Patents Examined by Anthony Calandra
  • Patent number: 10906213
    Abstract: An apparatus including a co-extrusion device for extruding a multi-layer structure having at least one primary layer and at least one secondary layer, so that the multi-layer structure leaves the co-extrusion device along an exit direction; a mould provided with a pair of elements, at least one of the elements being movable towards the other in a moulding direction, so as to compression mould an object from a multi-layer dose which was severed from the multi-layer structure; a transport device for carrying the dose towards the mould; an arrangement for modifying orientation of the dose while the dose is being transported by the transport device, so that the dose is introduced into the mould with an orientation in which the secondary layer extends transversely to the moulding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: SACMI COOPERATIVA MECCANICI IMOLA SOCIETA' COOPERATIVA
    Inventors: Fabrizio Pucci, Fiorenzo Parrinello
  • Patent number: 10900169
    Abstract: A method for the production of highly refined or microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), comprising the steps of treating cellulosic fibres to remove at least a major part of the primary wall of the fibres, drying the treated fibres, rewetting the treated fibres, and disintegrating the wetted fibres by mechanical means to obtain the final product. Dried cellulosic pulp is produced as an intermediate product of the method, having an average fibre length of at least 0.4 mm, while less than 50% of the primary wall material of natural untreated fibres is left in the intermediate product. Instead of transporting large amounts of dilute MFC dispersion the invention enables transport of the dry intermediate product to the MFC end user, who would complete the process by turning the intermediate product to final MFC by use of standard disintegrating devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: STORA ENSO OYJ
    Inventors: Isto Heiskanen, Cecilia Land Hensdal, Lars Axrup, Heidi Saxell
  • Patent number: 10883224
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method may include treating pulp. The method may include contacting a wood pulp with a singlet oxygen source. The method may include contacting the wood pulp with an alkaline peroxide source. The singlet oxygen source may include a peracetate oxidant solution and generating a reactive oxygen species. The peracetate oxidant solution may include peracetate anions and a peracid. In some embodiments, the peracetate solution may include a pH from about pH 10 to about pH 12. In some embodiments, the peracetate solution has a molar ratio of peracetate anions to peracid ranging from about 60:1 to about 6000:1. In some embodiments, the peracetate solution has a molar ratio of peracetate to hydrogen peroxide of greater than about 16:1. The peracetate oxidant solution may provide enhanced treatment methods of bleaching, brightening, and delignifying pulp fibers involving the use of peracetate oxidant solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Clean Chemistry, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne E. Buschmann
  • Patent number: 10881136
    Abstract: An atomizing device supporting multiple inhalation modes includes the following components: the main body housing, the main support, the upper end cover, the atomizer placed on the atomizer base, and the lower end cover. A method of using the atomizing device is further provided. The atomizing device of the present invention supports three inhalation modes, and the inhalation mode and the airflow channel can be switched synchronously; the temperature control for aroma generation during low-temperature baking is accurate, the utilization of cigarettes is sufficient and the inhalation comfort is satisfying. Likewise in the “cigarette tar atomizing+cigarette baking” mode, smoke from the atomized cigarette tar and the smoke from the cigarette baking are fully mixed to yield a rich aroma that is comfortable to inhale, and provides a satisfactory smoking experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: CHINA TOBACCO YUNNAN INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD
    Inventors: Tinghua Li, Donglai Zhu, Yi Han, Shoubo Li, Yongkuan Chen, Wei Zhao, Xia Zhang, Xiaowei Gong
  • Patent number: 10870947
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for isolation of hemicelluloses from biomass pulping process waters or spent liquors with removal of suspended solids, concentration of the product and purification of the product by removal of inorganic salts and low molecular weight substances. It is characterized in that the hemicellulose isolation process conditions at several separation/purification stages are adjusted separately by e.g. pH adjustment. The invention further relates to a plant for carrying out the process. With such process and plant it is possible to recover most of the suspended solids, especially xylan and other hemicelluloses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Andritz AG
    Inventors: Oleg Shagaev, Lukas Wiesegger
  • Patent number: 10864665
