Patents by Inventor So Nishino

So Nishino 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: 11806899
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technology in production of a prepreg and enhances the production efficiency, in which the technology allows the arrangement property and rectilinearity of reinforcing fibers to be well maintained and allows any resin to be applied stably at a high speed. A prepreg is produced by a method which includes: discharging a molten resin in planar form to form a resin film, and applying the resin film onto a reinforcing fiber sheet conveyed continuously, wherein the reinforcing fiber sheet is conveyed substantially in the horizontal direction, and wherein an angle made between the discharge direction of the resin and the conveyance direction of the reinforcing fiber sheet 1a is 80° or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Junichi Aoki, Takashi Ochi, So Nishino, Satoshi Enzaki, Takaaki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11639427
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a prepreg, in which a matrix resin is applied to a reinforcing fiber sheet, where the sheet can continuously run without clogging due to generated fuzz, even at a high running speed, and where the sheet can be efficiently impregnated with the matrix resin. The prepreg is produced by a method which includes a step of allowing a reinforcing fiber sheet to pass horizontally or slantingly through the inside of a coating section storing a matrix resin to apply the matrix resin to the reinforcing fiber sheet, where the coating section includes a liquid pool and a narrowed section which are in communication with each other, where the liquid pool has a portion whose cross-sectional area decreases continuously along a running direction of the reinforcing fiber sheet, and wherein the narrowed section has a slit-like cross-section and has a smaller cross-sectional area than the largest cross-sectional area of the liquid pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Takashi Ochi, So Nishino, Kiyoshi Minoura
  • Publication number: 20230106616
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a prepreg, in which a matrix resin is applied to a reinforcing fiber sheet, where the sheet can continuously run without clogging due to generated fuzz, even at a high running speed, and where the sheet can be efficiently impregnated with the matrix resin. The prepreg is produced by a method which includes a step of allowing a reinforcing fiber sheet to pass horizontally or slantingly through the inside of a coating section storing a matrix resin to apply the matrix resin to the reinforcing fiber sheet, where the coating section includes a liquid pool and a narrowed section which are in communication with each other, where the liquid pool has a portion whose cross-sectional area decreases continuously along a running direction of the reinforcing fiber sheet, and wherein the narrowed section has a slit-like cross-section and has a smaller cross-sectional area than the largest cross-sectional area of the liquid pool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Ochi, So Nishino, Kiyoshi Minoura
  • Patent number: 11566117
    Abstract: A method of producing a prepreg is described, in which a matrix resin is applied to a reinforcing fiber sheet in which the sheet can continuously run without clogging due to generated fuzz even at a high running speed and where the reinforcing fiber sheet can be efficiently impregnated with the matrix resin. A method of producing a prepreg includes allowing a reinforcing fiber sheet to pass substantially vertically downward through the inside of a coating section storing a matrix resin to apply the matrix resin to the reinforcing fiber sheet; and then applying a resin film to a primary impregnate prepreg withdrawn from the coating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Takashi Ochi, So Nishino, Junichi Aoki, Yoshikazu Kono, Tamotsu Suzuki, Takashi Ikushima
  • Patent number: 11499025
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for producing a prepreg, for applying a coating liquid to a reinforcing fiber sheet, the apparatus including: a coating section including: a liquid pool storing the coating liquid and having a portion whose cross-sectional area decreases continuously and vertically downward, and a narrowed section having a slit-like outlet in communication with the lower end of the liquid pool; a running mechanism for allowing the reinforcing fiber sheet to run vertically downward and be introduced into the coating section; a take-up mechanism for taking up the reinforcing fiber sheet downward from the coating section; wall constituent members opposed to each other in the thickness direction of the reinforcing fiber sheet to form the narrowed section; and an external force application mechanism for applying an external force to the wall constituent members in the thickness direction of the reinforcing fiber sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: So Nishino, Yoshikazu Kono, Takashi Ochi, Junichi Aoki, Yoshiyuki Kitamura, Kiyoshi Minoura
  • Patent number: 11491685
