Patents Examined by Jose A. Fortuna
  • Fluff dryer machine drainage aid
    Patent number: 10988899
    Abstract: Methods and compositions useful for improving drainage in a fluff pulp drying process are provided. The methods and compositions comprise alkyl ether sulfate and ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymer. In particular, the methods and compositions can improve drainage of fluff pulp in fluff pulp drying processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Luiz Wanderley Bratfisch Pace, Gary Samuel Furman, Jr., André Messias Krell Pedro, Kraig R. Kent
  • High-efficiency strength program used for making paper in higher charge demand system
    Patent number: 10982391
    Abstract: A method of enhancing paper strength properties is provided. The method comprises treating a paper sheet precursor with a polyaluminum salt, and a strengthening agent, wherein the strengthening agent comprises a dialdehyde-modified polyacrylamide copolymer and a polyacrylamide copolymer. The polyaluminum salt may be polyaluminum chloride. The methods have been demonstrated to provide, among other things, improvements in retention, strength, and dewatering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Meng Zhang, Yulin Zhao, Na Xu
  • Dispersible nonwoven wipe material
    Patent number: 10973384
    Abstract: A dispersible, nonwoven multistrata wipe material is provided that is stable in a wetting liquid and flushable in use. More particularly, multilayered structures including, but not limited to, two, three, or four layers are provided to form the dispersible nonwoven wipe material. The layers contain combinations of cellulosic and noncellulosic fibers, and optionally a binder or additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Mt. Holly LLC
    Inventors: John P. Baker, Maria Curran, Jeffrey S. Hurley, Ronald T. Moose, Jacek K. Dutkiewicz, Manuel V. Murcia, Thomas Hess
  • Process for making paper, paperboard or the like
    Patent number: 10954633
    Abstract: An improved process for making paper or paper board is provided. The process comprises providing a cellulosic fibre suspension comprising recycled fibre material, and having a conductivity of at least 1.5 mS/cm; and adding a glyoxalated copolymer of acrylamide and cationic monomers and inorganic siliceous microparticles to the fibre suspension, sequentially or simultaneously. Advantages comprise improved productivity of the process, and paper strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Kemira Oyj
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Lewis, William James Garrisi
  • High strength and low stiffness hesperaloe tissue
    Patent number: 10947673
    Abstract: Soft, durable and bulky tissue products comprising non-wood fibers and more particularly high yield hesperaloe pulp fibers are disclosed. The tissue products preferably comprise at least about 5 percent, by weight of the product, high yield hesperaloe pulp fiber and have relatively modest tensile strengths, such as a geometric mean tensile (GMT) greater than about 1,000 g/3?, and improved durability and cross-machine direction (CD) properties, such as a CD Stretch greater than about 10 percent. Additionally, at the foregoing tensile strengths the products are not overly stiff. For example the tissue products may have a Stiffness Index less than about 10.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Kayla Elizabeth Rouse, Richard Louis Underhill, David John Paulson, Felicia Marie Sauer, Thomas Gerard Shannon
  • Sanitary tissue product with a shaped line of weakness
    Patent number: 10947671
    Abstract: A web of toilet tissue that includes a shaped line of weakness, wherein the toilet tissue exhibits a LWP Factor of greater than about 7, and an average Free Fiber End value of greater than about 1.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Katie Kristine Glass, Angela Marie Leimbach, Gustav Andre Mellin
  • Article of commerce treated with sublimable material
    Patent number: 10947675
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a paper product which can remain intact prior to and during usage and can self-disintegrate over time. Such a paper product can occupy less space in a user's waste bin following usage when compared with a similar paper product that does not self-disintegrate. Such a paper product can be treated with a topical binder that includes a sublimable material. The sublimable material can sublime away from the paper product over time thereby reducing the ability of the fibers of the paper product to remain bonded together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: John Gavin MacDonald
  • Emulsion foam reducer for wet processing of cellulose or woodbased products or in food processing
    Patent number: 10933352
    Abstract: An emulsion is provided for defoaming water used in processing of various products such as cellulose or wood-based products or in food processing which is formed by reacting a fatty acid with a compound selected from the group consisting of ammonia, sodium, potassium and combinations thereof so as to form a water soluble soap, dispersing the water soluble soap in water and homogenizing the dispersed water soluble soap with hydrophobic oil or hydrocarbon oil to produce the emulsion. Methods for preparing the emulsion and using the emulsion are also provided. The emulsion is advantageous in that it can improve water resistance and/or reduce the use of water resistant additives during processing of cellulose or wood-based products or food-grade products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: STATE LINE HOLDINGS, LLC.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Hundley, Steven A. Dunwoody, David M. Hundley
