Patents by Inventor Seiji Kikushima

Seiji Kikushima 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: 20250053115
    Abstract: A developing device includes a cylindrical developing roller, a regulation member, a magnetic member, and a synthetic resin member. The regulation member includes a first opposing surface facing an outer circumferential surface of the developing roller. The magnetic member is arranged on a side surface of the regulation member. The synthetic resin member is arranged on a side surface of the magnetic member. The synthetic member includes a second opposing surface facing the outer circumferential surface of the developing roller. The second opposing surface is tilted at 40° or more but 60° or less with respect to the first opposing surface to be increasingly distant from the outer circumferential surface of the developing roller toward an upstream side in a rotating direction of the developing roller. A solubility parameter of a material of the synthetic resin member is 23 (J/cm3)1/2 or more. Magnetic toner contains toner and resin fine particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2024
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Seiji KIKUSHIMA
  • Patent number: 12140881
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developing device case, a developer carrier, a regulating blade, a magnet member, and a blade magnet. The regulating blade forms a regulating part. Toner contains toner mother particles containing binder resin and magnetic powder, and silica particles and alumina particles adhered to surfaces of the toner mother particles. The alumina particles has a primary particle size of 150 nm or more and 400 nm or less, and resistivity of 0.1 ?m or more and 2 ?m or less. The developing device can execute a developer removal mode in which the developer carrier is rotated in a reverse direction opposite to a forward direction that is a rotation direction at image forming time, in a range of 1/18 or more and ? or less of an outer circumference length of the developer carrier, so as to remove the developer staying at the regulating part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Seiji Kikushima
  • Publication number: 20240019798
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developing device case, a developer carrier, a regulating blade, a magnet member, and a blade magnet. The regulating blade forms a regulating part. Toner contains toner mother particles containing binder resin and magnetic powder, and silica particles and alumina particles adhered to surfaces of the toner mother particles. The alumina particles has a primary particle size of 150 nm or more and 400 nm or less, and resistivity of 0.1 ?m or more and 2 ?m or less. The developing device can execute a developer removal mode in which the developer carrier is rotated in a reverse direction opposite to a forward direction that is a rotation direction at image forming time, in a range of 1/18 or more and ? or less of an outer circumference length of the developer carrier, so as to remove the developer staying at the regulating part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Seiji KIKUSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20230140479
    Abstract: A toner includes toner particles. The toner particles each include a toner mother particle and an external additive provided on the surface of the toner mother particle. The toner mother particles contain a binder resin and a magnetic powder. The external additive includes alumina particles. The alumina particles have a number average primary particle diameter of at least 150 nm and no greater than 400 nm. The toner has a time constant of at least 1.0 seconds and no greater than 10.0 seconds. A sediment has a zeta potential at pH 2 of at least 0.0 mV and no greater than 20.0 mV. The sediment is obtained by separation from a dispersion of the toner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Seiji KIKUSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20210096478
    Abstract: A toner includes toner particles. The toner particles each include a toner mother particle. The toner mother particles contain a binder resin, a magnetic powder, and a charge control agent. The binder resin includes a block polymer. The block polymer has a polyester portion and a vinyl polymer portion. The charge control agent includes a styrene-acrylic resin having a quaternary ammonium group. A content percentage of the charge control agent in the toner mother particles is at least 1.5% by mass and no greater than 12.0% by mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Seiji KIKUSHIMA, Takahiro HAMADA
  • Patent number: 9709909
    Abstract: An electrostatic latent image developing toner includes toner particles containing a binder resin and at least one type of wax. A dispersed-phase diameter distribution of the wax has a peak at a dispersed-phase diameter in a range from 0.04 ?m to 0.20 ?m and a peak at a dispersed-phase diameter in a range from 1.0 ?m to 5.0 ?m. The wax includes first wax particles each having a dispersed-phase diameter in the range from 0.04 ?m to 0.20 ?m and second wax particles each having a dispersed-phase diameter in the range from 1.0 ?m to 5.0 ?m. A volume ratio of the first wax particles relative to the second wax particles is at least 0.5 and no greater than 1.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Seiji Kikushima
