Patents by Inventor Akira Kitamura

Akira Kitamura 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: 10174128
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose with less yellowing. More specifically, the method for producing purified low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose includes the steps of: reacting alkali cellulose and an etherifying agent to obtain a reaction mixture; dispersing the reaction mixture in water containing a portion of acetic acid necessary for neutralizing the total amount of the reaction mixture to neutralize a portion of the reaction mixture, and then completely neutralizing with the remaining acetic acid to cause precipitation, to obtain a slurry containing crude low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose; disintegrating a solid component in the slurry through a cutter pump, the solid component containing the crude low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, and discharging the slurry containing the disintegrated solid component; washing the discharged slurry with water to obtain a cake of purified low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose; and drying the cake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kitamura, Atsuhiko Yonemochi, Mitsuo Narita
  • Publication number: 20180282436
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose having high thermal gel strength while suppressing a reduction in thermal gelation temperature. More specifically, provided is a method for producing a hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose including steps of: mixing cellulose pulp with a first alkali metal hydroxide solution to obtain alkali cellulose, reacting the alkali cellulose with an alkylating agent and a hydroxyalkylating agent to obtain a first reaction product mixture, adding a second alkali metal hydroxide solution to the first reaction product mixture without further adding any of alkylating and hydroxyalkylating agents to obtain a second reaction product mixture, and subjecting the second reaction product mixture to purification to obtain a hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira KITAMURA, Mitsuo NARITA
  • Publication number: 20180282435
    Abstract: A method for producing a cellulose ether having a high viscosity while keeping the same degree of polymerization as that in the production of a shaped pulp without changing a raw material or production facility. More specifically, provided is a method for producing a cellulose ether including steps of: cutting or pulverizing pulp to obtain sheet-like, chip-like, or powdery cellulose pulp, wherein the pulp is formed in a form of roll whose surface layer on at least one of the circumferential side and the ends is removed, or in a form of bale whose surface layer on at least one side is removed; bringing the obtained cellulose pulp into contact with an alkali metal hydroxide solution to obtain alkali cellulose; reacting the alkali cellulose with an alkylating agent to obtain a reaction product mixture; and subjecting the reaction product mixture to purification to obtain the cellulose ether.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shintaro MATSUSUE, Akira KITAMURA, Mitsuhiro YOSHIDA, Mitsuo NARITA
  • Publication number: 20180273645
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) having high hydroxypropoxy content, low ash content, and low insoluble fiber content. More specifically, provided is a method for producing HPMC having a methoxy degree of substitution of from 1.4 to 2.2 and a hydroxypropoxy molar substitution of from 0.5 to 1.0, including steps of: bringing sheet-like or chip-like pulp into contact with an alkali metal hydroxide solution to obtain a reaction product mixture containing alkali cellulose, removing a liquid portion from the reaction product mixture to obtain the alkali cellulose, reacting the alkali cellulose with an etherifying agent to obtain a crude HPMC, disintegrating the crude HPMC into a disintegrated crude HPMC, dispersing the disintegrated crude HPMC in water to obtain a slurry, filtering the slurry to obtain a cake, and washing the cake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira KITAMURA, Mitsuhiro YOSHIDA
  • Patent number: 10035222
    Abstract: A soldering flux includes a base resin, an activator, and a solvent. The activator contains an acrylic resin having an acid value of not more than 50 mg KOH/g and represented by a general formula (1). A monomer weight ratio of a, b, and c is b/(a+b+c)?0.6, at least one of a and c may be 0, R1 is an alkyl group having a carbon number of 8 to 24, R2 is a substituent other than the R1 and may be one of substituents including a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, an alkyl group, an aryl group, and a hydroxyl group or a combination of a plurality of substituents, and R3, R4, and R5 are hydrogen atoms or methyl groups. The solvent contains a compound having a carboxyl group in a cyclohexyl skeleton and represented by a general formula (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: TAMURA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Tsuchiya, Akira Kitamura, Momoko Seino, Masaya Arai
