Patents by Inventor Matsutaka Maeda

Matsutaka Maeda 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: 20240142900
    Abstract: An electrophotographic belt comprising: a substrate and an elastic layer on an outer peripheral surface of the substrate, the elastic layer comprising a cured rubber product including a cured silicone rubber product, an elastic modulus of the elastic layer at a temperature of 23° C. being 1.00 MPa or less, wherein when 1 g sample collected from the elastic layer is immersed in 50 ml of toluene at a temperature of 23° C. for 24 hours in accordance with Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) K6258:2016, an extract of 3% by mass to 20% by mass with respect to the sample is extracted, and a burning time of the elastic layer in a burn test in accordance with UL94 VTM standard is 30 seconds or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: YUSUKE BABA, TAKESHI SUZUKI, MATSUTAKA MAEDA, ATSUSHI HORI, MASAHIRO TAKENAGA, HARUKI MORI, SHOTA INOUE
  • Patent number: 11841630
    Abstract: A fixing member includes a substrate having an endless shape; and an elastic layer on an outer peripheral surface of the substrate, the elastic layer containing a silicone rubber and fillers dispersed in the silicone rubber, a content of the fillers with respect to the elastic layer being 35 vol % or more and 50 vol % or less. The fillers includes at least a first filler and a second filler. The first filler is at least one selected from the group consisting of: magnesium oxide; and zinc oxide. The second filler is at least one selected from the group consisting of metal silicon and silicon carbide. A proportion of a sum of the first filler and the second filler to a total amount of the fillers in the elastic layer is 90 vol % or more. Further, the average of 6 sets of representative coefficient A is 1.4 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Kitano, Matsutaka Maeda, Makoto Souma, Yutaro Yoshida, Yasuhiro Miyahara, Shigeo Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20230341800
    Abstract: An electrophotographic member having an endless shape comprises: a substrate; and an elastic layer on an outer peripheral surface thereof. The elastic layer contains a silicone rubber and metal silicon fillers dispersed in the silicone rubber. An average of area ratios of the metal silicon fillers in respective first binarized images is 42% or less, and an average of area ratios of the metal silicon fillers in respective second binarized images is 42% or less. The elastic layer has ? of 1.30 W/(m·K) or more, where ? is a thermal conductivity of the elastic layer in a thickness direction thereof, and the elastic layer has pV of 9.0 LOG?·cm or more, where pV is a common logarithm value of a volume resistivity thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: YASUHIRO MIYAHARA, SHIGEO KURODA, MATSUTAKA MAEDA, YUJI KITANO, MAKOTO SOUMA, YUTARO YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20230205123
    Abstract: A fixing member includes a substrate having an endless shape; and an elastic layer on an outer peripheral surface of the substrate, the elastic layer containing a silicone rubber and fillers dispersed in the silicone rubber, a content of the fillers with respect to the elastic layer being 35 vol % or more and 50 vol % or less. The fillers includes at least a first filler and a second filler. The first filler is at least one selected from the group consisting of: magnesium oxide; and zinc oxide. The second filler is at least one selected from the group consisting of metal silicon and silicon carbide. A proportion of a sum of the first filler and the second filler to a total amount of the fillers in the elastic layer is 90 vol % or more. Further, the average of 6 sets of representative coefficient A is 1.4 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: YUJI KITANO, MATSUTAKA MAEDA, MAKOTO SOUMA, YUTARO YOSHIDA, YASUHIRO MIYAHARA, SHIGEO KURODA
  • Publication number: 20230195015
    Abstract: A fixing member including: a substrate; and an elastic layer arranged on the substrate, wherein the elastic layer contains a silicone rubber and metal silicon powder dispersed in the silicone rubber, wherein the elastic layer has an elastic modulus of 0.10 MPa or more and 0.40 MPa or less, and wherein the metal silicon powder has an aspect ratio of 1.4 or more and 2.5 or less, and a repose angle of 35° or more and 52° or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: YUJI KITANO, MATSUTAKA MAEDA, MAKOTO SOUMA, YASUHIRO MIYAHARA, YUTARO YOSHIDA, SHIGEO KURODA
