Patents Assigned to Polymer Processing Research Institute Ltd.
  • Patent number: 6984350
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a transversely aligned web has a spinning device provided with a plurality of nozzles for extruding molten polymer as filaments, and a conveyor on which the filaments spun by the spinning device are piled and traveling in a direction cross to the direction of array of the nozzles. The spinning device is provided with a high-speed fluid blowing unit for blowing a high-speed fluid in a direction parallel with a direction in which the filaments are extruded from the nozzles so as to attenuate the filaments. Further, the apparatus for manufacturing the transversely aligned web has at least one air stream vibrating mechanism for cyclically changing the flowing direction of the high-speed fluid blown from the high-speed fluid blowing unit in a direction cross to the machine direction of the conveyor. The filaments are vibrated in a direction cross to the machine direction of the conveyor, owing to the high-speed fluid by the air stream vibrating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignees: Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd., Polymer Processing Research Institute Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Kuroiwa, Kazuhiko Kurihara, Kazuhiro Yabe, Shin-ichi Umejima, Yoshiro Morino
  • Patent number: 6877971
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing a transversely aligned web having filaments aligned in the transverse direction, comprising conveyor running in one direction, spinning nozzle disposed above the conveyor, an annular primary airflow nozzle, and at least one pair of secondary airflow nozzles disposed on the upstream side and the downstream side of the running direction of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignees: Nippon Petrochemicals Co. Ltd., Polymer Processing Research Institute, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kurihara, Yoichi Mazawa, Yoshiro Morino
  • Publication number: 20040166756
    Abstract: A composite sheet comprises a nonwoven fabric and a rubber elastic material bonded onto the nonwoven fabric. The nonwoven fabric has nonelastic fibers aligned in one direction and has elongation of 100% or higher in a direction perpendicular to the aligned direction of the nonelastic fibers. The rubber elastic material is bonded to the nonwoven fabric in a pattern having orientation perpendicular to the aligned direction of the nonelastic fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Applicants: NIPPON PETROCHEMICALS CO., LTD., POLYMER PROCESSING RESEARCH INSTITUTE LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kurihara, Hiroshi Yazawa, Kenichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6673186
    Abstract: A laminated structural body is manufactured by laminating unidirectionally arranged strands and a web such that two layers of the web sandwich the strands therebetween. A cylindrical web is delivered in a direction parallel to a central axis thereof. A polymer liquid is discharged from a spinning head, which is disposed in the cylindrical web and rotated about the central axis of the cylindrical web, toward an inner surface of the cylindrical web to spin strands of the discharged polymer liquid. The spun strands are arranged in a direction substantially parallel to the circumferential direction of the cylindrical web and laminated on the inner surface of the cylindrical web. The cylindrical web with the strands laminated thereon is folded flatwise to sandwich the strands between the two folded layers of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignees: Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd., Polymer Processing Research Institute Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Ishida, Toshio Ohta, Tadayoshi Katoh, Hiroshi Yazawa, Shuichi Murakami
  • Patent number: 6637128
    Abstract: A transversely stretched nonwoven fabric is manufactured by transversely stretching a nonwoven fabric. First, an original web comprising a plurality of un-oriented filaments is heated to a temperature higher than its stretch suitable temperature by 5° C. or more. Next, the heated original web is stretched at a rate of 1.2 to 3 in its transverse direction to stretch the filaments of the original web with almost no molecular orientation involved. Then, the original web stretched transversely at a rate of 1.2 to 3 is heated to the stretch suitable temperature and the original web is further stretched transversely at the stretch suitable temperature. With these steps, a transversely stretched nonwoven fabric in which the original web is stretched transversely at a rate of 7 times or more in total as compared with the state of the stretch thereof is manufactured with a high tensile strength of 132.5 mN/tex (1.5 g/d) in the transverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignees: Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd., Polymer Processing Research Institute Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Kuroiwa, Yoshiro Morino, Kazuhiko Kurihara, Shuichi Murakami
  • Patent number: 6605553
    Abstract: A multiaxial laminated non-woven fabric is formed with tows overlaid and bonded with one another. The starting material tow is crimped and has a total tex of not more than 300,000 and filaments in the tow have an average fineness of not more than 3 tex. A three-dimensional molded product made from the multiaxial non-woven fabric is also provided. The non-woven tow fabric of ensured quality is produced by bonding tows multiaxially and obliquely overlaid with one another, for example by needle punching or heat treatment, while the tows are held by pins of an overlaying machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Polymer Processing Research Institute, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Kuroiwa, Kazuhiko Kurihara, Yasuo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6524521
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a nonwoven fabric has a spinning mechanism having a plurality of nozzles for extruding filaments, and a conveyor for collecting and delivering the extruded filaments. Between the spinning mechanism and the conveyor, there are disposed a high-speed air stream generating mechanism for generating a high-speed air stream to carry the filaments extruded from the nozzles to attenuate the filaments, and an air stream vibrating mechanism for periodically changing the direction of the high-speed air stream in the machine direction of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignees: Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd., Polymer Processing Research Institute Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Kuroiwa, Kazuhiko Kurihara, Kazuhiro Yabe, Akira Nii, Shin-ichi Umejima
