Patents by Inventor Yukimasa Watanabe

Yukimasa Watanabe 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: 9298126
    Abstract: A developing device includes a housing, a development roller, and a roller gear. The roller gear is disposed at one axial end of the development roller and transmits a rotational drive force to the development roller. The development roller includes a sleeve and a coating layer. The coating layer is formed by dipping the sleeve in a dipping bath with the sleeve directed axially vertically. The development roller is mounted to the housing such that a lower axial end of the development roller at the time of the dipping is an opposite axial end to the one axial end at which the roller gear is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solution Inc.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Shimizu, Akihiro Watanabe, Chikara Ishihara, Yasuhiro Tauchi, Masashi Fujishima, Yu Sasaki, Hiroaki Sakai, Yasuhiro Oishi, Yukimasa Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9285713
    Abstract: A developing device supplies a developer to a photosensitive drum, which has a cylindrical shape, and is rotatable around an axis thereof for forming an electrostatic latent image on the circumferential surface thereof. The developing device is provided with a developing roller. The developing roller is disposed to face the photosensitive drum, and has a cylindrical shape. The developing roller is rotatable around an axis thereof for carrying a developer on the circumferential surface thereof. The developing roller is provided with a small diameter portion. The small diameter portion is a part of the circumferential surface of the developing roller. The small diameter portion extends from an axial end of the developing roller axially inward by a predetermined length, and has an outer diameter smaller than an axially middle portion of the developing roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Sakae Saito, Hiroaki Sakai, Yukimasa Watanabe, Yasuhiro Oishi, Masashi Fujishima, Chikara Ishihara, Yasuhiro Tauchi
  • Patent number: 9213229
    Abstract: A positively chargeable electrophotographic photosensitive member has a photosensitive layer. The photosensitive layer at least includes the following layers layered in the stated order: (I) a charge transport layer at least containing a hole transport material and a binder resin; and (II) a charge generating-and-transporting layer at least containing a charge generating material, an electron transport material, a hole transport material, and a binder resin all within this layer. The binder resin contained in the charge transport layer is different from the binder resin contained in the charge generating-and-transporting layer, and either of the binder resins contains a polyvinyl acetal resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yuko Iwashita, Yukimasa Watanabe, Junichiro Otsubo, Kazuaki Ezure, Kazutaka Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20150301473
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a developing roller having a conductive support base, a surface of which is covered with a resin layer, wherein the resin layer contains conductive fine particles and soluble nylon serving as a binder resin, and the resin layer surface has a surface roughness Ra of at least 0.4 ?m, a waviness curve cycle of 50 to 400 ?m, and a waviness curve height of 2 to 10 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Yukimasa Watanabe, Sakae Saito, Hiroaki Sakai, Yasuhiro Oishi, Masashi Fujishima, Chikara Ishihara, Yasuhiro Tauchi
  • Publication number: 20150293477
    Abstract: A developing device supplies a developer to a photosensitive drum, which has a cylindrical shape, and is rotatable around an axis thereof for forming an electrostatic latent image on the circumferential surface thereof. The developing device is provided with a developing roller. The developing roller is disposed to face the photosensitive drum, and has a cylindrical shape. The developing roller is rotatable around an axis thereof for carrying a developer on the circumferential surface thereof. The developing roller is provided with a small diameter portion. The small diameter portion is a part of the circumferential surface of the developing roller. The small diameter portion extends from an axial end of the developing roller axially inward by a predetermined length, and has an outer diameter smaller than an axially middle portion of the developing roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Sakae Saito, Hiroaki Sakai, Yukimasa Watanabe, Yasuhiro Oishi, Masashi Fujishima, Chikara Ishihara, Yasuhiro Tauchi
  • Publication number: 20150293470
    Abstract: A developing device includes a housing, a development roller, and a roller gear. The roller gear is disposed at one axial end of the development roller and transmits a rotational drive force to the development roller. The development roller includes a sleeve and a coating layer. The coating layer is formed by dipping the sleeve in a dipping bath with the sleeve directed axially vertically. The development roller is mounted to the housing such that a lower axial end of the development roller at the time of the dipping is an opposite axial end to the one axial end at which the roller gear is disposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Tamotsu SHIMIZU, Akihiro WATANABE, Chikara ISHIHARA, Yasuhiro TAUCHI, Masashi FUJISHIMA, Yu SASAKI, Hiroaki SAKAI, Yasuhiro OISHI, Yukimasa WATANABE
  • Patent number: 9158264
    Abstract: A single-layer-type electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a layer disposed on an electrically conductive substrate, the layer including at least a charge-generating material, an electron transport material, a hole transport material, and a binder resin within the same layer. The charge-generating material contains a phthalocyanine pigment and N-type pigments including at least a perylene-based pigment and an azo-based pigment, and the total amount of the N-type pigments is 0.03 to 10 parts by mass relative to 1 part by mass of the phthalocyanine pigment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yuko Iwashita, Kazutaka Sugimoto, Junichiro Otsubo, Yukimasa Watanabe, Kazuaki Edure
