Patents Issued in March 30, 2004
  • Patent number: 6712897
    Abstract: A pre-blend composition for preparation of joint compound including water, a cellulose ether thickener, and about 19% or less by weight of a salt selected from the group consisting of potassium carbonate, potassium sulfate, sodium acetate, and mixtures thereof, wherein the composition is essentially free of alumina, is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: National Gypsum Properties, LLC.
    Inventors: Amba Ayambem, Richard E. Smith, Salvatore Taravella
  • Patent number: 6712898
    Abstract: Expanded perlite products having controlled particle size distribution, methods of producing the expanded perlite products, and methods of use thereof are provided. The expanded perlite product has, for example, a low ratio of standard deviation of particle size distribution to median particle size (for example, less than 0.63) and low median particle size (for example, less than 50 microns). The expanded perlite product may be used in a variety of applications including filter applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Minerals Corporation
    Inventors: Scott K. Palm, Bo Wang, Christopher Hayward, John S. Roulston
  • Patent number: 6712899
    Abstract: A neutral paint colorant has a composition comprising approximately 7.0% Color Index Pigment Yellow 42, 2.4% Color Index Pigment Red 101, and 4.0% Color Index Pigment Black 7. A pre-blended mixture of the neutral colorant and a paint base can be blended with a first paint to form a second paint having substantially the same hue and value (lightness) as the first paint, but a lower chroma (brightness).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Inventors: James P. Pace, Mary Rice
  • Patent number: 6712900
    Abstract: On object of the present invention is an agent for the reduction of the degree of shrinkage in hydraulic binders, whereby said comprises an alkanolamine of formula R—NH—(AOH) wherein R is hydrogen or a linear or branched aliphatic or cyclic C1-C6-alkyl group, and A is a C2H4-group or C3H6-group, alone or in combination with hydroxy compounds and/or ethers. Furthermore a method for the reduction of the dry shrinkage of binders such as cement, admixed cement, puzzolanas and thereof produced mortars and concretes by means of such a shrinkage reducing agent is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Sika AG, Vorm, Kasper Winkler & Co.
    Inventors: Franz Wombacher, Theodor A. Bürge, Urs Mäder
  • Patent number: 6712901
    Abstract: A process for modifying the surface of a quartz glass crucible and a modified quartz glass crucible produced by the process, where the crucible has a transparent coated layer containing a crystallization accelerator on the surface. The process includes coating a mixed solution containing a metal salt and a partial hydrolyzate of alkoxysilane oligomer on the surface of the crucible and heating to obtain a quartz glass crucible having a transparent coated layer. The crystallization promoter contains a metal oxide or a metal carbonate dispersed in a silica matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Japan Super Quartz Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Tsujimoto, Yoshiyuki Tsuji
  • Patent number: 6712902
    Abstract: A feed rod for growing a magnetic single crystal having a composition represented by the formula (Y3-aAa)(Fe5-b-cBb)O12-&agr;, wherein A is at least one element selected from the lanthanoide series, B is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ga, Al, In, and Sc, c is a value for decreasing the Fe content from the stoichiometric amount, &agr; is a value for decreasing the oxygen content to satisfy the chemically neutral condition, and the relationships 0≦a≧0.5; 0≦b≧1.0; 0<c≧0.15 and 0<&agr; are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mikio Geho
  • Patent number: 6712903
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mask for evaluating selective epitaxial growth process. The disclosed mask comprises a mask pattern for resistance measurement to measure sheet resistance of grown single crystal silicon in a first area, a mask pattern for selectivity evaluation to evaluate selectivity of single crystal silicon growth in a second area diagonal to the first area, mask patterns for facet generation evaluation, having different shapes, to evaluate facet generation of grown single crystal silicon in a third area, mask patterns for loading effect evaluation, having different shapes, to evaluate growth of single crystal silicon by loading effect in the upper part of a fourth area and a mask pattern for uniformity evaluation to evaluate uniformity of grown single crystal silicon in the lower part of the pattern for loading effect evaluation in the fourth area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Hynix Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Woo Seock Cheong
  • Patent number: 6712904
