Patents Examined by John L. Goodrow
  • Patent number: 7378205
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a support and a photosensitive layer on the support, the electrophotographic photosensitive member having a surface with a universal hardness (HU) in the range of between 150 and 220 N/mm2 and an elastic deformation ratio in the range of between 50 and 65%. The present invention also provides a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each having the electrophotographic photosensitive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michiyo Sekiya, Hiroki Uematsu, Shuji Ishii
  • Patent number: 7378209
    Abstract: An electrophotographic toner used for an image forming method that utilizes a heat-pressure type fuser equipped with a fusing member having a surface layer containing polybenzimidazole, wherein the toner comprises at least cycloolefin copolymer resins as binder resins. The cycloolefin copolymer resins comprise a mixture of 0 to 75 percent by weight of a low molecular weight component having a weight-average molecular weight of less than 15000, 5 to 25 percent by weight of a medium molecular weight component having a weight-average molecular weight of 15000 to 100000, and 20 to 95 percent by weight of a high molecular weight component having a weight-average molecular weight of more than 100000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignees: Tomoegawa Paper Co., Ltd., Ticona GmbH
    Inventors: Yoshihito Suwa, Toru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7378211
    Abstract: A carrier composition having magnetite with a diameter of from about 80 microns to about 150 microns, and wherein the carrier has a conductivity of from about 10?8 to about 10?11 (ohms-cm)?1 and a carrier breakdown voltage of from about 20 to about 200 volts, and a developer composition with toner and this carrier composition, and also including a developer housing apparatus and an electrostatographic apparatus comprising the developer housing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Padam K. Angra, Michael L. Grande, Zhaoyi M. Masucci, Joseph H. Rowe, John S. Walters
  • Patent number: 7374849
    Abstract: A carrier comprised of a core, and thereover a polymer coating containing antimony tin oxide with an average diameter of from about 5 to about 90 nanometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Vladislav Skorokhod, Maria N V. McDougall, Richard P N. Veregin, Cuong Vong, Jackie B. Parker
  • Patent number: 7374850
    Abstract: Carrier comprised of a core, a polymer coating, and wherein said coating contains a mixture of an alkali metal lauryl sulfate and a conductive component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher M. Pattison, Thomas C. Dombroski, Deepak R. Maniar
  • Patent number: 7371497
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising: an electroconductive substrate; a charge generation layer; and a charge transport layer in this order, a charger; an irradiator; an image developer; and a transferer applying an electric current not less than 65 ?A to the electrophotographic photoreceptor, wherein the charge generation layer comprises titanylphthalocyanine crystals having a CuK? 1.542 ? X-ray diffraction spectrum having plural diffraction peaks, wherein a maximum diffraction peak is observed at a Bragg (2?) angle of 27.2°; main peaks are observed at 9.4°, 9.6° and 24.0°; and a minimum diffraction peak is observed at 7.3°; and no diffraction peak is observed at an angle greater than 7.3° and less than 9.4°, wherein said angles may vary by ±0.2° and the minimum interval where no peak is observed between required peaks at 7.3 and 9.4 is 2.0 degrees absolute or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Naohiro Toda, Tatsuya Niimi
  • Patent number: 7371493
    Abstract: Improved charge transport material having the formula: Y-Z-X-E where E comprises a functional group selected from the group consisting of a reactive ring group, a vinyl ether group, an acrylamido group, and a methacrylamido group; X comprises a bond, O, S, an aminylene group, a sulfonyl group, an organic linking group, or a combination thereof; Z comprises a 1,3,6,8-tetraoxo-1,3,6,8-tetrahydrobenzo[lmn][3,8]phenanthroline-2,7-diyl group; and Y comprises H or an organic group, such as an alkyl group, an aryl group, an aromatic heterocyclic group, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nusrallah Jubran
  • Patent number: 7368212
    Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image, includes: a colorant; and a binder resin. The toner has a particle including at least one pore having a diameter of 10 nm or over, and a porosity thereof is in a range from 0.01 to 0.60.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Sugiura, Satoshi Mochizuki, Yasuaki Iwamoto, Yasuo Asahina, Akihiro Kotsugai, Shinya Nakayama, Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Koichi Sakata, Tomoko Utsumi, Hisashi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7365150
