Patents by Inventor Shigetomo Takahashi

Shigetomo Takahashi 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: 10638908
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for manufacturing cleaning members obtained by cutting multi-layer webs formed by: spreading fiber bundles, the lengthwise directions of which are parallel to the direction in which said are conveyed; and layering together at least the spread and non-woven fabric strips. Said method includes a step in which, before spreading, two or more are joined together, forming one or more join sections. Said joins are performed by joining the back end (with respect to the conveyance direction) of one to the front end (with respect to the conveyance direction) of the next fiber bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Goto, Takayuki Matsumoto, Shigetomo Takahashi, Yuji Yamashita
  • Patent number: 10568484
    Abstract: A method for continuously producing a cleaning member obtained from a multilayer web that includes at least a fiber bundle with hollow fibers, and non-woven fabric strips includes at least: a step for preparing a guide member provided with a pair of width-adjusting member, and having a predetermined interval; a step for conveying a fiber bundle strip, such as the fiber bundle with hollow fibers, between the pair of width-adjusting members of the guide member, and adjusting the width of the fiber bundle strip so as to match the aforementioned interval; a step for forming the multilayer web by overlaying the strip-like fiber bundle, the width of which has been adjusted, on the non-woven fabric strips; and a step for joining the components of the multilayer web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigetomo Takahashi, Hiroaki Goto, Takayuki Matsumoto, Yuji Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20180344121
    Abstract: A method for continuously producing a cleaning member obtained from a multilayer web that includes at least a fiber bundle with hollow fibers, and non-woven fabric strips includes at least: a step for preparing a guide member provided with a pair of width-adjusting member, and having a predetermined interval; a step for conveying a fiber bundle strip, such as the fiber bundle with hollow fibers, between the pair of width-adjusting members of the guide member, and adjusting the width of the fiber bundle strip so as to match the aforementioned interval; a step for forming the multilayer web by overlaying the strip-like fiber bundle, the width of which has been adjusted, on the non-woven fabric strips; and a step for joining the components of the multilayer web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Shigetomo TAKAHASHI, Hiroaki GOTO, Takayuki MATSUMOTO, Yuji YAMASHITA
  • Patent number: 10098516
    Abstract: A method of continuously producing a cleaning member obtained from a multilayer web that includes at least a fiber bundle and a non-woven fabric, includes the following steps: preparing a guide member provided with a pair of width-adjusting members having a predetermined interval therebetween; conveying a fiber bundle through the pair of width-adjusting members of the guide member to adjust the width of the fiber bundle strip so as to match the aforementioned interval; forming the multilayer web by overlaying the fiber bundle, the width of which has been adjusted, on the non-woven fabric; and joining the fiber bundle and non-woven fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigetomo Takahashi, Hiroaki Goto, Takayuki Matsumoto, Yuji Yamashita
  • Patent number: 10070765
    Abstract: A method of continuously producing a cleaning member obtained from a multilayer web that includes at least a fiber bundle and a non-woven fabric, includes the following steps: preparing a guide member provided with a pair of width-adjusting members having a predetermined interval therebetween; conveying a fiber bundle through the pair of width-adjusting members of the guide member to adjust the width of the fiber bundle strip so as to match the aforementioned interval; forming the multilayer web by overlaying the fiber bundle, the width of which has been adjusted, on the non-woven fabric; and joining the fiber bundle and non-woven fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigetomo Takahashi, Hiroaki Goto, Takayuki Matsumoto, Yuji Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9919501
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cleaning member includes a fiber bundle conveying step conveying a fiber bundle to a merging section, a nonwoven fabric conveying step conveying the nonwoven fabric strips to the merging section; a multilayer web forming step forming a multilayer web by overlaying the fiber bundle on the nonwoven fiber strips at the merging part; and a joining step joining the fiber bundle and the nonwoven fabric strips to each other in the multilayer web. In the fiber bundle conveying step, the fiber bundle is conveyed at a tension at which there is no width shrinkage in the fiber bundle, and in the multilayer web forming step, the multilayer web is formed by overlaying the fiber bundle on the nonwoven strips while applying a tension that does not cause width shrinkage in the fiber bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Matsumoto, Shigetomo Takahashi, Yuji Yamashita, Hiroaki Goto
