Patents by Inventor Yoshinori Mutoh

Yoshinori Mutoh 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: 8741525
    Abstract: The resin coated carrier is used with a toner in which an external additive having an average primary particle size of 50 nm or more is added to a toner particle, and has a carrier core and a resin coating layer on the surface of the carrier core. In the resin coated carrier, the following expression (1) is satisfied: 0.5??log {(A/C)/(B/C)}?2.5??(1) wherein A represents a volume resistance value (?/cm) of the resin coated carrier in an electric field of 1000 V/cm that is obtained by conducting a stirring test, B represents a volume resistance value (?/cm) of the resin coated carrier in an electric field of 1000 V/cm before the stirring test, and C represents a volume resistance value (?/cm) of the carrier core in an electric field of 1000 V/cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Wada, Takanori Kamoto, Tadashi Iwamatsu, Nobuyuki Yoshioka, Hiroyuki Hirakawa, Yoshinori Mutoh, Takashi Hara, Hirofumi Kanda, Yoshio Ichii
  • Patent number: 8609316
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a capsule toner having improved preservability with no deterioration in low-temperature fixability is provided. The method for manufacturing a capsule toner includes a mixed fine resin particle adhering step of adhering mixed fine resin particles including crystalline polyester fine resin particles and amorphous fine resin particles to surfaces of toner base particles to form mixed fine resin particle-adhered particles, a spraying step of spraying a mixed solution of a liquid for plasticizing the toner base particles and the mixed fine resin particles and a crystal nucleating agent, while fluidizing the mixed fine resin particle-adhered particles, and a film-forming step of making a film of the mixed fine resin particles by impact force so that the film is a resin coating layer on the surfaces of the toner base particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Hara, Yoshiaki Akazawa, Yoshitaka Kawase, Yoritaka Tsubaki, Yoshinori Mutoh, Keiichi Kikawa
  • Patent number: 8488018
    Abstract: An image blur correcting unit allows the optical axis of a lens system to coincide with the center of an imager, thus correcting an image blur. The unit includes a stationary member and a holder member. The holder member holds either one of the elements of the lens system or the imager and moves relative to the stationary member in a first direction and a second direction, the first and second directions being orthogonal to each other in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis. The unit further includes a first guide section and a second guide section for guiding the holder member in the first and second directions during movement, and a driving section moving the holder member in the first and second directions. The one of the elements of the lens system or the imager is disposed outside an area surrounded by the first and second guide sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ippei Maeda, Tatsuyuki Nakayama, Hiroto Ogiyama, Yoshinori Mutoh, Yasuto Matsubara
  • Patent number: 8431317
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a capsule toner, capable of obtaining a capsule toner including a coating layer having uniform thickness at high yield is provided. The method for manufacturing a capsule toner includes a fine resin particle adhering step of adhering fine resin particles to surfaces of toner base particles, a spraying step of spraying a spray liquid for plasticizing the toner base particles and the fine resin particles, while fluidizing the toner base particles and the fine resin particles, and a film-forming step of fluidizing the toner base particles and the fine resin particles until the fine resin particles adhered to the surfaces of the toner base particles are softened to form a film. In the spraying step, ultrasonic vibration is applied to set a number average liquid-droplet diameter of the spray liquid to less than 10 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoritaka Tsubaki, Yoshitaka Kawase, Keiichi Kikawa, Yoshinori Mutoh, Takashi Hara, Yoshiaki Akazawa
  • Patent number: 8431316
    Abstract: A toner manufacturing method is provided. The toner manufacturing method includes a step of adhering fine resin particles whose volume average particle size is 5% or more and 17% or less of a volume average particle size of toner base particles, to surfaces of the toner base particles; and a step of plasticizing the toner base particles and the fine resin particles by adding mechanical impact thereto while spraying lower alcohol, and fusing the fine resin particles to the surfaces of the toner base particles to form a plurality of projections of the fine resin particles, on the surfaces of the toner base particles. Surface coverage of the surfaces of the toner base particles with the projections is 10% or more and 50% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Akazawa, Yoshitaka Kawase, Yoritaka Tsubaki, Yoshinori Mutoh, Keiichi Kikawa, Takashi Hara
