Patents by Inventor Tomomi Suzuki

Tomomi Suzuki 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: 7521164
    Abstract: A toner which includes a toner material, wherein the toner satisfies the following formula: 0° C.??Tm?20° C. where ?Tm represents Tma (° C.)?Tmb (° C.), Tma (° C.) is ½ flown-out temperature of the toner by a capillary type flow tester, and Tmb (° C.) is ½ flown-out temperature of a melt kneaded mixture of the toner by the capillary type flow tester, and wherein Tma is from 130° C. to 200° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Nakayama, Satoshi Mochizuki, Yasuaki Iwamoto, Yasuo Asahina, Akihiro Kotsugai, Masayuki Ishii, Osamu Uchinokura, Hisashi Nakajima, Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Tomoko Utsumi, Koichi Sakata, Hideki Sugiura, Shigeru Emoto, Junichi Awamura, Masami Tomita, Takahiro Honda, Shinichiro Yagi, Tomomi Suzuki, Hiroshi Yamada, Toshiki Nanya, Hiroto Higuchi, Fumihiro Sasaki, Naohito Shimota
  • Patent number: 7504188
    Abstract: To provide a toner containing an ethyl acetate-soluble polyester component and an ethyl acetate-insoluble polyester component, wherein the toner is granulated in an aqueous medium, the ethyl acetate-insoluble polyester component is obtained by elongating and/or cross-linking a modified polyester resin during granulating and/or after granulating, the modified polyester resin is produced by condensation polymerization of an acid component and at least one type of diol compound selected from aliphatic diol and alicyclic diol in the presence of a catalyst, and the mass average molecular weight of the modified polyester resin is 10,000 to 100,000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahide Yamada, Ryota Inoue, Naohiro Watanabe, Shigeru Emoto, Masahiro Ohki, Akinori Saitoh, Tsunemi Sugiyama, Shinichi Wakamatsu, Toshiki Nanya, Naohito Shimota, Hiroshi Yamada, Junichi Awamura, Tomomi Suzuki, Kazuyuki Hirai, Kazushige Yasumatsu
  • Publication number: 20090067876
    Abstract: An image forming method, including charging the surface of an image bearer with a charger; irradiating the charged surface of the image bearer to form a latent image; developing the latent image with a toner to form a visible toner image; transferring the toner image onto a transfer medium directly or through an intermediate transferer; removing the toner remaining on the surface of the image bearer with a cleaning blade; applying a lubricant to the surface of the image bearer; and fixing the toner image on the transfer medium, wherein the toner is a water-granulated toner having the following properties (1) to (4): (1) a volume-average particle diameter of from 3.0 to 7.0 ?m; (2) an average shape factor SF-1 of from 120 to 160; (3) an average shape factor SF-2 of from 100 to 140; and (4) a BET specific surface area of from 2.5 to 7.0 m2/g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Takuya SESHITA, Toyoshi Sawada, Tomomi Suzuki, Tsuneyasu Nagatomo, Satoshi Kojima
  • Publication number: 20090053467
    Abstract: In a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 1 that comprises a base material 11 and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 12, and has formed therein by thermal processing a plurality of through holes 2 passing through one surface to the other surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 1, as the base material 11, one is used for which, upon heating at a heating rate of 20° C./min under a nitrogen atmosphere, the temperature at a thermal decomposition peak where the mass reduction is greatest is not more than 450° C., or the difference between the temperature at the thermal decomposition peak and the temperature at a melting peak is not more than 250° C. According to this pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 1, the appearance of the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 1 is not marred by the through holes 2 formed by the thermal processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: LINTEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiichiro Kato, Tadahiro Tomino, Tomomi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20090010687
