Patents by Inventor Chieko Mihara

Chieko Mihara 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: 7795363
    Abstract: A polymer is provided in which a sulfonic group or a derivative thereof is introduced. The polymer includes a unit represented by the following chemical formula (1): wherein R represents -A1-SO2R1; A1 is selected from an alkylene group, a heterocyclic ring, an aromatic ring; and —SO2R1 is a sulfonic group or of a derivative of a sulfonic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuki Fukui, Takashi Kenmoku, Ako Kusakari, Chieko Mihara, Tetsuya Yano, Norikazu Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20100121023
    Abstract: A polymer is provided in which a sulfonic group or a derivative thereof is introduced. The polymer includes a unit represented by the following chemical formula (1): wherein R represents -A1-SO2R1; Al is selected from an alkylene group, a heterocyclic ring, an aromatic ring; and —SO2R1 is a sulfonic group or of a derivative of a sulfonic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuki Fukui, Takashi Kenmoku, Ako Kusakari, Chieko Mihara, Tetsuya Yano, Norikazu Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 7682765
    Abstract: To provide a toner for developing electrostatic images which is not easily cause the phenomenon of toner-spent, constituent materials are so selected that a charge control resin has hardness which is the same as the hardness of a binder resin or the charge control resin is harder than the binder resin, as measured with a scanning probe microscope in a viscoelasticity evaluation mode in respect to the binder resin and the charge control resin which are present in the particle interiors or particle surfaces of the toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Etsuko Sugawa, Chieko Mihara, Takashi Kenmoku, Tatsuki Fukui, Shinya Kozaki, Tsutomu Honma, Tetsuya Yano, Shigeki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7638194
    Abstract: A developer carrying member is disclosed which can prevent a toner from being excessively charged in a developing assembly while keeping the charge quantity of the toner at a somewhat higher level, and seldomly causes toner melt adhesion to the developer carrying member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuki Fukui, Tetsuya Yano, Takashi Kenmoku, Chieko Mihara, Ako Kusakari, Norikazu Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 7638590
    Abstract: The invention provides a novel polyester adapted for use in a charge control agent for a toner for an electrophotographic process, having a charge stability, a high charge amount, an improved dispersibility and a biodegradability, and a producing method and an application technology therefore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuki Fukui, Tetsuya Yano, Chieko Mihara, Shinya Kozaki, Tsutomu Honma, Takashi Kenmoku, Ako Kusakari
  • Patent number: 7589156
    Abstract: The invention is to provide a novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having a reactive functional group within a molecule, a novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having a novel function by a chemical modification of the polyhydroxyalkanoate having the reactive functional group, and a producing method therefor. A polyhydroxyalkanoate containing a unit having a carboxyl group in a side chain is utilized for deriving a polyhydroxyalkanoate containing a unit having an amide group and a sulfonic acid group in the molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Kenmoku, Chieko Mihara, Tatsuki Fukui, Ako Kusakari, Tetsuya Yano
  • Publication number: 20090202927
    Abstract: To provide: a charge control agent having negative chargeability, which contributes to environmental conservation and the like to an increased degree, has high performance (high charge amount, quick rise-up of charge, excellent stability with time, and high environmental stability), and has improved dispersibility; a toner for developing an electrostatic charge image containing the charge control agent; and an image forming method and an image forming apparatus each using the toner for developing an electrostatic charge image. A charge control agent for controlling a charged state of powder, characterized by including one or more units each represented by the following chemical formula (1) in a molecule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yano, Takashi Kenmoku, Tatsuki Fukui, Ako Kusakari, Chieko Mihara
  • Patent number: 7557176
