Patents Examined by Leo B. Tentoni
  • Patent number: 11441241
    Abstract: A method of electrospinning (40) is provided, and an electrospinning device (1; 30). The method comprises (i) holding (41) a liquid comprising a polymer melt or a polymer solution in a container (2), (ii) letting out (42) a stream of the liquid from the container through at least one nozzle (3), (iii) creating (43) a voltage difference between the nozzle (3) and a collecting surface (4), (iv) collecting (44) electro spun material coming from the nozzle (3) so as to form a fibrous structure (8) on the collecting surface (4), and (v) directing (45) a laser beam (13) towards the collecting surface (4) so as to locally remove a part of the fibrous structure (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Innovative Mechanical Engineering Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Paul Johannes Franciscus Maria Janssen, Marc Simonet, Ramon Hubertus Mathijs Solberg
  • Patent number: 11441242
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a polyacetal fiber in which whiteness irregularity is improved. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a polyacetal fiber, wherein the method includes a discharge step, a takeup step, a stretching step, and a winding step, the steps being continuously performed, an oxymethylene copolymer being used as the raw material of the polyacetal fiber, the oxymethylene copolymer having an oxymethylene unit and an oxyethylene unit, the content of the oxyethylene unit being 0.5-7.0 moles to 100 moles of the oxymethylene unit, the roller temperature of a stretching unit used in the stretching step being 130-155° C., and operation parameters of the method being set so as to satisfy a prescribed numerical formula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Akira Ito, Daisuke Sunaga, Sunao Mikami
  • Patent number: 11432611
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoplastic elastomer yarn with improved unwinding, weaving and yarn shrinking property, and a manufacturing method thereof. According to the present invention, the thermoplastic elastomer yarn according to the present invention is excellent in improved unwinding, weaving and yarn shrinking property. Furthermore, the thermoplastic elastomer yarn according to the present invention is excellent in yarn shrinkage rate, unwinding, weaving, tensile strength and elongation rate to be adequate for manufacturing textile fabric and footwear in terms of physical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: JEONGSAN INTERNATIONAL Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gu Hwan Kim, Yong In Cho, Chan Won Lee
  • Patent number: 11426913
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing bulked continuous carpet filament which, in various embodiments, comprises: (A) washing a plurality of flakes of recycled PET; (B) providing a PET crystallizer; (C) after the step of washing the plurality of flakes, passing the plurality of flakes of recycled PET through the PET crystallizer; (D) at least partially melting the plurality of flakes into a polymer melt; (E) providing a multi-rotating screw (MRS) extruder having an MRS section; and a vacuum pump in communication with the MRS section; (F) using the vacuum pump to reduce a pressure within the MRS Section; (G) after the step of passing the plurality of flakes through the PET crystallizer, passing the polymer melt through the MRS Section; and (H) after the step of passing the polymer melt through the MRS extruder, forming the polymer melt into bulked continuous carpet filament.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Aladdin Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas R. Clark
  • Patent number: 11427936
    Abstract: Expanded, nanofiber structures are provided as well as methods of use thereof and methods of making.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
    Inventor: Jingwei Xie
  • Patent number: 11427694
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing bulked continuous carpet filament, in various embodiments, comprises: (A) providing an expanded surface area extruder; (B) providing a spinning machine having an inlet that is operatively coupled to an expanded surface area extruder outlet; (C) using a pressure regulation system to reduce the pressure within the expanded surface area extruder; (D) passing a plurality of flakes comprising recycled PET through the expanded surface area extruder to at least partially melt the plurality of flakes to form a polymer melt; and (E) substantially immediately after passing the plurality of flakes through the expanded surface area extruder, using the spinning machine to form the polymer melt into bulked continuous carpet filament. In some embodiments, the method may include passing the plurality of flakes comprising recycled PET through a PET crystallizer prior to extrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Aladdin Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas R. Clark
  • Patent number: 11427937
    Abstract: Described herein are portable apparatuses and methods of creating fibers, such as microfibers and nanofibers. The methods discussed herein employ centrifugal forces to transform material into fibers. Portable apparatuses that may be used to create fibers are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System
    Inventors: Karen Lozano, Gregory Potter, Javier Alonzo Ortega
  • Patent number: 11421086
