Patents by Inventor Norifumi Muranaka
Norifumi Muranaka 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: 20150198906Abstract: To suppress an image trouble resulting from abnormal discharge independent of the use conditions and use environment of an electroconductive member, provided is an electreconductive member to be used while being brought into contact with a body to be contacted, the electroconductive member comprising a layer of a network structural body on an outer peripheral surface of a electroconductive support, in which: when a surface of the network structural body in a surface of the electroconductive member is observed, at least a part of the network structural body exists in an arbitrary square region having one side length of 200 ?m; the network structural body contains non-electreconductive fibers; and an average fiber diameter of a top 10% of fiber diameters of the non-electreconductive fibers measured at arbitrary points is 0.2 ?m or more and 15 ?m or less.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2015Publication date: July 16, 2015Inventors: Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Satoru Yamada, Norifumi Muranaka, Yuichi Kikuchi, Tetsuo Hino
-
ELECTROCONDUCTIVE MEMBER FOR ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY, PROCESS CARTRIDGE AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS
Publication number: 20150198900Abstract: An electroconductive member of the present invention includes an electroconductive support layer and a surface layer formed on the circumference of the electroconductive support layer and having a network structure containing an electroconductive fiber, and the electroconductive fiber has ion conductivity, and has an arithmetic mean value of top 10% fiber diameters of 0.2 ?m or more and 15.0 ?m or less. The surface layer always satisfies specific conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2015Publication date: July 16, 2015Inventors: Satoru Yamada, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Norifumi Muranaka, Tetsuo Hino, Yuichi Kikuchi -
Publication number: 20150132024Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an electroconductive member for electrophotography capable of suppressing image density unevenness caused by the adhesion of foreign matter. Provided is an electroconductive member for electrophotography, including at least: an electroconductive support, and a surface layer formed on an outer side of the electroconductive support, in which the surface layer includes a porous body, and in which the porous body satisfies the following conditions (1) to (3): (1) the porous body has a co-continuous structure including at least a skeleton that is three-dimensionally continuous and a pore that is three-dimensionally continuous; (2) the porous body has electroconductivity; and (3) an average diameter of a maximum inscribed circle of an opening of the pore on a surface of the porous body is 3 ?m or more and 8 ?m or less.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2015Publication date: May 14, 2015Inventors: Masahiro Watanabe, Yuichi Kikuchi, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Satoru Nishioka, Norifumi Muranaka, Mikio Shimada, Tetsuo Hino
-
Patent number: 9023465Abstract: Provided is an electroconductive member that can demonstrate stable performance for a long period of time with an electric resistance value being hardly changed even by electrical conduction for a long period of time. An electroconductive member has a conductive mandrel, and a conductive layer provided on the outer periphery of the conductive mandrel. The conductive layer includes an organic polymeric compound as a binder, and a conductive particle dispersed in the organic polymeric compound, and the particle includes an organic-inorganic hybrid polymer having a specific structure.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2011Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Satoru Yamada, Seiji Tsuru, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Norifumi Muranaka, Yuka Hirakoso
-
Publication number: 20150093517Abstract: Provided is an electroconductive member for electrophotography, having a fiber layer on the outer peripheral surface of an electroconductive substrate, the electroconductive member having good adhesion property between the electroconductive substrate and the fiber layer. Specifically, provided is a method of producing an electroconductive member for electrophotography, the electroconductive member comprising an electroconductive substrate; and a fiber layer thereon, the fiber layer comprising fibers which have an average fiber diameter of from 0.01 ?m to 40 ?m, and are adhered to an outer peripheral surface of the electroconductive substrate, the method comprising the steps of: producing the fibers in a space between a nozzle and the outer peripheral surface of the electroconductive substrate by ejecting a liquid containing a raw material for the fibers from the nozzle toward the electroconductive substrate; and adhering the fibers to the outer peripheral surface of the electroconductive substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2014Publication date: April 2, 2015Inventors: Norifumi Muranaka, Satoru Yamada, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Yuichi Kikuchi, Tetsuo Hino
-