  • Patent number: 6511625
    Abstract: A transversely stretched nonwoven fabric is manufactured by transversely stretching a nonwoven fabric. First, an original web comprising a plurality of un-oriented filaments is heated to a temperature higher than its stretch suitable temperature by 5° C. or more. Next, the heated original web is stretched at a rate of 1.2 to 3 in its transverse direction to stretch the filaments of the original web with almost no molecular orientation involved. Then, the original web stretched transversely at a rate of 1.2 to 3 is heated to the stretch suitable temperature and the original web is further stretched transversely at the stretch suitable temperature. With these steps, a transversely stretched nonwoven fabric in which the original web is stretched transversely at a rate of 7 times or more in total as compared with the state of the stretch thereof is manufactured with a high tensile strength of 132.5 mN/tex (1.5 g/d) in the transverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignees: Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd., Polymer Processing Research Institute Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Kuroiwa, Yoshiro Morino, Kazuhiko Kurihara, Shuichi Murakami
  • Patent number: 6495078
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a transversely aligned web comprising the steps of extruding melted resin from a spinning nozzle to direct the metal resin downward, blowing off a primary airflow at a high temperature and at high velocity from an annular primary airflow nozzle, blowing off a pair of secondary airflows at a high temperature from a pair of secondary airflow nozzles, colliding with the pair of airflow blown off from the pair of secondary airflow nozzles each other below the spinning nozzle, spreading the colliding secondary airflow at least partly in the width direction of the conveyor, and piling on the conveyor the spun filaments so that transversely aligned web is formed of the filaments which are aligned in the width direction of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignees: Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd., Polymer Processing Research Institute, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kurihara, Yoichi Mazawa, Yoshiro Morino
  • Publication number: 20010006866
    Abstract: A multiaxial laminated non-woven fabric is comprised of tows used as a constituent material and overlaid and bonded with one another. The starting material tow has crimps and has total tex of not more than 300,000 and tow-constituting filaments have an average fineness of not more than 3 tex. A three-dimensional moulded products from the multiaxial non-woven fabric is also provided, and a method for stably producing the non-woven tow fabric while ensuring quality comprises subjecting tows multiaxially and obliquely overlaid with one another to bonding treatment, such as needle punching, or heat treatment while they are held by pins of an overlaying machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Applicant: POLYMER PROCESSING RESEARCH INSTITUTE, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Kuroiwa, Kazuhiko Kurihara, Yasuo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 5723388
    Abstract: The present invention provides a prepreg obtained by stretching a material including, as a main component, an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene having an intrinsic viscosity of 5-50 dl/g as measured at 135.degree. C. in decalin, to a total draw ratio of at least 20, subjecting the resulting stretched polyethylene material to a splitting treatment, and impregnating the resulting material with a thermosetting resin. The split stretched polyethylene material has improved adhesion to the impregnant resin and can be used as a good base material for prepreg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignees: Nippon Oil Co., Ltd., Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd., Polymer Processing Research Institute Ltd.
    Inventors: Seizo Kobayashi, Kazutosi Nomiyama, Yoshimu Iwanami, Sumio Yoshida, Kazuhiko Kurihara, Hiroshi Yazawa
  • Patent number: 5702657
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the continuous production of a polyethylene material having high strength and high modulus of elasticity by rolling an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene film or film like material and then drawing the rolled material, wherein a thermoplastic resin film having incorporated therein at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a coloring agent, a weathering stabilizer, an antistatic agent, a hydrophilicity-imparting agent, an adhesion promoter and a dyeability-imparting agent is laminated to the film material in the rolling step and the resulting polyethylene material is further slit or split as required. This method makes it easy to color the polyethylene material having high strength and high modulus of elasticity and to impart weather resistance and other desirable properties thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignees: Nippon Oil Co., Ltd., Polymer Processing Research Institute Ltd.
    Inventors: Sumio Yoshida, Takashi Komazawa, Kazuhiko Kurihara, Hiroshi Yazawa
  • Patent number: 5612125
    Abstract: The present invention provides a prepreg obtained by stretching a material including, as a main component, an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene having an intrinsic viscosity of 5-50 dl/g as measured at 135.degree. C. in decalin, to a total draw ratio of at least 20, subjecting the resulting stretched polyethylene material to a splitting treatment, and impregnating the resulting material with a thermosetting resin, and a process for producing said prepreg. The split stretched polyethylene material has improved adhesion to the impregnant resin and can be used as a good base material for prepreg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignees: Nippon Oil Co., Ltd., Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd., Polymer Processing Research Institute Ltd.
    Inventors: Seizo Kobayashi, Kazutosi Nomiyama, Yoshimu Iwanami, Sumio Yoshida, Kazuhiko Kurihara, Hiroshi Yazawa
  • Patent number: 5578373
    Abstract: The present invention provides a split polyethylene stretched material having a tensile strength of at least 0.7 GPa when twisted in the range of 50-500 times/m, which material is produced by subjecting a polyethylene having an intrinsic viscosity of 5-50 dl/g as measured at 135.degree. C. in decalin, i.e. an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene to stretching and then subjecting the stretched polyethylene to splitting, as well as a process for producing said material. The split polyethylene stretched material according to the present invention has a large surface area and accordingly can be easily laminated to other materials, and has a high strength and flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignees: Nippon Oil Co., Ltd., Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd., Polymer Processing Research Institute Ltd.
    Inventors: Seizo Kobayashi, Takashi Mizoe, Yoshimu Iwanami, Osamu Otsu, Shigeki Yokoyama, Kazuhiko Kurihara, Hiroshi Yazawa
  • Patent number: 5382773
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating a perforated web comprising an endless masking plate arranged above a continuously conveyed web. The masking plate has a plurality of apertures arranged in a predetermined pattern, the masking plate being adapted so as to be continuously circulated. The light is irradiated to the web via the masking plate so that apertures or slits are formed in the web corresponding to the apertures of the masking plate. The light may be a laser, an infrared light, or an ultraviolet light, and the light from the source is diverged transversely about the web and converged longitudinally about the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignees: Nippon Petrochemicals Company, Limited, Polymer Processing Research Institute, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kurihara, Hiroshi Yazawa, Shoichi Yazawa, Yuki Kuroiwa, Shuichi Murakami
  • Patent number: 5338593
    Abstract: A multiaxial nonwoven fabric is disclosed which is comprised of a selected warp material and a multiplicity of selected continuous yarns assembled in a specified lay pattern and bonded on to the warp material. Each of the yarns is oriented in a scalene or right-angled triangle shape, and the resulting yarn assembly is built of intersections at least in warp, weft and oblique axes, whereby structural strength and dimensional stability are greatly improved. A method and an apparatus are also disclosed for producing the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Polymer Processing Research Institute Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Sasaki, Haruhisa Tani, Yuuki Kuroiwa, Setsuya Tsuyama
  • Patent number: 5308424
    Abstract: A multiaxial nonwoven fabric is disclosed which is comprised of a selected warp material and a multiplicity of selected continuous yarns assembled in a specified lay pattern and bonded on to the warp material. Each of the yarns is oriented in a scalene or right-angled triangle shape, and the resulting yarn assembly is built of intersections at least in warp, weft and oblique axes, whereby structural strength and dimensional stability are greatly improved. A method and an apparatus are also disclosed for producing the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Polymer Processing Research Institute Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Sasaki, Haruhisa Tani, Yuuki Kuroiwa, Setsuya Tsuyama
  • Patent number: 5300166
    Abstract: A film is delivered from a delivery roller and another film is delivered from another delivery roller. The two films are introduced between a heater and a receiver. The heater presses the two films against the receiver to bond the films. Then, the rear end of the film is cut off with fusing and the front end of another film is cut off with fusing by wire heaters. The bonded film is transferred through drive and pinch rolls to an accumulator for storing the film and is spread to open slits by holding rolls to form a longitudinal web, which is laminated on a lateral web manufactured in another process to form a reticulate non-woven fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignees: Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd., Polymer Processing Research Institute, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kintaro Aihara, Tadashi Honda, Masashi Kobayashi, Hideyo Rohyama, Kazuhiko Kurihara, Hiroshi Yazawa, Toshikazu Ohishi
  • Patent number: 5259097
    Abstract: A pair of stretching pulleys are rotatably mounted on a pair of support plates within a housing. A belt is wound around the upper part of the stretching pulley and a number of turn pulleys. A film introduced onto the stretching pulley is held between the belt and the stretching pulley and is transferred. Air flow generated by a fan and heated with a heater is blown against the film through a louver and circulates through bellows mounted to the housing to return to the fan. The stretching pulley is partially cooled in a water bath. The support plates are rotatably connected to screw shafts, thereby changing a distance and angle between the plates. The stretch width or stretch ratio of the film is thus adjusted with the change of the distance and angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignees: Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd., Polymer Processing Research Institute, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kintaro Aihara, Tadashi Honda, Masashi Kobayashi, Hideyo Rohyama, Kazuhiko Kurihara, Hiroshi Yazawa, Toshikazu Ohishi
  • Patent number: 5232533
    Abstract: In a method of and an apparatus for heat-setting a non-woven fabric in which a warp web and a weft web is cross-laminated, the fabric is gripped at least at its opposite side edges by and between an outer peripheral surface of a hot cylinder and an endless belt normally tensioned against that outer peripheral surface. Widthwise shrinkage is fully prevented during travel of the fabric around the hot cylinder, and firm bonding of the warp and weft webs is attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignees: Nippon Petrochemicals Co., Ltd., Polymer Processing Research Institute, Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruhisa Tani, Kazuhiko Kurihara, Hiroshi Yazawa, Toshikazu Ohishi