Patents by Inventor Kazuo Kitada

Kazuo Kitada 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: 10598828
    Abstract: A method for continuously manufacturing an optical display device comprises feeding a continuous web of optical film laminate including a continuous web of releasable film that includes a conductive layer and an optical film sheet that includes a conductive layer formed on the releasable film, bending the releasable film at a peeling body located in close vicinity of a lamination position, collecting the releasable film and thereby peeling the optical film sheet from the optical film laminate, sending the optical film sheet to the lamination position, and laminating the optical film sheet with a panel member which is conveyed to the lamination position by a panel conveying channel which makes at least a double-storied structure with a portion of a collecting channel where the releasable film is collected, attenuating static electrification generated on the optical film sheet, and continuously laminating the optical film sheet with the panel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu Morimoto, Yusuke Toyama, Takaaki Ishii, Kazuo Kitada, Satoshi Hashimoto, Akihiro Nagura
  • Patent number: 10578778
    Abstract: A continuous web of optical film laminate comprising, an optical film comprising a first substrate and an adhesive layer on the first substrate, a releasable film comprising a second substrate and a releasably treated layer on the second substrate, the releasably treated layer being in contact with the adhesive layer, a first conductive layer between the first substrate and the adhesive layer, and a second conductive layer between the second substrate and the releasably treated layer. The first conductive layer and the second conductive layer comprise a static electrification prevention material, such that the optical film with the first conductive layer, and the releasable film with the second conductive layer, both have a sheet resistance of 1012 ?/sq or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu Morimoto, Yusuke Toyama, Takaaki Ishii, Kazuo Kitada, Satoshi Hashimoto, Akihiro Nagura
  • Patent number: 10562285
    Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method for realizing lamination with high accuracy responding to increase in speed and growth in size in an optical display unit manufacturing apparatus. The present invention is a manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method in which, in the optical display unit manufacturing apparatus, a holding device which reciprocates between a peeling position and an upstream side predetermined position of the peeling position is deployed, the holding device holds the optical film laminate in a width-wise direction including both sides, and moves for a fixed distance, and at the peeling position, sends a front end of the optical film sheet peeled with the adhesive layer from the carrier film to a downstream side predetermined position of the peeling position to release the optical film laminate when the holding device reaches the lower side predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru Koshio, Minoru Maeda, Tomokazu Yura, Kazuo Kitada
  • Publication number: 20190337279
    Abstract: The lamination apparatus includes a panel member conveying line for conveying the panel member from an entrance part to an exit part, a first lamination unit provided between the entrance part and the exit part, a second lamination unit provided between the entrance part and the exit part of the panel member conveying line, at the exit part side of the first lamination unit, a first film conveying line for supplying an optical film laminate from a transverse direction with respect to the panel member conveying line between the first lamination unit and the second lamination unit for conveying to the first lamination unit, and a second film conveying line for supplying a second optical film laminate from a transverse direction with respect to the panel member conveying line between the first film supplying unit and the first lamination unit for conveying to the second lamination unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Naoya SHIMOSONE, Kiyotaka TSUTSUMI, Satoru TAKEDA, Norihiro NAKAMURA, Hiroyuki ABE, Tomohiro HARA, Yoshimitsu SATOU, Kouji AKIYAMA, Kazuo KITADA, Teppei OKUMURA, Hirofumi SAIGOU
  • Publication number: 20190232629
    Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method for realizing lamination with high accuracy responding to increase in speed and growth in size in an optical display unit manufacturing apparatus. The present invention is a manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method in which, in the optical display unit manufacturing apparatus, a holding device which reciprocates between a peeling position and an upstream side predetermined position of the peeling position is deployed, the holding device holds the optical film laminate in a width-wise direction including both sides, and moves for a fixed distance, and at the peeling position, sends a front end of the optical film sheet peeled with the adhesive layer from the carrier film to a downstream side predetermined position of the peeling position to release the optical film laminate when the holding device reaches the lower side predetermined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Satoru KOSHIO, Minoru MAEDA, Tomokazu YURA, Kazuo KITADA
  • Publication number: 20190233244
    Abstract: A continuous manufacturing apparatus for an optical display unit which allows for laminating a sheet of optical functional film with a panel member, even when length of each of their long sides is wide, without lowering lamination accuracy and/or increasing generation of bubbles by lamination. In a RTP system using laminating rollers having sufficient length not being bent by their own weight, when using a sheet of optical functional film which each of long sides is longer than the length of the laminating rollers, each of the sheets of optical functional film is conveyed on a band of carrier film in a continuously aligned state such that each of short sides extend in a direction crossing a conveying direction, and peeled from the band of carrier film at a laminating part to be laminated with one of opposite surfaces of the panel member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Kazuo KITADA, Hirofumi SAIGOU, Satoru TAKEDA, Tomokazu YURA, Takehiko KATADA, Katsumi EGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20190111670
