacement correction section in accordance with a translation command value corresponding to a detection result obtained by the displacement detection section, obtain at a predetermined timing a relationship between the translation command value and a translation amount of the sheet, and update the translation control table on the basis of the relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Yusuke KAWANAGO, Shinichi KAWABATA, Takahiro OKUBO
  • Patent number: 8892023
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus acquires an amount of deflection of the transporting sheet from a reference position thereof and calculates a required shift amount of the sheet. It determines whether or not the sheet is shifted frontward. If so, the image forming apparatus acquires a second specified shift value which is determined based on an urging force and the required shift amount using a second correction equation. Alternatively, if the sheet is shifted backward, the image forming apparatus acquires a first specified shift value which is determined based on the urging force and the required shift amount using a first correction equation. The image forming apparatus performs a registration roller shift correction based on the acquired first or second specified shift value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yusuke Kawanago, Takahiro Okubo, Masahiro Matsuo, Yoshiteru Kawakami, Haruki Motegi, Osamu Yoshimura, Kunihiro Kawachi, Ken Nonaka
  • Patent number: 8804180
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a first deviation detection portion detects an amount of deviation of a sheet of paper in relation to a reference position of an edge of the sheet of paper. A control portion determines whether or not an amount of deviation detected by the first deviation detection portion exists within a moving adjustment range of a pair of registration rollers in the second control and performs a first control to correct the reference position of the edge of the sheet of gaper before the image is formed when the amount of deviation exceeds the moving adjustment range of the pair of registration rollers. A second deviation detection portion detects an amount of deviation of the sheet of paper just before the image is formed in relation to a reference position of the edge of the corrected sheet of paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Yusuke Kawanago
  • Publication number: 20140130694
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a notification section that provides information to a user; a sheet feeding section that feeds a sheet; an image forming section that forms an image on a sheet; a first conveyance section that conveys a sheet fed from the sheet feeding section to the image forming section; a displacement detection section that detects a displacement of a sheet in the first conveyance section; a displacement correction section that corrects a lateral position of a sheet on the basis of a result of detection by the displacement detection section; and a control section that controls the notification section to notify an occurrence of a displacement error which cannot be corrected by the displacement correction section and a cause of the displacement error when the displacement error is detected by the displacement detection section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Ken NONAKA, Takahiro OKUBO, Yusuke KAWANAGO
  • Patent number: 8687996
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an upper section including an image forming section to form an image on a recording sheet, a lower section arranged below the upper section including a sheet supplying tray to stack a plurality of recording sheets, a partitioning body to separate the upper section and the lower section in a vertical direction, wherein the lower section includes a dehumidification device to heat the inside of the lower section and to dehumidify the recording sheets stacked on the sheet supplying tray, the partitioning body includes a first shielding member to shield a bottom portion of the upper section, a second shielding member separated from the first shielding member to shield a top portion of the lower section, a clearance formed between the first shielding member and the second shielding member, and an air blowing section to blow air into the clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyoichi Mizuno, Tarou Miyamoto, Kunihiro Kawachi, Yusuke Kawanago
  • Publication number: 20140086598
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus contains a registration correction portion correcting an inclination of the sheet of paper by hitting a forward end of the sheet of paper against a pair of registration rollers, a detection portion that detects an amount of deviation in the sheet of paper, a control portion that calculates a command value of movement for correcting the amount of deviation and a moving portion that moves the registration rollers toward a direction which is perpendicular to a sheet-conveying direction based on the command value of movement with the sheet of paper being nipped with the registration rollers. The control portion controls the moving portion so that the movement of the registration rollers finishes before a limited time of movement or below an upper limit of movement set in relation to the command value of movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Yusuke KAWANAGO, Takahiro OKUBO, Ken NONAKA
  • Publication number: 20140050494
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a first deviation detection portion detects an amount of deviation of a sheet of paper in relation to a reference position of an edge of the sheet of paper. A control portion, determines whether or not an amount of deviation detected by the first deviation detection portion exists within a moving adjustment range of a pair of registration rollers in the second control and performs a first control to correct the reference position of the edge of the sheet of gaper before the image is formed when the amount of deviation exceeds, the moving adjustment range of the pair of registration rollers. A second deviation detection portion detects an amount of deviation of the sheet of paper just before the image is formed in relation to a reference position of the edge of the corrected sheet of paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Konica Minolta , Inc.
