Patents by Inventor Toru Oba

Toru Oba 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: 9839708
    Abstract: Provided is a method for treating a used absorbent article, this method being hygienic and capable of recovering recyclable material with a high degree of safety. This method for treating a used absorbent article is characterized by including (a) an acidic electrolyzed water treatment step that treats the used absorbent article in a treatment tank that has acidic electrolyzed water serve as a treatment fluid. This method preferably further includes (b) an alkaline electrolyzed water treatment step that treats the used absorbent article in a treatment tank that has alkaline electrolyzed water as a treatment fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Yamaguchi, Takayoshi Konishi, Toru Oba
  • Patent number: 9777131
    Abstract: A method enabling a used superabsorbent polymer recovered from used absorbent, etc., to be readily and inexpensively recovered without using acids or alkalies. The used superabsorbent polymer is treated with an aqueous solution of a multivalent metal salt such as calcium chloride, etc., the superabsorbent polymer treated with the aqueous solution of a multivalent metal salt is treated with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal salt such as sodium chloride, etc., the superabsorbent polymer treated with the aqueous solution of an alkali metal salt is washed with water, and the superabsorbent polymer washed with water is then dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Naoyuki Funamizu, Ken Ushijima, Nowaki Hijikata, Hiroki Yoshikawa, Takayoshi Konishi, Toru Oba
  • Patent number: 9637851
    Abstract: A device and method for excellent recovery of bulk in nonwoven fabric. While nonwoven fabric is transported so as to enter a heating chamber via an entry opening and, after progressing within the heating chamber, exit the heating chamber via an exit opening, heated air is supplied at a speed higher than the transport speed for the unwoven fabric so as to enter the heating chamber via the entry opening and after progressing within the heating chamber while contacting the nonwoven fabric, exit the heating chamber via the exit opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Okuda, Ko Detani, Toru Oba, Satoshi Mitsuno, Noritomo Kameda
  • Patent number: 9364576
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent body arranged between the top sheet and the back sheet. An excretory orifice contact area of the liquid-permeable top sheet has an area containing a blood slipping agent. The blood slipping agent has a kinematic viscosity of 0.01-80 mm2/s at 40° C., a water hold percentage of 0.01-4.0 mass %, and a weight average molecular weight of less than 1,000. An amount of the blood slipping agent on the clothing-side surface of the top sheet is greater than an amount of the blood slipping agent on the skin-side surface of the top sheet at a location in the area containing the blood slipping agent where the surfaces overlap in the thickness direction of the absorbent article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Noda, Tatsuya Tamura, Akira Hashino, Toru Oba
  • Patent number: 9315931
    Abstract: A sheet of nonwoven fabric which has surface irregularities, the shape of the surface irregularities being less apt to be changed by external pressure, etc. The sheet has a machine, cross and thickness directions which are perpendicular to one another. The upper surface has a plurality of protrusions continuously extending, in parallel, in the cross direction and further has a plurality of recesses that are located between the adjacent protrusions and extend in the cross direction. The sheet includes first and second fibrous layers located on the upper-surface side and the lower-surface side, respectively. The first fibrous layer comprises heat-fusible fibers, and the second fibrous layer comprises coil-shaped three-dimensional crimp fibers that are oriented mainly in the machine direction and form a network by entanglement thereof without having been fused at the sites where the crimp fibers cross one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Uematsu, Toru Oba, Satoshi Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20150265737
    Abstract: Provided is a method for treating a used absorbent article, this method being hygienic and capable of recovering recyclable material with a high degree of safety. This method for treating a used absorbent article is characterized by including (a) an acidic electrolyzed water treatment step that treats the used absorbent article in a treatment tank that has acidic electrolyzed water serve as a treatment fluid. This method preferably further includes (b) an alkaline electrolyzed water treatment step that treats the used absorbent article in a treatment tank that has alkaline electrolyzed water as a treatment fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Masashi Yamaguchi, Takayoshi Konishi, Toru Oba
  • Publication number: 20150250916
    Abstract: An absorbent article includes a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent body arranged between the top sheet and the back sheet. An excretory orifice contact area of the liquid-permeable top sheet has an area containing a blood lubricity-imparting agent. The blood lubricity-imparting agent has a kinematic viscosity of 0.01-80 mm2/s at 40° C., a water hold percentage of 0.01-4.0 mass %, and a weight average molecular weight of less than 1,000. An amount of the blood lubricity-imparting agent on the clothing-side surface of the top sheet is greater than an amount of the blood lubricity-imparting agent on the skin-side surface of the top sheet at a location in the area containing the blood lubricity-imparting agent where the surfaces overlap in the thickness direction of the absorbent article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Yuki Noda, Tatsuya Tamura, Akira Hashino, Toru Oba
