Patents Examined by Mary F Theisen
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Patent number: 9573104Abstract: Method of spray-drying a high-viscosity fluid, e.g. comprising a food product. The method comprises providing a nozzle plate wherein at least one nozzle is provided, said nozzle plate having an inner main surface and an outer main surface. The method comprises providing the high-viscosity fluid in a reservoir that is in fluidum connection with the at least one nozzle. The method comprises pressurizing the high-viscosity fluid in the reservoir, wherein the fluid flows, as a result of said pressurizing, towards the nozzle plate, thus creating a pressure difference over the at least one nozzle so that the fluid flows out of the at least one nozzle, thereby passing the outer main surface after passing the inner main surface. A cross-sectional area of the at least one nozzle in the inner main surface exceeds a cross-sectional area of the at least one nozzle in the outer main surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2012Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNOInventors: Andries Rijfers, Leonardus Antonius Maria Brouwers, René Jos Houben, Robin Bernardus Johannes Koldeweij
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Patent number: 9573324Abstract: Systems and methods for producing a dense, well bonded solid material from a powder may include consolidating the powder utilizing any suitable consolidation method, such as explosive shockwave consolidation. The systems and methods may also include a post-processing thermal treatment that exploits a mismatch between the coefficients of thermal expansion between the consolidated material and the container. Due to the mismatch in the coefficients, internal pressure on the consolidated material during the heat treatment may be increased.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2015Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: TXL GROUP, INC.Inventors: David Charles Nemir, Edward S. Rubio, Jan Bastian Beck
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Patent number: 9561601Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a thermal and/or acoustic insulation product based on mineral wool, including: a first line for production of first mineral fibers, including at least one fiberizing member; a second line for production of second mineral fibers, including at least one fiberizing member and a cross-lapping device; and a cross-lapping device configured to deposit the second mineral fibers onto the first mineral fibers by cross-lapping. The apparatus can manufacture a thermal and/or acoustic insulation product with improved thermal and/or acoustic properties.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2013Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN ISOVERInventors: Romain Santamaria, Hannu Konttila
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Patent number: 9555563Abstract: A compression molding machine includes a first spray device configured to spray an external lubricant to at least one of the inner surface of a die bore, the upper end surface of a lower punch, and the lower end surface of an upper punch, and a second spray device configured to spray a coating agent for blocking a strange taste or an odor of a molded product, or the like, to at least one of the inner surface of the die bore, the upper end surface of the lower punch, and the lower end surface of the upper punch.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: KIKUSUI SEISAKUSHO LTD.Inventor: Yoshitsugu Oneda
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Patent number: 9555556Abstract: Polymer pellets are formed using air to influence the separation of polymer from a polymer melt. In accordance with one or more embodiments, a polymer material is extruded through a nozzle to form a polymer melt extending from the nozzle. A non-uniform thickness is generated in the polymer melt using a gas or gasses to apply a drag force to the polymer melt. This drag force reduces a thickness of a portion of the polymer melt adjacent the nozzle, and the polymer melt is fractured into discrete droplets at the reduced thickness. The discrete droplets are then solidified to form pellets.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research FoundationInventors: Tim Andreas Osswald, William Mauricio Aquite
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Patent number: 9539765Abstract: In a method for discharging a volume flow consisting of successive drops to produce a three-dimensional object of solidifiable material present in a fluid phase, the fluid phase of the material is introduced into a material storage means. A pressure (p) is applied to the fluid phase, in order to discharge the material in drops out of a cyclable outlet opening to build up the three-dimensional object in a construction chamber. A method is provided for achieving a constant, discontinuous volume flow by the pressure (p) being regulated via a closed-loop control in the event of a change in the viscosity of the fluid phase of the material, while maintaining the other process parameters, to achieve a predetermined drop size. The pressure is applied by a conveying element, the average displacement velocity of the conveying element per discharged drop being converted as a measured variable into the control variable for the closed-loop control.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2014Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: ARBURG GMBH + CO. KGInventors: Herbert Kraibühler, Eberhard Duffner, Oliver Kessling
