Patents Issued in February 11, 2016
  • Publication number: 20160040303
    Abstract: Techniques for photocatalytic hydrogen generation are provided. In one aspect, a hydrogen producing cell is provided. The hydrogen producing cell includes an anode electrode; a photocatalytic material adjacent to the anode electrode; a solid electrolyte adjacent to a side of the photocatalytic material opposite the anode electrode; and a cathode electrode adjacent to a side of the solid electrolyte opposite the photocatalytic material. A solar hydrogen producing system including at least one solar concentrating assembly having the hydrogen producing cell, and a method for producing hydrogen using the hydrogen producing cell are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Talia S. Gershon, Supratik Guha, Teodor K. Todorov, Theodore G. van Kessel
  • Publication number: 20160040304
    Abstract: There are provided methods and systems for an electrochemical cell including an anode and a cathode where the anode is contacted with a metal ion that converts the metal ion from a lower oxidation state to a higher oxidation state. The metal ion in the higher oxidation state is reacted with hydrogen gas, an unsaturated hydrocarbon, and/or a saturated hydrocarbon to form products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas A. Albrecht, Ryan J. Gilliam, Kyle Self, Dennis W. Solas, Margarete K. Leclerc
  • Publication number: 20160040305
    Abstract: This invention includes an electrolysis chamber and method for producing controlled flow acid electrolyzed water and controlled flow alkaline electrolyzed water with independent flows from aqueous solutions. Its objective is to produce controlled flow acid water with an oxide reduction potential (ORP) between +1100 and +1200 mV and a pH between 1.5 and 2.9 with a stability and shelf life of over a year, and controlled flow alkaline electrolyzed water with a pH between 9.0-11.0 and an ORP between ?700 mV to ?800 mV with a shelf life of more than a year.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventor: Juan Manuel NUÑEZ MONTALVO
  • Publication number: 20160040306
    Abstract: An electrochemical process and system for producing glucose and glucose precursors are described. The process and system allow for the production of glucose from carbon dioxide and water, requiring only melanin, or a precursor, derivative, analog, or variant of melanin, and electromagnetic energy, such as visible or invisible light energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventor: Arturo SOLIS HERRERA
  • Publication number: 20160040307
    Abstract: A hydrogen energy supply system including 10 or more water wheel impeller type power generation devices that are supported to float in water by first floating bodies and generate electric power by using ocean currents; a second floating body on which a seawater electrolysis device, a hydrogen liquefaction device, and a liquid hydrogen tank are arranged; a hydrogen transporting ship that accommodates the liquid hydrogen stored in the liquid hydrogen tank and transports it by sea to land; an overland liquid hydrogen tank that stores the liquid hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen transporting ship; a small cylinder that accommodates the liquid hydrogen supplied from the overland liquid hydrogen tank; and a hydrogen transporting vehicle that transports the small cylinder to a consumer on land.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: Japan System Planning Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuyuki KUMANO
  • Publication number: 20160040308
    Abstract: An electrolysis cell, having an anode, a cathode, and a membrane that is situated between the anode and the cathode and contacts the anode via an anode contact area and contacts the cathode via a cathode contact area, wherein the cathode contact area is greater than the anode contact area, the membrane has a surface oriented toward the cathode that is greater than the cathode contact area, and the electrolysis cell has cathodically polarized surfaces that are in direct contact with the electrically conductive water. This invention also relates to a method for operating an electrolysis cell in natural water and a use of such an electrolysis cell for disinfecting water are also proposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Samuel Stucki, Dirk SCHULZE
  • Publication number: 20160040309
    Abstract: A liquid activation and electrolytic apparatus includes: a liquid activation apparatus that includes a liquid activator with a black radiation sintered body radiating electromagnetic waves and an electromagnetic wave converging body and assembled bodies integrated together with the black radiation sintered body on the outside, the electromagnetic wave converging body on the inside, and a liquid activation region by the electromagnetic waves formed on the inside of the electromagnetic wave converging body and activates, in the above region, a liquid portion of a liquid electrolytic solution; and an electrolytic unit that includes an electrolysis container using a titanium or platinum electrode as a negative electrode and a platinum electrode as a positive electrode and containing the electrolytic solution and a power source applying a variable direct-current voltage to the negative and positive electrodes and performs the electrolysis of the electrolytic solution with the activated liquid portion in the electr
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: JAPAN SYSTEM PLANNING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsuyuki KUMANO
  • Publication number: 20160040310
