Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Carl F. Ruoff
  • Patent number: 8192909
    Abstract: The present invention provides a porous toner. The porous toner has a porosity of greater that 20 percent. The toner can include vinyl polymers, copolymers of styrene monomers and polyesters. In addition a method of manufacture of the toner particles is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Xin Jin, Jason Morgan, Charles T. Havens
  • Patent number: 8145116
    Abstract: The present invention is an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus which includes a primary imaging member for producing an electrostatic latent image on a receiver, a development station for applying toner particles to said latent image which forms a developed toner image on the receiver. A fuser assembly is included for fixing the developed toner image, to form a fused toner image on the receiver. A transport member is provided for transporting the receiver to or from the fuser assembly, the transport member having a substrate bearing an oil-absorbing layer that includes transparent alumina inorganic particles of siloxane coated gamma-alumina, dispersed in an organic binder, and a fluorosurfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Wayne T. Ferrar, Francisco L. Ziegelmuller, Douglas E. Garman, Dennis R. Fronheiser, Edward T. Miskinis
  • Patent number: 8012915
    Abstract: The present invention is a release oil of the general formulae: wherein (Z) is an amine. The solvent extracted portion of the release oil has a ratio of A:B less than 1:5. Less than 10% of the molecular weight distribution of the release oil is less than m/z 1000. The release oil preferably has a viscosity of between 200 and 500 centistokes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Wayne T. Ferrar, Jerry A. Pickering, David F. Cahill, Peter S. Alexandrovich, Andrew J. Hoteling
  • Patent number: 7976658
    Abstract: The present invention is a process for making an intermediate transfer member. The process includes forming an endless belt by seaming two ends of a substrate material to form a seam. A smoothing layer is applied on top of the endless belt using a rotary cast process wherein said intermediate transfer member has a continuous seamless top surface. In a preferred embodiment the endless belt is formed by adhering at least two layers of a substrate to form a belt having an inner and outer seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mark C. Zaretsky, Craig M. Cody, Thomas N. Tombs, Andrew P. Kittleson, M. Cristina B. Dejesus
  • Patent number: 7973103
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a fuser roller composition that contains a fluorocopolymer, an aliphatic ketone organic solvent, metal oxide particles, and a benzyltriphenylphosphonium phenolate salt curing agent. To this composition is added a sufficient amount of 4,4?-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphenol to extend a time at which viscosity of the composition rises above a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Xin Jin, Douglas E. Garman
  • Patent number: 7964328
    Abstract: The present invention relates to photoconductive elements having an electrically conductive support, an electrical barrier layer and, disposed over the conductive layer, a charge generation layer capable of generating positive charge carriers when exposed to actinic radiation. The electrical barrier layer, which restrains injection of positive charge carriers from the conductive support, comprises a crosslinkable condensation polymer having as a repeating unit a planar, electron-deficient, tetracarbonylbisimide group and optionally a crosslinker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Wayne T. Ferrar, Xin Jin, David S. Weiss
  • Patent number: 7955690
    Abstract: A fuser member is described wherein the fuser member includes a core, a cushion comprising a first layer adjacent to the core and a second layer on top of the first layer, and a plastic sleeve. Also described is a process for producing a fuser member, which includes applying a first layer of cushioning composition on a core, applying a second layer of cushioning composition on the first layer of the cushioning composition, and applying a plastic sleeve on the second layer of the cushioning composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jerry A. Pickering, Suzanne P. Clark, Susan C. Baruch
  • Patent number: 7943277
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrophotographic element that comprises: an electrically conducting layer, a charge generating layer overlying the electrically conducting layer, and a charge transport layer overlying the electrically conducting layer. The charge transport layer, which can be an overcoat overlying the charge generating layer, includes the reaction product in an aqueous medium of a mixture comprising a silsesquioxane polymer and a amine-free surface treated zinc antimonate and an acid scavenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michel F. Molaire, Wayne T. Ferrar, Edward T. Miskinis, Michael W. Frauens, William T. Gruenbaum
  • Patent number: 7937023
    Abstract: A method and a composition for the production of surface smoothing polyurethane layers for application to a substrate prior to subsequent application of a charge generation layer for electrophotographic applications by preparing a coating solution containing a dialkyl malonate capped isocyanate or polyisocyanate, a polyol and at least one finely-divided metal oxide, coating the substrate with the coating solution and heating the coating solution to a temperature up to about 140° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Michel F. Molaire
