Abstract: A continuous digester comprises a wash zone having a plurality of individual wash screens disposed about an inner wall of the digester for the withdrawal of co-current downflow liquor from the wash zone. A conduit is connected in fluid communication between each of the wash screens and a collector for co-current downflow liquor withdrawn from the wash zone of the digester. A valve is interposed along the length of the conduit leading from each of the wash screens. The valve is operable between open and closed positions in response to a signal received from a temperature sensor associated with the conduit leading from each of the wash screens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a switch for use with an article formed from paperboard. The article includes a first panel and a second panel. The first panel and the second panel each have a sliding surface facing one another. The first and the second panels are in sliding relation to one another between a first position and a second position. The switch comprises a conductive pathway disposed on the sliding surface of the first panel and a first contact surface is disposed on the sliding surface of the second panel and a second contact surface is disposed on the sliding surface of the second panel. The second contact surface is in spaced relation to the first contact surface so as to prevent electrical communication between the first and second contact surfaces. The conductive pathway of the first panel is in spaced relation to at least one of the first and second contact surfaces of the second panel when the first and second panels are in the first position.

Abstract: A corrugated bulk container for shipping, storing and dispensing liquids and semi-liquid fluids. The container is a laminated triple wall open-ended tube having side walls and end walls, and a bag assembly is supported in the tube for containing the liquid or semi-liquid fluid. The bag assembly includes a bag having a fill valve and a dispensing valve attached to it, a bag cassette to which a bottom end of the bag is attached, and a fill valve support plate to which a top end of the bag is attached. The bag cassette has structure to receive and hold the dispensing valve in position relative to a dispensing valve opening in the tube, and the fill valve support plate has structure to receive and support the fill valve. The container is attached to a pallet by severable structure, and the fill valve support plate is attached to the tube by severable structure so that the bag assembly can be removed from the container, for easy collapse of the container for disposal or recycling.

Abstract: A stackable container has a bottom panel, upstanding sidewalls, upstanding end walls, and an open top. According to one aspect of the invention, narrow reinforcing flaps are attached to the upper edge of at least one of the side and end walls, defining a stacking ledge and reinforcing the walls against outward bulge. The reinforcing flaps extend over only a small portion of the height of the side or end wall, and corner post flaps extend from opposite ends of the reinforcing flaps, extending diagonally across interior corners of the container. According to another aspect, the side and/or end walls lean inwardly, defining a narrower footprint at the top of the container than at the bottom. In a specific embodiment one of the walls leans in more than the other. According to a further aspect, an indexing and aligning tab extends upwardly from an upper edge of the container, and a complementary notch is formed in a lower edge for receiving the tab when the containers are stacked.

Abstract: The present invention provides articles comprising a thermoformable composite comprising: a core comprising a renewable polymer having: (a) a Ts value of up to about 90° C.; and (b) a heat distortion index of up to about 90° C.; and a heat-resistant outer layer substantially surrounding the core and comprising a heat-resistant polymer having: (a) a Ts of greater than about 60° C.; and (b) a heat distortion index of greater than about 50° C.; wherein the renewable polymer comprises at least about 60% by weight of the composite, and wherein the heat-resistant polymer has a Ts value and heat distortion index greater than that of the renewable polymer. The present invention also provides methods for coextruding the heat-resistant polymer outer layer and renewable polymer core to provide a thermoformable composite.

Abstract: A continuous digester comprises a wash zone having a plurality of individual wash screens disposed about an inner wall of the digester for the withdrawal of co-current downflow liquor from the wash zone. A conduit is connected in fluid communication between each of the wash screens and a collector for co-current downflow liquor withdrawn from the wash zone of the digester. A valve is interposed along the length of the conduit leading from each of the wash screens. The valve is operable between open and closed positions in response to a signal received from a temperature sensor associated with the conduit leading from each of the wash screens.

