Patents by Inventor Toyoko Shibata

Toyoko Shibata 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: 11762276
    Abstract: Provided is a compound that is fluidized by light irradiation and reversibly non-fluidized, and is not significantly colored. Provided is a photoresponsive compound represented by the following general formula (1), the photoresponsive compound being fluidized by light irradiation and reversibly non-fluidized: R1—Z1?Z2—R2??General formula (1) wherein Z1 and Z2 are N or CH, while Z1?Z2, R1 contains an aromatic hydrocarbon structure, R2 contains an aromatic heterocyclic structure, and a hydrogen atom is bonded to at least one carbon atom bonded adjacent to a carbon atom in the aromatic heterocyclic structure bonded to the Z2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yukiko Nakai, Kouji Sugama, Haruo Horiguchi, Kazuaki Nakamura, Toyoko Shibata
  • Patent number: 11702398
    Abstract: Disclosed is a compound containing a specific structure having an azomethine part, the compound being reversibly fluidized and non-fluidized by being irradiated with light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yukiko Kusano, Haruo Horiguchi, Kouji Sugama, Seijiro Takahashi, Toyoko Shibata, Hirofumi Hayata, Tomohiro Oshiyama
  • Publication number: 20230067136
    Abstract: Provided is a compound that is fluidized by light irradiation and reversibly non-fluidized, is not significantly colored, and improves fixability and exhibits excellent image stability and color reproducibility when used for a toner. Provided is a compound represented by the following general formula (1), which is fluidized by light irradiation and reversibly non-fluidized: wherein Z1 and Z2 are CH or N, and Z1?Z2; R1 is an aromatic hydrocarbon group having a substituent Ra selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an alkoxy group and a halogen atom at each of two ortho positions with respect to Z1; and R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic heterocyclic group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Yukiko NAKAI, Kouji SUGAMA, Kazuaki NAKAMURA, Toyoko SHIBATA
  • Publication number: 20220390824
    Abstract: Provided is a compound which is fluidized by light irradiation and is less colored. The compound is a compound represented by the following general formula (1), which is fluidized by light irradiation: R1—CH?N—R2??General Formula (1) wherein R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted cyclic hydrocarbon group or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group; and R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group containing a nitrogen atom bonded to the nitrogen atom in the general formula (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Yukiko NAKAI, Toyoko SHIBATA, Kazuaki NAKAMURA, Kouji SUGAMA
  • Publication number: 20220373913
    Abstract: A photoresponsive polymer includes a structural unit represented by the following general formula (1), the photoresponsive polymer being fluidized by light irradiation, and reversibly non-fluidized: [Chemical formula 1] R1—Z1?Z2—R2??General formula (1) in the formula, Z1 and Z2 each represent CH or N, and Z1?Z2, R1 represents an aromatic hydrocarbon group having a substituent Ra selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, and a halogen atom at each of two ortho positions with respect to Z1, R2 represents an aromatic heterocyclic group with or without a substituent, and at least one of the R1 and the R2 is bonded to a group containing a structure derived from a polymerizable group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Kouji SUGAMA, Yukiko NAKAI, Kazuaki NAKAMURA, Toyoko SHIBATA
  • Publication number: 20220107576
    Abstract: A resin composition includes: a resin having a first group capable of forming at least two hydrogen bonds; and a photoisomerization compound having a second group capable of forming at least two hydrogen bonds complementarily with the first group and having a moiety that is reversibly isomerized by light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Kazuaki NAKAMURA, Yukiko NAKAI, Haruo HORIGUCHI, Toyoko SHIBATA, Kouji SUGAMA
  • Publication number: 20220066345
    Abstract: A photoresponsive polymer that is fluidized by light irradiation and reversibly non-fluidized and contains a structural unit represented by a general formula (1) shown below: wherein each substituent is defined as described in the specification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Haruo HORIGUCHI, Kouji SUGAMA, Kazuaki NAKAMURA, Yukiko NAKAI, Toyoko SHIBATA
  • Publication number: 20220064107
    Abstract: A compound that is fluidized by light irradiation and reversibly non-fluidized and is represented by the following general formula (1): In the general formula (1), Ar1 and Ar2 each independently represent an aromatic hydrocarbon group optionally having a substituent or an aromatic heterocyclic group optionally having a substituent, and Y, Z1, and Z2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Toyoko SHIBATA, Haruo HORIGUCHI, Yukiko NAKAI, Kouji SUGAMA, Kazuaki NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20220043366
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a photoresponsive polymer that sufficiently secures photoresponsiveness to be fluidized by light irradiation and reversibly non-fluidized, improves fixability, and further has good color reproducibility. Provided is a photoresponsive polymer containing a structural unit derived from a specific azomethine derivative, the photoresponsive polymer being fluidized by light irradiation and reversibly non-fluidized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Kouji SUGAMA, Yukiko NAKAI, Haruo HORIGUCHI, Kazuaki NAKAMURA, Toyoko SHIBATA
  • Publication number: 20220043333
    Abstract: Provided is a compound that is fluidized by light irradiation and reversibly non-fluidized, and is not significantly colored. Provided is a photoresponsive compound represented by the following general formula (1), the photoresponsive compound being fluidized by light irradiation and reversibly non-fluidized: R1—Z1?Z2—R2??General formula (1) wherein Z1 and Z2 are N or CH, while Z1?Z2, R1 contains an aromatic hydrocarbon structure, R2 contains an aromatic heterocyclic structure, and a hydrogen atom is bonded to at least one carbon atom bonded adjacent to a carbon atom in the aromatic heterocyclic structure bonded to the Z2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Yukiko NAKAI, Kouji SUGAMA, Haruo HORIGUCHI, Kazuaki NAKAMURA, Toyoko SHIBATA
