Patents Examined by Anthony Calandra
  • Patent number: 11390990
    Abstract: Described is a method of kraft pulping in which a phenolic compound is added to the cooking step. The phenolic compound is added at a time point between about 5 minutes and about 120 minutes prior to completion of the cooking step. The presence of the phenolic compound increases the extent of delignification in the cooking step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Auburn University
    Inventors: Zhihua Jiang, Burak Aksoy
  • Patent number: 11382350
    Abstract: A method of enrobing a product portion in polymer strands includes mounting at least one product portion on a holding device and passing the at least one product portion through a polymer enrobing zone. The polymer enrobing zone can include a flow of polymeric fibers produced by a polymer spray head. The polymer fibers can wraparound the at least one product portion to produce an enrobed product portion. The holding device can hold the at least one product portion by passing at least partially through the body of the product portion. At least a portion of the holding device is removed from the enrobed product portion. In some cases, the at least one product portion includes smokeless tobacco.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Robert Smith
  • Patent number: 11377791
    Abstract: A method for preparing an aqueous suspension may include providing a fibrous substrate comprising cellulose having a Canadian Standard freeness equal to or less than 450 cm3, and microfibrillating the fibrous substrate in an aqueous environment by grinding in the presence of a grinding medium consisting essentially of mullite. The grinding may be carried out in the absence of grindable inorganic particulate material. The grinding medium may be present in an amount of at least about 10% by volume of the aqueous environment. The microfibrillated cellulose may have a fibre steepness of from about 20 to about 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: FiberLean Technologies Limited
    Inventors: John Claude Husband, Per Svending, David Robert Skuse, Tafadzwa Motsi, Mikko Likitalo, Alan Coles
  • Patent number: 11375740
    Abstract: A melt-blown fabric for pouching smokeless tobacco or a smokeless tobacco substitute can include melt-blown polymer fibers. The fabric can have a basis weight of less than 30 gsm and a tensile strength of at least 4 mJ in at least one predetermined direction. Method of making the fabric can include melt-blowing a polymeric material against a support surface and bonding the fibers or arranging them in a predetermined orientation. Pouched smokeless tobacco or tobacco substitute products including the fabrics provided herein can provide desirable flavor and tactile experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Christopher Joseph Dinovi, David Phillips, Jason Andrew Macko, Robert Smith
  • Patent number: 11371184
    Abstract: A method to facilitate recycling waste material, including waste paper and organic material, comprises the steps of receiving a plurality of plastic-wrapped compressed bales of the waste material at a waste material recycling location from a remote baling location, thereafter introducing the plurality of plastic-wrapped compressed bales into a re-pulping device at the waste material recycling location to form a treated waste material including substantially re-pulped waste paper, and thereafter discharging the treated waste material from the re-pulping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: JUNO LLC
    Inventors: David Christer Henriksson, Wayne Frederick Winkler, Bradley E. Lucas
  • Patent number: 11371185
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an outlet system for transporting comminuted lignocellulosic material from a vessel, said bottom portion (1) having an upper circumference (15) that is essentially circular and a lower circumference (16) comprising at least two essentially straight portions (16a, 16c) opposite each other. The invention also relates to a vessel having such an outlet system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: VALMET AB
    Inventors: Roger Jansson, Jonas Saetheråsen, Jerk Söderman, Magnus Wilhelmsson
  • Patent number: 11352745
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for processing and transporting biomass to an end user. In an embodiment, a method of processing and transporting biomass to an end user is disclosed. The method includes tapping a biomass for processing, processing the biomass into a biomass slurry, and transporting the biomass slurry to an end user off site through a transport conduit therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: MATERA, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy J. Richter
  • Patent number: 11332883
    Abstract: Compositions including treated Kraft pulp, useful for making rayon fibers, having a lower degree of polymerization, a high R18, a low hemicellulose content, and high reactivity, are described. Methods of making the compositions are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventors: Mengkui Luo, Venketa Ranganathan Parthasarathy
  • Patent number: 11332884
    Abstract: A deicer composition is disclosed. The deicer composition may comprise water, a metal chloride salt, and a biopolymer composition derived from wheat straw, alfalfa, or other cereal grain straws. The biopolymer composition may include inorganic material and a copolymer comprised of lignin and polysaccharides. The biopolymer composition may have an average molecular weight of between 3500 and 5500 Daltons. The metal chloride salt may be selected from magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and sodium chloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: NW Straw Pulp, LLC
    Inventors: Keith C. Kuykendall, David W. Wilkening
  • 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: 11306434
    Abstract: The present invention involves an environmentally friendly process and apparatus for the delignification of lignin-containing materials, such as cardboard newspaper or agricultural or tree pruning wastes. This process produces cellulose using low temperatures and low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. It can be performed using a column fitted with a semipermeable gasket that pressurizes the column by retaining oxygen released by action of the hydrogen peroxide on a lignin-containing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: King Abdulaziz University
