Patents Examined by Jose A. Fortuna
  • Patent number: 11976422
    Abstract: A pulp-molding process and an in-line intelligently drying apparatus therefor, comprise: implementing intelligent-circulation desiccating step and intelligently-wetting step in sequence, between pulp-dredging and forming step and thermo-compression forming step. Intelligent-circulation desiccating step comprises: in accordance to structure and/or outer contour of pulp-molding article, implementing combination of both infrared irradiation step and hot-wind blowing step, thereby self-adaptive eliminating different moistures contained within different portions of initially-compressed semi-finished product, to form evenly-dried semi-finished product. Intelligently-wetting step comprises: in accordance to structure and/or outer contour of pulp-molding article, spray-sprinkling predetermined different adaptive amount of water over different local location within dried semi-finished product, thereby forming wetted semi-finished product having averaged moisture content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: GOLDEN ARROW PRINTING TECHNOLOGY (KUNSHAN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chien-Kuan Kuo, Chun-Huang Huang
  • Patent number: 11970823
    Abstract: A process for forming a pre-form for a moulded pulp fibre product involves providing a porous mould that has one or more pre-form mould portions that each have an outer surface corresponding to a surface of the pre-form. Pulp fibre slurry is discharged from an outlet; each pre-form mould portion is coated with discharged pulp fibre slurry by moving the porous mould relative to the outlet. Thus, a slurry deposit for the pre-form is formed on the outer surfaces of the pre-form mould portions. Fluid from the slurry deposit is extracted through the porous mould to form the pre-form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: VARDEN PROCESS PTY LTD
    Inventors: Mark Appleford, Stuart Gordon
  • Patent number: 11970819
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to tissue products comprising crosslinked fibers. The tissue products generally have good formation, such as a Formation Index greater than about 20, strength, such as geometric mean tensile strengths greater than about 700 g/3? and high bulk, such as sheet bulks greater than about 10 cc/g. Unlike many prior art crosslinked fibers, the crosslinked softwood pulps of the present invention, which are preferably prepared using a glyoxal based crosslinking reagent, are readily dispersible in water and have relatively low degrees of kink and curl. As such, the fibers are well suited for forming wet-laid tissue products and more particularly wet-laid tissue products having improved physical properties, such as improved bulk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Inventors: Stephen M. Lindsay, Richmond R. Cohen, Kenneth R. Schueler, Jr., Kenneth J. Zwick
  • Patent number: 11963851
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for producing a substrate are described. A method and apparatus for introducing a component into a fluid supply is also presented. A method can include providing a first fluid supply. The fluid supply can be configured as a foam in some embodiments. The method can also include providing a component feed system and a supply of the component. The method can include introducing the component to a fluid supply in an eductor in some aspects. A resultant slurry including a fluid supply and the component can be transferred through a headbox. The resultant slurry can be dewatered to provide a substrate including the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Inventors: Stephen A. Marrano, Kyle Krautkramer
  • Patent number: 11959227
    Abstract: The creped multi-ply tissue products are durable, smooth and have low levels of Slough. In certain instances, the creped multi-ply tissue products are produced using a creping composition comprising a non-crosslinked latex polymer. The creped multi-ply tissue products may have a geometric mean tensile (GMT) from about 700 to about 1,500 g/3?, a basis weight from about 45 to about 60 gsm and a Slough less than about 2.00 mg, such as from about 0.10 to about 2.00 mg. The inventive tissue products also have good durability, such as a Durability Index from about 10.0 to about 20.0, smooth surfaces, such as a TS750 value from about 15.0 to 40.0 and low stiffness, such as a Stiffness Index less than about 10.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventors: Kevin Joseph Vogt, Mark William Sachs, Erin Ann McCormick, Devon Gaynelle Curley, Sara Jane Wille Stabelfeldt, Nathan John Vogel, Christopher Steven LeCount
  • Patent number: 11959228
    Abstract: The single ply tissue products have been prepared by a creping process, particularly a print creping process adapted to dispose a non-crosslinked latex polymer on at least one of the outer surfaces of the tissue product. The creped single ply tissue products generally have a low degree of stiffness, such as a Stiffness Index less than about 8.00, and are highly durable, such as a Durability Index greater than about 12.0. In other instances, the tissue products may have very low levels of lint or dust, such as a Slough less than about 4.00 mg, even at basis weights from about 45 to about 55 grams per square meter (gsm) and tensile strengths from 600 to 1,200 g/3?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventors: Maurizio Tirimacco, Kevin Joseph Vogt