    Abstract: A device is made available for producing monocrystals, for example large-diameter gallium arsenide monocrystals, that has a cylindrical heating appliance with a floor heater (2) and a cover heater (3). The heating surfaces of the floor and the cover heater are considerably larger than the cross-sectional area of the monocrystal to be produced. In addition, an insulator (6) is planned for the reaction space that is designed to prevent a radial heat flow and the guarantee a strictly axial heat flow over the complete height of the reaction space between the cover heater (3) and the floor heater (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignees: Forschungszentrum Julich GmbH, Frieberger Compound Materials GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Sonnenberg, Eckhard Küssel, Thomas Bünger, Tilo Flade, Berndt Weinert
  • Patent number: 6712905
    Abstract: A doctor blade device for machines for the coating of fibrous webs, in particular of paper or cardboard, and for keeping rotating rollers clean has a leaf-shaped doctor blade element (1) which is held by a holding means (2) and which, for a change, can be drawn out laterally on the holding means (2). The doctor blade element (1) is provided at least on one side with a grip part (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Inventors: Janne Nurmi, Timo Sironen
  • Patent number: 6712906
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a speed of a motor of a metering pump providing pressurized fluid at a dispensing gun. The dispensing gun is opened and closed to dispense fluid onto a substrate being carried by a conveyor past the dispensing gun. The apparatus has a pressure control producing first motor speed signals as a function of changing speeds of the conveyor and changing fluid pressures in the dispensing gun when the dispensing gun is open. A flow control produces second motor speed signals as a function of the changing speeds of the conveyor. During changes in conveyor velocity, a motor speed control provides the first motor speed signal to the pump motor which operates the motor at speeds causing the pump to provide fluid to the dispensing gun at pressures changing at a rate tracking a rate of change of the speed of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Peter W. Estelle, Laurence B. Saidman
  • Patent number: 6712907
    Abstract: The mechanism comprises a magnetically coupled drive mechanism for transporting semiconductor wafers in a semiconductor wafer processing system. The mechanism includes an actuator within a cylinder that contains a set of magnets that drive a complementary set of magnets inside a carriage along a linear path. The carriage is limited to linear motion via a linear ball slide. The magnets in the actuator and carriage are magnetically coupled in such a way as to prevent angular rotation of the magnets within the actuator. Accordingly, driving elements in the actuator can be moved via rotation of a ball screw shaft coupled to a ball nut affixed to the actuator magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Pratt, Scott Douglas McClelland, Craig L. Stevens, Kerry Hopkins
  • Patent number: 6712908
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing purified bulk silicon from highly impure metallurgical-grade silicon source material at atmospheric pressure. Method involves: (1) initially reacting iodine and metallurgical-grade silicon to create silicon tetraiodide and impurity iodide byproducts in a cold-wall reactor chamber; (2) isolating silicon tetraiodide from the impurity iodide byproducts and purifying it by distillation in a distillation chamber; and (3) transferring the purified silicon tetraiodide back to the cold-wall reactor chamber, reacting it with additional iodine and metallurgical-grade silicon to produce silicon diiodide and depositing the silicon diiodide onto a substrate within the cold-wall reactor chamber. The two chambers are at atmospheric pressure and the system is open to allow the introduction of additional source material and to remove and replace finished substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Midwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Tihu Wang, Theodore F. Ciszek
  • Patent number: 6712909
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device can resolve the problems that semiconductor film by-products are incorporated into a boat rotation mechanism so as to allow the mechanism portion to be locked, whereby a high quality semiconductor film can be generated with stability for a long period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
    Inventor: Kouji Tometsuka
  • Patent number: 6712910
    Abstract: The present invention relates to heat curing impregnation sealant compositions, which are readily separable from water upon mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Henkel Loctite Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick F. Newberth, III, Charles M. Muisener, Stephen W. Ernst
  • Patent number: 6712911
