Patents by Inventor Pentti K. Loukusa
Pentti K. Loukusa 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).
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Patent number: 10005925Abstract: Articles with thin caliper melt coatings of high molecular weight, high viscosity materials and methods of making such coatings.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2012Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Patrick D. Hyde, Jeffrey M. Imsande, Jayshree Seth, Craig E. Hamer, Rebecca A. Shipman, Robert B. Secor, Michael C. Martin, Pentti K. Loukusa
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Patent number: 9744708Abstract: A method of controlling a slot die comprises, while continuing to pass the extrudate through the fluid flow path and out the applicator slot, changing the position of the actuators with the controller to either increase the cross-directional thickness of the fluid flow path adjacent each of the actuators or substantially close the fluid flow path adjacent the actuators, and after changing the cross-directional thickness of the fluid flow path adjacent each of the actuators, while continuing to pass the extrudate through the fluid flow path and out the applicator slot, repositioning each of the actuators with the controller according to the set of discrete settings to resume operating the slot die with the actuators positioned according to the set of discrete settings.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2015Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Pentti K. Loukusa, Robert A. Yapel, Terence D. Neavin, Jennifer L. Trice, Kristopher K. Biegler, Paul C. Thomas, William J. Kopecky, Keith R. Bruesewitz, Robert B. Secor
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Patent number: 9579684Abstract: A system comprises a slot die including an applicator slot extending about a width of the slot die, wherein the applicator slot is in fluid communication with a fluid flow path through the slot die, and a plurality of actuators spaced about the width of the slot die, wherein each actuator in the plurality of actuators is operable to adjust a cross-directional thickness of the fluid flow path at its respective location to provide a local adjustment of fluid flow through the applicator slot. The system further comprises a controller configured to set the position of each actuator according to one of a plurality of discrete settings for operation of the slot die. The controller is further configured to, using fluid dynamics and a digital model of the die, predict a set of discrete settings from the plurality of discrete settings corresponding to a preselected cross-web profile for the extrudate.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2011Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Robert A. Yapel, Jennifer L. Trice, Pentti K. Loukusa, Paul C. Thomas, Kristopher K. Biegler, William J. Kopecky, Keith R. Bruesewitz, Robert B. Secor
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Patent number: 9216535Abstract: A method of controlling a slot die comprises positioning actuators of the slot die with a controller according to a first set of discrete settings, operating the slot die by passing an extrudate through the fluid flow path and out the applicator slot with the actuators positioned according to the first set of discrete settings, and while passing the extrudate through the fluid flow path and out the applicator slot, changing the positions of the actuators with the controller to create patterned features in the extrudate.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2011Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Jennifer L. Trice, Pentti K. Loukusa, Robert A. Yapel, Robert B. Secor, Paul C. Thomas, William J. Kopecky, Keith R. Bruesewitz, Kristopher K. Biegler
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Publication number: 20150224700Abstract: A method of controlling a slot die comprises, while continuing to pass the extrudate through the fluid flow path and out the applicator slot, changing the position of the actuators with the controller to either increase the cross-directional thickness of the fluid flow path adjacent each of the actuators or substantially close the fluid flow path adjacent the actuators, and after changing the cross-directional thickness of the fluid flow path adjacent each of the actuators, while continuing to pass the extrudate through the fluid flow path and out the applicator slot, repositioning each of the actuators with the controller according to the set of discrete settings to resume operating the slot die with the actuators positioned according to the set of discrete settings.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2015Publication date: August 13, 2015Inventors: Pentti K. Loukusa, Robert A. Yapel, Terence D. Neavin, Jennifer L. Trice, Kristopher K. Biegler, Paul C. Thomas, William J. Kopecky, Keith R. Bruesewitz, Robert B. Secor
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Patent number: 9044894Abstract: A method of controlling a slot die comprises, while continuing to pass the extrudate through the fluid flow path and out the applicator slot, changing the position of the actuators with the controller to either increase the cross-directional thickness of the fluid flow path adjacent each of the actuators or substantially close the fluid flow path adjacent the actuators, and after changing the cross-directional thickness of the fluid flow path adjacent each of the actuators, while continuing to pass the extrudate through the fluid flow path and out the applicator slot, repositioning each of the actuators with the controller according to the set of discrete settings to resume operating the slot die with the actuators positioned according to the set of discrete settings.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2011Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Pentti K. Loukusa, Robert A. Yapel, Terence D. Neavin, Jennifer L. Trice, Kristopher K. Biegler, Paul C. Thomas, William J. Kopecky, Keith R. Bruesewitz, Robert B. Secor
