3m Innovative Properties Company

Other

David Loren Vall

Mark David Gehlsen

Bonnie Weiskopf Albrecht

Craig Allen Perman

Tien T Wu

Gerry A Hoffdahl

James M Jonza

Christopher K Haas

Gustavo H Castro

John W Henderson

Mario Alberto Perez

James P Endle

Robert D Taylor

Jay M Jennen

Bryan C Feisel

Joan M Strobel

Lahoussaine Lalouch

Jeffrey P Kalish

William B Black

Ravi K Sura

Roger J Stumo

Gerald C Bird

Sara B Mortenson

Jeremie Peyras-Carratte

Gordon L Altshuler

Jean-Marie Coant

Connie Lynn Hubbard

Randy L Robertson

Steven J Flynn

Cushioning articles or structures are provided including a cell layer with an array of cells interconnected with each other. Each of the cells includes at least three cell walls extending between the first and second major surfaces thereof. The cell walls are shared by the adjacent cells, and the cell layer further includes a land region located at the second major surface and connecting the at least three cell walls. A base layer is attached to the second major surface of the cell layer to form a sheet.

Cushioning structures including interconnected cells

Nonwoven fibrous webs including randomly oriented discrete fibers defining a multiplicity of non-hollow projections extending from a major surface of the nonwoven fibrous web (as considered without the projections), and a plurality of substantially planar land areas formed between each adjoining projection in a plane defined by and substantially parallel with the major surface. In some exemplary embodiments, the randomly oriented discrete fibers include multi-component fibers having at least a first region having a first melting temperature and a second region having a second melting temperature, wherein the first melting temperature is less than the second melting temperature. At least a portion of the oriented discrete fibers are bonded together at a plurality of intersection points with the first region of the multi-component fibers. In certain embodiments, the patterned air-laid nonwoven fibrous webs include particulates. Methods of making and using such patterned air-laid nonwoven fibrous webs are also disclosed.

Patterned air-laid nonwoven fibrous webs and methods of making and using same

Methods and apparatus including a fiber opening chamber having an open upper end and a lower end, at least one fiber inlet for introducing a multiplicity of fibers into the opening chamber, a first multiplicity of rollers positioned within the opening chamber wherein each roller has a multiplicity of projections extending outwardly from a circumferential surface surrounding a center axis of rotation, at least one gas emission nozzle positioned substantially below the first multiplicity of rollers to direct a gas stream generally towards the open upper end of the opening chamber, and a forming chamber having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end of the forming chamber is in flow communication with the open upper end of the opening chamber, and the lower end of the forming chamber is substantially open and positioned above a collector having a collector surface.

Apparatus and methods for producing nonwoven fibrous webs

Methods and apparatus including a chamber having a substantially open lower end positioned above a collector surface, at least one fiber inlet positioned above the lower end, a first multiplicity of rollers positioned within the chamber wherein each roller has a multiplicity of projections extending outwardly from a circumferential surface surrounding a center axis of rotation, a second multiplicity of rollers positioned within the chamber above the first multiplicity of rollers wherein each of the second multiplicity of rollers has a multiplicity of projections extending outwardly from a circumferential surface surrounding a center axis of rotation, the second multiplicity of rollers positioned so at least a portion of the projections extending outwardly from the circumferential surfaces of each of the second multiplicity of rollers vertically overlaps with at least a portion of the projections extending outwardly from the circumferential surface of at least one of the first multiplicity of rollers.

Methods and apparatus for producing nonwoven fibrous webs

The present invention is directed an oriented, foamed article having an integral security element, and a method of making the article. The oriented foam article is particularly useful in the preparation of printed security documents such as currency, stock and bond certificates, birth and death certificates, land titles and abstracts and the like.

Foam security substrate

The present invention is directed to a process for producing a polypropylene foam by mixing a high melt strength polypropylene and a blowing agent to form a melt mixture, reducing the temperature of the melt mixture at the exit of the apparatus to an exit temperature that is no more than 30&#xb0; C. above the melt temperature of the neat polypropylene while maintaining the melt mixture at a pressure sufficient to prevent foaming; passing the mixture through said exit shaping orifice and exposing the mixture to atmospheric pressure, whereby the blowing agent expands causing cell formation resulting in foam formation, and orienting said foam. The foam is useful as tape backings, thermal and acoustical insulation and as a diffuse reflector for use in optical applications such as computer displays.

Foam and method of making

A continuous method for making porous foam and the foam articles are described. The method allows for tailoring the porosity of the foam by controlling process variables including draw rate and blowing agent concentration. A method for co-extruding the foams with other materials is also described.

Breathable polymer foams

A continuous method for making foams having uniform and/or small cell sizes and articles made with these foams are described. The method allows for adjusting or controlling cell size and cell size distribution by controlling temperature and/or blowing agent concentration. The foams feature small and/or uniform cell sizes and may be comprised of amorphous thermoplastic polymers, pressure sensitive adhesive compositions, and immiscible thermoplastic polymer compositions. A method for coextruding the foams is also described.

Uniform small cell foams and a continuous process for making same

The invention discloses reduced density foams and methods of making the foams by applying or creating a nonfoaming barrier layer on a foamable layer, which barrier layer inhibits the escape of fugitive gases during the foaming process.

Reduced density foam articles and process for making

A component carrier tape used for storing and transporting components, wherein the carrier tape comprises a single layer elongated flexible strip portion having properties suitable for storing and transporting a plurality of components. The single layer strip portion comprises a layer of thermoplastic polymeric foam and has a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a plurality of openings spaced along the strip portion and extending through the strip portion between the first and second surfaces for receiving the plurality of components. The carrier tape further includes a bottom strip bonded to the second surface of the strip portion, extending along the strip portion, and covering at least a portion of the plurality of spaced openings. The carrier tape may further include a top cover tape realeasably secured to the first surface of the strip portion, extending along the strip portion, and covering at least a portion of the plurality of spaced openings.

Component carrier tape

Growing community of inventors

Woodbury, MN, United States of America

David Loren Vall