  • Molding roll for making paper products
    Patent number: 10927502
    Abstract: A roll for molding a fibrous sheet. The roll includes a cylindrical shell and a vacuum box. The cylindrical shell is configured to be rotatably driven and is permeable to allow air to be moved through the cylindrical shell. The cylindrical shell has a permeable patterned surface on an exterior surface of the cylindrical shell. The permeable patterned surface has at least one of a plurality of recesses and a plurality of projections. The density of the at least one of the plurality of recesses and the plurality of projections is greater than about fifty per square inch. The vacuum box is positioned on the inside of the cylindrical shell and is configured to draw air from the exterior surface of the cylindrical shell to an interior surface of the cylindrical shell. The vacuum box is stationary with respect to the rotation of the cylindrical shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventor: David A. Beck
  • Method to form a web comprising fibers
    Patent number: 10927503
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method to enable the efficient use of surfactants in web forming of a cellulose containing material, e.g. in the making of paper or paperboard. The method comprises the addition of microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) or nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) to the white water in a web-forming process in order to form complexes with surface active agents. The formed complexes are at least partly recycled to the process. This enables the producer to have control over the concentration of surface active agents in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Stora Enso OYJ
    Inventors: Kaj Backfolk, Isto Heiskanen, Esa Saukkonen
  • Microfibrillated film
    Patent number: 10927504
    Abstract: A method of producing a microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) film comprising reinforcement fibers. The method includes: providing a suspension comprising a first MFC in an amount of at least 50 weight %, reinforcement fibers in an amount of at least 5 weight %, all percentages calculated on the total solid content of said suspension, and a formation aid; mixing said suspension to form a mixture; forming a fibrous web from the mixture; and dewatering and/or drying said fibrous web to form a film having a basis weight of less than 40 g/m2, a specific formation number of below 0.45 g0.5/m2, and an Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) value of below 100 ml/m2/per 24 hours, preferably of below 50 ml/m2per 24 hours at 50% relative humidity. Also, a film and use of the film in food or liquid packaging applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Stora Enso OYJ
    Inventors: Kaj Backfolk, Isto Heiskanen, Esa Saukkonen
  • Method for producing roll-type gas diffusion layer having excellent spreading property
    Patent number: 10923732
    Abstract: A method for producing a roll-type gas diffusion layer is disclosed. The method includes preparing a carbon paper from carbon fiber chops having a low modulus of 10 to 100 Gpa; impregnating the prepared carbon paper with a phenol resin, and then carbonizing the resin-impregnated carbon paper at 1,800 to 2,400° C.; forming a microporous polytetrafluoroethylene resin layer on one side of the carbonized carbon paper, to prepare a gas diffusion layer sheet; and winding the prepared gas diffusion layer sheet on a roll. Since the roll of gas diffusion layer is formed using the carbon fiber chops having a low modulus, the gas diffusion layer exhibits excellent and uniform spreading properties. Therefore, sealing between the gas diffusion layer and the fuel cell separation plate is reliably secured without using a separate binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Joon Young Yoon, Da Kyoung Yong
  • Absorbent article and method of manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 10918538
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an absorbent article includes a paper making step in which, after forming a wet paper sheet from a source material and adding a fragrance material to the wet paper sheet, a pulp raw fabric sheet is obtained by dehydrating and drying the wet paper sheet; and a processing step of an absorbent article in which the pulp raw fabric sheet is defibrated and an absorbent body is manufactured by fiber stacking this defibrated fluff pulp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: DAIO PAPER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeshi Kurohara
  • Soft tissue comprising non-wood fibers
    Patent number: 10914039