Publication number: 20150093151Abstract: The electroconductive member has an electroconductive support and a surface layer formed on the electroconductive support, wherein the surface layer has a porous body having a continuous open pore, and the electroconductive member satisfies the following (1) and (2): (1) in a specific condition, a surface potential of the electroconductive member, after an elapse of 10 seconds since a completion of a discharge is 10 V or more; and (2) when applying a direct voltage between a polyethylene terephthalate film as a member to be charged and the electroconductive member, and charging the polyethylene terephtalate film, |Vd|?|Vin|?|Vth| is satisfied within a range of |Vin|>|Vth|, wherein, Vd represents a charge potential of the polyethylene terephtalate film, Vin represents a voltage applied between the electroconductive member and the polyethylene terephtalate film, Vth represents a discharge starting voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2014Publication date: April 2, 2015Inventors: Norifumi Muranaka, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Yuichi Kikuchi, Koji Otsuka, Masaki Imoto, Tetsuo Hino, Satoru Nishioka
-
Patent number: 8852743Abstract: An electro-conductive member for electrophotography, including an electro-conductive mandrel and an electro-conductive layer; and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus using the same. The layer contains a binder resin having a sulfo or a quaternary ammonium group as an ion exchange group, and an ion opposite in polarity to the ion exchange group. The resin has any one of structures represented by formulas (1)-1 and (1)-2, and any one of structures represented by formulas (2)-1 to (2)-3; and the resin has a molecular structure preventing occurrence of a matrix-domain structure. M represents an integer of 2-20, n represents an integer of 5-50, p represents an integer of 1-25, q represents an integer of 1-15, and r represents an integer of 1-12.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2013Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuichi Kikuchi, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Satoru Nishioka, Norifumi Muranaka, Satoru Yamada, Masahiro Watanabe
-
Patent number: 8771818Abstract: To provide an electrically conducting member for electrophotography that has made itself kept from increasing in electrical resistance with time even in a low temperature and low humidity environment and also has made any ion conducting agent kept from bleeding to its surface. To also provide a process cartridge, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, that can stably form high-grade electrophotographic images over a long period of time in a variety of environments. The conductive member for electrophotography has an electrically conducting substrate and an electrically conducting layer, and the electrically conducting layer contains a resin having in the molecule at least one structure selected from structures represented by the formula (1), formula (2) and formula (3) each defined in the specification. The process cartridge and the electrophotographic image forming apparatus each make use of the same.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2013Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Satoru Nishioka, Satoru Yamada, Masahiro Watanabe, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Norifumi Muranaka, Yuichi Kikuchi
-
Publication number: 20140178096Abstract: The present invention provides an electrophotographic electrically conductive member in which conductivity needed for a charging member is secured, and defects in an image attributed to uneven discharging can be minimized independently of a long-term use and an environment of use. An electrophotographic electrically conductive member comprising an electrically conductive support and an electrically conductive layer, wherein the electrically conductive layer includes an ion conductive resin having a quaternary ammonium ion in a molecule structure as a binder resin, and a carrier molecule represented by the following formula (1) or (2): (wherein n1 and n2 each independently represent an integer of 1 to 4).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2014Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Norifumi Muranaka, Satoru Nishioka, Yuichi Kikuchi
-
Patent number: 8715830Abstract: To provide an electrically conducting member for electrophotography which can not easily come to change in electrical resistance value even upon application of direct current and also has made any ion conducting agent kept from bleeding. The electrically conducting member has an electrically conducting substrate and an electrically conducting layer; the electrically conducting layer containing an epichlorohydrin rubber having in the molecular structure at least an alkylene oxide (AO) unit, an epichlorohydrin (ECH) unit and a unit having a sulfonate ion; the AO unit being at least one unit of an ethylene oxide unit, a propylene oxide unit and a butylene oxide unit; and the AO unit(s) in the rubber being in a content of 5 to 60% by mass in total and the ECH unit in the rubber being in a content of 30% by mass or more.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2013Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Satoru Yamada, Norifumi Muranaka, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Satoru Nishioka
-