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Patent number: 9533452Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for stabilizing a powder bed by means of low pressure for an additive manufacturing method, wherein the device comprises: a container open at least on one side, comprising a bottom, at least one side wall and a container opening; a filter in or above the bottom and/or in the at least one side wall, wherein an area occupied by the filter corresponds to the area of the bottom or the area of the side wall and wherein the filter is substantially impermeable to a powder comprising the powder bed; and a connection at the bottom and/or at the side wall of the container or on a side of the filter facing away from the container opening, wherein the connection is suitable for connection to a suction pump, such that a powder bed arranged in the container is pressed against the filter and stabilized by means of a vacuum produced by the suction pump.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2013Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: Bundesrepublik Deutschland, vertreten durch das Bundesministerium fuer Wirtschaft und Technologie, dieses vertreten durch den Praesidenten der BAM, Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und-pruefungInventors: Jens Guenster, Andrea Zocca, Cynthia Morais Gomes, Thomas Muehler
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Patent number: 9527227Abstract: A system for creating an alpaca bonded fiber pad. The pad is used for bedding products, cushions, toppers and furniture. The system includes an alpaca fiber washing station for cleaning and processing the fiber and a pad forming machine. The washing station is used to thoroughly wash, clean and dry the alpaca fiber. The washing station includes a series of wash tanks, squeeze pads and drying racks. The dried alpaca fiber is then baled and fed into the pad forming machine. The pad forming machine includes a plurality of individual sections with a series of conveyor belts. The conveyor belts are used for conveying the alpaca fiber and a polyester fiber from one station to the next and creating a finished alpaca bonded fiber pad.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2014Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Inventors: Mary Anderle, David A. Rauch
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Patent number: 9522370Abstract: A method for producing fine particles, including: discharging a fine particle material liquid, where solid materials to be formed into fine particles are dissolved or dispersed in a solvent or are melted, from two or more discharge holes in a downward vertical direction, to thereby form liquid droplets; and solidifying the liquid droplets discharged to form fine particles, wherein in the discharging a fine particle material liquid, gas flow is supplied at angle of greater than 0° but 90° or smaller to the downward vertical direction, and wherein an initial discharge velocity of the liquid droplets discharged from the discharge hole located at an upstream side of the gas flow in a flowing direction thereof is equal to or higher than an initial discharge velocity of the liquid droplets discharged from the discharge hole located at a downstream side of the gas flow in the flowing direction thereof.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2013Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshihiro Norikane, Satoshi Takahashi, Masaru Ohgaki
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Patent number: 9522522Abstract: Apparatus and methods for fabricating a solid article by three-dimensional printing. A bed of loose solid powder is formed, a fluid dispenser moved parallel to the bed, and a liquid dispensed from the fluid dispenser onto at least a portion of a surface of the powder to form a first printed layer having a first pattern printed thereon. The fluid dispenser includes a printhead inclined at an angle selected from a range of 2 to 20 degrees from vertical with respect to the bed. An apparatus includes a stage, a spreading mechanism to spread layers of loose powder on the stage, and a fluid dispenser disposed above the stage and configured to dispense droplets of fluid that travel in free flight to the stage, the fluid dispenser including a printhead tilted at an angle from 2 to 20 degrees relative to a line perpendicular to the stage surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2015Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: 3Dbotics, Inc.Inventor: James F. Bredt
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Patent number: 9517578Abstract: Method for manufacturing biodegradable moldings, in particular tableware and packages, with application of the method of evoking the water vapor pressure inside the mold consists in that loose bran, preferably the wheat bran, of granulation from 0.01 up to 2.80 mm in the amount of 95-100% of weight containing more than 14% of water structurally bound in the form of moisture, if needed, is mixed in the dry form with additional substances in the amount of up to 5% of weight in total, and the measured amount of dry material obtained in that way is placed in one of the parts of multipart mold, then the mold is closed and the mixture is subject to the simultaneous operation of temperature and pressure of the scope 1-10 MPa. The mold is heated up to temperature above 120° C., then the mold is closed, and then is depressurized, thus forming a gap between the edges of the mold not wider than 0.5 mm, and then the mold, if needed, is closed again, and the depressurization cycles are repeated.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2015Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: ASTON INVESTMENT SPOLKA Z OGRANICZONA ODPOWIEDZIANLNOSCIAInventor: Jerzy Wysocki
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Patent number: 9516856Abstract: An animal litter sand that effectively prevents scattering of particles without increasing the weight or density of the litter sand. The animal litter sand is prepared by forming particles by a step that adds water and mixes together at least a particulate substrate from an inorganic material, a hydraulic solidification material, and a water-soluble thickener.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2013Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Unicharm CorporationInventors: Tatsuya Sogou, Takayuki Matsuo
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Patent number: 9517507Abstract: A method of shaping a part in a green state obtained through powder injection molding, including placing a surface of the part in contact with a shaping surface of a setter with at least one section of the surface of the part not conforming to the shaping surface, and locally heating at least one area of each of the at least one section to deform the part until the at least one section conforms to the shaping surface. The part remains in the green state during the local heating. The part may be a heat shield panel for a gas turbine engine.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2014Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Marc Campomanes, Orlando Scalzo, Guillaume Poitras
