Patents by Inventor Masaki Sonobe

Masaki Sonobe 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: 8852496
    Abstract: A continuous multi-layer film includes a support layer having a first film surface, and a hard coat layer, formed on the support layer, having a second film surface, and having a curling tendency in an inward direction. In the decurling method, the multi-layer film is transported. A first transition of the support layer in the multi-layer film being transported into a rubber phase is induced by supplying fluid vapor on the support layer. After supplying the fluid vapor, a second transition of the support layer from the rubber phase into a glass phase is induced. The multi-layer film is transported while a portion of the support layer in the rubber phase is prevented from contacting a solid object. The hard coat layer is formed from a polymer produced from an ultraviolet curable compound, and the support layer is formed from cellulose acylate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Taguchi, Masaki Sonobe, Takahiro Oba, Hideaki Mizutani
  • Patent number: 8821783
    Abstract: A continuous multi-layer film includes a support layer having a first film surface, and a hard coat layer, formed on the support layer, having a second film surface, and having a curling tendency in an inward direction. In the decurling method, the multi-layer film is transported. A first transition of the support layer in the multi-layer film being transported into a rubber phase is induced by supplying fluid vapor on the support layer. After supplying the fluid vapor, a second transition of the support layer from the rubber phase into a glass phase is induced. The multi-layer film is transported while a portion of the support layer in the rubber phase is prevented from contacting a solid object. The hard coat layer is formed from a polymer produced from an ultraviolet curable compound, and the support layer is formed from cellulose acylate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Taguchi, Masaki Sonobe, Takahiro Oba, Hideaki Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20110241255
    Abstract: A continuous multi-layer film includes a support layer having a first film surface, and a hard coat layer, formed on the support layer, having a second film surface, and having a curling tendency in an inward direction. In the decurling method, the multi-layer film is transported. A first transition of the support layer in the multi-layer film being transported into a rubber phase is induced by supplying fluid vapor on the support layer. After supplying the fluid vapor, a second transition of the support layer from the rubber phase into a glass phase is induced. The multi-layer film is transported while a portion of the support layer in the rubber phase is prevented from contacting a solid object. The hard coat layer is formed from a polymer produced from an ultraviolet curable compound, and the support layer is formed from cellulose acylate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: TAKAO TAGUCHI, MASAKI SONOBE, TAKAHIRO OBA, HIDEAKI MIZUTANI
  • Patent number: 7526878
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for drying a coating film comprising drying a coating film of an organic solvent-containing coating liquid applied to a running band-shaped flexible substrate, the drying method comprising the steps of: providing a heater at a position opposed to the band-shaped flexible substrate at a running position immediately after coating; and heating the band-shaped flexible substrate by the heater; wherein when TW( ° C.) denotes the surface temperature of the band-shaped flexible substrate; TH( ° C.) denotes the surface temperature of the heater; ?(W/m·K) denotes the heat-transfer coefficient of air; d(m) denotes the distance between the heater and the band-shaped flexible substrate (web); ? denotes the efficiency of heat transfer; and ? denotes the Stefan-Boltzmann constant (5.670×10?8 W/m2K4), the ratio of radiant heat transfer represented by QR/(QR+QC) is 0.25 or more and 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Sonobe, Takashi Yahiro
  • Publication number: 20080213471
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for applying a coating solution by discharging a coating solution from a slit provided at a tip of a slot-die toward a surface of a web fitted onto a backup roller, the method comprising: a stand-by step of staying the slot-die at a stand-by position having a larger clearance between the slot-die and the web than that of a standard coating process; and a two-stage moving operation including a first moving step in which the slot die is moved to a coating initiation position having a smaller clearance than that of the standard coating process to initiate application of a coating solution, and a second moving step in which the slot die is moved away from the coating initiation position to a standard coating position having the clearance of the standard coating process to perform constant application of the coating solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Oki, Masaki Sonobe
  • Publication number: 20080206455
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for drying a coating film comprising drying a coating film of an organic solvent-containing coating liquid applied to a running band-shaped flexible substrate, the drying method comprising the steps of: providing a heater at a position opposed to the band-shaped flexible substrate at a running position immediately after coating; and heating the band-shaped flexible substrate by the heater; wherein when TW (° C.) denotes the surface temperature of the band-shaped flexible substrate; TH (° C.) denotes the surface temperature of the heater; ? (W/m·K) denotes the heat-transfer coefficient of air; d(m) denotes the distance between the heater and the band-shaped flexible substrate (web); ? denotes the efficiency of heat transfer; and ? denotes the Stefan-Boltzmann constant (5.670×10?8 W/m2K4), the ratio of radiant heat transfer represented by QR/(QR+QC) is 0.25 or more and 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Sonobe, Takashi Yahiro