    Inventor: Sherif Shawki Zaki Hindi
  • Patent number: 11299852
    Abstract: A method for producing parenchymal cell cellulose by using a high consistency alkali treatment and an optional refinement step, as well as an apparatus for its manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Betulium Oy
    Inventors: Antti Laukkanen, Marko Lauraeus, Jason McKee, Timo Pääkkönen, Tapio Saarinen
  • Patent number: 11291254
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices may include a housing and a cartridge including an atomizer and a reservoir configured to contain an aerosol precursor composition. The cartridge may be configured to move relative to at least a portion of the housing between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. Related assembly methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven L. Worm, David Glen Christopherson, Robert Adam Parchman, Raymond Charles Henry, Jr., Bruce Alan Bengtsson, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, James William Rogers
  • Patent number: 11284643
    Abstract: A melt-blown fabric for pouching smokeless tobacco or a smokeless tobacco substitute can include melt-blown polymer fibers. The fabric can have a basis weight of less than 30 gsm and a tensile strength of at least 4mJ in at least one predetermined direction. Method of making the fabric can include melt-blowing a polymeric material against a support surface and bonding the fibers or arranging them in a predetermined orientation. Pouched smokeless tobacco or tobacco substitute products including the fabrics provided herein can provide desirable flavor and tactile experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Christopher Joseph Dinovi, David Phillips, Jason Andrew Macko, Robert Smith
  • Patent number: 11266181
    Abstract: Provided is a heating-type flavor inhaler in which heat generated when a flavor-generating source is electrically heated with a heater is not easily retained inside a casing. The heating-type flavor inhaler is provided with: a casing having an intake opening and the overall shape forming a tube; a flavor-generating source provided inside the casing; and a heater for electrically heating the flavor-generating source, the heater being provided inside the casing. A metal concavo-convex pattern for promoting heat dissipation is provided on the external peripheral surface of the casing in a position in which at least the heater is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventor: Yuichi Furudono
  • Patent number: 11261565
    Abstract: A defibration processing device is capable of efficient defibration in a multiple stage rotating part, and a fibrous feedstock recycling device. The defibration processing device has a first rotating part disposed on a side into which defibration feedstock flows, and a second rotating part disposed on a side to which defibrated material defibrated in the first rotating part is discharged. The first rotating part and second rotating part each have on the axis of rotation side thereof a base, and a protruding part protruding from the base in a direction away from the axis of rotation. A spacer is between the first rotating part and second rotating part. An external restriction plate protrudes from the stationary part side toward the spacer, and an internal restriction plate protrudes from the axis of rotation side of the first rotating part and second rotating part toward the stationary part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keigo Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 11253005
    Abstract: A control device of an aerosol inhaler includes a load heating an aerosol generation source, in which a temperature and an electric resistance value of the load are correlated. The control device includes: a voltage sensor configured to output a voltage value applied to the load; a constant current circuit configured to output a constant current to the load; and a control circuit configured to acquire the electric resistance value of the load or the temperature of the load based on output of the voltage sensor and the constant current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventor: Keiji Marubashi
  • Patent number: 11255045
    Abstract: The invention herein disclosed and claimed is a process for refining fiber from lignocellulosic biomass. The process provides refined fiber and agriculturally amenable co-products, with a virtually waste-free systems design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: CIRCULAR SYSTEMS, S.P.C.
    Inventor: Yitzac Goldstein
  • Patent number: 11248344
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an enhanced process for the production of cellulose pulps with increased quality and applicability of said pulps, especially their physical resistance properties and degree of resistance to drainage, through an enzymatic treatment step comprised in the production process of said cellulose pulp, concomitantly with the polymer dosage based on carbohydrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Suzano S.A.
    Inventors: Otávio Mambrim Filho, Leonardo Alves De Melo
  • Patent number: 11225756
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing one or more low molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived compounds. The method preferably comprises providing lignocellulosic material, subjecting the lignocellulosic material to a pulping process, separating pulp to provide a substantially pulp-free process stream comprising a modified lignin-derived component, isolating the modified lignin-derived component, subjecting the isolated modified lignin-derived component to a decomposition step comprising oxidative cracking (cracking and oxidizing) or reducing under the influence of a catalyst or electro-oxidation, and subjecting the resulting products to an isolation step, to provide a low molecular weight aromatic lignin-derived compound. Said compound may be further modified, e.g. by annulation. The inventive method preferably comprises further oxidizing said compound to a redox active compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: CMBLU PROJEKT AG
    Inventors: Nastaran Krawczyk, Alexander Moeller, Peter Geigle