  • Patent number: 11635717
    Abstract: An electrophotographic member comprising a base body and an elastic layer on the base body, the elastic layer including silicone rubber and metallic silicon particles in the silicone rubber; wherein the metallic silicon particles have a mass reduction rate of 0.05% or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Matsutaka Maeda, Yuji Kitano
  • Patent number: 11573515
    Abstract: A fixing member for electrophotography having an endless shape has a base layer having an endless shape, and an elastic layer on the outer circumferential surface of the base layer. The elastic layer includes a silicone rubber and a filler dispersed in the silicone rubber. The total amount of the filler compounded in the elastic layer is 30 vol % or less based on the total volume of the elastic layer. The elastic layer satisfies the relation of ?td>?md>?nd. ?td is a thermal conductivity of the elastic layer in the circumferential direction, ?nd is a thermal conductivity of the elastic layer in the thickness direction, and ?md, is a thermal conductivity of the elastic layer in the longitudinal direction. ?td is 2.0 W/(m·K) or more, and ?nd is 1.3 W/(m·K) or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Miyahara, Matsutaka Maeda, Yuji Kitano, Makoto Souma, Yutaro Yoshida, Shigeo Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20220334522
    Abstract: A fixing member for electrophotography having an endless shape has a base layer having an endless shape, and an elastic layer on the outer circumferential surface of the base layer. The elastic layer includes a silicone rubber and a filler dispersed in the silicone rubber. The total amount of the filler compounded in the elastic layer is 30 vol % or less based on the total volume of the elastic layer. The elastic layer satisfies the relation of ?td>?md>?nd. ?td is a thermal conductivity of the elastic layer in the circumferential direction, ?nd is a thermal conductivity of the elastic layer in the thickness direction, and ?md, is a thermal conductivity of the elastic layer in the longitudinal direction. ?td is 2.0 W/(m·K) or more, and ?nd is 1.3 W/(m·K) or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Miyahara, Matsutaka Maeda, Yuji Kitano, Makoto Souma, Yutaro Yoshida, Shigeo Kuroda
  • Patent number: 11467520
    Abstract: Provided is an electrophotographic fixing member including an elastic layer having a low hardness while maintaining a high thermal conductivity and a high strength, the elastic layer being less liable to fracture even when repeatedly compressed in a high-temperature state. The fixing member for electrophotography includes a substrate, an elastic layer on the substrate, and a surface layer in the stated order, wherein the elastic layer contains a silicone rubber and a heat conductive filler dispersed in the silicone rubber, wherein the heat conductive filler is metal oxide particles, or metal particles each having a surface at least part of which is formed of a metal oxide, and wherein the elastic layer further contains a charge control agent negatively chargeable with respect to the heat conductive filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Kitano, Takeshi Suzuki, Matsutaka Maeda, Makoto Souma, Yasuhiro Miyahara
  • Publication number: 20220259381
    Abstract: A liquid silicone rubber composition contains metallic silicon particles. The content of the metallic silicon particles is 35% by volume or more and 45% by volume or less. The volume average particle diameter of the metallic silicon particles is 1 ?m or more and 20 ?m or less. The ratio A/B of viscosity A at a shear rate of 0.02/sec to viscosity B at a shear rate of 1/sec of the composition is 2.0 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Matsutaka Maeda, Yuji Kitano
  • Publication number: 20220260945
    Abstract: An electrophotographic member comprising a base body and an elastic layer on the base body, the elastic layer including silicone rubber and metallic silicon particles in the silicone rubber; wherein the metallic silicon particles have a mass reduction rate of 0.05% or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Matsutaka Maeda, Yuji Kitano
  • Publication number: 20220075296
