Patents Examined by Anthony Calandra
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 10974435
    Abstract: A method for producing a foamed blow-molded article, which includes extruding a physical blowing agent-containing foamable molten resin downwardly through a annular die to form a tubular foamed parison, clamping the foamed parison between split molds, and then blow molding it. At the latest before completion of the clamping of the foamed parison between the split molds, a gas is blown toward an inner peripheral surface of an upper portion of the foamed parison, the bottom portion of which has been closed, from a gas ejection outlet located within the foamed parison at a position immediately below the annular die to widen the foamed parison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: JSP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Gomibuchi, Toshio Morita
  • Patent number: 10968568
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of paper, carton, or cardboard using baobab tree bast fibers, baobab fruit fibers, and/or Natal fig fibers as paper raw material, comprising the steps of: obtaining baobab fruit fiber and/or baobab tree bast fiber as baobab raw material and/or Natal fig bast fiber as Natal fig raw material; fraying the baobab raw material and/or Natal fig raw material while adding water; heating and preferably bleaching the obtained fiber pulp; applying the fiber pulp to a sieving means comprising removing a portion of the added water in order to produce a paper fiber fleece; pressing the obtained paper fiber fleece; and drying the obtained paper fiber fleece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: HOPE TREE INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventor: Lambert Dustin Dinzinger
  • Patent number: 10959457
    Abstract: An e-vaping device includes a battery section, an e-vaping tank capable of holding a liquid material, and an adapter connecting the battery section to the e-vaping tank. The adapter includes a heater capable of vaporizing the liquid material, and a wick capable of drawing the liquid material from the e-vaping tank to the heater. The adapter is connected to the e-vaping tank and the power source section via threaded connections. The threaded connections between the adapter and the battery section have threads with a non-standard pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Steve Rinehart, Barry Smith, Charles Dendy
  • Patent number: 10952474
    Abstract: The e-vaping device includes a first section with a housing, an inner tube within the housing, a reservoir configured to contain a liquid material, a heater and wick in communication with the reservoir and the inner tube and a first threaded connector at an end of the first section. The first threaded connector has first threads with a non-standard pitch. A second section includes a power supply and a second threaded connector at an end of the second section. The second threaded connector has second threads configured to mate with the non-standard pitch of the first threads. Values of nominal dimensions of the first and second threads, other than the non-standard pitch of the first and second threads, are standard nominal thread dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Steve Rinehart, Barry Smith, Charles Dendy
  • Patent number: 10947670
    Abstract: A method of forming an aqueous solution comprising mircrofibrillated cellulose, the method comprising the steps of providing a substantially dry composite material, comprising microfibrillated cellulose and a filler material, wherein said filler material is precipitated onto fibers or fibrils of said microfibrillated cellulose; providing an aqueous media, wherein the method further comprises the step of lowering the pH value of said aqueous media and then mixing said aqueous media with said substantially dry composite material, such that the filler material is released from said microfibrillated cellulose, thus dissolving said microfibrillated cellulose; or the step of mixing said aqueous media with said substantially dry composite material, and then lowering the pH of said mixture, such that the filler material is released from said microfibrillated cellulose, thus releasing said microfibrillated cellulose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Stora Enso OYJ
    Inventor: Jari Räsänen
  • Patent number: 10947668
    Abstract: Provided are purified Cannabis hurd fiber, and refined Cannabis hurd fibers, and methods for preparing cellulosic fiber from the hurd of Cannabis plants. The methods include decorticating the bast from the hurd, at least partially fibrillating the hurd fibers, abiotic retting of the hurd fibers, and exposing the hurd fibers to synthetic sunlight and ozonation to produce a purified hurd fiber. The purified Cannabis hurd fibers are substantially free of bast fiber, and have little to no pectin. Also provided are compositions containing the Cannabis hurd fiber or refined Cannabis hurd fiber, including packaging products, molded pulp cartons such as egg cartons, smoking papers, paper packaging materials, single ply or multi-ply paperboard, absorbent paper products and ink receptive papers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventors: David Pauwels, Tiffany Andersen
