Roller Patents (Class 399/176)
  • Patent number: 12153376
    Abstract: The electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a support and a photosensitive layer on the support, in which a surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member contains a particle, the surface layer has a particle partially exposed from the surface layer among the particle contained in the surface layer, the particle has a volume average particle diameter of 50.0 nm or more and 350.0 nm or less; in a cross-section of the surface layer, the number of the particle partially exposed from the surface layer is 80% by number or more based on a total number of the particle contained in the surface layer; and a total volume of an exposed portion of the particle partially exposed from the surface layer is 30% by volume or more and 80% by volume or less based on an entire volume of the particle contained in the surface layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuntaro Watanabe, Tomohito Ishida, Nobuhiro Nakamura, Hiroyuki Watanabe, Tatsuya Yamaai, Masatada Hirota
  • Patent number: 12153360
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a charging roller, an image forming section, a bearing member, a holding member, an urging member, a fixing section, and an unfixing section. A cylindrical image bearing body is attached to the housing. The charging roller comes into contact with the surface of the image bearing body and charges the surface. The image forming section forms an image on the charged surface. The holding member holds the bearing member. The urging member urges the bearing member in a first direction. The fixing section fixes the bearing member in a first position. The unfixing section separates the charging roller from the surface of the image bearing body and positions the holding member in the housing, unfixes the bearing member, moves the bearing member to a second position, and brings the charging roller into contact with the surface of the image bearing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masayuki Kasukawa
  • Patent number: 12115782
    Abstract: A flexible belt is disclosed for use in a printing system. The belt comprises an endless strip which, in use, travels along a continuous path. Formations are provided along the sides of the strip which are capable of engaging with lateral tracks to place the belt under lateral tension, the lateral tracks further serving to constrain the belt to follow the continuous path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: LANDA CORPORATION LTD.
    Inventors: Benzion Landa, Sagi Abramovich, Aharon Shmaiser, Rami Keller, Itshak Ashkanazi
  • Patent number: 12105435
    Abstract: A conductive roller includes a base including an outer surface along and about an axial line thereof, and a surface layer arranged on the outer surface of the base. The surface layer includes particles. The ten-point height of irregularities Rz of the outer surface of the base is greater than or equal to 6.0 micrometers and less than or equal to 8.0 micrometers. A ten-point height of irregularities Rz of an outer surface of the surface layer is greater than or equal to 5.5 micrometers and less than or equal to 8.5 micrometers. The base included in the conductive roller preferably includes a core member and a conductive elastic layer arranged between the core member and the surface layer. The surface layer preferably includes a conductive portion including a resin material and a conductive agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: NOK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shogo Suzuki, Satoshi Fukuoka, Kenji Sasaki
  • Patent number: 12092968
    Abstract: A process unit includes a photoreceptor drum, a charging roller, and a cam member. The cam member includes a mounting portion that externally fits to a shaft portion of the charging roller and a contact portion that protrudes to an outside of the mounting portion. Then, the charging roller is maintained in a separate state by bringing the contact portion of the cam member into contact with an outer surface of the drum main body, and the charging roller is switched to a contact state by rotating the cam member dependently with rotation of the photoreceptor drum in a normal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 12025943
    Abstract: A cleaning blade in which a Young's modulus of a contact portion that comes into contact with a member to be cleaned is 14 MPa or more and 25 MPa or less, and a tip angle of the contact portion is 55 degrees or more and 80 degrees or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Kenta Shingu, Daisuke Tano
  • Patent number: 12013650
    Abstract: In a charging roll, grooves regularly defining spirals are formed on an elastic body layer, with a groove width of 4 ?m to 280 ?m and a groove depth of 2 ?m to 30 ?m. On an outer peripheral surface of the elastic body layer, an area ratio between an area of a bottom surface of the groove and an area of a plane part is 0.3 to 2.4. The surface layer includes a binder polymer and a roughness forming particle. The roughness forming particle is arranged on the plane part and the groove. A surface roughness of the surface layer on the groove is 2 ?m to 16 ?m. A surface roughness of the entire surface layer is 5 ?m to 26 ?m. A thickness of the binder polymer covering the roughness forming particle on the groove is greater than that on the plane part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Sumitomo Riko Company Limited
