Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Nelson

Thomas J. Nelson 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: 20220040815
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, devices, and methods for abrasive articles and manufacturing the same. A shaped abrasive particle placement tool can include a substrate including an abrasive particle receiving surface defining an x-y plane including an x-axis and a y-axis and a back surface opposite the abrasive particle receiving surface, cavities formed in the substrate, the cavities including one or more sidewalls, the cavities including a width and length at the abrasive article receiving surface, and a depth defined by a distance the first cavities extend from the abrasive article receiving surface towards the back surface in a direction parallel to a z-axis perpendicular to the x-y plane, and respective protrusions between two or more proximate cavities, the respective protrusions extending from the abrasive article receiving surface in a direction parallel to the z-axis and away from the back surface, and shaped abrasive particles situated in the cavities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Aaron K. Nienaber, Joseph B. Eckel, Thomas J. Nelson, Ann M. Hawkins, Amelia W. Koenig, Yuyang Liu
  • Publication number: 20220040816
    Abstract: Apparatus includes a production tooling having a dispensing surface with a plurality of cavities and formed into an endless belt. An abrasive particle feeder dispenses shaped abrasive particles onto the dispensing surface and into the plurality of cavities. A resin coated backing receives shaped abrasive particles from the cavities of the production tooling at a deposit point. A detecting device detects a pattern transition zone as the production tooling moves in the direction of travel and provides pattern transition zone detection data to one or more controllers to control a speed of the production tooling and/or a speed of the resin coated backing as the detected pattern transition zone passes the deposit point to change a pattern density of the shaped abrasive particles in a portion of the resin coated backing corresponding to the pattern transition zone of the production tooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Joseph B. Eckel, Thomas J. Nelson, Aaron K. Nienaber, Ann M. Hawkins, Amelia W. Koenig, Negus B. Adefris
  • Publication number: 20220041909
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, devices, and methods for abrasive articles and manufacturing the same. An abrasive article can include a substrate shaped particles disposed on the substrate, wherein the shaped particles include first shaped abrasive particles and second shaped particles, and wherein a characteristic of the first shaped abrasive particles is different from a corresponding characteristic of the second shaped particles, and at least one binding agent securing the shaped particles to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Aaron K. Nienaber, Joseph B. Eckel, Thomas J. Nelson, Ann M. Hawkins, Amelia W. Koenig
  • Publication number: 20220033699
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to a shaped abrasive particle. The shaped abrasive particle includes a first non-planar continuous surface and a second non-planar continuous surface. The shaped abrasive particle further includes at least one sidewall or edge joining the first non-planar continuous surface and the second non-planar continuous surface. The shaped abrasive particle further includes one or more vertices. The shaped abrasive particle is configured to have a stable resting position on a substantially planar substrate, wherein at least one vertex is oriented in a substantially upward direction relative to the planar substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Fay T. Salmon, Cory M. Arthur, David T. Buckley, Thomas J. Nelson, Joseph B. Eckel, Emily L. Bowen, Dwight D. Erickson, Wayne W. Maurer, Henry M. O'Callaghan
  • Publication number: 20220001516
    Abstract: A coated abrasive belt (100) includes a belt backing (110) and an abrasive layer disposed thereon. The abrasive layer comprises abrasive elements (160) secured to at least a portion of a major surface of the belt backing (110) by at least one binder material. The abrasive elements are disposed at contiguous intersections of horizontal (192) and vertical lines (194) of a rectangular grid pattern. Each abrasive element has at least two triangular abrasive platelets (130), each having respective top and bottom surfaces connected to each other, and separated by, three sidewalls. On a respective basis, one sidewall of the triangular abrasive platelets is disposed facing and proximate to the belt backing A first portion of the abrasive elements is arranged in alternating first rows (16) wherein the triangular abrasive platelets are disposed lengthwise aligned with the vertical lines (194).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Joseph B. Eckel, Aaron K. Nienaber, Erin D. Spring, Brant A. Moegenburg, Eric M. Moore, Thomas J. Nelson, Thomas P. Hanschen, Steven J. Keipert
  • Publication number: 20220001514
    Abstract: According to various embodiment of the present disclosure, a bonded abrasive article precursor includes a curable composition. The curable composition includes a curative component. The curable composition further includes one or more resins. The curable composition further includes a plurality of shaped abrasive particles. The curable composition is curable in an amount of time in a range of from about 0.1 minutes to about 20 minutes at a temperature of about 25° C. to about 160° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Brett A. Beiermann, Aaron K. Nienaber, Joseph B. Eckel, Maiken Givot, Thomas J. Nelson, Robinette S. Alkhas, Dwight D. Erickson, Loc X. Van, Melissa C. Schillo-Armstrong
  • Publication number: 20210402567
