Patents Examined by Peter Chin
  • Patent number: 8241462
    Abstract: To provide a papermaking internal sizing agent capable of efficiently imparting sizing performance even in neutral papermaking which uses calcium carbonate as filler, and uses no aluminum sulfate or uses a small amount of aluminum sulfate, and also provide a paper or a paperboard obtained by using the papermaking internal sizing agent. The papermaking internal sizing agent comprises as an effective ingredient an amphoteric copolymer having hydrophobic groups and cationic groups, at least a part of the cationic groups being quaternized. Preferably, the amphoteric copolymer is obtained by polymerizing monomer ingredients that it essentially contain a hydrophobic monomer (A), a cationic monomer (B), and an anionic monomer (C) and that an anion equivalent of the monomer (C) is 0.1 to 90% of a cation equivalent of the monomer (B), in which a rate of quaternizing of the cationic groups is not less than 40% by mole. The paper or the paperboard contains the above papermaking internal sizing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignees: Harima Chemicals, Inc., Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunari Sakai, Takahiro Fujiwara, Kazushige Inaoka, Takashi Yamaguchi, Masaki Ito, Yasunobu Ooka
  • Patent number: 8231763
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wood composition containing olefin and raw wood materials, the use of said olefins for rendering raw wood materials water repellent, and a method for producing wood materials therefrom. The raw wood materials contain or are made of lignocellulose and are provided in the form of fibers, strands, or chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas Buchholz, Gernot Meyer, Marc Prüsmann
  • Patent number: 8197639
    Abstract: The system and method reduce the liquid/wood ratio at the top of a vapor phase digester in a continuous digester plant. Chips that are to be cooked in the vapor phase digester are fed as a mixture of chips and liquid at a liquid/wood ratio that exceeds 8:1 in a transfer line to an inverted top separator arranged at the top of the vapor phase digester. The top separator feeds the chips upwardly. More than 50% of the liquid content of the mixture of chips and liquid is withdrawn in the top separator and the remaining liquid is fed out from the top separator to the top of the vapor phase digester. A pile of chips and a liquid volume are established at the top, wherein the pile of chips is disposed above the liquid surface of the liquid volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: METSO PAPER Sweden AB
    Inventor: Vidar Snekkenes
  • Patent number: 8192583
    Abstract: A process belt for papermaking with a long operational life including an integrated structure of a reinforcing fibrous base material and a polyurethane layer is disclosed. The reinforcing fibrous base material is embedded in the polyurethane and the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface are made of the polyurethane. Nanoparticles including, as a main component, a silicon oxide component, the surface of which is treated with an organic silane coupling agent, are homogeneously dispersed in one part or all of the polyurethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Ichikawa Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Yazaki, Atsushi Ishino, Kenji Inoue, Ai Tamura
  • Patent number: 8187425
    Abstract: Apparatus for washing and dewatering pulp including a pair of rotatable press rolls with a permeable outer surface in a casing including a vat in which the press rolls are installed is provided. A gap is provided between the vat and the press rolls as well as means for feeding the pulp into the gap between the rolls and the vat includes a first segment partially enclosing the first roll and a second segment partially enclosing the second roll, and casing members for each segment are pivotable about axes of rotation to open and close the casing, and the distance between the axes of rotation is less than the sum of the outer diameter of the two press rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Johan Bylander, Fredrik Pontén, Jörgen Lundberg
  • Patent number: 8182651
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet material comprising at least one first layer defining an outer surface of the sheet material and having at least one first color, at least one second layer comprising at least one watermark and having at least one second color, the first and second colors having at least different saturations and/or hue angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignees: Arjowiggins, Arjowiggins Security
    Inventors: Henri Rosset, Ivan Thierry
  • Patent number: 8177940
    Abstract: A web stabilizer adapted to stabilize a web moving across a span between two components of a web machine or machines, the stabilizer including: a surface facing and adjacent the moving web, and at least one transition in the surface of the stabilizer, wherein the transition is a protrusion or recess in the surface between a leading edge of the stabilizer facing a direction of web travel and a trailing edge of the stabilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Kramer, Alain Chamberland, Rudy Chang, Paul Richards, Kurt Mitterboeck, Edward Brossard, Joseph Guadagno, Dave Gamble