    Abstract: Provided is an electrophotographic fixing member including an elastic layer having a low hardness while maintaining a high thermal conductivity and a high strength, the elastic layer being less liable to fracture even when repeatedly compressed in a high-temperature state. The fixing member for electrophotography includes a substrate, an elastic layer on the substrate, and a surface layer in the stated order, wherein the elastic layer contains a silicone rubber and a heat conductive filler dispersed in the silicone rubber, wherein the heat conductive filler is metal oxide particles, or metal particles each having a surface at least part of which is formed of a metal oxide, and wherein the elastic layer further contains a charge control agent negatively chargeable with respect to the heat conductive filler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Yuji Kitano, Takeshi Suzuki, Matsutaka Maeda, Makoto Souma, Yasuhiro Miyahara
  • Patent number: 10890869
    Abstract: An electrophotographic fixing member having an elastic layer that is high in thermal conductivity in the thickness direction, resists causing fracture or plastic deformation even by repeated compression in a high temperature state, and is low in hardness. The electrophotographic fixing member has a substrate, and an elastic layer provided on the substrate, wherein the elastic layer contains a filler containing an inorganic oxide and is provided on an outer circumference of the substrate, wherein (1) in a binarized image on a first cross-section in a thickness-circumferential direction of the elastic layer and a binarized image on a second cross-section in a thickness-axial direction of the elastic layer, 1.0?(A/B)?2.0 and 0.40?(A+B)?0.50 are satisfied; and (2) 50°??Ave?90° is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Miyahara, Naoki Akiyama, Hiroto Sugimoto, Hiroki Muramatsu, Akeshi Asaka, Noriaki Kobayashi, Matsutaka Maeda, Yuji Kitano
  • Patent number: 10859956
    Abstract: Provided is a fixing member having excellent heat resistance and durability. The fixing member includes a substrate and an elastic layer on the substrate, wherein the elastic layer includes: rubber, thermally conductive particles dispersed in the rubber, and iron oxide particles dispersed in the rubber, a content of the thermally conductive particles in the elastic layer is 30% by volume or more and 50% by volume or less, a content of the iron oxide particles in the elastic layer is 0.01% by volume or more and 1.0% by volume or less, the thermally conductive particles are at least one selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, metal silicon, magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, and silicon carbide, and the iron oxide particles have a localization index M of 0.2 or more and less than 0.8, wherein the localization index M is determined by specific steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Matsutaka Maeda, Mamo Matsumoto, Yuji Kitano, Yo Imaizumi, Makoto Souma
  • Publication number: 20200371460
    Abstract: An electrophotographic fixing member having an elastic layer that is high in thermal conductivity in the thickness direction, resists causing fracture or plastic deformation even by repeated compression in a high temperature state, and is low in hardness. The electrophotographic fixing member has a substrate, and an elastic layer provided on the substrate, wherein the elastic layer contains a filler containing an inorganic oxide and is provided on an outer circumference of the substrate, wherein (1) in a binarized image on a first cross-section in a thickness-circumferential direction of the elastic layer and a binarized image on a second cross-section in a thickness-axial direction of the elastic layer, 1.0?(A/B)?2.0 and 0.40?(A+B)?0.50 are satisfied; and (2) 50°??Ave?90° is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Miyahara, Naoki Akiyama, Hiroto Sugimoto, Hiroki Muramatsu, Akeshi Asaka, Noriaki Kobayashi, Matsutaka Maeda, Yuji Kitano
  • Patent number: 10845743
    Abstract: An electrophotographic member including: a base member; an elastic layer having a thickness of from 100 ?m to 500 ?m, and containing a cured product of an addition-curable silicone rubber composition; and a cured product layer arranged between the base member and the elastic layer, the cured product layer containing a cured product of a composition containing an organopolysiloxane having a Si—H group and a silane coupling agent having an alkenyl group. A peel adhesive strength between the elastic layer and the base member is a specific range. The elastic layer undergoes a cohesive failure in a peel test from the base member. The ratio (HU2/HU1) of a universal hardness HU2 on the inner surface of the elastic layer to a universal hardness HU1 at a position reached by cutting the elastic layer from its outer surface in its depth direction by 10 ?m is a specific range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuya Abe, Katsuhisa Matsunaka, Kazuo Kishino, Matsutaka Maeda
