Running Length Work Patents (Class 118/123)
  • Patent number: 6093248
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for the application of a liquid or pasty medium onto a traveling fiber material web. The medium is directly applied on at least one side of the traveling material web. The medium is pressed into the traveling material web after the medium is directly applied on the traveling material web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Kohl, Rudiger Kurtz, Martin Kustermann, Oswald Satzger, Michael Trefz
  • Patent number: 6077352
    Abstract: An assembly having at least three coaters or separate doctor or blade units, all arranged at a single backing roll coating station is provided. At least two of the coater or blade units can be movably positioned for easy operation and servicing of all three units. Additionally, one or more of the coater units may have doctors or blades, and the coater units with blades or blade unit may each be angularly positioned through a range of blade angles to optimize coating operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Consolidated Papers, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne A. Damrau, Michael A. Mayer, Martin Friedrich Kustermann, Richard Christian Bernert
  • Patent number: 6071550
    Abstract: A device for the application of a liquid or viscous medium onto a running opposing surface includes a doctor blade that is mounted on a support beam, whereby the relative positions of the support beam and the opposing surface are adjustable by use of a regulating device. A flexible pressure tubing that is adjustable against the doctor blade is also provided on the support beam. In the process of controlling/regulating the device, the operating condition of the coating applicator is recorded, control values are established on the basis of the recorded results, and the regulating device and/or fluid pressure in the flexible pressure tubing is influenced on the basis of the established control values. Control/adjustments are made in such a manner that the angle of attack between the doctor blade and the opposing surface is maintained at a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Ueberschar, Thomas Klein, Franz Fischer
  • Patent number: 6068700
    Abstract: A coating apparatus for a traveling web comprising two coating heads and a traveling path changing roller is disclosed. A bar coater is arranged close to a pass roller. The bar coater is fixed at such a position as to contact the web when the pass roller is moved down. An extrusion coater is arranged below a backup roller in such a manner as to move up and down. If the pass roller moves up and bends up the traveling path of the web, the web separates from the bar coater. Then, if the extrusion coater moves up, the web is coated with the coating solution by the extrusion coater. If the pass roller and the extrusion coater move down, the web is coated with the coating solution by the bar coater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhito Naruse, Atsushi Kakumoto
  • Patent number: 6063193
    Abstract: An applicator for direct or indirect application of a liquid or pasty medium onto a traveling fiber material web includes a metering slot formed as open-jet nozzle between an approach-side lip and a departure-side lip. The approach-side lip or the departure-side lip features on its end directed toward the fiber web an angled flow guide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Hess, Zygmunt Madrzak
  • Patent number: 6060110
    Abstract: An elongated component part, extending across the width of a moving material web, can be adjusted for the purpose of applying a liquid or viscid medium onto the moving material web. The component part is supported by a supporting beam and is equipped with an adjustment fixture including a plurality of adjustment devices which are arranged along the length of the elongated component part at the support locations. The adjustment devices are separated from each other and adjusted for achieving a forced deformation of the component part in a direction that is perpendicular to their longitudinal axis. The adjustment positions of the respective adjustment devices are recorded. Imaginary connecting lines between the free ends of two respective, neighboring support locations are formed. An angle between two respective, neighboring connecting lines is calculated. The respective, calculated angle is compared with a pre-determined boundary angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Eckard Wozny
  • Patent number: 6053979