  • Patent number: 7923184
    Abstract: The present invention is an electrophotographic photoconductor having a photosensitive layer on a conductive substrate. The photosensitive layer contains trimellitimide esters additives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David S. Weiss, William T. Gruenbaum, John C. Wilson
  • Patent number: 7914963
    Abstract: The present invention is a toner that includes a polymeric binder and a polyethylene wax or ester wax. A dispersing agent of poly(ethylene vinyl acetate) is included in the toner that dispersed the wax and reduces the amount of free wax particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Fields, Charles T. Havens, Peter S. Alexandrovich, Dinesh Tyagi
  • Patent number: 7892713
    Abstract: The present invention is an electrophotographic photoconductor having a photosensitive layer on a conductive substrate. The photosensitive layer contains terephthalate esters additives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David S. Weiss, William T. Gruenbaum, John C. Wilson
  • Patent number: 7892160
    Abstract: The present invention provides a double-sleeved roller for use in an electrostatographic machine. The double-sleeved member includes a cylindrical rigid core member. A removable inner sleeve member (ISM) is provided that includes a compliant layer that surrounds and intimately contacts the rigid core member. A removable electrically conductive outer sleeve member (OSM) such that the OSM surrounds and intimately contacts said ISM wherein the ISM and OSM are removable or mountable simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Andrew P. Kittleson, Thomas N. Tombs, Craig M. Cody, Mark C. Zaretsky
  • Patent number: 7887984
    Abstract: The present invention is toner particle that includes a continuous phase of binder polymer and a second phase of hydrocolloid. The particle has a porosity of at least 10 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mridula Nair, Xiqiang Yang, Tamara K. Jones, Jason Morgan
  • Patent number: 7888410
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for the preparation of porous particles that includes dissolving a polymer material in a first organic solvent and adding a second organic solvent and nonionic organic polymer particles to form an organic phase. The organic phase is dispersed in an aqueous phase that includes a particulate stabilizer to form a dispersion and the dispersion is homogenized. The first and second organic solvents are evaporated and the product is recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mridula Nair, Xiqiang Yang, Tamara K. Jones, James G. Popowych
  • Patent number: 7867679
    Abstract: The present invention is toner particle that includes a binder resin and nonionic organic polymer particles. The particle has porosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mridula Nair, Xiqiang Yang, Tamara K. Jones, James G. Popowych
  • Patent number: 7858161
    Abstract: The present invention is an inkjet recording element including a support having thereon an image-receiving layer having porous fusible polymeric particles including a continuous phase binder polymer and a second phase including hydrocolloid, wherein the particles have a porosity of from 10 to 80 volume percent and a film forming binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mridula Nair, Charles L. Bauer
  • Patent number: 7776500
    Abstract: The present invention is a photoconductive element that includes an electrically conductive support, an electrical barrier layer disposed over said electrically conductive support, and disposed over said barrier layer, a charge generation layer capable of generating positive charge carriers when exposed to actinic radiation. The barrier layer includes a monomeric glass mixture incorporating tetracarbonylbisimide groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Michel F. Molaire
  • Patent number: 7769338
    Abstract: The present invention is an electrostatographic reproduction apparatus which includes a primary imaging member for producing an electrostatic latent image on a receiver, a development station for applying toner particles to said latent image which forms a developed toner image on the receiver. A fuser assembly is included for fixing the developed toner image, to form a fused toner image on the receiver. A transport member is provided for transporting the receiver to or from the fuser assembly, the transport member having a substrate bearing an oil-absorbing layer that includes transparent alumina inorganic particles of gamma-alumina, dispersed in an organic binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Wayne T. Ferrar, Douglas E. Garman, Gary B. Bertram, Francisco L. Ziegelmuller, Patrick M. Lambert
  • Patent number: 7754409
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of manufacturing toner particles that includes providing a first emulsion of a first aqueous phase comprising a pore stabilizing hydrocolloid dispersed in an organic solution containing a polymer. The first emulsion is dispersed in a second aqueous phase to form a second emulsion that is sheared in the presence of a stabilizing agent to form droplets of the first emulsion in the second aqueous phase. The organic solution is evaporated from the droplets to form porous toner particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mridula Nair, David C. Boris, Charles P. Lusignan, Dennis J. Massa, Tamara K. Jones, Anita M. Fees