    Abstract: Method for manufacturing an optical display device which allows for appropriately correcting a linear deformation generated on a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer in laminating an optical functional film with a panel member includes steps of peeling a sheet of optical functional film together with the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer from a carrier film up to a predetermined head-out length, stopping the conveyance of the carrier film for detecting the front edge, making the front edge of the sheet of optical functional film proceed to the laminating position, laminating from the front edge to a predetermined position upstream of the head-out length on the sheet of optical functional film with the panel member at a first lamination speed, and laminating at least a part from the predetermined position to a rear edge of the sheet of optical functional film with the panel member at a speed faster than the first lamination speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Teruaki OSAWA, Daigo SUZUKI, Masatake USUI, Hiroyuki ABE, Takuya NAKAZONO, Kazuo KITADA
  • Publication number: 20190079216
    Abstract: A continuous web of optical film laminate comprising, an optical film comprising a first substrate and an adhesive layer on the first substrate, a releasable film comprising a second substrate and a releasably treated layer on the second substrate, the releasably treated layer being in contact with the adhesive layer, a first conductive layer between the first substrate and the adhesive layer, and a second conductive layer between the second substrate and the releasably treated layer. The first conductive layer and the second conductive layer comprise a static electrification prevention material, such that the optical film with the first conductive layer, and the releasable film with the second conductive layer, both have a sheet resistance of 1012?/sq or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Yu MORIMOTO, Yusuke TOYAMA, Takaaki ISHII, Kazuo KITADA, Satoshi HASHIMOTO, Akihiro NAGURA
  • Publication number: 20190070841
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical display device from a web of optical film laminate including a carrier film, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed on one of opposite surfaces of the carrier film, and a plurality of sheets of optical functional film continuously supported on the carrier film via the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, comprises folding the other of opposite surfaces of the carrier film inside via a tip end of a releasing body to wind the carrier film, peeling the sheet of optical functional film to a head-out state while exposing the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, stopping winding of the carrier film, detecting a front end of the peeled sheet of optical functional film in the head-out state, and rewinding the carrier film integrally with the sheet of optical functional film in the head-out state to mend a deformation of a pressure-sensitive adhesive, at the tip end of the releasing body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Teruaki OSAWA, Kazuo KITADA, Takuya NAKAZONO, Daigo SUZUKI, Hiroyuki ABE, Masatake USUI
  • Publication number: 20190056533
    Abstract: A method for continuously manufacturing an optical display device comprises feeding a continuous web of optical film laminate including a continuous web of releasable film that includes a conductive layer and an optical film sheet that includes a conductive layer formed on the releasable film, bending the releasable film at a peeling body located in close vicinity of a lamination position, collecting the releasable film and thereby peeling the optical film sheet from the optical film laminate, sending the optical film sheet to the lamination position, and laminating the optical film sheet with a panel member which is conveyed to the lamination position by a panel conveying channel which makes at least a double-storied structure with a portion of a collecting channel where the releasable film is collected, attenuating static electrification generated on the optical film sheet, and continuously laminating the optical film sheet with the panel member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Yu MORIMOTO, Yusuke TOYAMA, Takaaki ISHII, Kazuo KITADA, Satoshi HASHIMOTO, Akihiro NAGURA
  • Patent number: 10197709
    Abstract: To provide a continuous web of optical film laminate provided with static electrification prevention function which allows for promptly attenuating static charge of optical film sheet and carrier film electrified by peeling action in RTP lamination method and apparatus. The problem has been solved with a continuous web of optical film laminate for using in RTP lamination method and apparatus, in which static electrification prevention function is provided to optical film sheets and a carrier film configuring the continuous web of optical film laminate, such that sheet resistance of each of the optical film sheets and the carrier film is 1012 ?/sq or less so as to promptly attenuate static charge of the carrier film to be collected, which is statically electrified by peeling action, and the optical film sheets to be laminated to panel components, which are also statically electrified by peeling action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu Morimoto, Yusuke Toyama, Takaaki Ishii, Kazuo Kitada, Satoshi Hashimoto, Akihiro Nagura
  • Publication number: 20180267356
    Abstract: A method for continuously manufacturing an optical display device includes air filtering into a laminating part in an apparatus, exhausting in coordination with the air filtering, and humidifying the laminating part so as to make relative humidity of the laminating part as 60 to 75% RH at room temperature 22° C. The method also includes sequentially supplying a rectangularly formed optical functional film having a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer with a separator laminated on one of opposite surfaces of the optical functional film to a predetermined laminating position of the laminating part and conveying a rectangular panel component to the predetermined laminating position so as to correspond to the sequentially supplied optical functional film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi HASHIMOTO, Kazuo KITADA
  • Publication number: 20180052256