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member; a charger; a light irradiator; a developing device; a transfer device; an image bearing member's cleaner; and a fixing device, wherein the fixing device includes a fixing member configured to fix a toner image upon application of heat and pressure thereto; a pressing member configured to press the recording material toward the fixing member; and a cleaning member configured to clean a surface of the fixing member and/or the pressing member, wherein the cleaning member has an outermost layer including a reactive material which increases viscoelasticity of a binder resin of the toner by reacting with the binder resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Hiroshi YAMADA, Fumihiro Sasaki, Shigeru Emoto, Jun Okamoto, Shlnji Ohtani, Hiroto Higuchi, Naohito Shimota, Shinichiro Yagi, Junichi Awamura, Tomomi Suzuki, Masami Tomita, Toshiki Nanya, Yoshiki Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20080311500
    Abstract: A toner including toner particles including a binder resin; a colorant, a release agent, and a modified layered inorganic material in which at least part of interlayer ions is modified with an organic ion, wherein the toner includes the release agent in an amount of from 3 to 6% by weight based on the total weight of the toner, and concentration of the modified layered inorganic material in a surface portion of the toner is greater than the average concentration thereof in the toner, and wherein the toner is subjected to FTIR-ATR, the ratio (P2850/P828) of the strength of the peak at 2850 cm?1 to that of the peak at 828 cm?1, is from 0.03 to 0.10. An image forming apparatus and a process cartridge which form a toner image using the toner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Masahide YAMADA, Osamu Uchinokura, Akinori Saitoh, Junichi Awamura, Tomomi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20080292361
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of stably producing high quality images with time, without causing missing a central part of a thin line, however, with keeping an appropriate flowability of a toner. The toner used in the image forming apparatus is a toner which contains a binder resin, a colorant, and a laminar inorganic mineral in which at least part of an ion in layers is modified with an organic ion, the toner is granulated in an aqueous system, the volume average particle diameter Dv of the toner is in the range of 3.0 ?m<Dv<6.5 ?m, the aspect ratio of the toner is 0.81 to 0.89, and the surface of the toner is externally added with a plurality of types of fine particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Takuya SESHITA, Junichi Awamura, Tomomi Suzuki, Toyoshi Sawada, Masahide Yamada
  • Publication number: 20080268366
    Abstract: A toner which includes a toner material, wherein the toner satisfies the following formula: 0° C.??Tm?20° C. where ?Tm represents Tma (° C.)?Tmb (° C.), Tma (° C.) is ½ flown-out temperature of the toner by a capillary type flow tester, and Tmb (° C.) is ½ flown-out temperature of a melt kneaded mixture of the toner by the capillary type flow tester, and wherein Tma is from 130° C. to 200° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Shinya Nakayama, Satoshi Mochizuki, Yasuaki Iwamoto, Yasuo Asahina, Akihiro Kotsugai, Masayuki Ishii, Osamu Uchinokura, Hisashi Nakajima, Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Tomoko Utsumi, Koichi Sakata, Hideki Sugiura, Shigeru Emoto, Junichi Awamura, Masami Tomita, Takahiro Honda, Shinichiro Yagi, Tomomi Suzuki, Hiroshi Yamada, Toshiki Nanya, Hiroto Higuchi, Fumihiro Sasaki, Naohito Shimota
  • Patent number: 7437111
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member; a charger; a light irradiator; a developing device; a transfer device; an imagebearingmember's cleaner; and a fixing device, wherein the fixing device includes a fixing member configured to fix a toner image upon application of heat and pressure thereto; a pressing member configured to press the recording material toward the fixing member; and a cleaning member configured to clean a surface of the fixing member and/or the pressing member, wherein the cleaning member has an outermost layer including a reactive material which increases viscoelasticity of a binder resin of the toner by reacting with the binder resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamada, Fumihiro Sasaki, Shigeru Emoto, Jun Okamoto, Shinji Ohtani, Hiroto Higuchi, Naohito Shimota, Shinichiro Yagi, Junichi Awamura, Tomomi Suzuki, Masami Tomita, Toshiki Nanya, Yoshiki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7429442
