Patents by Inventor Masahiro Anno

Masahiro Anno 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: 8092965
    Abstract: Provided is a method for forming an image containing the steps of: (a) forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrier; and (b) developing the electrostatic latent image by a two component developer comprising a toner and a carrier, wherein the two component developer is continually replenished in the developing step (b); and the toner includes: colored particles; and external additive particles comprising a complex oxide incorporating silicon atoms and at least one of titanium atoms and aluminum atoms, and a surface existing ratio of the silicon atoms (R2) in a surface of the external additive particles being larger than an average existing ratio of the silicon atoms (R1) in an entirety of the external additive particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Masahiro Anno, Masahiko Nakamura, Tsuyoshi Uchida, Kenichi Onaka, Junya Onishi, Naoya Tonegawa
  • Patent number: 8039184
    Abstract: Provided is a two-component developer with which degradation of development is inhibited even in the case of prolonged use, and thereby a high quality image exhibiting high resolution and sufficient image density can be formed for a long duration. Also disclosed is a two-component developer possessing a carrier and a toner, wherein the carrier in which magnetic material powder is dispersed in a binder resin containing a phenol formaldehyde resin has a shape coefficient SF-1 of 1.0-1.2, a shape coefficient SF-2 of 1.1-2.5 and a volume-based median particle diameter of 10-100 ?m, and the toner possesses a colored particle and an external additive particle, wherein the external additive particle comprises a titanic acid compound and iron, and the iron content is 100-1,000 ppm, based on the titanic acid compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Masahiro Anno, Masahiko Nakamura, Tsuyoshi Uchida, Kenichi Onaka, Junya Onishi, Naoya Tonegawa
  • Patent number: 7981586
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming method is disclosed. The method includes steps of conveying a developer comprising a toner to a developing zone by a developing roller, and developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic latent image carrying member by the developer, and the developing roller has an electroconductive shaft and a resin layer provided around the shaft, the resin layer comprises a surface layer containing silicone copolymer resin as the principal component and a layer containing resin-silica hybrid composite as a principal component provided directly under the surface layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Uchino, Masahiro Anno, Takeo Oshiba, Okushi Okuyama, Shinya Obara
  • Publication number: 20110151371
    Abstract: A toner for electrostatic latent image development is disclosed, comprising colored particles containing a binder resin and a colorant, and an external-additive, wherein the external additive comprises boron nitride particles exhibiting a number average primary particle size of 10 to 500 nm. The production method of the toner is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Shinya OBARA, Masahiro ANNO, Satoshi UCHINO, Hitomi MOTANI, Hidehito HARUKI
  • Patent number: 7910273
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming method is disclosed. In the method electrostatic latent image is developed by a non-magnetic single-component developing system, in which a non-magnetic single-component developer is conveyed by a developer carrying member, the developer carrying member is contacted with a developer layer regulation member for regulating an amount of the developer at the surface of the developer carrying member, and a binder resin of the developer comprises a vinyl polymer having an acid value of from about 5 to about 30 mgKOH/g and a ratio of hydroxyl group value/acid values from about 0.3 to about 0.8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Masahiko Nakamura, Masahiro Anno, Kaori Soeda, Tomoko Mine, Kenichi Onaka, Eiichi Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20110014561
    Abstract: Provided are a toner and a toner manufacturing method with which high image density and a broad range of color reproduction are obtained, and with which high-quality images are also obtained. The toner is composed of toner particles that comprise a binding resin containing a polyester resin and a colorant, and contains 10-1,500 ppm of a metal element selected from titanium, germanium, and aluminum, and a cyclic phenol sulfide represented by general formula (1) selected from thiacalixarene, sulfinyl thiacalixarene and sulfonyl thiacalixarene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Masahiro Anno, Masahiko Nakamura, Tsuyoshi Uchida, Kouichi Sugama, Kenichi Onaka, Junya Onishi
  • Publication number: 20100330491