    Inventor: Yusuke KAWANAGO
  • Publication number: 20130256982
    Abstract: The control portion controls the sheet adjusting portion to alternately convey the sheet of paper fed from the sheet-feeding path for single-side printing and the sheet of paper fed from the sheet-feeding path for duplex printing to the image forming portion during the duplex printing mode. Images are alternately formed on the front surface of each of the sheets of paper and the back surface of each of the sheets of paper when three sheets of paper are conveyed to the image forming apparatus and they are left therein. The control portion controls the sheet conveying portion to release the contact of the conveying rollers after it is detected that the sheet of paper reaches the sheet adjusting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yusuke KAWANAGO, Takahiro OKUBO, Masahiro MATSUO, Haruki MOTEGI
  • Publication number: 20130142525
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing section, a de-curling section, and a control section. The de-curling section has a de-curling nip portion that presses a sheet to correct a curl caused in the sheet, and a corrective force thereof to press the sheet changes at least in two steps. The control section increases the conveyance speed of the sheet after a rear end of the sheet has passed the fixing nip portion when the de-curling section supports by sandwiching the sheet with a weakly-pressing force. When the de-curling section supports by sandwiching the sheet with a strongly-pressing force, the controller increases the conveyance speed of the sheet after the rear end of the sheet has passed the fixing nip portion and the de-curling nip portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Ken NONAKA, Yoshiteru KAWAKAMI, Takahiro OKUBO, Haruki MOTEGI, Masahiro MATSUO, Yusuke KAWANAGO, Osamu YOSHIMURA
  • Publication number: 20130108283
    Abstract: Provided is a method for forming an image containing the steps of: supplying a clear toner on a surface of an image forming support; heating the supplied clear toner on the surface of the image forming support to melt; close contacting the surface of the image forming support supplied with the clear toner with a belt; and cooling the clear toner in a state of close contacting with the belt so as to form a clear toner layer on the image forming support, wherein the aforesaid clear toner contains at least a resin formed with a polymerizable monomer represented by Formula (1) and a vinyl monomer, Formula (1): H2C?CR1—COOR2, wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and R2 represents a chain alkyl group having 12 to 22 carbon atoms, or a cyclic alkyl group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Yusuke KAWANAGO, Takahiro OKUBO, Masahiro MATSUO, Yoshiteru KAWAKAMI, Haruki MOTEGI, Osamu YOSHIMURA, Kunihiro KAWACHI, Ken NONAKA
  • Publication number: 20120327444
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including: an image forming unit to form an image on a paper in an image forming position; a transportation path to transport the paper to the image forming position; an acquisition unit arranged upstream of the image forming position in a paper transportation direction and to acquire a shift amount from an edge reference position to an edge of the paper in a paper width direction perpendicular to the paper transportation direction; a pair of resist rollers arranged upstream of the acquisition unit in the paper transportation direction and capable of swinging in the paper width direction; and a control unit configured to determine an instruction value based on a paper state and the shift amount before the pair of resist rollers moves, and to move the pair of resist rollers in accordance with the instruction value in the paper width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yusuke KAWANAGO, Takahiro OKUBO, Masahiro MATSUO, Tarou MIYAMOTO, Osamu YOSHIMURA, Kunihiro KAWACHI, Ken NONAKA
  • Publication number: 20120076510
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an image formation section for forming a toner image based on image data on a recording medium; a first fixing device for fixing the toner image formed by the image formation section; an accommodation section for storing the first fixing device or a second fixing device having different specifications than those of the first fixing device; and a peripheral member arranged on the periphery of the accommodation section to operate synchronously with the first fixing device or second fixing device; wherein, when the first fixing device accommodated in the accommodation section has been replaced by the second fixing device, a status of the peripheral member is switched in conformity to specifications of the second fixing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kyoichi MIZUNO, Tarou MIYAMOTO, Kunihiro KAWACHI, Yusuke KAWANAGO
  • Publication number: 20120070179
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an upper section including an image forming section to form an image on a recording sheet, a lower section arranged below the upper section including a sheet supplying tray to stack a plurality of recording sheets, a partitioning body to separate the upper section and the lower section in a vertical direction, wherein the lower section includes a dehumidification device to heat the inside of the lower section and to dehumidify the recording sheets stacked on the sheet supplying tray, the partitioning body includes a first shielding member to shield a bottom portion of the upper section, a second shielding member separated from the first shielding member to shield a top portion of the lower section, a clearance formed between the first shielding member and the second shielding member, and an air blowing section to blow air into the clearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kyoichi MIZUNO, Tarou MIYAMOTO, Kunihiro KAWACHI, Yusuke KAWANAGO