    Abstract: The invention is to provide a novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having a reactive function group within the molecule and a producing method therefor In a polyhydroxyalkanoate containing a unit having a vinyl group in a side chain, such vinyl group is utilized for deriving a polyhydroxyalkanoate comprising a carboxyl group or a unit having an amide group and a sulfonic acid group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Kenmoku, Tatsuki Fukui, Chieko Mihara, Ako Kusakari, Tetsuya Yano
  • Patent number: 7553922
    Abstract: A novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having a reactive functional group in a molecule and a method of producing the same; and a novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having a new function obtained by chemically modifying the polyhydroxyalkanoate having a reactive functional group and a method of producing the same. A polyhydroxyalkanoate containing units having a carboxyl group, an amide group, and a sulfonic group in a molecule is induced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Kenmoku, Chieko Mihara, Tatsuki Fukui, Ako Kusakari, Tetsuya Yano
  • Patent number: 7510813
    Abstract: To provide a resin-coated carrier for an electrophotographic developer capable of providing an image with excellent image quality; and a two-component developer and a replenishing developer each of which contains the resin-coated carrier as a constituent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yano, Takashi Kenmoku, Chieko Mihara, Tatsuki Fukui, Ako Kusakari, Norikazu Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 7470768
    Abstract: To provide a novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having a reactive functional group in a molecule and a method of producing the same; and a novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having a new function obtained by chemically modifying the polyhydroxyalkanoate having a reactive functional group and a method of producing the same. By utilizing a vinyl group of a polyhydroxyalkanoate containing a unit having the vinyl group at a side chain thereof, a polyhydroxyalkanoate containing units having a carboxyl group, an amide group, and a sulfonic group in a molecule is induced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Kenmoku, Tatsuki Fukui, Chieko Mihara, Ako Kusakari, Tetsuya Yano
  • Patent number: 7465779
    Abstract: A novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having a reactive functional group in a molecule, and a production method thereof, etc. are provided. By utilizing the vinyl group of polyhydroxyalkanoate which contains a unit having a vinyl group on a side chain, a polyhydroxyalkanoate which contains a carboxyl group and a unit having an amide group and a sulfonic acid group in a molecule is derived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Kenmoku, Tatsuki Fukui, Chieko Mihara, Ako Kusakari, Tetsuya Yano
  • Patent number: 7459517
    Abstract: A novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having a monomer unit represented by the formula (1), the unit having a carboxyl group substituting a ring structure at the end of side chain, obtainable by oxydizing vinyl or methyl group substituting a ring structure at the end of the side chain. The polyhydroxyalkanoate has high thermal stability, charge stablity, a high charge amount, improved dispersibility and biodegradability together, and therefore, suitable for resin moldings, and binders and charge controlling agents for toners used in the electrophotographic process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuki Fukui, Tetsuya Yano, Chieko Mihara, Shinya Kozaki, Tsutomu Honma, Takashi Kenmoku
  • Patent number: 7452960
    Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymer comprises one kind of unit of —[OCH((CH2)x—SOC6H5R)CH2CO]— (n=1-7)??(1) (wherein R is any one of H, halogen, CN, NO2, COOR?, SO2R? (R? is any one of H, Na, K, CH3 and C2H5; R? is any one of OH, ONa, OK, halogen, OCH3 and OC2H5), CH3, C2H5, C3H7, (CH3)2—CH and (CH3)3—C) and —[OCH((CH2)x—SO2C6H5R)CH2CO]— (n=1-7)??(2) (wherein R is any one of H, halogen, CN, NO2, COO R?, SO2R? (R? is any one of H, Na, K, CH3 and C2H5; R? is any one of OH, ONa, OK, halogen, OCH3 and OC2H5), CH3, C2H5, C3H7, (CH3)2—CH and (CH3)3—C) and at least one unit of chemical formulae (3) to (6): —[OCH((CH2)m—Rz)CH2CO]— (n=1-8) ??(3) (wherein Rz comprises a residue having either a phenyl structure or a thienyl structure), —[OCH((CH2)k—C6H11Ra)CH2CO]— (n=1-8)??(4) (wherein Ra is any one of H, CN, NO2, halogen, CH3, C2H5, C3H7, CF3, C2F5 and C3F7) —[OCH((CH2)n—CH?CH2)CH2CO]— (n=1-8), and??(5) —[OCH((CH2)n—COORb)CH2CO]— (n=1-8)??(6) (wherein Rb is any one of H, Na and K).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yano, Chieko Mihara, Shinya Kozaki, Tsutomu Honma, Takashi Kenmoku, Tatsuki Fukui