  • Publication number: 20200333737
    Abstract: Provided is a fixing member having excellent heat resistance and durability. The fixing member includes a substrate and an elastic layer on the substrate, wherein the elastic layer includes: rubber, thermally conductive particles dispersed in the rubber, and iron oxide particles dispersed in the rubber, a content of the thermally conductive particles in the elastic layer is 30% by volume or more and 50% by volume or less, a content of the iron oxide particles in the elastic layer is 0.01% by volume or more and 1.0% by volume or less, the thermally conductive particles are at least one selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, metal silicon, magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, and silicon carbide, and the iron oxide particles have a localization index M of 0.2 or more and less than 0.8, wherein the localization index M is determined by specific steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Matsutaka Maeda, Mamo Matsumoto, Yuji Kitano, Yo Imaizumi, Makoto Souma
  • Patent number: 10712697
    Abstract: Provided is a fixing member includes: a substrate; and an elastic layer on the substrate, wherein the elastic layer contains a rubber and fillers dispersed in the rubber, and wherein an average value of area ratios of large-particle diameter fillers is 20% or more and 40% or less, and the large-particle diameter fillers have an average array degree fL of 0.00 or more and 0.15 or less, an average value of an area ratios of small-particle diameter fillers is 10% or more and 20% or less, the small-particle diameter fillers have an average array degree fS of 0.20 or more and 0.50 or less, and the small-particle diameter fillers have an average array angle ?S of 60° or more and 120° or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Matsutaka Maeda, Yuji Kitano, Mamo Matsumoto, Katsuhisa Matsunaka, Yasuharu Notoya, Yo Imaizumi, Takuji Oishi, Yasuhiro Miyahara
  • Publication number: 20200117127
    Abstract: An electrophotographic member including: a base member; an elastic layer having a thickness of from 100 ?m to 500 ?m, and containing a cured product of an addition-curable silicone rubber composition; and a cured product layer arranged between the base member and the elastic layer, the cured product layer containing a cured product of a composition containing an organopolysiloxane having a Si—H group and a silane coupling agent having an alkenyl group. A peel adhesive strength between the elastic layer and the base member is a specific range. The elastic layer undergoes a cohesive failure in a peel test from the base member. The ratio (HU2/HU1) of a universal hardness HU2 on the inner surface of the elastic layer to a universal hardness HU1 at a position reached by cutting the elastic layer from its outer surface in its depth direction by 10 ?m is a specific range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Katsuya Abe, Katsuhisa Matsunaka, Kazuo Kishino, Matsutaka Maeda
  • Patent number: 10620574
    Abstract: Provided is a fixing member for a heat fixing apparatus which can further improve utilization efficiency of heat for heat fixing of an unfixed toner. A fixing member having an endless belt shape includes a substrate and an elastic layer on the substrate, wherein the elastic layer includes silicone rubber and a filler dispersed in the silicone rubber, and when a thermal conductivity of the elastic layer in a thickness direction is defined as ?nd, a thermal conductivity of the elastic layer in a circumferential direction is defined as ?td, and a thermal conductivity of the elastic layer in a width direction is defined as ?md, ?nd is 1.30 W/(m·K) or more, and ?nd, ?td, and ?md satisfy a relationship as shown below ?nd>?md>?td.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Kitano, Katsuya Abe, Takeshi Suzuki, Mamo Matsumoto, Matsutaka Maeda, Yasuharu Notoya, Katsuhisa Matsunaka, Masaaki Takahashi