Patents Examined by John L. Goodrow
  • Patent number: 7396628
    Abstract: Provided is a toner for electrostatic charge image developing, comprising a core layer which contains a first binder resin and a coloring agent, and a shell layer which contains a second binder resin and covers the core layer, characterized in that the following equation (1) and the following equation (2) are satisfied, 2.0×105?G?(60)?4.0×106??Equation (1) 10?G?(60)/G?(80)?40??Equation (2) wherein, in the equation (1) and the equation (2), G?(60) represents a storage elastic modulus (Pa) of the toner for electrostatic charge image developing measured under the conditions of a temperature of 60° C., a vibration frequency of 6.28 rad/sec, and a strain amount of 0.01 to 0.5%, and G?(80) represents a storage elastic modulus (Pa) of the toner for electrostatic charge image developing measured under the conditions of a temperature of 80° C., a vibration frequency of 6.28 rad/sec, and a strain amount of 0.01 to 0.5%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanobu Ninomiya, Hiroshi Nakazawa, Takao Ishiyama
  • Patent number: 7396626
    Abstract: The present invention provides a toner improved in dispersibility of a colorant in the toner particles and excellent in the color reproducibility including color mixability and transparency. The toner is also excellent in the stability in long-term of the chargeability and capable of forming images maintaining high image quality. The present invention provides a toner for forming a full-color image which includes at least toner particles containing a binder resin, a colorant and a wax, and inorganic fine particles, wherein the binder resin comprises a resin having polyester units which is synthesized by use of an aromatic carboxylic acid titanium compound as a catalyst, and the inorganic fine particles comprise fine titanium oxide particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Fujikawa, Nobuyoshi Sugahara, Takayuki Itakura, Naoki Okamoto, Koh Ishigami, Yoshinobu Baba, Hirohide Tanikawa
  • Patent number: 7396629
    Abstract: An image forming method and an image forming apparatus are disclosed in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on a photosensitive member surface by using a two-component developer including a toner and carrier. The photosensitive member surface has a specific modulus of elastic deformation and includes a charge transport layer with a specific thickness. The toner has a specific weight-average particle diameter. The carrier has a specific volume-average particle diameter and a specific circularity, and contains 20% by number or less of particles having a value of “average circularity?2?” where ? is standard deviation of carrier circularity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Baba, Hiroyuki Fujikawa, Nobuyoshi Sugahara, Koh Ishigami, Naoki Okamoto, Takayuki Itakura
  • Patent number: 7393622
    Abstract: A durable two-component developing agent for electrophotography is provided that can not only suppress scattering of a toner into an inside of an apparatus but also obtain a high image density and can stably obtain a high-quality image even in use for a long period of time. The two-component developing agent for electrophotography includes a toner, and a carrier. The carrier contains a core material and a coating layer formed on a surface thereof. The coating layer is a silicone resin coating layer containing dendritic titanium oxide. Therefore, it is possible to not only suppress scattering of the toner but also obtain a sufficient image density and to form a high-quality image without reducing the image density even in use for a long period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Urata, Takeshi Katoh
  • Patent number: 7390598
    Abstract: An imaging member includes a conductive substrate, a charge generating layer, a charge transport layer, and an intermediate layer between the charge generating layer and the charge transport layer, the intermediate layer including a hole transport material, such as three different hole transfer materials, dispersed in a film forming binder, such as two different binder materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Satchidanand Mishra, Yuhua Tong, Anthony M. Horgan, Kathleen M. Carmichael, Dennis J. Prosser, Richard L. Post, Edward F. Grabowski
  • Patent number: 7387860
    Abstract: A toner includes toner particles containing at least a binder resin and a colorant, and inorganic fine particles. The shape factor SF-1 of the toner particles is in a specific range. The toner has a storage elastic modulus at 140° C., G? (140° C.), in a specific range the toner comes to have a viscosity of 1.0×103 Pa·s according to a flow tester heating method at a temperature of from 115° C. or more to less than 130° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Moriki, Shinya Yachi, Yushi Mikuriya, Keiji Komoto, Kenichi Nakayama, Takeshi Kaburagi, Emi Tosaka
  • Patent number: 7389081
