Patents by Inventor Yoshihiro Norikane

Yoshihiro Norikane 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: 20130034810
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing toner is provided. In the method, toner constituents are dissolved or dispersed in an organic solvent to prepare a toner constituents liquid. The toner constituents liquid is degassed so that the toner constituents liquid includes dissolved oxygen in an amount of 3 mg/L or less. The toner constituents liquid is vibrated in a chamber having at least one nozzle to form a liquid column resonance standing wave in the toner constituents liquid. The toner constituents liquid is discharged from the nozzle disposed within an area including an antinode of the liquid column resonance standing wave to form the toner constituents liquid into liquid droplets. The liquid droplets are dried to solidify the liquid droplets into solid particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Yoshihiro NORIKANE, Andrew Mwaniki MULWA, Kiyotada KATOH, Yasutada SHITARA
  • Patent number: 8367293
    Abstract: A method for producing a carrier, including a step of periodically forming and discharging liquid droplets of a carrier core composition liquid from a plurality of nozzles formed in a thin film, using a liquid droplet forming unit having the thin film and a ring-shaped vibration generating unit disposed in a deformable area of the thin film so as to be along a circumference of the area and to vibrate the thin film, a step of forming carrier core particles by solidifying the discharged liquid droplets, and a step of coating the carrier core particles with a resin layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Ohtani, Ryota Inoue, Yoshihiro Norikane
  • Publication number: 20130010035
    Abstract: A liquid droplet ejecting method for ejecting a liquid from at least one ejection hole to form the liquid into liquid droplets, the method including: applying a vibration to the liquid in a liquid column resonance-generating liquid chamber, in which the ejection hole is formed, to form a standing wave through liquid column resonance, and ejecting the liquid from the ejection hole, which is formed in a region corresponding to an antinode of the standing wave, to form the liquid into liquid droplets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Norikane, Haruo Nakamura, Masaru Ohgaki, Yuko Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 8329373
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing toner are provided. A fluid comprising a resin and a colorant is supplied to a retention member that includes a film on which multiple discharge openings are formed. The fluid which is supplied to the retention member is resonated so that liquid droplets thereof are discharged from the multiple openings. The liquid droplets which are discharged from the multiple openings are solidified to form mother particles of a toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Norikane, Shinji Aoki, Masaru Ohgaki, Yohichiroh Watanabe, Takahiro Honda, Andrew Mwaniki Mulwa, Yuko Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 8318400
    Abstract: A method of preparing a toner, including periodically discharging a toner constituent liquid from plural nozzles having the same aperture diameter with a mechanical oscillator, wherein the toner constituent liquid includes: a binder resin, a colorant, and an organic solvent, wherein the binder resin and the colorant are dissolved or dispersed in the organic solvent; forming a droplet of the toner constituent liquid in a gas phase; and solidifying the droplet, wherein the aperture diameter is from 3 to 30 ?m, and the binder resin has a ratio (Mw/Mn) of a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) to a number-average molecular weight (Mn) of THF (tetrahydrofuran)-soluble components therein of from 1.5 to 15 in a molecular weight distribution measured by GPC (gel permeation chromatography), and a ½ flow temperature (Tm) of from 114 to 149° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohichiroh Watanabe, Kazumi Suzuki, Takahiro Honda, Shinji Ohtani, Yoshihiro Norikane
  • Publication number: 20120270147
    Abstract: The particulate material production method includes vibrating a particulate material composition liquid in a liquid column resonance chamber having at least one nozzle to form a standing wave in the particulate material composition liquid caused by liquid column resonance, so that droplets of the particulate material composition liquid are ejected in a droplet ejection direction from the nozzle so as to fly in a space in a flight direction; feeding a gas in a direction substantially perpendicular to the droplet ejection direction to change the flight direction of the ejected droplets; and solidifying the droplets in the space to produce a particulate material. The particulate material composition liquid includes at least a solvent and a component of the particulate material dissolved or dispersed in the solvent, and the nozzle is located at a location corresponding to an anitnode of the standing wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Kiyotada Katoh, Yasutada Shitara, Minoru Masuda, Yoshihiro Norikane, Kenta Kenjoh, Satoshi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20120270148
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing toner includes forming liquid droplets. The forming liquid droplets includes vibrating a toner constituents liquid in a liquid column resonance liquid chamber having a plurality of nozzles to form a liquid column resonance pressure standing wave therein, and discharging the toner constituents liquid from the nozzles. The method further includes solidifying the liquid droplets. The toner constituents liquid includes an organic solvent and toner constituents dissolved or dispersed in the organic solvent. The toner constituents include a resin, a colorant, and a release agent. The nozzles are disposed within an area including an antinode of the liquid column resonance pressure standing wave. One of the nozzles disposed closer to a node of the liquid column resonance pressure standing wave has a smaller outlet diameter than that disposed farther from the node. The toner constituents liquid is applied with a uniform pressure at a vicinity of each nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Yoshihiro NORIKANE, Masaru Ohgaki
  • Publication number: 20120264049
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing toner is provided. The method includes preparing a toner constituents liquid by dissolving or dispersing toner constituents in an organic solvent. The toner constituents includes a binder resin and a charge controlling agent. The charge controlling agent includes a polycondensation product of a phenol with an aldehyde. The method further includes forming a liquid column resonance standing wave in the toner constituents liquid in a chamber having at least one nozzle by vibrating the toner constituents liquid. The method further includes forming the toner constituents liquid into liquid droplets by discharging the toner constituents liquid from the nozzle. The nozzle is disposed within an area including antinodes of the liquid column resonance standing wave. The method further includes removing the organic solvent from the liquid droplets to solidify the liquid droplets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Minoru Masuda, Yasutada Shitara, Yoshihiro Norikane, Kiyotada Katoh, Satoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8257898
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a toner, wherein a liquid drop forming part including a storage part configured to store a toner composition liquid in which a toner composition including at least a resin and a coloring agent is dispersed or dissolved, a thin film on which a nozzle facing the storage part is formed, and a vibration generating part configured to vibrate the thin film via the toner composition liquid in the storage part are used, wherein plural storage chambers partitioned by a partition wall(s) are formed in the storage part and a width of each storage chamber in a direction of arrangement of the plural storage chambers and a width of each storage chamber in a direction orthogonal to the direction of arrangement of the storage chambers are formed to be one-half or less of a wavelength ? of a sonic wave generated in the storage part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Norikane, Shinji Aoki, Tetsuya Sonoda, Keisuke Uchida, Andrew Mwaniki Mulwa, Yuko Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 8252500
    Abstract: The present invention provides a toner containing at least two binder resins composed of at least a resin A and a resin B which are incompatible with each other, and a colorant, wherein the toner has an average circularity of 0.93 to 0.98 and is produced by atomizing a toner composition liquid in a vapor phase to form liquid droplets and solidifying the liquid droplets, and the toner composition liquid is prepared by dissolving or dispersing the at least two binder resins and the colorant in an organic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohichiroh Watanabe, Kazumi Suzuki, Shinji Ohtani, Takahiro Honda, Yoshihiro Norikane
  • Publication number: 20120094231
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing toner is provided, including discharging a toner constituents liquid from multiple nozzles to form liquid droplets and solidifying the liquid droplets into toner particles. The multiple nozzles satisfy the following formula: 2.5?p/d?7.5 wherein d represents an outlet diameter of each nozzle and p represents an interval between two nozzles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Yoshihiro NORIKANE, Masaru Ohgaki, Andrew Mwaniki Mulwa, Yuko Sekiguchi
  • Publication number: 20120070777
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a toner, including a liquid droplet-forming unit configured to discharge a toner composition liquid containing at least a resin and a colorant at a uniform discharge speed from a plurality of discharge holes some of which have different shapes from each other to thereby form liquid droplets, and a particle-forming unit configured to solidify the liquid droplets of the toner composition liquid to thereby form particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Keiji Makabe, Yohichiroh Watanabe, Minoru Masuda, Yasutada Shitara, Yoshihiro Norikane
  • Patent number: 8137087
    Abstract: A method of preparing a toner, including periodically dripping and discharging a droplet of a toner constituent liquid including a resin and a colorant; and solidifying and granulating the droplet, wherein the dripper includes a thin film including plural nozzles; and an oscillator including an oscillation generator generating an oscillation; and an oscillation amplifier, including an oscillation surface facing the thin film in parallel therewith, amplifying the oscillation, and wherein the toner constituent liquid is fed between the thin film and the oscillation surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Norikane, Shinji Ohtani, Yohichiroh Watanabe, Kazumi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8110332
    Abstract: Provided are an electrophotographic toner and a method for producing the electrophotographic toner that satisfy high image quality, cleaning stability, and high productivity. The electrophotographic toner is produced by spray-drying a toner ingredient-containing liquid, wherein the toner ingredient-containing liquid dissolves or disperses at least a resin, a low molecular mass organic material, and a colorant in an organic solvent, the resin is soluble in the organic solvent, the low molecular mass organic material is a crystalline compound or a composition of crystalline compounds that is soluble in the organic solvent, the toner ingredient-containing liquid contains substantially no particles having a particle diameter of 500 nm or more, the crystalline compound or the composition of crystalline compounds crystallizes upon spray-drying to deform toner particles into a circularity of 0.93 or higher to 0.98 or less, and volume average particle diameter of the toner particles is 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumi Suzuki, Yohichiroh Watanabe, Takahiro Honda, Yoshihiro Norikane, Shinji Ohtani, Tsuyoshi Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 8105741
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing toner includes steps of supplying, periodically dispensing, and solidifying. The supply step supplies a liquid to be atomized, which includes at least a resin and a colorant. The periodic dispensation step periodically dispenses droplets of the liquid through an atomizing unit. The solidification step solidifies the dispensed droplets into toner particles. The atomizing unit includes a thin film, a vibration actuator, and multiple holes. The thin film has a relatively stiff portion and a relatively elastic portion, and is configured to contact the liquid. The vibration actuator is connected to and supports a periphery of the thin film, and is configured to induce vibration of the thin film. The multiple holes are formed in the relatively stiff portion, and are configured to discharge droplets therethrough when the thin film vibrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Norikane, Shinji Ohtani
  • Patent number: 8105742
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a toner, including periodically forming liquid droplets of a toner constituent liquid comprising a resin and a colorant by vibrating a thin film having a plurality of holes provided on a retention part thereof to discharge the liquid droplets of the toner constituent liquid from the plurality of holes and forming toner particles by solidifying the liquid droplets discharged from the plurality of holes. In periodically forming the liquid droplets of the toner constituent liquid, a flow of gas in a direction of discharge of the liquid droplets is formed by a gas flow generation unit provided downstream from the thin film relative to the direction of discharge of the liquid droplets, including a tapered part forming an aperture corresponding to a hole formation area of the thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Norikane, Shinji Ohtani, Yohichiroh Watanabe, Kazumi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20110305987
    Abstract: A method for producing toner particles by ejecting a liquid from at least one ejection hole to form the liquid into liquid droplets, and solidifying the liquid droplets to produce toner particles. The ejecting is accomplished by applying a vibration to the liquid in a liquid column resonance-generating liquid chamber in which an ejection hole is formed to form a standing wave through liquid column resonance, and ejecting the liquid from the ejection hole which is formed in a region corresponding to an antinode of the standing wave to thereby form the liquid into the liquid droplets. Toner produced by the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Watanabe YOHICHIROH, Yoshihiro NORIKANE, Yasutada SHITARA, Keiji MAKABE
  • Patent number: 8034526
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a toner, including: dissolving or dispersing toner constituents including a resin, a colorant, a release agent, and a graft polymer including a polyolefin resin unit and a vinyl resin unit in a solvent, to prepare a toner constituent liquid; supplying the toner constituent liquid to a retention part configured to retain the toner constituent liquid; discharging the toner constituent liquid from the retention part to a granulation space through plural holes arranged on the retention part, while exciting the toner constituent liquid by a vibration means in contact with a part of the retention part, so that the discharged columnar toner constituent liquid is constricted to form liquid droplets; and converting the liquid droplets into solid toner particles; together with a toner manufactured by the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Yohichiroh Watanabe, Shinji Ohtani, Yoshihiro Norikane, Yasuaki Iwamoto, Yasutada Shitara, Kazumi Suzuki, Takahiro Honda
  • Patent number: 8029961
    Abstract: There is provided a toner for developing a latent electrostatic image, obtained by a method containing: ejecting a toner composition fluid from an ejection hole so as to make the toner composition fluid into droplets; and solidifying the droplets in an atomizing space so as to form solid particles, wherein the toner composition fluid contains at least a colorant formed by reacting a polymer containing 10 mol % or more of a monomer unit having a sulfonic acid group or a salt thereof, or a monomer unit having a sulfuric acid group or a salt thereof as a constitutional unit, and a basic dye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kuramoto, Shinji Ohtani, Yoshihiro Norikane
  • Patent number: 8012663
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a toner includes preparing a droplet forming device, comprising a storage portion to store a toner composition solution, a thin film formed from a rigid material, bonded to the storage portion by a bonding material, and provided with a nozzle and an oscillation device including an oscillation generation device configured to generate an oscillation upon the thin film and an oscillation amplification device which has an oscillation surface including a position that is parallel and opposite to the thin film and is configured to amplify the oscillation, periodically forming a droplet of the toner composition solution including at least a resin and a coloring agent to be supplied between the thin film and the oscillation surface and discharging the droplet via the nozzle, and solidifying the droplet of the toner composition solution discharged via the nozzle, and forming a toner particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Norikane, Shinji Aoki, Tetsuya Sonoda, Keisuke Uchida