Patents by Inventor Sami Kotkamo

Sami Kotkamo 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: 10857753
    Abstract: A method for improving the heat sealability of a packaging material and a method for manufacturing a heat-sealed container or package are described. The material can be polymer-coated packaging paper or cardboard, or a polymeric packaging film. The material includes a polymer layer that contains polyester, particularly polylactide, the heat sealability of which is improved by ultraviolet radiation. Polylactide is useful as such or when blended, for example, with other biodegradable polyester. The containers and packages thus manufactured include disposable drinking cups and cardboard carton and box packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: STORA ENSO OYJ
    Inventors: Tapani Penttinen, Kimmo Nevalainen, Jurkka Kuusipalo, Tapio Koskinen, Sami Kotkamo
  • Patent number: 10493700
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods for lowering the melt viscosity and thereby improving heat-sealability of a polyester. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a heat-sealed container or package from fibrous-based, polyester-coated packaging material, and a method for heat-sealing polyester. The solution according to the invention is subjecting polyester to electron beam (EB) radiation. The lowered melt viscosity allows a lower heat-sealing temperature, and permits sealing of polyester to an uncoated fibrous surface. The preferred polyester for the invention is polylactide, as such or as blended with another polyester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Stora Enso OYJ
    Inventors: Kimmo Nevalainen, Ville Ribu, Jari Räsänen, Outi Kylliainen, Ari Rosling, Mohammad Khajeheian, Jurkka Kuusipalo, Sami Kotkamo, Mikko Tuominen
  • Patent number: 10214316
    Abstract: A biodegradable packaging material, a method of manufacturing the same, as well as products made of the material wherein a multilayer coating coextruded onto a fibrous substrate the multilayer coating comprising innermost and outermost layers of a blend comprising 20-95 wt-% of a higher melt index polylactide and 5-80 wt-% of another biodegradable polymer such as polybutylene succinate, and a middle layer containing a lower melt index polylactide alone. The goal is to increase machine speed in coextrusion while maintaining good adhesiveness to the substrate and good heat-sealability of the coating. The products include disposable drinking cups and board trays, as well as sealed carton packages for solids and liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: STORA ENSO OYJ
    Inventors: Kimmo Nevalainen, Ville Ribu, Jurkka Kuusipalo, Sami Kotkamo
  • Publication number: 20180154603
    Abstract: A method for improving the heat sealability of a packaging material and a method for manufacturing a heat-sealed container or package are described. The material can be polymer-coated packaging paper or cardboard, or a polymeric packaging film. The material includes a polymer layer that contains polyester, particularly polylactide, the heat sealability of which is improved by ultraviolet radiation. Polylactide is useful as such or when blended, for example, with other biodegradable polyester. The containers and packages thus manufactured include disposable drinking cups and cardboard carton and box packages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Tapani PENTTINEN, Kimmo NEVALAINEN, Jurkka KUUSIPALO, Tapio KOSKINEN, Sami KOTKAMO
  • Patent number: 9937681
    Abstract: A method for improving the heat sealability of a packaging material and a method for manufacturing a heat-sealed container or package are described. The material can be polymer-coated packaging paper or cardboard, or a polymeric packaging film. The material includes a polymer layer that contains polyester, particularly polylactide, the heat sealability of which is improved by ultraviolet radiation. Polylactide is useful as such or when blended, for example, with other biodegradable polyester. The containers and packages thus manufactured include disposable drinking cups and cardboard carton and box packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: STORA ENSO OYJ
    Inventors: Tapani Penttinen, Kimmo Nevalainen, Jurkka Kuusipalo, Tapio Koskinen, Sami Kotkamo
  • Publication number: 20170008226
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods for lowering the melt viscosity and thereby improving heat-sealability of a polyester. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a heat-sealed container or package from fibrous- based, polyester-coated packaging material, and a method for heat-sealing polyester. The solution according to the invention is subjecting polyester to electron beam (EB) radiation. The lowered melt viscosity allows a lower heat-sealing temperature, and permits sealing of polyester to an uncoated fibrous surface. The preferred polyester for the invention is polylactide, as such or as blended with another polyester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Kimmo Nevalainen, Ville Ribu, Jari Räsänen, Outi Kylliainen, Ari Rosling, Mohammad Khajeheian, Jurkka Kuusipalo, Sami Kotkamo, Mikko Touminen
  • Patent number: 9181010
    Abstract: A heat-sealable biodegradable packaging material, its manufacturing method and a product package formed thereof, where the packaging material comprises a fiber substrate, an inner polymeric coating layer against the fiber substrate, which contains polylactide and a biodegradable polyester that is blended therewith to improve the adhesion between the inner coating layer and the fiber substrate, and an outer coating layer that constitutes the outer surface of the material and contains polylactide and a biodegradable polyester that is blended therewith to improve the heat sealing ability of the layer, the portion of polylactide in the inner layer present in an amount greater than that in the outer layer. The inner and/or outer coating layers can further have blended therewith a small amount of acrylic copolymer that improves the adhesion and/or heat sealing ability. The coating layers can be introduced onto the fiber substrate by extrusion or coextrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Stora Enso OYJ
    Inventors: Tapani Penttinen, Kimmo Nevalainen, Jurkka Kuusipalo, Tapio Koskinen, Sami Kotkamo
  • Publication number: 20150284133
    Abstract: A biodegradable packaging material, a method of manufacturing the same, as well as products made of the material wherein a multilayer coating coextruded onto a fibrous substrate the multilayer coating comprising innermost and outermost layers of a blend comprising 20-95 wt-% of a higher melt index polylactide and 5-80 wt-% of another biodegradable polymer such as polybutylene succinate, and a middle layer containing a lower melt index polylactide alone. The goal is to increase machine speed in coextrusion while maintaining good adhesiveness to the substrate and good heat-sealability of the coating. The products include disposable drinking cups and board trays, as well as sealed carton packages for solids and liquids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Kimmo Nevalainen, Ville Ribu, Jurkka Kuusipalo, Sami Kotkamo
  • Publication number: 20130137562
    Abstract: A method for improving the heat sealability of a packaging material and a method for manufacturing a heat-sealed container or package are described. The material can be polymer-coated packaging paper or cardboard, or a polymeric packaging film. The material includes a polymer layer that contains polyester, particularly polylactide, the heat sealability of which is improved by ultraviolet radiation. Polylactide is useful as such or when blended, for example, with other biodegradable polyester. The containers and packages thus manufactured include disposable drinking cups and cardboard carton and box packages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: STORA ENSO OYJ
    Inventors: Tapani Penttinen, Kimmo Nevalainen, Jurkka Kuusipalo, Tapio Koskinen, Sami Kotkamo
  • Publication number: 20130071677
    Abstract: A heat-sealable biodegradable packaging material, its manufacturing method and a product package formed thereof, where the packaging material comprises a fiber substrate, an inner polymeric coating layer against the fiber substrate, which contains polylactide and a biodegradable polyester that is blended therewith to improve the adhesion between the inner coating layer and the fiber substrate, and an outer coating layer that constitutes the outer surface of the material and contains polylactide and a biodegradable polyester that is blended therewith to improve the heat sealing ability of the layer, the portion of polylactide in the inner layer than that in the outer layer. The inner and/or outer coating layers can further have blended therewith a small amount of acrylic copolymer that improves the adhesion and/or heat sealing ability. The coating layers can be introduced onto the fiber substrate by extrusion or coextrusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: STORA ENSO OYJ
    Inventors: Tapani Penttinen, Kimmo Nevalainen, Jurkka Kuusipalo, Tapio Koskinen, Sami Kotkamo