US4587065A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for producing light transmitting article of synthetic resin
Assignee: OHTSUKA YASUJI A SUBJECT OF JAPAN
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Filing: 1984-07-02
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Granted: 1986-05-06
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Expires: 2004-07-02
Abstract
Abstract A method of producing a light transmitting article of synthetic resin by polymerizing incompletely a monomer Ma which forms a network polymer Pa having a refractive index Na, thereby forming a self-supporting body material, and subsequently diffusing a monomer Mb, which forms a polymer Pb having a refractive index Nb different from the refractive index Na, into said body material and simultaneously polymerizing said monomer Mb, wherein said method comprises steps of drawing out continuously a body material from a molding means in which said body material has been formed and is ready for the diffusion of the monomer Mb, and passing said body material through a diffusion means and a heating means one after the other, diffusing the monomer Mb into said body material by the aid of said diffusion means and then heating said body material by the aid of said heating means so that the distribution of said monomer Mb is fixed in said body material. According to this invention, a light transmitting article of synthetic resin is produced continuously in good quality.
Inventors
- 👤 Maeda Kouichi
- 👤 Funaki Masaaki
- 👤 Yoshida Motoaki
- 👤 Ohtsuka Yasuji
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:39
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/00009; B29D11/00355; B29D11/00663; B29D11/00682; B29C; B29C48/00; B29C48/03; B29K; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/0002; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0018; B29K2995/0031
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of producing a light transmitting article from synthetic resin by partially polymerizing a monomer Ma which forms a network polymer Pa having a refractive index Na to form a self-supporting polymeric body material, and subsequently diffusing a monomer Mb, which forms a polymer Pb having a refractive index Nb different from the refractive index Na, into said body material and simultaneously polymerizing said monomer Mb, comprising the steps of continuously drawing out a polymeric body material from a molding means in which said body material has been formed and is ready for the diffusion of the monomer Mb, continuously passing said polymeric body material through a diffusion means and a heating means thereby diffusing the monomer Mb into said polymeric body material by the aid of said diffusion means, and then continuously heating said polymeric body material to complete polymerization of said polymeric body so that the distribution of said monomer Mb is fixed in said polymeric body material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of producing a light transmitting article from synthetic resin by partially polymerizing a monomer Ma which forms a network polymer Pa having a refractive index Na to form a self-supporting polymeric body material, and subsequently diffusing a monomer Mb, which forms a polymer Pb having a refractive index Nb different from the refractive index Na, into said body material and simultaneously polymerizing said monomer Mb, comprising the steps of continuously drawing out a polymeric body material from a molding means in which said body material has been formed and is ready for the diffusion of the monomer Mb, continuously passing said polymeric body material through a diffusion means and a heating means thereby diffusing the monomer Mb into said polymeric body material by the aid of said diffusion means, and then continuously heating said polymeric body material to complete polymerization of said polymeric body so that the distribution of said monomer Mb is fixed in said polymeric body material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method of producing a light transmitting article of synthetic resin as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diffusion in said diffusion means is accomplished by passing said monomer Mb in the form of gas or mist along the direction in which said body material moves through said diffusion means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
111 words
A method of producing a light transmitting article of synthetic resin as claimed in claim 1, wherein the monomer Mb in the form of liquid is brought into contact with the body material for diffusion and the body material is subjected to heat polymerization, and at least the initial stage of the heat polymerization is performed in an atmosphere containing a monomer Mc in the form of gas or mist, said monomer Mc being the same as or different from the monomer Mb and forming a polymer Pc having a refractive index Nc which satisfies any one of the following conditions: (a) Nc=Nb (b) Nc<Na and Nb<Na (c) Nc>Na and Nb>Na.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of producing a light transmitting article of synthetic resin as claimed in claim 3, wherein the monomer Mc is contained in an amount equivalent to at least 20% of the saturated concentration thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of producing a light transmitting article of synthetic resin as claimed in claim 3, wherein the monomer Mc is identical with the monomer Mb.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method of producing a light transmitting article of synthetic resin as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body material is produced by passing a prepolymer through a thin passageway and polymerizing it during its travel, said prepolymer being prepared by preliminarily polymerizing the monomer Ma so that it exhibits the plastic flow represented by the equation D=Kσ.sup.n wherein D is the shear rate, σ is the shear stress, K is the reciprocal of the plastic viscosity, and n is a constant greater than 1.10 at 20° C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of producing a light transmitting article of synthetic resin as claimed in claim 6, wherein the value of n is 1.10 to 1.50.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of producing a light transmitting article of synthetic resin as claimed in claim 6, wherein the prepolymer passing through the thin passageway is heated at a rate of 0.1° to 1.0° C. per minute.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of producing a light transmitting article of synthetic resin as claimed in claim 6, wherein the thin passageway has a round cross section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of producing a light transmitting article of synthetic resin as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diffusion is performed by moving the body material along a body impregnated with said monomer Mb.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of producing a light transmitting article of synthetic resin as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diffusion rate of the monomer Mb and the polymerization rate of the body material are controlled by providing a stepwise or continuous temperature gradient in the diffusion process.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method of producing a light transmitting article of synthetic resin as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diameter of the body material emerging continuously from the molding means is measured in the vicinity of the outlet of the molding means, and the feed of the prepolymer to the molding means is controlled according to the measured value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-05-05 | 1989-11-04 | 1990-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-05-05 | 1993-11-04 | 1994-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-05-05 | 1997-11-04 | 1998-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |