Milliken + Co

Milliken Research Corporation

Frank Mark Pitman

Jimmy D Chavis

Mark E Ragsdale

Todd D Danielson

Rajib Mondal

Franklin Sadler Love, Iii

Michael Tompkins

David M Hyslop

Jeffrey J Lillie

Ryan W Johnson

Anthony S Brandon

A machine for non-woven fabric formation containing a rotating center shaft, at least a first and second pair of laterally spaced, interchangeable helical yarn guides, a yarn feeding wheel assembly, a fabric take up. The machine is capable of forming both square and tri-axial scrims with changes to the interchangeable helical yarn guides and yarn feeding wheel assembly.

Scrim machine

A liquid jet printing apparatus is provided having a nozzle for emitting a stream of liquid droplets toward a substrate, a charging section for providing an electrical charge to liquid droplets and a pair of electrically conductive deflection plates for creating an electrical field capable of deflecting the liquid droplets to a desired location on the substrate, wherein a resistor is provided between a power source and the electrical field to limit current from the power source during electrical arcing between the deflection plates, thereby minimizing disruption to the electrical field and minimizing electromagnetic pulses.

Resistor protected deflection plates for liquid jet printer

A method and apparatus for combining elongated strips is provided. The strips are wrapped with a flexible material that may include a reinforcement layer and other layers such as adhesives whereby the strips can be bonded to one another. Additionally, layers of e.g., a stabilizing material may be added to one or both sides of the intermediate formed by the elongated strips and flexible material. The stabilizing material can be e.g., layers of a scrim and/or one or more layers of material that are impregnated with a resin to add strength to the intermediate.

Method and apparatus for combining elongated strips

An improved procedure and apparatus for introducing liquids within a thermoplastic or thermoset production system are provided. Such an inventive apparatus comprises a storage tank for the desired liquid, a device which connects to a flow channel (such as a manifold or pipe) through which the target thermoplastic or thermoset composition is flowing, and a transfer line connecting the storage tank with the connecting device. The connecting device itself easily attaches and detaches to the flow channel through a spring-loaded or sliding-lock mechanism. Such a novel apparatus permits an ease in changeover from one liquid to another without the need for time-consuming cleaning and without complicated shut-off, removal, and replacement steps. Furthermore, such an apparatus allows for quick start-up, a drastic reduction in time required for changeover, and, with the connecting device being attached directly to the flow channel, a reduction in potential clogging through the unwanted misdirection of thermoplastic or thermoset composition into the connecting device and/or transfer line itself. As noted above, the particular procedure for producing such thermoplastic or thermoset compositions through utilization of such an apparatus is encompassed within this invention as well.

Methods of coloring resins with a quick change liquid metering device

Quick change liquid metering device

This invention relates to an improved injector/valve combination which permits nearly immediate response time to an actuator signal. Such a combination is particularly suited for injecting colorants into polyurethane slabstock foam and permits a substantial reduction in foam waste due to low colorations during an on/off cycle. Specifically, this invention combination comprises a novel ball valve which allows for instantaneous shut-off and -on without appreciable leakage or pressure drop and without the need to utilize a high throughput flow rate. Such a ball valve is used in combination with an injector which is actually attached to the valve, the configuration which permits continuous use and instantaneous on/off without a deleterious pressure drop and minimizes the possibility of turbulence as the liquid polymeric colorant flows through the injector. The ball valve, the attached injector configuration, the coloring apparatus comprising the inventive ball valve and/or the attached injector configuration, and the slabstock foam colored through the utilization of such an apparatus are also contemplated within this invention.

Injector/valve combination designed to improve color dosing response time

This invention relates to an improved injector/valve combination which permits nearly immediate response time to an actuator signal. Such a combination is particularly suited for injecting colorants into polyurethane slabstock foam and permits a substantial reduction in foam waste due to low colorations during an on/off cycle. Specifically, this invention combination comprises a ball valve which allows for instantaneous shut-off and -on without appreciable leakage or pressure drop and without the need to utilize a high throughput flow rate. Such a ball valve is used in combination with an injector which is actually attached to the valve, the configuration which permits continuous use and instantaneous on/off without a deleterious pressure drop and minimizes the possibility of turbulence as the liquid polymeric colorant flows through the injector. The ball valve, the attached injector configuration, the coloring apparatus comprising the inventive ball valve and/or the attached injector configuration, and the slabstock foam colored through the utilization of such an apparatus are also contemplated within this invention.

This Invention is a method and apparatus for spraying water on the underside of a series of colorant applicators in order to rinse excess colorant from the machine parts. There is a water manifold having a first end portion connected to an upper trolley by a pivoting joint and a second end portion attached to a lower trolley by both a pivoting joint and a sliding joint. Both the upper and lower trollies are constrained in the horizontal, vertical, and rotational direction by a series of cam followers. The extra degrees of freedom provided by the two pivoting joints and the sliding joint insure that no binding occurs. An optional feedback control system can be added utilizing a rotational position transducer to sense the angle of the water manifold so that the motion of the trolleys can be retarded or advanced accordingly.

Method and apparatus for cleaning colorant applicators

A platform which is raised and lowered evenly in a vertical direction only by a pair of piston activated four-bar linkages which are linked together through an endless cable or belt which will not allow one four-bar linkage to act independently of the other.

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Duncan, SC, United States of America

Frank Mark Pitman