  • Patent number: 9125769
    Abstract: An absorbent article that includes an absorber capable of absorbing a body fluid of a user, a liquid-permeable sheet covering one surface of the absorber and allowing a body fluid of the user to pass through, and a liquid-impermeable sheet covering another surface of the absorber and disallowing a body fluid of the user to pass through, wherein the color of the liquid-permeable sheet has an L* value of 88 or more, an a* value of 0 to 0.3 and a b* value of ?8 to 0 in the L*a*b* color system, and the color of the absorber has a b* value of 1 to 5 and an L* value of 93 or more in the L*a*b* color system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Uda, Toru Oba, Satoshi Mizutani
  • Patent number: 9095477
    Abstract: A nonwoven sheet for use in absorbent articles such as disposable diapers which is capable of reducing the range of surface diffusion of, and reducing re-adhesion to the skin of, highly viscous fluid excretion. The nonwoven sheet has mutually perpendicular longitudinal, transverse and thickness directions, and has in the aforementioned thickness direction a front surface and a back surface opposite thereof. Ridges and grooves are formed alternately so as to extend in parallel in the aforementioned longitudinal direction and so as to form repeated undulations in the aforementioned transverse direction. The nonwoven sheet has a bottom surface which, when the aforementioned nonwoven sheet is placed on a horizontal surface with the back surface (opposite of the front surface in contact with the skin of the wearer) down, is the surface that contacts the aforementioned horizontal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Yamaguchi, Toru Oba, Akihiro Kimura, Katsuhiro Uematsu
  • Publication number: 20150067996
    Abstract: A device and method for excellent recovery of bulk in nonwoven fabric. While nonwoven fabric is transported so as to enter a heating chamber via an entry opening and, after progressing within the heating chamber, exit the heating chamber via an exit opening, heated air is supplied at a speed higher than the transport speed for the unwoven fabric so as to enter the heating chamber via the entry opening and after progressing within the heating chamber while contacting the nonwoven fabric, exit the heating chamber via the exit opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Jun Okuda, Ko Detani, Toru Oba, Satoshi Mitsuno, Noritomo Kameda
  • Publication number: 20150045461
    Abstract: A method enabling a used superabsorbent polymer recovered from used absorbent, etc., to be readily and inexpensively recovered without using acids or alkalies. The used superabsorbent polymer is treated with an aqueous solution of a multivalent metal salt such as calcium chloride, etc., the superabsorbent polymer treated with the aqueous solution of a multivalent metal salt is treated with an aqueous solution of an alkaline metal salt such as sodium chloride, etc., the superabsorbent polymer treated with the aqueous solution of an alkaline metal salt is washed with water, and the superabsorbent polymer washed with water is then dried.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Naoyuki Funamizu, Ken Ushijima, Nowaki Hijikata, Hiroki Yoshikawa, Takayoshi Konishi, Toru Oba
  • Publication number: 20140174628
    Abstract: A sheet of nonwoven fabric which has surface irregularities, the shape of the surface irregularities being less apt to be changed by external pressure, etc. The sheet has a machine, cross and thickness directions which are perpendicular to one another. The upper surface has a plurality of protrusions continuously extending, in parallel, in the cross direction and further has a plurality of recesses that are located between the adjacent protrusions and extend in the cross direction. The sheet includes first and second fibrous layers located on the upper-surface side and the lower-surface side, respectively. The first fibrous layer comprises heat-fusible fibers, and the second fibrous layer comprises coil-shaped three-dimensional crimp fibers that are oriented mainly in the machine direction and form a network by entanglement thereof without having been fused at the sites where the crimp fibers cross one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Uematsu, Toru Oba, Satoshi Mizutani
  • Patent number: 8722173
    Abstract: A liquid-pervious fibrous non-woven fabric includes staple fibers made of thermoplastic synthetic resin fused together which is formed on its upper surface with a plurality of ridges, and a plurality of grooves extending in parallel in a longitudinal direction. The ridges and grooves are arranged alternately in a transverse direction. On the upper surface, some of the staple fibers extend across the ridges to the adjacent grooves on each side of the ridges and are, in the respective grooves, fused to the staple fibers of a different type from the former staple fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Oba, Satoshi Mizutani, Akihiro Kimura
  • Publication number: 20130165883
    Abstract: A nonwoven fabric that minimizes the condition of rewet-back in which fluid absorbed into an absorbent body exudes out to the front side, as well as a method for producing it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Kimura, Toru Oba
