Patents by Inventor Ken Ohmura

Ken Ohmura 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: 8586278
    Abstract: A method of producing an electrostatic image developing toner comprising toner particles comprising a binder resin containing at least a non-crystalline polyester resin having a crosslinking structure and a crystalline polyester resin, the method comprising the steps of (a-1) preparing a crystalline polyester resin particle aqueous dispersion liquid; (a-2) preparing a polymerizable unsaturated non-crystalline polyester resin aqueous dispersion liquid; (b) preparing crosslinking non-crystalline polyester resin particles by adding a radical polymerization initiator to the aqueous dispersion liquid of particles containing the non-crystalline polyester resin having a polymerizable unsaturated bond; (c) preparing core particles by aggregating at least the particles containing the crystalline polyester resin in an aqueous medium; and (d) preparing a shell layer containing the non-crystalline polyester resin having a crosslinking structure by fusing the particles containing the non-crystalline polyester resin having
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikihiko Sukeno, Hajime Tadokoro, Ken Ohmura, Tatsuya Nagase, Tomomi Oshiba, Kenji Hayashi, Saburou Hiraoka, Tomoko Mine
  • Patent number: 8497059
    Abstract: A method of producing a toner comprising toner particles containing a binder resin composed of a non-crystalline polyester resin having a crosslinked structure and a crystalline polyester resin is disclosed, the method comparing steps of; a process to form an oil phase liquid by dissolving or dispersing a non-crystalline polyester resin having a polymerizable unsaturated double bond and a crystalline polyester resin in an organic solvent, a process to form an aqueous dispersion liquid of oil droplets of the oil phase liquid by dispersing the oil phase liquid in an aqueous medium, a process to form oil droplets containing the non-crystalline polyester resin having a crosslinked structure by adding a radical polymerization initiator to the aqueous dispersion liquid of oil droplets, and an organic solvent removing process to form toner particles by removing organic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomomi Oshiba, Mikihiko Sukeno, Hajime Tadokoro, Ken Ohmura, Tatsuya Nagase, Kenji Hayashi, Saburou Hiraoka, Tomoko Mine
  • Publication number: 20130109826
    Abstract: Disclosed is a low-environmental load toner for electrostatic image development. The toner for electrostatic image development includes toner particles containing a resin. The resin contains a vinyl polymer having a structural unit represented by the following general formula (1). In the formula, R1 to R5 are each a hydrogen atom, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or —OCOR6 (R6 is an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms), at least two of R1 to R5 are hydrogen atoms, and at least one thereof is an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or —OCOR6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Mikio KOUYAMA, Ken OHMURA
  • Publication number: 20130078566
    Abstract: Disclosed are a low-environmental load toner for electrostatic image development and a production process of the toner. The toner for electrostatic image development includes toner particles containing a resin. The resin contains a vinyl polymer having a structural unit represented by the following general formula (1): [in the general formula (1), R1 is a hydrogen atom, —CH2OH, —CH2OR2, or —CH2O(C?O)R3, and R2 and R3 are each an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms].
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mikio KOUYAMA, Ken OHMURA
  • Patent number: 8399166
    Abstract: Disclosed are a toner for developing an electrostatic image, a full color toner kit and an image formation method layer, the toner comprising at least a resin and a colorant, wherein the colorant includes quinacridone pigment having a number average primary particle size of from 30 to 150 nm and having a ratio of a long axis length to a short axis length of from 1.0 to 2.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikio Kouyama, Hiroshi Yamazaki, Ken Ohmura, Kenji Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8377617
    Abstract: Disclosed are a toner for developing an electrostatic image and its manufacturing method, the toner being comprised of toner particles, wherein the toner particles contain as a resin a polymer having a structural unit represented by the following formula 1, wherein R1 represents an alkyl group having a carbon atom number of from 1 to 8, which may have a substituent; and R2 and R3 independently represent a hydrogen atom, —OR4 or —OCOR5, in which R4 and R5 independently represent an alkyl group having a carbon atom number of from 1 to 8, provided that at least one of R2 and R3 is —OR4 or —OCOR5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikio Kouyama, Hiroshi Yamazaki, Ken Ohmura
  • Publication number: 20130004891
    Abstract: A toner comprising a modified polyester resin containing a structure represented by Formula (1a) or (1b), wherein, in Formula (1a) and (1b), R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, or an ethyl group, R2 represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon which may be branched, or an aromatic hydrocarbon, and R3 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a phenyl group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi NAGASAWA, Ken OHMURA
  • Publication number: 20130000836
    Abstract: The non-contact information recording medium is made by forming the antenna circuit and connecting it to the IC module through connection terminals at the same time. This provides a high degree of freedom of patterning of the antenna circuit. The antenna circuit is formed on a recording substrate, in which an IC module has been embedded. A foil-bonding resin layer is formed on the connection terminals of the recording substrate, with a toner containing a binder resin by an electrophotographic method. Then a conductive foil is brought into contact with the foil-bonding resin layer to bond the foil to the resin layer, to connect the antenna circuit to the connection terminals and form the antenna circuit composed of the conductive foil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu MATSUMOTO, Ryuichi HIRAMOTO, Aya SHIRAI, Asao MATSUSHIMA, Ken OHMURA
  • Publication number: 20120328980
    Abstract: The toner for electrostatic image development has excellent charge properties, by which excellent toner particle size-controlling ability is achieved, and moreover the sharpening of a particle size distribution is achieved. The toner is composed of toner particles containing a binder resin. The process has an aggregating step of adding an aggregating agent containing a transition element into an aqueous medium of dispersed fine binder resin particles to aggregate the fine binder resin particles, and an aggregation-stopping step of adding an aggregation stopper composed on a sulfur atom-containing compound exhibiting a reducing action on the aggregating agent. The aggregating agent is a salt of a bivalent or higher metal selected from Sr, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Cu.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Saburou HIRAOKA, Tomomi OSHIBA, Mikihiko SUKENO, Tomoko MINE, Hitomi MOTANI, Tatsuya NAGASE, Ken OHMURA
  • Patent number: 8304157
    Abstract: A toner for an electrophotography and its manufacturing method are disclosed. The toner comprises toner particles containing a cross-linked polymer having two-valent crosslinking group represented by Formula (1), wherein, R1 is a hydrogen atom or a chlorine atom, R2 is a hydrogen atom, a chlorine atom or a methoxy group. The toner satisfies storage durability against heat as well as sufficient low temperature fixing ability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikio Kouyama, Ken Ohmura, Kenji Hayashi, Yukio Hosoya, Hiroaki Obata, Koji Shibata
  • Publication number: 20120264050
    Abstract: Disclosed is a production process of a toner for electrostatic image development, by which excellent toner particle size-controlling ability is achieved, and moreover the sharpening of a particle size distribution is achieved. The production process is a production process of a toner for electrostatic image development, is composed of toner particles containing a binder resin. The process has the steps of adding a aggregating agent containing polysilicato-iron into an aqueous medium in which fine binder resin particles formed of the binder resin have been dispersed, thereby aggregating the fine binder resin particles, and adding an aggregation stopper composed of a salt whose cation is univalent or bivalent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Tomomi OSHIBA, Hitomi MOTANI, Tomoko MINE, Saburou HIRAOKA, Mikihiko SUKENO, Tatsuya NAGASE, Ken OHMURA
  • Publication number: 20120148845
    Abstract: Disclosed are heat storage microcapsules encapsulating a water-soluble heat storage material stably and certainly, heat storage microcapsules with high durability which prevent phase separation of an inorganic salt hydrate latent heat storage material, heat storage microcapsules which prevent supercooling of a latent heat storage material to exhibit stable heat history and a manufacturing method thereof. The heat storage microcapsules comprise a core covered with a shell, wherein the core contains (a) at least one water-soluble latent heat storage material selected from a salt hydrate and a sugar alcohol and (b) a polymer derived from a water-soluble monomer mixture of a water-soluble monofunctional monomer and a water-soluble multifunctional monomer, and the shell is composed of a hydrophobic resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mikio KOUYAMA, Ken OHMURA
  • Publication number: 20120123075
    Abstract: Disclosed are a toner for developing an electrostatic image and its manufacturing method, the toner being comprised of toner particles, wherein the toner particles contain as a resin a polymer having a structural unit represented by the following formula 1, wherein R1 represents an alkyl group having a carbon atom number of from 1 to 8, which may have a substituent; and R2 and R3 independently represent a hydrogen atom, —OR4 or —OCOR5, in which R4 and R5 independently represent an alkyl group having a carbon atom number of from 1 to 8, provided that at least one of R2 and R3 is —OR4 or —OCOR5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mikio KOUYAMA, Hiroshi YAMAZAKI, Ken OHMURA
  • Publication number: 20120107741
