Patents Examined by John L. Goodrow
  • Patent number: 7488561
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrostatic charge image developing toner containing external additives comprising at least amorphous silica and a crystallized metal oxide selected from titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, or calcium oxide, wherein the amorphous silica is present on the crystallized metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Masahiro Anno, Mikihiko Sukeno, Takanori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7485400
    Abstract: A developer includes a carrier and a toner, wherein the toner contains toner particles of at least one binder, at least one colorant, and external additives, wherein the developer has a trimmer clogging value in relation to toner triboelectric charge and toner cohesion expressed according to the equation (?0.80+0.039×(% toner cohesion)+0.026×(toner triboelectric charge) (?C/g)) of less than or equal to about 3.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. N. Veregin, Cuong Vong, Vladislav Skorokhod, Jackie B. Parker, David J. Sanders
  • Patent number: 7482104
    Abstract: An image forming method, includes: forming a latent electrostatic image on a latent electrostatic image carrier; developing the latent electrostatic image with a toner to thereby form a visible image; transferring the visible image to a recording medium; and fixing the image transferred to the recording medium. The latent electrostatic image carrier includes: a support, a photoconductive layer on the support, and a surface protective layer on the support. The surface protective layer includes a reactant made by cross-linking the following: an electric charge transporting material which comprises a reactive functional group, a cross-linking resin, and a fluorine surfactant. The toner comprises an inorganic fine particle which defines an effective inorganic fine particle amount in a range of 0.8% by mass to 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Maiko Kondo, Hidetoshi Kami, Naohiro Toda, Ryoichi Kitajima, Hiroshi Nagame, Narihito Kojima, Yoshiaki Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 7479360
    Abstract: The charge control agent comprises aggregate particles including an azo-type iron complex salt represented by the following chemical formula [VI] (in the chemical formula [VI], B+ is (H+)x(Na+) 1?x and x is mole ratio and 0.6 to 0.9, or B+ is (H+)y(Na+)1?y and y is mole ratio and 0 to 0.2) and the aggregate particles have 0.5 to 5.0 microns of an average particle size. A toner for developing an electrostatic image comprises a resin for the toner and the charge control agent. An image formation process of electrophotography comprises a step for developing an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image frame by a developer including the toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Orient Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Yasumatsu, Kazuyoshi Kuroda, Osamu Yamate, Kaori Sato, Jun Hikata, Heihachi Yushina
  • Patent number: 7476482
    Abstract: This invention provides an Mg-based ferrite having a high dielectric breakdown voltage and a saturation magnetization suitable for electrophotographic development, a carrier containing the ferrite, and an electrophotographic developer containing the carrier. The Mg-based ferrite material of this invention comprises Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ca, Sr, Ba, Y, La, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Al, Ga, Si, Ge, P, Sb, Bi or a combination thereof. The Mg-based ferrite material has a saturation magnetization of 30 to 80 emu/g, and a dielectric breakdown voltage of 1.5 to 5.0 kV. The Mg-based ferrite material can realize high image quality, and be in compliance with environmental regulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Kanto Denka Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiko Iinuma, Masatomo Hayashi, Natsuki Matsuura, Yukinari Oguma
  • Patent number: 7476480
    Abstract: Herein is disclosed a process for producing emulsion aggregation toner including (i) adding a base to an emulsion aggregation toner to increase the pH of the toner to from about 7 to about 12; (ii) sieving and filtering the toner; (iii) washing the toner with an enzyme selected from the group consisting of carboxylic ester hydrolase and sulfuric ester hydrolase; (iv) filtering the toner; (v) washing the toner with reverse osmosis or deionized water; and (vi) adding an acid to reduce the pH of the toner to from about 3 to about 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Malachowski, Amy A. Grillo, Eugene F. Young
  • Patent number: 7477866
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus provided with an organic photoreceptor; a developing device to bring a developing brush in contact with the organic photoreceptor so as to visualize an electrostatic latent image to toner image; a transfer device; and an agent supplying device to provide a surface energy lowering agent to the surface of the organic photoreceptor. The electrostatic latent image is visualized to the toner image while the developing sleeve is rotated in a direction counter to that of the organic photoreceptor at the developing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Akihiko Itami, Kunio Shigeta