    Abstract: Provided is an electrostatic charge image developing toner producing neither halftone image unevenness nor density drop of solid images, even though a large number of print sheets are printed at high temperature and high humidity, and subsequently printing is further carried out at high temperature and high humidity after standing for a long time. Disclosed is an electrostatic charge image developing toner containing 3-10% by weight of at least one metal fluoride selected from the group consisting of sodium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, calcium fluoride, barium fluoride and aluminum fluoride, based on a total weight of the toner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kouji SUGAMA, Masahiko NAKAMURA, Masahiro ANNO, Shiro HIRANO, Junya ONISHI, Tatsuya FUJISAKI
  • Publication number: 20100304288
    Abstract: A toner comprising toner particles, wherein a surface-treated titanate compound is contained on the surface of parent toner particles comprising a resin and a colorant, and the titanate compound having a carbon amount of not less than 0.15% by mass and not more than 0.50% by mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Masahiro Anno, Kazuyoshi Goan, Makoto Nomiya, Kouji Sugama, Masahiro Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 7831183
    Abstract: A developing roller comprising: a shaft comprising an aluminum alloy; and a coating layer directly formed on a periphery of the shaft, the coating layer comprising a conducting agent and a binder comprising a resin, wherein the aluminum alloy comprises 0.2 to 0.8% by mass of silicon and 0.05 to 1.5% by mass of maganese, based on the total mass of the aluminum alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Takeo Oshiba, Masahiro Anno, Okushi Okuyama, Satoshi Uchino, Shinya Obara, Ryuichi Hiramoto, So Matsuya
  • Patent number: 7727698
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming method comprising developing a latent electrostatic image formed on the surface of a latent electrostatic image bearing body by a developer borne and conveyed by a developer bearing body which is brought into contact with a developer layer control member to control an amount of the developer on the surface of the developer bearing body through a nonmagnetic single-component development system, wherein an acid value (SAV) of the surface of the developer and a total acid value (TAV) of the developer meet the following requirements: 1<SAV/TAV?5 and 5?TAV?25, and a ratio of a mass average particle size (d50, ?m) of the developer to a surface roughness (Ra, ?m), d50/Ra being in a range of 0.5 to 3.0 and an average spacing (Sm) between protruding peaks of the developer bearing body being in a range of 20 to 200 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eiichi Yoshida, Masahiko Nakamura, Masahiro Anno, Kaori Soeda, Tomoko Mine, Kenichi Onaka
  • Publication number: 20090239171
    Abstract: It is to provide a toner which can form an image of high image quality exhibiting high resolution wherein a final visible image exhibits high image density and high thin-line reproducibility even in long-term use. In a toner incorporating at least a colored particle containing a binder resin composed of a polyester resin and a colorant, and external additive particles, the toner has a degree of average circularity of 0.950-0.990, a volume based median diameter of 4.5-8.0 ?m, a volume based particle diameter dispersibility (CVVOL value) of 15-25; a metal selected from titanium, germanium, and aluminum is incorporated at a ratio of 10-1500 ppm; the above external additive particles is composed of a composite oxide incorporating a silicon atom and at least either of a titanium atom and an aluminum atom; and the existence ratio of silicon atoms in the surface thereof is higher than the existence ratio of silicon atoms in the entire part thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Masahiro ANNO, Masahiko NAKAMURA, Tsuyoshi UCHIDA, Kenichi ONAKA, Junya ONISHI, Naoya TONEGAWA
  • Publication number: 20090233205
    Abstract: Provided is a two-component developer with which degradation of development is inhibited even in the case of prolonged use, and thereby a high quality image exhibiting high resolution and sufficient image density can be formed for a long duration. Also disclosed is a two-component developer possessing a carrier and a toner, wherein the carrier in which magnetic material powder is dispersed in a binder resin containing a phenol formaldehyde resin has a shape coefficient SF-1 of 1.0-1.2, a shape coefficient SF-2 of 1.1-2.5 and a volume-based median particle diameter of 10-100 ?m, and the toner possesses a colored particle and an external additive particle, wherein the external additive particle comprises a titanic acid compound and iron, and the iron content is 100-1,000 ppm, based on the titanic acid compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Masahiro ANNO, Masahiko NAKAMURA, Tsuyoshi UCHIDA, Kenichi ONAKA, Junya ONISHI, Naoya TONEGAWA
  • Publication number: 20090233202