    Abstract: The invention concerns a procedure for flame-cutting a slab using at least one oxycutting torch at a workstation and a device for implementing this procedure. The slab and the oxycutting torch are moved in relation to each other, with the slab arranged in a cutting position such that its primary plane lies at an angle of −10° to −20° with respect to the vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Eon Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Valérie Donze, Bertrand Donze, Pascal Donze, Thierry Rozot
  • Patent number: 6712912
    Abstract: A weld filler metal alloy composition and a method for welding stainless steel components into a final assembly includes the steps of: austenitizing the stainless steel components to be welded at a temperature of 1800° F.-2000° F.; applying, using conventional arc welding techniques a solid wire of the filler metal alloy comprising in % by weight: up to 0.02% carbon; up to 0.8% manganese; up to 0.02% phosphorus; up to 0.015% sulfur; up to 0.6% silicon; 4.5-5.5% nickel; 0.4-0.7% molybdenum; 10-12.5% chromium; up to 0.1% copper; balance essentially iron and incidental impurities; and tempering the welded assembly welded at a temperature of 930° F.-1300° F. A second tempering step conducted at a temperature of 1095° F.-1145° F. may follow. The welding method can be used to make compressor impellers (6). The compressor impeller components comprise 13Cr-4Ni stainless steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Elliott Turbomachinery Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas K. Richards, Phillip Dowson
  • Patent number: 6712913
    Abstract: A ferritic heat-resisting steel that shows a slight decrease in creep strength at the heat affected zone of the welded joint. The steel is characterized by consisting of, by mass %, C: less than 0.05%, Si: not more than 1.0%, Mn: not more than 2.0%, P: not more than 0.030%, S: not more than 0.015%, Cr: 7-14%, V: 0.05-0.40%, Nb: 0.01-0.10%, N: not less than 0.001% but less than 0.050%, sol. Al: not more than 0.010%, and O (oxygen): not more than 0.010%, with the balance being Fe and impurities, and further characterized in that the density of carbide and carbonitride precipitates contained with a grain diameter of not less than 0.3 &mgr;m is not more than 1×106/mm2. This steel may further contain one or more of the following elements: a total of 0.1-5.0% of Mo and W; a total of 0.02-5.00% of Cu, Ni and Co; a total of 0.01-0.20 of Ta, Hf, Nd and Ti; a total of 0.0005-0.0100% of Ca and Mg; and 0.0005-0.0100% of B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hirata, Kazuhiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6712914
    Abstract: A non-heat treated crankshaft which comprises, in % by mass, C: 0.30 to 0.35%, Si: 0.40 to 0.80%, Mn: 1.00 to 2.00%, S: 0.040 to 0.080%, Cr: 0.10 to 0.30% and V: 0.05 to 0.20%, with the balance being Fe and impurities, and of which microstructure is a ferrite-pearlite microstructure whose ferrite fraction &agr; is 0.20 to 0.60 and average pearlite grain size Dp is 0.08 mm or less, and the value of Fn1 defined by the equation (1) being 0.73 or more, the value of Fn2 defined by the equation (2) being 1.20 or more and the value of Fn3 defined by the equation (3) being 0.64 or more, having excellent strength, low temperature toughness and wear resistance, so it can be applied to engines for working machine and general-purpose engines: Fn1=C+0.10Si+0.20Mn−0.71S+0.23Cr+1.65V  (1), Fn2=1.4−1.1×(1−&agr;)+0.16 Dp−½  (2), Fn3=(1−&agr;)+&agr;×(0.3Si+0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignees: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd., Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Suzuki, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Yuzuru Tahara, Shingo Shimizu, Toru Taniguchi, Yoshikazu Yamada
  • Patent number: 6712915
    Abstract: Various articles of manufacture, such as electrosurgical scalpels, razor blades, electronic components and mechanical components having a quasicrystalline AlCuFe alloy film less than about 10,000 Å thick. Such articles of manufacture may be formed by depositing (in sequence) on a substrate through radio frequency sputtering a stoichiometric amount of each respective alloy material and then annealing those layers to form the film through solid state diffusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Orest G. Symko, Ehab Abdel-Rahman, Wanjun Park, Thierry Klein, David Kieda
  • Patent number: 6712916
    Abstract: A shaped metallic component is formed by friction stirring at least a segment of a single piece of bulk metal to impart superplasticity thereto and thereby yield a single superplastic metal blank from the single piece of bulk metal. The metal blank is then deformed by a metal deformation process such as forging, rolling, drawing, bending, extruding, gas forming, punching, and stamping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignees: The Curators of the University of Missouri
    Inventors: Rajiv S. Mishra, Murray W. Mahoney
  • Patent number: 6712917
