Utilizing Diverse Solid Particles Patents (Class 264/122)
  • Patent number: 6846552
    Abstract: A plant (10) for the production of highly flexible and relatively thin sheets or panels (38) of agglomerate material comprising: a mixer crusher (12), a hopper (15) designed to accept the crushed and rolled material (24) and to transfer it to a distributor or spreader (16) positioned below the hopper, said spreader (16) comprising a substantially cylindrical container (30) with a loading opening (31), adjacent, in use, to said hopper (15) and comprising a discharge slot (32) on the opposite side to said opening (31), and a mixing device of the agglomerate material (24) inside said container (30). The mixing device comprises a pair of blades (35) fixed to a shaft (34) rotating around an axis not corresponding to that of said container (30) and in particular offset towards said slot (32), so that during their rotation the blades almost skim said slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Stone Italiana SRL
    Inventor: Roberto Dalla Valle
  • Patent number: 6841023
    Abstract: A process for the manufacturing of a core forming a carrying structure for decorative laminates. The core comprises particles of cured, and optionally foamed, rigid, polyurethane, polyisocyanurate and/or phenolic resin. The particles are bonded to each other in a pressing procedure with a bonding agent comprising an adhesive such as a polymerizing monomer. i) The particles are achieved by grinding cured, and optionally foamed, rigid, polyurethane, polyisocyanurate and/or phenolic resin so that it passes through a 2 mm screen, preferably a 1 mm screen, ii) 100 parts per weight of particles is mixed with 1-100 parts per weight of fiber, the fiber additive having an average length in the range 1-15 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Pergo (Europe) AB
    Inventor: Laurence Mott
  • Patent number: 6838024
    Abstract: The invention relates to a simplified production process with which it is possible to obtain carbon blocks, in particular anodes intended for aluminium production using the Hall-Héroult electrolysis process, which have high thermal shock resistance. This process comprises a grain size distribution adjustment operation of a carbon aggregate which includes: a) separating an initial ungraded carbon aggregate AC into a first fraction F1 made up of grains whose sizes are smaller than X, and into a second fraction F2 made up of grains whose sizes are X or greater, X lying between 0.2 and 2 mm; b) crushing B1 the first fraction F1 and part P1 of the second fraction F2 such as to obtain a powder F comprising a controlled proportion of ultra-fine grains; c) mixing the remaining part P2 of fraction F2 and said powder F in proportions with which it is possible to obtain crude carbon blocks whose so-called “Gr/S” ratio between the proportion PGr of grains larger than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignees: Aluminium Pechiney, FCB Aluminium
    Inventors: Christian Dreyer, Bernard Samanos
  • Publication number: 20040262790
    Abstract: A moving bed filtration process for the production of sphere based crystals is disclosed. Sphere based crystals having an opal-like structure or an inverse opal-like structure can be produced in accordance with the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Guoyi Fu, Diane Lewis
  • Publication number: 20040260004
    Abstract: A resin bonded graphite material which is especially suitable for use as an electric contact, and a method for the production of this resin bonded graphite material. According to the invention, the resin-bonded graphite material if formed from a mixture of carbon black containing electro-graphite with a unburned graphite content of RG wherein RG≧30 percent by weight, electro-graphite free of carbon black as well as binding agents. The material has a specific electrical resistance Wspec wherein Wspec≧3500 &mgr;&OHgr;m, and use of the resin bonded graphite material as an electrical contact makes possible substantial exclusion of radio interference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Bettina Hubner, Rainer Sperling, Klaus-Georg Tontsch
  • Patent number: 6833396
    Abstract: The present invention is a molding material made from a combination of recycled scrap tire particles and recycled plastic flake. In one embodiment, the molding material comprises a plurality of recycled scrap tire particles having different surface areas, a plurality of recycled plastic flake having different surface areas, and a binding agent coated about substantially all of the surfaces of the recycled scrap tire particles and the recycled plastic flakes. The combination of the recycled scrap tire particles having different surface areas, the recycled plastic flake having different surface areas, and the bonding agent results in a molding material that can be used to make a strong, substantially rigid, and durable product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Inventor: Dan R. Radke, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040251573
    Abstract: A process for the production of a shaped article from a lightweight-aggregate granulate and an inorganic binder has the following process steps:
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: Dennert Poraver GmbH
    Inventor: Hermann Andreas Schmid
  • Publication number: 20040238992