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Patent number: 9511516Abstract: An apparatus including a mold having a top opening which leads to an inner chamber. The mold may include a first, second, third, and fourth walls, and a bottom which enclose the inner chamber. The apparatus may further include a first and/or second devices which are configured with respect to the mold to supply first and/or second mixtures of quartz and resin to the inner chamber of the mold. The apparatus may include transportation sheet which lies in the inner chamber of the mold and on an inside surface of the third wall of the mold, and which is sandwiched between the first wall and the third wall of the mold and the second wall and the third wall of the mold. The first and second devices may include means for moving the mold to allow placement of the first and/or second mixtures in specific areas of the inner chamber.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2014Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Inventor: Alex Xie
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Patent number: 9512036Abstract: A fiber is provided, including a cladding material that is disposed along a longitudinal-axis fiber length. A plurality of spherical particles are disposed as a sequence along a longitudinal line parallel to the longitudinal fiber axis in at least a portion of the fiber length, and include a spherical particle material that is interior to the fiber cladding material and different than the fiber cladding material. To produce particles, a drawn fiber, having a longitudinal-axis fiber length and including at least one fiber core that has a longitudinal core axis parallel to the longitudinal fiber axis and that is internally disposed to at least one outer fiber cladding layer along the fiber length, is heated for a time that is sufficient to cause a fiber core to break-up into droplets sequentially disposed along the fiber core axis. Fiber cooling solidifies droplets into spherical particles interior to fiber cladding.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.Inventors: Ayman F. Abouraddy, Esmaeil H. Banaei, Daosheng S. Deng, Yoel Fink, Steven G. Johnson, Joshua J. Kaufman, Xiangdong Liang, Soroush Shabahang, Guangming Tao
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Patent number: 9492943Abstract: The present application relates to wood boards, particularly post-cured wood boards and more particularly to particle board with excellent swelling properties; it also relates to a process for production of such boards.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2013Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignees: Knauf Insulation SPRL, Knauf Insulation, Inc.Inventors: Richard Hand, Roger Jackson
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Patent number: 9487443Abstract: Layer stack object formation method, including; forming layer of powder material containing calcium phosphate; and delivering hardening liquid to predetermined region of the layer to harden the region, wherein these steps are repeated, wherein 1) powder material satisfies A) or B), and hardened product of powder material has hydroxyapatite (HAp) transformation rate of ?1%: A) organic compound having phosphate or carboxyl group is imparted over surface of calcium phosphate powder, and organic compound imparting amount is ?10,000 ppm; and B) powder material further contains powder made of organic compound having phosphate or carboxyl group, and organic compound mixing amount to calcium phosphate powder is ?50% by mass, or wherein 2) hardening liquid contains at least organic compound having phosphate or carboxyl group, acid value of organic compound is ?0.45 gKOH/g, and content of organic compound to whole amount of hardening liquid is ?20% by mass.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2015Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Masaki Watanabe
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Patent number: 9487444Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system (10) for forming pressed articles by pressing powder or granules, the system comprising the following apparatuses: a powder discharge assembly (12); a no-cavity press assembly (20) including: an bottom plate (22) that is the same size or greater than the pressed articles, a constraining means to isolate a portion of powder, and a top punch (24); and a conveyor (14) to transport the powder and/or pressed articles.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2011Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignees: MASS S.P.A., VECOR IP HOLDINGS LTDInventors: Sandor Koszo, Lodovico Bardelli
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Patent number: 9476198Abstract: The present invention relates to a glass fiberboard and to a production method therefor, and more specifically, to technology for providing a glass fiberboard for vacuum heat insulation and a production method therefor, which have outstanding initial heat insulation performance and economic advantages through application of an optimized inorganic binder.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2012Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: LG HAUSYS, LTD.Inventors: Myung Lee, Seong-Moon Jung, Suk Jang, Eun-Joo Kim
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Patent number: 9469940Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of modified nanoparticles in wood based panels, in particular OSB-panels for reduction of the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The invention further relates to a wood based panel containing the modified particles and to a method for producing such a wood based panel.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Kronotec AGInventors: Andreas Gier, Julia Borowka, Joachim Hasch