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Saito, Hiroshi Ukai, Masanori Ishida
  • Patent number: 11982949
    Abstract: A charging member for an image forming apparatus may include a conductive support and a surface layer on the conductive support and spaced apart from a photosensitive member. The surface layer may include a urethane foam including foam cells and having a foam structure based on the foam cells, the foam cells including open cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Taehyun Kim, Norihiro Harada, Jinmo Hong
  • Patent number: 11977340
    Abstract: An example charging member has a conductive support, a conductive elastic body layer on the conductive support, a first surface layer on the conductive elastic body layer, and a second surface layer on the first surface layer. The first surface layer includes a binder resin and a first plurality of first particles dispersed in the binder resin of the first surface layer, the second surface layer includes the binder resin, a second plurality of first particles, and second particles, the second plurality of first particles and the second particles being dispersed in the binder resin of the second surface layer, and an average diameter d1 of the first particles is 3 ?m?d1?6 ?m and an average diameter d2 of the second particles is 20 ?m?d2?26 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Youngphil Ji, Jisoo Heo
  • Patent number: 11947274
    Abstract: A roll member includes: a conductive elastic layer that contains a fatty acid metal salt; and a surface layer that is provided on the conductive elastic layer and contains a filler, in which the surface layer includes a first layer provided on the conductive elastic layer side and a second layer provided immediately above the first layer, and a content of the filler in the first layer is less than a content of the filler in the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Yuki Tagawa, Takuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11894710
    Abstract: A battery pack in one aspect of the present disclosure includes a first cell, a memory device, a target current calculator, and an information notifier. The memory device stores a maximum variation of a charging current value. The maximum variation is determined depending on a characteristic of the battery pack. The target current calculator calculates a newest value of a target current value based on (i) a previous value of the target current value and (ii) the maximum variation. The information notifier transmits a charge condition information including the newest value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroki Uesugi
  • Patent number: 11835878
    Abstract: An electrophotographic roller includes: a mandrel and an elastic layer on the mandrel, and having a crown shape in which a diameter decreases from a central position O in a longitudinal direction of the mandrel toward an end portion. When a position of the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the elastic layer is defined as X2, a position between the O and the X2 is defined as Xl, a distance between the O and the X1 is defined as L1, and a distance between the X1 and the X2 is defined as L2, L1=0.6×(L1+L2). When outer diameters of the electrophotographic roller at O, X1 and X2 are defined as Do, DX1 and DX2, respectively, and Z1=(Do?DX1)/2 and Z2=(DX1?DX2)/2 are defined, Z1, Z2, L1 and L2 satisfy (Z2/L2)<1.931×(Z1/L1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuya Kodama, Toshiro Suzuki, Kenichi Yazawa, Atsushi Uematsu
  • Patent number: 11809126
    Abstract: A charging member includes a conductive base material; an elastic layer that is provided on the conductive base material and has a storage elastic modulus G of 5.0 MPa or less at 100 Hz; and a surface layer that is provided on the elastic layer, in which in a Cole-Cole plot obtained by measuring the charging member in a range of 1 MHz to 0.1 Hz by an alternating current impedance method, a resistance component Ra of a capacitive semicircle including 2.5 kHz is 6.3×104? or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kinuta, Yuki Tagawa, Ken Ozaki, Noboru Hirakawa
  • Patent number: 11796933
    Abstract: A conductive member includes a substrate, an elastic layer on the substrate, and a surface layer on the elastic layer. The surface layer contains a conductive agent and has a sea-island structure including a sea containing a first resin and islands containing a second resin. The area occupancy of the islands in a cross section of the surface layer is 10% or more and 50% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Kenta Yamakoshi, Yukimi Kawabata, Fuyuki Kano
  • Patent number: 11762308
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a photoreceptor including a surface to form a static latent image, a non-contact charging device being spaced apart from the photoreceptor, a power source to apply a voltage to the charging device, and a controller. The charging device charges an image-forming portion of the surface of the photoreceptor during an image-forming period and charges a non-image-forming portion of the surface of the photoreceptor during a non-image-forming period. The controller changes a signal parameter of the voltage to be applied by the power source during the non-image-forming period, in order to adjust a current flowing from the charging device to the photoreceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Ishii, Yoichi Yoshida, Koichiro Takashima
  • Patent number: 11754937
    Abstract: A roll member includes a conductive elastic layer, and a surface layer provided on the conductive elastic layer. The surface layer contains a crosslinked product of crosslinkable nylon, the crosslinking degree of the surface layer specified by formula (1) below is 0.3 or more and 0.7 or less, and the thermal degradation index of the surface layer specified by formula (2) below is 2.1 or more and 2.3 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Yuki Tagawa, Ryo Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 11753519
    Abstract: Provided is a conductive roll for an electrophotographic machine. The conductive roll is a charging roll and includes a shaft body, and an elastic body layer formed on an outer periphery of the shaft body. The elastic body layer is a crosslinked body of a composition containing a diene-based polymer (a), a sulfur or peroxide crosslinking agent (b), carbon black (c), and a coupling agent (d). (c) has a specific surface area of 40 to 300 m2/g. (d) is a coupling agent having a NHR1 group and a SSO3H group, or a coupling agent having a NHR1 group and an ene structure (where R1 is H or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms). The contents of (c) and (d) in the composition are respectively 10 to 45 parts by mass and 0.5 to 20 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of (a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Sumitomo Riko Company Limited
    Inventors: Shinkichi Kashihara, Takeru Horiuchi, Naoki Akira
  • Patent number: 11691435
    Abstract: A method and system for enabling a patterned liquid, can involve creating a heat image on an imaging blanket by selectively heating the imaging blanket with a digitally controlled energy source, and subjecting the heat image to a selective deposition of a fountain solution material to enable vapor condensation on unheated areas and vapor rejection from heated areas to generate a fountain material image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Janos Veres, David K. Biegelsen, Gregory B. Anderson, Joerg Martini, Joanne L. Lee
  • Patent number: 11650515
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus, including: an image bearing member; an exposure unit; a developing member which is rotatable at a rotation speed different from the image bearing member; a developer supply member; a developing voltage-applying unit; a supply voltage-applying unit; and a control unit. The control unit controls execution of: an image forming operation in which a developer image is formed by supplying developer on the image bearing member; and a cleaning operation which removes a substance adhered to the image bearing member using the developing member. In the cleaning operation, the control unit controls the developing voltage-applying unit or the supply voltage-applying unit so that the cleaning force using the developing member becomes stronger than that in the image forming operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasukazu Ikami, Takashi Mukai, Shuhei Tokiwa, Taichi Sato, Fuka Enokido
  • Patent number: 11650514
    Abstract: An electroconductive roll includes a core member, a rubber base material disposed around the core member, and a surface layer disposed around the rubber base material. The surface area of the surface layer per unit projected area is equal to or greater than 1.255, and is equal to or less than 6.635.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Inventors: Kousuke Oura, Shogo Suzuki, Satoshi Fukuoka, Kenji Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11644761
    Abstract: An electrophotographic roller includes: a mandrel and an elastic layer on the mandrel, and having a crown shape in which a diameter decreases from a central position O in a longitudinal direction of the mandrel toward an end portion. When a position of the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the elastic layer is defined as X2, a position between the O and the X2 is defined as X1, a distance between the O and the X1 is defined as L1, and a distance between the X1 and the X2 is defined as L2, L1=0.6×(L1+L2). When outer diameters of the electrophotographic roller at O, X1 and X2 are defined as Do, DX1 and DX2, respectively, and Z1=(Do?DX1)/2 and Z2=(DX1?DX2)/2 are defined, Z1, Z2, L1 and L2 satisfy (Z2/L2)<1.931×(Z1/L1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuya Kodama, Toshiro Suzuki, Kenichi Yazawa, Atsushi Uematsu
  • Patent number: 11630404