  • Publication number: 20210332272
    Abstract: A composition includes an isomerized polymer containing a structural unit containing an isomerized structure and an isomerized low molecular weight compound, the composition being fluidized by light irradiation from a solid state and being reversibly non-fluidized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Yukiko NAKAI, Kouji SUGAMA, Haruo HORIGUCHI, Toyoko SHIBATA, Hirofumi HAYATA
  • Patent number: 10754287
    Abstract: An image post-processing method includes a glossiness control step of irradiating a fixed toner image with a glossiness control light. The toner image is formed with a toner containing a compound that absorbs light. The glossiness control light is capable of at least reducing a glossiness of the fixed toner image. The glossiness control light has a maximum emission wavelength in a wavelength region which is absorbed by the compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Haruo Horiguchi, Seijiro Takahashi, Toyoko Shibata
  • Publication number: 20200264530
    Abstract: Disclosed is a compound containing a specific structure having an azomethine part, the compound being reversibly fluidized and non-fluidized by being irradiated with light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Yukiko KUSANO, Haruo HORIGUCHI, Kouji SUGAMA, Seijiro TAKAHASHI, Toyoko SHIBATA, Hirofumi HAYATA, Tomohiro OSHIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20200263088
    Abstract: Provided is a polymer that includes a predetermined structural unit derived from an azomethine derivative having a polymerizable group and is reversibly fluidized and non-fluidized by being irradiated with light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Haruo HORIGUCHI, Yukiko KUSANO, Kouji SUGAMA, Seijiro TAKAHASHI, Toyoko SHIBATA, Tomohiro OSHIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20200264529
    Abstract: Provided is an electrostatic image developing toner including toner particles containing a light phase transition material that change from a solid state to a liquid state by light irradiation and a binder resin, wherein ?H1 (J/g) is 0.1 or more, provided that ?H1 (J/g) is an endothermic amount based on a melting peak derived from the light phase transition material in a first temperature raising process of raising a temperature from 25 to 200° C., the endothermic amount being obtained from a DSC curve measured by differential scanning calorimtry to the electrostatic image developing toner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Seijiro TAKAHASHI, Kouji SUGAMA, Haruo HORIGUCHI, Yukiko KUSANO, Toyoko SHIBATA
  • Publication number: 20200264527
    Abstract: Provided is an electrostatic image developing toner containing toner particles, wherein the toner particles contain a compound (A) that undergoes a phase transition from a solid to a liquid by absorbing light, or contain a polymer (A?) containing a structural unit derived from the compound (A); and a part or all of a site derived from the compound (A) is included in a domain in the toner particle and exists as a domain
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Kouji SUGAMA, Seijiro TAKAHASHI, Haruo HORIGUCHI, Yukiko KUSANO, Toyoko SHIBATA
  • Patent number: 10712682
    Abstract: A toner includes toner particles, wherein the toner particles contain a polymer containing a structural unit derived from an azobenzene derivative having a polymerizable group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Seijiro Takahashi, Haruo Horiguchi, Toyoko Shibata
  • Patent number: 10705474
    Abstract: There is disclosed an image post-processing method for adjusting glossiness of a fixed toner image. The method includes a glossiness control step and a temperature control step. The glossiness control step is a step of, to a toner image formed of a toner containing a light absorbing compound and fixed to a recording medium, emitting glossiness control light so as to reduce or increase glossiness of the toner image. The temperature control step is a step of heating the toner image immediately before the light is emitted to the toner image such that the toner image has a surface temperature which is at least 20° C. lower than a softening temperature of the toner. The glossiness control light has a maximum emission wavelength in a wavelength range in which the compound absorbs light and is made to at least reduce the glossiness of the toner image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Haruo Horiguchi, Seijiro Takahashi, Toyoko Shibata
  • Patent number: 10663902
    Abstract: There is disclosed an image post-processing method for adjusting glossiness of a fixed toner image. The image post-processing method includes a glossiness control step of, with a non-contact heating device, heating a toner image fixed to a recording medium so as to reduce glossiness of the toner image. The non-contact heating device is configured to heat the toner image fixed to the recording medium to a temperature which reduces the glossiness of the fixed toner image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Haruo Horiguchi, Seijiro Takahashi, Toyoko Shibata
  • Publication number: 20200103779
    Abstract: An image forming method includes: developing an electrostatic latent image with a toner to form a toner image; and transferring the toner image onto a recording medium and irradiating the toner image with an actinic ray to fix the toner image to the recording medium, wherein in the transferring, a plurality of types of toner particles containing toner particles of a color toner and toner particles of a transparent toner is fixed to the same area included in the recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Seijiro TAKAHASHI, Kouji Sugama, Haruo Horiguchi, Yukiko Kusano, Toyoko Shibata