Patent number: 8668987Abstract: The present invention provides an electrophotographic electrically conductive member in which conductivity needed for a charging member is secured, and defects in an image attributed to uneven discharging can be minimized independently of a long-term use and an environment of use. An electrophotographic electrically conductive member comprising an electrically conductive support and an electrically conductive layer, wherein the electrically conductive layer includes an ion conductive resin having a quaternary ammonium ion in a molecule structure as a binder resin, and a carrier molecule represented by the following formula (1) or (2): (wherein n1 and n2 each independently represent an integer of 1 to 4).Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2012Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Norifumi Muranaka, Satoru Nishioka, Yuichi Kikuchi
-
Patent number: 8628854Abstract: To suppress an excessive reduction in resistance of an electro-conductive roller under an H/H environment and reduce a resistance value thereof under an L/L environment, provided is an electro-conductive member for electrophotography, comprising: an electro-conductive mandrel; and an electro-conductive layer provided on a periphery of the mandrel, wherein the electro-conductive layer contains a binder resin having an alkylene oxide structure, and a sulfo or a quaternary ammonium group as an ion exchange group, and an ion having polarity opposite to polarity of the ion exchange group, a water content of the electro-conductive layer under a temperature of 30° C. and a relative humidity of 80% is 10 mass % or less, and a spin-spin relaxation time of the electro-conductive layer, which is determined by pulse NMR measurement with a hydrogen core being a measurement core under a temperature of 15° C. and a relative humidity of 10%, is 200 ?sec or more.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2013Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Satoru Nishioka, Masahiro Watanabe, Yuichi Kikuchi, Satoru Yamada, Norifumi Muranaka
-
Publication number: 20130279936Abstract: To provide an electrically conducting member for electrophotography which can not easily come to change in electrical resistance value even upon application of direct current and also has made any ion conducting agent kept from bleeding. The electrically conducting member has an electrically conducting substrate and an electrically conducting layer; the electrically conducting layer containing an epichlorohydrin rubber having in the molecular structure at least an alkylene oxide (AO) unit, an epichlorohydrin (ECH) unit and a unit having a sulfonate ion; the AO unit being at least one unit of an ethylene oxide unit, a propylene oxide unit and a butylene oxide unit; and the AO unit(s) in the rubber being in a content of 5 to 60% by mass in total and the ECH unit in the rubber being in a content of 30% by mass or more.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2013Publication date: October 24, 2013Inventors: Satoru Yamada, Norifumi Muranaka, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Satoru Nishioka
-
Publication number: 20130281275Abstract: To provide an electrically conducting member for electrophotography that has made itself kept from increasing in electrical resistance with time even in a low temperature and low humidity environment and also has made any ion conducting agent kept from bleeding to its surface. To also provide a process cartridge, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, that can stably form high-grade electrophotographic images over a long period of time in a variety of environments. The conductive member for electrophotography has an electrically conducting substrate and an electrically conducting layer, and the electrically conducting layer contains a resin having in the molecule at least one structure selected from structures represented by the formula (1), formula (2) and formula (3) each defined in the specification. The process cartridge and the electrophotographic image forming apparatus each make use of the same.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2013Publication date: October 24, 2013Inventors: Satoru Nishioka, Satoru Yamada, Masahiro Watanabe, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Norifumi Muranaka, Yuichi Kikuchi
-
Publication number: 20130236213Abstract: To suppress an excessive reduction in resistance of an electro-conductive roller under an H/H environment and reduce a resistance value thereof under an L/L environment, provided is an electro-conductive member for electrophotography, comprising: an electro-conductive mandrel; and an electro-conductive layer provided on a periphery of the mandrel, wherein the electro-conductive layer contains a binder resin having an alkylene oxide structure, and a sulfo or a quaternary ammonium group as an ion exchange group, and an ion having polarity opposite to polarity of the ion exchange group, a water content of the electro-conductive layer under a temperature of 30° C. and a relative humidity of 80% is 10 mass % or less, and a spin-spin relaxation time of the electro-conductive layer, which is determined by pulse NMR measurement with a hydrogen core being a measurement core under a temperature of 15° C. and a relative humidity of 10%, is 200 ?sec or more.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2013Publication date: September 12, 2013Applicant: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Satoru Nishioka, Masahiro Watanabe, Yuichi Kikuchi, Satoru Yamada, Norifumi Muranaka
