Patents by Inventor Nozomu Tamoto

Nozomu Tamoto 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: 20050106482
    Abstract: A photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate; and a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate and comprising a charge generation material, a charge transport material and an inorganic filler, wherein the content of the inorganic filler at a surface side of the photosensitive layer is greater than that at a bottom side of the photosensitive layer near the electroconductive substrate, and wherein an outermost layer of the photoreceptor has a water vapor permeability not greater than 50 g·m?2·24 h?1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kami, Tatsuya Niimi, Akihiko Matsuyama, Eiji Kurimoto, Nozomu Tamoto
  • Publication number: 20050100804
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate, and optionally a protective layer overlying the photosensitive layer, wherein an outermost layer of the photoreceptor includes a filler, a binder resin and an organic compound having an acid value of from 10 to 700 mgKOH/g. The photosensitive layer can be the outermost layer. A coating liquid for an outermost layer of a photoreceptor including a filler, a binder resin, an organic compound having an acid value of from 10 to 700 mgKOH/g and plural organic solvents. A method for preparing a photoreceptor including forming a photosensitive layer, and coating the coating liquid on the photosensitive layer. An image forming method and apparatus and a process cartridge using the photoreceptor are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventors: Nozomu Tamoto, Tetsuro Suzuki, Hiroshi Tamura, Tatsuya Niimi, Akihiko Matsuyama, Eiji Kurimoto, Hidetoshi Kami
  • Publication number: 20050069797
    Abstract: A photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate; and a charge blocking layer; a moiré preventing layer; and a photosensitive layer, which are overlaid overlying the substrate in this order, wherein the photosensitive layer includes a titanyl phthalocyanine crystal which has an average primary particle diameter not greater than 0.25 ?m, and has an X-ray diffraction spectrum such that a maximum peak is observed at a Bragg (2?) angle of 27.2°±0.2°; a peak is observed at Bragg (2?) angle of 9.4°±0.2°, 9.6±0.2° and 24.0±0.2°; a lowest angle peak is observed at an angle of 7.3°±0.2°; no peak is observed between the lowest angle peak and the 9.4° peak; and no peak is observed at a Bragg (2?) angle of 26.3°±0.2°, when a Cu—K? X-ray having a wavelength of 0.1542 nm (1.542 ?) is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Tatsuya Niimi, Nozomu Tamoto, Katsuichi Ohta
  • Patent number: 6861188
    Abstract: Electrophotographic photoreceptor having a photosensitive layer containing an amino compound selected from formulae 1 to 22 in the specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Takaaki Ikegami, Yasuo Suzuki, Tomoyuki Shimada, Nozomu Tamoto, Hidetoshi Kami
  • Patent number: 6858362
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate, and optionally a protective layer overlying the photosensitive layer, wherein an outermost layer of the photoreceptor includes a filler, a binder resin and an organic compound having an acid value of from 10 to 700 mgKOH/g. The photosensitive layer can be the outermost layer. A coating liquid for an outermost layer of a photoreceptor including a filler, a binder resin, an organic compound having an acid value of from 10 to 700 mgKOH/g and plural organic solvents. A method for preparing a photoreceptor including forming a photosensitive layer, and coating the coating liquid on the photosensitive layer. An image forming method and apparatus and a process cartridge using the photoreceptor are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nozomu Tamoto, Tetsuro Suzuki, Hiroshi Tamura, Tatsuya Niimi, Akihiko Matsuyama, Eiji Kurimoto, Hidetoshi Kami
  • Patent number: 6844124
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate; a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate and including a resin; and a surface layer including a filler and a binder resin, wherein the surface layer and the photosensitive layer have a continuous structure, and wherein the surface layer satisfies the following relationship: ??D/5, wherein D represents an average of maximum thicknesses of the surface layer in units of micrometers in 20 segments of 5 ?m wide when a portion of a cross section of the photoreceptor of 100 ?m wide is divided into the 20 segments, and ? represents a standard deviation of the 20 maximum thicknesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ikuno, Hidetoshi Kami, Ryohichi Kitajima, Narihito Kojima, Akihiko Matsuyama, Hiroshi Nagame, Katsuichi Ohta, Tetsuro Suzuki, Nozomu Tamoto, Hiroshi Tamura, Yohta Sakon, Eiji Kurimoto, Tatsuya Niimi, Yuka Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20050008957
