Patents Examined by Anthony Calandra
  • Product portion enrobing machines and methods
    Patent number: 11103002
    Abstract: An apparatus for enrobing a product portion can include at least one polymer spray head adapted to create at least one flow of polymeric fibers to produce at least one polymer enrobing zone and a conveyor system adapted to move at least one product portion from at least one position below at least one polymer enrobing zone and to at least one position above at least one polymer enrobing zone to drop each product portion through one or more polymer enrobing zones a plurality times at different orientations to enrobe each product portion with polymeric fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Robert Smith
  • Methods for liberating trichome fibers from portions of a host plant
    Patent number: 11098451
    Abstract: Improved processes for liberating trichome fibers from non-seed portions of a trichome-bearing host plant are provided. The processes include one or more steps for disassociating trichome fibers that are already separated from leaves, stems, and still-attached fibers so that the separated trichome fibers can be collected and not lost through a waste stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Khosrow Parviz Mohammadi, Scott Christopher Kreider
  • Blow molding apparatus
    Patent number: 11097459
    Abstract: A blow molding apparatus comprises: a continuous transport section provided with a loop-shaped transport path for continuously transporting a preform; an intermittent transport section for intermittently transporting the preform to a blow molding section; and a delivery section for holding the preform being transported on the transport path, and delivering it to the intermittent transport section. The delivery section is equipped with a cooling means for jetting a cooling fluid from a first nozzle member onto an outer surface of the preform to cool the preform locally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: NISSEI ASB MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Nishiyama, Masaki Yamaguchi, Haruhito Yumoto
  • Method for manufacturing recycled pulp from used sanitary products
    Patent number: 11098447
    Abstract: A recycled pulp that is reusable sanitary products is efficiently manufactured by recovering pulp fiber from used sanitary products containing the pulp fiber and a polymer absorbent. The method of the present invention comprises: a step applying a mechanical force to the used sanitary products in an aqueous solution containing a polyvalent metal ion or an acidic aqueous solution with a pH of 2.5 or lower and thus degrading the used sanitary products into the pulp fiber and other materials; a step separating the pulp fiber from the mixture of the pulp fiber and other materials that has been formed in the degradation step; and a step treating the pulp fiber thus separated with an ozone-containing aqueous solution with a pH of 2.5 or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka
  • Method for isolating alpha cellulose from lignocellulosic materials
    Patent number: 11078624
    Abstract: The present invention involves an environmentally friendly process and apparatus for the delignification of lignin-containing materials, such as cardboard newspaper or agricultural or tree pruning wastes. This process produces cellulose using low temperatures and low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. It can be performed using a column fitted with a semipermeable gasket that pressurizes the column by retaining oxygen released by action of the hydrogen peroxide on a lignin-containing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: King Abdulaziz University
    Inventor: Sherif Shawki Zaki Hindi
  • Fiber processing device and fibrous feedstock recycling device
    Patent number: 11072888
    Abstract: Technology for efficiently extracting fiber from a feedstock containing fiber. A subunit has a mesh drum configured as a rotatable cylinder with mesh in at least part of its surface, and a case that houses the mesh drum. The case has a first opening and a second opening that communicate with a first area, and a third opening that communicates with a second area. First screened material is supplied from the first opening to the first area. The subunit discharges from the third opening waste, which is a first component of the first screened material moved by an air current from the first area to the second area, and discharges from the second opening by an air current processing feedstock, which is a second component of the first screened material that does not pass through the mesh drum with the air current and remains in the first area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tanaka
  • Process for treating pulp
    Patent number: 11072886
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for treating pulp comprising a step, wherein the pulp is treated with distilled percarboxylic acid, such as distilled per-carboxylic acid (dPAA), and peroxide, such as hydrogen peroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: KEMIRA OYJ
    Inventors: Leif Robertsén, Veli-Matti Vuorenpalo, Anna-Maija Perander, Pentti Pekonen, Jonas Konn
  • Vaporization device with heating component
    Patent number: 11064736