    Abstract: A conductive roller includes a support member, an elastic layer disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the support member, and a surface layer disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer. The elastic layer includes a cylindrical elastic foam and a conductive covering layer covering an exposed surface of the elastic foam and has a volume resistance value of 105? or less at an applied voltage of 10 V. The elastic foam has a conductive particle content of 1% by mass or less based on the total mass of the elastic foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Minoru Rokutan, Shogo Hayashi, Takuro Hoshio
  • Patent number: 11599765
    Abstract: An identification element (50) for a shank tool has an elastic inner ring (10) and an outer ring (20) arranged around the inner ring (10), said outer ring having a recess formed annularly in the outer ring. An RFID transponder is arranged in the recess. The inner ring (10) of the identification element (50) encloses a shank of the shank tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: BALLUFF GMBH
    Inventors: Eberhard Stabel, Robert Beutler
  • Patent number: 11560459
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a masterbatch for foam molding which can be suitably used in molding involving high shear force or molding requiring low molding temperature and which can provide a foam molded article having a high expansion ratio and good appearance quality. The present invention also aims to provide a foam molded article formed from the masterbatch for foam molding. Provided is a masterbatch for foam molding, containing: a base resin; and a thermally expandable microcapsule, the masterbatch having a true specific gravity of 0.80 g/cm3 or more and a Mooney viscosity ML 1+4 (100° C.) of 20 to 90, the base resin containing an EPDM resin, the masterbatch containing the thermally expandable microcapsule in an amount of 40 to 300 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the base resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yusaku Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 11555089
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel rotaxane and a polyurethane using the same. The present invention provides a rotaxane having a crown ether and a chain molecule piercing through the cyclic structure of the crown ether, wherein a hydroxyl group exists at one terminal of the chain molecule, and a hydroxyl group bonds to the cyclic structure of the crown ether. The present invention further provides a polyurethane using the rotaxane as a polyol component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignees: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD., TOKYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Tarao, Mami Tanaka, Toshikazu Takata, Jun Sawada
  • Patent number: 11513455
    Abstract: A conductive roller includes a support member, an elastic layer disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the support member, and an outer layer disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the elastic layer. The elastic layer includes a cylindrical elastic foam and has a Young?s modulus of 150 kPa or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Minoru Rokutan, Shogo Hayashi, Takuro Hoshio
  • Patent number: 11487213
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a spacing member provided on a rotation shaft of a charging roller, the spacing member configured to include an engaging portion that engages with a rotation member, and to be rotatable between a spaced position at which a spaced state in which a photosensitive drum and the charging roller are spaced apart is maintained, and a released position at which the spaced state is released and the photosensitive drum and the charging roller are caused to be in contact; and a cover portion provided on the rotation shaft of the charging roller, and configured to cover an end face of the spacing member so that a fitting portion of the charging roller and the spacing member is covered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Go Katsumata
  • Patent number: 11454920
    Abstract: An example image forming apparatus includes a main body, a driving motor rotatable in a first direction to provide a driving force to a developing cartridge and rotatable in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a support assembly to, based on the developing cartridge being mounted to the main body, provide the driving force of the driving motor in the first direction to the mounted developing cartridge, and detach the mounted developing cartridge from the main body using the driving force of the driving motor in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Pil Seung Oh, Taeil Jung, Byung Woo Kim, Taejin Yoon
  • Patent number: 11448982
    Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus including an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging unit, and a developing unit, wherein the charging unit includes a conductive member disposed to be contactable with the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a conductive layer of the conductive member has a matrix-domain structure, at least some of the domains are exposed at the outer surface of the conductive member, the volume resistivity RI of the matrix is greater than 1.00×1012 ?·cm and not greater than 1.00×1017 ?·cm, the matrix volume resistivity R1 is at least 1.0×105-times the domain volume resistivity R2, and the developing unit includes a toner, the toner includes a binder resin-containing toner particle and an external additive, and the external additive contains fine particles of a hydrotalcite compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuneyoshi Tominaga, Shohei Tsuda, Shohei Kototani, Noriyoshi Umeda, Masahiro Kurachi, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Motonari Ito
