Abstract: A pulp fluidizer and pulp refiner apparatus. Paper pulp stock of either low (3-8%) or medium (8-15%) fiber consistency is fed from the fluidizer portion of the apparatus to the refiner. The construction is such that the outlet of the fluidizer is contiguous to the inlet of the refiner. This geometrical relation permits the deflocculated pulp from the fluidizer outlet to be fed substantially immediately to the refiner inlet, prior to its naturally occurring reversion to a flocculated state. By providing the input of the disc refiner with deflocculated paper pulp stock, higher pulp stock consistencies can be worked by the refiner, resulting in savings of energy, equipment and space.

Abstract: A package including a flanged tray and a wrapper surrounding it. The tray typically contains a foodstuff such as a pie. The wrapper is formed of a rectangular, unitary blank of paperboard which is folded and wrapped aroung the tray, the wrapper being folded to the form of a tube with the tray therein. The wrapper includes two oppositely located latching flaps (24) whose free edges (28) are curved so as to match the curvature of the tray. The curved or arcuate latching flaps are initially folded downwardly more than 90 degrees from the plane of the blank. Other portions (16, 18) of the blank are bent upwardly along respective transverse fold lines (23), causing the arcuate latching flaps to bow inwardly and beneath the flanges of a tray (32) and contact the tray flanges (34). Portions (16, 18) of the wrapper are then folded beneath and on the sides of the tray and ends (17) are overlapped and glued together to finish the package.

Abstract: A compact disc (CD) package formed from a unitary paperboard blank. The package is relatively long and stiff in its pre-purchased form and is readily foldable widthwise only after purchase. To permit folding after purchase, any outer wrapping is removed and the purchaser pulls a tear strip to rip away two of three layers of paperboard spanning the width of the package. This removal permits relatively easy folding of the remaining paperboard layer. The package yields both the desired pre-purchase larger size to permit desired graphics and also inhibits shoplifting. The lesser size of the package after folding facilitates storage by the purchaser. The blank of FIG. 1 includes a first pair of panels (20, 22) in a first row, a second pair of panels (30, 28) in a second row, and a third pair of panels (14, 12) in a third row. The panels of the first pair are joined by a foldable joint (46). The panels of the second pair are joined by a first frangible connection in the form of a tear strip (40).

Abstract: An apparatus for testing the tear strength of a tear strip in a paperboard blank. The blank is placed on and clamped to the apparatus, the latter having a force gauge mounted on it. One end of a flexible wire has a clip fastener which is attached to the end of the pull tab in the paperboard blank. The other end of the flexible wire is attached to the force gauge, the gauge measuring the amount of force required to rip the tear strip from the surrounding paperboard blank. In one embodiment of the invention, a motor is mounted on the apparatus and pulls the force gauge, the flexible wire passing around a pulley mounted on the apparatus and leading to the clip fastener. In another embodiment, the flexible wire passes over several pulleys, one of which is secured to a travelling, non-rotating nut. The nut is carried by a threaded rod rotatably journaled in the frame. A motor is coupled to the rod to rotate it, thereby pulling on the clip fastener upon movement of the nut.

Abstract: A multi-barb pick for a waste stripping machine. The pick is formed from a flat sheet metal piece. Two spaced triangular projections, generally parallel, extend from one section of the piece, with each projection terminating in a barb. Each barb is generally rectangular in form and two adjacent edges thereof are sharpened along each surface thereof. The barb is employed in a conventional waste stripping apparatus for removing cut sections from a paperboard web of indefinite length.

Abstract: A pouch for the packaging of products having a pressure sensitive adhesive thereon, such as sanitary napkins. The pouch is formed of paper of plastic film coated on one side with a layer of silicone, the pouch construction being such that the silicone coating defines the interior surfaces of the pouch. Due to the nonstick characteristic of the silicone coating, the usual protective liner for the adhesive on the packaged product can be omitted. The side seams of the pouch are formed by the application of heat or ultrasonic energy in combination with mechanical deformation of the paper or film to produce embossments in the seam areas. The side seams may be comprised of two or three layers of material. The nature of these side seams may be such that the pouch may be opened by peeling apart the seams, or the seams may be sealed so tightly that the pouch can be opened only by tearing the material.