    Abstract: A photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate; a photosensitive layer; and optionally a protective layer, wherein an outermost layer thereof includes a filler, an organic compound having an acid value of from 10 to 700 mg KOH/g and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds having the following formulae (1) and (2): wherein R1 (R3) and R2 (R4) independently represent a substituted or an unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, or a substituted or an unsubstituted alkyl group, and optionally share bond connectivity to form a heterocyclic group including a nitrogen atom; Ar1 (Ar3) and Ar2 (Ar4) independently represent a substituted or a unsubstituted aromatic ring group; k (K) and m (M) independently represent 0 or an integer of from 1 to 3, wherein k (K) and m (M) are not 0 at the same time; and n (n?) represents an integer of from 1 to 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: Takaaki Ikegami, Tomoyuki Shimada, Yasuo Suzuki, Nozomu Tamoto, Hidetoshi Kami, Yuuji Takana
  • Publication number: 20040213600
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a movable body to be charged and a charger including a charging member that contacts or adjoins the body to be charged and applies a voltage, including an AC component, to the charging member for thereby charging the body. A protection substance for protecting the surface of the body from deterioration ascribable to charging is caused to exist on the body. The number of particular elements, contained in the protection substance and detected by an X-ray photon spectral analyzer (XPS) in a zone where the charging member charges the body, is held in a particular ratio to the total number of all elements constituting the outermost surface of the body and also detected by the XPS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Watanabe, Kenji Sugiura, Yasushi Nakazato, Kazuhito Watanabe, Masahiko Shakuto, Daichi Yamaguchi, Yasuo Suzuki, Nozomu Tamoto, Hiroshi Nakai, Takahiko Tokumasu, Kohichi Ohshima, Nekka Matsuura
  • Publication number: 20040197688
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate, and optionally a protective layer overlying the photosensitive layer, wherein an outermost layer of the photoreceptor includes a filler, a binder resin and an organic compound having an acid value of from 10 to 700 mgKOH/g. The photosensitive layer can be the outermost layer. A coating liquid for an outermost layer of a photoreceptor including a filler, a binder resin, an organic compound having an acid value of from 10 to 700 mgKOH/g and plural organic solvents. A method for preparing a photoreceptor including forming a photosensitive layer, and coating the coating liquid on the photosensitive layer. An image forming method and apparatus and a process cartridge using the photoreceptor are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Nozomu Tamoto, Tetsuro Suzuki, Hiroshi Tamura, Tatsuya Niimi, Akihiko Matsuyama, Eiji Kurimoto, Hidetoshi Kami
  • Patent number: 6800410
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has at least a photoconductor, a charger, and an irradiator for irradiating a light for optically writing in on the photoconductor to form a latent electrostatic image using a process for electrophotography in which a resolution of the optical writing in operation is 1200 dpi or more. Further, the optical writing operation is performed using a laser beam having a diameter of 35 &mgr;m or less. The photoconductor is provided with at least a charge generating layer containing a charge generating substance and a charge transporting layer containing a charge transporting substance. The charge transporting layer has a carrier mobility of 1×10−5 cm2·V−1·sec−1 or more under an electric field of 3×105 V·cm−1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kei Yasutomi, Yasuo Suzuki, Nozomu Tamoto
  • Patent number: 6790572
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate, and optionally a protective layer overlying the photosensitive layer, wherein an outermost layer of the photoreceptor includes a filler, a binder resin and an organic compound having an acid value of from 10 to 700 mgKOH/g. The photosensitive layer can be the outermost layer. A coating liquid for an outermost layer of a photoreceptor including a filler, a binder resin, an organic compound having an acid value of from 10 to 700 mgKOH/g and plural organic solvents. A method for preparing a photoreceptor including forming a photosensitive layer, and coating the coating liquid on the photosensitive layer. An image forming method and apparatus and a process cartridge using the photoreceptor are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Nozomu Tamoto, Tetsuro Suzuki, Hiroshi Tamura, Tatsuya Niimi, Akihiko Matsuyama, Eiji Kurimoto, Hidetoshi Kami
  • Publication number: 20040126689
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate, and optionally a protective layer overlying the photosensitive layer, wherein an outermost layer of the photoreceptor includes a filler, a binder resin and an organic compound having an acid value of from 10 to 700 mgKOH/g. The photosensitive layer can be the outermost layer. A coating liquid for an outermost layer of a photoreceptor including a filler, a binder resin, an organic compound having an acid value of from 10 to 700 mgKOH/g and plural organic solvents. A method for preparing a photoreceptor including forming a photosensitive layer, and coating the coating liquid on the photosensitive layer. An image forming method and apparatus and a process cartridge using the photoreceptor are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Nozomu Tamoto, Tetsuro Suzuki, Hiroshi Tamura, Tatsuya Niimi, Akihiko Matsuyama, Eiji Kurimoto, Hidetoshi Kami
  • Publication number: 20040126687