    Abstract: The present invention provides soft, durable and bulky tissue products comprising non-wood fibers and more particularly hesperaloe fiber. The inventors have discovered that high yield hesperaloe pulp fiber, when incorporated in amounts of at least about 5 percent by weight of the tissue product, produces products having a GMT less than about 1000 g/3? and a GM Slope less than about 7.0 kg. At the foregoing tensile strengths and modulus the tissue products of the present invention are also generally soft, such as having a Stiffness Index less than about 10.0, and more preferably less than about 9.0, such as from about 7.0 to about 9.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Shannon, Richard Louis Underhill, Kevin Leon LaBerge, John Matthew Reiser, Gilbert Darrell Gafford
  • Unitary deflection member for making fibrous structures having increased surface area and process for making same
    Patent number: 10900170
    Abstract: A unitary deflection member. The unitary deflection member can have a fluid pervious reinforcing member and a patterned framework. The patterned framework can have a plurality of regularly spaced protuberances extending from the reinforcing member. At least two of said protuberances can be similar in size and shape, and each protuberance can have a transition portion having a transition portion width and a forming portion having a forming portion width. The transition portion width can be less than the forming portion width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John Allen Manifold, John Leslie Brent, Jr., James Michael Singer
  • Method for the production of artificial wood board
    Patent number: 10894338
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of artificial wood board. More specifically, present invention relates to a method for the production of highly durable, low cost, environmental friendly artificial wood board. Furthermore the present invention relates to artificial wood boards obtainable by the methods of present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: GoodHout Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Silvia Ten Houten, Nicola Donato, Gianmarco Marino
  • High consistency re-pulping method, apparatus and absorbent products incorporating recycled fiber
    Patent number: 10895038
    Abstract: A method of pulping wastepaper includes providing a pulping vessel with a rotor and at least one flow sensor adapted to measure slurry flow within the pulping vessel. The pulping vessel is charged with wastepaper and water to form a slurry, the amounts of wastepaper and water being present such that the slurry has consistency in the range of from 10% to 30%. The wastepaper charge in the pulping vessel is pulped at a pre-selected power level while monitoring poloidal slurry flow in the pulping vessel; and from time-to-time, water may be added to the pulping vessel when the poloidal flow falls below a predetermined lower threshold flow value in order to reduce viscosity and thereby restore poloidal flow within the pulping vessel. Doppler velocimetry is a preferred method of monitoring pulp flow. In a particularly preferred construction the rotor has a variable power drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Lee
  • Process for producing microfibrillated cellulose and a product thereof
    Patent number: 10883226
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing microfibrillated cellu-lose (MFC) comprising (i) providing cellulosic material, (ii) drying the cellulosic material so that specific surface area (SSA), when measured with BET-method, is at most 10 m2/g, and (iii) subjecting the dried cellulosic material to mechanical treatment. The present invention additionally relates to microfibril-lated cellulose produced with the method of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Kemira Oyj
    Inventors: Kari Vanhatalo, Tom Lundin, Marcus Lillandt
  • Doctor blade holder for cylinders, and system comprising a cylinder and a doctor blade holder
    Patent number: 10883225
    Abstract: The doctor blade holder (7) comprises: a plurality of fingers (35) mounted on a beam (9), hinged around a rotation axis (37A) and configured to cumulatively form a housing seat (41) for the doctor blade (43); wherein the fingers (35) are pivotable independently from one another around said rotation axis (37A); at least one actuator (51) comprising at least one chamber (53) that can be inflated with pressurized fluid, configured and arranged so as to generate a thrust (f53) on the fingers (35) to make them pivot around said rotation axis (37A). Each finger (35) can be mounted and removed independently from the others on said beam (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: ORADOC S.R.L.
    Inventors: Roberto Gaspari, Andrea Orlandini
  • Processing device, sheet manufacturing device, processing method, and method for manufacturing sheet
    Patent number: 10876255
    Abstract: A processing device has a fibrillation portion fibrillating fiber-containing materials containing fibers in the air, a particle supply portion supplying particles having Mohs' hardness of 2 or more and 5 or less to the fiber-containing materials during or after the fibrillating at the fibrillation portion for collision of the particles and the fiber-containing materials, and a particle removal portion removing the particles from the fiber-containing materials to which the particles are supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Masanao Kunugi, Satomi Yoshioka