    Abstract: In one example, a vaporization device includes a housing, a heating component disposed in the housing, and a first sleeving. The heating component includes an absorbent core element and a heating coil at least partially wound around the core element. The first sleeving includes an outer wall defining a notch leading to a through hole configured to receive and fixedly secure the core element. In another example, a vaporization device includes a bottom cap including an airflow sensor, a light source, and a light guide element. The light guide element is configured to operatively secure the bottom cap to a housing and to permit illuminated light from the light source to pass therethrough. In another example, a vaporization device includes a nozzle cap defining an air inlet, an air outlet, and an air channel and including a baffle and an oil-absorbing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Bidi Vapor, LLC
    Inventors: Zou Wanxiang, Qiu Ningbo, Zhao XingFu
  • Apparatus and method for injecting a fluid formulation into a melted polymeric material
    Patent number: 11065798
    Abstract: Injection apparatus for injecting a liquid formulation into a molten polymer at high pressure includes a reservoir containing liquid formulation at ambient temperature and pressure which is arrange to flood-feed pump body 26 of a first progressing cavity pump (pcp) (4). The first pcp (4) is driven by motor (6) and is arranged to accurately meter the liquid formulation into a second pcp (8) which is downstream of the first pcp and is arranged to increase the pressure of the liquid formulation by 200 bar or more. Downstream of pump (8) is a delivery valve (14) arranged to control passage of liquid formulation, via outlet (17), into pressurised molten polymer stream (75) which is present in an extruder (77).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: COLORMATRIX HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Jones, David Whitehead, Ian Campbell, Harry Baker
  • Artificial turf and production method
    Patent number: 11060244
    Abstract: The method includes creating a polymer mixture, wherein the polymer mixture includes a stabilizing polymer, a bulk polymer, a flame retardant polymer combination, and a compatibilizer. The stabilizing polymer and the bulk polymer are immiscible. The stabilizing polymer includes fibers surrounded by the compatibilizer within the bulk polymer. The stabilizing polymer is aramid. The flame retardant polymer combination is a mixture of triazin and melamine. The method further includes extruding the polymer mixture into a monofilament. The method further includes quenching the monofilament. The method further includes reheating the monofilament. The method further includes stretching the reheated monofilament to align the fibers relative to each other and to form the monofilament into an artificial turf fiber. The method further includes incorporating the artificial turf fiber into an artificial turf backing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Polytex Sportbelage Produktions-GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Schmitz, Dirk Sander, Oliver Wagener, Stephan Sick
  • Recycled pulp fiber manufacturing method
    Patent number: 11053638
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a recycled pulp fiber manufacturing method with which it is possible to easily obtain recycled pulp fibers containing less of a high water-absorption polymer without requiring any mechanical equipment such as an ozone generation apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takayoshi Konishi
  • Heating smokable material
    Patent number: 11051551
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a smokable material heater, configured to heat a first region of smokable material to a volatizing temperature sufficient to volatize a component of smokable material and to concurrently heat a second region of smokable material to a temperature lower than said volatizing temperature but which is sufficient to prevent condensation of volatized components of the smokable material. A method of heating smokable material is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Nicoventures Trading Limited
    Inventors: Oleg J. Abramov, Petr Alexandrovich Egoyants, Dmitry Mikhailovich Volobuev, Pavel Nikolaevich Fimin
  • Injection moulding device for producing parts made of plastic
    Patent number: 11045986
    Abstract: An injection molding device (1) for producing plastic parts (2) consisting of one or more material components is provided. The injection molding device (1) comprises an injection mold (3) having a center part (5) that is rotatable about a first axis of rotation (4), which center part is arranged between a first and a second mold half and which can be moved relative to said mold halves in a first direction. The center part (5) has cavities (7) on the lateral surfaces (6). A retaining device (10) is used to retain the center part (5) in the injection molding device (1). A transfer device (16) is arranged laterally next to the center part (5) at least in an open position and is used to transfer plastic parts (2) into a storage means (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: FOBOHA (GERMANY) GMBH
    Inventor: Rainer Armbruster
  • Recovery method for organic acid, and production method for recycled pulp
    Patent number: 11021839
    Abstract: The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a recovery method for an organic acid. The recovery method makes it possible to efficiently recover an organic acid that is included in a deactivating aqueous solution that includes excrement. This recovery method has the following features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka, Takashi Kato, Yoshihide Ishikawa, Noritomo Kurita
  • Papermaking system and method
    Patent number: 11015295