    Abstract: A two component developer comprising a toner and a carrier, wherein the toner includes: colored particles; and external additive particles comprising a complex oxide incorporating silicon atoms and at least one of titanium atoms and aluminum atoms, and a surface existing ratio of the silicon atoms (R2) in a surface of the external additive particles being larger than an average existing ratio of the silicon atoms (R1) in an entirety of the external additive particles, and carrier particles comprise magnetic material powder dispersed in a phenol-formaldehyde resin, and have an average of the shape coefficient SF-1 of 1.0 to 12 and an average of the shape coefficient SF-2 of 1.1 to 2.5, and a volume based median diameter of from 10 to 100 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Masahiro ANNO, Masahiko NAKAMURA, Tsuyoshi UCHIDA, Kenichi ONAKA, Junya ONISHI, Naoya TONEGAWA
  • Publication number: 20090208862
    Abstract: Provided is a method for forming an image containing the steps of: (a) forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrier; and (b) developing the electrostatic latent image by a two component developer comprising a toner and a carrier, wherein the two component developer is continually replenished in the developing step. (b); and the toner includes: colored particles.; and external additive particles comprising a complex oxide incorporating silicon atoms and at least one of titanium atoms and aluminum atoms, and a surface existing ratio of the silicon atoms (R2) in a surface of the external additive particles being larger than an average existing ratio of the silicon atoms (R1) in an entirety of the external additive particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Masahiro ANNO, Masahiko NAKAMURA, Tsuyoshi UCHIDA, Kenichi ONAKA, Junya ONISHI, Naoya TONEGAWA
  • Publication number: 20090142684
    Abstract: Disclosed is a toner which can be charged at a designated level even when a lot of print is carried out with severity of charging by stirring and when the printing is carried out under the low temperature-low humidity or the high temperature-high humidity condition. A toner comprising (a) a particle comprising a resin and a colorant; and (b) a titanate compound on the surface of the particle, in which the titanate compound contains iron in an amount of from 100 ppm to 1,000 ppm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Masahiro Anno, Yukio Hosoya
  • Patent number: 7537876
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrostatic charge image developing toner containing external additives possessing 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 placed as a nucleus, and the crystallized metal oxide is present on the silica surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Masahiro Anno, Mikihiko Sukeno, Takanori Tanaka
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20090004591
    Abstract: Disclosed is a toner for developing electrostatic image containing toner particles prepared with a method containing a step of: coagulating resin particle A, resin particle B and a colorant, wherein resin particle A and resin particle B respectively have volume average particle diameters Da and Db which are different in value from each other; and Da and Db satisfy the following relationship: 0.05?Db/Da?0.7.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi UCHIDA, Masahiro ANNO, Yukio HOSOYA, Masaharu SHIRAISHI
  • Publication number: 20080220363
    Abstract: A developing roller for electrophotographic image forming apparatus is disclosed. The developing roller has a shaft and a resin layer, and the resin layer comprises a binder resin, a resin particle having a particle diameter of 5 ?m to 30 ?m and a content of from 10% to 50% by weight with respect to the resin layer, and inorganic oxide particles having a number based average primary particle diameter of 5 nm to 100 nm and a content of 1% to 40% by weight with respect to the resin layer. An image forming method employing the developer roller is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi UCHINO, Masahiro ANNO, Takeo OSHIBA, Okushi OKUYAMA, Shinya OBARA, Ryuichi HIRAMOTO, So MATSUYA
  • Publication number: 20080070147
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming method is disclosed. The method includes steps of conveying a developer comprising a toner to a developing zone by a developing roller, and developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic latent image carrying member by the developer, and the developing roller has an electroconductive shaft and a resin layer provided around the shaft, the resin layer comprises a surface layer containing silicone copolymer resin as the principal component and a layer containing resin-silica hybrid composite as a principal component provided directly under the surface layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi UCHINO, Masahiro ANNO, Takeo OSHIBA, Okushi OKUYAMA, Shinya OBARA