    Abstract: A polyester resin for toner which is obtained through polymerization in the presence of a release agent ingredient with a melting point of 60–100° C. or a release agent ingredient comprising an alcohol component, and which has a softening temperature of 100–160° C., an acid value of 0.1–30 mgKOH/g and a glass transition temperature of 40–70° C.; a process for producing a polyester resin for toner which comprises conducting polymerization in the presence of a release agent ingredient with a melting point of 60–100° C. or a release agent ingredient comprising an alcohol component; and toner comprising the polyester resin. Toners with excellent non-offset properties and glosses are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Ito, Masaru Sugiura, Kouji Shimizu, Hitoshi Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 7364828
    Abstract: The method of manufacturing toner for electrophotography includes the steps of dissolving or dispersing a toner composition containing a resin and a coloring agent into polymerizable monomers to provide a solution or a dispersed system, emulsifying the solution or the dispersed system with a first surface active agent in an aqueous medium to provide an emulsion, and polymerizing the polymerizable monomers in the emulsion to obtain toner. A second surface active agent having polarity opposite to polarity of the first surface active agent is added after the emulsifying step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamashita, Takuya Saito, Tsunemi Sugiyama, Yohichiroh Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7364826
    Abstract: There is provided an electrostatic latent image developing toner including a binder resin, a colorant, and a release agent, wherein the shape factor SF1 of the toner is within the range from 110 to 140, the volume average particle size of the toner is within the range from 1.2 ?m to 4.8 ?m, and the crystallinity of the release agent within the toner is within the range from 35 to 80. There is also provided a method for manufacturing such a toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahisa Fujii, Hiroyoshi Okuno, Shinichirou Kawashima, Takeshi Iwanaga, Toshiaki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 7361442
    Abstract: A developing method is provided in which a developer is carried on a developer carrying member, a thin layer of the developer is formed thereon and a latent image on a latent image bearing member is developed with a developer. The developer is composed of magnetic toner particles containing a binder resin and a magnetic powder. The magnetic powder has a saturation magnetization of 67.0 Am2/kg to 75.0 Am2/kg in a magnetic field of 79.6 kA/m (1,000 oersteds) and has a residual magnetization of 4.5 Am2/kg or less. In the surface profile of the conductive resin coat layer of the developer carrying member, the relationship 1.00?S/A?1.65 is satisfied where S is a surface area of regions zoned by an area A of microscopic unevenness regions from which parts exceeding a reference plane by 0.5×r (r: weight average particle diameter (?m) of a toner used) or more have been excluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Otake, Masayoshi Shimamura, Yusutaka Akashi, Kazunori Saiki, Nene Dojo, Minoru Ito, Michihisa Magome, Eriko Yanase, Tatsuya Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7361441
    Abstract: A yellow toner in which, in a spectral-distribution diagram in which the reflectance (%) is plotted as ordinate and the wavelength (nm) as abscissa, the reflectance determined for a toner in a state of powder ranges from 15% to 20% at a wavelength of 500 nm and ranges from 75% to 80% at a wavelength of 600 nm, a cyan toner in which, in the like spectral-distribution diagram, the reflectance determined for a toner in a state of powder ranges from 30% to 35% at a wavelength of 450 nm and ranges from 35% to 40% at a wavelength of 475 nm, and a magenta toner in which, in the like spectral-distribution diagram, the reflectance determined for a toner in a state of powder ranges from 5% to 10% at a wavelength of 425 nm and ranges from 65% to 70% at a wavelength of 675 nm. These color toners each contain corresponding pigments in specific combination, and promise color reproduction which can ensure the color tones of process inks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Itakura, Takaaki Kotaki, Takaaki Kaya, Kazuhiko Hayami, Nozomu Komatsu
  • Patent number: 7361440
    Abstract: The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to anticurl backing layers useful in electrostatography. More particularly, the embodiments pertain to an electrostatographic imaging member with an improved anticurl backing layer including a low surface energy polymeric material to prevent curling and reduce friction, and a process for making and using the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Satchidanand Mishra, Satish Parikh, Anthony M. Horgan, Kathleen Carmichael, Markus Silvestri, Edward Grabowski, Donald Goodman, Richard Post, Kenny-tuar Dinh
