Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Umezawa

Hiroshi Umezawa 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: 9617350
    Abstract: The invention is a method for efficiently preparing alkali cellulose having a uniform alkali distribution therein. More specifically, the invention is a method for preparing alkali cellulose comprising steps of bringing pulp into continuous contact with an alkali metal hydroxide solution in a bucket conveyor type contactor to generate a contact mixture, and draining the contact mixture; a method for preparing a cellulose ether comprising use of the alkali cellulose thus prepared; and an apparatus for preparing alkali cellulose comprising a bucket conveyor contactor comprising at least one inlet port for introducing pulp and an alkali metal hydroxide solution at one end and at least one outlet port for discharging a contact mixture wherein the pulp and the alkali metal hydroxide solution can be moved from one end to the other end while bringing them into contact with each other to generate the contact mixture; and a drainer for separating a cake from the contact mixture discharged from the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Narita, Masaki Tabata, Atsushi Yoshida, Hiroshi Umezawa
  • Patent number: 9611333
    Abstract: The invention is a method for efficiently preparing alkali cellulose having a uniform alkali distribution therein. More specifically, pulp and an excess alkali metal hydroxide solution are introduced continuously in a screw conveyor type contactor and brought into contact with each other in the screw conveyor type reactor. By changing at least one factor selected from the group consisting of a rotation speed of the screw conveyor, a screw pitch and a length of immersion zone, a ratio of an alkali to cellulose in the alkali cellulose obtained by draining is controlled. The alkali cellulose thus obtained is etherified into the corresponding cellulose ether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Narita, Masaki Tabata, Atsushi Yoshida, Hiroshi Umezawa
  • Patent number: 9534061
    Abstract: The invention is an efficient method for preparing alkali cellulose having the low water content and a uniform alkali distribution therein. More specifically, the invention is a method for continuously preparing alkali cellulose comprising steps of bringing pulp into continuous contact with an alkali metal hydroxide solution to generate a contact mixture and then draining the contact mixture by a centrifugal separator. The invention also includes a method for preparing cellulose ether comprising a step of etherifying the alkali cellulose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Narita, Masaki Tabata, Atsushi Yoshida, Hiroshi Umezawa
  • Patent number: 9068021
    Abstract: Provided is a low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose powder having high compressibility, good flowability and excellent disintegration. The powder has an average particle size of 10 to 100 ?m and a specific surface area measured by BET method of at least 1.0 m2/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naosuke Maruyama, Hiroshi Umezawa
  • Patent number: 8865889
    Abstract: The invention is a method for efficiently preparing alkali cellulose having a uniform alkali distribution therein. More specifically, the invention is a method for preparing alkali cellulose comprising steps of bringing pulp into continuous contact with an alkali metal hydroxide solution in a rotary feeder type contactor to generate a contact mixture, and draining the contact mixture; and a method for preparing cellulose ether comprising use of the alkali cellulose thus prepared; an apparatus for preparing alkali cellulose, comprising a rotary feeder comprising a cyclic housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port, a cyclic contact drum being circularly rotatable along the housing in the housing and comprising a plurality of filter cells arranged in a circumferential direction, and a filtrate-discharging tube being disposed in a diameter direction inside of the cyclic contact drum and collecting the filtrate which has passed the filter, and a drainer for draining a cake discharged from the contactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Narita, Masaki Tabata, Atsushi Yoshida, Hiroshi Umezawa
  • Patent number: 8853388
    Abstract: The invention is a method for efficiently preparing alkali cellulose having a uniform alkali distribution therein. More specifically, the invention is a method for preparing alkali cellulose comprising steps of bringing pulp into continuous contact with an alkali metal hydroxide solution in a pipe type contactor to generate a contact mixture and draining the contact mixture; a method for preparing cellulose ether comprising use of the alkali cellulose; and an apparatus for preparing alkali cellulose, comprising a pipe type contactor having at least one inlet port at one end thereof for introducing pulp and an alkali metal hydroxide solution, and an outlet port at the other end for discharging a contact mixture, wherein the pulp and the alkali metal hydroxide solution are moved from one end to the other end while bringing them into contact with each other, and a drainer for separating a cake from the contact mixture discharged from the contactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Narita, Masaki Tabata, Atsushi Yoshida, Hiroshi Umezawa