  • Patent number: 8163136
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus used in the formation of paper. More specifically the present invention is directed to an apparatus, system, and method for lowering the consistency or degree of density of fiber suspension on the forming table, and improving the quality and physical properties of the paper formed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: FC Papel LLC
    Inventor: Luis Fernando Cabrera y Lopez Caram
  • Patent number: 8163134
    Abstract: Methods for making a heterogeneous polymer blend comprising one or more anionic polymers, one or more cationic polymers, and one or more non-ionic polymers, which method comprises (a) adding to a non-neutral solution a first amount of polymerization initiator and one or more anionic or cationic monomers, wherein each monomer has the same charge; (b) adding a second amount of the polymerization initiator and one or more non-ionic monomers; (c) adding a third amount of the polymerization initiator and one or more ionic monomers that are oppositely charged from the monomers of (a); adding stepwise, a fourth amount of the polymerization initiator to react any residual monomer, and (e) neutralizing the resulting polymer blend. Also claimed are heterogeneous polymer blends containing polymers formed from one or more anionic, cationic, and non-ionic monomers, either polymerized in situ or separately and then combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignees: Hercules Incorporated, Specialty Minerals (Michigan) Inc.
    Inventors: Frank J. Sutman, Joseph M. Mahoney, Robert Anthony Gill, Daniel Bruce Evans
  • Patent number: 8157965
    Abstract: [Problem] It provides a sheet forming machine which can make the thickness in the width direction of a sheet forming body be uniform, and also can obtain a sheet forming body which is integrated in stripe shapes by using different raw materials or raw materials of different colors in the width direction of one sheet forming body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: BS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Saito
  • Patent number: 8157966
    Abstract: An apparatus in connection with wire water treatment in the approach system of a paper machine, board machine or corresponding web formation machine, which apparatus includes a deaeration tank connected to devices for generating a vacuum inside the deaeration tank. At least one wire water feed pipe extends into the tank, which pipe opens into a vacuum space above the liquid surface level in the tank. A wire water discharge duct is connected to the bottom part of the tank. The feed pipe extends above the liquid level in the tank so that the wire water overflows the edge of the feed pipe onto the liquid level in the tank and the wire water discharge conduit extends downward and is connected to a pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Andritz Oy
    Inventors: Jouni Parviainen, Ari Pelkiö, Ari Vilpponen
  • Patent number: 8152962
    Abstract: A process for producing paper of high basis weight by draining a paper pulp on a wire in the presence of a combination of at least two polymers as a retention and drainage aid system, forming sheets, and drying the sheets, which comprises forming the sheets in the absence of finely divided inorganic flocculants and using as retention and drainage aids (a) at least one amino-containing polymer and (b) at least one branched cationic polyacrylamide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Oliver Koch, Rainer Blum, Ron Van Dijk
  • Patent number: 8152965
    Abstract: The invention is related to a method for emptying a furnace floor in a soda recovery boiler when the soda recovery boiler is being shut down. The emptying may be started while smelt is still flowing in smelt spouts. The floor is emptied by sucking smelt from the furnace with a smelt eductor. The invention is also related to a device for removing smelt and wash water from a furnace of a soda recovery boiler by means of suction. Negative pressure is generated in the device by conducting pressurized gas into a suction pipe of the eductor so that the pressurized gas is discharged in the discharge direction of smelt and wash water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Boildec Oy
    Inventor: Timo Karjunen
  • Patent number: 8147651
    Abstract: Methods to control and suppress odor in papermaking sludge are described. One method involves admixing sludge from a papermaking process and cyclodextrin to provide treated sludge with the cyclodextrin present in an effective amount to control odors in the treated sludge. The deodorized sludge may be used as a component of resin-wood composite products, such as composite decking materials, walls, flooring, casting forms, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Buckman Laboratories International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald M. Dykstra, James N. Graham, Scott D. Branum
  • Patent number: 8137507