  • Patent number: 9279199
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a cleaning member comprising opened fiber bundle, in order to correct twisting of fiber bundle in the path for feeding the fiber bundle from a storage container to a driving roller to thereby stabilize manufacturing process, and in order to pre-open the fiber bundle in the path from a driving roller to the opening step to thereby speed-up the opening step, fiber bundle drawn out continuously from a storage container in a first direction is wound onto a non-rotational bar, and after being fed in a second direction, is fed to a first driving roller, and the fiber bundle fed from the first driving roller in a third direction is wound onto a second non-rotational bar, and after being fed in a fourth direction, is fed to a second driving roller and to the following opening step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Matsumoto, Shigetomo Takahashi, Yuji Yamashita, Hiroaki Goto
  • Publication number: 20150351602
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for manufacturing cleaning members obtained by cutting multi-layer webs formed by: spreading fiber bundles, the lengthwise directions of which are parallel to the direction in which said fiber bundles are conveyed; and layering together at least the spread fiber bundles and non-woven fabric strips. Said method includes a step in which, before spreading, two or more fiber bundles are joined together, forming one or more join sections. Said joins are performed by joining the back end (with respect to the conveyance direction) of one fiber bundle to the front end (with respect to the conveyance direction) of the next fiber bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Hiroaki GOTO, Takayuki MATSUMOTO, Shigetomo TAKAHASHI, Yuji YAMASHITA
  • Publication number: 20150351600
    Abstract: Provided are a novel production method and production system suitable for producing a cleaning member having excellent cleaning performance, said production method and production system enabling the cleaning member to be efficiently produced. This production method involves the following steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigetomo TAKAHASHI, Hiroaki GOTO, Takayuki MATSUMOTO, Yuji YAMASHITA
  • Publication number: 20150336366
    Abstract: This manufacturing method for manufacturing a cleaning member comprises: a fiber bundle conveying step for conveying a fiber bundle to a merging part that overlays the fiber bundle on nonwoven fabric strips a nonwoven fabric conveying step for conveying the nonwoven fabric strips to the merging part; a multilayer web forming step for forming a multilayer web by overlaying, in the merging part, the fiber bundle conveyed in the fiber bundle conveying step on the nonwoven fiber strips conveyed in the nonwoven fabric conveying step; and a joining step for joining the fiber bundle and the nonwoven fabric strips to each other in the multilayer web. In the fiber bundle conveying step, the fiber bundle is conveyed at a tension at which there is no width shrinkage in the fiber bundle, and in the multilayer web forming step, the multilayer web is formed by overlaying the fiber bundle on the nonwoven strips while applying a tension that does not cause width shrinkage in the fiber bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Takayuki MATSUMOTO, Shigetomo TAKAHASHI, Yuji YAMASHITA, Hiroaki GOTO
  • Patent number: 9185969
    Abstract: An object of the present disclosure is to provide a method of producing an opened fiber bundle at high speed and in a space-saving manner. The method is as follows. A method of continuously producing an opened fiber bundle for a cleaning member, comprising the steps of (a1) providing (i) first nip rolls, (ii) second nip rolls, (iii) third nip rolls, and (iv) an opening facilitator; (a2) conveying a fiber bundle using the first nip rolls and the second nip rolls to apply a tensile force to the fiber bundle, the fiber bundle being pushed onto the upstream portion and the edge of the opening facilitator while conveying; and (a3) conveying the fiber bundle using the second nip rolls and the third nip rolls to relax the fiber bundle, thereby forming a belt-shaped fiber bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigetomo Takahashi, Yasuhiro Koyama
  • Patent number: 9067328
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting device which cuts a web member, which includes fiber bundles which extend continuously in a machine direction MD and which is intermittently conveyed in said machine direction, in a crossing direction CD which crosses the machine direction. The cutting device has a plurality of disk shaped rotary blades which rotate about rotary shafts which extend along the machine direction while moving in said cross direction so as to thereby cut said web member when the web member is at a stop. The plurality of rotary blades are arranged so as to be substantially aligned in the crossing direction and includes a rotary blade which rotates in one direction and a rotary blade which rotates in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunihiko Saito, Shigetomo Takahashi, Kazuhiko Hoshika, Hisaoki Nobukuni
  • Publication number: 20140183928
    Abstract: An object of the present disclosure is to provide a method of producing an opened fiber bundle at high speed and in a space-saving manner. The method is as follows. A method of continuously producing an opened fiber bundle for a cleaning member, comprising the steps of (a1) providing (i) first nip rolls, (ii) second nip rolls, (iii) third nip rolls, and (iv) an opening facilitator; (a2) conveying a fiber bundle using the first nip rolls and the second nip rolls to apply a tensile force to the fiber bundle, the fiber bundle being pushed onto the upstream portion and the edge of the opening facilitator while conveying; and (a3) conveying the fiber bundle using the second nip rolls and the third nip rolls to relax the fiber bundle, thereby forming a belt-shaped fiber bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigetomo TAKAHASHI, Yasuhiro KOYAMA
  • Publication number: 20140183929
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a cleaning member comprising opened fiber bundle, in order to correct twisting of fiber bundle in the path for feeding the fiber bundle from a storage container to a driving roller to thereby stabilize manufacturing process, and in order to pre-open the fiber bundle in the path from a driving roller to the opening step to thereby speed-up the opening step, fiber bundle drawn out continuously from a storage container in a first direction is wound onto a non-rotational bar, and after being fed in a second direction, is fed to a first driving roller, and the fiber bundle fed from the first driving roller in a third direction is wound onto a second non-rotational bar, and after being fed in a fourth direction, is fed to a second driving roller and to the following opening step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki MATSUMOTO, Shigetomo TAKAHASHI, Yuji YAMASHITA, Hiroaki GOTO
  • Publication number: 20140187406
    Abstract: To provide a novel method of production and system of production which are suitable for producing a cleaning member excellent in cleaning performance and further which enable efficient production. The present invention is a method of producing a cleaning member which is obtained from a multilayer web which contains at least a fiber bundle and a belt-shaped nonwoven fabric, the method including at least a step of conveying the fiber bundle and a step of conveying the belt-shaped nonwoven fabric, the tension of the fiber bundle in the step of conveying the fiber bundle being lower than the tension of the belt-shaped nonwoven fabric in a step of conveying the belt-shaped nonwoven fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki MATSUMOTO, Shigetomo TAKAHASHI, Yuji YAMASHITA, Hiroaki GOTO
  • Publication number: 20140182767
    Abstract: To provide a novel production method and a novel production system that are suitable for producing a cleaning member having an excellent cleaning performance and that realize efficient production. The present invention is a method of producing a cleaning member obtained from a multi-layer web comprising at least a fiber bundle and a belt-shaped nonwoven fabric, wherein the method comprises at least the step of connecting the ends of the at least two the fiber bundles by melt-bonding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki GOTO, Takayuki MATSUMOTO, Shigetomo TAKAHASHI, Yuji YAMASHITA
  • Publication number: 20140182429
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting device which cuts a web member, which includes fiber bundles which extend continuously in a machine direction MD and which is intermittently conveyed in said machine direction, in a crossing direction CD which crosses the machine direction. The cutting device has a plurality of disk shaped rotary blades which rotate about rotary shafts which extend along the machine direction while moving in said cross direction so as to thereby cut said web member when the web member is at a stop. The plurality of rotary blades are arranged so as to be substantially aligned in the crossing direction and includes a rotary blade which rotates in one direction and a rotary blade which rotates in the opposite direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunihiko SAITO, Shigetomo TAKAHASHI, Kazuhiko HOSHIKA, Hisaoki Nobukuni
  • Patent number: 8627869
    Abstract: Stoppers for preventing lifting of the worked sheet are comprised of two stoppers near the press and above the worked sheet at a predetermined space from the worked sheet, one of the stoppers arranged at an upstream side from the press and the other of the stoppers arranged at a downstream side from the press, whereby when the press seals the worked sheet and then moves upward, the preventive stoppers prevent the worked sheet from being lifted up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Matsumoto, Shigetomo Takahashi, Yuji Yamashita, Hiroaki Goto