Patents Examined by Matthew M Eslami
  • Patent number: 11680369
    Abstract: The present invention relates to papermaking fabrics useful in the manufacture of paper products, such as tissue paper. Particularly this invention relates to a woven papermaking fabric that includes a stabilized weave providing a textured contacting surface. The woven papermaking fabric includes a plurality of warp and shute filaments woven together to provide at least one protuberance on the web contacting side of the fabric that extends longitudinally over at least five shute filaments. The at least one protuberance is stabilized by including an offset shute float weave pattern configured such that a majority of the shute filaments forming the at least one protuberance are woven in an anti-nesting configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Lynda Ellen Collins, Mark Alan Burazin
  • Patent number: 11661688
    Abstract: The invention relates to a nonwoven fabric material having sufficient strength to be used in a pre-moistened state but also having dispersibility properties which allow the product to be flushed. The material comprises at least two nonwoven webs, at least one of which is hydroentangled. Each of the individual webs comprise 50%-95% wood pulp and 5%-50% of short cut man-made fibers and/or natural fibers and has a basis weight of 20-100 gsm. After forming the webs, the two nonwoven webs are dried and then joined together by particle binders through size press or spraying. The particle binder joined webs separate into individual webs after flushing due to the breakage of particle binder-nonwoven hydrogen bond which makes the material highly dispersible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Suominen Oyj
    Inventor: Avinav G. Nandgaonkar
  • Patent number: 11655590
    Abstract: A through-air apparatus for drying, curing, or bonding paper or non-woven products is provided. The apparatus includes a through-air roll configured for rotational movement about a first axis, where the through-air roll is configured to carry a web. The apparatus also includes a hood at least partially enclosing the through-air roll, and a cooling system positioned adjacent the through-air roll. The cooling system is configured to provide cool air to a web as the web leaves the through-air roll, and all of the cooling system is external to the through-air roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Valmet, AB
    Inventor: Stanley M. Gerry, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11643780
    Abstract: Blowing equipment (10) for doctor equipment of a fiber web machine (10) includes a distribution channel (11), the length of which corresponds essentially to the length of the doctor equipment (40). The blowing equipment (10) also includes nozzle devices (12) for directing blowing in the doctor equipment (40). The nozzle devices (12) are arranged to be adapted to a blade holder (13) that belongs to the doctor equipment (40) for establishing doctor blowing. The distribution channel (11) is adapted to be fastened to the blade holder (13). The invention also relates to doctor equipment of a fiber web machine, where the doctor equipment is equipped with blowing equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: VALMET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Hannu Eerikäinen
  • Patent number: 11638504
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides paper wraps, paper wrapped products, such as rolled bath tissue, paper towel products, or bundles of rolled bath tissue or paper towels, and methods for covering a product or bundled products in a paper wrap. For example, printed paper wraps and their use are described, wherein the printed paper wraps comprise at least one heat-sealable adhesive that may be applied in varying locations, coverage levels, and patterns comprising different seal strengths, which may be sealed using heat and/or pressure external to the products for packaging and protective purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Gary H. Knauf, Cary Q. Peterson, Taylor L. Sopata
  • Patent number: 11634863
    Abstract: An improved market pulp and process for making the same by adding a composite material are described. The composite material includes cellulose nanocrystals, cellulose nanofibers, or another high aspect ratio, high surface area cellulose material (or a starch, or both) and a crosslinking compound that crosslinks a portion of the surface hydroxyl groups to form a 3-D matrix. Adding the composite material to market pulp has been shown to improve the strength of twice-dried paper products, made from such an enhanced market pulp. By crosslinking a portion of the surface hydroxyl groups in the market pulp to form a 3-D matrix, a first drying step may be accomplished without loss of benefits afforded when the market pulp is later re-pulped to make a paper product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: University of Maine System Board of Trustees
    Inventors: Michael A. Bilodeau, Mark A. Paradis
  • Patent number: 11634866
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring dewatering in the wet end of a paper machine includes a measuring receptacle functioning at normal air pressure, in which receptacle the amount of the water of the negatively-pressurized dewatering points of the paper machine is measured by means of a pressure-difference transmitter and of a measuring weir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Runtech Systems OY
