Sheet, Web, Or Strand Patents (Class 34/414)
  • Patent number: 8857075
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a smoking product from a tobacco material, wherein the tobacco material is treated using at least one extrusion process, which comprises compaction with an increase in pressure and temperature and a mechanical treatment and sudden flash drying of the material at an outlet of an extruder (1), wherein a heated process fluid (7) is supplied as a heat transfer medium to the tobacco material in the extruder (1) to supply process heat. The invention further relates to a device for producing a smoking product from a tobacco material using an extruder (1) which performs a compaction of a tobacco material with an increase in pressure and temperature and a mechanical treatment and sudden flash drying of the material at the extruder outlet, wherein the extruder (1) is associated with a heater (11), which heats a process fluid (7) that is supplied to the extruder (1) for supplying process heat as a heat transfer medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: British American Tobacco (Germany) GmbH
    Inventors: Dietmar Franke, Gerald Schmekel
  • Patent number: 8628188
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus including: a rotatable belt having an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface partially coming into contact with a sheet; a plurality of rollers being arranged in a direction of movement of the sheet and including a first roller and a second roller adjacent to each other, the plurality of rollers being pressed against the outer surface and the moving sheet being nipped between the plurality of rollers and the outer surface; a blowing mechanism configured to blow hot air from between the first roller and the second roller toward the sheet; and a heating unit including a heater and a contact surface coming into contact with the inner surface, the heating unit being configured to be able to set the contact surface thereof to have a predetermined non-uniform temperature distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiaki Tokisawa, Yoshiaki Suzuki, Kanto Kurasawa, Toshihide Wada
  • Patent number: 8465845
    Abstract: An apparatus for preserving wood product comprising, in one embodiment, a treatment space sealable in medium-tight manner; a vacuum pump connected to the treatment space; a steam source connected to the treatment space; a heating device which is in thermal contact with the treatment space; a dispenser for adding predetermined amounts of either a base or an acid to the treatment space; pH measuring device for determining the pH value of steam in the treatment space; and measuring and control equipment adapted to monitor at least the pH temperature and pressure inside the treatment space and to control the vacuum pump, the steam source and the heat source, and the pH by dispensing either a base or an acid. Also disclosed is a method for preserving wood. The preservation process has a relatively short process time, wherein a good preservation is realized while the mechanical strength of the wood is largely retained. The amount of waste wood material is greatly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Firmowood Nederland B.V.
    Inventor: Wilhelmus Petrus Martinus Willems
  • Patent number: 8388126
    Abstract: A printing paper seasoning apparatus includes: a loading table on which a plurality of sheets of printing paper are stacked and loaded; a ceiling plate which is disposed above the loading table so as to oppose the loading table for covering over an upper side of a stack of the printing paper loaded on the loading table; an air blowing device which blows air from a side face side into a paper accommodating region formed between the loading table and the ceiling plate which are arranged so as to oppose each other; a side plate arranged in a side face portion of the paper accommodating region; and an exhaust section including openings formed in the side plate, wherein an opening ratio of the exhaust section varies in a vertical direction of the paper accommodating region in such a manner that the opening ratio on a lower side of the exhaust section is smaller than the opening ratio on an upper side of the exhaust section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yuhei Chiwata
  • Patent number: 7381931
    Abstract: A drying apparatus includes a thermal roll for contacting and heating aluminum web in a continuous sheet form. The thermal roll includes a roll surface, having a static friction coefficient ? defined by contact with the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Hayashi, Toru Onogawa
  • Patent number: 6746573
    Abstract: A method for drying fibrous webs utilizing a limiting orifice medium with a plurality of pores. The web is disposed on a supporting fluid permeable carrier. The web is pressed between the supporting carrier and the limiting orifice medium. A vacuum greater than the breakthrough pressure of the pores of the medium is drawn through the pores and the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Michael Gomer Stelljes, Jr., Osman Polat, Donald Eugene Ensign, Paul Dennis Trokhan
  • Publication number: 20040060194
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a pressure-heat drying method which allows a catalytic substance and the like to be deposited uniformly onto a workpiece to be dried in a dramatically short time as compared to a prior art method, and also an apparatus therefor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventor: Masaru Kawahara
  • Publication number: 20030088995
    Abstract: A system for high-pressure drying of semiconductor wafers includes the insertion of a wafer into an open vessel, the immersion of the wafer in a liquid, pressure-sealing of the vessel, pressurization of the vessel with an inert gas, and then the controlled draining of the liquid using a moveable drain that extracts water from a depth maintained just below the gas-liquid interface. Thereafter, the pressure may be reduced in the vessel and the dry and clean wafer may be removed. The high pressure suppresses the boiling point of liquids, thus allowing higher temperatures to be used to optimize reactivity. Megasonic waves are used with pressurized fluid to enhance cleaning performance. Supercritical substances are provided in a sealed vessel containing a wafer to promote cleaning and other treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Applicant: Semitool, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Bergman, Ian Sharp, Craig P. Meuchel, H. Frederick Woods
  • Patent number: 6314659
