Patents Examined by Eric Hug
  • Laminated papermaking belt
    Patent number: 11401658
    Abstract: Disclosed is a two layered belt useful in the manufacture of tissue products comprising a first woven layer and a second nonwoven layer joined together in a laminated arrangement. The woven layer typically forms the machine contacting layer of the belt and is woven from a highly abrasion resistant material, while the nonwoven layer contacts the nascent tissue web. The woven layer may be provided with valleys and ridges that the nascent web is molded into, while the nonwoven layer may be provided with elements that impart a visually aesthetic pattern to the web. In this manner the belt may be useful in the production of products having desirable physical properties resulting from molding into the woven fabric while also being visually pleasing to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Alan Burazin, Geoffrey Fenn Carlow, Richard Alan Zanon
  • Hopper and cutting process device
    Patent number: 11390993
    Abstract: A hopper includes a receiving member having a guide surface that guides a non-flat strip-shaped sheet and a posture adjusting unit that adjusts a posture of the falling sheet and sends it to the guide surface, and a discharge unit that discharges the sheet. The posture adjusting unit may have a posture adjusting surface continuous with the guide surface and bent from the guide surface so as to form a ridge line at a boundary portion with the guide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kentaro Yamada
  • Fiber processing device, fibrous feedstock recycling device, and control method of a fiber processing device
    Patent number: 11390992
    Abstract: Variation in the thickness of accumulated material is suppressed when material containing fiber is dispersed by the sieve and accumulated. A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a drum that sieves defibrated material containing fiber, a first web former that accumulates first screened material discharged from the drum, and a processor that processes a first web accumulated in the first web former. During processing by the processor, the mesh belt operates at a first speed. When operation starts with the drum not operating, a startup operation including the mesh belt operating at a higher speed than the first speed in a first period after the drum starts is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Oguchi, Soichiro Seo
  • Cannabis fiber, absorbent cellulosic structures containing cannabis fiber and methods of making the same
    Patent number: 11390995
    Abstract: A method to prepare, pulp, and bleach cannabis bast and hurd fibers to allow for the fiber to be incorporated into absorbent cellulosic structures on a wet-laid paper machine while keeping the pectin within the fibers. The wet laid paper machine can use the ATMOS, NTT, ETAD, TAD, or UCTAD method to produce the absorbent cellulosic structure. Absorbent cellulosic structures are produced with the cannabis bast and hurd fibers or with the bast fibers alone with the hurd fibers being combined with paper mill sludge or dust to form a fuel pellet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: FIRST QUALITY TISSUE, LLC
    Inventors: Karthik Ramaratnam, James E. Sealey, II, Byrd Tyler Miller, IV, Taras Z. Andrukh, Randy H. Elgin
  • Apparatus and method for realizing a web of fibrous material
    Patent number: 11390994
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a web of fibrous material includes a roll having incisions with a depth of 0.01-2.00 mm, a width of 0.01-2.00 mm, and a pitch 0.01-10.00 mm, and rotated at a peripheral velocity v1 equal to the velocity of an upstream apparatus unit; a belt stretched between transmission rollers that advances at a velocity v2 less than v1, wherein v1/v2 lies between 1.05 and 1.40; a presser roller rotating at a peripheral velocity v2, associated with a presser system acting to press the belt against the metal roll with a pressure of 1-200 kg per centimeter; and a system that feeds a sheet of pliable fibrous material between the belt and the roll, the belt having a longitudinal elongation of no more than 5%, dimensional stability along its entire length, a thickness of 1-10 cm, and a hardness 24-70° Shore A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Inventor: Giorgio Trani
  • Preparation method of cotton bast fiber and chitosan composite non-woven fabric for filtration
    Patent number: 11383189
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a preparation method of a cotton bast fiber and chitosan composite non-woven fabric for filtration and belongs to the technical field of fiber materials. The preparation method adopts steam flash explosion for pretreatment to separate cotton bast first, then a papermaking method is used for forming, finally chitosan is added to enhance the mechanical performance and improve the filtration efficiency, and a technological process is simple, environmentally friendly and suitable for industrial production. The non-woven fabric adopts lignin-rich cotton bast fibers and chitosan as raw materials, so that the non-woven fabric has good antibacterial performance. The cotton bast and chitosan used in the preparation method are both bio-based materials which can be degraded in the natural environment after use, so that burdens caused to the environment are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Jiangnan University
    Inventors: Xiuliang Hou, Dan Yang, Bomou Ma, Gangwei Pan, Guowei Liu
  • Sealing strip for sealing a positive or negative pressure zone of a roller, roller with such a sealing strip, and method for operating the roller
    Patent number: 11377796
