Abstract: A substrate comprising a paper layer and at least one biodegradable polymer layer extruded thereon is provided. The paper layer may have an extruded polymer layer on each side, it may have multiple polymer layers extruded on one side, or both. Additives appropriate for the particular use of the substrate may be added to one or more of the polymer layers.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming the bottom end wall of a carton from a rectangular carton blank having oppositely disposed scored end panels and oppositely disposed unscored end panels includes a rotating mandrel assembly adapted to receive an open-ended carton blank through an open top end of the carton blank, a heating station, a folding station and a sealing station. The folding station has a pair of oppositely disposed reciprocating break fingers to contact and fold inwardly the scored bottom end panels and biasing means for folding inwardly down the unscored bottom end panels. The folding station is rotatable 90° between two functional orientations, a first orientation wherein the break fingers are aligned in the direction of mandrel movement, and a second orientation in which the break fingers are perpendicular to the direction of mandrel movement.

Abstract: The specification discloses embodiments of a process and related apparatus for conditioning a fibrous web in order to improve the efficiency of drying and calendering thereof. In the process, a moving fibrous web is conditioned after the drier unit of a papermaking machine by applying a flow of moistened gas through one or more arrays of radial jet reattachment nozzles placed in close proximity to the web surface prior to a calendering unit or prior to a steaming unit placed between the nozzles and the calender unit to cool the web and/or increase its moisture content. Webs treated according to the invention exhibit improved properties including less moisture streaking, enhanced smoothness and avoidance of optical property loss.

Abstract: In a packaging machine that includes an elongated mandrel for the formation of a blank into a carton, wherein the mandrel includes a secured end and a distal end, a method and apparatus are provided for correctly positioning the blank relative to the distal end of the mandrel. The carton stop comprises a selectively rotatable tool that includes an engagement segment and is operable from a remote location, an elongated threaded rod that includes a secured end rotatably secured to the packaging machine and a distal end, and an abutment member threadably mounted upon the rod for longitudinal movement along the threaded rod in response to rotation of said threaded rod. The threaded rod defines an engagement segment adapted to engage the engagement segment of the rotating tool.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a bottom closure of a container employing multiple assembly lines and including a universally foldable seal fin as a part of the bottom closure. A novel blank for the container is disclosed.

Abstract: A container made from corrugated paperboard has more than four sides and is constructed to resist distortion when force is applied to the ends or sides of the container, and also to resist crushing when containers are stacked on top of one another. In one embodiment, the container has six sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and two diagonally opposed diagonal corner panels and two diagonally opposed square corners. In another embodiment, the container has seven sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and three diagonal corner panels and one square corner. In a further embodiment, the container has eight sides, with two side walls, two end walls, and four diagonally opposed diagonal corner panels. In this embodiment, the diagonal corner panels are oriented so that they subtend an angle of from about 35° to about 40°, and preferably 38°, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the container.

Abstract: A method for manufacture of loaded paper or paperboard products, comprising the steps of separating at least one process stream from the papermaking process, wherein the process stream includes fines and/or filler; combining the process stream with long fibers and thickening to form a residue; treating the residue to form fiber-filler complexes; and using the fiber-filler complexes in the papermaking process to form the paper.

Abstract: An air delivery device is provided for dewatering a suction roll in a paper machine by applying pressurized air to expel residual water or debris outwardly from through-holes. The air delivery device is positioned at a suitable circumferential position of the suction roll to prevent water carryover back to the suction box location. In one preferred embodiment, an internal blowbox is mounted near the inner surface of the suction roll for blowing out water from the suction roll holes to augment the natural centrifugal forces. The blowbox can be used as a standalone dewatering unit, or in conjunction with an external doctor blade or wipe. In another preferred embodiment, at least one air knife, air pipe or air shower is used for dewatering. In another preferred embodiment, at least one interior stationary air foil is used to generate a pressure pulse which creates outward air flow through the through-holes.

Abstract: An octagonal bulk bin of corrugated paperboard has opposed parallel side walls spaced a predetermined distance apart and opposed parallel end walls spaced a predetermined distance apart. The side and end walls are joined by diagonal corner panels. The diagonal corner panels are made wider than the corner panels in a conventional bin, and the side and end walls are narrower, with the corner panels and the end walls having approximately the same width, while maintaining the predetermined spacing. This configuration reduces the bulge experienced when product is loaded into the bin. In addition to the wider corner panels, or in lieu thereof, scores may be placed in at least one of the side and end panels to define a line along which controlled and predetermined buckling will take place, if buckling occurs.

Abstract: In a bulk bin having side walls joined to one another at adjacent edges along vertical scores, and bottom flaps joined to bottom edges of the side walls along a flap score, with adjacent flaps separated from one another by a flap slot, a shaped cut is made at the terminal end of the flap slot to redirect stress away from the bottom end of the vertical score and resist initiation of tearing of the vertical score at that point. In one embodiment, the shaped cut is a downwardly open hook shape which terminates in an end pointing laterally away from the vertical score and into the flap. In another embodiment, the shaped cut resembles a modified Greek letter psi (&psgr;), with the ends pointing laterally away from the vertical score, and in still another embodiment, the shaped cut is “T” shaped, with the ends of the “T” pointing laterally away from the vertical score.

Abstract: A packaging laminate for a container which enables a blend monolayer to be effectively extrusion coated onto the paperboard substrate as the product contact layer without the need for tie layers or multilayer co-extrusion equipment. The blend monolayer has superior oxygen transmission resistance and has excellent pinhole resistance compared to straight polyethylene monolayer. The product contact layer consists of a blend of a polyolefin polymer, a polyamide, and a compatibilizer in a preferred embodiment. The monolayer blend is a low cost alternative to multilayer structures.

Abstract: A bulk container for storing and shipping flowable material in bulk. The container is constructed of inner and outer cartons laminated together and made of corrugated paperboard. The container has side walls with at least one viewing opening for viewing the level of contents of the container, and a closable dispensing opening through which the flowable material may be dispensed. The closable dispensing opening is located in a lower corner of one of the side walls, adjacent to but spaced from the corner, and is closed by a first pour spout flap in the outer carton foldable in a first direction, and a second pour spout flap in the inner carton underlying the first flap and foldable in a second direction. Both flaps are formed by two spaced apart slits in the respective inner and outer cartons, extending parallel to the direction of the flutes of the corrugated paperboard, with the slits in the outer carton in substantial registry with the slits in the inner carton.

Abstract: The specification discloses an improved bleaching sequence which provides significant reduction in filtrate volumes and amounts of absorbable organic halide (AOX), color, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the effluent. These reductions are achieved without adversely affecting the brightness and viscosity properties of the bleached pulp and without a high capital cost and operating cost penalty or impact on existing mill processes. The bleaching sequence according to the invention for reducing filtrate volumes is an EOD1EOPD2 or EOPD1EOPD2 bleaching sequence wherein substantially all of the filtrates from the later bleaching stages are recycled to earlier bleaching stages and eventually treated in the initial EO or EOP stage prior to discharge from the plant.

Abstract: Recyclable and repulpable coated paper stock, preferably for use as ream wrap, comprising a substrate coated on at least one surface with a base coat and at least one additional coat over said base coat. Both coats are water based dispersions of a polymer selected from the group consisting of acrylic polymers, acrylic copolymers, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, ethylene-vinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, styrene butadiene copolymers, polyvinylidiene chloride and its copolymers, or starch. The wax free coating forms a pin-hole free continuous film on the substrate which is resistant to water and water vapor. The invention also includes processes for making and recycling the invented coated paper stocks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining a desired nip pressure distribution profile in the cross direction of a paper web. The paper web passes through a nip, the latter defined by at least one elastomer covered roll, the covered roll having polarizable particles or magnetic particles embedded therein. A plurality of spaced plates or spaced coils each generate a local field (respectively electric or magnetic) which acts upon individual spaced zones or regions along the covered roll. The field may thus be an electric field or a magnetic filed. The effect of the field is to change the effective modulus of the elastomer by acting on the particles. In turn, this action varies the nip pressure pulse as to exert a desired pressure at each of a plurality of spaced zones or regions on the paper web, to thus create or process a more uniform product in the nip. The method and apparatus can be used, for example, to improve web moisture profiles in the press section of paper machines.

Abstract: A spraying apparatus without electrical connections comprising means for controlling air supplies with signals generated with compressed air. The apparatus may further include a metering device which delivers metered amounts of powder to a spray gun and which may be controlled by the same compressed air which controls the air supplies.

Abstract: A laminate structure for producing paperboard or polymer containers and blow molded bottles containing a barrier structure of layer(s) of polyethylene terephthalate and a layer of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer, wherein no polyolefin based tie layers are used in the structure. The container or bottle produced therefrom is recyclable and has dimensional stability.

Abstract: An open cell foam with thermal memory characteristic is used as an indicator for heat damage to an article containing heat sensitive contents packaged in a carton. The foam material may be a polyurethane-based thermoplastic polymer referred to as “Cold Hibernated Elastic Memory” (CHEM) foam. The thermal memory foam can be produced in compressed form and used as inserts in the carton. Upon exposure to a temperature at or above the foam glass transition temperature, the foam insert expands to substantially its original shape (volume) so as to apply a compressive force against the article, making it difficult to remove from the carton. Alternatively, the expanded foam will deform the carton walls, providing an external indication of heat damage. The foam can also be used as a heat-indicating element in an inspection panel of the carton, which ruptures so as to provide external indication of heat damage.

Abstract: A container made from corrugated paperboard has a bottom wall, opposite side and end walls, and a self locking arrangement on the end walls holding the container in erected condition. The self locking arrangement includes first and second end panels on opposite ends of the side walls, and a third end panel on opposite ends of the bottom wall. The end panels form the end walls of the container. The first and second end panels have at least one notch formed in an upper edge, and a roll over flap is foldably joined by at least one web to an upper edge of each of the third end panels and is folded inwardly and downwardly over the upper edges of the first and second end panels into a locked position to hold the end panels and thus the container in erected condition. In the locked position, the web is engaged in the notch.