Patents by Inventor Robert J. DeVoe

Robert J. DeVoe 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: 6441058
    Abstract: The present invention involves the use of powder coating methods to form coated abrasives. In one embodiment, the powder is in the form of a multiplicity of binder precursor particles comprising a radiation curable component. In other embodiments, the powder comprises at least one metal salt of a fatty acid and optionally an organic component that may be a thermoplastic macromolecule, a radiation curable component, and/or a thermally curable macromolecule. In either embodiment, the powder exists as a solid under the desired dry coating conditions, but is easily melted at relatively low temperatures and then solidified also at reasonably low processing temperatures. The principles of the present invention can be applied to form make coats, size coats, and/or supersize coats, as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ernest L. Thurber, Eric G. Larson, Gregg D. Dahlke, Robert J. DeVoe, Alan R. Kirk, Mark R. Meierotto, Roy Stubbs
  • Patent number: 6372336
    Abstract: A coated abrasive article comprises a backing, a first binder on the backing, and a plurality of abrasive particles in the first binder. The first binder precursor is an energy-curable preferably, melt-processable resin containing an epoxy resin, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and a curing agent for crosslinking the epoxy resin that is cured to provide a crosslinked make coating. The above binder precursors of the invention are preferably free of homopolymers and copolymers of olefinic monomers. In another aspect, the invention also describes an energy curable first binder precursor containing an epoxy resin, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a polyfunctional acrylate component and a curing agent for crosslinking the epoxy resin that is cured to provide a crosslinked make coating. The invention also relates to a method of producing such coated abrasive articles and a surface-treated backing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas M. Clausen, Gregg D. Dahlke, Robert J. DeVoe, Craig A. Masmar
  • Patent number: 6359027
    Abstract: A coated abrasive article comprises a backing, a first binder on the backing, and a plurality of abrasive particles in the first binder. The first binder precursor is an energy-curable preferably, melt-processable resin containing an epoxy resin, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and a curing agent for crosslinking the epoxy resin that is cured to provide a crosslinked make coating. The above binder precursors of the invention are preferably free of homopolymers and copolymers of olefinic monomers. In another aspect, the invention also describes an energy curable first binder precursor containing an epoxy resin, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a polyfunctional acrylate component and a curing agent for crosslinking the epoxy resin that is cured to provide a crosslinked make coating. The invention also relates to a method of producing such coated abrasive articles and a surface-treated backing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gregg D. Dahlke, Robert J. DeVoe, Clayton A. George, Naimul Karim
  • Publication number: 20010023158
    Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for use in coated abrasives. The curable composition comprises a mixture of: i) from about 30 to about 60 weight percent of an oligomeric aminoplast resin having on average at least one pendant &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carbonyl group per oligomeric unit; ii) from about 70 to about 40 weight percent of a thermoplastic polyamide miscible in said aminoplast resin, the weight percents being based on the total resin content; and iii) a sufficient amount of a catalyst for the curable oligomeric aminoplast resin having on average at least one pendant &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carbonyl group per oligomeric unit, said catalyst being stable at a temperature of mixing of the components. The curable composition can either be in the form of a melt-processable solid or a molten mixture. The present invention also provides single and multilayered treated backing substrates used in coated abrasives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robert J. DeVoe, Gregg D. Dahlke
  • Publication number: 20010011108
    Abstract: The present invention involves the use of powder coating methods to form coated abrasives. In one embodiment, the powder is in the form of a multiplicity of binder precursor particles comprising a radiation curable component. In other embodiments, the powder comprises at least one metal salt of a fatty acid and optionally an organic component that may be a thermoplastic macromolecule, a radiation curable component, and/or a thermally curable macromolecule. In either embodiment, the powder exists as a solid under the desired dry coating conditions, but is easily melted at relatively low temperatures and then solidified also at reasonably low processing temperatures. The principles of the present invention can be applied to form make coats, size coats, and/or supersize coats, as desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ernest L. Thurber, Eric G. Larson, Gregg D. Dahlke, Robert J. DeVoe, Alan R. Kirk, Mark R. Meierotto, Roy Stubbs
  • Patent number: 6258138
