Patents by Inventor Aaron K. Nienaber

Aaron K. Nienaber has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20210268627
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an abrasive article (10). The abrasive article (10) has a direction of use, a y-axis and a z-axis orthogonal to the y-axis and the direction of use. The abrasive article (10) further includes a backing (12) and shaped abrasive particles attached to the backing. About 5% to about 100% of the shaped abrasive particles (14) independently include a first side surface (16), a second side surface (18) opposed to the first side surface (16), a leading surface (20) connected to the first side surface (16) at a first edge (24) and connected to the second side surface (18) at a second edge (26), a rake angle (30) between the backing (12) and the leading surface (20) in a range of from about 10 degrees to about 110 degrees, and a z-direction rotational angle (50) between a line (52) intersecting the first edge (16) and second edge (18) and the direction of use (22) of the abrasive article (10) in a range of from about 10 degrees to about 170 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Negus B. Adefris, Scott R. Culler, Joseph B. Eckel, John D. Haas, Thomas J. Nelson, Aaron K. Nienaber, Steven J. Keipert, Vincent Jusuf, Fay T. Salmon, Yuzhi Xia, Michael J. Wald
  • Patent number: 11097398
    Abstract: In some examples, an abrasive particle transfer system including a production tool including a dispensing surface with a plurality of cavities formed therein; abrasive particles removably disposed within at least some of the cavities; and a nonwoven substrate having an outer surface opposing the dispensing surface of the production tool, wherein the dispending surface of the production tool is configured to apply a compressive force to the outer surface of the nonwoven substrate to compress the nonwoven substrate from a first thickness to a second thickness, wherein, while the nonwoven substrate is compressed to the second thickness by the production tool, the abrasive particles are transferred from the plurality of cavities to the nonwoven substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Aaron K. Nienaber, Thomas J. Nelson, Grayce T. Huberty, Louis S. Moren, Wayne W. Maurer, Rebecca A. Putans, Ernest L. Thurber
  • Publication number: 20210237229
    Abstract: A method of making a coated abrasive article includes at least four steps. In step a), a web is provided comprising a backing having a make layer precursor disposed thereon. The web moves along a web path in a downweb direction, and the web has a crossweb direction that is perpendicular to the downweb direction. The make layer precursor comprises a first curable binder precursor; In step b) an applied magnetic field is provided. In step c), a mixture of magnetizable non-magnetizable particles is passed through the applied magnetic field and onto the make layer precursor such that the magnetizable and non-magnetizable particles are predominantly deposited onto the web in a drop zone according to a predetermined order. At least one of the magnetizable particles or the non-magnetizable particles comprises abrasive particles. In step d), the make layer precursor is at least partially cured to provide a make layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Aaron K. Nienaber, Joseph B. Eckel, Thomas J. Nelson, Ronald D. Jesme, Jaime A. Martinez
  • Patent number: 11072732
    Abstract: A magnetizable abrasive particle comprises a ceramic body having an outer surface and a magnetizable layer disposed on a portion, but not the entirety, of the outer surface. The ceramic body comprises a platelet having two opposed major facets connected to each other by a plurality of side facets. The magnetizable layer completely covers one of the two opposed major facets, and the magnetizable layer has a magnetic dipole oriented perpendicular or parallel to the facet which it completely covers. A plurality of the magnetizable abrasive particles, and abrasive articles including them are also disclosed. Methods of making the foregoing are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Nelson, Joseph B. Eckel, Aaron K. Nienaber, Jaime A. Martinez, Eli A. Davis, Louis S. Moren
  • Publication number: 20210129292
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of making an abrasive layer on a backing is disclosed. The method can comprise: providing dispensable magnetizable abrasive particles and a distribution tool, wherein the distribution tool is configured to receive the magnetizable abrasive particles therein, and wherein the distribution tool is configured to impart at least one of a predetermined orientation and alignment of the magnetizable abrasive particles, positioning a backing adjacent to the distribution tool and spaced therefrom by a gap, applying a magnetic field to at least the backing and a portion of the gap between the backing and the distribution tool, and transferring the magnetizable abrasive particles from the distribution tool to a first major surface of the backing, wherein the magnetic field is applied during the transfer of the magnetizable abrasive particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Aaron K. Nienaber, Joseph B. Eckel, Ronald D. Jesme, Samad Javid
  • Patent number: 10960515
    Abstract: A laterally-stretched netting comprising a patterned abrasive layer on a first major surface thereof, and methods of making.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Aaron K. Nienaber, Ronald W. Ausen, John M. Brandner, Thomas J. Nelson, Stephen M. Sanocki
  • Patent number: 10947432