  • Patent number: 7358017
    Abstract: A polyurethane-silica hybrid, or polyurethane-silica/silsesquioxane hybrid overcoat improves the life of the photoconductor drum without significantly altering the electrophotographic properties of the PC drum. Wear can be caused by a variety of factors, which include contact with the cleaner blade, paper, or intermediate transfer member or by erosion or scratching from toner components. The combination of hard and soft segments allows for a tough, wear resistant material with the added flexibility to prevent erosion from toner particles that are swept along the surface of the drum by the cleaner blade. A benzophenone ultraviolet absorber chemically linked to the silsesquioxane appears to inhibit room light fatigue and improve the electrostatic cycling of the PC drum. The overcoat also inhibits crazing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Daniel Reeves, Edward Wayne Weidert
  • Patent number: 7354690
    Abstract: A toner producing method is provided, which comprises preparing toner base particles in an aqueous medium, wherein the toner base particles comprise resin fine particles, and forming a coating layer on the surface of the toner base particles, wherein the coating layer is formed by attaching or coating a toner functional substance onto the surface of the toner base particles using at least one of supercritical fluids and sub-supercritical fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Ishii, Chiaki Tanaka, Nahiro Watanabe, Kei Naitoh, Takuya Saito
  • Patent number: 7351509
    Abstract: A toner is disclosed including toner particles containing a binder resin and a colorant. The binder resin contains a vinyl resin. In the high-temperature GPC-RALLS-viscometer analysis of the o-dichlorobenzene-soluble matter of the toner, a weight-average molecular weigh of absolute molecular weights measured with a viscosity detector is in a specific range. In the o-dichlorobenzene-soluble matter, a component with the absolute molecular weight of 10,000 or less and a component with the absolute molecular weight of 1,000,000 or more are present in specific proportions, respectively. The intrinsic viscosity of the toner is in a specific range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shuhei Moribe, Nobuyuki Okubo, Tsutomu Onuma, Shinichiro Abe, Koji Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7351508
    Abstract: Improved organophotoreceptor comprises an electrically conductive substrate and a photoconductive element on the electrically conductive substrate, the photoconductive element comprising: (a) a charge transport material having the formula where Y comprises an aromatic group; V1 and V2 comprise, each independently, a vinyl containing group; and R1, R2, R3, and R4 comprise, each independently, H, an alkyl group, an acyl group, an ether group, an ester group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, a heterocyclic group, an aromatic group, or a part of a ring group; and (b) a charge generating compound. Corresponding electrophotographic apparatuses, electrophotographic imaging methods, and charge transport materials are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Juozas V. Grazulevicius, Gintaras Buika, Vygintas Jankauskas, Valentas Gaidelis, Ruta Budreckiene, Zbigniew Tokarski, Nusrallah Jubran
  • Patent number: 7348112
    Abstract: Improved organophotoreceptor comprises an electrically conductive substrate and a photoconductive element on the electrically conductive substrate, the photoconductive element comprising: (a) a polymeric charge transport material having the formula where n is a distribution of integers between 1 and 100,000 with an average value of greater than one; Y comprises an aromatic group; X1 and X2, each independently, is a bond or a linking group; Q1 and Q2 are, each independently, O, S, or NR; and R, R1, and R2 comprise, each independently, H, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an acyl group, a heterocyclic group, or an aromatic group; and (b) a charge generating compound. Corresponding electrophotographic apparatuses, imaging methods, and methods of preparing the polymeric charge transport material are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nusrallah Jubran, Zbigniew Tokarski, Valentas Gaidelis, Vytautas Getautis, Tadas Malinauskas, Edmundas Montrimas, Kam W. Law
  • Patent number: 7348113
    Abstract: A polycarbonate resin has a constitutional unit expressed by the following general formula (I): A1 represents an alkyl group which is substitutional or nonsubstitutional, and an aryl group which is substitutional or nonsubstitutional. A2, A3, A4, A5, A6 and A7 each represent one of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group which has 1 to 6 carbon atoms and is substitutional or nonsubstitutional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Shoshi, Yuko Komai, Hiroshi Tamura, Masaomi Sasaki