公开(公告)号：US09164441B2

公开(公告)日：2015-10-20

申请号：US14282858

申请日：2014-05-20

Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.

Inventor： Kenji Tamaki ,  Takeshi Tamada ,  Kenji Yamamoto ,  Kosuke Sasaki ,  Shohei Otsu

IPC: G03G15/20

CPC classification number: G03G15/205

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with a fixing unit in which flickers can be effectively reduced while inhibiting electric current imbalance. The fixing unit comprises a fixing heater, a switching unit for switching the fixing heater on/off with an AC power source, and a control unit which controls the switching unit to switch in units of the half wave period of the AC power source AC, and a storing unit for storing a plurality of energization patterns which define the ways of performing the switch control. Each energization pattern corresponds to a control cycle which contains a three or more odd number of the half wave periods each of which is either an OFF period and an ON period, and all the half wave periods of the smaller in number of the ON periods and the OFF periods are not successively arranged.

Abstract translation: 图像形成装置设置有固定单元，其中可以有效地减少闪烁，同时抑制电流不平衡。 定影单元包括定影加热器，用AC电源切换定影加热器的切换单元，以及控制单元，其以交流电源AC的半波周期为单位进行控制， 以及存储单元，用于存储限定执行开关控制的方式的多个通电模式。 每个通电模式对应于一个控制周期，该控制周期包含三个或更多奇数个半波周期，每个半波周期为OFF周期和导通周期，并且所有半波周期的数目的ON周期数和 关闭周期未连续排列。

公开(公告)号：US12120274B2

公开(公告)日：2024-10-15

申请号：US18226296

申请日：2023-07-26

Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.

Inventor： Akihiro Hayashi ,  Yuji Kobayashi ,  Hiroshi Eguchi ,  Takeshi Tamada

IPC: H04N1/00

CPC classification number: H04N1/00037 ,  H04N1/00015 ,  H04N1/00074 ,  H04N1/00602 ,  H04N1/00909

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a drive source that drives an object; and a hardware processor that detects a fluctuation range of a load applied to the drive source by driving the object, and determines a state of the object on a basis of a detection result.

公开(公告)号：US09709931B2

公开(公告)日：2017-07-18

申请号：US15227336

申请日：2016-08-03

Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.

Inventor： Katsuyuki Ikuta ,  Takeshi Tamada ,  Yoshihito Sasamoto ,  Hiroshi Eguchi

IPC: G03G15/20 ,  H02H5/04

CPC classification number: G03G15/2017 ,  G03G15/2039 ,  G03G15/55 ,  H02H5/042

Abstract: An excessive heating protection circuit to be connected to a first temperature sensor being configured to output less voltage with a rise in temperature and a second temperature sensor being configured to output more voltage with a rise in temperature. The excessive heating protection circuit includes: a multiplexer having a plurality of channels capable of receiving reference voltages predetermined for the first and second temperature sensors, the multiplexer being configured to output one of the reference voltages by selecting one of the channels with reference to input selection signals; a first comparator being configured to compare the output voltage of the first temperature sensor to the output reference voltage of the multiplexer and to output a comparison result; and a second comparator being configured to compare the output voltage of the second temperature sensor to the output reference voltage of the multiplexer and to output a comparison result.

公开(公告)号：US20170176904A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-22

申请号：US15382271

申请日：2016-12-16

Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.

Inventor： Taku Kimura ,  Mikiyuki Aoki ,  Seiichi Kirikubo ,  Takeshi Tamada ,  Akinori Kimata

IPC: G03G15/20 ,  H02M1/00 ,  H02M7/46

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit that includes a roller and an electric heating wire heater, a current applying circuit that applies electrical current to the electric heater wire heater, a measuring unit electrically connected to the current applying circuit and that measures a value of electrical current that flows through the electric heating wire heater, and a controller that controls the electrical current that flows through the electric heating wire heater by controlling the current applying circuit based on the electrical current value measured by the measuring unit. The controller controls the electrical current to be less than or equal to an electrical current limit value. A magnitude of the electrical current limit value is linked to a magnitude of stable state electrical current.

公开(公告)号：US09250587B2

公开(公告)日：2016-02-02

申请号：US14294432

申请日：2014-06-03

Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.

Inventor： Takeshi Tamada ,  Kenji Izumiya ,  Satoshi Ogata ,  Masahito Takano

IPC: G03G15/20

CPC classification number: G03G15/2064 ,  G03G15/2028 ,  G03G2215/2032 ,  G03G2215/2045

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a drive motor configured to rotate the lower pressure roller, a torque generation unit for generating a braking force in the direction to hinder rotation of a fixing belt in order to adjust the differential speed between the surface speed of the fixing belt and the surface speed of the lower pressure roller, and a control unit for adjusting the braking force generated by the torque generation unit. The control unit adjusts the braking force generated by the torque generation unit to decrease if the rotational torque of the drive motor is larger than a predetermined target torque, and increase if the rotational torque of the drive motor is smaller than the predetermined target torque.

Abstract translation: 图像形成装置包括：驱动电动机，其被配置为使下压力辊旋转;扭矩产生单元，用于在阻止定影带旋转的方向上产生制动力，以便调节定影带的表面速度之间的差速 以及下压辊的表面速度，以及用于调整由转矩产生单元产生的制动力的控制单元。 如果驱动电机的旋转转矩大于预定目标转矩，则控制单元调整由转矩产生单元产生的制动力，如果驱动电动机的旋转转矩小于预定目标转矩，则增大。

公开(公告)号：US12043513B2

公开(公告)日：2024-07-23

申请号：US17333432

申请日：2021-05-28

Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.

