Patents by Inventor Hidetoshi Kami

Hidetoshi Kami 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).

  • Publication number: 20050008957
    Abstract: A photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate; a photosensitive layer; and optionally a protective layer, wherein an outermost layer thereof includes a filler, an organic compound having an acid value of from 10 to 700 mg KOH/g and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds having the following formulae (1) and (2): wherein R1 (R3) and R2 (R4) independently represent a substituted or an unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, or a substituted or an unsubstituted alkyl group, and optionally share bond connectivity to form a heterocyclic group including a nitrogen atom; Ar1 (Ar3) and Ar2 (Ar4) independently represent a substituted or a unsubstituted aromatic ring group; k (K) and m (M) independently represent 0 or an integer of from 1 to 3, wherein k (K) and m (M) are not 0 at the same time; and n (n?) represents an integer of from 1 to 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: Takaaki Ikegami, Tomoyuki Shimada, Yasuo Suzuki, Nozomu Tamoto, Hidetoshi Kami, Yuuji Takana
  • Publication number: 20040234294
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor having a surface with a frictional resistance ranging from 45 gram-force to 200 gram-force, a 10-point average roughness RzJIS ranging from 0.1 &mgr;m to 1.5 &mgr;m s or a maximum height Rz of 2.5 &mgr;m. Image formation is performed by the image forming apparatus to allow irregular-shaped toner or spherical toner to be cleaned off efficiently and any background stain on a copied sheet to be prevented. A lubricant is applied to the photoconductor so as to form a nonuniform film thereon, which prevents the frictional resistance from abnormally lowering, thus suppressing image degradation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nagame, Hidetoshi Kami, Katsuichi Ohta
  • Publication number: 20040197688
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate, and optionally a protective layer overlying the photosensitive layer, wherein an outermost layer of the photoreceptor includes a filler, a binder resin and an organic compound having an acid value of from 10 to 700 mgKOH/g. The photosensitive layer can be the outermost layer. A coating liquid for an outermost layer of a photoreceptor including a filler, a binder resin, an organic compound having an acid value of from 10 to 700 mgKOH/g and plural organic solvents. A method for preparing a photoreceptor including forming a photosensitive layer, and coating the coating liquid on the photosensitive layer. An image forming method and apparatus and a process cartridge using the photoreceptor are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Nozomu Tamoto, Tetsuro Suzuki, Hiroshi Tamura, Tatsuya Niimi, Akihiko Matsuyama, Eiji Kurimoto, Hidetoshi Kami
  • Publication number: 20040185358
    Abstract: A photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer located overlying the substrate, and a protective layer overlying the photosensitive layer, wherein the photoreceptor has a property such that when the photoreceptor is charged so as to have a potential of −700 V and then exposed to light with exposure of 0.4 &mgr;J/cm2, the potential (PL) of a lighted portion of the photoreceptor decreases at a rate not greater than 700 V/sec during a time period of from a time 35 msec after the exposure to the transition time of the photoreceptor. An image forming apparatus and a process cartridge including the photoreceptor are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Kami
  • Patent number: 6790572
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate, and optionally a protective layer overlying the photosensitive layer, wherein an outermost layer of the photoreceptor includes a filler, a binder resin and an organic compound having an acid value of from 10 to 700 mgKOH/g. The photosensitive layer can be the outermost layer. A coating liquid for an outermost layer of a photoreceptor including a filler, a binder resin, an organic compound having an acid value of from 10 to 700 mgKOH/g and plural organic solvents. A method for preparing a photoreceptor including forming a photosensitive layer, and coating the coating liquid on the photosensitive layer. An image forming method and apparatus and a process cartridge using the photoreceptor are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Nozomu Tamoto, Tetsuro Suzuki, Hiroshi Tamura, Tatsuya Niimi, Akihiko Matsuyama, Eiji Kurimoto, Hidetoshi Kami
  • Publication number: 20040126687
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor having at least a photosensitive layer on a conductive support, wherein the electrophotographic photoconductor comprising, in the outermost layer thereof: a filler, an organic compound having an acid value of 10-400 mgKOH/g, and at least one of compounds represented by the following general formulas 1 and 2: 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Takaaki Ikegami, Tomoyuki Shimada, Yasuo Suzuki, Nozomu Tamoto, Hidetoshi Kami
  • Publication number: 20040126689
