Patents Assigned to Hoffman Environmental System, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6207242
    Abstract: A laminated paperboard package is produced by initially printing graphics by high speed printing on a sheet of clay-coated publication paper. The printed paper is then continuously bonded to a surface of cellulosic base layer, to provide a laminated product. The cellulosic base layer consists of at least one base ply of unbleached fibers and at least one ply of bleached or dyed fibers. Alternatively, instead of a ply of bleached or dyed fibers, a second layer of paper may be laminated to the base ply. The laminated product is then die cut to the desired shape, folded and glued into the configuration of a box or container. The substrate may be either coated, or a ply is provided, to prevent moisture or oil from the contained product from seeping through the base layer to the printed paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Hoffman Environmental System, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger P. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 6099674
    Abstract: A laminated paperboard package is produced by initially printing graphics by high speed printing on a sheet of clay-coated publication paper. The printed paper is then continuously applied to a surface of cellulosic substrate and bonded to the substrate, preferably through use of starch as an adhesive, to provide a laminated product. The laminated product is then die cut to the desired shape, folded and glued into the configuration of a box or container. A layer of water absorbent, cellulosic fiber material can be bonded to the inner surface of the substrate to prevent moisture from the contained product from seeping outwardly through the substrate to the printed paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Hoffman Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger P. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 6071380
    Abstract: A method of papermaking having zero liquid discharge. A pulp slurry is produced from recycled cellulosic material and the slurry contains suspended cellulosic fiber material, solid contaminants and dissolved water soluble solids. The pulp slurry is subjected to a cleaning operation to produce a first flow stream containing the cellulosic fiber material and dissolved solids and a second flow stream containing dissolved solids along with solid contaminants. The first flow stream is washed with water to remove a substantial portion of the dissolved solids and provide a washed pulp which is used in a papermaking machine to produce a paper sheet. The second flow stream from the cleaning operation is compacted to produce a solid residue that can be landfilled and a liquid residue containing dissolved solids that can be recycled to the pulp cleaning operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Hoffman Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger P. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5882746
    Abstract: A laminated paperboard package is produced by initially printing graphics by high speed printing on a sheet of clay-coated publication paper. The printed paper is then continuously applied to a surface of cellulosic substrate and bonded to the substrate, preferably through use of starch as an adhesive, to provide a laminated product. The laminated product is then die cut to the desired shape, folded and glued into the configuration of a box or container. A layer of water absorbent, cellulosic fiber material can be bonded to the inner surface of the substrate to prevent moisture from the contained product from seeping outwardly through the substrate to the printed paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Hoffman Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger P. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5762758
    Abstract: A method of papermaking having zero liquid discharge. A cellulosic pulp composed of recycled materials is initially cleaned to remove contaminants and foreign material, and the clean pulp is then washed to remove dissolved solids and pulping chemicals, and the washed pulp is then utilized in the papermaking process. The contaminants are separated from the liquid residue resulting from the pulp cleaning operation, preferably by floatation clarification, and the effluent from the clarification is evaporated to produce steam or water vapor along with an evaporated residue. The evaporated residue is combined with the suspended solids that were removed from the liquid residue and the combined residue is then subjected to a mechanical dewatering operation to reduce the water content so that the dewatered material can then be either landfilled or incinerated. The condensate from the evaporation can be combined with fresh makeup water and used in the papermaking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Hoffman Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger P. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5753074
    Abstract: A method of washing cellulosic pulp to remove dissolved solids as well as dirt, inorganic fillers and fiber debris. A mat of cellulosic pulp having a weight of 3 to 100 lbs. of dry fiber per 1000 sq.ft. is positioned between a pair of porous endless belts to provide a composite structure. The composite structure is moved in a generally vertical path of travel through a vessel containing a plurality of superimposed rolls and the composite structure is passed over the rolls in a manner in which a first of the belts is in direct contact with one roll and the second of the belts is in direct contact with the next adjacent roll. A stream of water is directed against the composite structure as it travels in the upper portion of the vessel, and the water is cascaded downwardly through the vessel and directed into contact with opposite sides of the structure to thereby remove dissolved solids, as well as inorganic fillers. The tension of the belts as they pass over the rolls creates a dewatering action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Hoffman Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger P. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5643413
    Abstract: A method of producing a multi-ply paperboard product. A single aqueous recycled pulp stock which contains both heavy contaminants and lightweight contaminants is separated into three fractions, including a first fraction which contains the heavy contaminants, a second middle density fraction that contains the most desirable fibers, and a third low density fraction that contains the lightweight contaminants. The three fractions are discharged from a multi-channel head box onto a forming fabric, with the middle density fraction constituting the base ply in contact with the forming fabric, the low density fraction being the central ply and the high density fraction being the outer ply, thus forming a multiple-ply paperboard product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Hoffman Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger P. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5599426
    Abstract: A method of washing cellulosic pulp to remove dissolved solids as well as dirt, inorganic fillers and fiber debris from the pulp. A thin mat of cellulosic pulp having a weight of 3 to 100 pounds of dry fiber per 1000 sq. ft. is applied to the upper surface of a porous, endless belt or fabric. The belt containing the pulp mat is moved in a generally horizontal path, and as it is moved in this path wash water is directed against the exposed upper surface of the mat through a series of longitudinally spaced showers to thereby impregnate the mat with wash water. Water removal devices, preferably table rolls, are located beneath the belt and downstream in the direction of travel from each shower to thereby remove the wash water from the mat. After moving through the path of travel, the washed pulp is removed from the belt, and the wash water removed from the mat can be used in other portions of the papermaking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Hoffman Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger P. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5500084
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the continuous production of cellulosic pulp for use in a papermaking process. The apparatus includes a vessel containing a pulping liquor and the vessel consists of a first impregnation zone and a second attrition zone. Wood chips are continuously fed into the upper end of the first zone and are subject to gentle agitation to impregnate the chips with the liquor. The impregnated chips then flow into the second zone where they are heated to a low temperature of 80.degree. to 120.degree. C. and subjected to more severe agitation to break down the chips and liberate the individual fibers. The liquid level in the first zone is higher than in the second zone, causing the liquid to flow upwardly in the second zone with the cooking liquor and the liberated fibers being continuously discharged from the upper end of the second zone, while larger wood chips are retained in the second zone for further attrition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Hoffman Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger P. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5417809
    Abstract: A papermaking water system utilizing vacuum pump sealing water and having a zero sealing water discharge. A group of water seal vacuum pumps are used in a papermaking machine to generate subatmospheric pressure in suction equipment and thereby extract water from a wet paper web. During operation of the vacuum pumps, the sealing water is heated and the heated water is discharged to a cooling tower to cool the water which is then recirculated to the vacuum pumps. Steam from a generating plant is supplied to the dryer drums in the dryer section of the papermaking machine, and the steam condensate is combined with the heated sealing water flowing to the cooling tower. By using steam condensate as makeup water, no ionic buildup will occur in the closed system, and high quality water is withdrawn from the closed system and may be used in other sections of the papermaking machine, so that there is no discharge of sealing water to the sewer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Hoffman Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger P. Hoffman, Gerald O. Walraven