Patents by Inventor Ernest P. Wolfer

Ernest P. Wolfer 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).

  • Patent number: 6214465
    Abstract: Granular absorbent products with low amounts of paper fiber are described. The absorbent products are made from recycled paper and include less than about 10% of paper fibers having a length sufficient to be retained on a 100 mesh screen. A process for making such granular absorbent products is also provided. The granular absorbents are useful for absorbing liquids spilled on the floor, and are crushable when walked on to provide greater resistance to slipping, and yet have a high resistance to attrition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Marcel Paper Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward G. Knapick, Brent Willemsen, Ernest P. Wolfer
  • Patent number: 6019873
    Abstract: Granular absorbent products with low amounts of paper fiber are described. The absorbent products are made from recycled paper and include less than about 10% of paper fibers having a length sufficient to be retained on a 100 mesh screen. A process for making such granular absorbent products is also provided. The granular absorbents are useful for absorbing liquids spilled on the floor, and are crushable when walked on to provide greater resistance to slipping, and yet have a high resistance to attrition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Marcal Paper Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward G. Knapick, Brent Willemsen, Ernest P. Wolfer, Michael C. Bonin
  • Patent number: 5951822
    Abstract: A process is disclosed which utilizes the "non-papermaking" portion of waste paper to produce a highly absorbent, essentially fiber-free granule which can be used, for example, as an agricultural chemical carrier. The process maximizes the amount of long (papermaking) fiber sent to the paper machine.The waste paper is broken up in a hydropulper, and the pulp stock is screened so that papermaking fibers are retained and sent forward to the papermaking process, and the solid material in the reject stream, such as kaolin clay and inorganic materials pass through a flotation clarifier to separate the solids. The slurry is then dewatered by means of a belt press to form a filter cake. The filter cake then enters a pin mixer where it is broken up into individual granules. The granules are then dried to a solids content of greater than 95%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Marcal Paper Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward G. Knapick, Brent Willemsen, Ernest P. Wolfer
  • Patent number: 5888345
    Abstract: Granular absorbent products with low amounts of paper fiber are described. The absorbent products are made from recycled paper and include less than about 10% of paper fibers having a length sufficient to be retained on a 100 mesh screen. A process for making such granular absorbent products is also provided. The granular absorbents are highly absorbent for water and oil even though they include only low amounts of paper fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Marcal Paper Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward G. Knapick, Brent Willemsen, Ernest P. Wolfer
  • Patent number: 5882480
    Abstract: A process is disclosed which utilizes the "non-papermaking" portion of waste paper to produce a highly absorbent, essentially fiber-free granule which can be used, for example, as an agricultural chemical carrier. The process maximizes the amount of long (papermaking) fiber sent to the paper machine. The waste paper is broken up in a hydropulper, and the pulp stock is screened so that papermaking fibers are retained and sent forward to the papermaking process, and the solid material in the reject stream, such as kaolin clay and inorganic materials pass through a flotation clarifier to separate the solids. The slurry is then dewatered by means of a belt press to form a filter cake. The filter cake then enters a pin mixer where it is broken up into individual granules. The granules are then dried to a solids content of greater than 95%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Marcal Paper Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward G. Knapick, Brent Willemsen, Ernest P. Wolfer
  • Patent number: 5807465
    Abstract: A process is disclosed which utilizes the "non-papermaking" portion of waste paper to produce a highly absorbent, essentially fiber-free granule which can be used, for example, as an agricultural chemical carrier. The process maximizes the amount of long (papermaking) fiber sent to the paper machine. The waste paper is broken up in a hydropulper, and the pulp stock is screened so that papermaking fibers are retained and sent forward to the papermaking process, and the solid material in the reject stream, such as kaolin clay and inorganic materials pass through a flotation clarifier to separate the solids. The slurry is then dewatered by means of a belt press to form a filter cake. The filter cake then enters a pin mixer where it is broken up into individual granules. The granules are then dried to a solids content of greater than 95%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Marcal Paper Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward G. Knapick, Brent Willemsen, Ernest P. Wolfer
  • Patent number: 5728270
    Abstract: In a process for making a granular material from a reject stream from a coated grade waste paper pulp stock recycling process, the pulp stock is screened so that the reject stream passes through a screen and long fibers are retained for use in making paper. Solid material in the reject stream is separated by flotation. Water is removed from the reject stream to increase its consistency to that of modelling clay. The reject stream is supplied to an agglomerator which forms uniform granules of irregular but approximately spherical shape. The granules are then dried so that the granules have a solids content greater than 95%. Apparatus for performing the process and characteristics of granular material formed by the process and apparatus are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Marcal Paper Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward G. Knapick, Brent Willemsen, Ernest P. Wolfer
  • Patent number: 5622600
    Abstract: In a process for making a particulate or granular material from a reject stream from a coated grade waste paper pulp stock recycling process, fibers for use in making paper are removed, the remaining solid material in the reject stream is dyed and then separated. Water is removed from the reject stream to increase its consistency and form dyed particles or granules. The process and characteristics of particulate and granular material formed by the process are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Marcal Paper Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Kim A. Smith, Edward G. Knapick, Brent Willemsen, Ernest P. Wolfer
  • Patent number: 5593542
    Abstract: A method for recovering fiber useful for papermaking from an effluent stream includes a primary process for treating an effluent stream to separate usable fiber from contrary matter, and secondary operations, supplementing the primary process, to treat the contrary matter rejected by the primary process to recover usable fibers contained in the reject matter. In addition, the secondary processing steps separate the reject material into organic and inorganic fractions, which may be usable in other processes. The method of the invention does not require the addition of water as do conventional processes, simplifies handling, disposal, and reduces the costs of disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Marcal Paper Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest P. Wolfer, Brent Willemsen, Venkat B. Maroju, Andres Martiny