Patents by Inventor Koji Akioka

Koji Akioka 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: 7862976
    Abstract: A liquid developer having superior fixing characteristic of toner particles to a recording medium and which is harmless to the environment, and an image forming apparatus using the liquid developer are provided. The liquid developer is comprised of an insulation liquid and toner particles dispersed in the insulation liquid, wherein the insulation liquid contains a first vegetable oil and a reaction product produced by an ester exchange reaction of a second vegetable oil and a monovalent alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Miura, Koji Akioka, Hiroshi Kaiho, Takashi Teshima, Ken Ikuma
  • Patent number: 7756444
    Abstract: A liquid developer which has excellent preservability, storage stability for a long period of time, and fixing characteristic of toner particles and which is also harmless to the environment is provided. The liquid developer contains an insulation liquid and toner particles dispersed in the insulation liquid. The insulation liquid contains a saturated fatty acid and at least one component selected from a group comprising a linolenic acid component, a linoleic acid component and an oleic acid component. The liquid developer may contain an antioxidizing agent and an oxidation polymerization accelerator for accelerating an oxidation polymerization reaction of the linolenic acid component, the linoleic acid component or the oleic acid component during a fixing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Teshima, Koji Akioka
  • Patent number: 7723005
    Abstract: A liquid developer contains an insulation liquid containing as its main component a glyceride of an unsaturated fatty acid, toner particles dispersed in the insulation liquid; and an oxidation polymerization accelerator for accelerating oxidation polymerization reaction of the glyceride during fixing process of the toner particles. The oxidation polymerization accelerator accelerates the oxidation polymerization reaction by supplying oxygen during the fixing process of the toner particles. The liquid developer may further contain an antioxidizing agent. Preferably, the oxidation polymerization accelerator is contained in the insulation liquid being encapsulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Akioka, Nobuhiro Miyakawa, Takashi Teshima, Satoru Miura
  • Patent number: 7608376
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid developer includes associating fine particles mainly containing a resin material so as to obtain associated particles, and disintegrating the associated particles in an insulation liquid so as to obtain toner particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Miura, Hiroshi Kaiho, Takashi Teshima, Koji Akioka, Ken Ikuma
  • Publication number: 20090245873
    Abstract: A liquid developer which has excellent preservability, storage stability for a long period of time, and fixing characteristic of toner particles and which is also harmless to the environment is provided. The liquid developer contains an insulation liquid and toner particles dispersed in the insulation liquid. The insulation liquid contains a saturated fatty acid and at least one component selected from a group comprising a linolenic acid component, a linoleic acid component and an oleic acid component. The liquid developer may contain an antioxidizing agent and an oxidation polymerization accelerator for accelerating an oxidation polymerization reaction of the linolenic acid component, the linoleic acid component or the oleic acid component during a fixing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi TESHIMA, Koji AKIOKA
  • Patent number: 7595140
    Abstract: A liquid developer includes toner particles formed of a resin material and a coloring agent, and an insulation liquid in which the toner particles are dispersed, the insulation liquid containing ester-exchange oil obtained by an ester-exchange reaction of soybean oil and at least one of semidrying oil and nondrying oil. It is preferred that the insulation liquid further contains fatty acid monoester. Further, it is preferred that the amount of the fatty acid monoester contained in the insulation liquid is in the range of 5 to 50 wt %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Akioka, Ken Ikuma
  • Patent number: 7563550
    Abstract: A liquid developer which has excellent preservability, storage stability for a long period of time, and fixing characteristics of toner particles and which is also harmless to the environment is provided. The liquid developer contains an insulation liquid and toner particles dispersed in the insulation liquid. The insulation liquid contains a saturated fatty acid and at least one of an eicosapentaenoic acid component and a docosahexaenoic acid component. The liquid developer may contain an antioxidizing agent and an oxidation polymerization accelerator for accelerating an oxidation polymerization reaction of the eicosapentaenoic acid component or the docosahexaenoic acid component during a fixing process. Further, an image forming apparatus for use with the liquid developer is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Akioka, Takashi Teshima
  • Patent number: 7556907
    Abstract: A liquid developer which has excellent preservability, storage stability for a long period of time, and fixing characteristic of toner particles and which is also harmless to the environment is provided. The liquid developer contains an insulation liquid and toner particles dispersed in the insulation liquid. The insulation liquid contains a saturated fatty acid and at least one component selected from a group comprising a linolenic acid component, a linoleic acid component and an oleic acid component. The liquid developer may contain an antioxidizing agent and an oxidation polymerization accelerator for accelerating an oxidation polymerization reaction of the linolenic acid component, the linoleic acid component or the oleic acid component during a fixing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Teshima, Koji Akioka
  • Patent number: 7514145