    Abstract: A method of making paper is described. The method includes providing a cellulosic fibrous material, the cellulosic fibrous material comprising a plurality of elongated fibers having a fiber wall surrounding a hollow interior, the fibrous material having moisture content. The method also includes adding calcium bicarbonate solution to the cellulosic fibrous material to form a pulp mixture, the calcium bicarbonate solution containing up to the saturation level of about 16% solids of calcium bicarbonate, the resulting pulp mixture having between 0.1% to 65% total solids by weight. Further, the method includes refining the pulp mixture such that at least some of the calcium ions become associated with the reactive sites in the fiber walls. Further still, the method includes forming a web from the pulp mixture and wet pressing the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Inventor: John H. Klungness
  • Method for producing bleached wood fibre material
    Patent number: 11015290
    Abstract: In a process for producing bleached mechanical woodpulp, said process comprising the steps of a) delaminating comparatively large particles of wood, which have optionally been pretreated with chemicals and/or water, into modified particles of wood, b) grinding the modified particles of wood from a) in one or more refiners, c) optionally treating the stalk obtained in step b) with oxidative or reductive bleaching agents, a composition Z is present during step a) and/or step b), said composition Z comprising one or more of the following components (Z1) to (Z3): a salt of dithionous acid H2S2O4 (Z1), a dithionous acid or dithionous acid derivative generator compound (Z2), a salt of sulfurous acid (sulfite) plus sodium tetraborohydride (Z3) and also optionally additives (Z4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Stefan Erren, Dieter Schönhaber, Martin Schachtl, Pavel V. Osipov
  • Container manufacturing apparatus
    Patent number: 11000984
    Abstract: A container manufacturing device for performing manufacture of a pre-form and a container in a single station via one stop is provided. The container manufacturing device includes a pre-form molding module configured to form a shape of a pre-form of a container using a resin material, an injection module connected to the pre-form molding module and configured to supply the resin material to the pre-form molding module, a container molding module configured to inject air to the pre-form to expand the pre-form and to form the shape of the container and including a container mold, and a rotary table with a rib plate suspended thereon while rotating between the pre-form molding module and the container molding module, the pre-form or the container being mounted on the rib plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: SHINWOO COSTEC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Woo Hong Byun
  • Pouch material for smokeless tobacco and tobacco substitute products
    Patent number: 11000060
    Abstract: A melt-blown fabric for pouching smokeless tobacco or a smokeless tobacco substitute can include melt-blown polymer fibers. The fabric can have a basis weight of less than 10 gsm and a tensile strength of at least 4 mJ in at least one predetermined direction. Method of making the fabric can include melt-blowing a polymeric material against a support surface and bonding the fibers or arranging them in a predetermined orientation. Pouched smokeless tobacco or tobacco substitute products including the fabrics provided herein can provide desirable flavor and tactile experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke
  • Method and arrangement for generating process steam
    Patent number: 10982388
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for generating process steam at a chemical pulp mill. Water is heated by subjecting it to an indirect heat exchange contact with steam in a heat exchanger. The water is heated with live steam produced in a steam boiler for generating process steam, whereby the live steam is condensed and the generated condensate is recovered. The process steam is subjected to a direct heat exchange contact with a material for heating the material. The water used for process steam production is obtained from secondary condensates, purified waste water and/or raw water. Process steam can be used in the treatment of cellulosic fibrous material, such as chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: .Andritz Oy
    Inventor: Aki Muhli
  • Fiber blend having high yield and enhanced pulp performance and method for making same
    Patent number: 10975520
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to producing paper or paperboard having improved stiffness and strength, compared to the conventional paperboard at the same basis weight. It also discloses a method of wood pulping having a significantly increased yield and providing fiber pulps with enhanced properties such as strength and stiffness. Wood chips are chemically pulped to a high kappa number, providing a rejects component and an accepts component. The rejects component is subjected to a substantially mechanical pulping process, optionally in a presence of bleaching agent, prior to blending back into the accepts component. The resulting fiber blend is washed, optionally bleached, and subjected to a papermaking process to provide paper or paperboard with enhanced strength and stiffness at low basis weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: WestRock MWV, LLC
    Inventors: Peter W. Hart, Darrell M. Waite, Dale E. Nutter, Jr., Jared Bradberry