  • Patent number: 11959230
    Abstract: A molding system includes a frame device, a scooping device, a demolding device, a cutting device, an inspection device, a packaging device, and a conveying device. The frame device defines a scooping zone, a hot pressing zone, a cutting zone, an inspection zone, and a packaging zone. The scooping device includes a pulp tank that is adapted to contain a slurry, and a scooping mold that is adapted to scoop the slurry such that the slurry forms a blank unit thereon. The cutting device is adapted to cut the blank unit into a plurality of blank bodies. The conveying device is adapted to convey the blank bodies from the cutting zone to the packaging zone through the inspection zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventors: Fu-Lin Hsiao, Yang-Han Lee
  • Patent number: 11952721
    Abstract: A method of making an absorbent structure including mixing ultra-high molecular weight (“UHMW”) glyoxalated polyvinylamide adducts (“GPVM”) and/or high molecular weight (“HMW”), glyoxalated polyacrylamide and/or high cationic charge glyoxalated polyacrylamide (“GPAM”) copolymers and high molecular weight (“HMW”) anionic polyacrylamide (“APAM”) with the furnish during stock preparation of a wet laid papermaking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: First Quality Tissue, LLC
    Inventors: James E. Sealey, II, Kevin P. Brennan, Justin S. Pence
  • Patent number: 11951708
    Abstract: A creping blade and a preparation method thereof are provided. The creping blade comprises a base, wherein a wear-resistant coating is provided on the top of the base, and a protective layer is arranged below the wear-resistant coating at the contact point between the creping blade and a dryer, and the hardness of the protective layer is lower than that of the surface of the dryer of a paper machine. The creping blade of the invention is advantageous in that the friction portion of working surface has an unlimited area and has a high wear-resistant coating, and the paper impact portion has high wear resistance and high impact resistance, so that the creping blade has a long service life, which can be several times or even tens of times that of the common steel creping blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Ganzhou En Chuang Technology Company Limited
    Inventors: Jing Zhou, Zichao Zhou
  • Patent number: 11952724
    Abstract: Paper towel rolls that exhibit novel combinations of physical properties, such as Basis Weight, Roll Density, and Roll Diameter, such that the paper towel rolls meet consumers' needs, and method for making such novel paper towel rolls and marketing such novel paper towel rolls are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kevin Mitchell, Robert Edward Reinerman, Douglas Jay Barkey, Mark Alan Green, Paul Dennis Trokhan, J. Michael Bills, Jeffrey Glen Sheehan, Paul Thomas Weisman
  • Patent number: 11952727
    Abstract: Fibrous structures, for example toilet tissue, having a surface including a plurality of fibrous elements, such as a plurality of hydroxyl polymer filaments that exhibit an average fiber diameter of less than 2 ?m as measured according to the Surface Average Fiber Diameter Test Method such that the fibrous structure exhibits a Dual Surface Glide Value of less than 17.7 g as measured according to the Glide Test Method—3 Inch Sample and method for making same is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Matthew Gary McKee, Brooke Marie Woods, Joerg Kleinwaechter, William Ryan Falta, Jeffrey Glen Sheehan, Paul Dennis Trokhan
  • Patent number: 11939723
    Abstract: A papermaking felt includes at least one base fabric composed of a MD yam material in the felt running direction (MD) and a CD yarn material in the felt crossing direction (CD) and having MD end regions and CD end regions, at least one of the MD end regions and the CD end regions are overlapped with each other, the entire overlapped portion is welded without removing a part or all of the MD yarn material or the CD yarn material in the overlapped portion, and when the average thickness of the welded portion of each base fabric is x (mm) and the average thickness of the material portion of each base fabric is y (mm), the relationship between x and y of the at least one base fabric satisfies the following formula (1): 0.5?x/y?0.95.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Ichikawa Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Ogiwara, Yuto Muraoka
  • Patent number: 11939726
    Abstract: A multi-layered web is disclosed that is resilient and/or elastic in the Z-direction. Thus, when the web is compressed, the web assumes a compacted state and then expands to an expanded state when the compressive forces are removed. In one embodiment, the multi-layered web includes a middle layer made from a resilient blend of fibers positioned inbetween two outer layers. The middle layer, for instance, can contain elastomeric fibers, three-dimensional fibers, and/or debonded fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Lilley, Donald E. Waldroup, Charles W. Colman, Joseph K. Baker, Marvin E. Swails, Michael Payne, Vicky S. Polashock
  • Patent number: 11932990