    Abstract: A device and method for extending the useful life of a carrying fabric in a dryer by maintaining the edges of the fabric at a temperature below that at which thermal degradation occurs. This is achieved by applying a cooling liquid to the edges of the carrying fabric so that thermal energy can be transferred from the fabric to the liquid and thus maintain the edges of the fabric at moderate temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Valmet Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Parker
  • Patent number: 6195909
    Abstract: A combination infrared/air convection dryer or oven for travelling webs. A shutter assembly is provided between the infrared radiation source and the moving web in order to selectively expose the web to infrared radiation, and to create a sealed air chamber when in the closed position. Enhanced drying of the web and/or a coating on the web at high speed is achieved without a concomitant increase in dryer length. When the drying atmosphere has a high concentration of solvent, exposure of that atmosphere to the heating elements, which can cause explosions, is eliminated by actuation of the shutters. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, air bars are used to floatingly support the moving web to avoid contact of the web with dryer elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Megtec Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Allan Wallace Rogne, Jeffrey Donald Quass
  • Patent number: 5938893
    Abstract: A differential micro-regions single lamina fibrous web comprises at least two pluralities of micro-regions disposed in a non-random and repeating pattern: a first plurality of micro-regions comprising fibers interconnected with a fiber-bonding substance, and a second plurality of micro-regions, preferably not interconnected with the fiber-binding substance. The fiber-binding substance is selected from the group consisting of hemicelluloses, lignin, polymeric extractives, and any combination thereof. The fibers of the first plurality of micro-regions are bonded together by a process of softening, flowing, and immobilization of the fiber-binding substance between the cellulosic fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Paul Dennis Trokhan, Mark Ryan Richards, Michael Gomer Stelljes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5935381
    Abstract: A differential density single lamina web of cellulosic fibers comprises at least two pluralities of micro-regions disposed in a non-random and repeating pattern: a first plurality of high density regions and a second plurality of low density regions. The high density regions comprise cellulosic fibers comprising fluid latent indigenous polymers (FLIP), such as hemicelluloses and lignin. The fibers of the high-density regions are FLIP-bonded, i.e., bonded together by a process of softening, flowing and immobilization of the FLIP between the cellulosic fibers of the high density regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Paul Dennis Trokhan, Mark Ryan Richards, Michael Gomer Stelljes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5878974
    Abstract: A device to wind and unwind a textile web onto and from a spool, when it comes into or out of a wet-processing group is disclosed. The device includes a guide and tension roll supported at the free ends of winding arms and resting on the spool. A moisture-extraction device in the form of a suction pipe is mounted immediately upstream of the guide and tension roll. The web may thus be wound onto the spool with a relatively low moisture content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Eduard Kusters Maschinefabrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Walter Schumacher, Wolfgang Kurschatke
  • Patent number: 5669159
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying a fiber web is provided by pressing the web, preferably by impulse drying and then introducing the web into a gas pressurized zone followed by reducing the pressure in the zone, the reduction preferably being effected with cooling of the fiber web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: The Institute of Paper Science and Technology
    Inventors: David I. Orloff, Timothy Patterson, Isaak Rudman
  • Patent number: 5647144
    Abstract: Apparatus and process for the non-contact drying of a web of material. The apparatus includes air flotation nozzles for floating the web, and direct air impingement nozzles for enhanced drying of the web. A plurality of air flotation nozzles or air bars are mounted in one or more sections of a dryer enclosure in air-receiving communication with headers, preferably both above and below the web for the contactless convection drying of the web. In conjunction with these air flotation nozzles, one or more sections of the dryer also includes direct impingement nozzles such as hole-array bars or slot bars. The drying surface of the web is thus heated by both air issuing from the air flotation nozzles and from the direct impingement nozzles. As a result, the dryer has a high rate of drying in a small, enclosed space while maintaining a comfortable working environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Michael P. Bria, Jeffrey D. Quass
  • Patent number: 5642671
    Abstract: A method of printing a material web includes the steps of applying ink to the material web, subsequently drying the material web with the use of heat and subsequently drying the material web, and, after cooling and prior to further processing, moistening the material web while simultaneously applying heat to the material web, and subsequently once again cooling the material web. An apparatus for carrying out the method includes, in a travel direction, a printing unit, a drying section following the printing unit, a cooling section following the drying section, a moistening section following the cooling section, and an after-cooling section following the moistening section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: V.I.B. Apparatebau GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Winheim
  • Patent number: 5638610
    Abstract: In the case of a heat setting chamber for the continuous heat setting of yarns, entry and exit openings are provided, through which transport belts are fed and onto which transport belts the yarns are placed in loops. In the area of the entry and exit openings, ventilation seals are provided, on which the heat setting medium flows against the loops from underneath. The mouths of extractor vents are arranged vertically over the ventilation seals. The heat setting medium can thus penetrate the yarn loops in the area of the entry and exit openings simultaneously from above and below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Michael Horauf Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ludwig Resch
