Patents by Inventor Mikio Kouyama

Mikio Kouyama 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: 9841691
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrostatic latent image developing toner made of a binding resin made of an amorphous resin and a crystalline resin, and toner particles containing a releasing agent and a coloring agent, the method includes: adding a monomer for forming the amorphous resin, in an aqueous medium, under presence of the fine particles containing the crystalline resin, and performing polymerization to obtain coated resin fine particles that are fine particles containing the crystalline resin, the fine particles being coated with the amorphous resin; and flocculating and fusing at least fine particles containing the amorphous resin, the coated resin fine particles, and fine particles containing the coloring agent, in an aqueous medium, under presence of a flocculating agent, to obtain the toner particles, wherein a surfactant having concentration of one to five times critical micellar concentration is added to the aqueous medium in the polymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Mikio Kouyama, Hiroyuki Fukuda, Shiro Hirano, Asao Matsushima
  • Patent number: 9766563
    Abstract: The toner according to the present invention is used for electrostatic latent image development, and has toner particles containing a binder resin, a colorant and a release agent. The binder resin is composed of a non-crystalline resin and a crystalline resin. The toner satisfies the relationship represented by specific expressions specified by the endothermic property of the crystalline resin, the endothermic property of the toner and the content ratio of the binder resin in the toner particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Mikio Kouyama, Hiroyuki Fukuda, Shiro Hirano, Asao Matsushima
  • Patent number: 9360783
    Abstract: The toner includes: a second amorphous polyester resin including a structural unit represented by any of the following general formulas (1) to (3); and a first amorphous polyester resin including no structural units represented by the general formulas (1) to (3). R1, R2, R5, R9 and R10 are each independently an alkyl group having 4 to 15 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 4 to 15 carbon atoms, R3, R4, R7, R8 and R11 are each independently an alkylene group having 4 to 14 carbon atoms or an alkenylene group having 4 to 14 carbon atoms, R6 is a saturated or unsaturated divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 4 to 15 carbon atoms, and R12 is a saturated or unsaturated trivalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 4 to 14 carbon atoms, and X is an aromatic ring, a carbocyclic ring or a group represented by the following formula (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Tomoko Mine, Anju Hori, Ken Ohmura, Mikio Kouyama
  • Patent number: 9354535
    Abstract: To provide a toner for electrostatic charge image development which allows obtainment of excellent low temperature fixability and a document off-set resistance sufficiently and also inhibition of an excessive increase in glossiness of a formed fixed image, and a method for manufacturing the same. The toner for electrostatic charge image development includes toner particles containing a binder resin, a colorant, and a releasing agent, in which the binder resin contains at least an amorphous resin and an urethane modified crystalline resin including a crystalline polymer segment and an urethane polymer segment bound to each other, the urethane modified crystalline resin being non-compatible with the amorphous resin, and the amount of ionic dissociating group of the urethane modified crystalline resin is 5 to 20 mgKOH/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Mikio Kouyama, Natsuko Fujisaki, Asao Matsushima, Ken Ohmura, Tatsuya Nagase
  • Publication number: 20160070185
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrostatic latent image developing toner made of a binding resin made of an amorphous resin and a crystalline resin, and toner particles containing a releasing agent and a coloring agent, the method includes: adding a monomer for forming the amorphous resin, in an aqueous medium, under presence of the fine particles containing the crystalline resin, and performing polymerization to obtain coated resin fine particles that are fine particles containing the crystalline resin, the fine particles being coated with the amorphous resin; and flocculating and fusing at least fine particles containing the amorphous resin, the coated resin fine particles, and fine particles containing the coloring agent, in an aqueous medium, under presence of a flocculating agent, to obtain the toner particles, wherein a surfactant having concentration of one to five times critical micellar concentration is added to the aqueous medium in the polymerization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Mikio KOUYAMA, Hiroyuki FUKUDA, Shiro HIRANO, Asao MATSUSHIMA
  • Patent number: 9268245
    Abstract: The toner is a low-environmental load toner for electrostatic image development. The toner 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: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mikio Kouyama, Ken Ohmura
  • Publication number: 20160011532