    Abstract: To provide a continuous web of optical film laminate provided with static electrification prevention function which allows for promptly attenuating static charge of optical film sheet and carrier film electrified by peeling action in RTP lamination method and apparatus. The problem has been solved with a continuous web of optical film laminate for using in RTP lamination method and apparatus, in which static electrification prevention function is provided to optical film sheets and a carrier film configuring the continuous web of optical film laminate, such that sheet resistance of each of the optical film sheets and the carrier film is 1012 ?/sq or less so as to promptly attenuate static charge of the carrier film to be collected, which is statically electrified by peeling action, and the optical film sheets to be laminated to panel components, which are also statically electrified by peeling action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Yu MORIMOTO, Yusuke TOYAMA, Takaaki ISHII, Kazuo KITADA, Satoshi HASHIMOTO, Akihiro NAGURA
  • Patent number: 9657198
    Abstract: An impact-absorbing pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an impact-absorbing pressure-sensitive adhesive layer including an impact-absorbing layer. A side surface of the impact-absorbing pressure-sensitive adhesive layer includes a tapered surface; and the tapered surface has a taper angle of 65° or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomonori Noguchi, Atsushi Hino, Kanji Nishida, Kazuo Kitada, Takaichi Amano
  • Patent number: 9618655
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical display device comprising: after completing lamination of a preceding optical film sheet to one of opposite surfaces of a preceding panel component at the predetermined laminating position, unwinding the carrier film in a state where another surface thereof folded to inside at a tip-end configuring a head portion of a peeling member and the carrier film is passed around the peeling member, and backwardly feeding a leading end of the optical film sheet supported on the carrier film to a predetermined feeding position provided at upstream of the tip-end of the peeling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomokazu Yura, Satoru Koshio, Kazuo Kitada, Takuya Nakazono
  • Patent number: 9592654
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing an optical display device by sequentially peeling a plurality of optical film sheets continuously supported on a long web of a carrier film and laminating the plurality of optical film sheets to a plurality of panel components are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomokazu Yura, Kazuo Kitada, Satoru Koshio, Takuya Nakazono
  • Patent number: 9573356
    Abstract: An information storage/readout device for use in a system for continuously manufacturing liquid-crystal display elements comprises an information storage medium which stores therein slitting position information created based on the position of a defect detected by an inspection of a continuous polarizing composite film included in a continuous optical film laminate including a continuous polarizing composite film formed with an adhesive layer and a continuous carrier film releasably laminated on the adhesive layer, to indicate defective-polarizing-sheet slitting positions defining a defective or defect-containing polarizing sheet, and normal-polarizing-sheet slitting positions defining a normal or defect-free polarizing sheet, in the continuous inspected optical film laminate, and a roll of the continuous inspected optical film laminate which is provided with an identification indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouji Kimura, Kazuo Kitada, Tomokazu Yura, Satoru Koshio, Fumihito Shimanoe, Takuya Nakazono
  • Patent number: 9304339
    Abstract: The invention is a method for continuously manufacturing an inspected liquid crystal display panel, includes: a liquid crystal cell feeding step including feeding a liquid crystal cell having a first substrate and a second substrate; a first polarizing plate providing step including providing a first polarizing plate from a first polarizing plate roll; a first polarizing plate laminating step including laminating the first polarizing plate to the first substrate; a second polarizing plate providing step including providing a second polarizing plate from a second polarizing plate roll; a second polarizing plate laminating step including laminating the second polarizing plate to the second substrate to obtain a liquid crystal display panel after laminating the first polarizing plate to the first substrate; and an inspecting step including optically inspecting the liquid crystal display panel without applying voltage to the liquid crystal panel, wherein the first substrate is less susceptible to electrostatic de
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru Koshio, Kazuo Kitada, Tomokazu Yura, Takuya Nakazono, Masahiro Takigawa
  • Patent number: 9239416
    Abstract: A system for manufacturing an optical display device includes providing a roll of a belt-shaped sheet material including an optical film and a release film, which has score lines previously formed by cutting layers of the material other than the release film. The optical film is bonded to a rectangular optical display unit of the display device. In the bonding steps, a first optical film is divided by the score lines into pieces each having a length corresponding to a long side of the display unit, and a second optical film is divided by the score lines into pieces each having a length corresponding to a short side of the display unit. The first optical film has a first polarizing plate whose longitudinal direction is parallel to its absorption axis, and the second optical film has a second polarizing plate whose longitudinal direction is parallel to its absorption axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Kitada, Tomokazu Yura, Satoru Koshio, Takuya Nakazono
  • Patent number: 9229256
    Abstract: A manufacturing system and manufacturing method for an optical display device, which adheres upper and lower optical films to the optical display device using two rolls having optical anisotropies in the same direction, so that the optical anisotropies are orthogonal to each other. The manufacturing system includes a first feeding device for feeding a first optical film after cutting to a predetermined length, and a second feeding device for feeding a second optical film after cutting to a predetermined length. The first feeding device and the second feeding device correspond to the longer side and the shorter side of the optical display unit, so that the optical film having a width corresponding to the shorter side may be cut to a length corresponding to the longer side, whereas the optical film having a width corresponding to the longer side may be cut to a length corresponding to the shorter side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Kitada, Tomokazu Yura, Takuya Nakazono, Satoru Koshio