  • Patent number: 8431315
    Abstract: There are provided a capsule toner, a two-component developer, and a capsule toner manufacturing method. The capsule toner in which a resin coating layer made of fine release-agent particles and fine resin particles is made on the surfaces of toner base particles, and thus excellent offset resistance without impairing blocking resistance can be obtained. The capsule toner includes toner base particles containing a binder resin and a colorant, and a resin coating layer made of fine release-agent particles and fine resin particles, for covering the surfaces of the toner base particles. The fine release-agent particles are dispersed in the resin coating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Mutoh, Yoshiaki Akazawa, Yoshitaka Kawase, Yoritaka Tsubaki, Keiichi Kikawa, Takashi Hara
  • Patent number: 8431305
    Abstract: A capsule toner capable of enhancing low temperature fixation property without impairing preservation property under a high temperature environment, a two-component developer, and an image forming apparatus are provided. The capsule toner is constituted of toner particles having toner base particles and a coating layer for coating the surface thereof. The toner base particle includes styrene-acrylic resin or polyester resin as a binder resin, and the coating layer includes styrene-acrylic resin or polyester resin. The capsule toner contains 0.05% by weight or more and 0.70% by weight or less of volatile plasticizer based on a total amount of the capsule toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiichi Kikawa, Yoshiaki Akazawa, Yoshitaka Kawase, Yoritaka Tsubaki, Yoshinori Mutoh, Takashi Hara
  • Patent number: 8399171
    Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus provided with a rotary stirring section and a powder passage is used to manufacture the resin-layer coated carrier. At a fine resin particle adhering step, a magnetic base particle and a fine resin particle are inputted into the powder passage with the rotary stirring section rotating and the fine resin particle is adhered onto the surface of the magnetic base particle. At a spraying step, at least a liquid that plasticizes the fine resin particles is sprayed with spray gas from a spraying section on the magnetic base particle and the fine resin particle which are in a fluidized state in the powder passage. At a film-forming step, rotation by the rotary stirring section is continued to fluidize the magnetic base particles and the fine resin particles until the fine resin particles adhered to the magnetic base particles are softened to form a film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Hara, Yoshiaki Akazawa, Yoshitaka Kawase, Yoritaka Tsubaki, Yoshinori Mutoh, Keiichi Kikawa
  • Patent number: 8389195
    Abstract: A capsule toner achieving both low temperature fixability and hot offset resistance, and a method of manufacturing the capsule toner are provided. A capsule toner includes a toner base particle containing a binder resin and a colorant, and a resin coating layer formed on a surface of the toner base particle. The resin coating layer includes a film of plural fine resin particles having different complex viscosities. The plural fine resin particles include first fine resin particles having complex viscosity at a softening temperature of the toner base particles of 5.0×102 Pa·s or more and 1.0×103 Pa·s or less, and second fine resin particles having complex viscosity at a softening temperature of the toner base particles of 1.0×104 Pa·s or more and 1.0×105 Pa·s or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoritaka Tsubaki, Yoshitaka Kawase, Keiichi Kikawa, Yoshinori Mutoh, Takashi Hara, Yoshiaki Akazawa
  • Patent number: 8389194
    Abstract: A toner manufacturing method, a toner obtained by the method, a one-component developer, a two-component developer, a developing device and an image forming apparatus are provided. By using a toner manufacturing apparatus including a powder passage, a spraying section for spraying a predetermined substance in the powder passage and a rotary stirring section, provided in the powder passage, and stirring particles in the powder passage to apply impact force to the particles so that the particles are fluidized in the powder passage, performed are a stirring step S3 of fluidizing toner core particles with fine inorganic particles adhering to the surfaces thereof and fine resin particles in the powder passage as the powder by the rotary stirring section, and a spraying step S5 of spraying a volatile liquid which softens fine resin particles as a predetermined substance by the spraying section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Akazawa, Yoshitaka Kawase, Yoritaka Tsubaki, Yoshinori Mutoh, Keiichi Kikawa, Takashi Hara
  • Patent number: 8389193