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor having at least a photosensitive layer on a conductive support, wherein the electrophotographic photoconductor comprising, in the outermost layer thereof: a filler, an organic compound having an acid value of 10-400 mgKOH/g, and at least one of compounds represented by the following general formulas 1 and 2: 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Takaaki Ikegami, Tomoyuki Shimada, Yasuo Suzuki, Nozomu Tamoto, Hidetoshi Kami
  • Publication number: 20040048177
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a photoconductor having improved wear resistance, and which has reduced foreign matter attached on the photoconductor surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Nozomu Tamoto, Yasuo Suzuki, Kazukiyo Nagai, Hongguo Li
  • Publication number: 20040048178
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate; a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate and including a resin; and a surface layer including a filler and a binder resin, wherein the surface layer and the photosensitive layer have a continuous structure, and wherein the surface layer satisfies the following relationship: &sgr;≦D/5, wherein D represents an average of maximum thicknesses of the surface layer in units of micrometers in 20 segments of 5 &mgr;m wide when a portion of a cross section of the photoreceptor of 100 &mgr;m wide is divided into the 20 segments, and &sgr; represents a standard deviation of the 20 maximum thicknesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ikuno, Hidetoshi Kami, Ryohichi Kitajima, Narihito Kojima, Akihiko Matsuyama, Hiroshi Nagame, Katsuichi Ohta, Tetsuro Suzuki, Nozomu Tamoto, Hiroshi Tamura, Yohta Sakon, Eiji Kurimoto, Tatsuya Niimi, Yuka Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20030218665
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus has at least a photoconductor, a charger, and an irradiator for irradiating a light for optically writing in on the photoconductor to form a latent electrostatic image using a process for electrophotography in which a resolution of the optical writing in operation is 1200 dpi or more. Further, the optical writing operation is performed using a laser beam having a diameter of 35 &mgr;m or less. The photoconductor is provided with at least a charge generating layer containing a charge generating substance and a charge transporting layer containing a charge transporting substance. The charge transporting layer has a carrier mobility of 1×10−5 cm2·V−1·sec−1 or more under an electric field of 3×10−5 V·cm−1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Kei Yasutomi, Yasuo Suzuki, Nozomu Tamoto
  • Patent number: 6653033
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor having an electroconductive support, and a photoconductive layer formed on the support and having an outwardly facing surface. The photoconductive layer includes a charge transporting material, a charge generating material and an inorganic filler including &agr;-alumina, wherein the concentration of the inorganic filler in the photoconductive layer decreases stepwise or continuously in the direction from the outwardly facing surface thereof to the opposite surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kami, Tatsuya Niimi, Akihiko Matuyama, Nozomu Tamoto, Eiji Kurimoto
  • Patent number: 6641964
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate; a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate and including a resin; and a surface layer including a filler and a binder resin, wherein the surface layer and the photosensitive layer have a continuous structure, and wherein the surface layer satisfies the following relationship: &sgr;≦D/5, wherein D represents an average of maximum thicknesses of the surface layer in units of micrometers in 20 segments of 5 &mgr;m wide when a portion of a cross section of the photoreceptor of 100 &mgr;m wide is divided into the 20 segments, and &sgr; represents a standard deviation of the 20 maximum thicknesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ikuno, Hidetoshi Kami, Ryohichi Kitajima, Narihito Kojima, Akihiko Matsuyama, Hiroshi Nagame, Katsuichi Ohta, Tetsuro Suzuki, Nozomu Tamoto, Hiroshi Tamura, Yohta Sakon, Eiji Kurimoto, Tatsuya Niimi, Yuka Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20030194627
    Abstract: Electrophotographic photoreceptor having a photosensitive layer containing an amino compound selected from formulae 1 to 22 in the specification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Takaaki Ikegami, Yasuo Suzuki, Tomoyuki Shimada, Nozomu Tamoto, Hidetoshi Kami
  • Publication number: 20030113642
    Abstract: A photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate; and a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate and comprising a charge generation material, a charge transport material and an inorganic filler, wherein the content of the inorganic filler at a surface side of the photosensitive layer is greater than that at a bottom side of the photosensitive layer near the electroconductive substrate, and wherein an outermost layer of the photoreceptor has a water vapor permeability not greater than 50 g·m−2·24 h−1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kami, Tatsuya Niimi, Akihiko Matsuyama, Eiji Kurimoto, Nozomu Tamoto