    Abstract: A method of processing a waste material, which method includes blending the waste material in cut, elongate, particulate or finely divided form, with an epoxy vinyl ester resin. The resin is permitted to cure, so as to form a solid body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventor: Peter Thomas
  • Patent number: 6824326
    Abstract: A composition including a vegetable oil and a structural material selected from a group comprising soil, sand, bitumen, asphalt, and concrete. The polymerized vegetable oil being substantially within a range of 2%-20% by weight of the structural material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: University of Alaska Fairbanks
    Inventor: Lutfi Raad
  • Patent number: 6824862
    Abstract: Fiber-reinforced ceramic composites contain bundles, tows or hanks of long fibers, wherein the long fiber bundles, tows or hanks are completely surrounded by a short fiber-reinforced matrix, with the long and short fibers having, independently of one another, a mean diameter of from 4 to 12 &mgr;m and the long fibers having a mean length of at least 50 mm and the short fibers having a mean length of not more than 40 mm, a process for producing them and their use for producing clutch disks or brake disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: SGL Carbon AG
    Inventors: Moritz Bauer, Georg Burkhart, Martin Christ, Ronald Huener, Andreas Kienzle, Peter Winkelmann, Rainer Zimmermann-Chopin
  • Patent number: 6824715
    Abstract: A method for forming a laminated sheet material from a slurry having a liquid component. The method comprising the steps of: applying the slurry to a substrate in successive layers to form a wet sheet of predetermined thickness; applying at least one of the layers by spattering; removing the wet sheet from the substrate; and drying or curing the wet sheet so as to remove at least a substantial proportion of the liquid component and thereby forming the sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: James Hardie Research PTY Limited
    Inventors: John Sydney Cottier, Greg Brunton, Robert Lyons
  • Publication number: 20040219357
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a compound construction element, in an extrusion process wherein a composite material is pressed through an extrusion die, which composite material includes a matrix of thermoplastic synthetic material including wood particles or other, cellulose containing particles in a content on the order of 50% by weight or more, wherein also one or more elongated additional elements are passed through the extrusion die, which additional elements are brought into tight engagement with the composite material, after which the compound element is shaped and preferably cooled in a die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Dirk Van Dijk, Johan Albert Schoenmaker
  • Publication number: 20040212123
    Abstract: An adsorptive body is provided which is high in water permeation and gas permeation and can adsorb, concentrate, separate and remove components present in extremely small amounts in a liquid or gas without causing the dissolution of impurities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Yohsuke Koizumi, Hatsuyo Ohyagi
  • Patent number: 6803006
    Abstract: A method for creating a patterned concrete surface with the aid of a concrete surface retarding agent. According to the invention, printing technique or an output technique is used to transfer the surface retarding agent forming the desired pattern to the surface coming into direct contact with the concrete to be cast. The printing or output technique can also be used to transfer a release agent or other substance affecting the surface of the concrete to the surface coming into contact with the concrete to be cast, in the same or in a separate transfer stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Inventor: Janne Samuli Naamanka
  • Patent number: 6797314
    Abstract: A method of handling powders of organic materials in making an organic light-emitting device (OLED) is disclosed. The method includes forming solid pellets from powders of organic materials and using such pellets in a thermal physical vapor deposition source for making an organic layer on a structure which will form part of an OLED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Steven A. Van Slyke, Dilip K. Chatterjee, Syamal K. Ghosh, Donn B. Carlton
  • Patent number: 6793866
    Abstract: An improved process for producing bonded activated carbon structures utilizing microwave radiation is provided. The structures are produced by exposing a particulate mixture comprised of activated carbon particles and polyolefin resin binder particles in a microwave transparent mold to increase the temperature of the activated carbon particles 3 to 30° C. above the crystalline melting point of the polyolefin resin binder and thereafter compressing the mixture to increase contact between the particles and lowering the temperature of the particulate mixture below the melting point of the polyolefin while maintaining point bond formation conditions. The bonded structures may be separated from the container and used as such or the bonded structure and container in which it is formed may be retained and used as a unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: William L. Kelly, Douglas C. McFaddin
  • Patent number: 6793992