  • Patent number: 9158227
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a developing roller having a conductive support base, a surface of which is covered with a resin layer, wherein the resin layer contains conductive fine particles and soluble nylon serving as a binder resin, and the resin layer surface has a surface roughness Ra of at least 0.4 ?m, a waviness curve cycle of 50 to 400 ?m, and a waviness curve height of 2 to 10 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yukimasa Watanabe, Sakae Saito, Hiroaki Sakai, Yasuhiro Oishi, Masashi Fujishima, Chikara Ishihara, Yasuhiro Tauchi
  • Publication number: 20140212803
    Abstract: A positively chargeable electrophotographic photosensitive member has a photosensitive layer. The photosensitive layer at least includes the following layers layered in the stated order: (I) a charge transport layer at least containing a hole transport material and a binder resin; and (II) a charge generating-and-transporting layer at least containing a charge generating material, an electron transport material, a hole transport material, and a binder resin all within this layer. The binder resin contained in the charge transport layer is different from the binder resin contained in the charge generating-and-transporting layer, and either of the binder resins contains a polyvinyl acetal resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Yuko IWASHITA, Yukimasa WATANABE, Junichiro OTSUBO, Kazuaki EZURE, Kazutaka SUGIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20140120464
    Abstract: A single-layer-type electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a layer disposed on an electrically conductive substrate, the layer including at least a charge-generating material, an electron transport material, a hole transport material, and a binder resin within the same layer. The charge-generating material contains a phthalocyanine pigment and N-type pigments including at least a perylene-based pigment and an azo-based pigment, and the total amount of the N-type pigments is 0.03 to 10 parts by mass relative to 1 part by mass of the phthalocyanine pigment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Yuko Iwashita, Kazutaka Sugimoto, Junichiro Otsubo, Yukimasa Watanabe, Kazuaki Edure
  • Patent number: 8642236
    Abstract: Provided are an electrophotographic photoconductor which shows a small variation in sensitivity and exhibits a high sensitivity even at a small amount of light exposure and a tandem-system color image forming device provided with the electrophotographic photoconductor. A positive charging type electrophotographic photoconductor for use in a tandem-system color image forming device including a drum type electrophotographic photoconductor, a rotation speed of which is (70) rpm or more, and a color image forming device provided with the electrophotographic photoconductor, wherein, when Vb (V) denotes a sensitivity in the case where an amount of light exposure per unit area is 0.6 ?J/cm2 and Va (V) denotes a sensitivity in the case where an amount of light exposure per unit area is 1.5 ?J/cm2, a sensitivity ratio represented by Vb/Va is adjusted to a value of below (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunari Hamasaki, Yuko Iwashita, Yukimasa Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20080187847
    Abstract: Provided are an electrophotographic photoconductor which shows a small variation in sensitivity and exhibits a high sensitivity even at a small amount of light exposure and a tandem-system color image forming device provided with the electrophotographic photoconductor. A positive charging type electrophotographic photoconductor for use in a tandem-system color image forming device including a drum type electrophotographic photoconductor, a rotation speed of which is (70) rpm or more, and a color image forming device provided with the electrophotographic photoconductor, wherein, when Vb (V) denotes a sensitivity in the case where an amount of light exposure per unit area is 0.6 ?J/cm2 and Va (V) denotes a sensitivity in the case where an amount of light exposure per unit area is 1.5 ?J/cm2, a sensitivity ratio represented by Vb/Va is adjusted to a value of below (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunari Hamasaki, Yuko Iwashita, Yukimasa Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20080187368
    Abstract: A drum unit (20) for forming a toner image includes a cylindrical-shaped metal tubular member (31), a flange member (40) attached to one end of the metal tubular member (31) and a ground plate (50) attached to the flange member (40) and having an outer peripheral edge formed with a connection claw (52) that is so bent by the inner peripheral surface of the metal tubular member (31) as to bite into the inner peripheral surface for establishment of electrical conduction between the metal tubular member (31) and the ground plate (50). The flange member (40) has an edge, and the bending of the connection claw is carried out about a support point (412) defined by the edge. A calculational bending angle (?) at which the connection claw (52) is bent about the support point (412) is set in the range of 10 to 45 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Yukimasa Watanabe, Shiho Kuboshima, Hiroyuki Hazama, Kazunari Hamasaki, Sakae Saito
  • Patent number: 7090952
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrophotosensitive material comprising a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer provided on the conductive substrate, wherein the photosensitive layer contains a polyarylate having a repeating unit represented by the general formula (1): wherein X represents a phenylene group, a naphthylene group, or a biphenylene group, as a binder resin. The polyarylate is contained in the amount of 30% by weight or more based on the entire binder resin. The electrophotosensitive material of the present invention have improved wear resistance and gas resistance while reconciling both characteristics, and thus longer life has been achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Azuma, Yukimasa Watanabe, Ayako Yashima