-
Patent number: 8449975Abstract: An electroconductive member excellent in durability even when applying direct current voltage over a long period of time is provided. Disclosed is an electroconductive member including an electroconductive mandrel and an electroconductive layer, wherein: the electroconductive layer includes a binder resin and an electroconductive metal oxide particle dispersed in the electroconductive layer; the metal oxide particle has a group represented by the following structural formula (1) on the surface of the metal oxide particle; and the group represented by the following structural formula (1) is introduced by substituting a hydrogen atom of a hydroxyl group as a functional group originating from the metal oxide particle, with the group represented by the following structural formula (1): —R—SO3H.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2011Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuka Hirakoso, Satoru Yamada, Seiji Tsuru, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Norifumi Muranaka
-
Publication number: 20120308261Abstract: Provided is a conductive member for electrophotography whose electrical resistance hardly increases even by long-term application of a high voltage. The conductive member for electrophotography is a conductive member for electrophotography, including: a conductive support; and a conductive elastic layer, in which: the elastic layer contains an A-B-A type block copolymer constituted of a non-ion conducting block (A block) and an ion conducting block (B block) having an ion exchange group; the block copolymer forms a microphase-separated structure; and the A block forms any structure selected from the group consisting of a spherical structure, a cylindrical structure, and a bicontinuous structure, and the B block forms a matrix for the structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2012Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Seiji Tsuru, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Satoru Yamada, Norifumi Muranaka, Yuka Muranaka
-
Publication number: 20120281998Abstract: Provided is an electro-conductive member for electrophotography that stably shows high electro-conductivity even under a low-temperature, low-humidity environment. The electro-conductive member for electrophotography has an electro-conductive mandrel and an electro-conductive layer. The electro-conductive layer contains an ionic electro-conductive resin and an ion carrier. The ionic electro-conductive resin has at least one structure selected from the group consisting of structures represented by the following formulae (1), (2), (3), and (4), and a structure represented by the following formula (5) (in the formula (1) to the formula (5), R1, R2, R3, and R4 each represent a divalent organic group, X1, X2, X3, and X4 each independently represent a sulfonic group or a quaternary ammonium base, and 1 represents an integer of 1 or more and 23 or less).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2012Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuichi Kikuchi, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Norifumi Muranaka, Satoru Nishioka
-
Patent number: 8298670Abstract: Provided is the following electro-conductive member for electrophotography. The electrical resistance of the member hardly increases even by long-term energization, and hence the member is conducive to stable formation of high-quality electrophotographic images. The electro-conductive member for electrophotography, comprises: an electro-conductive mandrel and an electro-conductive layer, wherein said electro-conductive layer contains an A-B-A type triblock copolymer in which an A-block is a polystyrene having a cation exchange group, and a B-block is a polyolefin, and wherein said A-B-A type triblock copolymer forms a microphase-separated structure comprising a matrix phase formed of said B-block, and one phase formed of the A-block and having a structure selected from the group consisting of a cylindrical structure, a bicontinuous structure and a lamellar structure.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2011Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Norifumi Muranaka, Satoru Yamada, Seiji Tsuru, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Yuka Hirakoso
-
Publication number: 20120263499Abstract: The present invention provides an electrophotographic electrically conductive member in which conductivity needed for a charging member is secured, and defects in an image attributed to uneven discharging can be minimized independently of a long-term use and an environment of use. An electrophotographic electrically conductive member comprising an electrically conductive support and an electrically conductive layer, wherein the electrically conductive layer includes an ion conductive resin having a quaternary ammonium ion in a molecule structure as a binder resin, and a carrier molecule represented by the following formula (1) or (2): (wherein n1 and n2 each independently represent an integer of 1 to 4).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2012Publication date: October 18, 2012Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Norifumi Muranaka, Satoru Nishioka, Yuichi Kikuchi