    Abstract: A toner is provided that contains a binder resin; a colorant; a release agent; and an external additive, wherein the toner has an average circularity of from 0.940 to 0.965 and a crater having a depth of from 0.02 to 0.1 ?m, and wherein the crater has an amount of the external additive larger than an average amount thereof on the toner, along with a two-component developer containing the toner and an image forming apparatus using the toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Honda, Masami Tomita, Toshiki Nanya, Fumihiro Sasaki, Shigeru Emoto, Hiroto Higuchi, Hiroshi Yamada, Shinichiro Yagi, Tomomi Suzuki, Junichi Awamura, Naohito Shimota
  • Publication number: 20080227015
    Abstract: A toner, including at least a binder resin; a colorant; and a modified layered inorganic mineral in which at least a part of ions between the layers are modified with an organic material ion, wherein the toner includes at least one external additive having an average primary particle diameter of from 80 to 180 nm and an aspect ratio of from 0.7 to 0.95.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Tsuneyasu NAGATOMO, Toyoshi Sawada, Takuya Seshita, Satoshi Kojima, Tomomi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20080227018
    Abstract: To provide a toner containing toner particles, wherein each toner particle contains at least: a releasing agent having an average dispersed particle diameter of 0.1 to 0.5 ?m; and a modified layered inorganic mineral in which at least a part of ions present in between layers of a layered inorganic mineral is replaced with an organic ion, wherein the toner has a ratio A/B of 0.2 to 2.0 where A denotes the average dispersed particle diameter of the releasing agent and B denotes an average dispersed particle diameter of the modified layered inorganic mineral, or a proportion of the dispersed particles of the releasing agent having a diameter of 1 ?m or more in the dispersed particles of the releasing agent having a diameter of 0.5 ?m or more is 20% by number or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Junichi Awamura, Osamu Uchinokura, Akinori Saitoh, Masahide Yamada, Tomomi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20080213682
    Abstract: Provided is a toner for developing electrostatic image, comprising particles of oil phase containing at least a toner composition and/or toner composition precursor in an aqueous medium, wherein the toner composition and/or toner composition precursor comprises an organic-modified layered inorganic mineral prepared by modifying at least partially an ion of a layered inorganic mineral into an organic ion, and the organic ion-modification ratio X satisfies the relation of 100<X(%)<150 in the organic-modified layered inorganic mineral.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Akinori SAITOH, Masahide Yamada, Osamu Uchinokura, Junichi Awamura, Tomomi Suzuki, Shinichiro Yagi, Tomio Kondou, Masashi Nagayama, Hitoshi Iwatsuki
  • Patent number: 7374851
    Abstract: A toner which includes a toner material, wherein the toner satisfies the following formula: 0° C.??Tm?20° C. where ?Tm represents Tma (° C.)?Tmb (° C.), Tma (° C.) is ½ flown-out temperature of the toner by a capillary type flow tester, and Tmb (° C.) is ½ flown-out temperature of a melt kneaded mixture of the toner by the capillary type flow tester, and wherein Tma is from 130° C. to 200° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Nakayama, Satoshi Mochizuki, Yasuaki Iwamoto, Yasuo Asahina, Akihiro Kotsugai, Masayuki Ishii, Osamu Uchinokura, Hisashi Nakajima, Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Tomoko Utsumi, Koichi Sakata, Hideki Sugiura, Shigeru Emoto, Junichi Awamura, Masami Tomita, Takahiro Honda, Shinichiro Yagi, Tomomi Suzuki, Hiroshi Yamada, Toshiki Nanya, Hiroto Higuchi, Fumihiro Sasaki, Naohito Shimota
  • Publication number: 20080090165
    Abstract: To provide a toner containing an ethyl acetate-soluble polyester component and an ethyl acetate-insoluble polyester component, wherein the toner is granulated in an aqueous medium, the ethyl acetate-insoluble polyester component is obtained by elongating and/or cross-linking a modified polyester resin during granulating and/or after granulating, the modified polyester resin is produced by condensation polymerization of an acid component and at least one type of diol compound selected from aliphatic diol and alicyclic diol in the presence of a catalyst, and the mass average molecular weight of the modified polyester resin is 10,000 to 100,000.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Masahide YAMADA, Ryota Inoue, Naohiro Watanabe, Shigeru Emoto, Masahiro Ohki, Akinori Saitoh, Tsunemi Sugiyama, Shinichi Wakamatsu, Toshiki Nanya, Naohito Shimota, Hiroshi Yamada, Junichi Awamura, Tomomi Suzuki, Kazuyuki Hirai, Kazushige Yasumatsu