  • Patent number: 11397388
    Abstract: A process for producing an electrophotographic electroconductive member having an electroconductive support and an electroconductive layer in the order mentioned. The electroconductive layer has a matrix including a crosslinked product of a first rubber, and a domain including a crosslinked product of a second rubber and an electroconductive particle, the process including the steps of: providing a rubber mixture for forming the domain, including carbon black and the second rubber by kneading the carbon black and the second rubber; providing a rubber mixture for forming the matrix, including the first rubber; kneading the rubber mixture for forming the domain and the rubber mixture for forming the matrix to prepare a rubber composition having a matrix-domain structure; forming a layer of the rubber composition on a surface of the electroconductive support; and curing the layer of the rubber composition on the surface of the electroconductive support to form the electroconductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Nishioka, Masahiro Kurachi, Kenji Takashima, Yuichi Kikuchi, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Kana Sato, Takumi Furukawa, Hiroaki Watanabe, Kenya Terada, Yuya Tomomizu, Toshimitsu Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 11392055
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a developing roller rotatable about an axis extending in a first direction; a casing; and a first cam provided at an outer surface of one end portion of the casing in a second direction. The first cam is movable in a third direction between a first position and a second position closer to the developing roller than the first position is in the third direction. The first cam has: a first inclined surface for receiving a pressing force in the first direction; and a second inclined surface. A distance between the second inclined surface and the casing in the second direction varies as the second inclined surface extends away from the developing roller in the third direction. The first cam is movable between the first position and the second position in response to application of the pressing force to the first inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Go Iwasa
  • Patent number: 11385559
    Abstract: Provided is an electrophotographic electroconductive member including an electroconductive support and an electroconductive layer on the support, an electroconductive member is used, in which an electroconductive layer has a matrix comprising a first rubber, and domains dispersed in the matrix, the domains each comprising a second rubber and an electronic electroconductive agent, and for impedance measured by applying an AC voltage with an amplitude of 1 V to the electroconductive layer while varying frequencies between 1.0×10?2 Hz to 1.0×107 Hz under a specific environment, when a double logarithmic plot with a frequency on an abscissa and an impedance on an ordinate is obtained, a slope on a high frequency side is ?0.8 or more and ?0.3 or less, and the impedance a low frequency side is from 1.0×103 to 1.0×107?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Kikuchi, Satoru Nishioka, Kenji Takashima, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Masahiro Kurachi, Takumi Furukawa, Hiroaki Watanabe, Kenya Terada, Yuya Tomomizu, Toshimitsu Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 11378910
    Abstract: A process cartridge is provided, which is configured to recover, with a developing member, developer remaining on an image bearing member after transfer of a developer image to a transfer receiving member, wherein a charging member has a shaft that is conductive and an elastic layer supported on the shaft and being in contact with the image bearing member; the elastic layer has a matrix containing a first rubber, and a plurality of domains containing a second rubber and an electron-conductive agent and interspersed within the matrix. The electric resistance of the domains is lower than the electric resistance of the matrix. The matrix is exposed on an outer surface of the elastic layer and forms multiple depressed portions, and the domains include a domains exposed at a bottom section of the depressed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Mukai, Takashi Hiramatsu, Shuhei Tokiwa, Takayuki Namiki, Takumi Furukawa, Yuichi Kikuchi, Kazuhiro Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 11347156
