Patents by Inventor Toshio Hiraoka

Toshio Hiraoka 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).

  • Publication number: 20240050290
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for producing recycled pulp fibers such that articles using the recycled pulp fibers can easily achieve a uniform whiteness and users are not prone to feel psychological resistance to articles using the recycled pulp fibers. This method is described below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka, Noritomo Kurita
  • Patent number: 11773536
    Abstract: The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a method for producing pulp fibres for saccharification from the pulp fibres of used sanitary items, said pulp fibres for saccharification having low lignin contents distributed within a narrow range, and enabling the production of pulp fibres for saccharification having superior saccharification properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouichi Yamaki, Takayoshi Konishi, Naoto Ohashi, Toshio Hiraoka, Noritomo Kurita
  • Patent number: 11771604
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for producing recycled pulp fibers such that articles using the recycled pulp fibers can easily achieve a uniform whiteness and users are not prone to feel psychological resistance to articles using the recycled pulp fibers. This method is described below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka, Noritomo Kurita
  • Patent number: 11731318
    Abstract: A method includes producing recycled products from a plurality of used absorbent articles, each including a top sheet, a back sheet and an absorbent body including absorbent body materials, by recovering a plurality of structural members from the plurality of used absorbent articles. At least one of the top sheet and the back sheet includes a film. The method includes: separating the plurality of used absorbent articles into a plurality of the films and the absorbent body materials; sorting the plurality of films into a plurality of types of recyclable films according to the filler contents of the plurality of films; and forming a plurality of types of recycled resin pellets from the plurality of types of recyclable films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka, Noritomo Kameda
  • Patent number: 11673172
    Abstract: Provided is a method that, when pulp fibers are recovered from used absorbent articles that have been put into collection bags, makes it possible to safely and sanitarily crush the used absorbent articles while suppressing costs. A method for recovering pulp fibers from used absorbent articles, the method comprising: a crushing step (S12) in which collection bags (A) in which used absorbent articles have been sealed are put into a container (65), the collection bags in the container are transferred to a crushing device (12) that communicates with the container, and, bag by bag, the crushing device crushes the used absorbent articles in the collections bags in a deactivating aqueous solution; and a separation step (S13) in which the pulp fibers, a highly water-absorbent polymer, and the deactivating aqueous solution are separated from the crushed product and deactivating aqueous solution obtained in the crushing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka, Takashi Kato, Noritomo Kurita
  • Publication number: 20230160142
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method which is for producing pulp fibers for cellulose nanofiberization from pulp fibers of used sanitary products, and which can produce pulp fibers for cellulose nanofiberization that have low lignin content and a low distribution thereof and that have excellent cellulose nanofiberization properties. This method is described below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka, Noritomo Kurita
  • Patent number: 11554520
    Abstract: Recycled pulp that derives from a used sanitary article includes an antibacterial activity value of 2.0 or more and an acid. Recycled pulp that derives from a used sanitary article includes an antibacterial activity value of 2.0 or more and an ash content of 0.65% by weight or less, and further includes an acid. The acid is a citric acid. The recycled pulp further includes a cationic antibacterial agent. The cationic antibacterial agent is a quaternary ammonium salt. The cationic antibacterial agent is a benzalkonium chloride or a cetylpyridinium chloride. At least a portion of the cationic antibacterial agent is adsorbed on the recycled pulp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka
  • Patent number: 11319670
    Abstract: A recycled pulp that is reusable sanitary products is efficiently manufactured by recovering pulp fiber from used sanitary products containing the pulp fiber and a polymer absorbent. The method of the present invention comprises: a step applying a mechanical force to the used sanitary products in an aqueous solution containing a polyvalent metal ion or an acidic aqueous solution with a pH of 2.5 or lower and thus degrading the used sanitary products into the pulp fiber and other materials; a step separating the pulp fiber from the mixture of the pulp fiber and other materials that has been formed in the degradation step; and a step treating the pulp fiber thus separated with an ozone-containing aqueous solution with a pH of 2.5 or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka
  • Patent number: 11224994
    Abstract: A method of recovering structural members from a used absorbent article comprising a front sheet, a back sheet and an absorbent body between the front sheet and the back sheet, wherein at least one of the front sheet and the back sheet includes a film, and wherein the absorbent body includes an absorbent body material, may include swelling the used absorbent article with water, applying a physical shock to and disintegrating the swelled used absorbent article into at least the film and the absorbent body material, and separating the film and the absorbent body material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka, Noritomo Kameda
  • Patent number: 11208674
    Abstract: A simple method is provided for producing a saccharified solution from a used absorbent article such as a used diaper. In order to produce a saccharified solution from a used absorbent article comprising a non-cellulosic liquid permeable surface material and an absorbent body that contains pulp fibers, the used absorbent article is immersed, without first being decomposed, in a saccharifying enzyme solution containing cellulase. The pulp fibers in the used absorbent article are saccharified by the cellulase, producing a saccharified solution. The produced saccharified solution is exuded out of the used absorbent article through the liquid permeable surface material, so it is possible to easily separate and recover the saccharified solution from the used absorbent article while maintaining the outer shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka, Koichi Yamaki, Noritomo Kameda
  • Patent number: 11131061