    Abstract: An apparatus for direct or indirect application of a liquid or pasty coating medium onto a traveling material web, notably of paper or cardboard, includes at least one oblong working unit wetted by the coating medium and an oblong support element carrying the working unit. The at least one working unit and the support element are thermally shielded from one another. The at least one working unit and the support element are joined to one another by way of an elongation compensation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermachinen GmbH
    Inventors: Richard Bernert, Friedhelm Ruhl
  • Patent number: 6045876
    Abstract: A system and method for impregnating a continuous fiber strand with a heated polymer melt involves the introduction of a polymer melt into a cavity and the routing the fiber strand through the cavity so the fiber is exposed to the polymer melt introduced therein. The strand is scrubbed as it is moved though the cavity so that the polymer melt is pressed against and blended within the fiber strand. The scrubbing action is effected by a rotating scrubber assembly mounted for rotation relative to the cavity about an axis of rotation and includes a plurality of smooth-surfaced pins arranged in a spaced, substantially circular arrangement about the rotation axis and so that the longitudinal axes of the pins are generally parallel to one another. The direction of movement of the pins along the fiber strand corresponds generally with the direction of movement of the strand through the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Inventors: John F. Fellers, Albert E. Pope
  • Patent number: 5993548
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a machine for processing a fiber web. The machine includes a spreading device with a width. The spreading device is configured for applying a liquid or pasty medium onto the fiber web, or finely controlling an amount of the liquid or pasty medium on the fiber web. A support beam associated with the spreading device has opposing ends and a length which extends across the width of the spreading device. Two support elements are engaged with the support beam for holding the support beam in place. The two support elements are spaced along the length of the support beam, with each support element being located at a distance from a respective end of the support beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Zygmunt Madrzak, Manfred Ueberschar
  • Patent number: 5968269
    Abstract: A coater applies a coating medium onto a moving surface such as a fiber web. A coating element, such as a coater rod or coater blade, is configured for metering the coating medium to the moving surface. A profile bar assembly is connected to the mounting and movable toward and away from the coating element. The profile bar assembly includes a first profile bar attached to the mounting and a second profile bar removably attached to the first profile bar. Each of the first profile bar and the second profile bar carry a respective air load tube, with only one of the air load tubes engaging the coating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Paper Technology Noth America, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel W. Richter
  • Patent number: 5958513
    Abstract: An apparatus for direct or indirect application of a liquid or pasty medium onto a traveling material web, notably of paper or cardboard, with a support beam which substantially extends in its length direction across the entire width of the material web, is supported in at least two bearing points and includes at least one finish-dosing apparatus. A backing roll opposes the support beam. A relevant bearing point includes two mutually spaced support bars each of which is at its one end jointedly fixed to pivot points of the support beam and at its other end pivotally connected to at least one foundation. At least one prop bar is attached at its one end jointedly to the support beam and is at its other end jointedly fixed to the foundation. A least one of the aforementioned bars is lengthwise adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Zygmunt Madrzak
  • Patent number: 5958137
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for the controlled placement of a shear-thinnable polymer composition into a moving web. The controlled placement is preferably performed by applying the polymer composition onto a surface of a moving web, shear thinning the composition and placing it into the web, and curing the polymer composition. A preferred apparatus includes one or more process heads that has mounted thereto a rigid knife blade for engagement with the moving web. The knife blade is movable vertically and rotationally. The process head is also movable horizontally along the path of the moving web. A plurality of macro and micro tension zones are established and are monitored for controlling the apparatus and process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Nextec Applications, Inc.