    Abstract: A hydrogen production system that achieves a highly-efficient hydrogen production operation even when a time-varying electric power source is used is provided. A hydrogen production system includes a capacitor inputting electric power energy from a renewable power supply, and storing electric power, a pulse voltage generation unit generating a pulse voltage having a set amplitude and a set cyclic period by using the electric power stored in the capacitor, and an electrolytic cell applying the generated pulse voltage, and generating hydrogen by high temperature steam electrolysis by using steam supplied into the electrolytic cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masafumi KOMAI, Masahiko YAMADA, Tsuneji KAMEDA, Yuko KAWAJIRI, Seiji FUJIWARA, Hisao WATANABE, Hiroyuki YAMAUCHI, Yasuo TAKAGI
  • Publication number: 20160040311
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for producing carbon monoxide (CO) from carbon dioxide (CO2) in a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) or SOEC stack, wherein CO2 is led to the fuel side of the stack with an applied current and excess oxygen is transported to the oxygen side of the stack, optionally using air or nitrogen to flush the oxygen side, and wherein the product stream from the SOEC, containing CO mixed with CO2, is subjected to a separation process. The process further comprises heating the inlet gas on both the fuel side and the oxygen side by means of separate heating units, so as to supply heat to the SOEC, where the operation temperature of said heating units is at least equal to the operation temperature of the cell stack minus 50° C., preferably at least equal to the operation temperature of the cell stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: HALDOR TOPSØE A/S
    Inventors: Niklas Bengt Jakobsson, Claus Friis Pedersen, John Bøgild Hansen
  • Publication number: 20160040312
    Abstract: A method of applying a protective coating with improved adhesion on an aluminum alloy component includes first pretreating the surface of a component by depositing a sacrificial protective immersion layer using a zincating or similar process. Portions of the protective immersion layer as well as portions of the underlying aluminum alloy substrate are then electrolytically etched off in an ionic liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Lei Chen, Xiaomei Yu, Mark R. Jaworowski
  • Publication number: 20160040313
    Abstract: A process for producing an optical element, which may be suitable for use in an infrared camera with sharp surface features and low emissivity surfaces, including the steps of casting the element in the desired shape in a zinc alloy, deburring the zinc alloy element with a thermal deburring operation, and coating the deburred zinc alloy element with an electrocoating operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Scott Dayton, William J. Parrish, Joseph G. Finegold
  • Publication number: 20160040314
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing imperfections in an electrodeposition coating process. An apparatus includes a frame and at least one air nozzle coupled to the frame for blowing a low pressure, high volume air on an object that has undergone electrodeposition coating. A first method includes the steps of electrically depositing a material on an object, blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object, and curing the electrically deposited material to the object. A second method includes the steps of electrically depositing a material on an object, blowing a high pressure, low volume air on the object, blowing a low pressure, high volume air on the object, and curing the electrically deposited material to the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Charles E. Gilliam
  • Publication number: 20160040315
    Abstract: A method of coating an electroplating rack used for supporting non-conductive substrates during a plating process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Roderick D. Herdman, Trevor Pearson, Roshan V. Chapaneri, Alison Hyslop
  • Publication number: 20160040316
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of a double cladding crystal fiber, in which growing an YAG or a sapphire into a single crystal fiber by LHPG method, placing the single crystal fiber into a glass capillary for inner cladding, placing the single crystal fiber together with the glass capillary for inner cladding into a glass capillary for outer cladding in unison, heating the glass capillary for inner cladding and outer cladding by the LHPG method to attach to the outside of the single crystal fiber, and thus growing into a double cladding crystal fiber. When the present invention is applied to high power laser, by using the cladding pumping scheme, the high power pumping laser is coupled to the inner cladding layer, so the problems of heat dissipation and the efficiency impairment due to energy transfer up-conversion of high power laser are mitigated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: KUANG-YU HSU, MU-HAN YANG, DONG-YO JHENG, SHENG-LUNG HUANG
  • Publication number: 20160040317
    Abstract: A method for producing a single crystal includes a step of placing a source material powder and a seed crystal within a crucible; and a step of growing a single crystal on the seed crystal. The crucible includes a peripheral wall part and a bottom part and a lid part that are connected to the peripheral wall part to close the openings of the peripheral wall part. In the step of growing the single crystal on the seed crystal, the crucible is disposed on a spacer so as to form a space starting directly below an outer surface of the bottom part, and the peripheral wall part and an auxiliary heating member that is placed so as to face the outer surface of the bottom part with the space therebetween are heated by induction heating to sublime the source material powder to cause recrystallization on the seed crystal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Shunsaku UETA, Tsutomu HORI, Akira MATSUSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20160040318