Abstract: An octagonal bulk bin has sidewalls, end walls and diagonal corner panels interposed between adjacent sidewalls and end walls. Major bottom flaps are foldably joined to a bottom edge of the sidewalls, minor bottom flaps are foldably joined to a bottom edge of the end walls, and diagonal bottom flaps are foldably joined to a bottom edge of the diagonal corner panels. A cut separates each major bottom flap from an adjacent diagonal bottom flap, and a web panel connects adjacent side edges of the minor bottom flaps and diagonal bottom flaps. According to one aspect of the invention, each diagonal bottom flap, web panel, and portion of an adjacent major bottom flap are crushed. According to another aspect of the invention, differently shaped notches in a free edge of the minor flaps form locking tabs that are engaged in slots near a free edge of the major flaps.

Abstract: A prepress workflow process suitable for generating a reproduction composite image from a source image that may be tolerant to or exhibit improved tolerance to misregistration when printed is provided. Embodiments of the prepress workflow process include obtaining a source image. Next, N?2 color separations are generated from the source image. The color separations may be process or non-process color separations. The N color separations are first processed globally for improving the misregistration tolerance of a reproduction composite image to be formed therefrom. If the misregistration tolerance of the reproduction composite image is not acceptable to be user, at least a portion of each N color separation may be further processed at a local level for producing an improved misregistration tolerant reproduction composite image.

Abstract: A container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an outer shell and an insert, which is sized, shaped and configured to at least partially enclose an article secured thereto during shipping and storing. The outer shell is of a conventional box construction, preferably an FOL container. The insert is preferably constructed of corrugated paperboard and includes a bottom wall panel to which the article is secured, at least one endwall panel having at least one gusset-forming flap extending therefrom and at least one extension flap defining a fold-over flap which can be secured to a portion of the endwall flap for the purpose of enclosing the corner portions of the article.

Abstract: A three-piece container comprises top and bottom walls, apposite end walls, opposite side walls, and reinforced corners. First and second end pieces are configured to form first and second container end walls. The end pieces are each folded to define an inner end wall panel and an overlying outer end wall panel. First partial side wall panels extend perpendicularly from opposite sides of the outer wall panel. Second partial side wall panels are joined to the inner end wall panel by a diagonal web that forms a reinforcing corner post in each corner of the container. A wrapper is configured to be joined to the first and second end pieces and is folded to define the top wall, the bottom wall, and the opposite side walls. The wrapper overlies the partial side wall panels to define a triple wall side wall construction.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing sheets of wood veneered substrate stock into product blanks suitable for use in shipping goods, displaying goods, etc: is provided. The apparatus may include either a flat bed or platen die cutting machine or a rotary die cutting machine. In either case, the apparatus further includes a set of die cutting rules suitably configured for processing wood veneered substrate stock. The set of the die cutting rules includes at least one cutting rule and at least one slit scoring rule. The cutting rule includes a cutting blade having a cutting edge. Similarly, the slit scoring rule includes a cutting blade having a cutting edge. The cutting rule and the slit scoring rules are correspondingly dimensioned such that when mounted to the die board, the cutting edge of the cutting rule extends beyond the cutting edge of the slit scoring rule a distance D.

Abstract: An insulating container to replace expanded polystyrene includes a freestanding, cellulose-based substrate encapsulated with a polymeric film. The encapsulated cellulose-based substrate may be provided with an insulating value to match that of expanded polystyrene. Additionally, the encapsulated cellulose-based substrate may be recycled in the OCC recycle stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for applying optical brightening agent (OBA) to a sheet of paper or paperboard substrate. The process comprises the step of spraying an aqueous composition comprising an optical brightening agent onto at least one surface of a sized paperboard substrate to form a treated paperboard substrate. The treated paperboard substrate includes a layer of OBA on at least one surface of the paper or paperboard substrate in which the brightness of the treated paper or paperboard substrate is greater than the sized paper or paperboard substrate before treating thereof.