    Inventors: James Michael Caldwell, George Schmermund
  • Patent number: 5952082
    Abstract: A recording medium particularly suitable for electrophotographic copying is characterized by coated paper that for a given basis weight has proportionally less coating and proportionally more fiber than conventional coated paper made for electrophotographic processes. The base sheet of the coated paper is preferably formed square on a paper machine wet end and has on the order of 40-50% less filler than conventional sheet paper made for electrophotographic processes. After being formed and dried, the base sheet is provided with a top coat weight that is approximately 60% less than the typical coat weight used for conventional paper. The coating is formulated to have sufficient viscosity to stay more on the surface of the base sheet. The coated sheet is calendered to a medium gloss on the order of a 75.degree. TAPPI gloss of about 45, both to preserve a degree of surface roughness to enhance runnability of the paper through an electrophotographic copier and to provide a pleasant and easily readable surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Consolidated Papers, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Normington, Gregory E. Pulchinski, Gary G. Schiller
  • Patent number: 5938844
    Abstract: A support strip is braced against a doctor blade for coating a web and consists of spring steel sheet subdivided by slits into tongues. The tongues are securely clamped at their ends facing away from the dosage element and the continuous frontal edge is supported between guide strips so as to be movable in the direction of the dosage element. Adjustment elements engage at the tongues to cause them to bend perpendicularly with respect to the span of the tongues to control the force applied to the doctor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Jagenberg Papiertechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhard Knop
  • Patent number: 5922129
    Abstract: In an apparatus for the application of a liquid or pasty substance onto a traveling material web, notably of paper or cardboard, a doctor bar serving the metering of the applied substance is composed of at least two bar segments strung together in the longitudinal direction of the doctor bar and fixedly joined to one another. Possible thereby, in the manufacture of the doctor bar, is an easier handling and a better compliance with accuracy requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Rudiger Kurtz, Martin Kustermann
  • Patent number: 5911829
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing string material such as suture from a rotating spool housed in a sealed housing which is filled with a liquid, for example an antiseptic fluid. The housing forms a hollow member into which the spool of suture is disposed so as to be freely rotatable. An end of the suture extends from the interior of the housing through a wiper member so as to be grasped by a user. The suture spool comprises an increased diameter core member which allows the entire length of suture stored thereon to be usable in an uncoiled manner when removed from the device. The center portion or core of the suture spool has a closed periphery so as to reduce the amount of antiseptic required to fill the interior of the housing and maintain the suture sterile. Also, the sidewalls of the housing are provided with projections that engage the sidewalls of the spool to permit a user to grasp and apply force against the housing while withdrawing the suture without slowing or stopping rotation of the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignees: Mallinckrodt Veterinary, Inc., CP Medical
    Inventors: Steven G. Maksudian, Patrick J. Ferguson, Francis K. Walton
  • Patent number: 5902400
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device (1) for applying a substance (9) to a surface (3), the device comprising a carrier beam (2) and a doctor blade unit (40) which can be pressed magnetically against the surface (3). Provided between the doctor blade unit (40) and the carrier beam (2) is a holder connection (5) which produces play transversely to the surface (3). The holder connection (5) comprises at least one pair of sliding holder elements (51, 52) which can move only in translation, interact and form a sliding guide plane (500) which can be aligned on the region of the doctor blade element application zone (31). The holder elements are interconnected in a manner rigid against tilting such that all the moments due to thrust forces on the doctor blade unit (40) act with respect to a point of application on the carrier beam without losses of moments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Inventor: Johannes Zimmer
  • Patent number: 5893951
    Abstract: The invention relates to an applicator for direct or indirect application of a liquid or pasty coating medium onto a traveling material web, notably of paper or cardboard, including at least one adjustable coating edge delimiting apparatus for adjustment of a coating width on an applicator roll, backing roll and/or a traveling material web. The coating edge delimiting apparatus is arranged so as to be movable stepwise or continuously in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of travel of the material web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Zygmunt Madrzak, Anton Plomer
  • Patent number: 5869143
    Abstract: A process for coating a web of material includes the steps of displacing the web along a path in a travel direction, applying a coating material at an application located along the path to forming a curved segment of the web, and wiping off the excess of the coating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Jagenberg Papiertechnik GMBH
    Inventors: Ingo Becker, Reinhard Knop
  • Patent number: 5868841
    Abstract: A blade holder for disposing a blade proximate to a roll for transporting a continuous web of material includes a blade positioned transversely to a direction of movement of a continuous web of material. The blade tensioning device is disposed on a blade supporting beam extending transversely to the direction of movement of the web, the blade supporting beam swivelable and oscillatable transversely to the direction of movement of the web. The holder includes a supporting element and a stand having a bracket upon which a first drag bearing is disposed, the supporting element rotatably supported by the first drag bearing. A second drag bearing links the supporting element, the blade supporting beam, and a lever. The holder also includes a swiveling device for swiveling the blade supporting beam from a working position to a maintenance position and a positioning device for adjusting a blade working angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Gunter Halmschlager
  • Patent number: 5863329
    Abstract: It is an object to obtain a blade 1 with which coating or scraping can satisfactorily be performed and which is able to protect a plate-like member 3 from being broken.A blade having a ceramic plate-like member 3 having an edge 3a and secured to the surface of an elongated metal plate 2 in the leading end portion of the elongated metal plate 2, wherein the blade 1 is deflected by 10 cm or more in the direction of the thickness thereof owning to the deadweight without breakage of the ceramic plate-like member 3 when the blade 1 is supported at two ends thereof which are apart from each other by 1 m or longer in the lengthwise direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Hidenori Yamanouchi
  • Patent number: 5846325
    Abstract: The invention is a coating blade for coating a paper web and a method of using the same. The coating blade includes a notch in its thickness on the tension side of the blade toward the coating end, above the fulcrum such that it has the advantages of both thick and thin coating blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Sidney Crabtree, Gary Paul Fugitt
  • Patent number: 5843529
    Abstract: A pre-metering rod is located between a coating applicator and an air knife, and replaces the smoothing roll in some existing air knife applications. The pre-metering rod consists of a small diameter rod of about one and one-half inches in diameter that rotates at 10-500 rpm against the direction of the coating layer on the web. The web is wrapped around a portion of the circumference amounting to about twenty-five degrees of the rod's surface as it travels over the rod. The rod is supported in a rod holder supported on a support beam. Actuators move the support beam away from the web for threading and maintenance, and towards the web to engage the rod with the web. The combination of the rod diameter, the amount of wrap on the rod, and the speed of the rod rotation determine the amount of pre-metering of the coating, which determines the thickness of the coating layer on the web that is presented to the air knife section. As a result, the thickness of the coating layer can be decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Beloit Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Peiffer
  • Patent number: 5824154
    Abstract: A coating blade (5) for controlled application and smoothing of a coating composition on a travelling paper web (7) supported by a co-rotary roll (9), said blade (5) comprising a steel strip (13) elongated in a first direction between first and second edge sections, said first edge section engaging the paper web (7) and being provided with an abrasive wear resistant deposit (15) to extend the life of the blade, wherein an intermediate layer (17) positioned between said deposit (15) and said steel strip (13), said layer (17) having a higher resistance to abrasive wear than said deposit (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: BTG Eclepens S.A.
    Inventor: Silvano Freti
  • Patent number: 5824363
    Abstract: An improved wallpaper pasting machine 10 and method of manufacture and use. The pasting machine 10 has a lid 20 and a trough 30. The lid 20 can completely cover the trough 30 to keep the paste from further drying out. An applying roller 40 for applying paste 90 to wallpaper 100 is placed within the inner compartment 35 of trough 30. A scraper bar 50 is mounted at the rear portion of trough 30, and the scraper bar 50 scrapes excess paste 90 from wallpaper 100. A snap lock 22 located on the lid 20 is used to secure the lid 20 to trough 30. Paper tension ribs 27 and 28 are located in the interior portion of lid 20 for providing tension on wallpaper 100 and for guiding and pressing the wallpaper 100 to the applying roller 40 to apply paste 90 onto the wallpaper 100 as the wallpaper 100 is pulled through the machine 10. A return roller 60 can be adjusted in position and held to one of three sets of holes 24--24, 25--25, and 26--26 that are on the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Blackhawk Metal Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Poole, Robert N. Poole
  • Patent number: 5820675
    Abstract: An application unit for directly or indirectly applying a fluid or pasty medium to a continuous material web, particularly one made of paper or cardboard, includes a beam that extends across the entire length of the application unit, and a distribution pipe arranged within beam. The pipe is connected via through-flow openings to a feed duct merging into a metering gap forming a free-jet nozzle. The pipe may alternatively be coupled to an application chamber. The through-flow openings are arranged in an upper portion of the distribution pipe and at least one discharge opening for fluid or pasty medium is provided at any one or more other portions of the distribution pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Zygmunt Madrzak
  • Patent number: 5807460
    Abstract: A coated film is peeled and removed on a resin product by rollers. Each roller has a different rotational speed and applies a shear slipping stress between the coated film and the resin material to peel the coated film from the resin material. The apparatus includes cooling device for cooling one of the rollers by feeding coolant through a passage formed in the roller so as to reduce adhering the coated film to the roller surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5795387
    Abstract: An apparatus including a trough having an upstream end, a downstream end and opposing sidewalls, an applicator roller carried by the trough, an adjustable scraper bar carried by the trough upstream of and adjacent to the applicator roller, an adjustment assembly for adjusting the scraper bar for allowing a user to adjust the amount of paste removed from the surface of the wallpaper, a lid removably and hingedly coupled to the trough for movement between an open position and a closed position, and an outfeed roller carried proximate the trough upstream of the scraper bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Inventor: Joe A. Huerta
  • Patent number: 5792266
    Abstract: A device for coating steel sheet surfaces by hot immersion in continuous coating lines, is provided, including several driving rollers disposed against the surface of the sheet to be coated, complemented by tensioning rollers and an inert gas stream, in this case nitrogen, acting on the cutting edges of the scrapers and against the surface of the coating driving rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Comesi S.A.I.C.
    Inventors: Horacio Carlos Falia, Carlos Ignacio Rojas, Federico Arturo Turtl
  • Patent number: 5789023
    Abstract: A fountain applicator for applying coating liquid onto a web of paper carried past the applicator, has a coating liquid flow path that includes a curved surface along which a sheet of the coating liquid is flowed to subject the sheet to centrifugal force to cause air entrained in the coating liquid to move away from one side of the sheet that is toward the curved surface, so that the one side is relatively free of entrained air. After being flowed along the curved surface, the sheet of coating liquid is directed toward the web in a free standing jet curtain of coating liquid, to contact the web surface primarily with the one relatively air-free side of the coating liquid sheet to decrease the occurrence of skip coating on the web surface, especially when the web is traveling past the applicator at high speeds. The coating is applied in excess onto the web surface and is metered and leveled to a desired coat weight by a downstream doctor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Consolidated Papers, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne A. Damrau
  • Patent number: 5772766
    Abstract: An application unit for applying a liquid or pasty medium onto a surface moving past the application unit. This has particular application to direct or indirect application of such a medium to a paper or board web. A support beam and a front wall supported generally further from and a rear wall supported generally closer to the moving surface. The walls are spaced apart for defining a pasty medium supply gap between them and are oriented so that the supply gap generally directs the medium toward the surface. The front and rear walls can selectively receive releasable attachment of members for forming a liquid medium an application chamber, the chamber having a downstream end with a blade, an upstream end with a damming strip over which the excessive medium in the application chamber can overflow. Alternatively, a second set of attachable members may be attached to the walls for forming a free jet nozzle dosing gap that communicates with the supply gap for directing the medium to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Voith Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Reich, Richard Bernert, Martin Kustermann, Manfred Ueberschaer, Eckard Wozny
  • Patent number: 5770267
    Abstract: Smoothing surfaces of a substrate having a profile and irregular surfaces. According to one embodiment, a layer of fill material is applied to at least one surface of the substrate, wherein the fill material fills irregularities in the at least one surface. The layer of fill material is scraped from the at least one surface to provide a relatively smooth at least one surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: J. M. Huber Corporation
    Inventor: Ralph S. Bullock, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5746833