    Abstract: A method of making magnetizable abrasive particles includes: moistening the outer surfaces of ceramic particles with waterglass to provide moistened ceramic particles. Magnetizable particles are contacted with the moistened ceramic particles to provide powder-coated ceramic particles. The powder-coated ceramic particles are heated to at least a temperature sufficient to bond the magnetizable particles of the powder-coated ceramic particles to the respective ceramic particles thereby providing the magnetizable abrasive particles. On a respective basis, each magnetizable abrasive particle comprises a respective ceramic particle having a magnetizable particles bonded thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Aaron K. Nienaber, Joseph B. Eckel, Thomas J. Anderson, Thomas J. Nelson, Mark A. Lukowski, Louis S. Moren, Don V. West
  • Publication number: 20210046614
    Abstract: A method of making a coated abrasive article is disclosed. A backing has first and second opposed major surfaces. A make layer precursor is disposed on at least a portion of the first major surface. Magnetizable abrasive particles are disposed onto the make layer precursor while under the influence of an applied magnetic field. At least a majority the magnetizable abrasive particles extend away from the make layer precursor in an orientation substantially aligned with the applied magnetic field. Non-magnetizable particles are then disposed onto the make layer precursor while under the influence of the applied magnetic field. At least some of the non-magnetizable particles are disposed between the magnetizable abrasive particles. Then, the make layer precursor is at least partially cured to provide a make layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Aaron K. Nienaber, Joseph B. Eckel
  • Publication number: 20210046612
    Abstract: A method of applying magnetizable particles onto an adherent web includes several steps. Step a) provides a magnetizable particle coating apparatus comprising a downward sloping dispensing surface at least partially disposed within an applied magnetic field. Step b) disposes an adherent web between upper and lower magnetic members and beneath the downward sloping dispensing surface, wherein the web comprises a backing having a curable binder precursor layer disposed on a major surface thereof. Step c) disposes magnetizable particles onto at least a portion of the downward sloping dispensing surface within the applied magnetic field, and subsequently disposed onto the curable binder precursor layer while the adherent web is advanced from an upweb position to a downweb position. Step d) at least partially cures the curable binder precursor layer to fix the orientations of the magnetizable particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Joseph B. Eckel, Aaron K. Nienaber, Ronald D. Jesme
  • Publication number: 20200398402
    Abstract: A coated abrasive disc includes a disc backing having an outer circumference. An abrasive layer is disposed on the disc backing. The abrasive layer comprises triangular abrasive platelets secured to a major surface of the disc backing by at least one binder material. The triangular abrasive platelets are disposed at least 70 percent of regularly-spaced points along an arithmetic spiral pattern extending outwardly toward the outer circumference. Each one of the triangular abrasive platelets has respective top and bottom surfaces connected to each other, and separated by, three sidewalls. On a respective basis, one sidewall of at least 90 percent of each of the triangular abrasive platelets disposed facing and proximate to the disc backing, and is lengthwise aligned within 10 degrees of being tangent to the arithmetic spiral pattern. Methods of making and using the coated abrasive disc are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hanschen, Steven J. Keipert, Joseph B. Eckel, Aaron K. Nienaber, Erin D. Spring, Brant A. Moegenburg, Eric M. Moore, Thomas J. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20200391352
    Abstract: A coated abrasive disc includes a disc backing and an abrasive layer disposed thereon. The abrasive layer comprises abrasive elements secured to a major surface of the disc backing by at least one binder material. The abrasive elements are disposed at contiguous intersections of horizontal and vertical lines of a rectangular grid pattern. At least 70 percent of the intersections have one of the abrasive elements disposed thereat. Each of the abrasive elements has two triangular abrasive platelets. Each one of the triangular abrasive platelets has respective top and bottom surfaces connected to each other, and separated by, three sidewalls. On a respective basis, one sidewall of at least 90 percent of the triangular abrasive platelets is disposed facing and proximate to the disc backing. The abrasive elements are arranged such that the triangular abrasive platelets in orthogonally adjacent abrasive elements have a Z-axis rotational orientation within 10 degrees of perpendicular to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hanschen, Steven J. Keipert, Joseph B. Eckel, Aaron K. Nienaber, Brant A. Moegenburg, Eric M. Moore, Thomas J. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20200384610
    Abstract: A coated abrasive disc includes a disc backing and an abrasive layer disposed thereon. The abrasive layer comprises abrasive elements secured to a major surface of the disc backing by at least one binder material. The abrasive elements are disposed at contiguous intersections of horizontal and vertical lines of a rectangular grid pattern. Each abrasive element has two triangular abrasive platelets, each having respective top and bottom surfaces connected to each other, and separated by, three sidewalls. On a respective basis, one sidewall of the triangular abrasive platelets is disposed facing and proximate to the disc backing. A first portion of the abrasive elements is arranged in alternating first rows wherein the triangular abrasive platelets are disposed lengthwise aligned with the vertical lines. A second portion of the abrasive elements is arranged in alternating second rows wherein the triangular abrasive platelets are disposed lengthwise aligned with the horizontal lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hanschen, Steven J. Keipert, Joseph B. Eckel, Aaron K. Nienaber, Erin D. Spring, Brant A. Moegenburg, Eric M. Moore, Thomas J. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20200353594
