Abstract: A fire-retarded cellulose fiber material composed of phosphoric acid and ammonium sulfate as fire-retardant chemical components, absorbed, adsorbed and/or adhered on the cellulose fibers, and optional non-fire retardant additives, and methods of producing the fire-retarded cellulose fiber material are disclosed.

Abstract: A fire-retarded cellulose fiber material composed of phosphoric acid and ammonium sulfate as fire-retardant chemical components, absorbed, adsorbed and/or adhered on the cellulose fibers, and optional non-fire retardant additives, and methods of producing the fire-retarded cellulose fiber material are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of producing a fire retarded cellulose fiber material composed of both a liquid fire retardant and a powdered fire retardant useful in producing insulation and other such products is provided.

Abstract: An industrial absorbent and methods of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, the industrial absorbent includes a first scrim made from at least one thermoplastic material; a second scrim made from at least one thermoplastic material; and a middle layer positioned between the first and second scrims. The middle layer includes a dry-laid web of fire-retardant treated cellulose and opened, individuated staple bicomponent fiber. At least some of the bicomponent fiber in the middle layer is thermally bonded to at least some of the cellulose in the middle layer, and the first and second scrims are thermally bonded to the middle layer.

Abstract: An industrial absorbent and methods of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, the industrial absorbent includes a first scrim made from at least one thermoplastic material; a second scrim made from at least one thermoplastic material; and a middle layer positioned between the first and second scrims. The middle layer includes a dry-laid web of fire-retardant treated cellulose and opened, individuated staple bicomponent fiber. At least some of the bicomponent fiber in the middle layer is thermally bonded to at least some of the cellulose in the middle layer, and the first and second scrims are thermally bonded to the middle layer.

Abstract: A product including a web and a method of manufacturing such a product. The product may be for use as an industrial absorbent or a thermal or acoustic insulator and includes a web including scrap and/or recycled cellulose, the cellulose being selected from a source of post-industrial cellulose and/or a source of post-consumer cellulose, the cellulose being treated with a fire-retardant, the cellulose being dry before web formation, and opened, individuated bicomponent fibers mixed with the cellulose, at least some of the bicomponent fibers being thermally bonded to at least some of the cellulose. The method may include shredding the cellulose, declumping and sizing the cellulose, metering the cellulose into a spray booth, applying a fire retardant to the cellulose in the spray booth, if the fire retardant is a liquid, drying the cellulose, adding bicomponent fibers to the cellulose, forming a web, and heating the web in an oven.

Abstract: A laminate non-woven sheet including a first layer, a second layer, and a middle layer. In one embodiment, the first layer consists of melt-blown fibers (and no other type of fibers), the melt-blown fibers have a strength of at least about 5 gpd or more and the first layer has a thickness. The second layer consists of melt-blown fibers (and no other type of fibers), the melt-blown fibers have a strength of about 5 gpd or more and the second layer has a thickness that is substantially the same as the thickness of the first layer. The middle layer is positioned between the first and second layers. The middle layer includes a dry-laid web of cellulose fibers. The middle layer is secured to the first and second layers by at least one of a group of bonds created by fusing fibers in the first, second, and middle layers or hydroentangling the first, second, and middle layers.

Abstract: A point-of-sale (POS) terminal for use in performing a transaction between a first entity and a second entity at a POS, the POS terminal associated with the second entity. The POS terminal stores a second mutating identified, receives encrypted transaction information from an account information carrier device over a communication link, sending the encrypted first and second transaction information to an authenticator, and receiving the second mutating identifier from the authenticator and a processor configured to encrypt transaction information with the second mutating identifier to create second encrypted transaction information.

Abstract: Methods and system for managing manipulation of digital content stored in a content server. One method includes receiving a first mutating identifier at a content manipulation device. The first mutating identifier includes a first secret key. The method also includes generating a content request for digital content stored in the content server at the content manipulation device, the content request encrypted with the first secret key and including an identifier of the digital content; transmitting the content request to an authenticator over at least one communication link; transmitting access rights from the authenticator to the content manipulation device over at least one communication link; transmitting the digital content from the content server to the content manipulation device; manipulating the digital content at the content manipulation device based on the access rights; and marking the first mutating identifier as used at the authenticator.

Abstract: A method and device for depositing fibers on a forming wire. In one embodiment, a device includes a fiber reservoir having an inlet, a first outlet configured to pass air or gas, and a second outlet configured to pass fiber. The device also includes a fiber meter configured to move fiber out of the reservoir to a forming head via mechanical action and along substantially the entire width of the forming head. The forming head includes one or more air inlets and one or more agitators to blend and open the fiber received from the fiber meter. The forming head interfaces with a vacuum source that draws air into the forming head through the air inlets, which can be adjusted to affect volume and velocity of air drawn into the forming head.

Abstract: A product including a web and a method of manufacturing such a product. The product may be for use as an industrial absorbent or a thermal or acoustic insulator and includes a web including scrap and/or recycled cellulose, the cellulose being selected from a source of post-industrial cellulose and/or a source of post-consumer cellulose, the cellulose being treated with a fire-retardant, the cellulose being dry before web formation, and opened, individuated bicomponent fibers mixed with the cellulose, at least some of the bicomponent fibers being thermally bonded to at least some of the cellulose. The method may include shredding the cellulose, declumping and sizing the cellulose, metering the cellulose into a spray booth, applying a fire retardant to the cellulose in the spray booth, if the fire retardant is a liquid, drying the cellulose, adding bicomponent fibers to the cellulose, forming a web, and heating the web in an oven.

Abstract: An industrial absorbent and methods of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, the industrial absorbent includes a first scrim made from at least one thermoplastic material; a second scrim made from at least one thermoplastic material; and a middle layer positioned between the first and second scrims. The middle layer includes a dry-laid web of fire-retardant treated cellulose and opened, individuated staple bicomponent fiber. At least some of the bicomponent fiber in the middle layer is thermally bonded to at least some of the cellulose in the middle layer, and the first and second scrims are thermally bonded to the middle layer.

Abstract: A method of watermarking using mutating identifiers includes generating a plurality of watermarked versions of a content item, obtaining a plurality of keys for the plurality of watermarked versions of a content item, assigning each one of the plurality of obtained keys to a single one of the plurality of watermarked versions of a content item, and associating a unique license with each one of the plurality of watermarked versions.

Abstract: A multiple party system for distributing content. In one embodiment, four parties are involved in the system: a consumer, a service provider, an authenticator, and a content provider. The distribution of content from the content provider to the consumer is carried out using a predefined protocol, mutating IDs, watermarks, and licenses. The authenticator controls the distribution of mutating IDs, verifies the identity of one or more participating parties, and provides tracking information for mapping service providers and consumers to particular, possibly watermarked, content items.

Abstract: An absorbent printed paper web and methods for making the printed web, the web having a visually discernible larger pattern, which can be a logo, on at least one surface formed essentially only of a paper web and a strengthening, colored bonding material. The printed web having the larger pattern can be made using the same bonding material and process used to print the background pattern. A double recrepe process using an improved Gravure roll may be used to print both logo and background. One method includes using a Gravure roll having deep depressions for printing a geometric background pattern, which can be a cross hatch pattern defining unprinting surface areas between the repeating deep depressions. The Gravure roll can also have shallow depressions in the reverse image of a logo to be printed, where the shallow depressions can have contiguous logo areas much larger than the size of the repeating deep depressions or unprinting surface areas in the background pattern.