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuously applying a coating to a running web, includes an elastic doctor blade having first and second ends, a frontal ride adapted to be oriented towards the web and a reverse side opposite the frontal aide and adapted to be oriented away from the web. The apparatus further has a clamping device firmly holding the doctor blade by engagement therewith in a zone of the first end. The clamping device positions the doctor blade for contacting the web at the second end along a scraping line. The apparatus also has an inflatable actuator engaging the reverse side of the doctor blade between the clamping device and the first and of the doctor blade. The actuator has a pressurized state in which a surface portion of the actuator is enlarged by an inflating fluid towards the reverse side of the doctor blade for pressing it against the web. A fluid pressure source is connected to the in inflatable actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: TZN Forschungs- und Entwicklungszentrum Unterluss GmbH
    Inventor: Norbert Gerhardt
  • Patent number: 5738724
    Abstract: This invention relates to load adjustment systems for coater blades. Such structures of this type, generally, employ the use of an actuator assembly to control cross-direction (widthwise) coatweight profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Westvaco Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Paul Metzler
  • Patent number: 5738907
    Abstract: A porous product, typically a metal foam sheet, is produced as a tailored, engineered product. The porous product can have enhanced strength, as well as more desirable electrical and mechanical properties. The product which first exists typically as a flexible, generally polymeric foam sheet in strip form, which strip is produced in the longitudinal direction, is stretched in a direction other than its direction of production. The porous product can have pores which would be anisotropic in form in usual production, which are stretched to at least substantially isotropic form. The product can even be tailored to have pores which are anisotropic in the direction of the stretch. Thus, an engineered product can be produced which, for example, as an open-cell metal foam prepared from a polymeric foam can have conductivity, both thermal and electrical, as well as strength and ductility, tailored for greater uniformity and performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Eltech Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony J. Vaccaro, Kenneth J. Gregg, Daniel W. Gibbons, Janet S. Gregg, John R. Griesser
  • Patent number: 5735956
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an applicator for coating a traveling fiber web with a coating mixture. The applicator includes a backing roll having a shell surface for carrying the web, and a nozzle for feeding the coating mixture. The applicator includes a support beam; a nozzle which is integral with or connected to the support beam; and a doctor bar carried by the support beam. The doctor bar has a guide surface. The guide surface and the backing roll define a nip for producing a hydrodynamic pressure. The guide surface approaching the shell surface of the backing roll extends to an exit edge at a location nearest the backing roll. A device is provided for flexibly backing the doctor bar on the support beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Ueberschaer, Martin Kustermann, Stefan Reich
  • Patent number: 5733373
    Abstract: A doctor blade assembly for coating a traveling web has a blade which is held against movement away from the web or a coating drum or cylinder by a pressure strip bearing with its contact edge against the doctor blade. The pressure strip can be adjusted by spaced part rods and adjusting nuts against a spring force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Jagenberg Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Runald Meyer, Reinhard Knop
  • Patent number: 5733608
    Abstract: A system for coating a substrate with ultra-thin layers in stripes includes moving the substrate through a coating station and forming a composite layer including coating fluids and a carrier fluid. The composite layer flows at a rate that is sufficiently high to form a continuous flowing fluid bridge of composite layer to the substrate surface and to contact the substrate with the flowing composite layer to interpose the coating layers between the substrate and the carrier fluid. The carrier fluid is removed while leaving the coating fluid deposited on the substrate as a coating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Carl R. Kessel, William K. Leonard
  • Patent number: 5702765
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying coating liquid to a web of paper traveling over a web supporting surface at speeds of 3,000 or more feet per minute to produce a coated web free of streaking and other imperfections includes the steps and structural elements for distributing coating liquid onto the supported web through a limited application zone within a short dwell time of the liquid on the web, the web moving through the application zone at a speed that is sufficiently high to create turbulence in the coating liquid being applied to the web, doctoring the coating liquid on the web by biasing a primary doctor against the coated web at the rear edge of the application zone so as to form a layer of coating liquid on the web as the web leaves the application zone, the turbulence in the coating liquid causing machine direction streaks in the layer of the coating liquid as the web leaves the application zone; and, at a location downstream and isolated from the application zone, performing a successive doctorin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Consolidated Papers, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne A. Damrau, Michael A. Mayer