  • Publication number: 20130316176
    Abstract: Provided is a low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose powder having high compressibility, good flowability and excellent disintegration. The powder has an average particle size of 10 to 100 ?m and a specific surface area measured by BET method of at least 1.0 m2/g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naosuke Maruyama, Hiroshi Umezawa
  • Patent number: 8519120
    Abstract: Provided are a low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose powder having high compressibility, good flowability and excellent disintegration, and a method for producing the same. More specifically, provided is a method for producing a low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose powder having a molar substitution number per anhydrous glucose unit of 0.05 to 1.0, which is insoluble in water and swollenable by absorbing water, comprising the steps of: adding an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution to powdered pulp in such a manner that weight ratio of sodium hydroxide with respect to anhydrous cellulose is 0.1 to 0.3 so as to produce alkali cellulose; etherifying the obtained alkali cellulose to obtain a crude product; neutralizing the sodium hydroxide contained in the obtained crude reaction product; washing the resultant; drying; and pulverizing using by compaction-grinding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naosuke Maruyama, Hiroshi Umezawa
  • Patent number: 8343548
    Abstract: Provided are a solid dosage form comprising an enteric solid dispersion that allows a drug in the preparation to be rapidly dissolved without compromising the solubility of the solid dispersion, and a method for producing the same. More specifically, provided is a solid dosage form comprising an enteric solid dispersion comprising a poorly soluble drug, an enteric polymer and a disintegrant, wherein the disintegrant is low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose having an average particle size of 10 to 100 ?m and a specific surface area measured by BET method of at least 1.0 m2/g. Moreover, provided is a method for producing a solid dosage form comprising an enteric solid dispersion, the method comprising steps of: spraying an enteric polymer solution in which a poorly soluble drug has been dispersed or dissolved, on a powder of low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose having an average particle size of 10 to 100 ?m and a specific surface area measured by BET method of at least 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumie Kusaki, Takafumi Hoshino, Naosuke Maruyama, Yuichi Nishiyama, Ikuo Fukui, Hiroshi Umezawa
  • Patent number: 8343547
    Abstract: Provided are a solid dosage form comprising a solid dispersion that allows a drug in the preparation to be rapidly dissolved without compromising the solubility of the solid dispersion, and a method for producing the same. More specifically, provided is a solid dosage form comprising a solid dispersion, the dispersion comprising: a poorly soluble drug, a water-soluble polymer and a disintegrant, wherein the disintegrant is low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose having an average particle size of 10 to 100 ?m and a specific surface area measured by BET method of at least 1.0 m2/g. Moreover, provided is a method for producing a solid dosage form comprising a solid dispersion, the method comprising steps of: spraying a water-soluble polymer solution in which a poorly soluble drug has been dispersed or dissolved, on a powder of low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose having an average particle size of 10 to 100 ?m and a specific surface area measured by BET method of at least 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takafumi Hoshino, Fumie Kusaki, Naosuke Maruyama, Yuichi Nishiyama, Ikuo Fukui, Hiroshi Umezawa
  • Patent number: 8017766
    Abstract: Provided is a method for preparing alkali cellulose having alkali distributed uniformly therein. A uniform alkali distribution in the alkali cellulose makes it possible to prepare cellulose ether which has been substituted uniformly in an etherification reaction step. The resulting cellulose ether does not contain a floating water-insoluble portion which will otherwise appear owing to insufficient substitution. More specifically, provided are a method for preparing alkali cellulose, comprising simultaneously feeding pulp powder and an aqueous alkali solution to a high speed disperser to continuously bring them into contact with each other and a method for preparing cellulose ether, comprising reacting the resulting alkali cellulose with an etherifying agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Narita, Atsushi Hatayama, Hiroshi Umezawa