  • Publication number: 20160170318
    Abstract: An electrostatic latent image developing toner includes toner particles containing a binder resin and at least one type of wax. A dispersed-phase diameter distribution of the wax has a peak at a dispersed-phase diameter in a range from 0.04 ?m to 0.20 ?m and a peak at a dispersed-phase diameter in a range from 1,0 ?m to 5.0 ?m. The wax includes first wax particles each having a dispersed-phase diameter in the range from 0.04 ?m to 0.20 ?m and second wax particles each having a dispersed-phase diameter in the range from 1.0 ?m to 5.0 ?m. A volume ratio of the first wax particles relative to the second wax particles is at least 0.5 and no greater than 1.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Seiji KIKUSHIMA
  • Patent number: 9217940
    Abstract: A method for producing a toner includes: dissolving a thermoplastic resin and a thermosetting resin in an organic solvent; mixing the organic solvent containing the thermoplastic resin and the thermosetting resin with an aqueous medium, and micronizing the thermoplastic resin in a mixture obtained; and forming a film of the dissolved thermosetting resin on surfaces of fine particles formed through the micronization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Seiji Kikushima
  • Patent number: 9201322
    Abstract: A positively chargeable toner for electrostatic image development according to the present disclosure is formed by aggregating at least binder resin-containing fine particles and colorant-containing fine particles in an aqueous medium in the presence of a dispersing agent and a metal ion to form fine particle aggregates and heating the fine particle aggregates to coalesce components in the fine particle aggregates. The binder resin used is a (meth)acrylic resin or styrene-(meth)acrylic resin having a certain quaternary ammonium group. The hydrophobicity (methanol wettability) is adjusted to a certain range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Seiji Kikushima
  • Patent number: 9023573
    Abstract: A toner for electrostatic-charge image development contains toner particles in which the surfaces of core particles, including a binder resin composed of a polyester resin, are coated with shell layers. The shell layer is formed of a resin composed of a copolymer of monomers including a monomer having a quaternary ammonium group and a (meth)acrylic copolymer. The molar ratio of units derived from a monomer having a quaternary ammonium group is 5 mol % or more and 35 mol % or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Seiji Kikushima
  • Publication number: 20150079517
    Abstract: A method for producing a toner includes: dissolving a thermoplastic resin and a thermosetting resin in an organic solvent; mixing the organic solvent containing the thermoplastic resin and the thermosetting resin with an aqueous medium, and micronizing the thermoplastic resin in a mixture obtained; and forming a film of the dissolved thermosetting resin on surfaces of fine particles formed through the micronization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Seiji KIKUSHIMA
  • Patent number: 8980516
    Abstract: An electrostatic charge image development toner contains a plurality of toner particles. The plurality of toner particles are each formed to have resin particulates in a surface layer. The resin particulates each include a particulate core and a coating layer covering the particulate core. The particulate core contains a quaternary ammonium salt functional group-containing resin. The coating layer contains one or more resins selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylic resins and styrene-(meth)acrylic resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Seiji Kikushima
  • Publication number: 20140322644
    Abstract: A positively chargeable toner for electrostatic image development according to the present disclosure is formed by aggregating at least binder resin-containing fine particles and colorant-containing fine particles in an aqueous medium in the presence of a dispersing agent and a metal ion to form fine particle aggregates and heating the fine particle aggregates to coalesce components in the fine particle aggregates. The binder resin used is a (meth)acrylic resin or styrene-(meth)acrylic resin having a certain quaternary ammonium group. The hydrophobicity (methanol wettability) is adjusted to a certain range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Seiji Kikushima
  • Publication number: 20140186759