    Abstract: Disclosed are injection molds, injected molded articles, and methods for using the same. The injected molds include a mold cavity and an injection molding conduit having a first end, a second end defining an outlet in fluid communication with the mold cavity, a first interior transverse dimension that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the injection molding conduit, a second interior transverse dimension that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and to the first interior transverse dimension, and at the second end, the second interior transverse dimension is at least three times larger than the first interior transverse dimension, and the second interior transverse dimension of the injection molding conduit is substantially aligned with a thickness of a portion of the mold cavity that is adjacent to the outlet of the injection molding conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Essilor International
    Inventors: Gary S. Clark, David J. Rys, Nattapop Napkun, Timothy Holton
  • Patent number: 10850424
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an artificial stone slab with veins comprises preparing a moldable hardenable fluid mixture of a first material (11); pouring the mixture into a mold (20) an upper face being exposed; engraving the exposed upper face with a predefined precise pattern of grooves (30) coinciding with a pattern of thin veins to be obtained; impregnating at least the inner faces (31) of the grooves (30) with a moldable hardenable fluid mixture of a second material (12), the color of both materials being different; causing the collapse and closure of the grooves, a visible pattern of thin veins of a second material with a natural look being left behind; curing the artificial stone slab by subjecting it to vibration, compression and vacuum until the fluid mixtures of the first material and of the second material are hardened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Inventors: Francisco Sanchis Brines, Alberto Ortolà Mascarell, Angel Gelpi Ferreira
  • Patent number: 10844538
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of increasing the brightness of non-wood fibers and nonwoven fabric fabrics produced by the method. In one aspect, the method includes forming a mixture of non-wood fibers and exposing the mixture to a brightening agent to produce brightened fibers. The brightening agent is oxygen gas, peracetic acid, a peroxide compound, or a combination thereof. The brightened fibers have a brightness greater than the fibers of the mixture before exposure as measured by MacBeth UV-C standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: GPCP IP HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Lee
  • Patent number: 10813382
    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 30 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: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Christopher Joseph Dinovi, David Phillips, Jason Andrew Macko, Robert Smith
  • Patent number: 10815617
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improved method for generating clean steam in a digester plant of a chemical pulp mill. By feeding a steam-to-steam converter (SSC) with venting steam from a black liquor flash tank (FT) as well as venting steam from chip steaming (SV) could the volume of clean steam produced be increased by over 40-50%, and to such an extent that the volume of clean steam covers the needs for preheating of chips in the digester system also in severe operational conditions. The total consumption of clean steam from the steam net of the mill may be reduced and used for other purposes such as electricity production, which meets the requirements for converting the pulp mill to an environmental friendly pulp mill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: VALMET AB
    Inventors: Krister Olsson, Jari Miettinen, Keyla Miettinen, Kjell Ljungkvist
  • Patent number: 10808356
    Abstract: In a method for producing nanofibrillar cellulose, cellulose based fiber material in dispersion is processed for separating fibrils. The method includes a first step where the fiber material is supplied to a disperser, where it flows through several counter-rotating rotors in such a way that the material is repeatedly subjected to shear and impact forces by the effect of the different counter-rotating rotors, and a second step, where the fiber material obtained from the first step is supplied to a homogenizer, where it is subjected to homogenization by the effect of pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Markus Nuopponen, Juha Tamper, Taisto Tienvieri
  • Patent number: 10765142
    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 30 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: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Nathan Carroll, Shannon Maxwell Black, Yan Helen Sun, William J. Burke, Christopher Joseph DiNovi, David Phillips, Jason Andrew Macko, Robert Smith
  • Patent number: 10766190