    Abstract: There are provided a toner manufacturing method of manufacturing a toner which has excellent characteristics such as fluidity and preservation stability and in which a resin layer having uniform thickness is formed on a surface of tone core particle, a toner obtained by a method thereof, a one-component developer, a two-component developer, a developing device, and an image forming apparatus. By using a toner manufacturing apparatus, a stirring step S3 is performed, and during rotation of a rotary shaft section, after a completion of inputting the fine resin particles into a powder passage, and within a period satisfying 1.7?(load F?load F0)/(load Fcore?load F0)?5.7, a spraying step S4 is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Hara, Yoshitaka Kawase, Yoshiaki Akazawa, Yoritaka Tsubaki, Keiichi Kikawa, Yoshinori Mutoh
  • Patent number: 8304158
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a toner includes a pre-mixing step and a coating step. In the pre-mixing step, a secondary aggregate of the fine resin particles is disaggregated, while toner base particles and fine resin particles are mixed and stirred using a rotary stirring apparatus. Thus obtained disaggregated fine resin particles are fixed to the surface of the toner base particle. Thus, a fine resin particle-fixed toner is obtained. The rotary stirring apparatus includes a rotary stirring section, a temperature regulation section, a circulating section, and a spraying section. In the coating step, a liquid is sprayed to the fine resin particle-fixed toner with the spraying section using the rotary stirring apparatus. Thus, a film of the fine resin particles is formed. In the pre-mixing step and the coating step, temperature regulation is conducted in the temperature regulation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Mutoh, Yoshiaki Akazawa, Yoshitaka Kawase, Yoritaka Tsubaki, Keiichi Kikawa, Takashi Hara
  • Publication number: 20120262588
    Abstract: An image blur correcting unit allows the optical axis of a lens system to coincide with the center of an imager, thus correcting an image blur. The unit includes a stationary member and a holder member. The holder member holds either one of the elements of the lens system or the imager and moves relative to the stationary member in a first direction and a second direction, the first and second directions being orthogonal to each other in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis. The unit further includes a first guide section and a second guide section for guiding the holder member in the first and second directions during movement, and a driving section moving the holder member in the first and second directions. The one of the elements of the lens system or the imager is disposed outside an area surrounded by the first and second guide sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ippei Maeda, Tatsuyuki Nakayama, Hiroto Ogiyama, Yoshinori Mutoh, Yasuto Matsubara
  • Patent number: 8253811
    Abstract: An image blur correcting unit allows the optical axis of a lens system to coincide with the center of an imager, thus correcting an image blur. The unit includes a stationary member and a holder member. The holder member holds either one of the elements of the lens system or the imager and moves relative to the stationary member in a first direction and a second direction, the first and second directions being orthogonal to each other in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis. The unit further includes a first guide section and a second guide section for guiding the holder member in the first and second directions during movement, and a driving section moving the holder member in the first and second directions. The one of the elements of the lens system or the imager is disposed outside an area surrounded by the first and second guide sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ippei Maeda, Tatsuyuki Nakayama, Hiroto Ogiyama, Yoshinori Mutoh, Yasuto Matsubara
  • Patent number: 8197999
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a toner is provided. The method for manufacturing a toner uses a rotary stirring apparatus that includes a circulating section for repeatedly performing circulation in a powder passage having a rotary stirring chamber and a circulation tube to return to the rotary stirring chamber by a rotary stirring section having a rotary disc around which rotary blades are installed and a rotary shaft, and a temperature adjusting section provided at least on a part of the powder passage for adjusting temperatures in the powder passage and of the rotary stirring section to a predetermined temperature, and includes a temperature adjusting step; a fine resin particle adhering step; a spraying step; and a film-forming step. The temperature in the powder passage is adjusted to the predetermined temperature by the temperature adjusting section at the fine resin particle adhering step, the spraying step, and the film-forming step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Kawase, Saori Yamada, Yoshiaki Akazawa, Yoritaka Tsubaki, Yoshinori Mutoh, Keiichi Kikawa, Takashi Hara