    Abstract: A sealing device for sealing a positive or negative pressure zone of a roll for a machine for producing or processing a fibrous web includes a sealing strip and a lubricating device for introducing a lubricant between an inner surface of a roll shell and a sealing surface of the sealing strip when used as intended. The lubricating device includes a plurality of lubricant outlet openings and can be connected to a supply line for supplying lubricant. The lubricating device can be connected to the supply line through a plurality of inlets which are distributed over the length of the sealing strip. The sealing strip has a first and a second longitudinal-side end and the distance from at least one longitudinal-side end, preferably both longitudinal-side ends, to an inlet is at most 800 mm. A roll and a method for operating a roll are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Marc Erkelenz
  • Woven papermaking fabric having machine and cross-machine oriented topography
    Patent number: 11377797
    Abstract: Disclosed are woven papermaking fabrics having a textured sheet contacting surface with machine and cross-machine direction topography. The machine direction (MD) topography may be imparted by substantially MD oriented protuberances comprising a warp strand supported by a shute strand. The cross-machine direction (CD) topography may be imparted by substantially CD oriented protuberances comprising a shute strand supported by a warp strand. The CD protuberances may extend continuously in the CD and intersect the MD oriented protuberances to form discrete pockets there between. The pockets may have a variety of shapes and size depending on the MD and CD oriented protuberance. In certain instances the pockets may be rectilinear and have a pocket depth greater than 1.0 mm and a pocket angle greater than 28 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Lynda Ellen Collins, Mark Alan Burazin
  • Shoe press belt
    Patent number: 11377795
    Abstract: A shoe press belt (10) for a shoe press has an inner surface (11), an outer surface (12), an elastomer body and a support structure (20, 21, 22, 23) for the elastomer body. A plurality of parallel dewatering grooves (50, 50a, 50b) are on the outer surface (12) of the shoe press belt (10), with a ridges (53) provided between two adjacent dewatering grooves (50a, 50b). The dewatering grooves (50, 50a, 50b) have a first wall (60), a second wall (70), and a bottom (80) therebetween. At least the first wall (60) of the dewatering groove (50, 50a, 50b) has a plurality of parallel auxiliary grooves (100, 100a, 100b). A paper, board or pulp drying machine has said shoe press belt (10). A method for installing the shoe press belt (10) is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: VALMET TECHNOLOGIES OY
    Inventors: Jari Jännetyinen, Vesa-Matti Riihioja
  • Pulp washer mist eliminator and foam remover system
    Patent number: 11377794
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing liquid from a gas/liquid flow for use in pulp washers, deinking cells, and the like are disclosed. A gas/liquid separator includes a separation chamber with a flow director providing a gas/liquid flow from a receptacle into the separator in a direction causing impingement of entrained liquid particles on a chamber wall such that liquid particles coalesce into liquid droplets that travel downward by the force of gravity to a separated liquid drain and drained outside the receptacle. A tangential flow inlet provides greater impingement than a cyclonic flow introduced at the lower end of the gas/liquid separator in initially directed upwards. Separated liquid could further be taken outside the pulp washer system for further processing or disposal based on the chemical content of the separated liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Inventor: Clinton R. Parks
  • Woven papermaking fabric including stabilized weave providing textured contacting surface
    Patent number: 11377793
    Abstract: The present invention relates to papermaking fabrics useful in the manufacture of paper products, such as tissue paper. Particularly this invention relates to a woven papermaking fabric that includes a stabilized weave providing a textured contacting surface. The woven papermaking fabric includes a plurality of warp and shute filaments woven together to provide at least one protuberance on the web contacting side of the fabric that extends longitudinally over at least five shute filaments. The at least one protuberance is stabilized by including an offset shute float weave pattern configured such that a majority of the shute filaments forming the at least one protuberance are woven in an anti-nesting configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Lynda Ellen Collins, Mark Alan Burazin
  • Press section
    Patent number: 11371187
    Abstract: A press section which includes first and second press nips and at least one separate continuously revolving press belt which is routed around each press element of each press nip over a plurality of guide rollers. An upper press belt is led away from the fibrous web after the first press nip. Thereafter the fibrous web is transferred from a lower press belt of the first press nip to an upper press belt of the second press nip. The upper press belt of the second press nip wraps around a vacuum assisted guide roller. Thereafter the lower press belt of the second press nip is brought into contact with the fibrous web via a guide roller, after which the fibrous web travels to the second press nip via a guided path jointly with the two opposite upper and lower press belts of the second press nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Gronych, Richard Horn
  • Corn stalk pretreatment apparatus and method for manufacturing pulp from corn stalks
    Patent number: 11369971
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing pulp using corn stalks may include cutting the corn stalks into pieces having a length of 10 to 60 mm, separating and discharging the cut corn stalks into rind and pith using a separation unit while crushing the cut corn stalks, pretreating the corn stalks by filtering the rind and pith of the corn stalks and flakes of the rind, removing a portion of hemicellulose of the rind, and cooking the rind from which the portion of hemicellulose has been removed, using caustic soda and sodium carbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: NEWTREE PNP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Soo Park, Jong Myoung Won
  • Sealing strip system and sealing strip
    Patent number: 11365514
    Abstract: A sealing strip for sealing a suction zone of a suctioned roll of a machine for producing and/or processing a fibrous web has wear volume, which is gradually worn away by tribological contact with the roll. The sealing strip system further includes a sensor system for detecting the state of wear of the sealing strip, and an evaluation unit. The sensor system is embedded in a sensor channel extending within the sealing strip in the longitudinal direction at the wear volume across substantially the entire length of a sealing surface of strip, and is connectable to the evaluation unit and/or to a unit for supplying the sensor system with a medium for generating information via a connection provided on the lower side of the sealing strip, and leading out of the strip on the side of the wear volume facing away from the sealing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Marc Erkelenz
  • Crosslinked pulps, cellulose ether products made therefrom; and related methods of making pulps and cellulose ether products
    Patent number: 11352748
    Abstract: Pulps, cellulose ether products, and methods of making pulps are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventors: Mengkui Luo, Michael Rea, Angela Dodd, Andrew Dodd, Amy Anderson-Gaber, Kris Lindenauer, Hugh West, Charles Miller
  • Odor control pulp composition
    Patent number: 11332886
    Abstract: The present technology is directed to fluff pulps with improved odor control as well as methods of making such fluff pulps. A fluff pulp is provided that includes a bleached kraft fiber and a copper ion content from about 0.2 ppm to about 50 ppm by weight of the bleached kraft fiber. The bleached kraft fiber includes a length-weighted average fiber length of at least about 2 mm, a copper number of less than about 7, a carboxyl content of more than about 3.5 meq/100 grams; an ISO brightness of at least 80; and a viscosity from about 2 cps to about 9 cps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Peter M. Froass
  • Fibrous body accumulating device and fiber structure producing device
    Patent number: 11326305
    Abstract: A fibrous body accumulating device includes: a drum having an opening for releasing a material containing fibers and rotating around a central axis; and a first dispersion member disposed in the drum and at a position unevenly distributed vertically below the central axis, and dispersing the material in the drum. Preferably, the fibrous body accumulating device further includes a second dispersion member disposed in the drum and at a position unevenly distributed vertically above the central axis, and dispersing the material in the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuma Miyazawa
  • Transporting apparatus, fibrous feedstock recycling apparatus, and transporting method
    Patent number: 11319179
    Abstract: A transporting apparatus includes a pressurizing roller that transports a web-like or sheet-like transport target object and a heating roller disposed downstream of the pressurizing roller in a transport path, a first bottom sensor and a first top sensor that are disposed between the pressurizing roller and the heating roller, a measuring section that measures a time from when the transport target object is detected by the first bottom sensor until the transport target object is detected by the first top sensor, and a rotation control section that modifies a rotation speed of the heating roller when a time measured by the measuring section is shorter than a first reference time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Nagai
  • Process for production of film comprising microfibrillated cellulose
    Patent number: 11319671
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a new process for improving dewatering when manufacturing a film comprising high amounts of microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) without negatively impacting the film properties. According to the present invention a high amount of nanoparticles is used as an additive, optionally together with a polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Stora Enso OYJ
    Inventors: Kaj Backfolk, Isto Heiskanen, Esa Saukkonen, Katja Lyytikäinen
  • Lubricating device for lubricating a clothing
    Patent number: 11319669
    Abstract: A lubricating device lubricates a circulating clothing of a machine for manufacturing a fibrous web. The device has a body with a feed chamber that has an inlet for supplying a pressurized liquid lubricant to the feed chamber and an outlet for discharging the lubricant therefrom. The body further has a nozzle chamber to which a nozzle for discharging the lubricant is connected. The nozzle has a flow-conducting connection to the feed chamber via the nozzle chamber and the outlet. Within the body, a diffuser is provided for diffusing the lubricant supplied through the outlet along the body, the diffuser being arranged between the outlet and the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Mark Hodson, Karlheinz Straub, Wiebke Juergens, Fabian Koeberle