    Abstract: A cushioning molded product is provided which is produced by binding a vegetable fiber with a copolymer of a saccharide and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid to conduct molding. Further a process is provided for producing a cushioning molded product from a copolymer of a saccharide and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, and a vegetable fiber, the process comprising (a) mixing or adhering the copolymer and the vegetable fiber, and (b) molding the resulting mixture into an intended shape by heating the mixture to bind the vegetable fiber with the copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Kikuchi, Chieko Mihara
  • Patent number: 6790394
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing plastic-substitute goods by using natural materials is disclosed. Agricultural byproducts and wood byproducts such as rice husks, rice plant stems, corn plant stems, bean plant stems, wheat plant stems, saw dust and the like and the washed and dried sludge produced from the alcoholic factory are crushed into a particular size, then the crushed particles are mixed with natural adhesives (such as corn starch, potato starch and the like), and are coated with melamine resin or urea resins, and then a molding is carried out by applying a pressure in a molding machine, thereby manufacturing the plastic-substitute goods. The raw materials of the present invention are readily available from the rural areas, and the molding is carried out at a temperature of 100-300 degrees C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventors: Young Bok Kim, Myung Ja Kim
  • Publication number: 20040173929
    Abstract: A method of forming a compacted pellet of organic materials adaptable for making an organic layer on a structure which will form part of an OLED display, includes providing a sublimable organic material in a powder form; providing a thermally insulating and non-sublimable inorganic material in a powder form; forming a mixture of the sublimable organic powder and thermally insulating and non-sublimable inorganic powder; placing such mixture into a die and using two punches, a lower and an upper punch, to apply sufficient pressure to the mixture to cause the mixture of powders to consolidate into a solid pellet; applying heat to the die during or prior to applying pressure by the opposing punches to aid in causing the mixture of powders to consolidate into a solid compacted pellet, and removing the pellet from the die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Syamal K. Ghosh, Donn B. Carlton, Tukaram K. Hatwar
  • Patent number: 6787075
    Abstract: A method of making a low friction bearing for use when immersed in a liquid particularly water is provided comprising a synthetic resin composition which includes powders of a rice bran ceramic, carbon rice bran ceramic or both which are uniformly dispersed in a synthetic resin. The weight ratio between the RBC or CRBC powders and the synthetic resin is 30:90 to 70:10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Hokkirigawa, Rikuro Obara
  • Publication number: 20040169303
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of marble conglomerate slabs, starting from marble sand and/or granulates, additivated with binders, of the kind comprising a step of mixing the raw materials, a step of placing the mixture on a conveyor belt or on moulds, an under vacuum vibro-compaction step and a following step of polymerisation of the binder, further comprising a step of placing a protective sheet on said conveyor belt or on the base of said moulds, before pouring the mixture, and on said mixture, said protective sheet being comprised of hydrosoluble plastic material in such a way to coat the mixture above and at the bottom before the vibro-compaction step, said hydrosoluble material sheet beeing automatically removed, after the binder polymerisation step, from the water of the slab finishing workings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Franco Brutti
  • Publication number: 20040169304
    Abstract: The present invention provides an amorphous polymer article produced by hot compaction and a method of producing the same. The article is heated to a temperature and maintained at a pressure sufficient to cause softening of the polymer strands to sufficient a degree to allow bonding to adjacent fibres to take place without actually transforming the polymer into a liquid state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Ian M Ward, Peter J Hine
  • Patent number: 6780359
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a component in which a cellulosic material is mixed with a plastic material to form a cellulosic reinforced plastic composite. The cellulosic reinforced plastic composite is then formed into irregular shaped granules, such as by grinding. The granules are then molded into the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Crane Plastics Company LLC
    Inventors: Burch E. Zehner, Jeffrey R. Brandt
  • Patent number: 6774161