  • Patent number: 10946575
    Abstract: A device and a method for calibrating a blown film are provided, said device comprising: a tubular region with at least one inner wall, through which region the blown film can be passed; a liquid reservoir, which can be used to provide a liquid and which is situated above the tubular region, the liquid being guidable between the inner wall and the blown film; and a suctioning device, situated below the tubular region, for suctioning off at least part of the liquid from the blown film. At least one liquid-permeable element is provided, said element surrounding at least parts of the periphery of the blown film. This device permits the distance of the liquid-permeable element from the main axis of the blown film to be altered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Windmöller & Hölscher KG
    Inventors: Jens Goldenstein, Henning Steuter
  • Patent number: 10947669
    Abstract: A method for obtaining a strong hydrolysate from cellulosic material after a hydrolysis in a batch digester is disclosed. According to the invention the cellulosic material is exposed to a 2 stage hydrolysis with a first steam phase hydrolysis followed by a liquid phase hydrolysis, and wherein the steam phase is conducted such that the degree of packing of the cellulosic material results in at least a 20% up to 100% packing increase. The liquid phase hydrolysis includes adding hot and preferably acidified hydrolysis liquid and not establishing a total L/W ratio above 3.5, but sufficient to keep the cellulosic material under the level of the hydrolysis liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventors: Lari Lammi, Petteri Kuusisto, Stefan Antonsson, Sannet Minnaar
  • Patent number: 10941520
    Abstract: A system for treating cellulosic fibers to improve paper, board and tissue quality; the system involves splitting fibers into an original portion having original fibers and a refinable portion. The refinable portion may further be fractionated by one or more fibers properties by a fiber fractionation system into a first fraction and a second fraction. The refinable portion as a whole, or a fractionated fraction thereof, is then refined to produce refined fibers. Varying amounts of the original unrefined fibers, refined fibers and possibly additionally fractionated unrefined fibers are blended together to form an optimized slurry that is processed by a paper machine into an optimized paper product. A master control system, fiber measurement system and optional fractionation maintenance system may be integrated with the overall system to regulate all processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Pulmac Systems International, Inc.
    Inventors: Joffrey Dard Cowan, Wavell Fredrick Cowan, Robert Joseph White
  • Patent number: 10941519
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for reduction of energy consumption during the pretreatment of biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Clariant International Ltd.
    Inventors: Björn Hühnlein, Thomas Hoppe, Ralf Hortsch
  • Patent number: 10927496
    Abstract: A method is provided for recovering pulp fibers having little damage from a used absorbent article that contains pulp fibers and a superabsorbent polymer. The used absorbent article is treated at a temperature of greater than or equal to 80° C. with an organic acid aqueous solution having a pH no greater than 2.5, and the superabsorbent polymer is deactivated. Preferably, the pulp fibers and the deactivated superabsorbent polymer are separated from the used absorbent article after treatment with the organic acid aqueous solution, and further, a mixture including the separated pulp fibers and deactivated superabsorbent polymer is treated with an oxidizing agent, the deactivated superabsorbent polymer is decomposed, reduced in molecular weight and solubilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka, Koichi Yamaki, Noritomo Kameda
  • Patent number: 10927497
    Abstract: In alternative embodiments, provided herein are methods and industrial processes for generating high purity (high alpha cellulose) pulp from lignocellulosic feedstocks, comprising directly contacting a lignocellulosic feedstock with a system comprising a super critical or near-super critical fluid or mixture of fluids, whereby the partial pressure of the system provides for the alcoholysis, hydrolysis or a combination thereof of the feedstock at reduced temperatures and pressures, followed by an upgrading step wherein a low-purity cellulosic material generated in the super critical or near-super critical reaction step is treated with an alkaline solution. Also provided herein are systems and methods for producing a high purity cellulose material using reduced amounts of alkaline material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Inventure Renewables Inc.