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing an image recording body comprising: image-forming, to form an image on a surface of a film by an electrophotographic method; positioning, by overlaying the film onto a support so that at least one side of the support and a side of the film on which the image is formed are opposed to each other so as to obtain a laminate body; and heating and pressing the laminate body, wherein cleaning at least one of a surface of the laminate, a surface of the film and a surface of the support is conducted during at least one of a timing between the positioning and the heating and pressing and a timing between the image-forming and the positioning. The present invention further provides an apparatus for manufacturing an image recording body in accordance with the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Egusa, Tetsuro Kodera
  • Patent number: 7387863
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a crystalline polyester for toner, obtained by polycondensation of an alcohol component comprising 70% by mol or more of 1,6-hexanediol, and a carboxylic acid component comprising 70% by mol or more of an aromatic carboxylic acid compound. The crystalline polyester for toner of the present invention is used as a resin binder for a toner used, for instance, for developing electrostatic latent images formed in electrophotography, electrostatic recording method, electrostatic printing method, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Shirai, Takashi Kubo, Takashi Okuno
  • Patent number: 7387862
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor is provided that in excellent in the electrical characteristics such as the charging property, the sensitivity and the responsiveness, the oxidizing gas resistance such as the ozone resistance and the nitrogen oxide resistance, and the electrical durability such that even after repetition use the foregoing excellent electrical characteristics are not deteriorated. A photosensitive layer of an electrophotographic photoreceptor contains an amine compound represented by the general formula (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Toriyama, Kotaro Fukushima, Hisayuki Utsumi
  • Patent number: 7384721
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a toner for electrostatic image development, obtainable by a process including the steps of (I) melt-kneading a raw material mixture comprising a resin binder, a releasing agent, and a colorant; cooling the melt-kneaded mixture; and pulverizing the cooled mixture; and (II) further pulverizing a pulverized product obtained in the step (I) in the presence of an external additive; and classifying the pulverized product, wherein the releasing agent in the step (I) contains a wax having a melting point of from 65° to 100° C., and wherein the external additive in the step (II) contains specified inorganic oxides. The toner of the present invention can be suitably used, for instance, for the development of a latent image formed in electrophotography, electrostatic recording method, electrostatic printing method or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Eida, Jun Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7386256
    Abstract: An image forming method, includes: forming a latent electrostatic image on a latent electrostatic image carrier; developing the latent electrostatic image with a toner to thereby form a visible image; transferring the visible image to a recording medium; and fixing the image transferred to the recording medium. The latent electrostatic image carrier includes: a support, a photoconductive layer on the support, and a surface protective layer on the support. The surface protective layer includes a reactant made by cross-linking the following: an electric charge transporting material which comprises a reactive functional group, a cross-linking resin, and a fluorine surfactant. The toner comprises an inorganic fine particle which defines an effective inorganic fine particle amount in a range of 0.8% by mass to 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Maiko Kondo, Hidetoshi Kami, Naohiro Toda, Ryoichi Kitajima, Hiroshi Nagame, Narihito Kojima, Yoshiaki Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 7386266
    Abstract: An image removing method including bringing an outermost layer of a removing member into contact with an image fixed on an image support without applying a liquid to the image while heating the image and the outermost layer; and separating the removing member from the image support to remove the image from the image support, wherein the removing member includes a substrate and the outermost layer which is located overlying the substrate and which includes a thermoplastic resin, and wherein the image includes a removing agent which can decrease adhesion force of the image to the image support when heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Masashi Nagayama, Motoharu Tanaka, Toyoshi Sawada, Keiko Shiraishi, Tadashi Saitoh
  • Patent number: 7384719
    Abstract: A carrier composition, including a particulate magnetic material; and a layer located on a surface of the particulate magnetic material, wherein the layer is formed by heating a mixture containing a metal alkoxide; a resin having a hydroxyl group reacting with the metal alkoxide; and a particulate inorganic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahide Yamashita, Tomio Kondou, Kousuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7384720