    Abstract: A synthetic method for preparation of hybrid inorganic/organic energetic nanocomposites is disclosed herein. The method employs the use of stable metal inorganic salts and organic solvents as well as an organic polymer with good solubility in the solvent system to produce novel nanocomposite energetic materials. In addition, fuel metal powders (particularly those that are oxophillic) can be incorporated into composition. This material has been characterized by thermal methods, energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM), N2 adsoprtion/desorption methods, and Fourier-Transform (FT-IR) spectroscopy. According to these characterization methods the organic polymer phase fills the nanopores of the composite material, providing superb mixing of the component phases in the energetic nanocomposite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Alexander E. Gash, Joe H. Satcher, Randy Simpson
  • Patent number: 6712918
    Abstract: A method for increasing the burn rate of a gas generant formulation is provided involving the addition of a quantity of at least one transition metal complex of diammonium bitetrazole to the gas generant formulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan V. Mendenhall, Michael W. Barnes
  • Patent number: 6712919
    Abstract: A method of producing a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material including the steps of extruding a first material to form a first extrudate, and extruding a second PTFE material to form a second extrudate, wherein the first PTFE material is more expandable than the second PTFE material. A stack is formed from at least one layer of the first extrudate and at least one layer of the second extrudate, and the stack is expanded and sintered to form the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Inventors: Bruce G. Ruefer, Leonard G. Marlow, Jr., Rebecca U. Ruefer, N. Joe Sharber
  • Patent number: 6712920
    Abstract: In a method of forming an airbag, first and second main panels for constituting an airbag, and first and second inner panels in a form of a strip are prepared. The first and second inner panels are sewed together along longitudinal directions thereof without interposing a material therebetween, and an adhesive is provided at edge portions of the first and second main panels. The first and second inner panels sewed together are disposed between the edge portions of the first and second main panels so that the first and second main panels are directly joined together along the peripheries of the first and second main panels by the adhesive. The first and second inner panels sewed together are directly joined to the first and second main panels by the adhesive, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Masuda, Atsuyuki Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 6712921
    Abstract: A process for making an elastically stretchable composite sheet that includes an elastically stretchable web and inelastically stretchable web that are bonded together at a plurality of bonding spots. This stock web is stretched in a Y-direction and succeedingly contracted to obtain a composite sheet. The bonding spots are arranged so that each pair of the bonding spots lying adjacent to each other in a Y-direction at least partially overlap each other as one of these adjacent bonding spots is translated in the Y-direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Mitsuno, Hideyuki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6712922
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for assembly of extensible composite webs and web sausages, and personal care articles manufactured from such webs. The invention comprises fabricating a resiliently extensible web by bringing together and securing to each other as discrete elements, intervening web substrate elements between resiliently stretchable elastic elements. Securement between elastic elements and web substrate elements is defined by alternating zones of securement and non-securement along a length of the web substrate. The invention comprises deactivating elastic elements in the non-securement zones thereby to retract elastic strands in the non-securement zones without retracting the corresponding web or webs in such non-securement zones, and correspondingly, to distinguish the securement zones as relatively more resiliently stretchable and the non-securement zones as relatively less resiliently stretchable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse Paul Sorenson, Donald Joseph Sanders, Paul William Christoffel
  • Patent number: 6712923
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing a solid polymer film with a catalyst sufficiently deposited thereon preheats a solid polymer film and then hot presses this solid polymer film together with a catalyst carrier film. Hot pressing the solid polymer film while it is soft from preheating increases the bond strength between the solid polymer film and the catalyst such that separation of the catalyst from the solid polymer film during film separation can be prevented. Moreover, keeping the catalyst carrier film cool prior to hot pressing and making the temperature on the catalyst carrier film side slightly lower that than on the solid polymer film side during hot pressing inhibits an increase in binding strength between the film and the catalyst, and thereby improves separation of the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuhisa Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6712924
    Abstract: A method of generating bound documents includes the step of conveying sheets of a print medium through a printing station. A printing process is carried out on the sheets in the printing station. The sheets are conveyed through an adhesive application station. Adhesive is applied to each sheet proximate an edge of each sheet in the adhesive application station. A predetermined number of the sheets are stacked together at a stacking station, so that respective strips of adhesive are aligned with each other. A binding operation is performed on said predetermined number of sheets so that said predetermined number of sheets are bound together to define a document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 6712925
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for storing a particle-containing liquid. The storage apparatus comprises a microfluidic convoluted flow channel having a plurality of particle capture regions. The storage channel is preferably an isotropic spatially periodic channel. Sedimented particles can be resuspended following storage. This invention further provides a microfluidic analysis cartridge having a convoluted storage channel therein. The sample analysis can use optical, electrical, pressure sensitive, or flow sensitive detection. A plurality of analysis channels can be included in a single cartridge. The analysis channels can be joined to reagent inlets for diluents, indicators or lysing agents. A mixing channel can be positioned between the reagent inlet and the analysis region to allow mixing and reaction of the reagent. The cartridge can include additional valves and pumps for flow management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Mark R. Holl, Floyd Edwards, Robert Morff, Gerald L. Klein
  • Patent number: 6712926
    Abstract: The present invention describes a chemical solution recycling apparatus in a spin etching and cleaning process chamber for manufacturing semiconductor devices. Modification of the exterior dimension and the main structure of the process chamber is not necessary. The recycling apparatus in accordance with the present invention may separate different chemical solutions into different vessels and recycle them thereafter. The recycling apparatus comprises a recycling ring moving up and down to collect the solution and a recycling circular tray for sorting the chemical solutions in different trenches and drains. Therefore, the chemical solutions may be collected by assigned vessels or may be recycled into the process chamber after necessary quality inspections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yuan-Yuan Chiang, Fu-Ching Tung, Janathan Wang, Peter L. Mahneke
  • Patent number: 6712927
    Abstract: A process chamber 35 for processing a substrate 30 and monitoring the process conducted on the substrate 30, comprises a support 45, a gas distributor, and an exhaust 85. The process chamber 35 has a wall which may comprise a window or radiation transmitting portion 130 that allows light to be transmitted therethrough. Residue deposits onto the window 130 during processing of the substrate 30 may be reduced. In one version, the window 130 comprises a transparent plate 135 covered by an overlying mask 140 that has at least one aperture 145 extending through the mask 140 so that light can be transmitted through the aperture 145 and the transparent plate 135.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Applied Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Michael N. Grimbergen, Xue-Yu Qian
  • Patent number: 6712928
    Abstract: The following operations are performed in order to allow particles suspended in a processing chamber to be detected using a single observation window and an optical system formed as a single unit and in order to provide precise detection of very weak particle-scattered light: when a desired film-forming/processing operation is being performed on a body being processed in a processing chamber, a beam that is P-polarized and that is intensity amplified at a frequency different from an excitation source frequency and integer multiples thereof is passed through an observation window sloped to form a Brewster angle relative to the P-polarized entry beam; back-scattered light scattered by particles in the processing chamber passes through the same observation window and received and imaged by a detection optical system; the frequency component described above and the intensity-modulated beam wavelength component are detected from the received light signal; and these detected components and the image information ima
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nakano, Toshihiko Nakata
  • Patent number: 6712929
    Abstract: A vacuum chamber with a cover with a first section, a second section, and a pocket between the first section and second section is provided. The vacuum chamber has a main cavity to which the first section is adjacent. The vacuum chamber may be used for plasma processing, which may require a critical element to be supported by the first section. The pocket is in fluid communication with the main cavity. When a vacuum is created in the main cavity, the pressure is also reduced in the pocket. As a result, the second section of the cover is deformed by the vacuum in the pocket. However, the vacuum in the pocket helps to prevent the first section from deforming, providing better support for the critical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Lenz, Albert R. Ellingboe, Fangli Hao
  • Patent number: 6712930
    Abstract: Tissue paper is calendered in at least one calendering nip. The tissue paper is calendered in at least one soft, long calendering nip. By belt calendering a high crêping effect is achieved when a so-called post-nip contact is used. With post-nip contact, the web and the belt are in contact with the thermo roll over a distance of 10-200 mm after the nip, whereby the belt tension presses the web against the surface of the thermo roll, and hereby the belt expands in the nip, and when it is then restored it will crêpe the paper. In this manner a soft tissue paper with maximum bulkiness is brought about. The belt tension used in the belt calender is 1-10 kN/m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventor: Pekka Koivukunnas
  • Patent number: 6712931
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a paper or board web in which stock is fed from a headbox (100) to a wire section (200), in which water is removed from the web (W) and from which the web (W) is passed to a press section (300), in which water is pressed out of the web (W) and after which the web (W) is dried in a dryer section (400) and reeled by means of a reel-up (800). According to the invention, additives, fillers and/or fines are fed into the stock of the surface layers of the web (W) in order to reduce the pore size distribution of the web in the surface layers so as to substantially correspond to a precoated web. The invention also relates to a paper or board machine which is characterized in that it is structured for enabling the feeding of additives, fillers and/or fines into a fiber stock such that an uncoated web substantially corresponds in its properties to a precoated web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Johan Grön, Pasi Ahonen, Juha Kinnunen, Pentti Rautiainen, Mari Taipale
  • Patent number: 6712932
    Abstract: Described is a micro-structured paper or paper-like material having a self-cleaning and/or non-adhesive effect whereby the paper or paper-like material is hydrophobic across the entire cross-section of the material and which is micro-structured in such a way that the surface is provided with elevations and depressions whereby the distance between the elevations ranges from 0.04 to 100 microns and the height of the elevations ranges from 0.04 to 100 microns, and whereby the paper or paper-like material is characterized in that it contains particles having the size of 0.04 to 50 microns that are bound to the paper or paper-like material by means of a binder, and whereby the paper or paper-like material is hydrophobic across the entire cross section of the material, as well as a method for the production thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Papierfabrik Schoeller & Hoesch GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Büchsel, Manfred Kaussen, Sabine Schroft
  • Patent number: 6712933
    Abstract: Methods of making paper or paperboard are described. According to one of the methods, an acidic aqueous alumina sol is introduced to a papermaking pulp to form a treated pulp having improved retention properties. The acidic aqueous alumina sol preferably has a pH of from about 3 to about 6. The sol preferably contains elongate secondary particles which are elongated from about 50 nm to about 300 nm in only one plane and formed by edge-to-edge coagulation of rectangular plate like primary particles having a length on one side of from about 10 nm to about 30 nm when observed through an electron microscope. The pulp may also be treated with at least one coagulant, at least one flocculant, at least one cationic starch, at least one cellulytic enzyme, at least one biocide, and/or other conventional papermaking pulp additives. The resulting pulp is formed into a sheet of pulp and then drained to form a paper or paperboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Buckman Laboratories International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohan D. Karve, Rosa M. Covarrubias, Gerald M. Dykstra, Saleem Mirza
  • Patent number: 6712934
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of paper or board, wherein retention aids are added to the stream of stock. Improved retention and more effective dewatering are achieved by adding to the stream of stock a cationic polymer solution and a suspension-form microparticle mixture composed of a swellable clay of the smectite group and a colloidal synthetic metal silicate in which the prevalent cation is magnesium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Kemira Chemicals Oy
    Inventors: Jonni Ahlgren, Kimmo Strengell
  • Patent number: 6712935
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement in tail threading in a paper machine, in which the paper web is dried in production by means of a plurality of dryer groups consisting of a dryer section, and in which tail threading the threading tail is cut, taken as wetted to the finishing device, and spread to its full width for production, and in which method, before the threading tail is take to the finishing device, the dryer section is kept in the settings of production operation or is set to otherwise correspond to production, except that a wetting process is started, in which the web is wetted at the full width for the duration of the tail threading, essentially before its cutting, to achieve an even moisturizing effect, and the wetting process is stopped after web is being spread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Goodall, Kari Rinneheimo, Jouko Villa
  • Patent number: 6712936
    Abstract: A mathematical model is used to design paper and paperboard having improved runnability. The mathematical model provides an estimate of fracture toughness for an optimized paper product based on specific measurement parameters, e.g., filler percent, softwood content and caliper for optimal fracture toughness. After the optimizing set of measurement parameters has been acquired, these parameters can be used to manufacture grades of paper having improved runnability performance, e.g., in printing presses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventors: Wadood Hamad, Xiang Yu, Thomas D. Sandry
  • Patent number: 6712937
    Abstract: System and method of operating a machine for manufacturing and/or refining a material web wherein the machine includes at least one machine section. The method includes arranging a plurality of measurement zones in series along a process direction and detecting data in a region of the at least one machine section via at least one measurement zone of the plurality of measurement zones. The data concerns at least one measured parameter relating to the manufacture or refinement of the material web. The system includes a plurality of measurement zones arranged in series along a process direction of the machine. At least one of the plurality of measurement zones is located in the at least one machine section. At least one measurement device for detecting data is located in at least one of the plurality of measurement zones. An evaluation unit is provided for evaluating the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Oechsle, Frank Wegehaupt
  • Patent number: 6712938
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for calendering a moving web (1) of paper or board. The web (1) is passed to a calender (2) and calendered therein. At least one quality of the calendered web (1) is measured at a first measurement point (3) adapted at a location downstream from the calender (2). Additionally, at least one quality of the web (1) entering the calender (2) is measured at a second measurement point (4) adapted at a location between the calender (2) and the preceding section of the line. A control variable (6) affecting the calendering effect on the calender (2) is controlled by a feedback control scheme based on the measurement result obtained from said first measurement point (3) and a control variable (9) affecting the processability of the web (1) to be calendered is controlled by a feedback control scheme based on the measurement result obtained from said second measurement point (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Helena Leppäkoski, Pekka Koivukunnas, Kari Hasanen, Timo Torvi, Petteri Venetjoki
  • Patent number: 6712939
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing wet-felted and thermally bonded porous structures is provided to produce formed porous media for use in filters with improved filtration performance. The process includes the steps of forming a slurry with a primary media consisting of natural or synthetic fibers, a wet strength agent consisting of fibrillated fibers, and a binding agent; vacuum forming the slurry to produce a formed media; drying the formed media using a gas at a temperature below the melting temperature of the binding agent; bonding the formed media using a gas at a temperature above the melting temperature of the binding agent; and cooling the formed media using a gas at ambient temperature. The process produces a formed porous media with improved bonding which results in improved filtration performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Cuno Incorporated
    Inventors: Wei-Chih Chen, Katharine L. K. Faye, Mark Schimmel
  • Patent number: 6712940
    Abstract: A papermachine belt particularly for use in a press and/or dryer section comprises a support fabric, a minimal nonwoven layer on the support fabric, a fusible thermoplastic layer, and a thicker batt over the thermoplastic layer. The whole structure is needled together, and the thermoplastic layer melted so that it is expressed through the overlying batt. The layer may be substituted by a nonwoven fabric containing composite yarns with thermoplastic sheaths or such yarns wound spirally around the belt. The support fabric may be substituted by a perforated composite membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Voith Fabrics Heidenheim GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Robert L. Crook
  • Patent number: 6712941
    Abstract: A forming board for a papermaking machine includes: a support; a transversely-extending lead blade attached to the support, the lead blade; a plurality of transversely-extending trailing blades; a mounting unit for each of the plurality of trailing blades, the mounting unit being attached to a respective trailing blade and to the support such that the upper surfaces of the lead blade and the trailing blades are substantially coplanar and such that gaps are defined between the trailing edges and leading edges of adjacent blades, the gaps being of substantially uniform width; and a drive unit attached to the mounting unit and to the support, the drive unit being configured to drive the trailing blades simultaneously to different longitudinal positions relative to the support, wherein the gap widths vary but remain substantially uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Weavexx Corporation
    Inventor: G. Bryan Sherril
  • Patent number: 6712942
    Abstract: A mixture (M1) comprising an alkene and oxygen is worked up by a process in which (i) oxygen is removed from the mixture (M1) by a nondistillative method to give a mixture (M2) and (ii) the alkene is separated off from the mixture (M2) by distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joaquim Henrique Teles, Alwin Rehfinger, Peter Bassler, Norbert Rieber, Werner Hefner, Anne Wenzel, Peter Rudolf
  • Patent number: 6712943
    Abstract: A method for depositing a material onto a plurality of features located on a surface of a substrate provides more accurate and consistent control over where the material is deposited. The method comprises evaporating the material to create an evaporant stream, positioning the substrate so that the evaporant stream strikes the plurality of features over a range of exposure angles between the evaporant stream and the substrate, moving the substrate to vary the range of exposure angles over which the evaporant stream strikes the plurality of features, and moving one or more shutters into the evaporant stream to block any part of the evaporant stream that has an exposure angle greater than a critical exposure angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Gordon Ramsay
  • Patent number: 6712944
    Abstract: A gas/liquid phase separator for an electrolysis cell includes a vessel and a float in operable communication with each other. The vessel includes a fluid inlet and first and second fluid outlets. A fluid stream comprising gas and liquid is received in the vessel through the fluid inlet, and at least a portion of the gas exits the vessel through the second fluid outlet. The float is configured to interface with the first fluid outlet and either maintain or prevent fluid communication across the first fluid outlet when the float is in at least partial contact with the first fluid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Proton Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. Byron, Jr., Michael J. Brown
  • Patent number: 6712945
    Abstract: An electrochemical sensor for determining gas components and/or gas concentrations in gas mixtures using a sensor element is described; it has at least one electrode arranged on an ion-conducting solid electrolyte body bordering on a gas space in at least some areas. The electrode has at least two layers, the second layer which faces the gas space having a higher electron conductivity in comparison with the first layer which faces the solid electrolyte body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Lothar Diehl
  • Patent number: 6712946
    Abstract: A method for electrodialysis is conducted in a multi-compartment, preferably a four compartment, electrodialysis cell configuration wherein an inexpensive source of protons, preferably from a strong inorganic acid enables the conversion of multivalent metal salts into valuable acid products, such as 2-keto-L-gluconic acid, a vitamin C precursor, and useful by-products, like calcium chloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: The Electrosynthesis Company, Inc.
    Inventors: J. David Genders, Dan Hartsough