Patents Represented by Attorney Jordan B. Bierman
  • Patent number: 5888715
    Abstract: A silver halide color photographic material comprises a support and provided thereon a silver halide emulsion layer, wherein the material comprises a water-insoluble alcoholic compound having a hydroxy group forming an intramolecular hydrogen bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Kunimasa Hiyama, Hiroshi Kita, Hirokazu Sato
  • Patent number: 5888089
    Abstract: Opposed inner surfaces of lower and upper casings making up a connection box are flat, and wire arrangement grooves are formed in the inner surfaces. Insertion holes communicate with the wire arrangement grooves in specified positions and are open to the outer surfaces of the casings. A wire is laid into the wire arrangement grooves and is pressed into the slots of the cramping terminals mounted in the insertion holes. The tabs on the cramping terminals project from the outer surfaces of the casings. The casings are held together by nuts and bolts or other devices after the flat inner surfaces are in contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi Konoya, Nori Inoue
  • Patent number: 5890040
    Abstract: A toner container for use in an image forming apparatus having a toner receiving section, includes a cylindrical container body in which toner is stored, the cylindrical container body having a toner discharging end and provided with a spiral rib provided on its inner circumferential surface so that toner is conveyed toward the toner discharging end by the spiral rib when the cylindrical container body is rotated, the cylindrical container body further having a cylindrical portion with a discharging port on the toner discharging end; and a sleeve member mounted around the cylindrical portion so that the discharging port is closed by the sleeve member, the sleeve member movable in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion so that when the toner container is attached to the toner receiving section of the image forming apparatus, the sleeve member is moved so as to open the toner discharging port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Matsuoka, Masahiro Shigetomi
  • Patent number: 5888686
    Abstract: Disclosed is a toner for developing an electrostatic latent image, the toner containing polymer particles having a carboxyl group on the surface thereof in the range of5.times.10.sup.-11 mol/cm.sup.2 .ltoreq.A.ltoreq.3.times.10.sup.-9 mol/cm.sup.2wherein A represents an amount of the carboxyl group obtained using a conductometric titration method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Naohiro Hirose, Tomoe Kikuchi, Kenji Hayashi, Yoshiki Nishimori, Mikio Kohyama
  • Patent number: 5889337
    Abstract: A vehicle electronic apparatus (1) includes an electronic control section (2) received in an accommodation cavity (23) in an instrument panel (22) in a vehicle for effecting an electronic function in the vehicle, a switch section (3) detachably attached to the electronic control section (2) for controlling the electronic control section (2), and a cover panel (4) to be fitted in the accommodating cavity (23) in the instrument panel (22) to cover the switch section (3) at the front side. It is possible to use in common the electronic section (2) which is an expensive electronic element and also to design the cover panel (4) with flexibility. The switch section (3) can be produced in compliance with the designed cover panel (4). A common use of electronic parts will achieve a reduction of cost and enhance a flexibility in design of an interior of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignees: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Harness System Technologies Research, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Ito, Kenji Okamoto, Hiroaki Yamazaki, Tomokazu Ito, Yukio Kide
  • Patent number: 5888323
    Abstract: A waterproof cable having a plurality of conductive strands which are twisted together to form a wire core which is surrounded by an insulation layer. A water-absorptive swellable powder is applied to the individual strands prior to twisting and thereby is introduced into the interstices between adjacent strands. If water attempts to enter the spaces between the strands, it is absorbed by the powder which swells to occupy all the space and thereby seals the cable against further water penetration. The cable is produced by application (e.g. by spraying) of a solution of the powder in a solvent to the individual strands. Thereafter, the solvent is evaporated, leaving the powder adhered to the strand surfaces. In a preferred form of the Invention, regions containing the powder are longitudinally spaced apart from adjacent regions having no powder therein. In a more preferred form of the Invention, the powder is removed from the outer surface of the wire core prior to coating with insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Yasukuni, Takashi Itoh
  • Patent number: 5887865
    Abstract: According to a document feeder for an image-forming apparatus of the present invention, when a double-sided document fed from a feed paper stacker, the document with the front surface thereof having been read out by a document reader unit is inverted in a switch-back path provided between the document reader unit and a discharged paper stacker on which documents after having been read out will be stacked, and is conveyed again to the paper reader unit so that the back surface is read out. The document after its both surfaces have been read out is again inverted in the switch-back path and then discharged onto the discharged paper stacker. With such a construction, the documents after having been read out can be stacked in the order of sequence of pages of the documents. Furthermore, the size of the device can be decreased, contributing to shortening the time required for reading the double-sided document and to increasing the efficiency for forming images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignees: Konica Corporation, Nisca Corporation
    Inventor: Shuji Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 5884137
    Abstract: A two-sided copying apparatus includes: an image forming device for forming an image on a recording sheet; a fixing device for fixing the image on the recording sheet; a branching device for branching the recording sheet on which the image was fixed by the fixing device to eject outside the apparatus or to feed again inside the apparatus for a two-sided image formation; a plurality of holding devices each for holding one edge of the recording sheet fed again inside the apparatus, wherein the holding device temporarily stops while holding the recording sheet and feeds again in a reverse direction onto a transfer station; and a supporting and guiding device for supporting and guiding the plurality of the holding devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Shida, Atsushi Ogane, Naoki Otomo, Hisao Sato, Kenji Kato, Hideki Endo
  • Patent number: 5879865
    Abstract: An image forming method for a silver halide photographic light sensitive material comprising a support having thereon a color image forming layer containing a silver halide emulsion and a dye forming coupler is disclosed, comprising (i) subjecting the photographic material to area modulation exposure and (ii) subjecting the exposed photographic material to amplifying development to form a color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Miyazawa, Shigeo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5879871