Abstract: A corrugated bulk container for shipping, storing and dispensing liquids and semi-liquid fluids. The container is a laminated triple wall open-ended tube having side walls and end walls, and a bag assembly is supported in the tube for containing the liquid or semi-liquid fluid. The bag assembly includes a bag having a fill valve and a dispensing valve attached to it, a bag cassette to which a bottom end of the bag is attached, and a fill valve support plate to which a top end of the bag is attached. The bag cassette has structure to receive and hold the dispensing valve in position relative to a dispensing valve opening in the tube, and the fill valve support plate has structure to receive and support the fill valve. The container is attached to a pallet by severable structure, and the fill valve support plate is attached to the tube by severable structure so that the bag assembly can be removed from the container, for easy collapse of the container for disposal or recycling.

Abstract: The present invention provides a container having a carton and a cover sized to fit over and enclose an interior space of the container. Carton and cover each are adapted to permit controlled flow of air in to and out of the interior space of the container. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, cover sidewalls are adapted to move between an open position and a closed position, wherein air is permitted to flow in to and out of the interior space of the container when the sidewalls are in an open position, but inhibited from flowing in to and out of the container when the sidewalls are in a closed position.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a shipping container with an integrated pallet has a narrow width adapted for maximum utilization of the available space in standard sea containers, and openings for the tines of a forklift are spaced so that adjustment of the tines is not necessary in order to fit the narrower container. The container has an open top, opposite end walls, opposite sidewalls, and a bottom wall. The pallet is attached on top of the bottom wall and comprises a pallet deck, with runners secured between the deck and the bottom wall in inwardly spaced relation to the side edges of the container so that the runners are located inside the fork footprint rather than outside the fork footprint. The tine-receiving openings are thus positioned outboard of the runners and under opposite side edges of the container.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a container comprising opposing top and bottom walls and four side walls each having an upper and lower ends, the opposing top and bottom walls and the four side walls bridging the opposing top and bottom walls. The top wall comprises a pivotable tab integrally extending from one transverse end of the top wall. A generally U-shaped indentation is formed on one of the four side walls to receive the pivotable tab therein. A dispensing opening is configured on the upper end of one of the four side walls. The dispensing opening and the pivotable tab cooperate with one another to define a pour spout. The pivotable tab is seated in the U-shaped indentation to cover the dispensing opening when the pour spout is in a closed position and the pivotable tab is detached from the dispensing opening when the pour spout is an open position.

Abstract: A container made from corrugated paperboard has more than four sides and is constructed to resist distortion when force is applied to the ends or sides of the container, and also to resist crushing when containers are stacked on top of one another. In one embodiment, the container has six sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and two diagonally opposed diagonal corner panels and two diagonally opposed square corners. In another embodiment, the container has seven sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and three diagonal corner panels and one square corner. In a further embodiment, the container has eight sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and four diagonally opposed diagonal corner panels. In this embodiment, the diagonal corner panels are oriented so that they subtend an angle of from about 35° to about 40°, and preferably 38°, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the container.

Abstract: A method of deinking recycled cellulosic paper including the steps of developing a pulp containing paper fibers and bundles of paper fibers in a pulping liquid and an agglomerating agent, subjecting the pulp to a screening treatment, storing the filtrate from the screening treatment, and which includes residual pulping chemicals, in a vessel for a time sufficient to effect a change in the geometry or other characteristic (other than size) of individual ones of the ink particles in the filtrate, and thereafter subjecting the pulp withdrawn from the vessel to a cyclone cleaner treatment to deplete the pulp of modified ink particles and develop a pulp containing paper fibers and substantially fewer ink particles relative to the quantity of ink particles present in the screen filtrate, and collecting the pulp of depleted ink particle content for use in a papermaking operation.

Abstract: A method of producing a modified pulp comprising treating wood chips in an extraction process to remove hemicellose to form treated wood chips; and subjecting said treated wood chips to chemical or semichemical pulping to form a modified Kraft pulp wherein the amount of hemicellulose contained in the modified Kraft pulp is from about 5 to about 10% by dry weight of the modified pulp.