  • Patent number: 5700345
    Abstract: A method of forming a continuous structure includes the steps of flowing a first liquid reactive resin forming material over a base surface, forming a first thin substantially uniform layer thereof and gelling the first layer. A second liquid resin forming material is flowed through an orifice under pressure forming a liquid stream thereof. The liquid stream is gelled to form a continuous filament with structural integrity as it advances toward the first gelled layer. The filament is contacted with the first layer and distributed thereover in a preselected pattern forming a porous non-woven filament blanket. A particulate solid material is distributed substantially uniformly over the filament blanket. A third liquid resin forming material is flowed over the blanket forming a second thin substantially uniform layer of the third liquid resin forming material and the layer is gelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Inventor: LeRoy Payne
  • Patent number: 5685909
    Abstract: Disclosed are a process of and an apparatus for producing paper webs coated on both sides, in particular so-called LWC-papers, in a paper making machine. Firstly, one side of the paper web (1) is coated in a first coating station (8) and then dried. Subsequently, the other side of the paper web (1) is coated in a second coating station (25) and then dried. Each coating station (8, 25) includes an application role (10), an opposing roll (11) and an application unit (13) arranged on the application roll for indirectly coating the paper web. The metering of the coating mass on the application roll (10) takes place by means of a smooth roll doctor. The coated paper web (1) is calendered by means of an on-line calendering unit (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignees: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH, SCA Graphic Sundsvall AB
    Inventors: Stefan Reich, Bernd Riepenhausen, Martin Kustermann, Michael Trefz, Lars Winter, Irene Wedin, Anette Berg, Fredrik Aksnes
  • Patent number: 5681618
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for applying coating liquid to a web of paper traveling over a web supporting surface at speeds of 3,000, 4,000 and more feet per minute to produce a coated web free of streaking and other imperfections comprises apparatus for and the sequential steps of distributing coating liquid in a turbulent state over the supported web through a limited application zone within a very short dwell time of the turbulent liquid on the web; subjecting the coating liquid on the supported web to an initial doctoring by means of a primary doctor blade biased under pressure against the coated web at the rear edge of the application zone to form on the web downstream from the zone a relatively quiescent layer of coating liquid having a wet film thickness sufficiently in excess of the final wet film thickness to accommodate a subsequent final wet film doctoring of the coating liquid on the web; and, at a location downstream and isolated from the application zone, subjecting the relatively quiescent layer
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Consolidated Papers, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne A. Damrau, Michael A. Mayer
  • Patent number: 5676793
    Abstract: A drywall mud applicator which includes a bucket or container for containing a quantity of drywall mud, a pair of slots provided in the bottom of the bucket in oppositely-disposed relationship adjacent to the bottom of the bucket for receiving a feeder plate which operates to feed a length of drywall tape through the slots, a mud adjusting mechanism mounted on the bucket adjacent to one of the slots for receiving the mud-coated tape and facilitating cutting of the tape to a desired length for applying to a drywall panel and a tape dispenser mounted on the bucket for receiving a roll of drywall tape and facilitating feeding of the tape through the slots and the mud adjusting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventors: Ricky W. Martin, Casey M. Weeks
  • Patent number: 5656326
    Abstract: In a method for coating a shear-thinning cathode material having a high viscosity on a substrate, the substrate is drawn through a nip defined by a rotating backing roller and a notched bar disposed at a distance from the backing roller. The notched bar is convexly curved in shape in a region prior to the nip and is formed with a notch extending in from the curved region of the notched bar at the nip. The cathode material is supplied onto a first surface of the substrate, the first surface facing the notched bar. At least a portion of the first surface of the substrate is coated with a uniform thickness layer of the cathode material by applying steadily increasing shear forces to the supplied cathode material as the cathode material on the substrate is drawn into the nip and contacts the curved region of the notched bar. The cathode material layer is removed from contact with the notched bar by drawing the cathode material layer coated on the substrate past the notch in the notched bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Valence Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven M. Mallinson
  • Patent number: 5641544
    Abstract: A system for coating a substrate with an ultra-thin layer includes moving the substrate through a coating station and forming a composite layer including a coming fluid and a carrier fluid. The composite layer flows at a rate that is sufficiently high to form a continuous flowing fluid bridge of composite layer to the substrate surface and to contact the substrate with the flowing composite layer to interpose the coating layer between the substrate and the carrier fluid. The carrier fluid is removed while leaving the coating fluid deposited on the substrate as a coating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kurt C. Melancon, Carl R. Kessel, William K. Leonard
  • Patent number: 5639331
    Abstract: A method of forming a continuous structure includes the steps of preselecting a liquid reactive resin forming material, a particulate solid additive material and a porous blanket. The additive particles are mixed with the liquid resin forming material substantially continuously in a proportion significantly greater than that of the liquid resin forming material. Substantially all of the additive particles are encapsulated with the liquid resin forming material to a preselected thickness. A pool of the resulting mixture is formed on the blanket. The blanket is advanced at a rate sufficient to create movement of the additive particles within the pool and maintain the additive particles in suspension. Part of the liquid resin forming material is migrated through the blanket substantially uniformly prior to gelling of the liquid resin forming material to form a continuous resin matrix within the blanket. Also, apparatus forming the structure as well as the structure itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Inventor: LeRoy Payne
  • Patent number: 5626671
    Abstract: A cross flow knife coater includes a coating station through which a surface passes and a trough which extends transversely across the desired width of the coating. The trough has an opening through which coating fluid exits onto the surface without using a slot, and first and second transverse ends. The coating fluid is fed directly into the trough at a first transverse end, and is moved from the first transverse end of the trough, across the trough, and toward the second transverse end to cause the coating fluid to flow across the width of the trough while coating fluid exits the opening. The coater creates a spiral flow of coating fluid across the width of the trough which carries debris, bubbles, and other undesirables across the trough to a second traverse end where they can be vented. The perpendicular distance between the trough opening and the surface, and likewise between the knife and the surface, can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kai Grimmel, Klaus Schmehl, Mark R. Strenger, Norbert J. Wallraff
  • Patent number: 5626676
    Abstract: A sizing applicator with two pairs of rollers arranged in sequence with one another along the transport path of a yarn sheet can be converted, without changing the position of the pairs of rollers, between an operating mode as a pad-type sizing applicator and a squeezing-type sizing applicator. Each pair of rollers has a defined gap at a common tangent therebetween and each pair of rollers has one roller disposed at a lower elevation than the other roller of the pair. The two roller pairs are relatively arranged such that their respective common tangents intersect beneath the roller pairs approximately midway between the roller pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Sucker-Muller-Hacoba GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Gerhard Voswinckel
  • Patent number: 5624495
    Abstract: A spreading system or coating system, preferably for webs of paper or cardboard, with a doctor element fashioned as a doctor blade. A substrate element B to be coated serves as backing for the doctor blade secured in a mounting. A first load system is located near the (exposed) dosing edge of the doctor blade. A further load system acts on the doctor blade between the mounting and first load system. A pressure bar is fastened to the doctor blade in the area of its exposed dosing edge, preferably between 0 and 40 mm away from it, or bears on it, and the first load system acts on the pressure bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Trefz, Christoph Henninger
  • Patent number: 5609686
    Abstract: An apparatus continuously smoothes a wet coating of magnetizable particles and binder on a moving flexible web. A first longitudinal end of a flexible film is held in contact with the wet coating on the substrate and is free to drag against the wet coating. The first longitudinal end is deflected toward the substrate along a line extending transversely between the first and second transverse ends. The amount of deflection is adjusted and varied during coating to adjust the radius of curvature of the deflection of the first longitudinal end. A smoothing bar or a cylindrical rod, with or without a sharp edge, can hold the flexible film in position. The deflection and adjustment can be performed by a screw. Alternatively, a cylindrical rod is used by itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Glen A. Jerry, Stephan F. Kistler, Joseph H. Lam, Scott D. Stenstrom