Patents by Inventor Norihiro Hirai

Norihiro Hirai 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: 20220244667
    Abstract: An image forming method includes: forming a toner image on a sheet by using a toner including a first binder resin; and applying, to the toner image, a fixing solution capable of softening the first binder resin so as to fix the toner image to the sheet. The first binder resin is a condensate of a first alcohol component and a first carboxylic acid component. The first alcohol component contains 1,4-butanediol, and the first carboxylic acid component contains polyvalent carboxylic acid. A molar ratio of the 1,4-butanediol in the first alcohol component is not less than 30 mol %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki HIGUCHI, Kumiko SAKAGUCHI, Beibei YANG, Norihiro HIRAI
  • Patent number: 11392051
    Abstract: An image forming method includes: forming a toner image on a print medium by using a toner including toner particles having a binder resin which contains a condensate of straight-chain diol having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkylene oxide adduct of bisphenol A and polyvalent carboxylic acid; and applying, to the toner image, a fixing solution containing an ester-based softening agent having a boiling point of not less than 180° C. so as to fix the toner image to the print medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki Higuchi, Tatsuya Ezaka, Norihiro Hirai, Hisakazu Tajima
  • Patent number: 11333990
    Abstract: An image forming method includes: forming a toner image on a print medium by using a toner including toner particles having a binder resin which contains a condensate of straight-chain diol having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkylene oxide adduct of bisphenol A and polyvalent carboxylic acid; and applying, to the toner image, a fixing solution containing an ester-based softening agent having a boiling point of not less than 180° C. so as to fix the toner image to the print medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki Higuchi, Tatsuya Ezaka, Norihiro Hirai, Hisakazu Tajima
  • Publication number: 20200310272
    Abstract: An image forming method includes: forming a toner image on a print medium by using a toner including toner particles having a binder resin which contains a condensate of straight-chain diol having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkylene oxide adduct of bisphenol A and polyvalent carboxylic acid; and applying, to the toner image, a fixing solution containing an ester-based softening agent having a boiling point of not less than 180° C. so as to fix the toner image to the print medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayuki HIGUCHI, Tatsuya EZAKA, Norihiro HIRAI, Hisakazu TAJIMA
  • Publication number: 20200089139
    Abstract: Provided are a toner for developing electrostatic images excellent in low-temperature fusing property, gloss and carrier contamination resistance, and a wax dispersant. [1] A toner for developing electrostatic images, containing an amorphous composite resin (A), an amorphous polyester resin (B), and a wax, wherein the amorphous composite resin (A) contains a polyester resin segment which is a polycondensate of an alcohol component containing an aromatic diol and a carboxylic acid component containing an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid whose main chain has 8 or more and 14 or less carbon atoms, a vinylic resin segment of an addition polymer of a raw material monomer containing a styrenic compound, and a constitutional unit derived from a bireactive monomer, the constitutional unit bonding to the polyester resin segment and the vinylic resin segment each via a covalent bond; and has a glass transition temperature not lower than 45° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: KAO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norihiro HIRAI, Tomohide YOSHIDA, Takashi KANNO
  • Patent number: 9141011
    Abstract: A method for producing a toner for electrostatic image development including the step of melt-kneading a mixture containing a resin binder and a wax, wherein the resin binder contains an amorphous polyester (A) obtained by polycondensing an alcohol component containing an aliphatic diol (a) having 3 or 4 carbon atoms, the aliphatic diol having a hydroxyl group bonded to a secondary carbon atom, and an aliphatic diol (b) containing one or more ?,?-linear alkanediols having 2, 4, 6 or 8 carbon atoms, and a carboxylic acid component. The toner for electrostatic image development can be suitably used in, for example, the development or the like of latent image formed in an electrostatic development method, an electrostatic recording method, an electrostatic printing method, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Shogo Watanabe, Takeshi Ashizawa, Takashi Kubo, Norihiro Hirai
  • Patent number: 9023568
    Abstract: A resin binder for use in a toner, containing an amorphous polyester having a furan ring; and a toner for electrophotography, containing the resin binder. The resin binder for use in a toner of the present invention is suitably used in a toner usable in development of latent images formed in electrophotography, an electrostatic recording method, an electrostatic printing method, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kubo, Osamu Yamashita, Norihiro Hirai
  • Patent number: 8921022
    Abstract: A toner for electrostatic image development containing a resin binder and a releasing agent, wherein the resin binder contains a polyester A having a furan ring, and wherein the releasing agent contains an ester wax, and a method for producing the toner. The toner for electrostatic image development of the present invention can be suitably used in, for example, the development or the like of latent image formed in electrophotography, an electrostatic recording method, an electrostatic printing method, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Ashizawa, Shogo Watanabe, Takashi Kubo, Norihiro Hirai
  • Patent number: 8852841
    Abstract: A method for producing a toner for electrostatic image development containing at least a resin binder and a charge control agent, including step 1: melt-kneading components containing a resin binder and a charge control agent to provide a melt-kneaded product; and step 2: pulverizing the melt-kneaded product, and classifying a pulverized product, wherein the resin binder contains a polyester A obtained by polycondensing an alcohol component containing 1,2-propanediol and a carboxylic acid component containing a rosin compound and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid compound having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, wherein 1,2-propanediol is contained in the alcohol component of the polyester A in an amount of 85% by mol or more. The toner for electrostatic image development obtained by the method of the present invention can be suitably used in, for example, the development or the like of latent image formed in electrophotography, an electrostatic recording method, an electrostatic printing method, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Ashizawa, Shogo Watanabe, Takashi Kubo, Norihiro Hirai
  • Publication number: 20140120465
    Abstract: A method for producing a toner for electrostatic image development including the step of melt-kneading a mixture containing a resin binder and a wax, wherein the resin binder contains an amorphous polyester (A) obtained by polycondensing an alcohol component containing an aliphatic diol (a) having 3 or 4 carbon atoms, the aliphatic diol having a hydroxyl group bonded to a secondary carbon atom, and an aliphatic diol (b) containing one or more ?,?-linear alkanediols having 2, 4, 6 or 8 carbon atoms, and a carboxylic acid component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Shogo WATANABE, Takeshi ASHIZAWA, Takashi KUBO, Norihiro HIRAI
  • Publication number: 20130273467
    Abstract: A toner for electrostatic image development containing a resin binder and a releasing agent, wherein the resin binder contains a polyester A having a furan ring, and wherein the releasing agent contains an ester wax, and a method for producing the toner. The toner for electrostatic image development of the present invention can be suitably used in, for example, the development or the like of latent image formed in electrophotography, an electrostatic recording method, an electrostatic printing method, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi ASHIZAWA, Shogo Watanabe, Takashi Kubo, Norihiro Hirai
  • Publication number: 20130171555
    Abstract: A resin binder for use in a toner, containing an amorphous polyester having a furan ring; and a toner for electrophotography, containing the resin binder. The resin binder for use in a toner of the present invention is suitably used in a toner usable in development of latent images formed in electrophotography, an electrostatic recording method, an electrostatic printing method, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: KAO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Kubo, Osamu Yamashita, Norihiro Hirai