  • Patent number: 5619807
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a web of material, which is dispensed from a roll and fed through at least one roller gap of a roller-gap system which includes a processing station, an unrolling station on the input side of the processing station, and a roll magazine on the input side of the unrolling station which magazine includes at least one roll storage position. When rolls of web material are processed, the processing delay times lead to an uneven distribution of the temperature and/or moisture within the roll which in turn causes nonuniformity of the results in the processing station. The web of material still on the roll is exposed, prior to being unrolled, to a preselected atmospheric environment for a predetermined minimum length of time. Accordingly, the roll storage position is located in a chamber, the atmosphere of which can be controlled to a preset temperature and/or humidity level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Finishing GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Rolf Conrad
  • Patent number: 5598642
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying a fiber web is provided by pressing the web, preferably by impulse drying and then introducing the web into a gas pressurized zone followed by reducing the pressure in the zone, the reduction preferably being effected with cooling of the fiber web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Institute of Paper Science and Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David I. Orloff, Timothy F. Patterson, Andrew M. Krause
  • Patent number: 5588223
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for restrained paper drying in order to produce high performance paper with enhanced stiffness and, in the process, substantially improve paper properties and reduce fiber usage. The paper web is held in a restrained position on a fabric by air suction imposed from beneath the web and is of sufficient application to prevent shrinkage of the web. The web is simultaneously dried by high velocity, high temperature air or superheated steam. For improved finish properties, the wet paper web may be pressed onto a polished heated metal cylinder with restraint being imposed by gluing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri Inc.
    Inventor: Hugh G. Marshall
  • Patent number: 5569438
    Abstract: In an apparatus for treating, for purposes of sterilization, a continuous material web a first treatment station is provided and includes a device for bringing a material web into contact with liquefied hydrogen peroxide. A second treatment station is also provided in which the material web is simultaneously sterilized with hydrogen peroxide vapor and dried with heated air after treatment of the material web in the first treatment station. The second treatment station includes an elongate chamber having an inlet and outlet, the material web being dried and thereby generating hydrogen peroxide vapor as it is led through the elongate chamber from the inlet to the outlet. The second treatment station also includes an outer flow duct in flow communication with the inlet and outlet of the elongate chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventor: Anders Hilmersson
  • Patent number: 5560123
    Abstract: The multi-cylinder dryer of a papermachine comprises a first tier of cylinders, wherein a web travels supported by a first dryer wire on the cylinders of the first tier of cylinders, as well as a second tier of cylinders, wherein the web travels supported by a second dryer wire on the cylinders of the second tier of cylinders. Upon passing around its wire guide roll, each dryer wire forms a loop having at least one section, along which the first or second wire, respectively, is free from the web and which in this wire traveling direction is immediately upstream of a point, at which the first or second wire is received on the first or second guide roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Valmet Paper Machinery Inc.
    Inventor: Pekka Eskelinen
  • Patent number: 5424034
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for treating, for purposes of sterilization, a continuous material web (16) by bringing the entire web or parts thereof intended for sterilization into contact with liquefied hydrogen peroxide and thereafter drying the web with the aid of a hot gaseous fluid.In order to improve the degree of destruction of micro-organisms present on the material web, the material web is dried, after contact with the liquefied hydrogen peroxide, with air which has been intentionally supplied with hydrogen peroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA
    Inventor: Anders Hilmersson
  • Patent number: 5353488
    Abstract: An automated yarn conditioning apparatus is provided. This device allows for unconditioned yarn packages to be brought from a source to a yarn conditioning station where they are conditioned and then ejected onto a takeaway conveyor. Yarn conditioning is achieved within an airtight chamber inside of a vessel. The yarn conditioning process used first evacuates the airtight chamber and then injects steam into the airtight chamber. Simultaneously with the conditioning of the yarn packages inside the airtight chamber, unconditioned yarn packages are brought to the conditioning station for placement inside the vessel when the prior conditioning step has been completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: TNS Mills, Inc.
    Inventor: Kiyohiro Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 5319863
    Abstract: A dryer section of a machine for manufacturing fiber webs, which includes a plurality of heatable drying cylinders arranged to form at least a first dryer group and a second dryer group, and arranged in horizontal cylinder rows, and including a plurality of suction rolls each being disposed between two adjacent cylinders. The cylinders of the first group have axes disposed in a first plane I, the suction rolls of the first group have axes disposed in a second plane II, the cylinders of the second group have axes disposed in a third plane III, and the suction rolls of the second group have axes disposed in a fourth plane IV. In accordance with different embodiments planes I and II may be coplanar, planes II and III may be coplanar; planes I and III may be disposed between planes II and IV; and the axes of the first drying cylinders and its associated suction roll of the second group may be disposed below the axes of the other drying cylinders and suction rolls of the second group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: J. M. Voith GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Kotitschke, Georg Kugler, Wolfgang Mayer