    Abstract: The electro-conductive member has an electro-conductive support, and an electro-conductive layer in this order, the electro-conductive layer including a matrix and domains, the matrix constituted by a first rubber composition containing a cross-linked product of a first rubber, the domains having electro-conductivity, and dispersed in the matrix, each of the domains constituted by a second rubber composition containing a cross-linked product of a second rubber and an electro-conductive particle, the first rubber and the second rubber being diene-based rubbers, the first rubber having at least one monomer unit, the second rubber having at least one monomer unit different from the monomer unit which the first rubber has; a difference of absolute values of SP values between the first rubber and the second rubber is 0.2 (J/cm3)0.5 to 4.0 (J/cm3)0.5; and a tan ?1/tan ?2 is 0.45 to 2.00.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Kurachi, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Satoru Nishioka, Kenji Takashima, Yuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 11314180
    Abstract: Provided are a charging roller excellent in charging characteristics (charging property/charge imparting property), elasticity/flexibility, durability, and filming resistance, and an image forming apparatus using the charging roller. The charging roller includes a shaft, and at least a base layer and a surface layer on an outer peripheral portion of the shaft in a radial direction, where the surface layer contains large-particle size particles and small-particle size particles having different average particle sizes and further contains hydrophilic particles; the water contact angle of the hydrophilic particles measured with a sessile drop technique is preferably more than 0 degree and 90 degrees or less and more preferably 50 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less; the large-particle size particles are large-particle size acrylic resin particles; the small-particle size particles are small-particle size acrylic resin particles; and the hydrophilic particles are hydrophilic silica particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Manami Morioka
  • Patent number: 11307509
    Abstract: An electro-conductive layer of an electrophotographic electro-conductive member has a matrix-domain structure. The matrix contains a first rubber. The domain contains a second rubber and electro-conductive particles. Where ? represents an average of ratios of the cross-sectional area of the electro-conductive particles contained in each of the domains to the cross-sectional area of each of the domains appearing on a cross-section of the electro-conductive layer in a thickness direction, and ? represents a standard deviation of the ratios, ?/? is 0 or more and 0.4 or less, and ? is 20% or more and 40% or less. At least eight of samples with a first cubic shape 9 ?m on a side, which are sampled at arbitrary nine positions on the electro-conductive layer, satisfy the specified condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuo Hino, Yasuhiro Fushimoto, Norifumi Muranaka, Masafumi Kyogaku, Masaki Yamada, Hiroshi Inoue, Takumi Furukawa, Hiroaki Watanabe, Kenya Terada, Yuya Tomomizu, Toshimitsu Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 11248102
    Abstract: A roll excellent in abrasion resistance, which contains: a resin layer containing a first atom group having a plurality of sulfur atoms, a plurality of second atom groups having a carbon chain that has a plurality of carbon atoms arranged in a line and has an end bonded to any one of the plurality of sulfur atoms, and a plurality of third atom groups each of which has a urethane bond and is bonded to any one of the plurality of second atom groups; and a cylindrical foamed resin having an outer surface covered with the resin layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: INOAC TECHNICAL CENTER CO.. LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Suzuki, Minoru Ubukata, Takuya Ito
  • Patent number: 11194266
    Abstract: Provided are a developing roll for an electrophotographic device and a method for manufacturing a developing roll for an electrophotographic device, with which toner fusion and toner filming are suppressed. A developing roll for an electrophotographic device includes a shaft body and an elastic body layer formed on an outer circumference of the shaft body. The surface of the elastic body layer has a plurality of large protruding parts having a width of 3.0 to 12 ?m and a height of 3.0 to 12 ?m, and the side surface of the large protruding part 16 has a plurality of small protruding parts which form convex-concavity having a ten-point average roughness Rz of 2.0 to 4.0 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Sumitomo Riko Company Limited
    Inventors: Tatsuya Kibayashi, Yoshihiro Saito
  • Patent number: 11175602
    Abstract: An electroconductive member for electrophotography has an electroconductive support and an electroconductive layer in the order mentioned. The electroconductive layer has a matrix including a crosslinked product of a first rubber, and a domain including a crosslinked product of a second rubber and an electroconductive particle. The impedance of an outer surface of the electroconductive member is 1.0×103 to 1.0×108?. 80% by number or more of domains observed at each of a total of nine 15-?m square observation regions, which are disposed at any three points in a thickness region from the outer surface to a specific depth on each of cross sections in a thickness direction at three points: the center of the electroconductive layer in the longitudinal direction and points at a specific distance from both edges of the electroconductive layer toward the center, satisfy specific requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Nishioka, Masahiro Kurachi, Kenji Takashima, Yuichi Kikuchi, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Kana Sato, Takumi Furukawa, Hiroaki Watanabe, Kenya Terada, Yuya Tomomizu, Toshimitsu Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 11111380