    Abstract: Particulate materials are cold molded by preheating a binder and the material to be bound to a temperature of from 160 to 240° C., and then press molding at a temperature less than 80° C. and at a pressure of from 1 to 120 bar to give a molding, wherein the binder contains a polymer powder or aqueous polymer dispersion thereof, the polymer having a glass transition temperature Tg greater than 80° C. and a complex viscosity less than 15,000 Pa·s at 190° C., and derived from one or more comonomer units from the group of vinyl esters of optionally branched C1-18 alkylcarboxylic acids, (meth)acrylic esters of optionally branched C1-15 alcohols, dienes, olefins, vinylaromatics, and vinyl halides. The moldings exhibit excellent properties including resistance to sagging at elevated temperatures, and are recyclable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Wacker Polymer Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Abdulmajid Hashemzadeh, Klaus Kohlhammer, Thomas Lehmann, Peter Weiler
  • Patent number: 6773641
    Abstract: The method of producing slabs made of granulated stone and/or sand bound with a hardenable resin by compaction under vacuum and subsequent hardening in which before the vibratory compaction the mixture is spread to a uniform thickness on a support, the support being protected by highly resilient sheet material. A lower sheet material has a shaped configuration comprising a flat base and a peripheral frame projecting from the flat base for a predetermined height so as to define a seat of dimension corresponding in plan to those of the slab to be produced. The peripheral frame having a height which is lower by a predetermined amount than that of the final slab produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventor: Luca Toncelli
  • Patent number: 6773540
    Abstract: A particle board having wooden materials coated with an adhesive of a thermosetting resin and pressurized with being heated includes a core layer and face layers provided on both, front and back, sides of the core layer. The wooden materials of the face layer are smaller in the average particle diameter than the wooden material of the core layer and voids between the adjacent wooden materials in the face layer and the core layer are filled with resin particles of a thermoplastic resin by being pressurized with being heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Nichiha Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 6770232
    Abstract: In addition to a loading apparatus (10) for loading material through the upper mouth of the mold cavity (6), the unit comprises a blower device (30) for blowing air, means for moving said device while held a short distance from the upper surface of the material (B′) loaded into the mold cavity, such as to lift in a gauged manner a thin layer of material from the top thereof, and means (51, 55) for collecting the material lifted by the blower device (30), in order to remove it from the mold cavity. In particular, the blower device (30) comprises a relatively narrow, long blowing port (31) arranged to emit an air jet in the form of a thin sheet extending in a horizontal direction, and means (33, 34) for feeding compressed air to said blowing port (31), which is moved while maintained a short distance from the upper surface of the material (B′) loaded into the mold cavity (6) in order to lift a thin gauged layer of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: L.B. - Officine Meccaniche - S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giorgio Prodi
  • Publication number: 20040145088
    Abstract: A process for forming a three-dimensional article in sequential layers in accordance with a digital model of the article. The process comprises the steps of defining a layer of powder or liquid material, applying a liquid reagent to the layer in a pattern corresponding to the digital model, and repeating these steps to form successive layers. The powder or liquid material comprises a first reactive component and the applied liquid includes a second active component capable of reacting with the first reactive component so that the article is built up in layers. The characteristics of the layers vary across those layers and/or the properties vary from layer to layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Ranjana C Patel, Richard J Peace, Yong Zhao
  • Patent number: 6764613
    Abstract: Substantially solid compositions are provided having therein a compound with the structure of Formula I wherein A is a saturated ring formed by a plurality of atoms in addition to the N1 atom, the saturated ring atoms including at least one carbon atom and at least one of O, S, and N atoms, the substituent R1 bound to the N1 atom of the Formula I structure including either (a) a C1-24 alkyl or alkoxylated alkyl where the alkoxy is C2-4, (b) a C4-24 cycloalkyl, (c) a C7-24 alkaryl, (d) a repeating or nonrepeating alkoxy or alkoxylated alcohol, where the alkoxy unit is C2-4, or (e) —CR2R3C≡N where R2 and R3 are each H, a C1-24 alkyl, cycloalkyl, or alkaryl, or a repeating or nonrepeating alkoxyl or alkoxylated alcohol where the alkoxy unit is C2-4, the R2 and R3 substituents being each H, a C1-24 alkyl, cycloalkyl, or alkaryl, or a repeating or nonrepeating alkoxyl or alkoxylated alcohol where the alkoxy unit is C2-4, Z is a value in the range of 0 to 10, and wherein Y is monovalen
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Mid-America Commercialization Corporation
    Inventors: Ulrich Annen, James E. Deline, Kevin A. Klotter, Michael Müller, Klaus Mundinger, Sarah A. Perkins, Martin J. Phillippi, Martin Scholtissek, Michael Schönherr, William L. Smith, Alfred G. Zielske
  • Publication number: 20040134587