    Abstract: The toner according to the present invention is used for electrostatic latent image development, and has toner particles containing a binder resin, a colorant and a release agent. The binder resin is composed of a non-crystalline resin and a crystalline resin. The toner satisfies the relationship represented by specific expressions specified by the endothermic property of the crystalline resin, the endothermic property of the toner and the content ratio of the binder resin in the toner particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Mikio KOUYAMA, Hiroyuki FUKUDA, Shiro HIRANO, Asao MATSUSHIMA
  • Patent number: 9188893
    Abstract: Provided is a toner for developing an electrostatic image wherein an environment variation difference in a charging ability can be controlled to be small while having sufficient low temperature fixability. The toner includes toner particles that contain at least a binder resin. The binder resin contains a polymer prepared by polymerizing a polymerizable monomer represented by a following general formula (1). In the general formula (1), R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms; and R3 represents a hydrogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. X represents an oxygen atom or a single bond; Y represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a single bond; and Ar represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Goan, Mikio Kouyama, Hajime Tadokoro
  • Publication number: 20150234306
    Abstract: To provide a toner for electrostatic charge image development which allows obtainment of excellent low temperature fixability and a document off-set resistance sufficiently and also inhibition of an excessive increase in glossiness of a formed fixed image, and a method for manufacturing the same. The toner for electrostatic charge image development includes toner particles containing a binder resin, a colorant, and a releasing agent, in which the binder resin contains at least an amorphous resin and an urethane modified crystalline resin including a crystalline polymer segment and an urethane polymer segment bound to each other, the urethane modified crystalline resin being non-compatible with the amorphous resin, and the amount of ionic dissociating group of the urethane modified crystalline resin is 5 to 20 mgKOH/g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Mikio KOUYAMA, Natsuko FUJISAKI, Asao MATSUSHIMA, Ken OHMURA, Tatsuya NAGASE
  • Patent number: 9063445
    Abstract: The present invention provides a toner for electrostatic image development that suppresses the fluctuation of electrostatic charge amount in accordance with environmental fluctuation and has good color reproducibility (wide color gamut), a producing method of the toner, and an image forming method using the toner for electrostatic image development. The toner for electrostatic image development of the invention includes a toner particle that contains at least a binder resin. The toner particle includes a polymer having a structural unit represented by a following general formula (1) as the binder resin. where R1 represents a hydrogen atom or substituted or unsubstituted C1-C2 alkyl group, A represents an oxygen atom or divalent linking group, B represents a hydrogen atom, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C4 alkyl group, aldehyde group, carboxy group or hydroxy group, and X represents an oxygen atom, nitrogen atom or sulfur atom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Goan, Mikio Kouyama, Hajime Tadokoro
  • Patent number: 9028965
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikio Kouyama, Ken Ohmura
  • Patent number: 9017911
    Abstract: In the present invention, provided is an electrophotographic toner in which low temperature fixing is achieved, and high storage stability is obtained without generating tacking with respect to fixed images to be formed. It is a feature that this electrophotographic toner possesses at least a binder resin, a colorant and a releasing agent, wherein the releasing agent comprises an ester compound and an aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acid compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikio Kouyama, Yasuhiko Muramatsu, Kenji Hayashi, Hiroaki Obata, Noriyuki Kimpara, Hiroshi Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 9017913
    Abstract: A toner for electrostatic image development having sufficient low-temperature fixing properties, and excellent heat resistant storage stability and crush resistance is provided. In toner particles containing at least a binder resin, the binder resin contains a polymer having a structural unit represented by a general formula (1), wherein R1, R2, and R3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, or an alkoxy group, or two adjacent groups of R1, R2, and R3 combine to form —O(CH2)iO—, where i represents an integer of 1 or 2, provided that at least one of R1, R2, and R3 is an alkoxy group, or two adjacent groups combine to form —O(CH2)iO—; and R4 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, a hydroxyl group, or an alkoxy group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Goan, Mikio Kouyama, Hajime Tadokoro
  • Patent number: 8968975