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing toner by which the toner capable of forming high quality images and reproducing high density gradation, which exhibits an excellent high-temperature offsetting property together with excellent low-temperature fixability, and provides appropriate gloss with respect to images to be formed, can be stably prepared; and also provided is the toner. After conducting a step in which particles made of at least a crystalline polyester resin are coagulated to form core coagulated particles, and an unsaturated amorphous polyester resin particle is attached onto the surface of each of the core coagulated particles to form core-shell type coagulated particles, radical polymerization reaction is conducted by acting a radical polymerization initiator on the foregoing core-shell type coagulated particles to conduct a step in which a layer made of a crosslinking amorphous polyester resin is formed on the surface of each of the core coagulated particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Saburou HIRAOKA, Mikihiko SUKENO, Hajime TADOKORO, Ken OHMURA, Tatsuya NAGASE, Tomomi OSHIBA, Kenji HAYASHI, Tomoko MINE
  • Publication number: 20120100478
    Abstract: A method of producing an electrostatic image developing toner comprising toner particles comprising a binder resin containing at least a non-crystalline polyester resin having a crosslinking structure and a crystalline polyester resin, the method comprising the steps of (a-1) preparing a crystalline polyester resin particle aqueous dispersion liquid; (a-2) preparing a polymerizable unsaturated non-crystalline polyester resin aqueous dispersion liquid; (b) preparing crosslinking non-crystalline polyester resin particles by adding a radical polymerization initiator to the aqueous dispersion liquid of particles containing the non-crystalline polyester resin having a polymerizable unsaturated bond; (c) preparing core particles by aggregating at least the particles containing the crystalline polyester resin in an aqueous medium; and (d) preparing a shell layer containing the non-crystalline polyester resin having a crosslinking structure by fusing the particles containing the non-crystalline polyester resin having
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mikihiko SUKENO, Hajime TADOKORO, Ken OHMURA, Tatsuya NAGASE, Tomomi OSHIBA, Kenji HAYASHI, Saburou HIRAOKA, Tomoko MINE
  • Publication number: 20120094229
    Abstract: A toner comprising toner particles containing a binder resin comprising a crystalline polyester resin, a non-crystalline polyester resin and an acryl resin having a cross-link structure, and the acryl resin having a cross-link structure has a cross-link site derived from a crosslinking agent represented by the following formula (1): CH2?CR1—C(?O)O—Z—OC(?O)—CR2?CH2??Formula (1) wherein R1 and R2 are each a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and Z is a hydrocarbon group of 2 to 90 carbon atoms, provided that the hydrocarbon group may include an ether linkage, an ester linkage, a heterocyclic ring or a substituent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Tomoko MINE, Mikihiko SUKENO, Hajime TADOKORO, Ken OHMURA, Tatsuya NAGASE, Tomomi OSHIBA, Saburou HIRAOKA
  • Publication number: 20120064454
    Abstract: A method of producing a toner comprising toner particles containing a binder resin composed of a non-crystalline polyester resin having a crosslinking structure and a crystalline polyester resin is disclosed, the method comparing steps of; a process to form an oil phase liquid by dissolving or dispersing a non-crystalline polyester resin having a polymerizable unsaturated double bond and a crystalline polyester resin in an organic solvent, a process to form an aqueous dispersion liquid of oil droplets of the oil phase liquid by dispersing the oil phase liquid in an aqueous medium, a process to form oil droplets containing the non-crystalline polyester resin having a crosslinking structure by adding a radical polymerization initiator to the aqueous dispersion liquid of oil droplets, and an organic solvent removing process to form toner particles by removing organic solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Tomomi OSHIBA, Mikihiko SUKENO, Hajime TADOKORO, Ken OHMURA, Tatsuya NAGASE, Kenji HAYASHI, Saburou HIRAOKA, Tomoko MINE
  • Patent number: 8078077
    Abstract: Toners of the same color but with different characteristics are stored in the toner cartridges. For example, toners for high image quality (High Grade) with small particle diameter are stored in some toner cartridges and toners for low image quality (Low Grade) are stored in other toner cartridges. In this case, case, the mode of forming images using small particle diameter toner for high image quality using an image forming engine and the mode of forming images using a toner for low image quality using another image forming engine are executed by the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Ohmura, Akihiro Nakamura, Makoto Furuichi, Hayato Konishi
  • Patent number: 8062818
    Abstract: An electrophotographic toner for electrostatic image development which is capable of obtaining a high chroma full-color image exhibiting clear color without color contamination and excellent light stability is disclosed, comprising a resin and a colorant, wherein the colorant comprises a pigment of C.I. Pigment Blue 76. There are also disclosed a full-color toner kit and an image forming method by use of the toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikio Kouyama, Hiroshi Yamazaki, Ken Ohmura, Kenji Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20110236819
    Abstract: Provided is a toner containing toner particles containing a polyester resin which has a structure part represented by Formula (1): wherein, “A” represents a polyester structure unit having at least one linking group; R1 represents a hydrogen atom, or a chlorine atom; R2 represents a hydrogen atom, a chlorine atom, or a methoxy group; and “L” represents a divalent organic group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mikio KOUYAMA, Ken OHMURA, Kenji HAYASHI, Hiroaki OBATA, Koji SHIBATA