  • Publication number: 20130158497
    Abstract: A nonwoven sheet for use in absorbent articles such as disposable diapers which is capable of reducing the range of surface diffusion of, and reducing re-adhesion to the skin of, highly viscous fluid excretion. The nonwoven sheet has mutually perpendicular longitudinal, transverse and thickness directions, and has in the aforementioned thickness direction a front surface and a back surface opposite thereof. Ridges and grooves are formed alternately so as to extend in parallel in the aforementioned longitudinal direction and so as to form repeated undulations in the aforementioned transverse direction. The nonwoven sheet has a bottom surface which, when the aforementioned nonwoven sheet is placed on a horizontal surface with the back surface (opposite of the front surface in contact with the skin of the wearer) down, is the surface that contacts the aforementioned horizontal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Yamaguchi, Toru Oba, Akihiro Kimura, Katsuhiro Uematsu
  • Publication number: 20130022784
    Abstract: A sheet of nonwoven fabric which has surface irregularities, the shape of the surface irregularities being less apt to be changed by external pressure, etc. The sheet has a machine, cross and thickness which are perpendicular to one another. The upper surface has a plurality of protrusions continuously extending, in parallel, in the cross direction and further has a plurality of recesses (3) that are located between the adjacent protrusions and extend in the cross direction. The sheet includes first and second fibrous layers located on the upper-surface side and the lower-surface side, respectively. The first fibrous layer comprises heat-fusible fibers, and the second fibrous layer comprises coil-shaped three-dimensional crimp fibers that are oriented mainly in the machine direction and form a network by entanglement thereof without having been fused at the sites where the crimp fibers cross one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Uematsu, Toru Oba, Satoshi Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20130017370
    Abstract: A sheet of nonwoven fabric for use in absorbent articles such as disposal diapers, sanitary napkins, wipes, etc., the sheet of nonwoven fabric being suitable for holding high-viscosity excreta such as soft feces. The sheet of nonwoven fabric has, formed in a first surface thereof, a plurality of ridges and grooves which extend in the machine direction. The sheet comprises a first fibrous layer and a second fibrous layer, the first fibrous layer being located on the first-surface side and the second fibrous layer being located on the second-surface side, which is on the reverse side from the first surface. The second fibrous layer comprises fibers having the ability to be crimped, and the first fibrous layer comprises heat-fusible fibers which are not crimped at the crimping initiation temperature of the fibers having the ability to be crimped. In a plan view from the first-surface side, the peripheries of the ridges have a shape which is composed of repeated meanders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Yamaguchi, Toru Oba
  • Publication number: 20130012900
    Abstract: An absorbent article that includes an absorber capable of absorbing a body fluid of a user, a liquid-permeable sheet covering one surface of the absorber and allowing a body fluid of the user to pass through, and a liquid-impermeable sheet covering another surface of the absorber and disallowing a body fluid of the user to pass through, wherein the color of the liquid-permeable sheet has an L* value of 88 or more, an a* value of 0 to 0.3 and a b* value of ?8 to 0 in the L*a*b* color system, and the color of the absorber has a b* value of 1 to 5 and an L* value of 93 or more in the L*a*b* color system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Uda, Toru Oba, Satoshi Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20120321839
    Abstract: A nonwoven-fabric sheet having a high liquid permeation rate and a process for producing the sheet. The nonwoven-fabric sheet comprises two layers, a first layer and a second layer, and is characterized in that the first layer has a plurality of ridges and grooves which extend in parallel in the lengthwise direction, that the first layer comprises heat-fusible fibers and the second layer comprises crimped fibers, and that the sheet has an average fiber angle of 70 or less in a cross-section parallel to the lengthwise direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Uematsu, Toru Oba, Satoshi Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20120196091
    Abstract: Short fibers of thermoplastic synthetic resin are fusion bonded to one another to form a nonwoven fabric. The nonwoven fabric is formed on its upper surface with crests and troughs extending in parallel to one another. The crests include first crests having a uniform height dimension from a lower surface of the nonwoven fabric and second crests having a uniform height dimension from a lower surface of the nonwoven fabric which is smaller than the height dimension of the first crests. Density of the nonwoven fabric gradually increases in the order of the first crests, the second crests and the troughs. The first crests are formed so that the density of the first crests remains lower than the density of the second crests even when the first crests are compressed toward the lower surface until the first crests becomes flush with the level of the second crests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Mizutani, Hiroki Goda, Hideyuki Ishikawa, Toru Oba