Patents by Inventor Hung-Liang Chou

Hung-Liang Chou has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9988766
    Abstract: A process of determining features of a fabric. A representation of a portion of a surface of the fabric is formed showing locations and sizes of knuckles and pockets in the fabric surface. The representation is a print or a photograph of the fabric surface. An image is generated based on the representation. At least a portion of the image is displayed on a computer screen. The sizes and locations of the knuckles or pockets is determined. A unit cell is drawn for the portion of the fabric surface in the image. The unit cell is defined by guidelines that (i) pass through the centers of the knuckles and (ii) form shapes that surround areas of the image that correspond to where the pockets are formed between the knuckles. A fabric planar volumetric index is calculated based on properties of the unit cell formed by the guidelines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Hung Liang Chou, Daniel H. Sze, Xiaolin Fan
  • Patent number: 9963831
    Abstract: Soft absorbent sheets, structuring fabrics for producing soft absorbent sheets, and methods of making soft absorbent sheets. The soft absorbent sheets have a plurality of domed regions or projected regions extending from a surface of the sheets, and connecting regions form a network between domed regions. The domed and projected regions include indented bars that extend across the domed and projected regions in a substantially cross machine direction of the absorbent sheets. The absorbent sheets can be formed by structuring fabrics that have long warp yarn knuckles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Hue Ming Sze, Xiaolin Fan, Hung-Liang Chou, Taiye Philips Oriaran, Farminder Singh Anand, Dean Joseph Baumgartner, Joseph Henry Miller
  • Patent number: 9957667
    Abstract: An absorbent cellulosic sheet made by a method that includes forming an aqueous cellulosic web on a structuring fabric in a papermaking machine, non-compactively dewatering the cellulosic web on the structuring fabric, and drying the cellulosic web to form the absorbent cellulosic sheet. A portion of the structuring fabric on which the cellulosic web is formed has an adjusted planar volumetric index of at least about 27.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Hung Liang Chou, Daniel H. Sze, Xiaolin Fan
  • Patent number: 9915032
    Abstract: An absorbent cellulosic sheet made by a method that includes forming an aqueous cellulosic web on a portion of a structuring fabric in a papermaking machine, and drying the cellulosic web to form the absorbent cellulosic sheet. The portion of the structuring fabric on which the cellulosic web is formed has a planar volumetric index of at least about 26. The absorbent cellulosic sheet has a caliper of at least about 160 mils/8 sheets and a dry machine direction (MD) to cross machine direction (CD) tensile ratio of less than about 1.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Hung Liang Chou, Daniel H. Sze, Xiaolin Fan, Frank D. Harper, Steven R. Olson
  • Publication number: 20180044860
    Abstract: A method of creping a cellulosic sheet and a creped web made by a creping process. The method includes preparing a nascent web from an aqueous papermaking furnish, depositing and creping the nascent web on a multilayer creping belt that includes (i) a first layer made from a polymeric material having a plurality of openings, and (ii) a second layer attached to a surface of the first layer, with the nascent web being deposited on the first layer, and applying a vacuum to the creping belt such that the nascent web is drawn into the plurality of openings, but not drawn into the second layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel H. Sze, Hung Liang Chou, Xiaolin Fan
  • Patent number: 9863095
    Abstract: An absorbent sheet of cellulosic fibers that has an upper side and a lower side. A plurality of hollow domed regions projects from the upper side of the absorbent sheet. Each of the hollow domed regions is shaped such that a distance from at least one first point on an edge of a hollow domed region to a second point on an edge at an opposite side of the hollow domed region is at least about 0.5 mm. Connecting regions form a network interconnecting the hollow domed regions of the absorbent sheet. A singly-ply of the absorbent sheet has a caliper of at least about 140 mils/8 sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Daniel H. Sze, Hung Liang Chou, Xiaolin Fan
  • Publication number: 20170260696