    Inventors: William W. Berry, William Rusty Sutterlin, Mark G. Tegen, Cory Blanchard
  • Patent number: 10925310
    Abstract: A breakable capsule such as a seamless breakable capsule useful in a smoking article or a smokeless tobacco product includes an outer shell formed of a cross-linked agar matrix including at least one filler, and an inner core surrounded by the outer shell which comprises a liquid or gel based composition of a flavorant and/or non-flavorant. The cross-linked agar matrix is reinforced with carboxymethyl cellulose that is dispersed throughout the agar matrix so as to fill empty spaces in the agar matrix and inhibit the composition from passing through the empty spaces of the agar matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Munmaya K. Mishra, Douglas Fernandez
  • Patent number: 10927498
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of small aromatic compounds from black liquor comprising: providing black liquor that derives from alkaline treatment of wood chips; subjecting the black liquor to a pyrolysis treatment to yield a pyrolysed black liquor gas and a solid mass comprising char and salts in a first reactor, wherein the salts substantially derive from the treatment of black liquor; contacting at least part of the pyrolysed black liquor gas with a catalyst in a second reactor, which is different from the first reactor to provide a conversion treatment to yield a conversion product; and recovering small aromatic compounds from the conversion product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: André Heeres, Niels Jan Schenk, Arend-Jan Zeeuw, Bart De Waele, Kornelis Jan Kamminga
  • Patent number: 10920372
    Abstract: A method for separating cellulose from a wood-based raw material including hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin as principal components, includes injecting the wood-based raw material into a dissolution reservoir in which ethylene glycol is stored as a separating agent, and heating the separating agent in the dissolution reservoir at atmospheric pressure to a temperature in a range of 260° C. to 280° C., and reacting the wood-based raw material with the separating agent, evaporating a hemicellulose component from the separating agent and condensing the hemicellulose component, and monitoring a pH value of the condensate of the hemicellulose component. A temperature of the condensate is held at the temperature at which a change in the pH value of the condensate decreases, lignin is dissolved in the separating agent, and crude cellulose that floats in the separating agent is separated and collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: EARTHRECYCLE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Tachibana, Kenichi Hamada
  • Patent number: 10919196
    Abstract: A method for making a bicycle saddle includes the steps of placing a cover onto a mold cavity of a female mold; pouring a pressure-loading layer of a temper Foam material into the mold cavity; placing a first male mold into the mold cavity for defining a first closed portion and maintaining the mold in such closed condition a first period of time for foaming the temper foam material into the pressure-loading layer; removing the first male mold; pouring a supporting layer of an ordinary foam material into the mold cavity; closing the mold cavity by the second male mold with a shell coupled thereon for defining a second closed portion and maintaining the mold in such closed condition a second period of time for foaming the ordinary foam material into the supporting layer, and removing the second male mold to extract a finished bicycle saddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: VELO ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tsai-Yun Yu
  • Patent number: 10907304
    Abstract: A process comprising treating a lignocellulosic material preferably pulp in the presence of a transition metal catalyst with a oxidizing agent selected from a group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, hypochlorite, hypochlorous acid and any combination thereof to form a treated lignocellulosic material having a viscosity equal to or less than about 17 cp and having reducing functional groups selected from the group consisting of aldehyde and aldehyde type functional groups at the C6 and C1 positions but predominating at the C1 position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventors: Zheng Tan, Damaris Lorenzoni, Gopal Goyal, Sen Yang
  • Patent number: 10905151
    Abstract: A fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product includes smokeless tobacco and a plurality of polymeric fibers surrounding the smokeless tobacco. The polymeric fibers can have a basis weight of 5 gsm or less and a diameter of less than 100 microns. In some cases, the polymeric fibers are melt-blown polymeric fibers. In some cases, the polymeric fibers are centrifugal force spun polymeric fibers. A method of preparing a fiber-wrapped smokeless tobacco product includes melt-blowing or centrifugal force spinning a plurality of polymeric fibers to create an polymer deposition zone and passing a body comprising smokeless tobacco through the polymer deposition zone. In some cases, an electrostatic charge can be applied to the plurality of polymeric fibers, the body, or a combination thereof. In some cases, a spin is applied to the body when passing through the polymer deposition zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke