Patents Examined by John L. Goodrow
  • Patent number: 7445878
    Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic charge image comprising a compound represented by a following formula (1): wherein X represents H or —CO—R4; R4 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and the alkyl group may have a substituent; R1 though R3 independently represent an alkyl group having 10 to 30 carbon atoms and the alkyl group may have a substituent; and R1 through R3 may be either the same or different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikio Koyama, Kenji Hayashi, Kazuya Isobe, Yasuharu Saita
  • Patent number: 7442484
    Abstract: An image forming method including: forming a toner image on a support using a toner including toner particles; and feeding the support bearing the toner image thereon through a nip between an endless toner heating member and a pressure roller to fix the toner image on the support, wherein the endless toner heating member is rotated while stretched by a fixing roller and a heat roller which includes a magnetic metal and which is heated by electromagnetic induction, and wherein the pressure roller presses the support to the endless toner heating member and the fixing roller at the nip, wherein the toner particles are prepared by a polymerizing method using a binder resin containing at least a modified polyester resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Osamu Uchinokura, Akihiro Kotsugai, Yasuo Asahina, Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Shinya Nakayama, Kohichi Sakata, Tomoko Utsumi, Hisashi Nakajima, Yasuaki Iwamoto, Hideki Sugiura, Satoshi Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 7442482
    Abstract: A process for preparing a toner including the steps of (I) melt-kneading a raw material mixture containing a resin binder, a wax, and a colorant with an open-roller type kneader; (II) cooling the melt-kneaded mixture obtained in the step (I) and pulverizing the cooled mixture; and (III) classifying the pulverized product obtained in the step (II) to give a toner, wherein the wax is contained in the toner in an amount of from 2 to 15% by weight, and has a number-average particle size in the toner of 1 ?m or less, wherein the toner has a volume-median particle size (D50) of from 3.5 to 7 ?m, and a standard deviation in volume base particle size distribution of ¼ of D50 or less, and contains 5% by volume or less of particles having particle sizes of (1.4×D50) ?m or more, and 5% by number or less of particles having particle sizes of 3 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Eida
  • Patent number: 7435518
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for improving chemical stability in a metal or metallized substrate, such as an aluminum substrate, of an electrophotographic-imaging member by treating the substrate with a composition containing a rare-earth metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: John Graham, Nancy Belknap, Kendra M. Giza, Andronique Ioannidis, Michael Zak, Sandra Gardner, Nan-Xing Hu, Timothy P. Bender, Ah-Mee Hor
  • Patent number: 7435523
    Abstract: Chemically prepared toner is manufactured by aggregation in which the binder resin is a latex copolymer having a methacrylic acid ester of long chain, saturated alkyl, which may be lauryl methacrylate. This binder resin has a small amount by weight of acrylic acid component and has other nonionic components, which may be styrene and butyl acrylate moieties. Aggregation is carried out in an aqueous medium, which may have organic solvent components. The aggregation is then heated, and because of the selection of the binder resin to have the long chain ester, the heating step has minimal effect on particle size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: John Melvin Olson, Kasturi Rangan Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 7432030
    Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic latent image includes a binder resin, a colorant and a releasing agent. The releasing agent contains a hydrocarbon component including a linear hydrocarbon component, and the liner hydrocarbon component has a carbon number distribution and an average carbon number N. An amount of a component having a carbon number of from N?4 to N+4 in the releasing agent is 80% by mass or more based on the total mass of the hydrocarbon component of the releasing agent. An amount of a component having a carbon number of N?10 or less in the releasing agent is 0.05% by mass or less based on the total mass of the hydrocarbon component of the releasing agent, and an amount of a component having a carbon number of N+10 or more in the releasing agent is 0.05% by mass or less based on the total mass of the hydrocarbon component of the releasing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosuke Tsurumi, Akira Matsumoto, Mayuko Uda, Hiroshi Nakazawa, Kazufumi Tomita
  • Patent number: 7429442
    Abstract: A toner is provided that contains a binder resin; a colorant; a release agent; and an external additive, wherein the toner has an average circularity of from 0.940 to 0.965 and a crater having a depth of from 0.02 to 0.1 ?m, and wherein the crater has an amount of the external additive larger than an average amount thereof on the toner, along with a two-component developer containing the toner and an image forming apparatus using the toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Honda, Masami Tomita, Toshiki Nanya, Fumihiro Sasaki, Shigeru Emoto, Hiroto Higuchi, Hiroshi Yamada, Shinichiro Yagi, Tomomi Suzuki, Junichi Awamura, Naohito Shimota
  • Patent number: 7422833
    Abstract: A charge control resin composition for positive or negative charge, which is prepared either by mixing and kneading a charge control resin for positive or negative charge with a colorant, or by mixing and kneading the above combination further with a charge control resin for opposite charge or a charge control resin composition for opposite charge; wherein colorant particles are finely dispersed as desired. The resultant mixture is mixed with a polymerizable monomer to obtain polymerizable monomer composition. Then, the polymerizable monomer composition is dispersed or emulsified in an aqueous dispersion medium containing a dispersion stabilizer, and polymerized to obtain a toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Zeon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazu Niwa, Fuminari Oyama
  • Patent number: 7422831
    Abstract: The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to anticurl back coatings useful in electrophotography. More particularly, the embodiments pertain to an electrophotographic imaging member with an improved anticurl back coating including a low surface energy polymeric material to prevent curling, render surface lubricity, eliminate electrostatic charge built-up, and reduce friction, and a process for making and using the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Robert C. U. Yu
  • Patent number: 7421237
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit that heats and fixes a toner image created on a recording medium; and a cooling unit that cools the toner image heated and fixed by the fixing unit with reference to a melting point of wax contained in the toner image from a temperature higher than the melting point to a temperature lower than the melting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Funato, Kazuhiro Mori
  • Patent number: 7413839
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a toner characterized in that the toner comprises a first binder resin and a second binder resin, the first binder resin is an amorphous resin and the second binder resin is a crystalline resin, and the glass-transition temperature of the toner (TgA) is lower than the glass-transition temperature expressed by the following equation (1) (TgC). TgC = ? i = 1 n ? b i / ? i = 1 n ? ( b i TgB i ) Equation ? ? ( 1 ) In the above equation (1), “TgBi” represents the glass-transition temperature of the amorphous resin, “n” represents the number of amorphous resins, and “b” represents the content of the amorphous resin (part by mass). Examples of the preferred aspect of the present invention includes the one that at least a part of the amorphous resin and a part of the crystalline resin are compatible each other, and the one that the glass-transition temperature of the toner (TgA) is 10° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiko Matsumoto, Toyoshi Sawada
  • Patent number: 7413838
    Abstract: An external additives for electrophtographic toner comprising finely divided oxide particulate including a silicon compound and a compound for doping said oxide particulate, wherein particle diameter of the primary particle of said finely divided oxide particulate is in the range of 30 nm to 150 nm, and the primary particle of said finely divided oxide particles is substantially spherical shape having the roundness in the range of 0.95 to 0.996, is provided. And this external additives is capable of evading from the embedding of external additives into toner even if after the toner is held in the storage under the condition of high temperature and high humidity, thereby the additives is capable of showing sufficient functions as fluidizing agent and charge supplement agent, and is capable of inhibiting an abnormal charge elevation even after being stored under the low temperature and low humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: RICOH Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Sugiura, Satoshi Mochizuki, Yasuaki Iwamoto, Kazuhiko Umemura
  • Patent number: 7413842
    Abstract: A toner process comprising aggregating or coagulating a latex emulsion comprising a resin, a colorant and wax particles using an amount of polymetal ion coagulant to provide core particles; heating the core particles to provide micron size aggregates; optionally adding a second resin emulsion; adding a sequestering or complexing component and a base to remove the polymetal ion in a controlled manner; further heating the mixture to provide toner particles; and optionally, isolating the toner particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Daryl Vanbesien, David J. Sanders, Raj D. Patel, Christine D. Anderson, Patricia Ann Burns, Nam-Suk Ro
  • Patent number: 7410743
