Patents Assigned to Consolidated Papers, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20020096277
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for making a high bulk, coated paper of a unique structure with the coating forming a lower portion of the total caliper and the paper base forming a higher portion of the total caliper than conventionally made coated paper of the same weight. The process includes the step of using furnish with a high percentage of mechanical pulp, applying that furnish to papermachine wires, preferably with a gap former, coating the paper with a coating containing a plastic pigment, preferably of 4 or more parts per 100 parts of coating pigment, and calendering the coated paper at a nip loading less than conventional supercalendering nip loading. Preferably, the finished coated paper will have a 75° TAPPI gloss of 40 or above. The method and apparatus can be used to make lightweight or other weights of coated paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: Consolidated Papers, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph L. Lau, Bernard J. Berger, Martin E. Munce
  • Publication number: 20010055677
    Abstract: A water resistant, caustically removable coating and method for making the same is disclosed. The coating is utilized to make a paper label which is water resistant but can be repulped in conventional caustic bottle washing solution. The coated paper label is applied to a bottle, the bottle used and then recycled using conventional caustic bottle washing solution to remove and repulp the paper label, permitting recycling of the bottle, and if desired, making paper from the recovered pulp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Applicant: Consolidated Papers, Inc.
    Inventor: Fuushern Wuu
  • Patent number: 6254725
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for making a high bulk, coated paper of a unique structure with the coating forming a lower portion of the total caliper and the paper base forming a higher portion of the total caliper than conventionally made coated paper of the same weight. The process includes the step of using furnish with a high percentage of mechanical pulp, applying that furnish to papermachine wires, preferably with a gap former, coating the paper with a coating containing a plastic pigment, preferably of 4 or more parts per 100 parts of coating pigment, and calendering the coated paper at a nip loading less than conventional supercalendering nip loading. Preferably, the finished coated paper will have a 75° TAPPI gloss of 40 or above. The method and apparatus can be used to make lightweight or other weights of coated paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Consolidated Papers, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph L. Lau, Bernard J. Berger, Martin E. Munce
  • Patent number: 6224974
    Abstract: A water resistant, caustically removable coating and method for making the same is disclosed. The coating is utilized to make a paper label which is water resistant but can be repulped in conventional caustic bottle washing solution. The coated paper label is applied to a bottle, the bottle used and then recycled using conventional caustic bottle washing solution to remove and repulp the paper label, permitting recycling of the bottle, and if desired, making paper from the recovered pulp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Consolidated Papers, Inc.
    Inventor: Fuushern Wuu
  • Patent number: 6196058
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for determining fluid viscosity comprises conveying substantially fully developed, uni-directional, and undisturbed fluid flow through a differential pressure measurement section and flow rate measuring means connected in line with, but separated from, the differential pressure measurement section. A preceding flow tube section is connected to the inlet of the differential pressure measurement section, and a succeeding flow tube section is connected to the outlet of the differential pressure measurement section so that entrance and exit flow effects are avoided in the measurement section. Differential pressure measured in substantially undisturbed, uni-directional, and fully developed fluid flow results in improved accuracy of viscosity calculation using the Hagen-Poiseuille equation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Consolidated Papers, Inc.