    Abstract: A process of determining features of a fabric. A representation of a portion of a surface of the fabric is formed showing locations and sizes of knuckles and pockets in the fabric surface. The representation is a print or a photograph of the fabric surface. An image is generated based on the representation. At least a portion of the image is displayed on a computer screen. The sizes and locations of the knuckles or pockets is determined. A unit cell is drawn for the portion of the fabric surface in the image. The unit cell is defined by guidelines that (i) pass through the centers of the knuckles and (ii) form shapes that surround areas of the image that correspond to where the pockets are formed between the knuckles. A fabric planar volumetric index is calculated based on properties of the unit cell formed by the guidelines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Hung Liang Chou, Daniel H. Sze, Xiaolin Fan
  • Publication number: 20170234617
    Abstract: A system for fabricating a sheet product. A first rotatable roller includes a rotatable drum portion having an outer surface that rotates about a rotational axis in a first direction and conveys a sheet product. The rotatable drum portion also has a plurality of ports communicative between an inner surface and an outer surface. The ports extend along and around the drum portion. The first rotatable roller emits a pressurized fluid. A second rotatable roller has an outer surface arranged proximate to the outer surface of the rotatable drum portion of the first rotatable roller, and a heat source portion to heat the second rotatable roller to dry the sheet product. The second rotatable roller rotates in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction. A gap is defined between the second rotatable roller and the first rotatable roller through which the sheet product passes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventor: Hung Liang Chou
  • Patent number: 9670617
    Abstract: A system for fabricating a sheet product includes a first rotatable roller assembly operative to emit a pressurized fluid through an outer surface of the first rotatable roller assembly, and a second rotatable roller assembly having an outer surface arranged proximate to the outer surface of the first rotatable roller assembly, the second rotatable roller assembly and the first rotatable roller assembly are operative to rotate in opposing directions, the second rotatable roller assembly and the first rotatable roller assembly defining a gap therebetween through which a sheet material passes in contact with the outer surface of the first rotatable roller assembly and the outer surface of the second rotatable roller assembly, the emitted pressurized fluid operative to impinge a surface of the sheet material and separate contact between the outer surface of the first rotatable roller assembly and the sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventor: Hung Liang Chou
  • Publication number: 20170121914
    Abstract: An absorbent cellulosic sheet made by a method that includes forming an aqueous cellulosic web on a structuring fabric in a papermaking machine, non-compactively dewatering the cellulosic web on the structuring fabric, and drying the cellulosic web to form the absorbent cellulosic sheet. A portion of the structuring fabric on which the cellulosic web is formed has an adjusted planar volumetric index of at least about 27.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Hung Liang Chou, Daniel H. Sze, Xiaolin Fan
  • Publication number: 20170121912
    Abstract: An absorbent cellulosic sheet made by a method that includes forming an aqueous cellulosic web on a portion of a structuring fabric in a papermaking machine, and drying the cellulosic web to form the absorbent cellulosic sheet. The portion of the structuring fabric on which the cellulosic web is formed has a planar volumetric index of at least about 26. The absorbent cellulosic sheet has a caliper of at least about 160 mils/8 sheets and a dry machine direction (MD) to cross machine direction (CD) tensile ratio of less than about 1.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Hung Liang Chou, Daniel H. Sze, Xiaolin Fan, Frank D. Harper, Steven R. Olson
  • Patent number: 9611591
    Abstract: A papermaking machine for making a paper product using a through air drying process. A headbox supplies an aqueous furnish. A structuring fabric has a surface with a contact area and (i) receives the furnish from the headbox on the surface to thereby form a cellulosic web from the furnish and (ii) non-compactively dewaters the cellulosic web. At least one through air drier dries the cellulosic web on the structuring fabric. A portion of the structuring fabric on which the cellulosic web is formed has an adjusted planar volumetric index of at least about 27.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Hung Liang Chou, Daniel H. Sze, Xiaolin Fan
  • Publication number: 20170089013
    Abstract: Soft absorbent sheets, structuring fabrics for producing soft absorbent sheets, and methods of making soft absorbent sheets. The soft absorbent sheets have a plurality of projected regions and connecting regions that connect the projected regions. The projected regions include folds that are curved relative to a machine direction of the absorbent sheet, with ends of the curved folds being on opposite sides of the projected regions, and with apexes of the curved folds being positioned downstream in the machine direction of the absorbent sheet. The absorbent sheets can be formed by structuring fabrics that have angled lines of warp yarn knuckles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel Hue Ming Sze, Xiaolin Fan, Hung-Liang Chou, Taiye Philips Oriaran, Farminder Singh Anand, Dean Joseph Baumgartner, Joseph Henry Miller