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composition for production of a thermoplastic moulding compound, wherein the composition comprises or consists of the following constituents, A) at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of aromatic polycarbonate, aromatic polyester carbonate and aromatic polyester, B) polymer free of epoxy groups, consisting of B.1) rubber-modified vinyl (co)polymer prepared by the emulsion polymerization method and B.2) optionally, a rubber-free vinyl (co)polymer, C) a block or graft polymer comprising structural elements deriving from styrene and at least one epoxy-comprising vinyl monomer, D) one or more further additives, and to a process for producing a moulding compound from the composition, to the moulding compound itself, to the use of the composition or the moulding compound for production of mouldings, and to the mouldings themselves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Andreas Seidel, Sven Hobeika, Ralf Hufen, Thomas Eckel
  • Patent number: 11112719
    Abstract: Provided is a process cartridge in which lateral running is suppressed while satisfactory potential fluctuation is maintained. The process cartridge includes: an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a support, a lowermost layer, and a photosensitive layer; and a charging member including a support and a conductive layer. In a case where a maximum frequency at which a phase of an impedance reaches 45°, when the impedance is measured by applying an AC voltage to the lowermost layer while changing the AC voltage, is represented by fOPC (Hz), and in a case where a maximum frequency at which a phase of an impedance reaches 45°, when the impedance is measured by applying an AC voltage to the charging member while changing the AC voltage, is represented by fC (Hz), the fOPC and the fC each have a value within a certain range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei Makisumi, Kaname Watariguchi, Fumiyuki Hiyama, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Yuichi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 11106151
    Abstract: In a charging roll for electrophotographic equipment, an outer surface layer of an elastic layer includes a binder resin, large-diameter particles having an average particle diameter of 15-50 ?m, and small-diameter particles having an average particle diameter of 3-15 ?m, a difference in average particle diameter between the large-diameter particles and the small-diameter particles is 10-35 ?m, the small-diameter particles are arranged in one layer in the surface layer, the average distance between the small-diameter particles is not more than 1.2 times the average particle diameter of the small-diameter particles, the thickness a of the binder resin covering the large-diameter particles is within the range of 1.5-3.5 ?m, the thickness b of the binder resin covering the small-diameter particles is 3.0-6.0 ?m, and the thickness b is larger than the thickness a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Sumitomo Riko Company Limited
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Saito, Hiroshi Ukai
  • Patent number: 11086247
    Abstract: An assembly for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example includes a rotatable roll having an electrically conductive shaft. An electrically conductive bracket is positioned adjacent to the roll and in a spaced relationship from the roll along a length of the roll. An electrical contact is positioned to receive an electrical voltage from a power supply of the image forming device. The electrical contact is electrically connected to a first end portion of the shaft of the roll by way of a first electrical path and to a second end portion of the shaft of the roll by way of a second electrical path to transfer the electrical voltage to the roll. The bracket forms a portion of the second electrical path such that the electrical voltage transferring from the electrical contact to the second end portion of the shaft of the roll passes through the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Lawrence Tonges
  • Patent number: 11061342
    Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging device, and a developing device, wherein the charging device comprises a conductive member arranged to be capable of contacting the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a conductive layer on the conductive member outer surface comprises a matrix and a plurality of domains dispersed in the matrix, at least some of the domains are exposed at the conductive member outer surface, the matrix has a volume resistivity of larger than 1.00×1012 ?·cm and is 1.0×105 times or more one of the domains, the developing device comprises the toner comprising a toner particle, fine particles A and B, the fine particle A has a volume resistivity of 1.0×103 to 1.0×1010 ?·cm, and the fine particle B is silica fine particle and having a volume resistivity of 1.0×1011 to 1.0×1017 ?·cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Umeda, Tsuneyoshi Tominaga, Shohei Tsuda, Shohei Kototani, Masahiro Kurachi, Kazuhiro Yamauchi, Hideo Kihara