    Abstract: A process for the manufacturing of a decorative laminate, which laminate comprises an upper decorative and abrasion resistant thermosetting laminate layer and a carrying core. The upper side of the core is provided with the abrasion resistant thermosetting laminate while the lower side of the core is provided with a balance layer. This balance layer has the purpose of preventing warping of said decorative laminate while at the same time having the purpose of acoustic dampening. The balance layer comprises a layer of a polymer. The balance layer and the thermosetting laminate are joined with said core by means of pressing. Said carrying core further is provided with a dampening foil of an elastomer arranged between the upper side of the core and the abrasion resistant thermosetting laminate. The elastomer and thermosetting laminate are joined with each other and with the core by means of pressing. The achieved laminate is then cut into panels and provided with edges intended for joining.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Martin Broberg, Jorgen Nissen, Bengt Ruuth, Johan Iveberg, Hakan Zander, Ake Sjoberg
  • Publication number: 20040135282
    Abstract: The method for producing woody moldings and the apparatus for producing woody moldings which can reduce the number of processing steps and shorten the processing time. The cellulose based fine powdery particles 3 and the thermoplastic resin 5 are kneaded and dissolved into a mixed material 7, and the mixed material 7 is cooled and agitated into a powdery particulate solid 9. Then, the powdery particulate solid 9 is molded into a predetermined shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Daijirou Ozaki, Yutaka Suzuki, Masao Ooshiro
  • Patent number: 6761794
    Abstract: A process for the manufacturing of a board, used as a core, forming a carrying structure for decorative laminates. Particles are achieved by grinding cured, and possibly foamed, rigid, polyurethane, polyisocyanurate and/or phenolic resin so that it passes through a 2 mm screen, preferably a 1 mm screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Pergo (Europe) AB
    Inventors: Laurence Mott, Mona Axman
  • Patent number: 6752941
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a plank product and related components having a controllable and realistic wood-grain appearance, the planks and related components having at least one accent color, the method including the steps of: a) introducing into an extruder a powdered or pelletized base material and accent color pellets, the base material containing less than about 75% by weight wood flour, and having a vicat softening temperature, the accent color pellets (i) having a higher vicat softening temperature than said base material, and (ii) including a styrene polymer having a high vicat softening temperature and a melt flow index of greater than or equal to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: CertainTeed Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Arnold Hills
  • Patent number: 6752939
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating small compacts of formulations of a drug candidate, and a method for determining if a drug candidate, alone or in a formula mix, is suitable for dry granulation by a roller compactor based on physical measurements generated in part from such small compact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventor: George W. Gereg
  • Patent number: 6743313
    Abstract: Relative coarse flakes fabricated from used and manufacturing scrap asphalt shingle material are finish processed into ground cover and/or erosion control products. Processing of the flakes include (i) softening the surface of the flakes, (ii) embedding a surface treatment material into the softened surface of the flakes, and either (iii) supplying the flake as loose ground cover, or (iv) compressing the flakes into a portable mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: American Builders & Contractors Supply Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald J. Mischo
  • Patent number: 6733528
    Abstract: A method for forming an implant having a desired shape includes the steps of (a) forming a layer of ingredient powder having a predetermined thickness composed of an ingredient powder, and (b) applying an reactant liquid to the layer in accordance with the desired shape of the implant, portions of the ingredient powder reacting with the reactant liquid being hardened. The above steps are repeated to stack a plurality of the layers having hardened portions, respectively, to form a three-dimensional implant formed by a stack of the hardened portions of the layers of the ingredient powder. The ingredient powder is a powder including at least one of a-tricalcium phosphate and tetracalcium phosphate, and a Ca/P ratio of the powder is within a range of 1.40 through 2.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignees: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Keita Abe, Masanori Nakasu, Ichiro Ono
  • Publication number: 20040084799
    Abstract: Systems and methods for making a material composition are disclosed. The method includes mixing a thermoset polymer, a petroleum distillate, a release agent, and a catalyst to form an admixture. A cellulosic material is mixed with the admixture to form a generally homogenous furnish. The system includes a mixing chamber, a feeding chamber, and a die. The die includes a pressing chamber, which has a volume formed by first and second platens. The platens are in facing opposition to one another and have a length extending continuously from an entrance to an exit of the die. The platens have a plurality of orifices and heating elements disposed along the length. The platens are disposed in first and second positions. The first position forms a first volume and the second position forms a second volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Sean Robert Broker, Jonathan Philip Alexander, David J. Bleha, Randy Jon Clark, Walter B. Davis