  • Patent number: 9988501
    Abstract: A method of producing polymer particles includes, in a system in which a polymer A and a polymer B are dissolved in and mixed with an organic solvent to undergo phase separation into two phases which are a solution phase containing the polymer A as a major component and a solution phase containing the polymer B as a major component, continuously adding an emulsion including the polymer A, the polymer B and the organic solvent, and a poor solvent for the polymer A to a vessel continuously to allow the polymer A to precipitate; and separating polymer A particles from the vessel continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Kondo, Yuji Echigo, Akira Kitamura, Hiroshi Takezaki
  • Publication number: 20180118854
    Abstract: Provided are hypromellose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) which exhibits high solubility and can suppress generation of undissolved materials when dissolved in a solvent; an HPMCAS-containing composition; and a method for producing the HPMCAS. More specifically, provided are HPMCAS having a ratio of 2-position MS to 3-position MS of 1.2 or less, wherein the 2-position MS means a molar substitution of hydroxypropyl group by which a hydrogen atom of a hydroxyl group on 2-position carbon of each glucose unit of the HPMCAS has been directly replaced, and the 3-position MS means a molar substitution of hydroxypropyl group by which a hydrogen atom of a hydroxyl group on 3-position carbon of each glucose unit of the HPMCAS has been directly replaced; a composition comprising the HPMCAS and a solvent; and the method for producing the HPMCAS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Kazuki Kikuchi, Mitsuhiro Yoshida, Junichi Matsubara, Tatsuya Yamashita, Akira Kitamura, Naosuke Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20180100028
    Abstract: There is provided is a hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose exhibiting good flowability and high compressibility. More specifically, provided are a hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose having a volume-based average particle diameter, determined by dry laser diffractometry, of 50 to 100 ?m, and having, on a basis of a dynamic image analysis to divide all particles into fine particles, spherical particles and fibrous particles, a volume fraction of the fibrous particles consisting of long and short fibrous particles relative to all of the particles of 45 to 70%, and a volume fraction of the fine particles relative to all of the particles of less than 2.0%; a solid preparation including the hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose; and others.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya YOKOSAWA, Taishi KITAGUCHI, Yasuyuki HIRAMA, Akira KITAMURA
  • Publication number: 20180098941
    Abstract: Provided is a hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose exhibiting good flowability and high compressibility. More specifically, there are provided a hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose having a volume-based average particle size, determined by dry laser diffractometry, of more than 100 ?m and not more than 150 ?m; and after dividing all particles into fine particles, spherical particles and fibrous particles by a dynamic image analysis, a volume fraction of the fibrous particles relative to all of the particles of more than 40% and not more than 50%, and a volume fraction of the fine particles relative to all of the particles of less than 2.0%; a solid preparation including the hydroxyalkyl alkyl cellulose; and others.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taishi KITAGUCHI, Yasuyuki HIRAMA, Takuya YOKOSAWA, Akira KITAMURA
  • Publication number: 20180100030
    Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a low polymerization degree cellulose ether having a less yellowish appearance and having excellent long-term storage stability through depolymerization of a high polymerization degree cellulose ether with an acid and without requiring an additive other than the acid. More specifically, there is provided a method for producing a low polymerization degree cellulose ether, including a step of depolymerizing a high polymerization degree cellulose ether with an acid to obtain a low polymerization degree cellulose ether mixture and a step of neutralizing the acid present in the low polymerization degree cellulose ether mixture, wherein ultraviolet is applied in the step of depolymerizing or between the steps of depolymerizing and neutralizing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Applicant: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taishi KITAGUCHI, Akira KITAMURA, Shintaro MATSUSUE, Mitsuhiro YOSHIDA