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are treated pulp sheets comprising cellulose pulp fibers treated with a densifying agent and having a relatively low moisture content. In certain embodiments, the treated pulp sheets are used to produce fiberized pulp having an unexpectedly low knot content, while maintaining density and softness properties usually associated with similarly treated pulp that is fiberized at higher moisture content. Methods of making fiberized pulp from the treated pulp sheets, as well as products comprising the treated pulp sheets or fiberized pulp from the treated pulp sheets, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventor: Andre Stephan Hajnal
  • Patent number: 11932988
    Abstract: A system comprising a pulper configured to (i) accept surfactant, a liquid and fiber stock and (ii) generate a foam that suspends the fiber stock, wherein the foam has a half-life; a headbox configured to receive the foam-suspended fiber stock from the pulper and displace the foam-suspended fiber stock onto a forming wire, wherein a time it takes the foam-suspended fiber stock to move from the pulper to the headbox is less than the half-life; and a foam return device that removes at least some of the foam from the forming wire and returns the at least some of the foam to the pulper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin E. E. Swails, Vicky S. Polashock, Michael Payne, Joseph K. Baker, Charles W. Colman
  • Patent number: 11932994
    Abstract: Tissue paper of the disclosure exhibits advantageous softness and bulk at a basis weight less than that of basis weights found in currently available commercial tissue products, while delivering adequate strength for machine runability and consumer usage. This tissue is a lightweight paper that comprises a fiber core with up to 60% mechanically fibrillated fibers and a retention or drainage aid such as a cationic polyacrylamide polymer that facilitates drainage, softness, and bulk. This approach can reduce the fiber content of tissue products significantly while delivering the desired strength and other critical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: North Carolina State University
    Inventors: Ronalds W. Gonzalez, Franklin J. Zambrano, Hasan Jameel, Richard A. Venditti, Lokendra Pal
  • Patent number: 11926963
    Abstract: A method for determining the dryness of a fibrous web, in particular a tissue web, during the production of the fibrous web, is carried out in a machine including a drying cylinder, in particular a Yankee cylinder, to which at least one, preferably two, dryer hoods are assigned, and a reel-up for winding up the fibrous web. The determination of the dryness of the fibrous web is carried out before the drying cylinder on the basis of measured values which describe the following variables: the amount of solids in the fiber web at the reel-up, the amount of water in the fiber web at the reel-up, and the amount of water which is evaporated in the dryer hood or hoods. A method for controlling or regulating a machine for producing a fibrous web, a computer program and computer program product are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Achtermann, Marcus Schwier, Marco Popp, Juergen Schaefer
  • Patent number: 11926128
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lightweight linerboard for corrugated board with good strength properties and which reduces problems with washboarding in the thereof produced corrugated board. The linerboard of the invention comprises at least one ply comprising 20-80 wt % CTMP from wood fibers and 20-80 wt % chemical pulp, all percentages calculated on the total fiber weight of said first ply, wherein the CTMP exhibits a bulk of at least 2.5 cm3/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Stora Enso OYJ
    Inventors: Seppo Lampainen, Frank Peng, Atso Laakso, Ari-Pekka Määttänen
  • Patent number: 11920299
    Abstract: A formation detection system comprising: (a) one or more sensors and (b) one or more lights that illuminate a location of interest so that the one or more sensors can monitor the location of interest; wherein one of the one or more sensors are located substantially planar with a wire of a paper machine and proximate to a slice opening so that the one of the one or more sensors is adjacent to a cut through so that the one of the one or more sensors is capable of measuring stock above the wire and removed water below the wire, and wherein the one of the one or more sensors is capable of measuring a distance between an impingement location of a stock jet and the wire from a forming board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: IBS of America
    Inventors: Andrew Forester, Paul Wratschko, Jake Neal, David Jackson, Chris Blair, James Faufau
  • Patent number: 11913172
    Abstract: Provided is a glass plate interleaving paper including cellulose pulp as a main component. A percentage of aluminum content is below 0.2 mass %, and a basis weight is in a range from 10 to 100 g/m2. Further, it is preferred that the glass plate interleaving paper have a percentage of aluminum content below 0.01 mass %. Still further, it is preferred that the glass plate interleaving paper have a percentage of talc content below 0.1 mass %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Oji Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Hagihara, Kazuhiko Shirai