Abstract: An asparagus carton and a unitary blank for forming it. The blank is of corrugated paperboard. The carton interior is tapered along opposite side walls by virtue of slanting side spacer panels. This yields a trapezoidal configuration of a part of the carton interior to more nearly correspond to the tapered form of a mass of asparagus. The carton is preferably loaded from the bottom. The asparagus may be inspected by opening a side wall panel, and may also be opened from the top. In addition to providing slanting side walls, the side spacer panels permit the loaded carton to be lifted through side wall openings without contacting the asparagus. In a first embodiment, the bottom of the carton may be opened by releasing a bottom tongue and slot latch arrangement, while in a second embodiment the bottom of the carton is defined by known interlocking panels.

Abstract: A flexible, open ended microwave cooking tube formed of paper. The paper is provided with a layer of microwave susceptor material such as vacuum deposited metal. The tube is formed of a rectangular blank of the stock comprised of the paper and microwave susceptor material. A pair of opposite, parallel ends of the blank are seamed together and are provided with handle forming holes. In operation, a food item is placed within the tube. During the cooking process, the susceptor material reaches the high temperature required to brown and crispen the food. The seamed, handle portion of the tube, not being provided with susceptor material, remains relatively unheated and is hence less dangerous to the user when the tube and food are removed from the microwave oven. The tube can be formed from a continuous length of the paper/susceptor stock and wound into a roll. Short lengths of the tube can then be cut from the roll to provide individual containers for microwave cooking.

Abstract: An endless chain conveyor system employing modular track units. The track is of a ultra high molecular weight plastic and is of generally horizontal I-shape in transverse cross section. Each side of the track includes a longitudinal slot running the entire, predetermined length of each modular track. Side mounting rails of stainless steel are positioned within each slot. The side rails rigidify and strengthen the plastic track, permitting a smaller cross section track to be used, and also inhibit tearing of the track units of their joined ends. The track units are made of predetermined lengths, such as one foot, two feet, etc., and are used to construct endless conveyors of any desired length. The track units may also be curved to any desired angle.

Abstract: A tray formed from a unitary paperboard blank. The tray has a locking tab at each corner, each latching tab projecting beyond the next adjacent tray wall. Two such trays may be latched together to form a closed container. The tray structure is such that two of the trays may be latched together in only one of four possible angular relations of the trays. The tray is rectangular and may be square or oblong.

Abstract: A carton construction for paperboard cartons such as those adapted to certain fruit juices or other potable liquids which require a barrier to protect the liquid. Present paperboard cartons for such liquids often include polymeric barrier layer materials and foils laminated to the paperboard or other stiff, foldable and resilient sheet material. Such barrier layer/foil materials increase the difficulty of recycling the paperboard after container use. Further, during the carton forming/sealing process, the polymeric surfaces of the container are heated to activate a heat sealable bond. This heating tends to crystallize the polymer and generate polymeric odors that are transmitted to the liquid product. These difficulties are overcome in the present invention by a bag and spout construction wherein the bag and spout are removed from the carton after use, thus permitting recycling of both the paperboard carton and the bag.

Abstract: A microwave cooking tray for microwave ovenable foodstuffs which usually display browned or crisped areas upon conventional oven cooking. The container is formed from a one piece blank of dielectric material, such as paperboard, which is bent and folded to form a trough shaped tray. A microwave interactive component included in the blank provides thermal heating effects such as browning and crisping for foodstuff placed in the tray and heated in a microwave oven. The tray is foldable to a flat configuration to facilitate shipment and storage. In one embodiment, the tray is flat on its entire upper portion when cooking.

Abstract: An insulated paper cup having inner and outer frustoconcial shells, the inner shell being more tapered than the outer shell. The upper rims of both shells are outwardly curled and joined together. The outer shell has a recessed bottom upon which the bottom of the inner shell rests. The inner surface of the inner shell is coated with a plastic film such as polyethylene.

