Patents by Inventor Richard Schwarz

Richard Schwarz 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).

  • Publication number: 20240116688
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the invention comprises a packaging structure comprising a cap layer which comprises post-consumer resin, at least one additional layer adjacent the first layer which comprises an alloy of: polyethylene terephthalate; a polyolefin; and at least one compatibilizer; a barrier coating adjacent the at least one additional layer and opposite the cap layer, wherein the barrier coating comprises a matrix of polyethyleneimine and polyvinyl alcohol and an overlacquer about the barrier coating. The methods of the invention may include co-extruding the cap layer and an alloy layer to form a co-extrudate; optionally, melt adhering the co-extrudate to another alloy layer to form a melt-adhered sheet; intermixing a solution of polyethyleneimine, polyvinyl alcohol, and water to form a coating; applying the coating to the outermost alloy layer opposite the cap layer; drying the applied coating; applying an overlacquer about the coating; and drying the overlacquer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventor: Richard Schwarz
  • Patent number: 11884466
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the invention comprises a packaging structure comprising a cap layer which comprises post-consumer resin, at least one additional layer adjacent the first layer which comprises an alloy of: polyethylene terephthalate; a polyolefin; and at least one compatibilizer; a barrier coating adjacent the at least one additional layer and opposite the cap layer, wherein the barrier coating comprises a matrix of polyethyleneimine and polyvinyl alcohol and an overlacquer about the barrier coating. The methods of the invention may include co-extruding the cap layer and an alloy layer to form a co-extrudate; optionally, melt adhering the co-extrudate to another alloy layer to form a melt-adhered sheet; intermixing a solution of polyethyleneimine, polyvinyl alcohol, and water to form a coating; applying the coating to the outermost alloy layer opposite the cap layer; drying the applied coating; applying an overlacquer about the coating; and drying the overlacquer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: SONOCO DEVELOPMENT, INC.
    Inventor: Richard Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20230365828
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the invention comprises a thermoformable sheet which comprises a polymer layer, and a barrier layer disposed adjacent the polymer layer. The barrier layer comprises a plurality of particles coated in an adhesion promotor. The plurality of coated particles are dispersed in a barrier solution of polyvinyl alcohol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventor: Richard Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20230356513
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the invention comprises a packaging structure or formable sheet comprising a first layer which comprises post-consumer resin and, in some embodiments, a polyolefin; a second layer adjacent the first layer which comprises: post-consumer resin polyethylene terephthalate; a polyolefin; ethylene methyl acrylate; and ethylene/methyl acrylate/glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer; and in some embodiments, polypropylene maleic anhydride copolymer; and a third layer adjacent the second layer which comprises post-consumer resin and, in some embodiments, a polyolefin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventor: RICHARD SCHWARZ
  • Patent number: 11752741
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the invention comprises a packaging structure or formable sheet comprising a first layer which comprises post-consumer resin and, in some embodiments, a polyolefin; a second layer adjacent the first layer which comprises: post-consumer resin polyethylene terephthalate; a polyolefin; ethylene methyl acrylate; and ethylene/methyl acrylate/glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer; and in some embodiments, polypropylene maleic anhydride copolymer; and a third layer adjacent the second layer which comprises post-consumer resin and, in some embodiments, a polyolefin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: SONOCO DEVELOPMENT, INC.
    Inventor: Richard Schwarz
  • Patent number: 11708533
    Abstract: Plastic conversion vessels such as pyrolytic reactors convert plastic waste materials such as polymers, or hydrocarboneous material, or both, via in situ chemical reactions comprising cracking, recombination, reforming, recracking, and the like, to usable chemical compounds such as naphtha, diesel fuel, heavy oil, wax, and the like. Inherent within the polymers and/or carbonaceous material are generally solid, inert residues such as various fillers, pigments, flame retardants, silica, aluminum, talc, glass, clay, and so forth. Such solid inert residues (SIR) must be treated to remove residual volatile organic material therefrom in order to meet acceptable environmental standards and/or limits. A heated dryer for treating the SIR comprises heating units to remove excessive volatile organic material therefrom as when moved along a conveyor that transfers said material to a collection area. The collection area comprises one or more pistons that are capable of compacting and discharging said SIR material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: RES Polyflow LLC
    Inventors: George W. Strekal, Jay Schabel, Richard A. Schwarz, Mehmet A. Gencer, Richard K. Peterson, Cassten Everidge
  • Publication number: 20230092236
    Abstract: An improved sheet for making a three-dimensional article for holding food, such as a food tray, and a method of making a three-dimensional article. The sheet comprises a substrate and a laminate film. The laminate film may comprise a ceramic film and a copolymer layer. The copolymer layer can repair any cracks that occur due in the ceramic film when the sheet is thermoformed. The food tray is considered a single material that is recyclable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 11565512
    Abstract: An improved sheet for making a three-dimensional article for holding food, such as a food tray, and a method of making a three-dimensional article. The sheet comprises a substrate and a laminate film. The laminate film may comprise a ceramic film and a copolymer layer. The copolymer layer can repair any cracks that occur in the ceramic film when the sheet is thermoformed. The food tray is considered a single material that is recyclable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20220379941
    Abstract: An industrial truck includes a vehicle frame and a drive unit. The drive unit includes a drive wheel movably mounted to the vehicle frame and a spring unit. The spring unit includes a hydraulic cylinder positioned between the vehicle frame and the drive unit and a switchable valve configured to define a blocked state. The spring unit is configured to pretension the drive wheel against a ground surface. When the switchable valve is in the blocked state, a one-sided movement of the hydraulic cylinder is blocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Applicant: Jungheinrich Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Schüler, Richard Schwarz, Melanie Schefner, Marcel Krenzin
  • Publication number: 20220185556
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the invention comprises a packaging structure comprising a cap layer which comprises post-consumer resin, at least one additional layer adjacent the first layer which comprises an alloy of: polyethylene terephthalate; a polyolefin; and at least one compatibilizer; a barrier coating adjacent the at least one additional layer and opposite the cap layer, wherein the barrier coating comprises a matrix of polyethyleneimine and polyvinyl alcohol and an overlacquer about the barrier coating. The methods of the invention may include co-extruding the cap layer and an alloy layer to form a co-extrudate; optionally, melt adhering the co-extrudate to another alloy layer to form a melt-adhered sheet; intermixing a solution of polyethyleneimine, polyvinyl alcohol, and water to form a coating; applying the coating to the outermost alloy layer opposite the cap layer; drying the applied coating; applying an overlacquer about the coating; and drying the overlacquer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventor: Richard Schwarz
  • Patent number: 11325767
    Abstract: A packaging container for holding contents such as fresh food. The container comprises a tray having a flange, a pre-formed scaling ring and a flexible film for sealing in the contents of the tray. The sealing ring is made from fiber, filament or tape (“FFT”) that is shaped into a shape that matches the shape of the tray flange. The sealing ring is adhered to the tray flange by heat welding or other means and the flexible film is adhered to the sealing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20220064535
    Abstract: Plastic conversion vessels such as pyrolytic reactors convert plastic waste materials such as polymers, or hydrocarboneous material, or both, via in situ chemical reactions comprising cracking, recombination, reforming, recracking, and the like, to usable chemical compounds such as naphtha, diesel fuel, heavy oil, wax, and the like. Inherent within the polymers and/or carbonaceous material are generally solid, inert residues such as various fillers, pigments, flame retardants, silica, aluminum, talc, glass, clay, and so forth. Such solid inert residues (SIR) must be treated to remove residual volatile organic material therefrom in order to meet acceptable environmental standards and/or limits. A heated dryer for treating the SIR comprises heating units to remove excessive volatile organic material therefrom as when moved along a conveyor that transfers said material to a collection area. The collection area comprises one or more pistons that are capable of compacting and discharging said SIR material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: George W. STREKAL, Jay SCHABEL, Richard A. SCHWARZ, Mehmet A. GENCER, Richard K. PETERSON, Cassten EVERIDGE
  • Publication number: 20220064533
