Patents by Inventor Scott W. Capeci

Scott W. Capeci 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: 5565137
    Abstract: A process for preparing high density detergent agglomerates having a density of at least 650 g/l is provided. The process comprises the steps of: (a) continuously mixing a detergent surfactant paste and dry starting detergent material into a high speed mixer/densifier to obtain detergent agglomerates, wherein the ratio of the surfactant paste to the dry detergent material is from about 1:10 to about 10:1; (b) mixing the detergent agglomerates in a moderate speed mixer/densifier to further densify and agglomerate the detergent agglomerates; and (c) drying said detergent agglomerates so as to form the high density detergent composition. The process may include one or more additional processing steps such as adding a coating agent after the moderate speed mixer/densifier to facilitate and control agglomeration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: The Proctor & Gamble Co.
    Inventor: Scott W. Capeci
  • Patent number: 5554587
    Abstract: A process for preparing high density detergent agglomerates having a density of at least 650 g/l is provided. The process includes the steps of: (a) agglomerating an aqueous surfactant paste and dry detergent material in a mixer/densifier so as to form detergent agglomerates having a density of at least about 650 g/l; and (b) inputting air into the mixer/densifier while agglomerating the aqueous surfactant paste and the dry detergent material, wherein the air has a relative humidity below the equilibrium relative humidity of the detergent agglomerates such that at least a minor amount of water from the surfactant paste is absorbed by the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Scott W. Capeci
  • Patent number: 5516448
    Abstract: A process for continuously preparing high density detergent composition is provided. The process comprises the steps of: (a) continuously charging a detergent surfactant paste and dry starting detergent material into a high speed mixer/densifier to obtain agglomerates; (b) mixing the agglomerates in a moderate speed mixer/densifier to further densify, build-up and agglomerate the agglomerates; (c) feeding the agglomerates into a conditioning apparatus for improving the flow properties of the agglomerates and for separating the agglomerates into a first agglomerate mixture and a second agglomerate mixture; (d) recycling the first agglomerate mixture into the high speed mixer/densifier for further agglomeration; (e) admixing adjunct detergent ingredients to the second agglomerate mixture so as to form the high density detergent composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Scott W. Capeci, John F. Lange, David J. Smith, Nigel S. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5496487
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process which produces high density detergent compositions especially suitable for commercialization as a compact detergent product. The process can be easily retrofitted into existing spray drying detergent-making production plants in that it utilizes existing equipment so as to economize the transition from "tower" based to "non-tower" based detergent manufacturing plants. The process comprises the steps of: (a) agglomerating starting detergent ingredients in a mixer/densifier such that detergent agglomerates having a density of at least 650 g/l are formed; (b) conditioning the agglomerates in a spray-drying tower so as to enhance the free flowability of the detergent agglomerates: and (c) admixing adjunct detergent ingredients in the detergent agglomerates, thereby producing the high density granular detergent composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Scott W. Capeci, David R. Nassano, Robert G. Welch
  • Patent number: 5489392
    Abstract: A process for continuously preparing high density detergent composition is provided. The process comprises the steps of: (a) continuously charging a detergent surfactant paste and dry starting detergent material into a mixer/densifier for densification and build-up to obtain agglomerates; (b) feeding the agglomerates into a conditioning apparatus for improving the flow properties of the agglomerates and for separating the agglomerates into a first agglomerate mixture and a second agglomerate mixture; (d) recycling the first agglomerate mixture into the mixer/densifier for further agglomeration; (e) admixing adjunct detergent ingredients to the second agglomerate mixture so as to form the high density detergent composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Scott W. Capeci, John F. Lange, David J. Smith, Nigel S. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5486303
    Abstract: A process for preparing high density detergent agglomerates having a density of at least 650 g/l is provided. The process comprises the steps of: (a) charging a viscous surfactant paste into a mixer/densifier wherein the surfactant paste has a viscosity of from about 5,000 cps to about 100,000 cps and contains at least about 5% water; (b) adding from about 1% to about 70% of an anhydrous material into the surfactant paste just prior to entrance into the mixer/densifier to absorb at least a minor amount of the water from the surfactant paste; and (c) agglomerating the surfactant paste and the anhydrous material in the mixer/densifier so as to form detergent agglomerates having a density of at least about 650 g/l. The detergent agglomerates have high surfactant levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Scott W. Capeci, James W. Osborn, Adrian J. W. Angell, Paul van Dijk
  • Patent number: 5431857
    Abstract: A process for producing a high density detergent composition having a density of about 650 g/l is provided. The process comprises the step of forming detergent agglomerates by feeding several streams of materials into a mixer/densfier. Specifically, the following materials are continuously fed into the mixer/densifier: (i) from about 1% to about 50% by weight of a C.sub.10-18 linear alkylbenzene sulfonate surfactant; (ii) from about 1% to about 50% by weight of a C.sub.12-16 alkyl sulfate surfactant, wherein the linear alkylbenzene sulfonate and the alkyl sulfate are in the form of dry particles; (iii) from about 20% to about 50% by weight of a builder; and (iv) from about 0.1% to about 35% by weight of an agglomerating agent which substantially prevents the intimate mixing of the linear alkylbenzene sulfonate surfactant and the alkyl sulfate surfactant in the mixer/densifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Scott W. Capeci
  • Patent number: 5366652
    Abstract: A process for preparing high density detergent agglomerates having a density of at least 650 g/l is provided. The process comprises the steps of: (a) charging a viscous surfactant paste into a mixer/densifier wherein the surfactant paste has a viscosity of from about 10,000 cps to about 100,000 cps and contains at least about 10% water; (b) adding from about 1% to about 20% of an anhydrous material into the surfactant paste just prior to entrance into the mixer/densifier to absorb at least a minor amount of the water from the surfactant paste; and (c) agglomerating the surfactant paste and the anhydrous material in the mixer/densifier so as to form detergent agglomerates having a density of at least about 650 g/l. The detergent agglomerates have high surfactant levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Scott W. Capeci, James W. Osborn, Adrian J. W. Angell, Paul van Dijk