Abstract: A one-step slaking/causticizing method for producing white liquor from unslaked lime and clarified green liquor comprising introducing a feed slurry of unslaked lime and clarified green liquor into a pressurized slaker/causticizer reaction zone and maintaining the mixture in the zone at a temperature, under sufficient pressure and for a time sufficient, in one step to slake the lime and to convert the slaked lime to a white liquor containing product slurry.

Abstract: An apparatus and related process for entangling a fibrous web which employs columnar fluid jets to eject a continuous curtain of fluid in an entangling station. The web is advanced through an entangling station on a conveyor which supports an entangling member having a symmetrical pattern of void areas. Baffle members disposed in the void areas are provided which include radiused curvatures and define apertures having a frusto-conical configuration. Dynamic forces in the fluid curtain impact the web in discrete and controlled patterns determined by the baffling members to enhance efficient energy transfer and web entanglement. Textile-like fabrics having a uniform, non-apertured, surface cover are obtained by coaction of fluid curtain and baffle structures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for doctoring (cutting) the solids off a precoat filter. A stationary doctor blade continuously doctors mud (from a mud bath) from the surface of a rotating porous surface vacuum drum. A traveling doctor blade, located upstream of the stationary doctor blade, moves back and forth along the drum. The stationary blade extends the width of the rotating vacuum drum while the traveling blade is shorter and is also located nearer to the drum surface.

Abstract: A container for produce is formed from a flat unitary blank of corrugated paperboard. The container sides include length and width panels and four corner panels. The container bottom is preferably formed by four interlocking panels, each of which is foldably attached to the bottom edge of a respective length or width panel. To facilitate erection of the container from its shipping, flattened configuration, a generally triangular gusset is provided at the lower end of each corner panels, foldably secured to the latter along one of its three sides. A second side of each gusset panel is foldably secured to respective minor bottom panels secured to the width side panels. The third side of each gusset panel is a free side or edge, not being connected to any panel. Each gusset panel is folded over on itself and located between adjacent bottom panels. Upon folding of the minor panels towards each other, the gussets cause the container to assume an octagonal configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 and related process for enhancement of woven and knit fabrics through use of dynamic fluids which entangle and bloom fabric yarns. A two stage enhancement process is employed in which top and bottom sides of the fabric are respectively supported on members 22, 34 and impacted with a fluid curtain including high pressure jet streams. Controlled process energies and use of support members 22, 34 having open areas 26, 36 which are aligned in offset relation to the process line produces fabrics having a uniform finish and improved characteristics including, edge fray, drape, stability, abrasion resistance, fabric weight and thickness.

Abstract: A nonwoven composite web consists of 15 to 50 wt. % of first polyester fibers having a first length, a first denier and a first melting temperature; 15 to 50 wt. % of second polyester fibers having a second length, a second denier and a second melting temperature; 15 to 50 wt. % of third polyester fibers having a third length, a third denier and a third melting temperature; 10 to 35 wt. % of polypropylene fibers; and 1 to 25 wt. % of cellulose fibers. The first, second and third lengths are no less than 1/2 inch, the first, second and third denier are no less than 1.5, and the third melting temperature is less than the first and second melting temperatures respectively. The first and second polyester fibers, the polypropylene fibers and the cellulose fibers are bonded to each other at least in part by solidification of the third polyester fibers after subjecting the web to temperatures in excess of the third melting temperature but not in excess of the first and second melting temperatures.

Abstract: A microwave susceptor composite which includes a first layer of polymeric fibrous material, and a second layer of thermoplastic polymer material having microwave susceptive characteristics. The polymeric susceptor and polymeric fibrous material layers are arranged in lamina surface-to-surface contact and bonded into an integral structure by application of heat and pressure. A uniform composite material is obtained by carding the polymeric fibrous materials prior to bonding the first and second layers. In microwave cooking applications the fibrous layer of the composite absorbs excess effluents from the food product. Browning and crisping of food products is effected by microwave excitation of the metallized second layer of the composite.