    Abstract: A plastic pyrolytic conversion vessel comprises a conveying mechanism for moving a liquid, or a semi-molten, or a molten waste material, or a solid inert residue, or any combination thereof through the vessel. During pyrolyzation of the waste material, the same is heated and vaporized and undergoes in situ chemical reactions comprising cracking, recombination, reforming, recracking, and the like, and is subsequently removed from the vessel. A plurality of scraper blades serve to mix the liquid, or the semi-molten, or the molten waste material, or a solid inert residue, or any combination thereof and convey the waste material forward toward a vessel egress. In another embodiment, one or more sweeping devices serve to move forward the waste material that is located between adjacent rotating conveyor devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Jay SCHABEL, George W. STREKAL, Richard A. SCHWARZ, Mehmet A. GENCER, Richard K. PETERSON
  • Publication number: 20220065535
    Abstract: A plastic conversion feeding system serves to transport a feedstock through different processing units or stations to a vessel wherein chemical and/or physical reactions occur to produce suitable, useful end products. Various processing units include a homogenizer for breaking up said feedstock, a size reduction device for reducing the feedstock to particles and densifying the same, a heating and/or blending device for heating said feedstock, and a feed conduit connecting said heating and blending device to said vessel. The feedstock conversion unit vessel through various cracking, reforming, condensation, recombination, and recracking operations, produces a mixture of useful gases and condensable gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Jay SCHABEL, George W. STREKAL, Richard A. SCHWARZ, Mehmet A. GENCER, Richard K. PETERSON, Cassten EVERIDGE, Laura Christine STRONG
  • Publication number: 20220063966
    Abstract: The support mechanisms of the present invention comprise a vessel supported by suspension cables suspended from trollies that can move along the length (longitudinal) of a framework. The support system is such that waste material, even upon heating, cooling, etc., can constantly and smoothly move through the entire system, with the vessel generally being in a natural, balanced orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: George W. STREKAL, Jay SCHABEL, Richard A. SCHWARZ, Mehmet A. GENCER
  • Patent number: 11118114
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for pyrolysis of mixed plastic feedstock producing petroleum products are described. In one example, a process for producing petroleum products includes charging feedstock of mixed polymer materials into a reactor apparatus. Heat energy is applied to the feedstock while advancing the feedstock through the reactor apparatus in an anaerobic operation. The energy input to the reactor apparatus is controlled by controlling a temperature gradient within the reactor vessel to produce petroleum gas product. The process involves in situ chemical reactions comprising cracking and recombination reactions that that are controlled to convert solid hydrocarbonaceous portion of the feedstock to molten fluids and gases inside the reactor vessel and to produce gaseous petroleum products which exit the reactor vessel. The separated solid residue from the pyrolysis process is also removed from the reactions vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: RES POLYFLOW LLC
    Inventors: Jay Schabel, Richard A. Schwarz, Charles W. Grispin, Mehmet A. Gencer, Joseph D. Hensel
  • Publication number: 20210206151
    Abstract: An improved sheet for making a three-dimensional article for holding food, such as a food tray, and a method of making a three-dimensional article. The sheet comprises a substrate and a laminate film. The laminate film may comprise a ceramic film and a copolymer layer. The copolymer layer can repair any cracks that occur in the ceramic film when the sheet is thermoformed. The food tray is considered a single material that is recyclable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicant: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20200346833
    Abstract: A packaging container for holding contents such as fresh food. The container comprises a tray having a flange, a pre-formed scaling ring and a flexible film for sealing in the contents of the tray. The sealing ring is made from fiber, filament or tape (“FFT”) that is shaped into a shape that matches the shape of the tray flange. The sealing ring is adhered to the tray flange by heat welding or other means and the flexible film is adhered to the sealing ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20200290908
    Abstract: An aerobic bio-restoration aqueous system is contained in an artificial ecosystem that treats contaminated water to yield a natural balance or state wherein indigenous flora, fauna, insects and animal life thrive. The system contains a reactor that has exterior walls for enclosing contaminated water. The walls can be solid, but generally contain one or more perforated areas. An important advantage of the present invention is that the perforated areas such as openings, holes, etc., allow the aqueous matter to flow into as well as out of the artificial ecosystem. The ecosystem reactor can be located in a lake, a pond, or other aqueous environments. Water can flow into the artificial ecosystem and be bio-remediated, by utilizing natural flow and/or currents of the aqueous ecosystem. Various types of one or more inert media substrates containing pores that generally contain one or more microorganisms therein serve to bio-remediate various matter contained in the aqueous system such as contaminated water, e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Mehmet A. GENCER, Kaan GENCER, Clark B. LANGMACK, Richard A. SCHWARZ, Paul M. ZAKRISKI
  • Patent number: 10766682
    Abstract: A packaging container for holding contents such as fresh food. The container comprises a tray having a flange, a pre-formed sealing ring and a flexible film for sealing in the contents of the tray. The sealing ring is made from fiber, filament or tape (“FFT”) that is shaped into a shape that matches the shape of the tray flange. The sealing ring is adhered to the tray flange by heat welding or other means and the flexible film is adhered to the sealing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A Schwarz