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a fluoropolymer article having a high surface roughness and high coarseness which comprises the following steps: a) forming a paste comprising a fluoropolymer into a paste-formed fluoropolymer product at a temperature lower than 50° C., b) densifying the paste-formed product, and c) stretching the densified paste-formed fluoropolymer product in at least one direction. The present invention further relates to a fluoropolymer article obtainable by a process according to the invention. The present invention furthermore relates to a fiber comprising, or consisting of, a fluoropolymer having a surface roughness expressed as a peak to valley distance (Rt) greater than 10 micrometer and/or an average surface roughness (Ra) greater than 1.5 micrometer. The present invention furthermore relates to a membrane comprising, or consisting of, a fluoropolymer having a coarseness index ?/EBP of at least 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignees: W.L. Gore & Associates GmbH, W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Wendlandt, Wolfgang Bürger, John William Dolan
  • Patent number: 11413805
    Abstract: Described herein are bioprinters comprising: one or more printer heads, wherein a printer head comprises a means for receiving and holding at least one cartridge, and wherein said cartridge comprises contents selected from one or more of: bio-ink and support material; a means for calibrating the position of at least one cartridge; and a means for dispensing the contents of at least one cartridge. Further described herein are methods for fabricating a tissue construct, comprising: a computer module receiving input of a visual representation of a desired tissue construct; a computer module generating a series of commands, wherein the commands are based on the visual representation and are readable by a bioprinter; a computer module providing the series of commands to a bioprinter; and the bioprinter depositing bio-ink and support material according to the commands to form a construct with a defined geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Organovo, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Murphy, Scott Dorfman, Nathan Smith, Larry Bauwens, Ian Sohn, Tim McDonald, Chris Leigh-Lancaster, Richard Jin Law
  • Patent number: 11414786
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the viable production of lyocell cellulose continuous filament yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: LENZING AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Christoph Schrempf, Andreas Gressenbauer, Franz Gugerell, Martin Neunteufel, Ernst Reiter
  • Patent number: 11414028
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicular engine room manufacturing method wherein the engine room has excellent heat resistance and sound-absorbing characteristics, and scraps generated during the manufacturing process can be recycled. The vehicular engine room manufacturing method comprises the steps of: carding a thermoplastic fiber and a carbon fiber having a length of 10 to 150 mm and needle-punching the same, thereby forming a felt layer; applying heat and pressure to the felt layer, thereby forming a felt board; and applying heat to the felt board and shaping the same is formed in a desired shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: HADO FNC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong Eun Ha, Young Su Kim
  • Patent number: 11413439
    Abstract: An applicator is disclosed for applying a treatment solution to a treatment site of a patient. The applicator can include an applicator housing comprising a treatment solution reservoir. A cartridge can be removably disposed in the housing. The cartridge when arranged in the housing can be in fluid communication with the treatment solution reservoir. The cartridge can include an electrostatic module for electrostatically charging the treatment solution in the treatment solution reservoir; and a nozzle for applying the treatment solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Octet Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Clifford A. Wright
  • Patent number: 11408098
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of producing polymer fibers and polymer fiber products and materials recovery from these processes. It is an object of this invention to produce polymer fibers and products that include these fibers using selective dissolution of multicomponent fiber and to recover the dissolved polymer and solvent for subsequent use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: GLOBAL MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT, LLC
    Inventor: Peter W. Gallo
  • Patent number: 11408096
    Abstract: Described herein is the application of centrifugal spinning to provide a flexible mechanoluminescent material composed of rare earth metal doped fibers. Rare earth metal doped fibers are formed, in one embodiment, by centrifugal spinning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System
    Inventors: Karen Lozano, Yuanbing Mao, Carlos Hernandez, Misael E. Martinez, Mark Anthony Ruiz, Jorge Ernesto Vidal, Jose Zuniga
  • Patent number: 11401629
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for preparing graphene nanofibers and non-woven fabrics using a fluid with a ultra-high draw ratio by means of a high-voltage electrospinning method. Compared with other methods for preparing graphene fibers (such as wet spinning, air-assisted spinning, etc.), the graphene fibers obtained by the present method have smaller diameters (about 100 nm to 500 nm) and a higher yield. The fibers themselves have better mechanical and electrical properties. The invention discloses a method for preparing ultra-fine graphene nanofibers and non-woven fabrics by electrospinning a mixed spinning liquid system of polymer and graphene oxide (the polymer is sodium polyacrylate). This method is highly efficient and environmentally friendly, and the resulted graphene nanofibers are the thinnest graphene fibers as currently known.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chao Gao, Jiaqing Wang