  • Patent number: 9574306
    Abstract: A method of making a paper product includes forming an aqueous cellulosic web on a structuring fabric in a papermaking machine, non-compactively dewatering the cellulosic web on the structuring fabric, and drying the cellulosic web to form the paper product. The portion of the structuring fabric on which the cellulosic web is formed has a planar volumetric index of at least about 26.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Hung Liang Chou, Daniel H. Sze, Xiaolin Fan, Frank D. Harper, Steven R. Olson
  • Publication number: 20160355982
    Abstract: Soft absorbent sheets, structuring fabrics for producing soft absorbent sheets, and methods of making soft absorbent sheets. The soft absorbent sheets have a plurality of domed regions or projected regions extending from a surface of the sheets, and connecting regions form a network between domed regions. The domed and projected regions include indented bars that extend across the domed and projected regions in a substantially cross machine direction of the absorbent sheets. The absorbent sheets can be formed by structuring fabrics that have long warp yarn knuckles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel Hue Ming Sze, Xiaolin Fan, Hung-Liang Chou, Taiye Philips Oriaran, Farminder Singh Anand, Dean Joseph Baumgartner, Joseph Henry Miller
  • Publication number: 20160305072
    Abstract: A papermaking machine for making a paper product using a through air drying process. A headbox supplies an aqueous furnish. A structuring fabric has a surface with a contact area and (i) receives the furnish from the headbox on the surface to thereby form a cellulosic web from the furnish and (ii) non-compactively dewaters the cellulosic web. At least one through air drier dries the cellulosic web on the structuring fabric. A portion of the structuring fabric on which the cellulosic web is formed has an adjusted planar volumetric index of at least about 27.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Hung Liang Chou, Daniel H. Sze, Xiaolin Fan
  • Patent number: 9404224
    Abstract: Paper products, such as hand towels, have high absorbency, high caliper, and good perceived softness. The paper products are made using a structuring fabric that has a high adjusted planar volumetric index, which indicates a relation between the contact area ratio of a papermaking web contacting surface of the structuring fabric and the volume of pockets of the fabric, with the contact area ratio and the volume of pockets being calculated on the basis of a non-rectangular, parallelogram unit cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Hung Liang Chou, Daniel H. Sze, Xiaolin Fan
  • Publication number: 20160097164
    Abstract: A method of making a paper product includes forming an aqueous cellulosic web on a structuring fabric in a papermaking machine, non-compactively dewatering the cellulosic web on the structuring fabric, and drying the cellulosic web to form the paper product. The portion of the structuring fabric on which the cellulosic web is formed has a planar volumetric index of at least about 26.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Hung Liang Chou, Daniel H. Sze, Xiaolin Fan, Frank D. Harper, Steven R. Olson
  • Patent number: 9303363
    Abstract: Paper products, such as hand towels, have high absorbency, high caliper, and good perceived softness. Two-ply products have a caliper of at least about 260 mils/8 sheets and an SAT capacity of at least about 650 g/m2. The paper products are made using a structuring fabric that has a high planar volumetric index, which indicates a relation between the contact area ratio of a papermaking web contacting surface of the structuring fabric and the volume of pockets of the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Hung Liang Chou, Daniel H. Sze, Xiaolin Fan, Frank D. Harper, Steven R. Olson
  • Publication number: 20160090698
    Abstract: A method of creping a cellulosic sheet. The method includes preparing a nascent web from an aqueous papermaking furnish, depositing and creping the nascent web on a multi-layer creping belt that includes (i) a first layer made from a polymeric material having a plurality of openings, and (ii) a second layer attached to a surface of the first layer, with the nascent web being deposited on the first layer, and applying a vacuum to the creping belt such that the nascent web is drawn into the plurality of openings, but not drawn into the second layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel H. Sze, Hung Liang Chou, Xiaolin Fan