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Publication number: 20140234584Abstract: Articles with thin caliper melt coatings of high molecular weight, high viscosity materials and methods of making such coatings.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2012Publication date: August 21, 2014Inventors: Patrick D. Hyde, Jeffrey M. Imsande, Jayshree Seth, Craig E. Hamer, Rebecca A. Shipman, Robert B. Secor, Michael C. Martin, Pentti K. Loukusa
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Publication number: 20120315378Abstract: A system comprises a slot die including an applicator slot extending about a width of the slot die, wherein the applicator slot is in fluid communication with a fluid flow path through the slot die, and a plurality of actuators spaced about the width of the slot die, wherein each actuator in the plurality of actuators is operable to adjust a cross-directional thickness of the fluid flow path at its respective location to provide a local adjustment of fluid flow through the applicator slot. The system further comprises a controller configured to set the position of each actuator according to one of a plurality of discrete settings for operation of the slot die. The controller is further configured to, using fluid dynamics and a digital model of the die, predict a set of discrete settings from the plurality of discrete settings corresponding to a preselected cross-web profile for the extrudate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2011Publication date: December 13, 2012Inventors: Robert A. Yapel, Jennifer L. Trice, Pentti K. Loukusa, Paul C. Thomas, Kristopher K. Biegler, William J. Kopecky, Keith R. Bruesewitz, Robert A. Secor
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Publication number: 20120313274Abstract: A method of controlling a slot die comprises, while continuing to pass the extrudate through the fluid flow path and out the applicator slot, changing the position of the actuators with the controller to either increase the cross-directional thickness of the fluid flow path adjacent each of the actuators or substantially close the fluid flow path adjacent the actuators, and after changing the cross-directional thickness of the fluid flow path adjacent each of the actuators, while continuing to pass the extrudate through the fluid flow path and out the applicator slot, repositioning each of the actuators with the controller according to the set of discrete settings to resume operating the slot die with the actuators positioned according to the set of discrete settings.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2011Publication date: December 13, 2012Inventors: Pentti K. Loukusa, Robert A. Yapel, Terence D. Neavin, Jennifer L. Trice, Kristopher K. Biegler, Paul C. Thomas, William J. Kopecky, Keith R. Bruesewitz, Robert B. Secor
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Publication number: 20120313275Abstract: A method of controlling a slot die comprises positioning actuators of the slot die with a controller according to a first set of discrete settings, operating the slot die by passing an extrudate through the fluid flow path and out the applicator slot with the actuators positioned according to the first set of discrete settings, and while passing the extrudate through the fluid flow path and out the applicator slot, changing the positions of the actuators with the controller to create patterned features in the extrudate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2011Publication date: December 13, 2012Inventors: Jennifer L. Trice, Pentti K. Loukusa, Robert A. Yapel, Robert B. Secor, Paul C. Thomas, William J. Kopecky, Keith R. Bruesewitz, Kristopher K. Biegler
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Patent number: 7455897Abstract: The invention is a contact die for dispensing of flowable material on a substrate. The contact die includes at least one die block including a first internal passage. A die lip portion is disposed on the die block having a lateral dimension. A first plurality of orifices is disposed through the die lip portion proximate to each other and in communication with the internal passage to dispense flowable material as a single strip on the substrate. A first edge is disposed on one lateral side of the first plurality of orifices to direct the flowable material.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2004Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Pentti K. Loukusa, Kurt W. Oster, Todd L. Peterson, Robert B. Secor, Rebecca A. Shipman, Merlin J. Steffen
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Patent number: 6803076Abstract: The invention is a contact die for dispensing of flowable material on a substrate. The contact die includes at least one die block including a first internal passage. A die lip portion is disposed on the die block having a lateral dimension. A first plurality of orifices is disposed through the die lip portion proximate to each other and in communication with the internal passage to dispense flowable material as a single strip on the substrate. A first edge is disposed on one lateral side of the first plurality of orifices to direct the flowable material.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2002Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Pentti K. Loukusa, Kurt W. Oster, Todd L. Peterson, Robert B. Secor, Rebecca A. Shipman, Merlin J. Steffen
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Publication number: 20030192473Abstract: The invention is a contact die for dispensing of flowable material on a substrate. The contact die includes at least one die block including a first internal passage. A die lip portion is disposed on the die block having a lateral dimension. A first plurality of orifices is disposed through the die lip portion proximate to each other and in communication with the internal passage to dispense flowable material as a single strip on the substrate. A first edge is disposed on one lateral side of the first plurality of orifices to direct the flowable material.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2002Publication date: October 16, 2003Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Pentti K. Loukusa, Kurt W. Oster, Todd L. Peterson, Robert B. Secor, Rebecca A. Shipman, Merlin J. Steffen