  • Patent number: 10996601
    Abstract: A charging device includes a charging roller, a cleaning roller, a pair of first supporting members, a pair of second supporting members and a pair of elastic members. The pair of first supporting members supports the charging roller in a rotatable manner. The pair of second supporting members supports the cleaning roller in a rotatable manner. The pair of elastic members is disposed between the first supporting members and the second supporting members, and pushes back the cleaning roller in a direction separate away from the charging roller. The second supporting member provided on one side in an axial direction of the cleaning roller has a roller-shift preventing part which blocks the cleaning roller. The elastic member provided on the one side in the axial direction pushes back the cleaning roller with force smaller than force of the elastic member provided on the other side in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Ryo Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 10866552
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing cartridge, a drum cartridge, a casing, a connector, and a controller. The drum cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a drum cartridge memory, a charger, and a cleaner. The charger is configured to charge the photosensitive drum and including a wire and a grid electrode. The cleaner is configured to clean the wire. The connector is configured to be electrically connected to the drum cartridge memory. Information is writable to the drum memory through the connector. The detection circuit board is configured to detect a state of discharge of the charger. The controller is configured to perform: determining whether or not the state of discharge detected by the detection circuit board is abnormal; and writing, in the drum cartridge memory, information representing occurrence of the abnormal discharge through the connector in a case where occurrence of the abnormal discharge is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Fumitake Tajiri
  • Patent number: 10824087
    Abstract: A charging member includes a conductive substrate, an elastic layer disposed on the conductive substrate, and a surface layer disposed on the elastic layer. Regarding the surface of the surface layer, in the axial direction, the ratio of the mean spacing of profile irregularities Sm to the ten-point mean roughness Rz and the reduced peak height Spk respectively satisfy 15?Sm/Rz?35 and Spk?5 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kinuta, Shogo Tomari, Hiroko Kobayashi, Kosuke Narita
  • Patent number: 10684582
    Abstract: A pressing member for fixing includes: an axial section; a cylindrical body that includes the axial section internally inserted, rotates following rotation of the axial section, and is extendable in an axial direction relative to the axial section; and an elastic layer that is stacked on an outer circumference of the cylindrical body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Issei Fujihara
  • Patent number: 10571838
    Abstract: A controller of an image forming apparatus executes acquisition processing of acquiring an area of an image which exists in a predetermined region of a first page where a developer image is first to be formed, heating processing of heating a heating member such that a temperature of the heating member reaches a fixing temperature, and feeding processing of starting feed of a sheet to a process unit after a predetermined period of time elapses from a predetermined timing after a start of print processing. The predetermined region is laid at both end portions in a width direction of the first page. In a case where the area of the image is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, the controller sets the predetermined period of time in the feeding processing shorter as compared with a case where the area of the image is larger than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fumitake Tajiri, Yusuke Mizuno, Tatsuya Koyama, Hisashi Tsukawaki
  • Patent number: 10571822
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a charging roller in which detachment of particles from a surface layer as well as abrasion and scraping of the particles, which are caused by contact and the like with other member such as a photoreceptor during the use, are unlikely to occur. The charging roller includes: a shaft 1; and an elastic layer 2 and a surface layer 3, which are sequentially formed on the outer circumference of the shaft 1. The surface layer 3 is composed of a mixture of a surface layer resin composition and particles, the surface layer resin composition has a tensile elongation at break of 51% or greater, and the particles have a reaction force of 1.0 to 10.3 mN under 1-?m compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takehiro Sano