  • Patent number: 7425432
    Abstract: The invention provides a PHA copolymer including at least a 3-hydroxy-?-carboxyalkanoic acid represented by a formula (19) or (32) and simultaneously at least a unit represented by a formula (2) or a formula (3) in a molecule, a precursor PHA copolymer having a corresponding vinyl group or a corresponding alkoxycarbonyl group, a biosynthesis method thereof by microorganisms, and a method of producing a desired PHA copolymer from the precursor PHA copolymer: (wherein k, m, n are integers; R18 represents H, Na, K, R27? represents (A); R1 represents a substituent on a cyclohexyl group and represents H, CN, NO2, a halogen atom, CH3, C2H5, C3H7, CF3, C2F5, or C3F7; R includes a residue including a phenyl structure or a thienyl structure; these being independent for each unit).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Kenmoku, Tetsuya Yano, Chieko Mihara, Shinya Kozaki, Tsutomu Honma, Tatsuki Fukui, Takeshi Imamura, Etsuko Sugawa
  • Patent number: 7399568
    Abstract: There is provided a resin-coated carrier with a coating layer attached to the surface of a core material in a stable manner, the electrophotographic carrier which can provide an image with excellent quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuki Fukui, Tetsuya Yano, Takashi Kenmoku, Chieko Mihara, Ako Kusakari, Norikazu Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 7393912
    Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate containing in a molecule at least one unit represented by the chemical formula (1). The polyhydroxyalkanoate is a biodegradable plastic with enhanced melt-processability and exhibits excellent charging stability, high chargeability, and enhanced dispersibility when used as a charge control agent of a toner in an electrophotographic process. (R denotes -A1(—SO2R1)x. R1 is selected from OH, a halogen atom, ONa, OK, and OR1a. R1a and A1 are selected from a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon structure, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring structure, and a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic structure. Further, m and x are integers selected from 1 to 8, and when two or more units exist, each of R, R1R1a, A1, m, and x is defined as above independently for each of the units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chieko Mihara, Tetsuya Yano, Shinya Kozaki, Tsutomu Honma, Takashi Kenmoku, Tatsuki Fukui, Ako Kusakari
  • Publication number: 20080064828
    Abstract: The invention is to provide a novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having a reactive function group within the molecule and a producing method therefor In a polyhydroxyalkanoate containing a unit having a vinyl group in a side chain, such vinyl group is utilized for deriving a polyhydroxyalkanoate comprising a carboxyl group or a unit having an amide group and a sulfonic acid group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Kenmoku, Tatsuki Fukui, Chieko Mihara, Ako Kusakari, Tetsuya Yano
  • Patent number: 7291679
    Abstract: A novel resin is provided which is renewable with less energy. A process for renewing the resin is also provided. The present invention includes a polymer having the repeating unit represented by Structural Formula (1) below, and a process for producing the polymer: [—P1—R—]n (1). In the formula, P1 indicates an addition polymer moiety having a continuous hydrocarbon chain as the skeleton containing no condensation system, and is a polymer or oligomer prepared by addition polymerization of one or more monomers having a double bond; R indicates a linking group constituted of a condensation system for linking the polymer moieties P; and n is a number of repeating units and is an integer of 2 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Maehara, Chieko Mihara, Yoshihiko Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20070155912
    Abstract: A novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having a reactive functional group in a molecule and a method of producing the same; and a novel polyhydroxyalkanoate having a new function obtained by chemically modifying the polyhydroxyalkanoate having a reactive functional group and a method of producing the same. A polyhydroxyalkanoate containing units having a carboxyl group, an amide group, and a sulfonic group in a molecule is induced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Kenmoku, Chieko Mihara, Tatsuki Fukui, Ako Kusakari, Tetsuya Yano