    Abstract: A toner for developing a latent electrostatic image including a base of toner particle which contains a binder resin and a coloring agent, and an external additive. Herein, a plurality of the base of toner particle has a volume average particle diameter (Dv) of 3 ?m to 7 ?m, a ratio (Dv/Dn) of the volume average particle diameter (Dv) to a number average particle diameter (Dn) is 1.01 to 1.25, a plurality of the base of toner particle contains 15% by number or less of the base of toner particle having a particle diameter of 0.6 ?m to 2.0 ?m, a plurality of the base of toner particle has a circularity of 0.930 to 0.990 on average, the binder resin contains a modified polyester resin, and the toner contains 0.3 parts by weight to 5.0 parts by weight of the external additive, relative to 100 parts by weight of the base of toner particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Tomita, Tadao Takikawa, Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Fumihiro Sasaki, Toshiki Nanya, Hiroto Higuchi, Shigeru Emoto, Shinichiro Yagi, Naohito Shimota, Maiko Kondo
  • Patent number: 7381509
    Abstract: The present invention provides: a toner kit having a deep toner and a pale toner which are separated from each other, wherein: the deep toner and the pale toner satisfy prescribed conditions for an L*a*b* color coordinate system where a* represents a hue in the red-green direction, b* represents a hue in the yellow-blue direction, and L* represents a lightness; the pale toner and the deep toner to be used in the toner kit; and a method for forming an image using the toner kit. Thus, the present invention can form a high quality image, while suppressing graininess and roughness over the areas covering from the low density area to the high density area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasukazu Ayaki, Takeshi Ikeda, Tomohito Ishida, Nobuyuki Itoh
  • Patent number: 7381512
    Abstract: A hydroxygallium phthalocyanine pigment is characterized by having a maximum peak wavelength within a range of from 810 nm to 839 nm in optical absorption spectrum in a wavelength range of from 600 nm to 900 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Hongo, Kozo Ota, Masahiko Miyamoto, Yukiko Kamijo, Hidemi Nukada, Kenji Inoue
  • Patent number: 7381515
    Abstract: In an image forming method having primarily transferring step for transferring to an intermediate transfer member a toner image formed on a photosensitive member, secondarily transferring step for transferring to a transfer material the toner image held on the intermediate transfer member, and, after the secondary transferring step, cleaning step for removing the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member by bringing a cleaning means into contact with the intermediate transfer member, the cleaning means is a fur brush or a charging roller, and the intermediate transfer member has a specific maximum displacement quantity (Sb) and has a specific elastic deformation percentage (Eb) (%); a toner which forms the toner image has a specific average circularity, has a specific maximum displacement quantity (St), and has a specific elastic deformation percentage (Et) (%); and the elastic deformation percentage of the intermediate transfer member and the elastic deformation percentage of the toner satisfy the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Sugahara, Hiroyuki Fujikawa, Koh Ishigami, Naoki Okamoto, Yoshinobu Baba, Takayuki Itakura
  • Patent number: 7378203
    Abstract: Improved charge transport material comprises the formula: where M comprises a metallocenyl group; Y comprises a functional group selected from the group consisting of a metallocenyl group, a hydrazone group, an azine group, a reactive ring group, an ethylenically unsaturated group, and combinations thereof; R1 and R2 comprise, each independently, H, an organic group, or an organometallic group; and X is a bond, O, S, an aminylene group, a sulfonyl group, an organic linking group, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nusrallah Jubran, Patrick Knoll, Vytautas Getautis, Tadas Malinauskas, Maryte Daskeviciene, Edmundas Montrimas, Jonas Sidaravicius
  • Patent number: 7378207
    Abstract: The invention relates to a magenta toner having magenta-colored resin particles comprising at least a binder resin and a magenta colorant. The magenta pigment is a magenta pigment composed of a combination of C.I. Pigment Red 31 and C.I. Pigment Red 150.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Zeon Corporation
    Inventors: Fuminari Oyama, Kazu Niwa
  • Patent number: 7378210
    Abstract: The present invention provides a binder resin that is used for an electrophotographic toner, an electrophotographic toner using the same, and a manufacturing method thereof, as well as an electrophotographic developer and an image forming method. The binder resin includes a rare earth element in a range of about 1 to 10000 ppm and is preferably made of a polyester resin. The polyester resin is preferably synthesized from from an acid unit having a dicarboxylic acid group and an alcohol unit having a diol group by use of a non-homogeneous catalyst in which a rare earth metal triflate or a rare earth metal triflylimide is carried on a carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Hiraoka, Yasuo Yamamoto, Hideo Maehata, Yasuo Matsumura