Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Anne B. Kiernan
  • Patent number: 5780545
    Abstract: This invention provides a release agent consisting of a blend of non-poly(alkylene oxide)-functionalized poly(organosiloxane) fluid and poly(alkylene oxide)-functionalized poly(organosiloxane) fluid and an antioxidant which when used at elevated temperatures does not separate into two phases and does not cause an objectionable odor, or pump failure. The release agent is particularly suited for application to a fuser member for fusing toner images to a receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jiann Hsing Chen, Robert Albert Guistina, William Bernard Vreeland
  • Patent number: 5654052
    Abstract: A fuser member having as its outermost layer, a composite material comprising:a) a crosslinked, oxide filled, poly(dimethylsiloxane) which containsb) a non-crosslinked, non-reactive poly(dimethylsiloxane) oil having a viscosity of at least 25,000 CPS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Susan Ann Visser, Richard John Kosakowski, Jr., William Bernard Vreeland
  • Patent number: 5649891
    Abstract: A composite gudgeon or endcap for a heated roller is provided which comprises a metal portion and a polymer portion. The gudgeon substantially reduces heat loss through the end of the roller and is of sufficient strength to support and transmit rotation to the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Allen Kass, Robert A. Lancaster
  • Patent number: 5629061
    Abstract: A fusing member and a method for preparing such a fusing member are disclosed. The method has the steps of conversion coating a support member; applying a base cushion of thermally insulating silicone elastomer over the conversion coating; vulcanizing the base cushion; and baking the support member and the base cushion for at least 30 minutes at a temperature in excess of the temperature necessary to vulcanize the base cushion in less than 10 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Allen Kass
  • Patent number: 5629367
    Abstract: A method of making pigment concentrate particles having pigment uniformly dispersed in a polymer and exhibiting a controlled morphology and narrow particle size distribution. The method involves dispersing pigment particles in a pigment dispersant liquid to form a first dispersion phase; blending the first dispersion phase with a binder to produce a second dispersion phase; mixing the second dispersion phase under sufficient shear to produce a suspension of small dispersion phase droplets in an immiscible suspending liquid; allowing the small dispersion phase droplets in the suspension to coalesce to a larger size at which substantially no further coalescence can occur; mixing the suspension of coalesced droplets with an extracting liquid to remove the pigment dispersant liquid from the coalesced droplets; and isolating the resulting pigment concentrate particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kevin D. Lofftus, Alexandra D. Bermel
  • Patent number: 5618950
    Abstract: A sulfone charge transport agent and a multilayered electrophotographic element in which at least one of said layers includes polymeric binder and the sulfone charge transport agent. The general structure of the charge transport agent is: ##STR1## R is alkyl or cycloalkyl having from 1 to about 10 carbons, or aryl or heteroaryl having a total of carbons and heteroatoms of from 6 to about 12. T is alkyl having from 1 to 4 carbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Detty, John A. Sinicropi, J. Robin Cowdery-Corvan, Ralph H. Young
  • Patent number: 5616797
    Abstract: An electrophotographic toner having polymeric binder and a charge control agent selected from the group consisting of sulfonamides having the general structure: ##STR1## and metal salts thereof. T.sup.1 is independently selected from H, alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbons, cycloalkyl having from 3 to 18 carbons, and aromatic and heteroaromatic ring systems having a solitary ring or 2 to 3 linked or fused rings. R.sup.1 is O, S, N--H, N--R.sup.5, or N--L--R.sup.5 ; where L is a linking group selected from: ##STR2## and R.sup.5 is independently selected from alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbons, cycloalkyl having from 3 to 18 carbons, and aromatic and heteroaromatic ring systems having a solitary ring or 2 to 3 linked or fused rings. L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 are each independently a direct link or divalent alkyl or fluoroalkyl having from 1 to 20 carbons. R.sup.a and R.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: John C. Wilson, Peter S. Alexandrovich, Steven M. Bonser
  • Patent number: 5614342
    Abstract: Cocrystallized titanyl phthalocyanine-titanyl fluorophthalocyanine compositions, preparation methods, and electrophotographic elements utilizing the compositions. The method has the steps of: admixing crude titanyl phthalocyanine and crude titanyl fluorophthalocyanine to provide a pigment mixture; increasing the amorphousness of the pigment mixture as determined by X-ray crystallography using X-radiation characteristic of Cu K.alpha. at a wavelength of 1.541 .ANG. of the Bragg angle 2.theta. to provide an amorphous pigment mixture; contacting the amorphous pigment mixture with organic solvent having a gamma.sub.c hydrogen bonding parameter of less than 8.0; and prior to the contacting, substantially excluding the amorphous pigment mixture from contact with organic solvent having a gamma.sub.c hydrogen bonding parameter greater than 9.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michel F. Molaire, Jeanne E. Kaeding
  • Patent number: 5604039
    Abstract: This invention provides a release agent consisting of a blend of poly(organosiloxane) fluid and phenol-functionalized poly(organosiloxane) fluid which when used at elevated temperatures does not produce insoluable or undesirable by-products or gellation. The release agent is particularly suited for application to a fuser member for fusing toner images to a receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Tsang J. Chen, Paul L. Nielsen, Jiann-Hsing Chen
  • Patent number: 5595823