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method which, in the process of manufacturing recycled pulp fibers from a mixture of pulp fibers and a high water-absorption polymer, enables efficient manufacturing of the recycled pulp fibers while properly removing the high water-absorption polymer from the pulp fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka, Takashi Kato, Noritomo Kurita
  • Patent number: 11098447
    Abstract: A recycled pulp that is reusable sanitary products is efficiently manufactured by recovering pulp fiber from used sanitary products containing the pulp fiber and a polymer absorbent. The method of the present invention comprises: a step applying a mechanical force to the used sanitary products in an aqueous solution containing a polyvalent metal ion or an acidic aqueous solution with a pH of 2.5 or lower and thus degrading the used sanitary products into the pulp fiber and other materials; a step separating the pulp fiber from the mixture of the pulp fiber and other materials that has been formed in the degradation step; and a step treating the pulp fiber thus separated with an ozone-containing aqueous solution with a pH of 2.5 or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka
  • Patent number: 11021839
    Abstract: The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a recovery method for an organic acid. The recovery method makes it possible to efficiently recover an organic acid that is included in a deactivating aqueous solution that includes excrement. This recovery method has the following features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka, Takashi Kato, Yoshihide Ishikawa, Noritomo Kurita
  • Patent number: 10961658
    Abstract: Pulp fiber containing little ash is effectively recovered from a used sanitary product containing the pulp fiber and a polymer absorbent. The method according to the present invention comprises: a step for treating the used sanitary product with an ozone-containing gas and thus decomposing and removing at least a portion of the polymer absorbent in the used sanitary product; and a step for stirring the used sanitary product, that has been treated with the ozone-containing gas, in water or an aqueous solution containing an antiseptic and thus decomposing the used sanitary product into constituents. If required, the method may further comprise a step for separating the pulp fiber from the decomposition product obtained by the decomposition step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka, Noritomo Kameda, Hideaki Ichiura, Hiroko Nakaoka
  • Patent number: 10960577
    Abstract: Pulp fiber containing little ash is effectively recovered from a used sanitary product containing the pulp fiber and a polymer absorbent. The method according to the present invention comprises: a step for treating the used sanitary product with an ozone-containing gas and thus decomposing and removing at least a portion of the polymer absorbent in the used sanitary product; and a step for stirring the used sanitary product, that has been treated with the ozone-containing gas, in water or an aqueous solution containing an antiseptic and thus decomposing the used sanitary product into constituents. If required, the method may further comprise a step for separating the pulp fiber from the decomposition product obtained by the decomposition step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka, Noritomo Kameda, Hideaki Ichiura, Hiroko Nakaoka
  • Patent number: 10927496
    Abstract: A method is provided for recovering pulp fibers having little damage from a used absorbent article that contains pulp fibers and a superabsorbent polymer. The used absorbent article is treated at a temperature of greater than or equal to 80° C. with an organic acid aqueous solution having a pH no greater than 2.5, and the superabsorbent polymer is deactivated. Preferably, the pulp fibers and the deactivated superabsorbent polymer are separated from the used absorbent article after treatment with the organic acid aqueous solution, and further, a mixture including the separated pulp fibers and deactivated superabsorbent polymer is treated with an oxidizing agent, the deactivated superabsorbent polymer is decomposed, reduced in molecular weight and solubilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka, Koichi Yamaki, Noritomo Kameda
  • Publication number: 20200378066
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method which, in the process of manufacturing recycled pulp fibers from a mixture of pulp fibers and a high water-absorption polymer, enables efficient manufacturing of the recycled pulp fibers while properly removing the high water-absorption polymer from the pulp fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka, Takashi Kato, Noritomo Kurita
  • Publication number: 20200376718
    Abstract: Recycled pulp that derives from a used sanitary article includes an antibacterial activity value of 2.0 or more and an acid. Recycled pulp that derives from a used sanitary article includes an antibacterial activity value of 2.0 or more and an ash content of 0.65% by weight or less, and further includes an acid. The acid is a citric acid. The recycled pulp further includes a cationic antibacterial agent. The cationic antibacterial agent is a quaternary ammonium salt. The cationic antibacterial agent is a benzalkonium chloride or a cetylpyridinium chloride. At least a portion of the cationic antibacterial agent is adsorbed on the recycled pulp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka
  • Publication number: 20200346261
    Abstract: Provided is a method that, when pulp fibers are recovered from used absorbent articles that have been put into collection bags, makes it possible to safely and sanitarily crush the used absorbent articles while suppressing costs. A method for recovering pulp fibers from used absorbent articles, the method comprising: a crushing step (S12) in which collection bags (A) in which used absorbent articles have been sealed are put into a container (65), the collection bags in the container are transferred to a crushing device (12) that communicates with the container, and, bag by bag, the crushing device crushes the used absorbent articles in the collections bags in a deactivating aqueous solution; and a separation step (S13) in which the pulp fibers, a highly water-absorbent polymer, and the deactivating aqueous solution are separated from the crushed product and deactivating aqueous solution obtained in the crushing step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka, Takashi Kato, Noritomo Kurita
  • Publication number: 20200332467
    Abstract: The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a recovery method for an organic acid. The recovery method makes it possible to efficiently recover an organic acid that is included in a deactivating aqueous solution that includes excrement. This recovery method has the following features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka, Takashi Kato, Yoshihide Ishikawa, Noritomo Kurita