    Abstract: A method for producing resin particles using a dispersion liquid in which a dispersoid mainly made of a resin material is finely dispersed in a dispersion medium, the method comprising a dispersion liquid ejecting step for ejecting the dispersion liquid in the form of droplets and a dispersion medium removing step for removing the dispersion medium from the dispersion liquid in the form of droplets, wherein a granulation prevention agent for preventing or suppressing fine particles derived from the dispersoid from being agglomerated and then granulated is applied to the dispersion liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Akioka, Toshiaki Yamagami, Hiroshi Kaiho, Ken Ikuma
  • Publication number: 20080311505
    Abstract: A liquid developer includes a toner particle mainly composed of a resin material, and a nonvolatile insulating liquid, the resin material including an ethylene copolymer, and the insulating liquid including fatty acid triglyceride.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Akioka
  • Publication number: 20080299480
    Abstract: A liquid developer includes toner particles containing mainly a resin material, and a nonvolatile insulating liquid, the toner particles containing therein a liquid constituting the insulating liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Akioka
  • Publication number: 20080299481
    Abstract: A liquid developer includes: toner particles containing mainly a resin material, and a nonvolatile insulating liquid, the toner particles containing a liquid having a formulation that is different from the insulating liquid, and the liquid contained in the toner particles having an aniline point that is lower than that of the insulating liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Akioka
  • Publication number: 20080199221
    Abstract: A liquid developer includes an insulation liquid containing a fatty acid monoester, and toner particles comprised of a polyester resin. By using the liquid developer, it is possible to provide superior fixing characteristic of toner particles to a recording medium. An image forming apparatus that can suitably use such a liquid developer is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Teshima, Koji Akioka, Ken Ikuma
  • Publication number: 20080199801
    Abstract: A liquid developer includes: an insulating liquid having dispersed therein toner particles, the insulating liquid containing a fatty acid monoester that is an ester of a fatty acid and a monohydric alcohol, and the insulating liquid having an aniline point of from 5 to 80° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji AKIOKA, Takashi TESHIMA, Satoru MIURA, Shunichiro YAMANAKA, Ken IKUMA
  • Publication number: 20080014526
    Abstract: A liquid developer having superior fixing characteristic of toner particles to a recording medium and which is harmless to the environment, and an image forming apparatus using the liquid developer are provided. The liquid developer is comprised of an insulation liquid and toner particles dispersed in the insulation liquid, wherein the insulation liquid contains a first vegetable oil and a reaction product produced by an ester exchange reaction of a second vegetable oil and a monovalent alcohol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru MIURA, Koji AKIOKA, Hiroshi KAIHO, Takashi TESHIMA, Ken IKUMA
  • Publication number: 20080003516
    Abstract: 1. A liquid developer is disclosed. The liquid developer includes an insulating liquid; and toner particles composed mainly of a resin material that are dispersed in the insulating liquid, wherein the insulating liquid contains a fatty acid monoester, and the resin material has a glass transition temperature Tg of 15 to 70° C. and a softening temperature Tf of 80 to 140° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji AKIOKA, Takashi TESHIMA, Satoru MIURA, Shunichiro YAMANAKA, Ken IKUMA
  • Publication number: 20070248381
    Abstract: A liquid developer includes toner particles formed of a resin material and a coloring agent, and an insulation liquid in which the toner particles are dispersed, the insulation liquid containing ester-exchange oil obtained by an ester-exchange reaction of soybean oil and at least one of semidrying oil and nondrying oil. It is preferred that the insulation liquid further contains fatty acid monoester. Further, it is preferred that the amount of the fatty acid monoester contained in the insulation liquid is in the range of 5 to 50 wt %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji AKIOKA, Ken IKUMA
  • Publication number: 20070202432
    Abstract: A liquid developer includes toner particles formed of a resin material and a coloring agent, and an insulation liquid in which the toner particles are dispersed, the insulation liquid containing ester-exchange oil obtained by an ester-exchange reaction of linseed oil and at least one of semidrying oil and nondrying oil. It is preferred that the insulation liquid further contains fatty acid monoester. Further, it is preferred that the amount of the fatty acid monoester contained in the insulation liquid is in the range of 5 to 50 wt %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji AKIOKA, Ken IKUMA
  • Publication number: 20070202431
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid developer includes associating fine particles mainly containing a resin material so as to obtain associated particles, and disintegrating the associated particles in an insulation liquid so as to obtain toner particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru MIURA, Hiroshi KAIHO, Takashi TESHIMA, Koji AKIOKA, Ken IKUMA
  • Patent number: 7247414
    Abstract: A method for producing resin particles mainly made of a resin material using a dispersion liquid in which a dispersoid containing the resin material is finely dispersed in a dispersion medium, the method comprising a dispersion medium removing step which comprises ejecting the dispersion liquid from a head portion in the form of droplets into a solidifying portion, conveying the droplets in the solidifying portion to remove the dispersion medium, and obtaining agglomerates each of which is composed of two ore more fine particles derived from the dispersoid, and a bonding step for welding and bonding the fine particles which constitute each of the agglomerates, thereby obtaining resin particles. The resin particles can be used for manufacturing a toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Miura, Koji Akioka, Ken Ikuma