  • Patent number: 7473511
    Abstract: The invention provides a particle dispersion for an electrostatic image-developing toner containing either polycondensation resin particles, which are prepared by polycondensation of polycondensable monomers in an aqueous medium, or condensation compound particles, which are prepared by dehydration condensation of a condensable compound in an aqueous medium. The particles have a median diameter of approximately 0.05 to 2.0 ?m. A dispersion containing the polycondensation resin particles is produced by dispersing resin particles, aggregating the resin particles, and coalescing the aggregated particles by heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Matsumura, Hirotaka Matsuoka, Hideo Maehata, Satoshi Hiraoka, Yuki Sasaki, Fumiaki Mera
  • Patent number: 7473503
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising: a conductive support; and a photo-sensitive layer on the conductive support, wherein the photo-sensitive layer comprises a functional layer comprising a cured product of a curable resin composition, the curable resin composition comprising an alcohol-soluble, curable resin and a polyether-modified silicone oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Yamada, Katsumi Nukada, Masahiro Iwasaki, Kenji Yao, Kazuhiro Koseki
  • Patent number: 7470494
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a magnetic toner comprising magnetic toner particles including at least a binder resin and magnetic particles is provided, wherein an isoelectric point of the magnetic particles is pH 4.0 or less, in order to provide a magnetic toner stably having an optimum charged amount regardless of environments so that a high-quality image having high blackness can be formed without causing any ghost phenomenon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junko Nishiyama, Yoshihiro Ogawa, Yusuke Hasegawa, Shinichiro Abe, Takashige Kasuya
  • Patent number: 7470498
    Abstract: This invention provides an Mg-based ferrite carrier composed of an environment-friendly material meeting environmental regulations, and an electrophotographic developer comprising the carrier. The carrier and the developer of this invention realize high image quality and improved gradation properties. This invention also provides a method for producing the Mg-based ferrite material having a saturation magnetization of from 30 to 80 emu/g and a dielectric breakdown voltage of from 1.0 to 5.0 kV, and having the composition of the formula (1). The above properties are obtained by controlling conditions of sintering and heating treatments. CaaMgbFecOd (1) wherein a, b, and c satisfy 0.10 b/(b+c/2) 0.85 and 0 R(Ca) 0.10; R(Ca) is expressed as R(Ca)=a˜Fw(CaO)/(a˜Fw(CaO)+b˜Fw(MgO)+(c/2)˜Fw(Fc2O3)) (Fw(A): formula weight of A j; and d is determined by oxidation numbers of Ca, Mg and Fe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Kanto Denka Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidehiko Iinuma, Kenkichi Hara, Masatomo Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7468230
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a wet-developing electrophotographic photoconductor which can be manufactured stably by making use of particular physical property indexes of an electron transport agent and a binding resin and possesses the excellent durability and the excellent solvent resistance and a wet-developing image forming device which uses such a wet-developing electrophotographic photoconductor. To achieve such an object, in a wet-developing electrophotographic photoconductor which forms a photosensitive layer containing at least a charge generating agent, an electron transport agent, a hole transport agent and a binding resin on an electrically conductive base body thereof and a wet-developing image forming device which uses the wet-developing electrophotographic photoconductor, an inorganic value/organic value (I/O value) of the electron transport agent is set to 0.60 or more and an inorganic value/organic value (I/O value) of the binding resin is set to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Azuma, Fumio Sugai
  • Patent number: 7465409
    Abstract: Hard magnetic core particles for use in the development of electrostatic latent images are produced by combining ferric oxide, a strontium oxide precursor, an oxygenated boron compound and a binder to form a mixture, wherein the strontium oxide precursor is preferably present in an amount that provides SrO in a molar amount that is in excess of a stoichiometric amount that provides a ratio of Fe2O3 to SrO of 6/1. The mixture can be formed into green beads and the green beads can be fired to form the hard magnetic core particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Patrick M. Lambert
  • Patent number: 7459258