  • Publication number: 20040084798
    Abstract: A carbonaceous composite material molded from a carbonaceous composite compound composed mainly of graphite, a thermosetting resin, and a fibrous base material, wherein molding is carried out in such a way that said fibrous base material is oriented in said carbonaceous composite material; a process for producing said carbonaceous composite material; a fuel cell separator having said carbonaceous composite material as a component; and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The carbonaceous composite material can be produced by injection molding, transfer molding or extrusion molding without difficulties encountered in the past. It has high strength, with a minimum amount of warpage. It contributes to productivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: Nisshinbo Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuo Saito, Atsushi Hagiwara, Takashi Maki, Atsushi Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 6726866
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a friction member used for a vibration wave driving apparatus including a vibration member, a contact member which is brought into frictional contact with the vibration member and relatively moved by vibrations produced in the vibration member, and the friction member formed on one of friction portions of the vibration member and contact member, a molded member is formed by compression molding of a plastic powder and an additive, a sintered member is formed by sintering the molded member, a sheet is formed by cutting the sintered member in the form of a sheet, and a modified layer formed by cutting is removed from the friction surface of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Kitajima, Yutaka Maruyama
  • Patent number: 6720278
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving the abrasion resistance of a spun-bonded nonwoven without substantially adversely affecting its hand or drape characteristics, by incorporating low melt binder fibers into the web during the laydown phase of the spun-bonded nonwoven production process. More specifically, improved abrasion resistance is achieved by intimately blending continuous binder fibers with the primary extruded fibers in a spun-bonded nonwoven web. Also encompassed within this invention is a spun-bonded nonwoven fabric having improved abrasion resistance and comprised of primary extruded fiber and low melt binder fiber such that the binder fiber comprises between about 1 and about 50 weight percent on weight of the spun-bonded nonwoven fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: Dave E. Wenstrup
  • Patent number: 6719869
    Abstract: There is provided composite media and a method of producing them. The composite media contain a coalesced composite mixture of particles of an active ingredient, binder particles, and stabilizing particles. The stabilizing particles fuse the composite structure to both front and back substrates while the binder particles fuse the particles of active ingredient to each other and to one of the front and back substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Koslow Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Evan E. Koslow
  • Publication number: 20040065975
    Abstract: A mouse pad fabrication method utilizing bark sourced from the cork tree. After the purging and cleaning of surface foreign matter, the tree bark is pulverized into appropriately minute particles. These are then blended with a natural resin glue and after becoming mixed evenly, the mixture is press formed under high temperature and high pressure and then trimmed to a required thickness. High temperature water misting is utilized for the rough edge removal task to soften and flatten the rough edges. As such, the finished mouse pad so fabricated has a more perfect, planar surface and provides for comfortable, non-injurious user contact. Since the finished product is constructed of cork, countless minute air holes are present in its corpus and junctions, which not only traps debris, but prolongs the usable service life of a mouse and, furthermore, enables smooth mouse operation during utilization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventor: Bob Hsu
  • Patent number: 6712939
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing wet-felted and thermally bonded porous structures is provided to produce formed porous media for use in filters with improved filtration performance. The process includes the steps of forming a slurry with a primary media consisting of natural or synthetic fibers, a wet strength agent consisting of fibrillated fibers, and a binding agent; vacuum forming the slurry to produce a formed media; drying the formed media using a gas at a temperature below the melting temperature of the binding agent; bonding the formed media using a gas at a temperature above the melting temperature of the binding agent; and cooling the formed media using a gas at ambient temperature. The process produces a formed porous media with improved bonding which results in improved filtration performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Cuno Incorporated
    Inventors: Wei-Chih Chen, Katharine L. K. Faye, Mark Schimmel
  • Publication number: 20040056378
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a three-dimensional printing system and method, and an article made therefrom. The method of the present invention includes building cross-sectional portions of a three dimensional article, and assembling the individual cross-sectional areas in a layer-wise fashion to form a final article. The individual cross-sectional areas are built using an ink-jet printhead to deliver an aqueous fluid to a particle material that includes a first particulate material, a second particulate material, and a third particulate material, wherein the first and second particulate materials react in the presence of the fluid in a period of time, and the third particulate material reacts in the presence of the fluid to form a solid in a longer period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: James F. Bredt, Sarah Clark, Grieta Gilchrist
  • Patent number: 6709613
    Abstract: A nonwoven web contains an even distribution of its composite materials by the separate application of particulate material such as superabsorbent particles into a forming head outside the air stream for deposition of thermoplastic fibers in the forming head. The thermoplastic fibers are distributed by air entertainment through tubular forming screens having rotary distribution members therein. The particulate absorbents are generally placed in the forming box by distribution units which may have metering devices and outlet chutes extending into the forming head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Leon Eugene Chambers, Jr., Eric Edward Lennon, Gabriel Hamman Adam, Jerome Joseph Schwalen, Christopher Andrew Laslie, H. Edmund Clark
  • Patent number: 6706129
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method for manufacturing particle deposited body comprising supplying, under sucking condition, particles entrained by air on a continuous carrier sheet which is running at a prescribed direction to deposit the particles on the carrier sheet, thereby obtaining a particle deposited body comprising the particles and the carrier sheet, the carrier sheet having an air-permeability of 4.0 seconds/(300 ml·32 pcs.) or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Ando, Kenichi Sato, Yasuhiro Umeki, Hiroshi Hirasawa, Kazuyuki Maeda
  • Patent number: 6706227
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a combustion resistant and water resistant large container is disclosed. A starch or cereal powders are mixed with water at a certain ratio, and the mixture is heated to a certain temperature so as to form a glue. A drying is carried out, a powderizing is carried out, and then it is mixed with powders of a natural resin (rosin). Then this mixture is mixed with water, and then, it is fabricated by using a fabricator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Inventors: Young Bok Kim, Myung Ja Kim
  • Patent number: 6706226
    Abstract: A method of compacting moisture-sensitive organic material adaptable for making an organic layer on a structure which will form part of an organic light-emitting device, includes placing such a desiccant material in a powder form inside a die cavity and applying a pressure to such a desiccant powder in the die cavity sufficient to compact into a porous desiccant bed; providing moisture-sensitive organic material in a powder form; and placing such moisture-sensitive organic material inside the die cavity over the porous desiccant bed, and applying sufficient heat to the moisture-sensitive organic material in the die cavity to cause moisture to escape from the moisture-sensitive organic material and be absorbed by the porous desiccant bed, and then applying sufficient pressure to compact the moisture-sensitive organic material into a solid organic pellet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Syamal K. Ghosh, Donn B. Carlton, Tukaram K. Hatwar
  • Patent number: 6702969
    Abstract: A wood composite board or panel, such as particleboard, fiberboard, oriented strand board or waferboard and a method of producing the same. The composite board or panel comprises a plurality of wood pieces, thermoset resin to bind the wood pieces and a filler having a high thermal conductivity. Examples of such a filler include natural and synthetic graphites, metal, carbon, silicon carbide and other similar compounds and their mixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Board of Control of Michigan Technological University
    Inventors: Laurent Malanda Matuana, Julia A. King
  • Publication number: 20040036192
    Abstract: A method of making a biodegradable non-polluting product includes grinding an agricultural fibrous material to form a particulate material; preparing a binder by mixing formaldehyde with carboxymethyl cellulose and polyvinylalcohol; mixing the particulate material with a stearate and a sulfate to form a first mixture; adding the binder and water to the first mixture to form a second mixture; and forming the second mixture into the non-polluting product. The fibrous material may be an agricultural fibrous waste material. The products made by the method contain no toxic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventor: Kuo-Chen Yang