Patents by Inventor Minoru Omura

Minoru Omura 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: 8545133
    Abstract: A production apparatus and a production method of toner particles are provided which efficiently and stably reduce the water content of the wet toner particle cake obtained by separating and washing toner particles from toner particle dispersion in a production apparatus of toner particles granulated in a wet process. A wet toner particle cake 1 formed on a belt filter is aerated and dehydrated with air, and at the same time, sealing units 6 provided on the upstream and downstream sides of the aeration unit 3 can be operated to efficiently seal aeration air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidekazu Fumita, Yoshinori Tsuji, Takeshi Tsujino, Minoru Omura, Satoshi Iki, Naoto Aiko
  • Patent number: 7611816
    Abstract: In a process for producing toner particles through granulation by a wet process, a process for producing toner particles is provided that enables reduction of water content in wet toner particle cakes obtained by separating toner particles from a toner particle dispersion in a good efficiency, followed by washing, and enables efficient wash-away of impurities remaining on the toner particle surfaces so as to promise superior image characteristics. The toner particles are produced through a filtering step in which a slurry which contains toner particles is subjected to solid-liquid separation by means of a belt filter having a pressing aeration means which carries out aeration with pressing, to form wet toner particle cakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tuji, Hidekazu Fumita, Minoru Omura
  • Publication number: 20090226840
    Abstract: A production apparatus and a production method of toner particles are provided which efficiently and stably reduce the water content of the wet toner particle cake obtained by separating and washing toner particles from toner particle dispersion in a production apparatus of toner particles granulated in a wet process. A wet toner particle cake 1 formed on a belt filter is aerated and dehydrated with air, and at the same time, sealing units provided on the upstream and downstream sides of the aeration unit 3 can be operated to efficiently seal aeration air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidekazu Fumita, Yoshinori Tsuji, Takeshi Tsujino, Minoru Omura, Satoshi Iki, Naoto Aiko
  • Publication number: 20080241730
    Abstract: In a process for producing toner particles through granulation by a wet process, a process for producing toner particles is provided that enables reduction of water content in wet toner particle cakes obtained by separating toner particles from a toner particle dispersion in a good efficiency, followed by washing, and enables efficient wash-away of impurities remaining on the toner particle surfaces so as to promise superior image characteristics. The toner particles are produced through a filtering step in which a slurry which contains toner particles is subjected to solid-liquid separation by means of a belt filter having a pressing aeration means which carries out aeration with pressing, to form wet toner particle cakes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tuji, Hidekazu Fumita, Minoru Omura
  • Patent number: 6627374
    Abstract: A process for producing toner particles, comprising polymerizing in an aqueous dispersion medium a polymerizable monomer composition containing at least a polymerizable monomer and a colorant, to form colored polymer particles, followed by washing and then dehydration to obtain toner particles, and feeding the toner particles into an inside-evacuatable and heatable container to make vacuum heat treatment while introducing into the container an injection medium having a temperature lower than glass transition temperature Tg of the toner particles and selected from the group consisting of i) saturated steam, ii) superheated steam and iii) high-humidity air having an enthalpy of 2,500 kJ/kg (dry air) or higher. Also disclosed is a system which carries out the above process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidekazu Fumita, Hitoshi Kanda, Hiroshi Koyama, Minoru Omura
  • Publication number: 20020031714
    Abstract: A process for producing toner particles, comprising polymerizing in an aqueous dispersion medium a polymerizable monomer composition containing at least a polymerizable monomer and a colorant, to form colored polymer particles, followed by washing and then dehydration to obtain toner particles, and feeding the toner particles into an inside-evacuatable and heatable container to make vacuum heat treatment while introducing into the container an injection medium having a temperature lower than glass transition temperature Tg of the toner particles and selected from the group consisting of i) saturated steam, ii) superheated steam and iii) high-humidity air having an enthalpy of 2,500 kJ/kg (dry air) or higher. Also disclosed is a system which carries out the above process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Hidekazu Fumita, Hitoshi Kanda, Hiroshi Koyama, Minoru Omura