    Abstract: A coated abrasive article comprises a backing, a first binder on the backing, and a plurality of abrasive particles in the first binder. The first binder precursor is an energy-curable preferably, melt-processable resin containing an epoxy resin, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and a curing agent for crosslinking the epoxy resin that is cured to provide a crosslinked make coating. The above binder precursors of the invention are preferably free of homopolymers and copolymers of olefinic monomers. In another aspect, the invention also describes an energy curable first binder precursor containing an epoxy resin, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a polyfunctional acrylate component and a curing agent for crosslinking the epoxy resin that is cured to provide a crosslinked make coating. The invention also relates to a method of producing such coated abrasive articles and a surface-treated backing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robert J. DeVoe, Thomas M. Clausen, Gregg D. Dahlke, Clayton A. George, Naimul Karim, Craig A. Masmar
  • Patent number: 6239049
    Abstract: The present invention provides a composition for use in coated abrasives. The curable composition comprises a mixture of: i) from about 30 to about 60 weight percent of an oligomeric aminoplast resin having on average at least one pendant &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carbonyl group per oligomeric unit; ii) from about 70 to about 40 weight percent of a thermoplastic polyamide miscible in said aminoplast resin, the weight percents being based on the total resin content; and iii) a sufficient amount of a catalyst for the curable oligomeric aminoplast resin having on average at least one pendant &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carbonyl group per oligomeric unit, said catalyst being stable at a temperature of mixing of the components. The curable composition can either be in the form of a melt-processable solid or a molten mixture. The present invention also provides single and multilayered treated backing substrates used in coated abrasives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Follensbee, Michael L. Teetzel, Robert J. DeVoe, Gregg D. Dahlke
  • Patent number: 6228133
    Abstract: The present invention involves the use of powder coating methods to form coated abrasives. In one embodiment, the powder is in the form of a multiplicity of binder precursor particles comprising a radiation curable component. In other embodiments, the powder comprises at least one metal salt of a fatty acid and optionally an organic component that may be a thermoplastic macromolecule, a radiation curable component, and/or a thermally curable macromolecule. In either embodiment, the powder exists as a solid under the desired dry coating conditions, but is easily melted at relatively low temperatures and then solidified also at reasonably low processing temperatures. The principles of the present invention can be applied to form make coats, size coats, and/or supersize coats, as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ernest L. Thurber, Eric G. Larson, Gregg D. Dahlke, Robert J. DeVoe, Alan R. Kirk, Mark R. Meierotto, Roy Stubbs
  • Patent number: 6077601
    Abstract: A coated abrasive article comprises a backing, a first binder on the backing, and a plurality of abrasive particles in the first binder. The first binder precursor is an energy-curable preferably, melt-processable resin containing an epoxy resin, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and a curing agent for crosslinking the epoxy resin that is cured to provide a crosslinked make coating. The above binder precursors of the invention are preferably free of homopolymers and copolymers of olefinic monomers. In another aspect, the invention also describes an energy curable first binder precursor containing an epoxy resin, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a polyfunctional acrylate component and a curing agent for crosslinking the epoxy resin that is cured to provide a crosslinked make coating. The invention also relates to a method of producing such coated abrasive articles and a surface-treated backing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robert J. DeVoe, Thomas M. Clausen, Gregg D. Dahlke, Clayton A. George, Naimul Karim, Craig A. Masmar
  • Patent number: 6054007
    Abstract: A shaped adhesive article is prepared by a method comprising the steps of shaping an adhesive mixture in a mold, said mold having one or more featured surfaces, said mixture including a first polymer precursor and a second polymer precursor, or a first polymer precursor and a thermoplastic polymer, polymerizing said first polymer precursor in said mold, to produce a shaped adhesive article having one or more featured surfaces, removing said shaped adhesive article from said mold, and adhering one or more of said featured surfaces to a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gary T. Boyd, Robert J. DeVoe, Ilya Gorodisher, David A. Ylitalo
  • Patent number: 5922784
    Abstract: A coated abrasive article comprises a backing, a first binder (i.e., a make coat) on the backing, and a plurality of abrasive particles in the first binder. The first binder precursor is an energy-curable melt-processable resin containing an epoxy resin, a polyester component, a polyfunctional acrylate component, and a curing agent for crosslinking the epoxy resin that is cured to provide a crosslinked make coating. The invention also relates to a method of producing such coated abrasive articles and a surface-treated porous cloth material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Robert J. DeVoe, Gregg D. Dahlke, Kimberly K. Harmon, Craig A. Masmar
  • Patent number: 5856373
    Abstract: A visible-light photopolymerizable composition comprising a) a cationically polymerizable epoxy resin, b) a hydroxyl-containing material c) an aryliodonium salt and d) a visible light sensitizer that is an alpha-dicarbonyl compound having an extinction coefficient less than about 1000. Particularly preferred compositions of the present invention are dental materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: David A. Kaisaki, Sumita B. Mitra, William J. Schultz, Robert J. DeVoe
  • Patent number: 5766277
    Abstract: A coated abrasive article comprises a backing, a first binder (i.e., a make coat) on the backing, and a plurality of abrasive particles in the first binder. The first binder precursor is an energy-curable melt-processable resin containing an epoxy resin, a polyester component, a polyfunctional acrylate component, and a curing agent for crosslinking the epoxy resin that is cured to provide a crosslinked make coating. The invention also relates to a method of producing such coated abrasive articles and a surface-treated porous cloth material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Robert J. DeVoe, Gregg D. Dahlke, Kimberly K. Harmon, Craig A. Masmar
  • Patent number: 5709948
    Abstract: A curable composition comprises 0.1 to 50 weight percent of a curable epoxy resin, the weight percent being based on the total resin composition, an effective mount of a curative for the curable epoxy resin, 50 to 99.9 weight percent of at least one of a fully prepolymerized hydrocarbon polyolefin resin and a fully prepolymerized functionalized polyolefin resin, the weight percent being based on the total resin composition, wherein said hydrocarbon polyolefin is present in the range of 25 to 99.9 weight percent of the total resin composition and said functionalized polyolefin is present in the range of 0 to 49.9 weight percent of the total resin composition, said composition being free of epoxidized natural and/or synthetic rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mario A. Perez, David A. Ylitalo, Thomas M. Clausen, Robert J. DeVoe, Kevin E. Kinzer, Michael D. Swan
  • Patent number: 5514728
    Abstract: Salts having a cationic portion of either a mono-, polyvent metal center, onium salts or organometallic salts and a nonnucleophilic anion are useful as catalysts and initiators that may be photochemically or thermally-activated, and polymerizable compositions containing such catalysts and initiator salts and at least one of a cationic or free-radical addition polymerizable monomers, or catalyzed step-growth polymerizable monomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: William M. Lamanna, Michael C. Palazzotto, Robert J. DeVoe, Fred B. McCormick, Jeffrey M. Olofson, Allen R. Siedle, Peggy S. Willett
  • Patent number: 5462797
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition and a method for producing the same. The pressure-sensitive adhesive composition is produced by the combination of at least one free-radically photopolymerizable monomer and at least one set of polyurethane precursors, and a suitable photoinitiation system consisting of at least one salt of a cationic organometallic complex, an additional free-radical photo initiator and the application of sufficient energy to photopolymerize same by sequential exposure to visible electromagnetic radiation and then to ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Minneapolis Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jerry W. Williams, Robert J. DeVoe, Thomas P. Klun, George F. Vesley, Patrick G. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 5387492
    Abstract: Energy polymerizable compositions comprising at least one cyanate monomer and as curing agent an organometallic compound are disclosed. The compositions are useful in applications requiring high performance, such as high temperature performance; in composites, particularly structural composities; structural adhesives; tooling for structural composities; electronic applications such as printed wiring boards and semiconductor encapsulants; graphic arts; injection molding and prepregs; and high performance binders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Fred B. McCormick, Katherine A. Brown-Wensley, Robert J. DeVoe
  • Patent number: 5380923
    Abstract: Polymeric triarylsulfonium salts are provided having a repeating structural unit with the formula: ##STR1## where R represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, X.sup.- represents a non-nucleophilic anion, n represents an integer greater than or equal to 0 and p represents an integer greater than or equal to 2 and may be prepared by combining (a) an arylbis(p-fluorophenyl)substituted sulfonium salt with a bis(trimethylsilylated)dithiol in a polar aprotic solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bradford B. Wright, Omar Farooq, Robert J. DeVoe
  • Patent number: 5376428
    Abstract: An energy polymerizable composition comprises at least one ethylenically-unsaturated monomer, one of polyurethane precursors, and at least one epoxy monomer, and a curing agent comprising an organometallic compound, and an onium salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael C. Palazzotto, Katherine A. Brown-Wensley, Robert J. DeVoe
  • Patent number: 5360462
    Abstract: A method for preparing a coated abrasive article wherein the a plurality of abrasive grains are applied to a make coat such that the abrasive grains are substantially a mono-layer. The make coat precursor is a pressure-sensitive adhesive-like or pressure-sensitive adhesive. The make coat precursor is partially cured to approximate a pressure-sensitive adhesive-like layer or when fully cured is a pressure-sensitive adhesive. The make coat precursor has sufficient "tack" to hold the abrasive grains during the application and curing of the size coat, resulting in a substantially monolayer of abrasive grains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Walter L. Harmer, Robert J. DeVoe, Eric G. Larson, Don H. Kincaid, Peggy S. Willett, Jerry W. Williams