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of growing an ingot of group III nitride. Group III nitride crystals such as GaN are grown by the ammonothermal method on both sides of a seed to form an ingot and the ingot is sliced into wafers. The wafer including the first-generation seed is sliced thicker than the other wafers so that the wafer including the first-generation seed does not break. The wafer including the first-generation seed crystal can be used as a seed for the next ammonothermal growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Tadao Hashimoto, Edward Letts, Sierra Hoff
  • Publication number: 20160040319
    Abstract: Rotary spinner apparatuses, systems and methods for producing fibers from molten materials are disclosed. Certain exemplary embodiments include substantially net shape single pattern rotary spinner castings that include gussets extending radially inward from a side wall and axially upward form a lower wall to an upper wall. A dispenser may be structured to supply molten material in a downward direction through a hollow interior of the casting to the lower wall. A plenum may be structured to direct elevated temperature gas toward an exterior surface of the casting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Robert W. Zembrodt, Walter A. Johnson, Paul Wlodarczyk
  • Publication number: 20160040320
    Abstract: Provided are a method of manufacturing a porous three-dimensional microfiber, more particularly, a micro/nanofibrous scaffold using an electrohydrodynamic (EHD) process and a porous three-dimensional micro/nanofibrous scaffold manufactured thereby. According to the method, the porous three-dimensional micro/nanofibrous scaffold, in which a pore structure is controlled by a process of phase changing an initial jet manufactured through the EHD process from a gas phase to a liquid phase using a liquid collector having a low surface tension, may be manufactured. In addition, the scaffold manufactured by the manufacturing method according to the present invention has a very similar structure to an extracellular matrix (ECM), and is considerably improved in a pore structure and porosity, thereby increasing an cell attached area and enabling cells to permeate into the scaffold, and thus can provide an optimal environment for in vitro or in vivo cell growth to proliferate the cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: RESEARCH & BUSINESS FOUNDATION SUNGKYUNKWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: GeunHyung KIM, Minseong KIM
  • Publication number: 20160040321
    Abstract: Provided is an abrasion-resistant polyester fiber, which has, in particular, a strength within a specific range, anelongation within a specific range and a Young's modulus falling within a specific rangein a specific elongation range on a stress-strain curve, to improve the abrasion resistance of a woven/knitted product for clothing using, in particular, a fine size polyester fiber. The polyester fiber is an abrasion-resistant polyester fiber comprising ethylene terephthalate as a main repeating unit, characterized by satisfying the following requirements: (1) the fineness being from 8 dtex to 200 dtex inclusive; (2) the single yarn fineness being from 1.0 dtex to 4.0 dtex inclusive; (3) the breaking strength being 3.5 cN/dtex or greater; (4) the breaking elongation being from 20% to 50% inclusive; and (5) the minimum differential Young's modulus being 20 cN/dtex or less in an elongation range of from 2% to 5% inclusive on a stress-strain curve of the fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: Asahi Kasei Fibers Corporation
    Inventors: Junko DEGUCHI, Hiroshi NISHIZAKI, Yoshimasa NOTSU
  • Publication number: 20160040322
    Abstract: A carbon fiber manufacturing method with which high quality carbon fibers can be obtained. The carbon fiber manufacturing method includes introducing carbon fiber precursor fiber bundles that have been spread in sheet form into a flameproofing furnace, flameproofing the carbon fiber precursor fiber bundles introduced into the flameproofing furnace in a temperature range of 200° C. to 300° C., introducing the flameproofed fiber bundles obtained from the flameproofing treatment into a carbonization furnace, and carbonizing the flameproofed fiber bundles introduced into the carbonization furnace in a temperature range of 300° C. to 2500° C. The flameproofing furnace includes a heat-treatment chamber and a sealing chamber adjacent thereto and discharges air from the sealing chamber to outside of the flameproofing furnace. The space velocity (SV) (1/h) of hot air blown from the heat-treatment chamber into the sealing chamber satisfies relationship: 80?SV?400.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akito HATAYAMA, Naoki SUGIURA, Masahiro HATA
  • Publication number: 20160040323
    Abstract: Multi-component fibers or filaments that are ribbon shaped are provided having polymer components positioned in a side-by-side fashion. For example, the multi-component fibers may be bicomponent fibers having ribbon shape. The polymer components of the fibers are selected to have differential shrinkage behavior. Nonwovens are also provided that are manufactured from such ribbon shaped multi-component fibers or filaments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: AVINTIV SPECIALTY MATERIALS INC.