    Abstract: A method includes pre-milling a pigment by dry ball milling the pigment with crushed CO2 (s), reducing the size of particles of the pigment by milling the pigment with glass beads, measuring a size of the particles of the pigment, determining whether that size of the particles is acceptable and coating the imaging member with the pigment if it is determined that the size of the particles is acceptable. A system includes a mill, a measuring device, a coating device and a controller that controls the mill to dry ball mill a pigment with crushed CO2, and then controls the mill to reduce the size of the pigment by milling the pigment with glass beads. The controller controls the measuring device to measure a size of the particles of the pigment to determine whether the size of the particles is acceptable. The imaging member is then coated with the solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: John Chambers, Francisco Lopez, Liang-Bih Lin
  • Patent number: 7410548
    Abstract: Post treatment of an ultrasonically welded seamed flexible imaging member belt includes providing a flexible belt having an outer surface, an inner surface, parallel edges and a welded seam extending from one parallel edge to the other parallel edge, the belt seam including a seam region comprising an overlap of two oppositely miter cut edges, and two adjacent splashing formed around the seam; contacting the seam with abrasive and a super finishing tool; and super finishing the seam to remove at least the splashing on the outer surface of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Darcy, III, Michael S. Roetker
  • Patent number: 7402370
    Abstract: A toner for developing electrostatic images in a single component development (SCD) system free of carrier and including emulsion aggregation toner particles of a styrene acrylate polymer binder, at least one release agent and at least one colorant, wherein the toner particles have a volume average particle size of from about 5 ?m to about 10 ?m, an average circularity of about 0.95 to about 0.99, a volume and number geometric standard deviation (GSDv and n) of from about 1.10 to about 1.30, and an onset glass transition temperature of from about 45° C. to about 65° C., is ideally suited for forming an image using a single component image forming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Grazyna E Kmiecik-Lawrynowicz, Maura A Sweeney, Daniel W Asarese, Eunhee Lee, Robert D Bayley
  • Patent number: 7402368
    Abstract: Hydrophobic inorganic fine particles characterized by being a mixture of at least small-particle-diameter inorganic fine particles having an average primary particle diameter of 5 to 25 nm and having a maximum peak particle diameter of 20 nm or less and large-particle-diameter inorganic fine particles having an average primary particle diameter which is 1.5 to 100 times the average primary particle diameter of the small-particle-diameter inorganic fine particles; the mixture being a mixture having been treated in the same treating tank to subject both the small-particle-diameter inorganic fine particles and large-particle-diameter inorganic fine particles simultaneously to hydrophobic treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ogawa, Takashige Kasuya, Kaori Hiratsuka
  • Patent number: 7400849
    Abstract: A magnetic one-component toner of the invention contains at least a binding resin and a magnetic powder, and has a volume average particle size of 6.0 to 9.0 ?m, a compressibility of 15 to 50%, and a mean roundness of 0.950 to 0.960. The magnetic powder has at its surface a phosphorus element of 0.10 to 0.50% by weight. This toner is suitable for use in an image forming apparatus provided with a developer carrier made of stainless steel, or an image forming apparatus provided with an amorphous silicon photosensitive material. This toner has high transfer efficiency and less fog, thereby enabling to maintain image density for a long period of time, and form high image-quality image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Hidekazu Tamura
  • Patent number: 7399563
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrophotographic photoconductor including at least a photoconductive layer on an electroconductive substrate, which comprises at least a cross-linked surface layer formed by curing a tri- or more-functional radical polymerizable monomer without having a charge transporting structure and a mono-functional radical polymerizable compound having a charge transporting structure wherein the cross-linked surface layer has a surface roughness Rz of 1.3 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Suzuki, Hiroshi Tamura, Hiroshi Ikuno, Kazukiyo Nagai, Hongguo Ll
  • Patent number: 7396623
    Abstract: The presently disclosed embodiments relate in general to electrophotographic imaging members, such as layered photoreceptor structures, and processes for making and using the same. More particularly, the embodiments pertain to a photoreceptor that incorporates a material with a high dielectric constant that improves background and print image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jin Wu, Liang-bin Lin, Linda L. Ferrarese, John J. Wilbert, James R. Backus