Inventor： Katsuyuki Ikuta ,  Hiroaki Takatsu ,  Takeshi Tamada ,  Takahiro Tsujimoto ,  Akihiro Hayashi

IPC: B65H7/12 ,  H04N1/00

CPC classification number: B65H7/125 ,  H04N1/00702 ,  H04N1/00724 ,  H04N1/00729 ,  H04N1/00766 ,  H04N1/00779 ,  B65H2553/30

Abstract: A recording medium conveyance device includes a storage, a conveyer that conveys a conveyed object, an ultrasonic sensor that outputs a value indicating an attenuation amount of an ultrasonic wave caused by the conveyed object, and a hardware processor. The hardware processor executes a type detection process of detecting a type of the conveyed object based on output of the ultrasonic sensor and storing the type in the storage and an overlay detection process of detecting whether the conveyed object is in an overlay state in which a gap is present based on output of the ultrasonic sensor, and switches to either one of the type detection process and the overlay detection process. The hardware processor executes the type detection process when the type is not stored in the storage and executes the overlay detection process when the type is stored in the storage.

公开(公告)号：US20190171149A1

公开(公告)日：2019-06-06

申请号：US16181610

申请日：2018-11-06

Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.

Inventor： Takahiro Tsujimoto ,  Takeshi Tamada ,  Hiroaki Takatsu ,  Tianhua Xu

IPC: G03G15/00

Abstract: A recording material discriminating apparatus includes: a hardware processor that: detects a physical property of a recording material in different ways; and when transmittance of the recording material is within a first range, discriminates a type of the recording material by using a detection result from the hardware processor, and when the transmittance of the recording material is within a second range different from the first range, discriminates the type of the recording material by using a detection result from the hardware processor.

公开(公告)号：US10126692B2

公开(公告)日：2018-11-13

申请号：US15440741

申请日：2017-02-23

Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.

Inventor： Mikiyuki Aoki ,  Seiichi Kirikubo ,  Taku Kimura ,  Akinori Kimata ,  Takeshi Tamada

IPC: H05B1/02 ,  G03G15/20 ,  G03G15/00

Abstract: A power supply control device including a chopper circuit generating a heater current for a halogen heater, a current feedback circuit generating a current feedback signal indicating a current amount based on an amount of the heater current, and a constant current circuit performing pulse-width modulation of the heater current amount according to a difference between a target heater current amount and the current amount indicated by the current feedback signal. The current feedback circuit switches between methods at least including a first method and a second method for generating the current feedback signal. The current feedback signal indicates a greater current amount with the first method than with the second method, and the current feedback circuit uses the first method during a period with a predetermined time length starting from when the halogen heater is turned on, and uses the second method after elapse of the period.

公开(公告)号：US09291968B2

公开(公告)日：2016-03-22

申请号：US14560327

申请日：2014-12-04

Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.

Inventor： Takeshi Tamada ,  Satoshi Ogata ,  Kenji Izumiya ,  Masatoshi Hitaka

IPC: G03G15/20

CPC classification number: G03G15/2053 ,  G03G15/55

Abstract: An image forming apparatus performs a serviceman call detection mode during its idling time. In this time, a control portion controls upper and lower pressuring rollers to be clamped, controls a driving motor, and controls a change-over mechanism to switch a braking motor off. A torque detection portion detects a torque value Y of the driving motor at this time. The control portion then controls the upper and lower pressuring rollers to be clamped, controls the driving motor, and controls the change-over mechanism to switch the braking motor on. The torque detection portion detects a torque value Z of the driving motor at this time. The control portion subtracts the torque value Y from the torque value Z to calculate a difference value. The control portion determines that the braking motor is broken down when the difference value does not exceed the threshold value.

Abstract translation: 图像形成装置在其空转时间期间执行维修人员呼叫检测模式。 此时，控制部控制要被夹紧的上压力辊和下压辊，控制驱动电动机，并控制切换机构以切断制动电动机。 此时，转矩检测部检测驱动电动机的转矩值Y. 然后，控制部控制上下加压辊被夹紧，控制驱动电动机，并控制转换机构，使制动电动机接通。 转矩检测部此时检测驱动电动机的转矩值Z。 控制部从转矩值Z中减去转矩值Y，计算出差值。 当差值不超过阈值时，控制部分确定制动马达断开。

公开(公告)号：US10520867B2

公开(公告)日：2019-12-31

申请号：US16113411

申请日：2018-08-27

Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.

Inventor： Takeshi Tamada ,  Hiroaki Takatsu ,  Takahiro Tsujimoto ,  Tianhua Xu

IPC: G03G15/20 ,  G03G15/00

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a heater, a first heater drive circuit which rectifies AC power from an AC power supply and subjects a current to be conducted to the heater to PWM control, and a second heater drive circuit which allows conduction from the AC power to the heater. The image forming apparatus further includes a switching circuit which sets a drive circuit which is to drive the heater to any one of the first heater drive circuit and the second heater drive circuit and a control unit which controls switching between the drive circuits by the switching circuit.