    Abstract: Additive manufacturing apparatus including a build module is presented. The build module includes a support structure; a powder supply chamber formed in the support structure; and powder applicator disposed on the support structure and located proximate to the powder supply chamber. The build module further includes a powder recovery chamber and a plurality of build plates spatially disposed around the powder recovery chamber, the plurality of build plates configured to move around the powder recovery chamber. The build module is configured such that during an additive manufacturing process step, a build plate of the plurality of build plates is disposed between the powder supply chamber and the powder recovery chamber, and the powder applicator is configured to distribute a required amount of the powder material from the powder supply chamber on the build plate and deposit any excess powder material in the powder recovery chamber. Related processes are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Andrew Weaver, Anthony Joseph Vinciquerra
  • Patent number: 10765144
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices may include a housing and a cartridge including an atomizer and a reservoir configured to contain an aerosol precursor composition. The cartridge may be configured to move relative to at least a portion of the housing between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. Related assembly methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven L. Worm, David Glen Christopherson, Robert Adam Parchman, Raymond Charles Henry, Jr., Bruce Alan Bengtsson, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, James William Rogers
  • Patent number: 10757970
    Abstract: An electronic smoking article includes a liquid aerosol formulation, a heater operable to at least partially volatilize the liquid aerosol formulation and form an aerosol and a tubular filter segment downstream of the heater. The tubular filter segment is operable to selectively filter aerosol particles and vapors from the aerosol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: San Li, Georgios D. Karles, Richard Jupe, Gerd Kobal, Munmaya K. Mishra
  • Patent number: 10750778
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices may include a housing and a cartridge including an atomizer and a reservoir configured to contain an aerosol precursor composition. The cartridge may be configured to move relative to at least a portion of the housing between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. Related assembly methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven L. Worm, David Glen Christopherson, Robert Adam Parchman, Raymond Charles Henry, Jr., Bruce Alan Bengtsson, Frederic Philippe Ampolini, James William Rogers
  • Patent number: 10753043
    Abstract: A pulp fiber with an enhanced carboxyl content resulting in improved antimicrobial, anti-yellowing and absorptive properties. Methods for making the kraft pulp fiber and products made from it are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: GP CELLULOSE GMBH
    Inventors: Arthur J. Nonni, Charles E. Courchene, Blair Roderick Carter
  • Patent number: 10751924
    Abstract: A method for making an activatable material having a handling film layer thereon, comprising the steps of providing a continuous mass of a polymeric material having a longitudinal axis and being capable of adhering to a metal surface; applying a handling layer (e.g., film) over at least one side of the mass; forming stress relief indentations in the mass, with the handling layer at least partially extending into the indentations, wherein the stress relief indentations allow a resulting part to be applied in conforming geometry with a surface to which it is applied. The teachings also contemplate parts made by the above method and use thereof to bond to surfaces having a non-planar portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: ZEPHYROS, INC.
    Inventors: David G. Billette, Dean W. Smitterberg, Yoshihiko Yasu
  • Patent number: 10751956
    Abstract: The present application relates to a method for manufacturing fiber-reinforced plastic products. This method comprises: preparing a fiber preform on a mold; disposing first and second flow meshes and first and second demolding cloths; sealing the fiber preform to form a vacuum system by pumping; penetrating the resin through the first peel ply via the first flow mesh and impregnates the fiber preform from bottom to top; penetrating the resin through the second peel ply via the second flow mesh and impregnates the fiber preform from top to bottom; and attaining a resin-impregnated fiber perform and finally attaining fiber-reinforced plastic products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: COVESTRO DEUTSCHLAND AG
    Inventors: Yongming Gu, Yuan Cheng, Yichen Zheng, Guobin Sun, Shuangyin Xiao
  • Patent number: 10745857
    Abstract: A process for modifying the paper burst strength enhancing attributes of microfibrillated cellulose may include subjecting an aqueous suspension including microfibrillated cellulose, and optionally inorganic particulate material, to high shear, wherein the high shear is generated, at least in part, by a moving shearing element, to modify the paper burst strength enhancing attributes of the microfibrillated cellulose. An aqueous suspension may include microfibrillated cellulose, and optionally inorganic particulate material, obtainable by the process. A papermaking composition and/or a paper product may be obtained from the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: FiberLean Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Kai Lee, Guillaume Tellier, Felix John Gunnar Bacon, David Robert Skuse