    Abstract: A method is described for producing a prepreg formed by applying a matrix resin to a reinforcing fiber sheet, wherein the method can effect continuous running without clogging due to generated fuzz even at a high running speed and effect efficient impregnation of the reinforcing fiber sheet with a matrix resin. A method of producing a prepreg includes allowing a reinforcing fiber sheet to pass substantially vertically downward through the inside of a coating section storing a matrix resin to obtain a matrix resin-impregnated reinforcing fiber sheet in which the matrix resin is applied to the reinforcing fiber sheet and at least heating the matrix resin-impregnated reinforcing fiber sheet, wherein the coating section includes a liquid pool and a narrowed section which are in communication with each other, wherein the liquid pool has a portion whose cross-sectional area decreases continuously along a running direction of the reinforcing fiber sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Ochi, Yoshikazu Kono, So Nishino, Junichi Aoki, Kiyoshi Minoura, Tamotsu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11421091
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a prepreg, in which a matrix resin is applied to a reinforcing fiber sheet, where the sheet can continuously run without clogging due to generated fuzz, even at a high running speed, and where the sheet can be efficiently impregnated with the matrix resin. The prepreg is produced by a method which includes a step of allowing a reinforcing fiber sheet to pass horizontally or slantingly through the inside of a coating section storing a matrix resin to apply the matrix resin to the reinforcing fiber sheet, where the coating section includes a liquid pool and a narrowed section which are in communication with each other, where the liquid pool has a portion whose cross-sectional area decreases continuously along a running direction of the reinforcing fiber sheet, and wherein the narrowed section has a slit-like cross-section and has a smaller cross-sectional area than the largest cross-sectional area of the liquid pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Ochi, So Nishino, Kiyoshi Minoura
  • Publication number: 20220112344
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for producing a prepreg, for applying a coating liquid to a reinforcing fiber sheet, the apparatus including: a coating section including: a liquid pool storing the coating liquid and having a portion whose cross-sectional area decreases continuously and vertically downward, and a narrowed section having a slit-like outlet in communication with the lower end of the liquid pool; a running mechanism for allowing the reinforcing fiber sheet to run vertically downward and be introduced into the coating section; a take-up mechanism for taking up the reinforcing fiber sheet downward from the coating section; wall constituent members opposed to each other in the thickness direction of the reinforcing fiber sheet to form the narrowed section; and an external force application mechanism for applying an external force to the wall constituent members in the thickness direction of the reinforcing fiber sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: So Nishino, Yoshikazu Kono, Takashi Ochi, Junichi Aoki, Yoshiyuki Kitamura, Kiyoshi Minoura
  • Patent number: 11224993
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a coating liquid impregnated sheet-like reinforcing fiber bundle formed by applying a coating liquid to a sheet-like reinforcing fiber bundle that is unidirectionally arranged continuous reinforcing fibers long in one direction. The present invention provides a production method and a coating device of a coating liquid impregnated sheet-like reinforcing fiber bundle, wherein the method and device can effect continuous running without clogging of generated fuzz even at a high running speed and effect efficient impregnation of a coating liquid into the sheet-like reinforcing fiber bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Ochi, So Nishino, Tamotsu Suzuki, Junichi Aoki
  • Patent number: 11192280
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of producing a coating liquid-impregnated reinforcing fiber fabric 1b, including allowing a reinforcing fiber fabric 1a to pass substantially vertically downward through the inside of a coating section 20 storing a coating liquid 2 to provide the reinforcing fiber fabric 1a with the coating liquid 2; wherein the coating section 20 includes a liquid pool and a narrowed section which are in communication with each other; wherein the liquid pool has a portion whose cross-sectional area decreases continuously along a running direction of the reinforcing fiber fabric 1a, wherein the narrowed section has a slit-like cross-section and has a smaller cross-sectional area than the top side of the liquid pool, and wherein the vertical height of the portion whose cross-sectional area decreases continuously in the liquid pool is 10 mm or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Takashi Ochi, So Nishino, Tamotsu Suzuki, Junichi Aoki
  • Publication number: 20210301096
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a prepreg, in which a matrix resin is applied to a reinforcing fiber sheet, where the sheet can continuously run without clogging due to generated fuzz, even at a high running speed, and where the sheet can be efficiently impregnated with the matrix resin. The prepreg is produced by a method which includes a step of allowing a reinforcing fiber sheet to pass horizontally or slantingly through the inside of a coating section storing a matrix resin to apply the matrix resin to the reinforcing fiber sheet, where the coating section includes a liquid pool and a narrowed section which are in communication with each other, where the liquid pool has a portion whose cross-sectional area decreases continuously along a running direction of the reinforcing fiber sheet, and wherein the narrowed section has a slit-like cross-section and has a smaller cross-sectional area than the largest cross-sectional area of the liquid pool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Ochi, So Nishino, Kiyoshi Minoura
  • Publication number: 20210292496
    Abstract: A method of producing a prepreg is described, in which a matrix resin is applied to a reinforcing fiber sheet in which the sheet can continuously run without clogging due to generated fuzz even at a high running speed and where the reinforcing fiber sheet can be efficiently impregnated with the matrix resin. A method of producing a prepreg includes allowing a reinforcing fiber sheet to pass substantially vertically downward through the inside of a coating section storing a matrix resin to apply the matrix resin to the reinforcing fiber sheet; and then applying a resin film to a primary impregnate prepreg withdrawn from the coating section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Ochi, So Nishino, Junichi Aoki, Yoshikazu Kono, Tamotsu Suzuki, Takashi Ikushima
  • Publication number: 20210291405
    Abstract: A method is described for producing a prepreg formed by applying a matrix resin to a reinforcing fiber sheet, wherein the method can effect continuous running without clogging due to generated fuzz even at a high running speed and effect efficient impregnation of the reinforcing fiber sheet with a matrix resin. A method of producing a prepreg includes allowing a reinforcing fiber sheet to pass substantially vertically downward through the inside of a coating section storing a matrix resin to obtain a matrix resin-impregnated reinforcing fiber sheet in which the matrix resin is applied to the reinforcing fiber sheet and at least heating the matrix resin-impregnated reinforcing fiber sheet, wherein the coating section includes a liquid pool and a narrowed section which are in communication with each other, wherein the liquid pool has a portion whose cross-sectional area decreases continuously along a running direction of the reinforcing fiber sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Ochi, Yoshikazu Kono, So Nishino, Junichi Aoki, Kiyoshi Minoura, Tamotsu Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20210213649
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of producing a coating liquid-impregnated reinforcing fiber fabric 1b, including allowing a reinforcing fiber fabric 1a to pass substantially vertically downward through the inside of a coating section 20 storing a coating liquid 2 to provide the reinforcing fiber fabric 1a with the coating liquid 2; wherein the coating section 20 includes a liquid pool and a narrowed section which are in communication with each other; wherein the liquid pool has a portion whose cross-sectional area decreases continuously along a running direction of the reinforcing fiber fabric 1a, wherein the narrowed section has a slit-like cross-section and has a smaller cross-sectional area than the top side of the liquid pool, and wherein the vertical height of the portion whose cross-sectional area decreases continuously in the liquid pool is 10 mm or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Ochi, So Nishino, Tamotsu Suzuki, Junichi Aoki
  • Publication number: 20200276733
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technology in production of a prepreg and enhances the production efficiency, in which the technology allows the arrangement property and rectilinearity of reinforcing fibers to be well maintained and allows any resin to be applied stably at a high speed. A prepreg is produced by a method which includes: discharging a molten resin in planar form to form a resin film, and applying the resin film onto a reinforcing fiber sheet conveyed continuously, wherein the reinforcing fiber sheet is conveyed substantially in the horizontal direction, and wherein an angle made between the discharge direction of the resin and the conveyance direction of the reinforcing fiber sheet 1a is 80° or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Junichi Aoki, Takashi Ochi, So Nishino, Satoshi Enzaki, Takaaki Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20200039114
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a coating liquid impregnated sheet-like reinforcing fiber bundle formed by applying a coating liquid to a sheet-like reinforcing fiber bundle that is unidirectionally arranged continuous reinforcing fibers long in one direction. The present invention provides a production method and a coating device of a coating liquid impregnated sheet-like reinforcing fiber bundle, wherein the method and device can effect continuous running without clogging of generated fuzz even at a high running speed and effect efficient impregnation of a coating liquid into the sheet-like reinforcing fiber bundle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Ochi, So Nishino, Tamotsu Suzuki, Junichi Aoki