    Abstract: Provided is a toner for developing an electrostatic image. The toner has excellent heat-resistant storage properties and crush resistance while having sufficient low temperature fixability. The toner for developing an electrostatic image includes toner particles that contain at least a binder resin. The binder resin contains a polymer prepared by polymerizing a polymerizable monomer represented by a following general formula (1). In the general formula (1), R1 and R2 each independently represent an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 60 carbon atoms, an aliphatic group wherein some of carbon atoms of the aliphatic hydrocarbon group are substituted with an oxygen atom, or an aromatic hydrocarbon group optionally having the aliphatic hydrocarbon group or the aliphatic group as a substituent; and R3 and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Goan, Mikio Kouyama, Hajime Tadokoro
  • Publication number: 20140377700
    Abstract: Provided is a toner for electrostatic image development, having both sufficient low-temperature fixability and good post-fixing separability simultaneously. The toner for electrostatic image development includes: a second amorphous polyester resin including a structural unit represented by any of the following general formulas (1) to (3); and a first amorphous polyester resin including no structural units represented by the general formulas (1) to (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Tomoko MINE, Anju Hori, Ken Ohmura, Mikio Kouyama
  • Publication number: 20140272694
    Abstract: The present invention provides a toner for electrostatic image development that suppresses the fluctuation of electrostatic charge amount in accordance with environmental fluctuation and has good color reproducibility (wide color gamut), a producing method of the toner, and an image forming method using the toner for electrostatic image development. The toner for electrostatic image development of the invention includes a toner particle that contains at least a binder resin. The toner particle includes a polymer having a structural unit represented by a following general formula (1) as the binder resin. where R1 represents a hydrogen atom or substituted or unsubstituted C1-C2 alkyl group, A represents an oxygen atom or divalent linking group, B represents a hydrogen atom, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C4 alkyl group, aldehyde group, carboxy group or hydroxy group, and X represents an oxygen atom, nitrogen atom or sulfur atom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi GOAN, Mikio Kouyama, Hajime Tadokoro
  • Publication number: 20140228533
    Abstract: Provided is a toner for developing an electrostatic image. The toner has excellent heat-resistant storage properties and crush resistance while having sufficient low temperature fixability. The toner for developing an electrostatic image includes toner particles that contain at least a binder resin. The binder resin contains a polymer prepared by polymerizing a polymerizable monomer represented by a following general formula (1). In the general formula (1), R1 and R2 each independently represent an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 60 carbon atoms, an aliphatic group wherein some of carbon atoms of the aliphatic hydrocarbon group are substituted with an oxygen atom, or an aromatic hydrocarbon group optionally having the aliphatic hydrocarbon group or the aliphatic group as a substituent; and R3 and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi GOAN, Mikio KOUYAMA, Hajime TADOKORO
  • Publication number: 20140228532
    Abstract: Provided is a toner for developing an electrostatic image wherein an environment variation difference in a charging ability can be controlled to be small while having sufficient low temperature fixability. The toner includes toner particles that contain at least a binder resin. The binder resin contains a polymer prepared by polymerizing a polymerizable monomer represented by a following general formula (1). In the general formula (1), R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 2 carbon atoms; and R3 represents a hydrogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. X represents an oxygen atom or a single bond; Y represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a single bond; and Ar represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: KAZUYOSHI GOAN, MIKIO KOUYAMA, HAJIME TADOKORO
  • Publication number: 20140142267
    Abstract: A toner for electrostatic image development having sufficient low-temperature fixing properties, and excellent heat resistant storage stability and crush resistance is provided. In toner particles containing at least a binder resin, the binder resin contains a polymer having a structural unit represented by a general formula (1), wherein R1, R2, and R3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, or an alkoxy group, or two adjacent groups of R1, R2, and R3 combine to form —O(CH2)iO—, where i represents an integer of 1 or 2, provided that at least one of R1, R2, and R3 is an alkoxy group, or two adjacent groups combine to form —O(CH2)iO—; and R4 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, a hydroxyl group, or an alkoxy group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi GOAN, Mikio KOUYAMA, Hajime TADOKORO
  • Patent number: 8722295
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikio Kouyama, Ken Ohmura