  • Publication number: 20080076055
    Abstract: To provide a developer that includes a carrier and a toner having base particles each containing a binder resin and a paraffin wax, wherein the base particle has a paraffin wax-originated endotherm from 2.0 J/g to 5.5 J/g at an endothermic peak as measured by DSC, an average circularity from 0.94 to 1.00, and a contact area-to-whole projected area ratio from 15% to 40%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventors: Toyoshi Sawada, Masahide Yamada, Akinori Saitoh, Tomomi Suzuki, Junichi Awamura, Takuya Seshita
  • Publication number: 20080070148
    Abstract: A toner including a binder resin; a colorant; a release agent; and a modified layered inorganic material in which at least part of interlayer ions is modified with an organic ion, wherein the toner has a volume average particle diameter (Dv) of 3 to 7 ?m and a ratio (Dv/Dn) of the volume average particle diameter (Dv) to a number average particle diameter (Dn) of the toner of 1.00 to 1.30, and wherein the release agent is included in the toner in an amount (A) of 1 to 10% by weight, and the ratio (B/A) of the amount (A) to the amount (B) of the release agent included in a classified toner in units of percent by weight is 0.7 to 1.3, wherein the classified toner satisfies the relationship (Dv?/Dn??1)/(Dv/Dn?1)?3/4 wherein Dv? and Dn? respectively represent the volume and number average particle diameters of the classified toner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Junichi AWAMURA, Akinori Saitoh, Masahide Yamada, Toyoshi Sawada, Takuya Seshita, Tomomi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20070218385
    Abstract: A toner is provided including a binder resin and a colorant, wherein the toner has an average shape factor SF-1 of from 130 to 160, and includes toner particles having a shape factor SF-1 of from 100 to 115 in an amount of not greater than 2% by number, and wherein the toner is prepared by a wet granulation method, along with an image forming apparatus and process cartridge using the toner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: Satoshi Kojima, Toyoshi Sawada, Tsuneyasu Nagatomo, Takuya Seshita, Tomomi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20070218383
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image bearer; a charging device charging the image bearer; a light irradiating device irradiating the charged image bearer with light to form an electrostatic image; a developing device developing the electrostatic image with a developer including a toner to form a toner image on the image bearer; a transfer device transferring the toner image; and a cleaning device cleaning the image bearer, wherein the volume average particle diameter of the toner is greater than 5.0 ?m and less than 5.5 ?m, the content of toner particles having a particle diameter of not greater than 4.0 ?m is not higher than 20% by number, the ratio of the first shape factor SF-1 to the second shape factor SF-2 is from 1.00 to 1.15, and the content of toner particles having a SF-2 of not less than 115 is not less than 67.8% by number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: Takuya Seshita, Toyoshi Sawada, Tomomi Suzuki, Tsuneyasu Nagatomo, Satoshi Kojima
  • Publication number: 20060204883
    Abstract: A toner which includes a toner material, wherein the toner satisfies the following formula: 0° C.??Tm?20° C. where ?Tm represents Tma (° C.)?Tmb (° C.), Tma (° C.) is ½ flown-out temperature of the toner by a capillary type flow tester, and Tmb (° C.) is ½ flown-out temperature of a melt kneaded mixture of the toner by the capillary type flow tester, and wherein Tma is from 130° C. to 200° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventors: Shinya Nakayama, Satoshi Mochizuki, Yasuaki Iwamoto, Yasuo Asahina, Akihiro Kotsugai, Masayuki Ishii, Osamu Uchinokura, Hisashi Nakajima, Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Tomoko Utsumi, Koichi Sakata, Hideki Sugiura, Shigeru Emoto, Junichi Awamura, Masami Tomita, Takahiro Honda, Shinichiro Yagi, Tomomi Suzuki, Hiroshi Yamada, Toshiki Nanya, Hiroto Higuchi, Fumihiro Sasaki, Naohito Shimota