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of making an abrasive article is disclosed. The method can comprise: disposing a layer of a curable composition into a mold having a circular mold cavity with a central hub, wherein the circular mold cavity has an outer circumference and a rotational axis extending through the central hub, and wherein the curable composition is comprised of at least some magnetizable abrasive particles dispersed therein; and varying a magnetic field relative to the curable composition such that a majority of the magnetizable abrasive particles are at least one of oriented and aligned in a non-random manner relative to a surface of the mold; and at least partially curing the curable composition to provide the bonded abrasive article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Ronald D. Jesme, Thomas J. Nelson, Joseph B. Eckel, Aaron K. Nienaber, Vincent R. Jansen, Samad Javid
  • Publication number: 20210388250
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to a shaped abrasive particle. The shaped abrasive particle includes at least four major faces and at least six edges joining the four major faces. One of the at least four major faces is a first rake face, a second of the at least four major faces is a second rake face. The first and second rake faces are predominantly joined along only one common edge. A dihedral angle between the first rake face and the second rake face is in a range of from about 71 degrees to about 170 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Ronald D. Jesme, Joseph B. Eckel, Thomas J. Nelson, Aaron K. Nienaber
  • Publication number: 20210370473
    Abstract: A coated abrasive disc includes an abrasive layer disposed on a major surface of a disc backing. The abrasive layer comprises triangular abrasive platelets secured to a major surface of the disc backing by at least one binder material. The triangular abrasive platelets are outwardly disposed from the major surface at contiguous intersections of horizontal and vertical lines of a rectangular grid pattern, wherein the intersections of the rectangular grid pattern have an areal density defined by C/(LT) where C is a unitless coverage factor having a value between 0.1 and 0.4, L is the average major triangular abrasive platelet side length and T is the average triangular abrasive platelet thickness. At least 70 percent of the intersections have a triangular abrasive platelet disposed thereat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hanschen, Steven J. Keipert, Joseph B. Eckel, Aaron K. Nienaber, Brant A. Moegenburg, Eric M. Moore, Thomas J. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20210332277
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method can comprise: providing a tool that has a first portion that comprises a first material and a second portion that comprises a second material, wherein the second material differs from the first material and the tool is subject to a magnetic field, and wherein the first material and the second material are provided such that the magnetic field is relatively stronger at and adjacent the first portion relative to the magnetic field at and adjacent the second portion; positioning a surface adjacent to the tool so as to be subject to the magnetic field; and disposing magnetizable abrasive particles on the surface, wherein the magnetizable abrasive particles are attracted to an area on the surface adjacent the first portion where the magnetic field is relatively stronger so as to provide for at least one of a desired orientation, placement and alignment of a majority of the magnetizable abrasive particles on the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Aaron K. Nienaber, Joseph B. Eckel, Thomas J. Nelson, Brian D. Goers, Samad Javid, Ronald D. Jesme, Badri Veeraraghavan, Sheryl A. Vanasse
  • Patent number: 11141835
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of making an abrasive article is disclosed. The method can comprise: providing a surface; disposing magnetizable abrasive particles on the surface; and varying a magnetic field relative to the magnetizable abrasive particles to impart a non-random orientation and/or alignment to the magnetizable abrasive particles relative to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ronald D. Jesme, Thomas J. Nelson, Joseph B. Eckel, Aaron K. Nienaber, Vincent R. Jansen, Samad Javid
  • Publication number: 20210283749
    Abstract: Abrasive articles including a nonwoven fibrous substrate having a plurality of fibers, and a multiplicity of shaped abrasive particles, each shaped abrasive particle adhered to a corresponding fiber, each shaped abrasive particle having a length (L) and a width (W) determined in a direction substantially orthogonal to the length, the ratio of the length to the width defining an aspect ratio (L/W) of at least 1.1, each abrasive particle is oriented relative to its corresponding fiber, and more than 50% of the abrasive particles are oriented with respect to their corresponding fiber such that the abrasive particle length extends generally outwardly away from a surface of the corresponding fiber as determined visually using the Orientation Test. The shaped abrasive particles may have the geometric shape of a polygonal prism having two faces and at least three sides thereon. Methods of making the abrasive articles are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Aaron K. Nienaber, Grayce T. Huberty, Thomas J. Nelson, Ronald D. Apple, Louis S. Moren, Robinette S. Alkhas, Nathan E. Schultz, Tien T. Wu, Gerry A. Hoffdahl
  • Publication number: 20210268627
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an abrasive article (10). The abrasive article (10) has a direction of use, a y-axis and a z-axis orthogonal to the y-axis and the direction of use. The abrasive article (10) further includes a backing (12) and shaped abrasive particles attached to the backing. About 5% to about 100% of the shaped abrasive particles (14) independently include a first side surface (16), a second side surface (18) opposed to the first side surface (16), a leading surface (20) connected to the first side surface (16) at a first edge (24) and connected to the second side surface (18) at a second edge (26), a rake angle (30) between the backing (12) and the leading surface (20) in a range of from about 10 degrees to about 110 degrees, and a z-direction rotational angle (50) between a line (52) intersecting the first edge (16) and second edge (18) and the direction of use (22) of the abrasive article (10) in a range of from about 10 degrees to about 170 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Negus B. Adefris, Scott R. Culler, Joseph B. Eckel, John D. Haas, Thomas J. Nelson, Aaron K. Nienaber, Steven J. Keipert, Vincent Jusuf, Fay T. Salmon, Yuzhi Xia, Michael J. Wald
  • Patent number: 11097398
    Abstract: In some examples, an abrasive particle transfer system including a production tool including a dispensing surface with a plurality of cavities formed therein; abrasive particles removably disposed within at least some of the cavities; and a nonwoven substrate having an outer surface opposing the dispensing surface of the production tool, wherein the dispending surface of the production tool is configured to apply a compressive force to the outer surface of the nonwoven substrate to compress the nonwoven substrate from a first thickness to a second thickness, wherein, while the nonwoven substrate is compressed to the second thickness by the production tool, the abrasive particles are transferred from the plurality of cavities to the nonwoven substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Aaron K. Nienaber, Thomas J. Nelson, Grayce T. Huberty, Louis S. Moren, Wayne W. Maurer, Rebecca A. Putans, Ernest L. Thurber
  • Patent number: 11090780
    Abstract: A method of transferring a shaped particle to a substrate includes providing a scrim of at least two elongate strands periodically joined together at flexible bond regions to form an array of apertures between the strands. The scrim is extended along at least one direction to increase the minimum dimension of the apertures. Shaped particles are applied to the extended scrim and at least a portion of the shaped particles enter in at least some of the apertures therein. The extended scrim is relaxed and frictionally retains the particles between the elongate strands. The particle loaded scrim is extended along at least one direction to release and transfer the shaped particles to the substrate in a predetermined orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas J. Nelson, Jasmeet Kaur, Ronald W. Ausen, Jaime A. Martinez, Edward J. Woo
  • Publication number: 20210237229
    Abstract: A method of making a coated abrasive article includes at least four steps. In step a), a web is provided comprising a backing having a make layer precursor disposed thereon. The web moves along a web path in a downweb direction, and the web has a crossweb direction that is perpendicular to the downweb direction. The make layer precursor comprises a first curable binder precursor; In step b) an applied magnetic field is provided. In step c), a mixture of magnetizable non-magnetizable particles is passed through the applied magnetic field and onto the make layer precursor such that the magnetizable and non-magnetizable particles are predominantly deposited onto the web in a drop zone according to a predetermined order. At least one of the magnetizable particles or the non-magnetizable particles comprises abrasive particles. In step d), the make layer precursor is at least partially cured to provide a make layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Aaron K. Nienaber, Joseph B. Eckel, Thomas J. Nelson, Ronald D. Jesme, Jaime A. Martinez
  • Patent number: 11072732
    Abstract: A magnetizable abrasive particle comprises a ceramic body having an outer surface and a magnetizable layer disposed on a portion, but not the entirety, of the outer surface. The ceramic body comprises a platelet having two opposed major facets connected to each other by a plurality of side facets. The magnetizable layer completely covers one of the two opposed major facets, and the magnetizable layer has a magnetic dipole oriented perpendicular or parallel to the facet which it completely covers. A plurality of the magnetizable abrasive particles, and abrasive articles including them are also disclosed. Methods of making the foregoing are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Nelson, Joseph B. Eckel, Aaron K. Nienaber, Jaime A. Martinez, Eli A. Davis, Louis S. Moren
  • Publication number: 20210122959
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an abrasive article. The abrasive article includes a base. The abrasive article further includes a plurality of soft shaped abrasive particles distributed about the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Scott M. Mevissen, Mark A. Lukowski, Thomas J. Nelson, Kaylee R. Schmall, Myhanh T. Truong
  • Patent number: 10960515
    Abstract: A laterally-stretched netting comprising a patterned abrasive layer on a first major surface thereof, and methods of making.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Aaron K. Nienaber, Ronald W. Ausen, John M. Brandner, Thomas J. Nelson, Stephen M. Sanocki
  • Publication number: 20210078138
    Abstract: An abrasive article includes backing material, binder comprising an anionic water solubilizing material provided on at least a portion of the backing material and abrasive particles provided on at least a portion of the backing material. A method of making such an abrasive article comprises the steps of providing a backing material, applying a first binder containing an anionic water solubilizing material to the backing material, and applying abrasive particles to the backing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Jaime A. Martinez, Thomas J. Nelson, Maria del Mar Casado Mateos, Maria del Carmen Martin Rivera, Cristobal Martin Bernia, Jon P. Nietfeld, Myhanh T. Truong, Gregory G. Mehsikomer