    Abstract: An electrostatic charge image development toner contains a plurality of toner particles. The plurality of toner particles are each formed to have resin particulates in a surface layer. The resin particulates each include a particulate core and a coating layer covering the particulate core. The particulate core contains a quaternary ammonium salt functional group-containing resin. The coating layer contains one or more resins selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylic resins and styrene-(meth)acrylic resins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Seiji KIKUSHIMA
  • Patent number: 8679721
    Abstract: The present disclosure aims to provide a toner that is capable of keeping a photoreceptor drum in satisfactory condition for a long period of time and preventing the occurrence of pinholes on the photoreceptor drum, which plays a key role in forming images. The present disclosure provides an electrostatic charge image developing toner in which an external additive is added to toner base particles, wherein the external additive includes inorganic fine particles attached with conductive fine particles, and the conductive fine particles are attached to the inorganic fine particles with certain strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Kikushima
  • Publication number: 20140065536
    Abstract: A toner for electrostatic-charge image development contains toner particles in which the surfaces of core particles, including a binder resin composed of a polyester resin, are coated with shell layers. The shell layer is formed of a resin composed of a copolymer of monomers including a monomer having a quaternary ammonium group and a (meth)acrylic copolymer. The molar ratio of units derived from a monomer having a quaternary ammonium group is 5 mol % or more and 35 mol % or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Seiji Kikushima
  • Patent number: 8497055
    Abstract: To provide an electrostatic charge developing toner in which resin fine particles and inorganic fine particles are externally added to toner base particles, wherein the toner base particles include at least binder resin and colorant, the resin fine particles are monodispersed and fixed to surfaces of the toner base particles, and following equations are established: a=70 to 160 nm, b/a=0.2 to 0.5, and c/a=0.6 to 0.8, where “a” represents an average of diameters (nm) of circular surfaces of contact between the fixed resin fine particles and toner base particle surfaces, “b” represents an average of heights (nm) of the resin fine particles from the contact surfaces, and “c” represents an average diameter (nm) of the resin fine particle at the height b/2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Kikushima
  • Publication number: 20120058424
    Abstract: To provide an electrostatic charge developing toner in which resin fine particles and inorganic fine particles are externally added to toner base particles, wherein the toner base particles include at least binder resin and colorant, the resin fine particles are monodispersed and fixed to surfaces of the toner base particles, and following equations are established: a=70 to 160 nm, b/a=0.2 to 0.5, and c/a=0.6 to 0.8, where “a” represents an average of diameters (nm) of circular surfaces of contact between the fixed resin fine particles and toner base particle surfaces, “b” represents an average of heights (nm) of the resin fine particles from the contact surfaces, and “c” represents an average diameter (nm) of the resin fine particle at the height b/2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seiji Kikushima
  • Publication number: 20110294057
    Abstract: The present disclosure aims to provide a toner that is capable of keeping a photoreceptor drum in satisfactory condition for a long period of time and preventing the occurrence of pinholes on the photoreceptor drum, which plays a key role in forming images. The present disclosure provides an electrostatic charge image developing toner in which an external additive is added to toner base particles, wherein the external additive includes inorganic fine particles attached with conductive fine particles, and the conductive fine particles are attached to the inorganic fine particles with certain strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seiji Kikushima
  • Patent number: 7618760
    Abstract: A two-component developer suppresses burying of an external additive into toner particles and a change in charging performance of a toner with time, and secures stable development performance. The two-component developer includes a toner and a carrier and is adjusted so that a rate of change ?A % in BET specific surface area A (m2/g) of the toner (=((A120?A1)/A1)×100) and a rate of change ?C % in charge quantity C (?C/g) of the carrier (=((C120?C1)/C1)×100) when a mixture of the toner and the carrier is stirred and mixed are both within 10 %. A1and A120 indicate BET specific surface areas of the toner when the mixture of the toner and the carrier is stirred and mixed for 1 minute and 120 minutes, and C1 and C120 indicate charge quantities of the carrier when the mixture is stirred and mixed for 1 minute and 120 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Kikushima