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate, and optionally a protective layer overlying the photosensitive layer, wherein an outermost layer of the photoreceptor includes a filler, a binder resin and an organic compound having an acid value of from 10 to 700 mgKOH/g. The photosensitive layer can be the outermost layer. A coating liquid for an outermost layer of a photoreceptor including a filler, a binder resin, an organic compound having an acid value of from 10 to 700 mgKOH/g and plural organic solvents. A method for preparing a photoreceptor including forming a photosensitive layer, and coating the coating liquid on the photosensitive layer. An image forming method and apparatus and a process cartridge using the photoreceptor are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Nozomu Tamoto, Tetsuro Suzuki, Hiroshi Tamura, Tatsuya Niimi, Akihiko Matsuyama, Eiji Kurimoto, Hidetoshi Kami
  • Publication number: 20040048178
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate; a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate and including a resin; and a surface layer including a filler and a binder resin, wherein the surface layer and the photosensitive layer have a continuous structure, and wherein the surface layer satisfies the following relationship: &sgr;≦D/5, wherein D represents an average of maximum thicknesses of the surface layer in units of micrometers in 20 segments of 5 &mgr;m wide when a portion of a cross section of the photoreceptor of 100 &mgr;m wide is divided into the 20 segments, and &sgr; represents a standard deviation of the 20 maximum thicknesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ikuno, Hidetoshi Kami, Ryohichi Kitajima, Narihito Kojima, Akihiko Matsuyama, Hiroshi Nagame, Katsuichi Ohta, Tetsuro Suzuki, Nozomu Tamoto, Hiroshi Tamura, Yohta Sakon, Eiji Kurimoto, Tatsuya Niimi, Yuka Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20030219279
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus which includes an image developer configured to develop a latent electrostatic image and to have a developer, a developer bearing member which has a magnet therein, has the developer on a surface thereof, and rotates with carrying the developer, and a developer limiting member which faces the developer bearing member, and controls an amount of the developer, and a latent electrostatic image support configured to contain a filler in its outermost layer. In the image-forming apparatus, the developer is a double-component developer which contains a magnetic carrier and a toner, the magnetic carrier has a coating layer which is formed of a binder resin having particles retained on a surface of the magnetic carrier, and a ratio of a particle diameter D1 of the particles to a film thickness h1 of the binder resin satisfies a relation of: 1<D1/h1<10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Shinji Nohsho, Hiroshi Nagame, Hidetoshi Kami
  • Patent number: 6653033
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor having an electroconductive support, and a photoconductive layer formed on the support and having an outwardly facing surface. The photoconductive layer includes a charge transporting material, a charge generating material and an inorganic filler including &agr;-alumina, wherein the concentration of the inorganic filler in the photoconductive layer decreases stepwise or continuously in the direction from the outwardly facing surface thereof to the opposite surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kami, Tatsuya Niimi, Akihiko Matuyama, Nozomu Tamoto, Eiji Kurimoto
  • Patent number: 6641964
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate; a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate and including a resin; and a surface layer including a filler and a binder resin, wherein the surface layer and the photosensitive layer have a continuous structure, and wherein the surface layer satisfies the following relationship: &sgr;≦D/5, wherein D represents an average of maximum thicknesses of the surface layer in units of micrometers in 20 segments of 5 &mgr;m wide when a portion of a cross section of the photoreceptor of 100 &mgr;m wide is divided into the 20 segments, and &sgr; represents a standard deviation of the 20 maximum thicknesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ikuno, Hidetoshi Kami, Ryohichi Kitajima, Narihito Kojima, Akihiko Matsuyama, Hiroshi Nagame, Katsuichi Ohta, Tetsuro Suzuki, Nozomu Tamoto, Hiroshi Tamura, Yohta Sakon, Eiji Kurimoto, Tatsuya Niimi, Yuka Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20030194627
    Abstract: Electrophotographic photoreceptor having a photosensitive layer containing an amino compound selected from formulae 1 to 22 in the specification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Takaaki Ikegami, Yasuo Suzuki, Tomoyuki Shimada, Nozomu Tamoto, Hidetoshi Kami
  • Publication number: 20030113642
    Abstract: A photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate; and a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate and comprising a charge generation material, a charge transport material and an inorganic filler, wherein the content of the inorganic filler at a surface side of the photosensitive layer is greater than that at a bottom side of the photosensitive layer near the electroconductive substrate, and wherein an outermost layer of the photoreceptor has a water vapor permeability not greater than 50 g·m−2·24 h−1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kami, Tatsuya Niimi, Akihiko Matsuyama, Eiji Kurimoto, Nozomu Tamoto
  • Patent number: 6573016