    Abstract: A silver halide color photographic light sensitive material is disclosed, containing a coupler highly soluble in organic solvents and superior in dispersibility and dispersion stability in a silver halide emulsion, which is represented by the following formula: ##STR1## The coupler includes a pyrazolotriazole coupler reprepresented by the following formula: ##STR2##
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Ikesu, Vladimir F. Rudchenko, Yutaka Kaneko
  • Patent number: 5880289
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of crystallizing coupler crystals, the method comprising the steps of dissolving crude crystals of a coupler in a first solvent having a first solubility parameter to obtain a coupler solution; and adding to the solution a second solvent having a second solubility parameter different from the first solubility parameter, when the crystallization rate in the solution is 5 to 30 weight % of crystals having a BET value of 10 m.sup.2 /g or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahiro Kaneko, Toshiyuki Hagiwara, Masami Akiyama
  • Patent number: 5878489
    Abstract: An inexpensive flat electric wire for a wire harness and an inexpensive wire harness utilizing the flat electric wire can be produced. A flat electric wire (P) is produced by juxtaposing a plurality of insulator-sheathed electric wire elements (a), each having a single core, on a plane; and by applying a reinforcing tape (51) on the juxtaposed wire elements (a) at a desired position over the width of the elements (a), whereby the wire elements (a) are secured together to each other by the tape (51) to form the flat electric wire (P) for a wire harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignees: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Harness System Technologies Research, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryousuke Shioda, Yosinobu Ohta
  • Patent number: 5878284
    Abstract: A one-time use camera, including: mechanical members for photographing; a front cover member; a rear cover member, light-tightly joined with the front cover member, for covering the mechanical members; and a rear grip protrusion, accommodated to the rear cover member, for providing an user-holding portion of the one-time use camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsufumi Takaba
  • Patent number: 5876232
    Abstract: An inertia locking connector including elements which provide resistance to fitting the male and female connectors together. A consistent operating feel is obtained, even if the locking arm is released by the user. A resistance arm, independent of the locking arm, engages a rib of the male connector. A detent which is engaged by the locking arm is located on the same surface of the male connector as is the rib. The latter acts as a temporary stop for the resistance arm. Therefore, the user must exert substantial increased pressure to cause the resistance arm to flex out of contact with the leading edge thereof. As a result, the increased force builds momentum in the moving connectors so that the locking arm rides positively over the detent into its proper locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Matsushita, Mitsuhiro Fujitani
  • Patent number: 5875543
    Abstract: A coil type, noise suppressing high voltage resistor wherein, without applying a releasing agent to the coil core, the adhesiveness of the fluorocarbon polymer in its unvulcanized state is reduced sufficiently so that unwinding of the unvulcanized core, followed by winding of the resistance wire, can be smoothly carried out. On the coil core covered by extrusion coating with a fluorocarbon polymer mixed with ferrite powder, the resistance wire is helically wound. The coil core to which the resistance wire has been applied is then covered in sequence with an insulating layer, a braid for reinforcement, and a sheath. The fluorocarbon polymer is a blend polymer mixture including a reinforcing polymer, preferably an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, which is compatible with the fluorocarbon polymer and can be co-vulcanized therewith. The blend ratio is 5% to 25% by weight of the EVA, based on the total mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Terutsugu Fujimoto, Makoto Higashikozono, Hiroshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 5877796
    Abstract: An ink-jet recording method is disclosed, which comprises the step of jetting a water-based ink on a recording sheet, the recording sheet comprising a support and provided thereon, an ink receiving layer containing a binder, an anionic fluorine-containing surfactant and a cationic fluorine-containing surfactant, wherein the content ratio of the anionic fluorine-containing surfactant to the cationic fluorine-containing surfactant is 1:10 to 10:1 in terms of mole ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Tsuchiya, Noriaki Kurata, Hiroyuki Uemura
  • Patent number: 5876251
    Abstract: A spring contact, biased toward a retaining plate, holds the connection terminal in good electrical contact. The resilience of the spring contact permits relative movement between the contacts, thereby accommodating dimensional changes resulting from variations in ambient temperatures. The spring contact may be on the bulb terminal or on the connector terminal. An engaging element is provided on the leading end of the connection terminal; this element engages a retainer on the bulb terminal to further secure the components in their desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Junji Muta
  • Patent number: 5874206
    Abstract: A silver halide photographic light sensitive material is disclosed, comprising a support having thereon a silver halide emulsion layer, wherein the silver halide emulsion layer contains tabular silver halide grains having an average iodide content of 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Yoko Kimura, Taketoshi Yamada, Norio Miura
  • Patent number: 5871821
    Abstract: A method for producing light-sensitive material by using a curtain layer of coating solution. The method includes the steps of: discharging coating solution, including the light-sensitive material, from a coater die; forming a curtain layer of coating solution by causing the coating solution to fall from a die lip of the coater die in which the coating solution has at least 3 layers and a relational structure of dynamic surface tensions of the layers, satisfying the equation: .DELTA.K=.sigma.intermediate.sub.min -.sigma.outer.sub.max .gtoreq.0?mN/m! in which, .sigma.intermediated.sub.min ?mN/m! represents the minimum value of dynamic surface tension of an intermediate layer among the layers, .sigma.outers.sub.max ?mN/m! represents the maximum value of dynamic surface tension of an outer layer among the layers; and coating a continuous support with the coating solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kondo, Koji Fukazawa, Akira Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 5871893
    Abstract: A silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is disclosed. The light-sensitive material comprises a transparent support having thereon a hydrophilic colloid layer comprising a silver halide emulsion layer and an electric conductive layer, in which the electric conductive layer contains colloidal particles of a kind of metal oxide and at least one layer of the hydrophilic colloid layer contains a leucocompound of a blue dye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Mitsuhashi