  • Patent number: 11396720
    Abstract: A method of creating a soft and lofty continuous fiber nonwoven web is provided. The method includes providing two molten polymer components having different melting temperatures to a spinneret defining a plurality of orifices, and flowing a fluid intermediate the spinneret and a moving porous member. The moving porous member is positioned below the spinneret. The method includes using the fluid to draw or push the two molten polymer components, in a direction that is toward the moving porous member, through at least some of the plurality of orifices to form a plurality of individual bi-component continuous fiber strands. The method includes depositing the continuous fiber strands on the moving porous member at a first location to create an intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web, and removing and/or diverting some of the fluid proximate to the first location to maintain loft and softness in the deposited intermediate continuous fiber nonwoven web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Han Xu, Gueltekin Erdem
  • Patent number: 11390965
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a high-strength synthetic fiber utilizing high-temperature multi-sectional drawing, two-stage high-temperature multi-sectional drawing, or multi-stage high-temperature multi-sectional drawing. The method comprises the following steps: performing, on a synthetic resin, melt spinning or melt extrusion, cooling, multi-sectional high-temperature drawing, heat setting and a fiber surface treatment, wherein the multi-sectional high-temperature drawing comprises independently adjusting temperatures at a front section and a rear section of an furnace, and the temperature at the rear section is higher than that at the front section. The temperature adjustment is performed on different locations in the furnace and according to a crystallization orientation of a fiber molecular chain, significantly increasing fiber strength. The method is widely applicable to manufacturing of various types of fibers, enhancing application performance of the fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Inventor: Shi Yin
  • Patent number: 11383442
    Abstract: According to some aspects, a method is provided of removing debris from a liquid photopolymer in an additive fabrication device. According to some embodiments, a mesh of solid material may be formed in an additive fabrication device from a liquid photopolymer, and particles of debris present in the liquid photopolymer may adhere to the mesh. The debris may thereby be removed from the liquid photopolymer by removing the mesh from the additive fabrication device. The mesh may then be discarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Formlabs, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Damiano, Andre Comella
  • Patent number: 11384453
    Abstract: An improved electro hydrodynamic method is provided. The method comprises arranging (11) an electro hydrodynamic device inside an enclosure and distributing (12) positive and/or negative ions inside the enclosure during a charging period with a certain defined amount of power. The distribution of the positive and/or the negative ions inside the enclosure (20) is performed so that a predefined amount of charge is set on the interior of the enclosure (20). Within a predetermined period of time after the charging period has ended, the electrospinning device is activated so as to create a product. Finally, the product is removed from the device. The present invention offers a solution for the problem of non-identical initial process conditions for an electro hydrodynamic process caused by any electric charges on the equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Innovative Mechanical Engineering Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Ramon Hubertus Mathijs Solberg, Marc Simonet, Paul Johannes Franciscus Maria Janssen
  • Patent number: 11377760
    Abstract: An innovative plant (10) for the production with the “spun bonding” technology or similar of a web (V) of non-woven fabric, comprising: a melting station (11) suitable for receiving and melting a polymeric base material (MR), an extrusion bar or head (12) with a plurality of extrusion or drawing nozzles (12a) adapted to receive from the melting station (11) the polymeric material (MR) in the molten state to produce a plurality or bundle of continuous filaments (FF); a conveyor belt (13) adapted to advance along a direction of advancement (A) and to receive from the above the continuous filaments (F), produced by the extrusion nozzles (12a), so as to form a web (V) of non-woven fabric; and consolidation means (14) designed to consolidate the non-woven web (V) formed on the conveyor belt (13); wherein the plant (10) is characterized by a special structure (20) comprising a base platform (21), rotatable (f, f?, f?) around a respective vertical rotation axis (X), and wherein the melting station (11), suitable for
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SOFT N.W. S.P.A.
    Inventors: Ivan Papetti, Marco Rovellini, Daniele Sanella, Stefano Briga, Olmo Falco, Paolo Falco, Giovanni Verzoletto