  • Patent number: 9926385
    Abstract: Provided are a method for producing a water-soluble cellulose ether having a low degree of polymerization and enhanced whiteness, and the like. The method includes the steps of: bringing a pulp powder having a multiplication product of less than 0.004 mm2 which is obtained by multiplying a number-average fiber length by a number-average fiber width, each measured with a Kajaani fiber length analyzer, into contact with an alkali metal hydroxide to obtain an alkali cellulose; reacting the alkali cellulose with an etherifying agent to obtain a crude water-soluble cellulose ether having a high degree of polymerization; purifying the crude water-soluble cellulose ether; drying the purified water-soluble cellulose ether; grinding the dried water-soluble cellulose ether into a water-soluble cellulose ether powder; and depolymerizing the water-soluble cellulose ether powder to obtain the water-soluble cellulose ether having a low degree of polymerization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kitamura, Mitsuo Narita, Takuya Yokosawa, Yuichi Nishiyama
  • Publication number: 20180074465
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes a counter, a near field communication unit, a standard electric wave receiving unit and a control unit. The counter is configured to count current time. The near field communication unit is configured to communicate with a terminal by near field communication electric waves and to receive first time information. The standard electric wave receiving unit is configured to receive standard electric waves and to acquire second time information. The control unit changes current time counted by the counter, based on the first or second time information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventor: Akira Kitamura
  • Patent number: 9884922
    Abstract: Provided are hypromellose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) which exhibits high solubility and can suppress generation of undissolved materials when dissolved in a solvent; an HPMCAS-containing composition; and a method for producing the HPMCAS. More specifically, provided are HPMCAS having a ratio of 2-position MS to 3-position MS of 1.2 or less, wherein the 2-position MS means a molar substitution of hydroxypropyl group by which a hydrogen atom of a hydroxyl group on 2-position carbon of each glucose unit of the HPMCAS has been directly replaced, and the 3-position MS means a molar substitution of hydroxypropyl group by which a hydrogen atom of a hydroxyl group on 3-position carbon of each glucose unit of the HPMCAS has been directly replaced; a composition comprising the HPMCAS and a solvent; and the method for producing the HPMCAS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki Kikuchi, Mitsuhiro Yoshida, Junichi Matsubara, Tatsuya Yamashita, Akira Kitamura, Naosuke Maruyama
  • Patent number: 9844840
    Abstract: A flux for soldering includes a base resin, a solvent, and an activating agent. The base resin contains a rosin. An amount of the rosin to be incorporated is from 0% by weight to 30% by weight with respect to a total amount of the base resin. The activating agent includes a compound having a plurality of carboxyl groups on a cyclohexyl structure represented by a general formula (1). X is (a) one or more carboxyl groups, or (b) one or more carboxyl groups and at least one selected from a hydrogen atom, chloro group, bromo group, alkyl group, and cyclohexyl group. A position of the X is not limited. A number of the X is one or more. The X may have either one of the (a) and (b) alone, or a plurality of the (a) and (b) in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: TAMURA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Tsuchiya, Akira Kitamura, Momoko Seino, Masaya Arai
  • Publication number: 20170347694
    Abstract: Provided is a gelling composition capable of keeping a gel state in a food even when the food heated at 75° C. is cooled to around 45° C. at which the food can be eaten in a warm state. Specifically provided is a gelling composition comprising methyl cellulose, a 2.0% by weight aqueous solution of which has a storage modulus G? (75° C.) at 75° C. of 3,000 to 5,500 Pa, the 2.0% by weight aqueous solution of which has a return temperature storage modulus G? (75 to 45° C.) of 2,000 to 3,600 Pa when the temperature of the aqueous solution is returned from 75° C. to 45° C., and a 2.0% by weight aqueous solution of which has a viscosity at 20° C. of 3,000 to 10,000 mPa·s; a low temperature gelling agent; and a solvent. A food comprising the gelling composition is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi YAMAMOTO, Shingo NIINOBE, Akira KITAMURA
  • Publication number: 20170339995