  • Patent number: 6879794
    Abstract: Disclosed are image forming apparatus [1] which comprises removing a toner remained on the surface of the rotatable image carrier by cleaning means after going through developing means and transferring means; said cleaning means has an elastic blade and is contacted with the surface of the image carrier at a contact pressure within 8 to 20 g/cm, and a press-contact angle of the elastic blade of 12 to 30°; and said image carrier is an organic photosensitive material having a photosensitive layer made of a binder resin containing an electric charge generating material and an electric charge transferring material; and image forming apparatus [2], comprising a single-layer type photosensitive layer made of a binder resin containing an electric charge generating material, an electron transferring material and a hole transferring material, and the solid content of the binder resin is within 50 to 70 wt % of the whole solid content in the photosensitive layer and, a pair of paper transporting rollers are arranged on
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Azuma, Ayako Yashima, Yukimasa Watanabe, Keisuke Oba, Masashi Fujishima, Takashi Nagashima
  • Patent number: 6858368
    Abstract: An image forming device is disclosed which comprises an electrophotographic photoreceptor and a flash fixing means. The photoreceptor has a photoconductive layer formed on top of a support substrate, and the photoconductive layer contains a charge generating agent and a charge transport agent therein. The half maximum wavelength region of the charge transport agent's absorption peak is in a visual region that includes the wavelength region of the flash light when its intensity is 50% or greater of its maximum but does not include the wavelength region of the exposure light. This photoreceptor will not produce electrostatic irregularities even if light from the flash fixing means leaks thereon, and its sensitivity and its ability to be electrostatically charged will not decrease even if repeatedly used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Azuma, Yukimasa Watanabe, Ayako Yashima
  • Publication number: 20040185357
    Abstract: An image forming device is disclosed which comprises an electrophotographic photoreceptor and a flash fixing means. The photoreceptor has a photoconductive layer formed on top of a support substrate, and the photoconductive layer contains a charge generating agent and a charge transport agent therein. The half maximum wavelength region of the charge transport agent's absorption peak is in a visual region that includes the wavelength region of the flash light when its intensity is 50% or greater of its maximum but does not include the wavelength region of the exposure light. This photoreceptor will not produce electrostatic irregularities even if light from the flash fixing means leaks thereon, and its sensitivity and its ability to be electrostatically charged will not decrease even if repeatedly used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Azuma, Yukimasa Watanabe, Ayako Yashima
  • Publication number: 20040101771
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrophotosensitive material comprising a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer provided on the conductive substrate, wherein the photosensitive layer contains a polyallylate having a repeating unit represented by the general formula (1): 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Jun Azuma, Yukimasa Watanabe, Ayako Yashima
  • Patent number: 6593047
    Abstract: A single-layer type electrophotosensitive material comprising a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer made of a binder resin containing at least an electric charge generating material and a hole transferring material and an electron transferring material as an electric charge transferring material, which is formed on the conductive substrate, characterized in that the binder resin contains a polycarbonate resin having a repeating structural unit represented by the general formula [1] and the solid content of the hole transferring material and the electron transferring material is not less than 30% by weight and not more than 50% by weight relative to the entire solid content, exhibits good wear resistance with respect to the photosensitive layer and is also superior in durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Azuma, Yukimasa Watanabe, Hisakazu Honma, Ayako Yashima, Maki Uchida, Kyoichi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6573017
    Abstract: Disclosed is a single-layer type electrophotosensitive material comprising a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer made of a binder resin containing at least an electric charge generating material and an electric charge transferring material, which is formed on the conductive substrate, wherein an oxygen transmission rate of the binder resin is not more than 35 cc·mm/m2·day·atom, wherein it is preferred that a mobility at an electric field strength of 5×105 V/cm of the hole transferring material is not less than 5×10−6 cm2/V/sec and a solid content of the electric charge transferring material is not less than 30% by weight and not more than 50% by weight based on the whole solid content; said electrophotosensitive material has good ozone resistance and does not cause defects such as image black belt due to lowering of the charge capability, an ozone of which is 5.0 ppm at most, and is also superior in sensitivity and wear resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Azuma, Yukimasa Watanabe, Hisakazu Honma, Ayako Yashima, Maki Uchida, Eiichi Miyamoto