    Inventor: Juha Karvinen
  • Patent number: 11628645
    Abstract: A device for micro-embossing paper includes at least one micro-embossing unit to micro-emboss a wet paper ply. The micro-embossing unit includes a micro-embossing cylinder and a counter cylinder facing the micro-embossing cylinder at an embossing area where the wet paper ply is subjected to micro-embossing, and a heater to dry the wet paper ply. The micro-embossing cylinder includes a side surface partially wrapped by the wet paper ply. The heater heats at least one portion of the side surface partially wrapped by the wet paper ply to dry the wet paper ply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: GAMBINI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Fabio Picchi, Giovanni Buffa
  • Patent number: 11619005
    Abstract: A seamed press felt formed from a base fabric having a CD width and an MD length with two opposing MD ends that are joined to form a continuous belt. MD oriented yarns form uniform loops at the two opposing MD ends that are interdigitated to define a pintle channel extending across the CD width. CD oriented yarns are connected to the MD oriented yarns, in a woven or non-woven construction. Loop open spaces are located within the loops on each of the two opposing MD ends in a seam region, with the loop open spaces being defined between a last one of the CD yarns at each of the two opposing MD ends and the pintle channel. At least one CD monofilament support yarn is located in the loop open spaces on each of the two opposing MD ends. The at least one CD monofilament support yarn has a diameter that is at least 1.6 times a diameter of the CD oriented yarns. A pintle extends through the pintle channel to form a seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: AstenJohnson International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Swaine, Gary Linstad, John Snead, John Xu, Rick Phillips
  • Patent number: 11619004
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for dewatering a web comprising microfibrillated cellulose, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing a suspension comprising between 50 weight-% to 100 weight-% of microfibrillated cellulose based on total dry weight, forming a fibrous web of said suspension on a support wherein said web has a dry content of 1-25% by weight, applying a dewatering felt into direct contact with the fibrous web, conducting said fibrous web, arranged between said dewatering felt and said substrate, through a pressing equipment. The invention further relates to a film produced from said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Stora Enso OYJ
    Inventors: Isto Heiskanen, Jukka Kankkunen, Riku Pihko, Vesa Kunnari
  • Patent number: 11619003
    Abstract: A belt (10) for a sleeve roll forms a closed loop and has an inner surface (11) and an outer surface (12). The belt has an elastic body (15) with an outer surface (15a) and a reinforcing structure (30). The reinforcing structure has first yarns (31a) arranged to a first direction (D1), and second yarns (32a) arranged to a second direction (D2). The second yarns (32a) are arranged, at least partially, on the elastic body (15), and/or the second yarns (32a) are arranged to a depth of equal to or less than 2 mm, measured from the outer surface (15a) of the elastic body to a bottom (32a-i) of the second yarn (32a) in a depth direction of the belt. The invention further relates to a use of a belt. The invention further relates to an arrangement comprising a belt and a sleeve roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: VALMET TECHNOLOGIES OY
    Inventor: Antii Poikolainen
  • Patent number: 11613848
    Abstract: A machine for producing a fibrous web, such as a tissue web, has pressing device with a pressing element and a counter-element with a closed surface for forming a pressure nip. A water-absorbing belt with a web side and an opposite pressing element side is guided together with the fibrous web through the pressure nip and the fibrous web is separated at the end of the pressure nip from the web side of the water-absorbing belt and runs further with the counter-element. The water-absorbing belt has at least a first ply and a second ply, and, as viewed in the thickness direction of the water-absorbing belt, a layer in or on the belt half which faces the pressing element, which layer has a higher specific throughflow resistance than the first ply and/or the second ply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Ademar Lippi Alves Fernandes
  • Patent number: 11603628
    Abstract: A shoe press belt for use in a papermaking machine including at least one resin layer, where the resin layer contains a polyurethane resin formed by curing an urethane prepolymer having an isocyanate group with a curing agent having an active hydrogen group, where the urethane prepolymer is obtained by reacting a polyisocyanate compound containing 4,4?-methylene bis(phenylisocyanate) with a polyol compound containing polytetramethylene ether glycol, and the curing agent contains polycarbonate diol(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Ichikawa Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuya Takamori, Manami Morinaga
  • Patent number: 11598050
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a new process for providing a coating layer on a moulded article comprising fibers. In the present invention, a coating dispersion is prepared that comprises microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), a slip aid and at least one hydrocolloid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Stora Enso OYJ