    Abstract: A shoe press belt for paper-making machine that reduces belt damages attributed to the friction between belt and shoe. The shoe press belt for paper-making machine having a wet paper contact surface and a shoe contact surface, is characterized in that the shoe press belt for paper-making machine has a base member and at least a polymer elastic part constituting the shoe contact surface and that the shoe contact surface of the polymer elastic part has a surface roughness (Ra) of 1.0 to 3.5 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Ichikawa Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ishino, Nobuharu Suzuki, Shintaro Yamazaki, Takeshi Sawada, Tomoyuki Kawamata
  • Patent number: 8133355
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method in the wet end of a web forming process. In the method, at least one electrode pair (102, 103) is placed in the wet end. The electrode pair (102, 103) is supplied with a current/voltage from a power source (100), so that an electric field is set up between the electrode pair (102, 103), causing the material particles in the pulp suspension in the wet end to be electrically charged in a desired manner and to move in a desired manner in the pulp suspension in the wet end. The current/voltage of the power source (100) is controlled by means of a measuring and control unit (101) so as to cause the material particles in the pulp suspension to be electrically charged and to move in a desired manner, thus allowing the retention, formation and orientation of the material particles in the pulp suspension to be substantially improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Savcor Process Oy
    Inventors: Martti Pulliainen, Mikko Vepsalainen, Jukka Rautiainen, Matti Hakkinen, Pekka Kylliainen, Seppo Karine, Jari Rasanen, Kirsi Partti-Pellinen, Ari Johansson, Isto Heiskanen, Jyri Jarvi
  • Patent number: 8123906
    Abstract: Compositions and methods of producing paper-based materials are disclosed. In general, the techniques utilize an amine-containing polymer, such as chitosan, to functionalize one or more components of a mixture used to form materials such as paper-based materials. Such components can include the fibers of a pulp and/or filler particles. In one instance, either the pulp or the filler particles are functionalized, but not both. Such functionalization can improve the qualifies of a paper-based material relative to when such functionalization is not utilized. Techniques and compositions are also described to further improve the qualities of a paper material by utilizing a complementary polymer which can couple with the amine-containing polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: NanoPaper, LLC
    Inventors: David S. Soane, Michael C. Berg, William A. Mowers
  • Patent number: 8101047
    Abstract: Ash composition measurements of calcium carbonate and gypsum in paper is accomplished with a dual X-ray sensor system with one X-ray source that is powered at about 5.9 KV and a second X-ray source that is powered at about 4.2 KV. Corresponding detectors measure radiation from the respective X-ray sources that is emitted from the paper. Data derived from the measurements yields the gypsum and crystal water content in the paper. The dual X-ray sensor system can be employed in conjunction with infrared total moisture measurements of paper products being manufactured on a papermaking making machine, which contain gypsum and calcium carbonate, in order to correct for the gypsum crystal water effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Unto Kulma, Jaakko Olavi Uusalo, Antti Paavola, Johanna Hansen, Gertjan Hofman
  • Patent number: 8097122
    Abstract: Segments, typically ceramic, for use in dewatering blades for papermaking and similar machines comprise lower surfaces to each of which at least one interlock member is bonded. The segments are installed by inserting the interlock members into a channel in an intermediate sub-assembly or base member. The members are securely attached within the channel by a suitable adhesive, or clip means to engage the interlock members, with the optional addition of an adhesive. The segments and dewatering blades, and a method of manufacture, allows for the segments to be made as flat units, without unnecessary angular surfaces, simplifies their attachment to the base, and reduces the occurrence of stress cracking or other damage to the segments. A single segment can be used in various dewatering blade types and in more than one orientation in dewatering blades, reducing manufacturing costs by unitizing construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: AstenJohnson, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas R. McPherson
  • Patent number: 8066849
    Abstract: A wet-laid absorbent sheet includes a mixture of pulp-derived papermaking fibers and synthetic polymer fibers, a strength agent selected from carboxymethylcellulose and anionic starch as well as an epihalohydrin/amine functional wet strength resin. Also included is an anionic olefin copolymer resin effective to increase the wet/dry tensile ratio of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Bruce J. Kokko, Daniel W. Sumnicht