  • Publication number: 20080038339
    Abstract: Provided are a solid dosage form comprising a solid dispersion that allows a drug in the preparation to be rapidly dissolved without compromising the solubility of the solid dispersion, and a method for producing the same. More specifically, provided is a solid dosage form comprising a solid dispersion, the dispersion comprising: a poorly soluble drug, a water-soluble polymer and a disintegrant, wherein the disintegrant is low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose having an average particle size of 10 to 100 ?m and a specific surface area measured by BET method of at least 1.0 m2/g. Moreover, provided is a method for producing a solid dosage form comprising a solid dispersion, the method comprising steps of: spraying a water-soluble polymer solution in which a poorly soluble drug has been dispersed or dissolved, on a powder of low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose having an average particle size of 10 to 100 ?m and a specific surface area measured by BET method of at least 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Takafumi Hoshino, Fumie Kusaki, Naosuke Maruyama, Yuichi Nishiyama, Ikuo Fukui, Hiroshi Umezawa
  • Publication number: 20080038340
    Abstract: Provided are a solid dosage form comprising an enteric solid dispersion that allows a drug in the preparation to be rapidly dissolved without compromising the solubility of the solid dispersion, and a method for producing the same. More specifically, provided is a solid dosage form comprising an enteric solid dispersion comprising a poorly soluble drug, an enteric polymer and a disintegrant, wherein the disintegrant is low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose having an average particle size of 10 to 100 ?m and a specific surface area measured by BET method of at least 1.0 m2/g. Moreover, provided is a method for producing a solid dosage form comprising an enteric solid dispersion, the method comprising steps of: spraying an enteric polymer solution in which a poorly soluble drug has been dispersed or dissolved, on a powder of low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose having an average particle size of 10 to 100 ?m and a specific surface area measured by BET method of at least 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Fumie Kusaki, Takafumi Hoshino, Naosuke Maruyama, Yuichi Nishiyama, Ikuo Fukui, Hiroshi Umezawa
  • Publication number: 20080039621
    Abstract: Provided are a low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose powder having high compressibility, good flowability and excellent disintegration, and a method for producing the same. More specifically, provided is a method for producing a low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose powder having a molar substitution number per anhydrous glucose unit of 0.05 to 1.0, which is insoluble in water and swollenable by absorbing water, comprising the steps of: adding an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution to powdered pulp in such a manner that weight ratio of sodium hydroxide with respect to anhydrous cellulose is 0.1 to 0.3 so as to produce alkali cellulose; etherifying the obtained alkali cellulose to obtain a crude product; neutralizing the sodium hydroxide contained in the obtained crude reaction product; washing the resultant; drying; and pulverizing using by compaction-grinding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Naosuke Maruyama, Hiroshi Umezawa
  • Publication number: 20070149773
    Abstract: The invention is a method for efficiently preparing alkali cellulose having a uniform alkali distribution therein. More specifically, pulp and an excess alkali metal hydroxide solution are introduced continuously in a screw conveyor type contactor and brought into contact with each other in the screw conveyor type reactor. By changing at least one factor selected from the group consisting of a rotation speed of the screw conveyor, a screw pitch and a length of immersion zone, a ratio of an alkali to cellulose in the alkali cellulose obtained by draining is controlled. The alkali cellulose thus obtained is etherified into the corresponding cellulose ether.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Narita, Masaki Tabata, Atsushi Yoshida, Hiroshi Umezawa
  • Publication number: 20070149774