    Inventors: Kaj Backfolk, Isto Heiskanen, Esa Saukkonen
  • Patent number: 11585046
    Abstract: A belt installation device for installing a belt onto a paper machine, pulp machine or board machine, has a first area (4) with an attaching point (5) for attaching the belt installation device to a pulling member, a second area (6) with at least one aperture (7, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d) for fastening the belt installation device (1) removably to a belt, and a central area (8) between the first area (4) and the second area (6), wherein a pull strength of the attaching point is at least 300 kgf and equal or less than 900 kgf. The belt installation device is bendable between a straight form and a curved form having a radius of curvature of 800 mm. This invention further relates to an installation arrangement and installing method for installing a belt onto a paper, pulp or board machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Valmet Technologies Oy
    Inventor: Jari Jännetyinen
  • Patent number: 11578460
    Abstract: A belt for creping a web in a papermaking process. The belt includes a surface onto which the web is transferred during the papermaking process. A plurality of openings extend through the surface, with the openings being arranged in lines that are offset from lines in the machine direction (MD) and cross-machine direction (CD) of the belt. Paper products, such as absorbent sheets, made from the belt have hollow dome regions and connecting regions between the domes, with the domes being arranged in lines that are offset from lines in the MD and CD of the paper products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Hue Ming Sze, Frank D. Harper, Kevin Aaron Hawkins, Eric J. Lepp, Vipul Kumar, Nathan Capps, Joseph H. Miller
  • Patent number: 11566373
    Abstract: A sheet manufacturing system includes a processing section configured to process a raw material including a fiber, a detection section configured to detect a state of the raw material, a determination section configured to determine, based on a detection result of the detection section and a preset criterion of a raw material state, whether the raw material is suitable for processing in the processing section, a supply section configured to supply, to the processing section, the raw material determined to be suitable for the processing by the determination section, a reception section configured to acquire operation information indicating an occurrence state of an operation hindrance in the processing section, and a setting section configured to set the criterion based on the operation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Mikoshiba, Kenta Nomura, Yoshio Murata, Shinichi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 11560673
    Abstract: A pulp molding production line including as molding machine, pulp molding robot and press, where a transfer device installed on the pulp molding robot includes a wet pulp transfer mold, with the front of the wet pulp transfer mold including a recessed matching chamber configured to fit over the exterior of a wet pulp product, and a moving rack oriented parallel to the wet pulp transfer mold and connected to the back of the wet pulp transfer mold through a guide mechanism, with a driver connected between the back of the wet pulp transfer mold and the moving rack to drive the moving rack to move relative to the wet pulp transfer mold, and several evenly spaced vacuum chucks provided on a side of the moving rack opposite from the wet transfer mold to acquire the molded pulp product from the press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: BE GREEN PACKAGING LLC
    Inventors: Shu Chen, Gang Cen
  • Patent number: 11555275
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a film having an oxygen transmission rate (OTR) value in the range of 0.1 to 200 cc/m2*24 h at 23° C., 50% relative humidity (RH), and an OTR value in the range of 0.1 to 2000 cc/m2*24 h at 38° C. at 85% RH, comprising at least 60% by weight nanocellulose based on the weight of the total amount of fibers in the film, wherein the method comprises the steps of, providing an aqueous suspension comprising said nanocellulose; forming a web from said aqueous suspension; calendering said web at a line load of at least 40 kN/m, and at a temperature of at least 60° C. wherein said film is formed and said web has an OTR value in the range of 50 to 10 000 cc/m2*24 h at 23° C., 50% RH before said calendering step, or more preferably in the range of 500 to 5000 cc/m2*24 h at 23° C., 50% RH before said calendering step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Stora Enso OYJ
    Inventors: Esa Saukkonen, Isto Heiskanen, Katja Lyytikäinen, Kaj Backfolk
  • Patent number: 11525216
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cellulose nanofiber compact includes a supporting step of supporting a plate-like first precursor containing cellulose nanofibers in a heating vessel, a preliminary molding step of heating the first precursor supported in the heating vessel with infrared rays to obtain a plate-like second precursor and a molding step of molding the second precursor, with heating and pressurizing the second precursor in a mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
    Inventor: Satofumi Nagaoka