    Inventor: Qingyuan Chen
  • Patent number: 6140406
    Abstract: A coating composition for an ink jet recording medium comprises an aqueous suspension of absorptive pigment, a binder, a sizing agent, and a cationic fixing agent. The coating composition combines solids content of greater than 30% with good runnability. The composition may preferably be dispersed at pH values in the range of 4.5 to 7.0. The pigment is preferably a mixture of 75% or more silica gel having a pore volume of 0.5-2.0 cc/g, and 10% or more alumina or alumina hydrate. A method for making down the coating composition includes the sequential steps of dispersing a polyvinyl alcohol binder in water, cooling the binder dispersion, dispersing a sizing agent, and mixing the suspension thoroughly before addition of a cationic fixing agent and pigment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Consolidated Papers, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard J. Schliesman, Leland O. Tritz, Karen K. Spreda
  • Patent number: 6129785
    Abstract: A coating composition for an ink jet recording medium comprises an aqueous suspension of absorptive silica pigment, a polyvinyl alcohol binder, and a cationic fixing agent. The composition is dispersed at pH values in the range of 4.0 to 7.0. The pigment is preferably a mixture of 75% or more silica gel having a pore volume of 0.5-1.5 cc/g, and 10% or more alumina or alumina hydrate. A method for making down the coating composition and applying it to a substrate is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Consolidated Papers, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard J. Schliesman, Leland O. Tritz, Karen K. Spreda
  • 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: 6058844
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for minimizing the problem of "fluting" or "corrugating" occuring in printed webs of light weight coated paper printed on both sides with thermosetting ink on heat-set web-offset printing presses resides in spreading the web in its width-wise direction as the printed web exits from the ink drying and heat setting oven of the press and passes over the web cooling chill rolls downstream from the oven, thereby to hold the printed web in a flat and smooth condition until it is cooled and the ink has taken a permanent set. Spreading the web prior to and during cooling allows the inks to thermoset in a flat state because the web is kept flat and free of flutes during thermosetting of the inks. The method and apparatus facilitate operation of the press at higher speeds and with lighter grades of paper than conventional, and provide for increased production efficiencies, lower costs, enhanced print quality, and access to new markets for web-offset printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Consolidated Papers, Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Niemiec
  • Patent number: 5968270
    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: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Consolidated Papers, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne A. Damrau
  • 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: 5949550
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting patches or areas of relatively high gloss on a moving web, and thereby associated wrinkles or other defects, and signalling the presence thereof comprises an analog and/or digital optical reflectivity sensor for sensing gloss on the surface of the moving web, a web marking device adjacent the edge of the moving web for marking the edge of the web with a dye, and a microcomputer for receiving the output signal from the sensor(s) and for controlling the operation of the marking device. The apparatus may also include a warning device such as a light or horn. The apparatus and method have particular applicability in association with paper web re-reeling equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Consolidated Papers, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Arndt, Robert C. Cibuzar, Randall A. Freeh
  • 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: 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: 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: 5647909
    Abstract: 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 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 doctoring of excess coating liq
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Consolidated Papers Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne A. Damrau, Michael A. Mayer
  • Patent number: 5632815
    Abstract: A method for coating a web with a coating material by applying a metered coating material onto the web and smoothing the applied coating material evenly onto the web with a flexible predoctoring blade. The coating material is applied to the web by the predoctoring blade in the form of a high velocity laminar flow in advance of the predoctoring blade. The coating mix is fed to a stem part of the flexible blade via an exit channel having a narrow opening. The loading of the flexible blade, acting as a smoothing device, is controlled in a cross direction of the web in order to control the cross directional profile of the applied coating web. The feed velocity of the laminar flow is at least one small m/sec.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Consolidated Papers, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne A. Damrau, Michael A. Mayer
  • Patent number: 5603767
    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: April 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Consolidated Papers, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne A. Damrau
  • Patent number: 5514206
    Abstract: A gas/air or bubble separator is disclosed, particularly for use with supplying air/gas or bubble free coating liquid to a paper coater. The separator includes three cast elements containing three formed chambers, a distribution chamber at the top of the device which supplies incoming liquid to a plurality of separators which operate on the vortex principle, a liquid collection chamber for collecting the essentially or substantially air/gas or bubble free liquid at the bottom of the device, and an air/gas bubble collection chamber above the vortex separators for collecting the gas/air or bubble containing liquid. These chambers are of cast construction and made of stainless steel so that no weld need be used. The device has essentially inline flow for the bulk of the liquid from inlet to outlet and clean streamline design with no dead spaces to prevent accumulations, build ups and problems associated with the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Consolidated Papers, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Hoogesteger, Wayne A. Damrau
  • Patent number: 5436030
    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: May 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Consolidated Papers, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne A. Damrau