    Abstract: An oil-in-water type composition which can provide a chewy texture both in a non-cooked state and a heated state and does not show water/oil separation, including: an alkyl cellulose, a 1% by mass aqueous solution of which has a viscosity at 20° C. of from 4,000 to 11,000 mPa·s when measured with a Brookfield type viscometer and a 1.5% by mass aqueous solution of which has a storage modulus G? (65° C.) at 65° C. of from 2,500 to 4,500 Pa; an edible oil or fat; and water. Also provided is a food using the alkyl cellulose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicants: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD., SE TYLOSE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Atsushi YAMAMOTO, Akira KITAMURA, Mitsuo NARITA, Heiko NEBEL, Anita HIRTE
  • Publication number: 20170267786
    Abstract: Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose having a high thermal gel strength even at a low viscosity is provided and utilized. Specifically provided is hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose having such properties that a 2% by weight aqueous solution of the hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose has a viscosity at 20° C. of 300 to 2,000 mPa·s and a storage elastic modulus at 85° C. of 2,000 to 4,500 mPa. Also provided is a food comprising the hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose. Further provided is a method for producing the hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, the method comprising a step of depolymerizing, with an acid, high-viscosity hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose having such a property that a 2% by weight aqueous solution of the high-viscosity hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose has a viscosity at 20° C. of 70,000 to 100,000 mPa·s to obtain the hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Tatsuya Yamashita, Akira Kitamura, Atsushi Yamamoto, Mitsuo Narita
  • Publication number: 20170260295
    Abstract: Provided are a solid preparation comprising an alkyl cellulose which provides excellent moldability and disintegrability even in a small amount of the alkyl cellulose, and a production method therefor. Specifically, provided are a solid preparation having an alkyl cellulose having a specific surface area by BET method of 0.5 to 10.0 m2/g and a dissolution start temperature of 5 to 27° C.; and a method for producing a solid preparation having the steps of: mixing a cellulose pulp and a first alkali metal hydroxide solution with stirring to obtain alkali cellulose, reacting the alkali cellulose with an alkylating agent to obtain a first reaction mixture, mixing the first reaction mixture and a second alkali metal hydroxide solution with stirring and without further addition of any alkylating agent to obtain a second reaction mixture, and pulverizing an alkyl cellulose isolated from the second reaction mixture to obtain an alkyl cellulose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Takuya Yokosawa, Naosuke Maruyama, Akira Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20170260296
    Abstract: Provided are hypromellose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) which exhibits high solubility and can suppress generation of undissolved materials when dissolved in a solvent; an HPMCAS-containing composition; and a method for producing the HPMCAS. More specifically, provided are HPMCAS having a ratio of 2-position MS to 3-position MS of 1.2 or less, wherein the 2-position MS means a molar substitution of hydroxypropyl group by which a hydrogen atom of a hydroxyl group on 2-position carbon of each glucose unit of the HPMCAS has been directly replaced, and the 3-position MS means a molar substitution of hydroxypropyl group by which a hydrogen atom of a hydroxyl group on 3-position carbon of each glucose unit of the HPMCAS has been directly replaced; a composition comprising the HPMCAS and a solvent; and the method for producing the HPMCAS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Kazuki Kikuchi, Mitsuhiro Yoshida, Junichi Matsubara, Tatsuya Yamashita, Akira Kitamura, Naosuke Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20170260414
    Abstract: Regarding coating of fine particles or the like, provided are a coating composition containing methyl cellulose having small adhesiveness, resistance to generation of lumps, ability to form uniform coating, and ability to form a coating composition easily with water of normal temperature; a method for producing the coating composition; and a solid preparation. More specifically provided are a coating composition including methyl cellulose having such a viscosity that a viscosity at 20° C. of a 2% by weight aqueous solution of the methyl cellulose is 1 to 15 mPa·s and having such a dissolution start temperature that a dissolution start temperature of a 12% by weight aqueous liquid of the methyl cellulose is 10 to 25° C. and a solvent; a solid preparation obtained by coating of the coating composition; and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Naosuke Maruyama, Takuya Yokosawa, Akira Kitamura