  • Patent number: 8192908
    Abstract: A carrier of the present invention is used in a developer including a toner which includes at least a binder resin and an organic colorant, and the carrier has a core and a coating formed on the surface of the core, the coating including (i) a charge control agent for controlling a charge whose polarity is the same as a polarity of a charge controlled by a charge control agent included in the toner, and (ii) a conductive particles. The use of the carrier of the present invention enables: prevention of decrease in the charging amount of the toner which includes at least a binder resin and an organic colorant; and formation of a stable, high-resolution, high-quality image which has very few image defects such as a photographic fog.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanori Kamoto, Tadashi Iwamatsu, Nobuyuki Yoshioka, Yoshinori Mutoh, Hiroyuki Hirakawa, Takashi Hara
  • Publication number: 20110177451
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a capsule toner, capable of obtaining a capsule toner including a coating layer having uniform thickness at high yield is provided. The method for manufacturing a capsule toner includes a fine resin particle adhering step of adhering fine resin particles to surfaces of toner base particles, a spraying step of spraying a spray liquid for plasticizing the toner base particles and the fine resin particles, while fluidizing the toner base particles and the fine resin particles, and a film-forming step of fluidizing the toner base particles and the fine resin particles until the fine resin particles adhered to the surfaces of the toner base particles are softened to form a film. In the spraying step, ultrasonic vibration is applied to set a number average liquid-droplet diameter of the spray liquid to less than 10 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventors: Yoritaka TSUBAKI, Yoshitaka Kawase, Keiichi Kikawa, Yoshinori Mutoh, Takashi Hara, Yoshiaki Akazawa
  • Publication number: 20110171574
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a capsule toner having improved preservability with no deterioration in low-temperature fixability is provided. The method for manufacturing a capsule toner includes a mixed fine resin particle adhering step of adhering mixed fine resin particles including crystalline polyester fine resin particles and amorphous fine resin particles to surfaces of toner base particles to form mixed fine resin particle-adhered particles, a spraying step of spraying a mixed solution of a liquid for plasticizing the toner base particles and the mixed fine resin particles and a crystal nucleating agent, while fluidizing the mixed fine resin particle-adhered particles, and a film-forming step of making a film of the mixed fine resin particles by impact force so that the film is a resin coating layer on the surfaces of the toner base particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Takashi HARA, Yoshiaki Akazawa, Yoshitaka Kawase, Yoritaka Tsubaki, Yoshinori Mutoh, Keiichi Kikawa
  • Publication number: 20110111338
    Abstract: A toner manufacturing method is provided. The toner manufacturing method includes a step of adhering fine resin particles whose volume average particle size is 5% or more and 17% or less of a volume average particle size of toner base particles, to surfaces of the toner base particles; and a step of plasticizing the toner base particles and the fine resin particles by adding mechanical impact thereto while spraying lower alcohol, and fusing the fine resin particles to the surfaces of the toner base particles to form a plurality of projections of the fine resin particles, on the surfaces of the toner base particles. Surface coverage of the surfaces of the toner base particles with the projections is 10% or more and 50% or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Akazawa, Yoshitaka Kawase, Yoritaka Tsubaki, Yoshinori Mutoh, Keiichi Kikawa, Takashi Hara
  • Publication number: 20110070541
    Abstract: A capsule toner achieving both low temperature fixability and hot offset resistance, and a method of manufacturing the capsule toner are provided. A capsule toner includes a toner base particle containing a binder resin and a colorant, and a resin coating layer formed on a surface of the toner base particle. The resin coating layer includes a film of plural fine resin particles having different complex viscosities. The plural fine resin particles include first fine resin particles having complex viscosity at a softening temperature of the toner base particles of 5.0×102 Pa·s or more and 1.0×103 Pa·s or less, and second fine resin particles having complex viscosity at a softening temperature of the toner base particles of 1.0×104 Pa·s or more and 1.0×105 Pa·s or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Yoritaka Tsubaki, Yoshitaka Kawase, Keiichi Kikawa, Yoshinori Mutoh, Takashi Hara, Yoshiaki Akazawa