    Abstract: An abrasive article having a backing layer having a first major surface opposing a second major surface and a plurality of apertures extending from the first major surface to the second major surface. A plurality of abrasive particles having a first end with a smaller dimension than a second end and at least some of the plurality of abrasive particles located in at least some of the plurality of apertures such that the first end of the abrasive particle passes through an individual aperture and extends above the second major surface and the second end of the abrasive particle will not pass through the individual aperture. A binder coating applied to the plurality of abrasive particles retaining them in the backing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Aaron K. Nienaber, Thomas J. Nelson, Dwight D. Erickson
  • Publication number: 20200346322
    Abstract: A coated abrasive disc includes a disc backing having an outer circumference. An abrasive layer is disposed on the disc backing. The abrasive layer comprises triangular abrasive platelets secured to a major surface of the disc backing by at least one binder material. The triangular abrasive platelets are outwardly disposed at regularly-spaced points along a spiral pattern extending outwardly toward the outer circumference. Each triangular abrasive platelet has respective top and bottom surfaces connected to each other, and separated by, three sidewalls. On a respective basis, one sidewall of at least 90 percent of the triangular abrasive platelets is disposed facing and proximate to the disc backing, and at least 70 percent of the triangular abrasive platelets are disposed in a recurring sequential orientation having an oscillating Z-axis rotational orientation of the first respective sidewall relative to the tangents to the spiral pattern at regularly-spaced points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hanschen, Steven J. Keipert, Joseph B. Eckel, Aaron K. Nienaber, Erin D. Spring, Brant A. Moegenburg, Eric M. Moore, Thomas J. Nelson
  • Patent number: 10774251
    Abstract: A functional abrasive particle comprises a ceramic body having at least one hole extending therethrough. A functional material is at least partially disposed within the hole. The functional material contains a binder and functional particles that are magnetizable, metallic, or both. Methods of making functional abrasive particles, and abrasive articles including them are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Joseph B. Eckel, Aaron K. Nienaber, Yuyang Liu, Don V. West
  • Patent number: 10675734
    Abstract: A coated abrasive article maker apparatus is disclosed comprising a first web path comprising a production tool and a second web path configured for a resin coated backing. The second web path is configured to guide the resin coated backing through the coated abrasive article maker apparatus with the resin layer positioned facing the dispensing surface. An abrasive particle feeder is positioned along the first web path and is configured to dispense abrasive particles onto the dispensing surface such that abrasive particles are removably disposed within cavities of the production tool. Abrasive particles are transferred from the plurality of cavities to the resin layer of the resin coated backing when the production tool is positioned adjacent the resin coated backing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott R. Culler, John T. Boden, Steven J. Keipert, Negus B. Adefris, Karan Jindal, Aaron K. Nienaber, David L. Morrison, Peter T. Benson, Pratik Pranay, Bradford B. Wright
  • Publication number: 20200139512
    Abstract: A coated abrasive article maker apparatus is disclosed comprising a first web path comprising a production tool and a second web path configured for a resin coated backing. The second web path is configured to guide the resin coated backing through the coated abrasive article maker apparatus with the resin layer positioned facing the dispensing surface. An abrasive particle feeder is positioned along the first web path and is configured to dispense abrasive particles onto the dispensing surface such that abrasive particles are removably disposed within cavities of the production tool. Abrasive particles are transferred from the plurality of cavities to the resin layer of the resin coated backing when the production tool is positioned adjacent the resin coated backing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Scott R. Culler, John T. Boden, Steven J. Keipert, Negus B. Adefris, Karan Jindal, Aaron K. Nienaber, David L. Morrison, Peter T. Benson, Pratik Pranay, Bradford B. Wright
  • Patent number: D879164
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hanschen, Steven J. Keipert, Joseph B. Eckel, Aaron K. Nienaber, Erin D. Spring, Brant A. Moegenburg, Eric M. Moore, Thomas J. Nelson
  • Patent number: D879165
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Joseph B. Eckel, Aaron K. Nienaber, Erin D. Spring, Brant A. Moegenburg, Eric M. Moore, Thomas J. Nelson, Thomas P. Hanschen, Steven J. Keipert
  • Patent number: D879166
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Joseph B. Eckel, Aaron K. Nienaber, Erin D. Spring, Brant A. Moegenburg, Eric M. Moore, Thomas J. Nelson, Thomas P. Hanschen, Steven J. Keipert