    Abstract: A fuser member useful for heat-fixing an electrographic toner to a substrate. The fuser member has a core and a layer overlying the core. That layer includes a cured fluorocarbon random copolymer having subunits with the general structures: ##STR1## where x is from 30 to 90 mole percent, y is from 10 to 70 mole percent, and z is from 0 to 34 mole percent. The layer incorporates particulate filler. The filler includes aluminum oxide and a material selected from the group consisting of alkali metal oxides, alkali metal hydroxides, and combinations thereof. The filler has a total concentration in the layer of from about 25 to 50 percent of the total volume of the layer. The aluminum oxide has a concentration of from 20 to 40 percent of the total volume of the layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jiann H. Chen, John J. Fitzgerald, William B. Vreeland, II, Wayne T. Ferrar, Gary F. Roberts, William J. Staudenmayer
  • Patent number: 5587245
    Abstract: A fuser member having a core and a layer overlying the core. The layer includes: an addition crosslinked polyorganosiloxane elastomer, and zinc oxide particles dispersed therein in a concentration of from 5 to 40 percent of the total volume of the layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Susan A. Visser, Charles E. Hewitt, Tonya D. Binga, Wayne T. Ferrar, Michael W. Fichtner, John J. Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 5582917
    Abstract: Toner fusing members having a surface layer comprising a substrate coated with a fluorocarbon-silicone polymeric composition are obtained by concurrently curing a fluorocarbon copolymer, a nucleophilic fluorocarbon-curing agent and a heat-curable polyfunctional polymethylsiloxane polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jiann H. Chen, Tsang J. Chen, Lawrence P. Demejo, Gary F. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5571457
    Abstract: An electrically conductive or semi-conductive polymeric material which includes a blend of:(i) a bis[oxydiethylenebis(polycaprolactone)yl]sulfoaryldicarboxylate or a bis[oxydiethylenebis(polycaprolactone)yl]sulfonamidosulfonylaryldicarboxyl ate, and(ii) a complex of a ferric halide and ethylene glycol or an oligoethylene glycol selected from di-, tri-, or tetraethylene glycol,to provide the material with its conductive properties.The material has a resistivity of from about 10.sup.6 to about 5.times.10.sup.11 ohm cm and can be used in the fabrication of biasable transfer members such as, for example, a biasable transfer roll to transfer electrostatographic toner images from a photoconductor to a final support material such as a sheet of paper wherein the member electrically cooperates with the photoconductor to establish a directional force field therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: William B. Vreeland, John C. Wilson, Mark C. Zaretsky
  • Patent number: 5563202
    Abstract: A fuser member useful for heat-fixing an electrographic toner to a substrate, a composition of matter and a preparation method. The fuser member has a core and a base cushion layer overlying the core. The base cushion layer includes a crosslinked poly(dimethylsiloxane-fluoroalkylsiloxane) elastomer that has tin oxide particles dispersed therein in a concentration of from 20 to 40 percent of the total volume of the base cushion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Wayne T. Ferrar, William B. Vreeland, Charles E. Hewitt, John J. Fitzgerald, Tonya D. Binga
  • Patent number: 5547759
    Abstract: Coated fuser members such as a fuser roller, pressure roller, or fuser belt, and the method of making the coated fuser members are disclosed. The release coating comprises an outermost layer of fluoropolymer resin uniquely bonded to a fluoroelastomer layer by means of a fluoropolymer-containing polyamide-imide primer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jiann-Hsing Chen, Lawrence P. Demejo, Gary F. Roberts, Richard J. Kosakowski, Muhammed Aslam, John E. Derimiggio
  • Patent number: 5536352
    Abstract: This invention provides the method of centrifugal casting consisting of the steps of: adding a polymeric material to a centrifugal apparatus; centrifuging said polymeric material until said polymeric material is cast; removing said cast polymeric material from said centrifugal apparatus; and mounting said cast polymeric material to an outside surface of a support, whereby the air interface side of said cast polymeric material is furthest from the outside surface of the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Zeman, David R. Jackson, William B. Vreeland, II
  • Patent number: 5534347
    Abstract: Toner fusing rolls having an oil barrier layer composed of a substrate coated with a fluorocarbon-silicone polymeric composition which is obtained by concurrently curing a fluorocarbon copolymer, a nucleophilic fluorocarbon-curing agent and a heat-curable polyfunctional poly(C.sub.1-6 alkyl)phenylsiloxane polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Tsang J. Chen, Jiann-Hsing Chen, Ming-Shih Lian, Lawrence P. DeMejo, Gary F. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5529847
    Abstract: Toner fusing members coated with cured epoxy-substituted organopolysiloxane compositions are obtained. Such epoxy-substituted organopolysiloxanes are obtained by hydride-addition of a hydride-substituted organopolysiloxane with an unsaturated epoxy compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jiann H. Chen, Tsang J. Chen, Lawrence P. DeMejo
  • Patent number: 5523484
    Abstract: An electrophotographic toner having polymeric binder and a charge control agent selected from the group consisting of sulfonamides having the general structure: ##STR1## Each R.sup.1 is independently O, S, N-H, N-R.sup.z, or N-L-R.sup.z ; where L is a linking group selected from: ##STR2## and R.sup.z is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbons, cycloalkyl having from 3 to 18 carbons, and aromatic and heteroaromatic ring systems having a solitary ring or 2 to 3 linked or fused rings. R.sup.a, R.sup.b, and R.sup.c are each independently a ring system of a single ring or 2 or 3 fused or linked rings, said ring system having from 3 to 34 carbons, including substituent carbons. d is an integer from 0 to 3. e is an integer from 0 to 3. The sum of d+e is 2 or 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: John C. Wilson, Peter S. Alexandrovich
  • Patent number: 5523558
    Abstract: A radiographic phosphor panel having metal hydride stabilizer compound. The phosphor panel has a support and a luminescent layer overlaying the support. The luminescent layer includes phosphor crystals, and binder. The oxosulfur reducing agent can be added to the luminescent layer. The oxosulfur reducing agent has a concentration sufficient to substantially increase the photostimulated luminescence of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joseph F. Bringley, Barbara J. Fisher, Philip S. Bryan