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor having an electroconductive support, and a photoconductive layer formed on the support and having an outwardly facing surface. The photoconductive layer includes a charge transporting material, a charge generating material and an inorganic filler including &agr;-alumina, wherein the concentration of the inorganic filler in the photoconductive layer decreases stepwise or continuously in the direction from the outwardly facing surface thereof to the opposite surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kami, Tatsuya Niimi, Akihiko Matuyama, Nozomu Tamoto, Eiji Kurimoto
  • Publication number: 20030077531
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor in which at least a photosensitive layer is provided above an electroconductive substrate, the outermost surface layer of the electroconductive substrate contains at least an inorganic filler, a binder resin, and an aliphatic polyester, or, alternatively, the outermost surface layer of the electroconductive substrate contains at least an inorganic filler and a binder resin and the binder resin is a copolymer polyarylate having an alkylene-arylcarboxylate structural unit, also an image forming method, image forming apparatus, and image forming apparatus processing unit in which the electrophotographic photoreceptor is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Tetsuro Suzuki, Kazukiyo Nagai, Nozomu Tamoto, Eiji Kurimoto, Hidetoshi Kami
  • Publication number: 20030073015
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate, and optionally a protective layer overlying the photosensitive layer, wherein an outermost layer of the photoreceptor includes a filler, a binder resin and an organic compound having an acid value of from 10 to 700 mgKOH/g. The photosensitive layer can be the outermost layer. A coating liquid for an outermost layer of a photoreceptor including a filler, a binder resin, an organic compound having an acid value of from 10 to 700 mgKOH/g and plural organic solvents. A method for preparing a photoreceptor including forming a. photosensitive layer, and coating the coating liquid on the photosensitive layer. An image forming method and apparatus and a process cartridge using the photoreceptor are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Nozomu Tamoto, Tetsuro Suzuki, Hiroshi Tamura, Tatsuya Niimi, Akihiko Matsuyama, Eiji Kurimoto, Hidetoshi Kami
  • Publication number: 20020115005
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate; a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate and including a resin; and a surface layer including a filler and a binder resin, wherein the surface layer and the photosensitive layer have a continuous structure, and wherein the surface layer satisfies the following relationship: &sgr;≦D/5, wherein D represents an average of maximum thicknesses of the surface layer in units of micrometers in 20 segments of 5 &mgr;m wide when a portion of a cross section of the photoreceptor of 100 &mgr;m wide is divided into the 20 segments, and &sgr; represents a standard deviation of the 20 maximum thicknesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ikuno, Hidetoshi Kami, Ryohichi Kitajima, Narihito Kojima, Akihiko Matsuyama, Hiroshi Nagame, Katsuichi Ohta, Tetsuro Suzuki, Nozomu Tamoto, Hiroshi Tamura, Yohta Sakon, Eiji Kurimoto, Tatsuya Niimi, Yuka Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20020106570
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor having an electroconductive support, and a photoconductive layer formed on the support and having an outwardly facing surface. The photoconductive layer includes a charge transporting material, a charge generating material and an inorganic filler including &agr;-alumina, wherein the concentration of the inorganic filler in the photoconductive layer decreases stepwise or continuously in the direction from the outwardly facing surface thereof to the opposite surface thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kami, Tatsuya Niimi, Akihiko Matuyama, Nozomu Tamoto, Eiji Kurimoto
  • Patent number: 6326112
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor which includes an electroconductive substrate, and a photosensitive layer which is formed overlying the substrate, wherein the photosensitive layer includes a charge generation material, a charge transport polymer material including triarylamine structure and a soft segment in a main chain thereof, and a filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tamura, Hidetoshi Kami, Katsuichi Ohta, Tetsuro Suzuki, Tatsuya Niimi, Narihito Kojima
  • Patent number: 6151468
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor including a photoconductive layer which is formed overlying an electroconductive substrate and which includes at least a charge transporting polymer material, wherein the photoconductive layer has a water vapor permeability not greater than about 200 g.multidot.m.sup.-2 .multidot.24 h.sup.-1. The photoconductive layer may be a functionally separated photoconductive layer including a charge generating layer and a charge transporting layer which is formed overlying the charge generating layer and which includes the charge transporting polymer material, wherein the charge transporting layer has a water vapor permeability not greater than about 200 g.multidot.m.sup.-2 .multidot.24 h.sup.-1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kami, Tetsuro Suzuki, Narihito Kojima, Hiroshi Nagame, Hiroshi Tamura, Yohta Sakon, Hiroshi Ikuno