    Abstract: Processes for continuously forming latex emulsions and preparing toners with said emulsions are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joo T. Chung, Chieh-Min Cheng, Hui Chang
  • Patent number: 7459255
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a toner having small-sized and potato-shaped particles created from multiple coherent spherical particles for excellent cleaning ability and high image quality, an image-forming method that realizes high image quality using the toner, and the like. To this end, there is provided a toner, which is produced by granulating toner materials as an organic phase comprising at least a binder resin and a colorant in an aqueous medium and has potato-shaped particles created from multiple coherent primary oil droplets of the organic phase in the aqueous medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiaki Tanaka, Naohiro Watanabe, Masahiro Ohki, Masahide Yamada, Akinori Saitoh, Sonoh Matsuoka, Ryota Inoue, Shigeru Emoto
  • Patent number: 7459253
    Abstract: A toner is provided which is excellent in low-temperature fixability and offset resistance, has a wide fixing temperature range, provides fixed images with high gloss, and can form toner images having high quality. The toner is composed of toner particles having toner base particles each containing a binder resin and a colorant. When the viscosities of each of the toner particles measured at 100° C. and 110° C. by a flow tester heat-up method are represented by ?100 (Pa·s) and ?110 (Pa·s), respectively, an average variation in viscosity A?T represented by the following equation (1) satisfies the relationship of 0?A?T??0.064: A?T=(log(?110)?log(?100)/(110?100); and??(1) ?100 is 15,000 to 40,000 Pa·s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Abe, Shinya Yachi, Emi Tosaka, Satoshi Handa, Kazumi Yoshizaki, Yasuhiro Hashimoto, Yushi Mikuriya
  • Patent number: 7459252
    Abstract: An electrophotographic toner for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed by an electrophotographic process, an electrostatic printing process, an electrostatic recording process, etc., which is produced in consideration of the environment and safety. The electrophotographic toner includes a fixing resin and a colorant. The electrophotographic toner is a black toner using a titanium compound containing no carbon black as the colorant. The electrophotographic toner may be an electrophotographic two-component black toner using magnetic iron oxide containing no carbon black as the colorant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Printing Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigenori Yaguchi, Ryuuichi Shimizu, Hiroshi Ueno
  • Patent number: 7455944
    Abstract: The present invention provides a toner for developing electrostatic latent images, including resin particles containing a crystalline polymer and an amorphous polymer, wherein the amorphous polymer and the crystalline polymer satisfy the relationship represented by the following formula (1), and a method for manufacturing the toner of the invention. The present invention also provides a developer for electrostatic latent images including the toner of the invention and a carrier; and an image forming method using the toner of the invention. Further the invention provides a method for manufacturing a dispersion of resin particles. ?a??c?1.05[(cal/ml)1/2(25° C.)]??Formula (1) In formula (1), ?a represents a solubility parameter of the amorphous polymer, and ?c represents a solubility parameter of the crystalline polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Maehata, Yasuo Yamamoto, Satoshi Hiraoka, Yasuo Matsumura, Hirotaka Matsuoka, Yuki Sasaki, Fumiaki Mera
  • Patent number: 7452654
    Abstract: A toner production method includes the step of: controlling a shape of toner particles in a shape controlling region to control the shape of toner particles in a water based medium, wherein the shape controlling region has a toner channel for the toner particles and a temperature controller capable of controlling at least two zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Naohiro Hirose, Ken Ohmura
  • Patent number: 7449267
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming method is disclosed. The method contains steps of forming an electrostatic latent image on an organic photoreceptor, and developing the electrostatic latent image by a developer containing toner to form a toner image on the photoreceptor. In this method the photoreceptor contains inorganic particles in a surface layer, the toner has circle equivalent diameter d of 3.0 to 8.0 ?m viewed from a direction which maximizes the projective area of toner particles, the toner has a flatness ratio d/t of 2.0 to 5.0, wherein d is circle equivalent diameter and t is average thickness of toner particles, and the electrostatic latent image is developed in such a manner that the developing sleeve is rotated in the opposite direction to the photoreceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Akihiko Itami, Masao Asano, Hiroshi Yamazaki