    Inventors: John Frederick Steffen, Ralph A. Moody, III
  • Publication number: 20160040324
    Abstract: A device for the thermal treatment of yarns comprising at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening for at least one transport means, which transports the yarn through the device, and comprising separating elements at the inlet opening and the outlet opening for thermal shielding, in order to minimise the exchange of media to the environment. The separating elements are configured to have a low bending rigidity and are arranged such that a surface load is applied onto the yarn lying on the transport means, for example a conveyor belt, which is not greater than 0.005 kg*cm?2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Joachim BECKERS, Siegfried BRENK, Michael DEITLAFF, Sergei SINGER, Jörg ZISCHEWSKI
  • Publication number: 20160040325
    Abstract: A textile is provided that includes a plurality of warp yarns and a plurality of weft yarns woven together, the plurality of warp yarns each including an elastic warp filament and a non-elastic warp filament, and the plurality of weft yarns each including an elastic weft filament and a non-elastic weft filament. At least one of the elastic warp filament, the non-elastic warp filament, the elastic weft filament, and the non-elastic weft filament includes a hydrophobic material. The materials of the elastic warp filament, the non-elastic warp filament, the elastic weft filament, and the non-elastic weft filament are selected such that the textile has a high elastic stretchability in at least one of a weft direction and a warp direction. A garment including the textile, and methods for manufacturing the textile and the garment, are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas Kenneth Hussey, Brian Conolly, Bartosz Milczarczyk
  • Publication number: 20160040326
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing a cloth that is excellent in terms of not only flame retardancy but also stretchability, and also a textile product using the cloth. As a means for resolution, a composite yarn is obtained using a spun yarn that contains a flame-retardant fiber having a limiting oxygen index of 25 or more as measured in accordance with JIS K7201 and a conjugate fiber that is made of two components put together in a side-by-side manner or an eccentric sheath-core manner, and then a cloth is obtained using the composite yarn, in which the weight proportion of the flame-retardant fiber is 75 wt % or more based on the weight of the cloth, and the weight proportion of the conjugate fiber is within a range of 5 to 15 wt % based on the weight of the cloth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: TEIJIN LIMITED
    Inventors: Tomohiro OKUYA, Hiroki SHIMADA, Saori KURODA
  • Publication number: 20160040327
    Abstract: A lacrosse head pocket and a related method of manufacture are provided to facilitate consistent, repeatable and/or custom manufacture of lacrosse equipment. The pocket can be constructed from multiple different sections joined with one another, or can be knitted, weaved or otherwise assembled on an automated assembly machine from strands, and/or can be formed as a unitary textile material having regions/sections with different physical and/or mechanical properties. The pocket can be integrally molded within portions of a lacrosse head to eliminate manually constructed connections between the pocket and lacrosse head. The lacrosse head can be integrally molded with a lacrosse handle to provide a one-piece unitary lacrosse stick. Related methods of manufacturing also are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: David K. Morrow, Bruce Huffa, Thomas H. Burns, Richard J. Janisse, Sean J. Slater, Dale W. Kohler, Craig M. Herman
  • Publication number: 20160040328
    Abstract: An elastic knitted fabric comprising an elastic yarn and a non-elastic yarn, the elastic knitted fabric being characterized in that: the elastic yarn content is 20-60 g/m2; when the knitted fabric is stretched to 80% and then returned to the original length and the forward-movement stress and the return-movement stress at the 50% point during the stretching and contracting are measured, the stress ratio measured using the following relationship: stress ratio=(return-movement stress (N) at the 50% point)/(forward-movement stress (N) at the 50% point) is 0.40-0.80; and the instantaneous temperature rise caused by heat generation during stretching in the warp and/or weft direction is at least 1.0° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Yuji YOSHIDA, Kanji OOYA
  • Publication number: 20160040329
    Abstract: A lacrosse head pocket and a related method of manufacture are provided to facilitate consistent, repeatable and/or custom manufacture of lacrosse equipment. The pocket can be constructed from multiple different sections joined with one another, or can be knitted, weaved or otherwise assembled on an automated assembly machine from strands, and/or can be formed as a unitary textile material having regions/sections with different physical and/or mechanical properties. The pocket can be integrally molded within portions of a lacrosse head to eliminate manually constructed connections between the pocket and lacrosse head. The lacrosse head can be integrally molded with a lacrosse handle to provide a one-piece unitary lacrosse stick. Related methods of manufacturing also are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: David K. Morrow, Bruce Huffa, Thomas H. Burns, Richard J. Janisse, Sean J. Slater, Dale W. Kohler, Craig M. Herman
  • Publication number: 20160040330
    Abstract: A method of reducing torque in garments includes calculating a needle wale skew measurement for the fabric. A knitting machine can orient fabric along its negligible torque line. The knitting machine includes a cylinder having a plurality of needles for knitting the fabric, a take-down component for pulling the fabric from the cylinder, and the knitting machine is adapted for rotating the take-down component at a predetermined rotation ratio relative to rotation of the cylinder. The predetermined rotation ratio can be calculated using the needle wale skew measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventor: James Larry Gunn
  • Publication number: 20160040331
    Abstract: A lacrosse head pocket and a related method of manufacture are provided to facilitate consistent, repeatable and/or custom manufacture of lacrosse equipment. The pocket can be constructed from multiple different sections joined with one another, or can be knitted, weaved or otherwise assembled on an automated assembly machine from strands, and/or can be formed as a unitary textile material having regions/sections with different physical and/or mechanical properties. The pocket can be integrally molded within portions of a lacrosse head to eliminate manually constructed connections between the pocket and lacrosse head. The lacrosse head can be integrally molded with a lacrosse handle to provide a one-piece unitary lacrosse stick. Related methods of manufacturing also are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: David K. Morrow, Bruce Huffa, Thomas H. Burns, Richard J. Janisse, Sean J. Slater, Dale W. Kohler, Craig M. Herman
  • Publication number: 20160040332
    Abstract: A lacrosse head pocket and a related method of manufacture are provided to facilitate consistent, repeatable and/or custom manufacture of lacrosse equipment. The pocket can be constructed from multiple different sections joined with one another, or can be knitted, weaved or otherwise assembled on an automated assembly machine from strands, and/or can be formed as a unitary textile material having regions/sections with different physical and/or mechanical properties. The pocket can be integrally molded within portions of a lacrosse head to eliminate manually constructed connections between the pocket and lacrosse head. The lacrosse head can be integrally molded with a lacrosse handle to provide a one-piece unitary lacrosse stick. Related methods of manufacturing also are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: David K. Morrow, Bruce Huffa, Thomas H. Burns, Richard J. Janisse, Sean J. Slater, Dale W. Kohler, Craig M. Herman
  • Publication number: 20160040333
    Abstract: A preparation method of a jacquard sandwich fabric with a two-colored surface is disclosed, employing a jacquard warp knitting machine, comprising the following steps: 1) changing the guide bar configuration; 2) changing a jacquard control signal; 3) re-defining the basic stitch of the jacquard; 5) converting the designed pattern into a graphic diagram, and continuously modifying the pattern through the graphic diagram; 6) after finishing the pattern design, directly exporting a knitting document, importing the document into a machine file, and producing the jacquard sandwich mesh fabric with a two-colored surface. The weft laid-in stitch is added. The weft laid-in stitch can completely hide the yarns, so the two color effect can be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: PUTIAN HUAFENG INDUSTRIAL&TRADE CO.,LTD.
    Inventors: Huashan FANG, Huayu FANG, Tianyu XU, Yinquan YAO, Liqiong ZHUO, Tianyuan LI, Jiantong WU, Daneshvar KAMRAN
  • Publication number: 20160040334
    Abstract: Disposable article that include fibers formed from compositions comprising thermoplastic polymers and waxes are disclosed, where the wax is dispersed throughout the thermoplastic polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: William Maxwell ALLEN, JR., Eric Bryan BOND, Isao NODA, Ronald Thomas GORLEY, Olaf Erik Alexander ISELE
  • Publication number: 20160040335
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a stable production process for a melt-blown nonwoven fabric comprising thin fibers and having extremely few thick fibers [number of fusion-bonded fibers] formed by fusion bonding of thermoplastic resin fibers to one another, and an apparatus for the same. The present invention relates to a melt-blown nonwoven fabric comprising polyolefin fibers and having (i) a mean fiber diameter of not more than 2.0 ?m, (ii) a fiber diameter distribution CV value of not more than 60%, and (iii) 15 or less fusion-bonded fibers based on 100 fibers; a production process for a melt-blown nonwoven fabric characterized by feeding cooling air of not higher than 30° C. from both side surfaces of outlets of slits 31 from which high-temperature high-velocity air is gushed out and thereby cooling the spun molten resin; and a production apparatus for the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: MITSUI CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Akio MATSUBARA, Shingo KAJIYAMA, Kenichi SUZUKI, Hirohisa SHIODE, Takayuki KUBO
  • Publication number: 20160040336
    Abstract: A nonwoven fabric that is excellent in permeability and absorbency of a highly viscous liquid, and can further reduce wetback of the liquid and has flexible drape, and a product obtained using the same. The nonwoven fabric is obtained using thermobondable fibers, in which non-thermobonded regions where no thermobonding is performed at intersections of the fibers, and thermobonded regions where thermobonding is performed at the intersections of the fibers alternately exist on a surface of the nonwoven fabric, and the non-thermobonded regions exist in a dispersed manner in a dot form, or continuously or intermittently exist in a linear form, and thermobonding is performed at the intersections thereof without causing compression flattening in the fibers in the thermobonded regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventor: HIROKAZU TERADA
  • Publication number: 20160040337
    Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a multilayer nonwoven material. More particularly, the presently disclosed subject matter relates to multilayered structures including, but not limited to, two, three, or four layers to form the nonwoven material. The multilayered structure can include a first layer comprising continuous filaments and a second layer comprising bonded fibers. The continuous filaments can be synthetic filaments. The fibers can be cellulosic fibers, noncellulosic fibers, or combinations thereof. Certain layers can also contain a binder material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Jacek Dutkiewicz, David Reid Murphy, Alan Edward Wright, James Parsons, John Baker, Shiu-Kang Laurence Li
  • Publication number: 20160040338
    Abstract: The invention provides ion-sensitive, hard water-dispersible quaterpolymers as binders for making flushable nonwoven fabrics which are compatible with house and municipal drain-lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Oleg BEREZIN, Asaf IZRAELY, Dan RIZKOV, Moshe VOSKOBOINIK, Boris GORELIK
  • Publication number: 20160040339
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a horizontal hook that is held within an outer hook and an accommodating portion of the outer hook that includes a spiral-shaped columnar portion to which the thread loop captured by the hook point is wound. The sewing machine also includes a chain looper that guide the thread loop induced in spiral shape upward, and an inner hook for chain stitching that is supported by the outer hook that restricting upward movement of the thread loop drawn into the interior of the outer hook.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Masashi Ninomiya, Yoshikazu Ebata
  • Publication number: 20160040340
    Abstract: Printer driver systems and methods for automatic generation of embroidery designs are disclosed. An example method to convert image data to embroidery data, includes converting image data representing an image to first vector data, converting the first vector data into component data structures that specify regions within the image, converting a first one of the component data structures into a fill shape including second vector data, converting a second one of the component data structures into a stroke shape including third vector data, and generating embroidery data structures using the fill shape and the stroke shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: David A. Goldman, Nirav Patel, Mingkui Song
  • Publication number: 20160040341
    Abstract: Hook (11, 12, 13, 14) for a lockstitch sewing machine, or parts of the hook such as the support element of the tension spring (in particular the basket or the bobbin case) or the tension spring itself, including a tension spring (80, 90, 100, 110, 120) that includes a bending towards the outside (with respect to the support element on which it is mounted and with respect to the main bending radius of the tension spring) of the tension spring's extremity designed to press on the bobbin thread, so that the pressure point (P) on the bobbin thread is the point of tangency between the bending radius (R) of the bending of the tension spring's extremity and the support element of the tension spring, so as to generate a stable tension of the bobbin thread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventor: Daniele CERLIANI
  • Publication number: 20160040342
    Abstract: A needle plate replacement device including positioning mechanisms provided in an opposing manner in the needle plate and the bed portion, the positioning mechanisms positioning the needle plate to an attaching position in the bed portion; a lock mechanism including a locking member provided in the bed portion and a locked member provided in the needle plate, in which by mounting the needle plate on the attaching position in the bed portion, the locking member and the locked member is locked to each other thus maintaining a locked state; a push-up mechanism provided in the bed portion, the push-up mechanism pushing up the needle plate mounted on the bed portion towards a dismount position above the bed portion; and a release mechanism cancelling the locked state between the locking member and the locked member of the lock mechanism by being interlocked with an operation of the push-up mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: Janome Sewing Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Maeda, Koichi Honda, Yoshitaka Bamba
  • Publication number: 20160040343
    Abstract: A bodkin includes first and second holding plates, an operation plate and an elongated bar member. The second holding plate overlaps with the first holding plate. The operation plate is rotatably supported by the first holding plate with a part of the second holding plate disposed between the first holding plate and the operation plate. The bar member is connected to the first holding plate so that the operation plate is operable independently of the bar member. Use of the operation plate enables the bodkin to selectively take an opened state and a closed state. In the opened state, the two holding plates are apart from each other, providing a gap into which an end of a string can be inserted. In the closed state, the two holding plates are brought closer to each other, thereby pinching the end of the string between them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventor: Atsuko OKUMA
  • Publication number: 20160040344
    Abstract: An inner barrel and pulsator integrated structure has a vertically used inner barrel and a plurality of water repellent blades being integrated with a bottom of the inner barrel. The plurality of water repellent blades is a projection structure disposed at the inner barrel bottom. The number of the water repellent bladess is at least two. Each water repellent blade extends from the center of the inner barrel bottom to an inner barrel wall. Each water repellent blade rises and extends along a radial outward direction of the inner barrel bottom, after extending to the highest point, is connected with the inner barrel wall, and after rising and extending to the highest point along a circumferential direction from one side in a shape of a gentle slope, drops back to the inner barrel bottom in a shape of an abrupt slope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Haitao Li, Sheng Xu, Xiuwen Peng
  • Publication number: 20160040345
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a washing machine and a control method thereof. The control method effectively transmits high-concentration wash liquid to laundry, while minimizing the amount of water used, through washing using bubbles, and maximizes the increase in volume of the wash liquid rubbed on the inner circumferential surface of the drum using the generation of bubbles and the rotation of the drum to raise the water level of the wash liquid without additional water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Sook KIM, Eun Suk BANG, Bo Ram LEE
  • Publication number: 20160040346
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a washing machine and a control method of the same. The washing machine includes an outer barrel, and an inner barrel, a cloth feed port of the inner barrel being provided with a gimbal. The gimbal is of an annular structure, an inner circumference of the gimbal is provided with a water injection hole configured to supply water into the gimbal to serve as a balance liquid to balance the load eccentricity, and an outer circumference of the gimbal is provided with at least one drainage port that is openable and closeable. The control method of the washing machine includes injecting water into the gimbal through the gimbal water injection hole so as to balance the load eccentricity of the inner barrel during dehydration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Haitao Li, Sheng Xu, Qing Liang
  • Publication number: 20160040347
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a tub for containing washing water, a drum rotatably disposed in the tub, a chamber communicating with the tub through a plurality of openings in which washing water is introduced from the tub through at least one of the plurality of openings and the introduced washing water is discharged to the tub through at least one of the remaining openings, and a water quality detector for detecting the quality of washing water in the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Bosung SEO, Sooyoung OH, Changoh KIM
  • Publication number: 20160040348
    Abstract: Dryer appliances and methods for diagnosing restrictions in dryer appliance are provided. A method includes obtaining a plurality of temperature readings during each operation of the dryer appliance by intermittently measuring a temperature of inlet air to the dryer appliance. The method further includes obtaining a heater status for a heater of the dryer assembly during each measurement of the temperature. The method further includes estimating an effective opening size in the dryer appliance during each operation of the dryer appliance based on the temperature and heater status for each of the plurality of temperature readings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventor: Yicheng Wen
  • Publication number: 20160040349
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a motor speed (v) of a motor (16) in a laundry dryer during a drying cycle, which motor (16) is provided for driving a laundry drum (20) and an air stream fan (14) of the laundry dryer. The drying cycle is subdivided into a first part and a second part. During the first part of the drying cycle the motor speed (v) takes a value of a first predetermined motor speed (v1). During the second part of the drying cycle the motor speed (v) takes a value of a second predetermined motor speed (v2). The value of the second predetermined motor speed (v2) is higher than the value of the first predetermined motor speed (v1) and allows laundry tumbling inside the drum (20). The drying cycle changes from the first part to the second part, when laundry dryness (38) of laundry inside the laundry drum (20) has reached a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Paolo ROS, Agnieszka KUSTRA
  • Publication number: 20160040350
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control method for a laundry dryer. The laundry dryer is a heat-pump type laundry dryer and a compressor of the laundry dryer is a variable-frequency compressor. The control method includes setting a minimum running frequency of the compressor according to an amount of clothes to be dried, where the more the clothes are, the larger the set minimum running frequency is. Specifically, when laundry drying is started, the amount of the clothes being dried is detected. According to the detected information, a minimum running frequency of the compressor, corresponding to the information, is invoked, and the minimum running frequency of the compressor in the current laundry drying process is set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Sheng Xu, Huacheng Song, Shujun Tian, Shiqiang Shan
  • Publication number: 20160040351
    Abstract: The container (20) comprises a base (22), a concave wall (24), a convex wall (26), and a pair of side walls (28) with all walls (24, 26, 28) extending upwardly from the base (22) to a rim (30) which presents an engaging area (50) having an apex (52) and midpoint (54). The apex (52) of the engaging area (50) is disposed a greater distance from the base (22) than the distance of the top (38) of the rim (30) from the base (22) along the side walls (28) and the convex wall (26), whereby the engaging area (50) presents a concave surface area for supporting the container (20) on the hip of a human body. The engaging area (50) further includes a second dimension (h2) which decreases in height along the rim (30) from the apex (52) and the midpoint (54) of the engaging area (50) toward each side wall (28). The engaging area (50) further includes a support plane (?3) which slants relative to vertical at an acute angle (?) allowing the engaging area (50) to rest comfortably on the human body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Janet M. Sofy, Randal J. Petkoff
  • Publication number: 20160040352
    Abstract: A poly-electrolyte composition for forming a water insoluble copolymer suitable as a hydrogel, wherein the copolymer is formed by means of free radical polymerization of at least a first and a second hydrophilic monomer, wherein the first monomer is selected from vinylic sulphonic acids, vinylic phosphonic acids or a water soluble salt thereof, and wherein the second monomer is a vinylic monomer with an electron-withdrawing spacer between the double bond and an acidic group, at least one compound selected from the group consisting of monomers comprising an acidic group either in the free acid form or in the form of a water soluble salt, and of which the logarithm of the acid dissociation constant (pKa) in the free acid form has a value smaller than 3.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Geert DEROOVER, Els MANNEKENS