    Abstract: The invention is an efficient method for preparing alkali cellulose having the low water content and a uniform alkali distribution therein. More specifically, the invention is a method for continuously preparing alkali cellulose comprising steps of bringing pulp into continuous contact with an alkali metal hydroxide solution to generate a contact mixture and then draining the contact mixture by a centrifugal separator. The invention also includes a method for preparing cellulose ether comprising a step of etherifying the alkali cellulose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Narita, Masaki Tabata, Atsushi Yoshida, Hiroshi Umezawa
  • Publication number: 20070149772
    Abstract: The invention is a method for efficiently preparing alkali cellulose having a uniform alkali distribution therein. More specifically, the invention is a method for preparing alkali cellulose comprising steps of bringing pulp into continuous contact with an alkali metal hydroxide solution in a pipe type contactor to generate a contact mixture and draining the contact mixture; a method for preparing cellulose ether comprising use of the alkali cellulose; and an apparatus for preparing alkali cellulose, comprising a pipe type contactor having at least one inlet port at one end thereof for introducing pulp and an alkali metal hydroxide solution, and an outlet port at the other end for discharging a contact mixture, wherein the pulp and the alkali metal hydroxide solution are moved from one end to the other end while bringing them into contact with each other, and a drainer for separating a cake from the contact mixture discharged from the contactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Narita, Masaki Tabata, Atsushi Yoshida, Hiroshi Umezawa
  • Publication number: 20070144692
    Abstract: The invention is a method for efficiently preparing alkali cellulose having a uniform alkali distribution therein. More specifically, the invention is a method for preparing alkali cellulose comprising steps of bringing pulp into continuous contact with an alkali metal hydroxide solution in a rotary feeder type contactor to generate a contact mixture, and draining the contact mixture; and a method for preparing cellulose ether comprising use of the alkali cellulose thus prepared; an apparatus for preparing alkali cellulose, comprising a rotary feeder comprising a cyclic housing comprising an inlet port and an outlet port, a cyclic contact drum being circularly rotatable along the housing in the housing and comprising a plurality of filter cells arranged in a circumferential direction, and a filtrate-discharging tube being disposed in a diameter direction inside of the cyclic contact drum and collecting the filtrate which has passed the filter, and a drainer for draining a cake discharged from the contactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Narita, Masaki Tabata, Atsushi Yoshida, Hiroshi Umezawa
  • Publication number: 20070149771
    Abstract: The invention is a method for efficiently preparing alkali cellulose having a uniform alkali distribution therein. More specifically, the invention is a method for preparing alkali cellulose comprising steps of bringing pulp into continuous contact with an alkali metal hydroxide solution in a bucket conveyor type contactor to generate a contact mixture, and draining the contact mixture; a method for preparing a cellulose ether comprising use of the alkali cellulose thus prepared; and an apparatus for preparing alkali cellulose comprising a bucket conveyor contactor comprising at least one inlet port for introducing pulp and an alkali metal hydroxide solution at one end and at least one outlet port for discharging a contact mixture wherein the pulp and the alkali metal hydroxide solution can be moved from one end to the other end while bringing them into contact with each other to generate the contact mixture; and a drainer for separating a cake from the contact mixture discharged from the outlet port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Narita, Masaki Tabata, Atsushi Yoshida, Hiroshi Umezawa
  • Publication number: 20060287518
    Abstract: Provided is a method for preparing alkali cellulose having alkali distributed uniformly therein. A uniform alkali distribution in the alkali cellulose makes it possible to prepare cellulose ether which has been substituted uniformly in an etherification reaction step. The resulting cellulose ether does not contain a floating water-insoluble portion which will otherwise appear owing to insufficient substitution. More specifically, provided are a method for preparing alkali cellulose, comprising simultaneously feeding pulp powder and an aqueous alkali solution to a high speed disperser to continuously bring them into contact with each other and a method for preparing cellulose ether, comprising reacting the resulting alkali cellulose with an etherifying agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Inventors: Mitsuo Narita, Atsushi Hatayama, Hiroshi Umezawa