Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Other

Whirlpool Corporation

Alliance Laundry Systems LLC

Amana Company, L.p.

Speed Queen Company

Raytheon Company

Raytheon Commercial Laundry LLC

Ratheon Commercial Laundry LLC

Alliance Laundry Systems Lll

Gregory L Malchow

Andrew F Kegler

Daniel Hoo

Stephen L Harris

Timothy James Blenke

Jeffry Jon Radke

Steve B Schwartzkopf

Gregory John Rajala

Robert A Brenner

Kurt Werner

Edwin H Frohbieter

Keith E Carr

Steven R Hall

Joseph C Maiellano, Jr

Ross L Bisplinghoff

William R Quinn

W Wallace White

Charles Becht

An anvil system for use in an ultrasonic bonder includes an anvil assembly including an anvil bar having an anvil aperture in at least one anvil bar longitudinal end, the anvil aperture having an anvil aperture inner surface, a shaft separate from the anvil bar and partially disposed in the anvil aperture, the shaft having a circumferential surface and extending outwardly beyond the anvil bar longitudinal end, and a first elastomeric shaft O-ring disposed on the shaft between the shaft circumferential surface and the anvil aperture inner surface; a mounting bracket with a mounting bracket hole having a hole surface; a bushing disposed in the mounting bracket hole and sized to accommodate an end of the shaft, the bushing having a bushing inner surface; and a second elastomeric shaft O-ring disposed on the shaft between the shaft circumferential surface and the bushing inner surface.

Ultrasonic anvil having low transmissibility

Bonded composites, absorbent articles comprising such bonded composites, and processes for bonding thin-section elements. The bonded composite has first and second thin-section elements bonded to each other, at least in part by bond elements and at least in part by adherent material. The adherent material is disposed between the first and second thin-section elements proximate and about the bond elements. The adherent material, at least in part, bonds the thin-section elements to each other at loci of the adherent material. The bond patterns are arranged and configured to preferentially direct stresses imposed on the bond pattern, inwardly into the interior of the bond pattern for distribution, dissipation, and termination.

Method of making tear-resistant adhesive/combination bond pattern

This invention pertains to bonded composites, and absorbent articles comprising such bonded composites. The bonded composites comprise first and second layers of thin-section sheet material bonded by bond elements defining a bond pattern. The bond pattern has a length, and width. The bond pattern includes a first sub-array of longitudinally-oriented separate and distinct stress receptor elements proximate the side edges, and spaced at first distances from each other, and a second sub-array of longitudinally-oriented separate and distinct transfer and dissipation elements preferably disposed inwardly of the side edges and inwardly of the stress receptor elements, and at second distances from the stress receptor elements less than spacing of the stress receptor elements from each other. Bonds can be activated by application of thermal or ultrasonic energy, or pressure e.g. against adhesive. The thin-section elements can comprise polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyesters, and polyamides, and copolymers, mixtures, and blends of such polymeric materials, and are preferably structured as fibrous, film, or foam work pieces. The composite contact length at a given point along the length of the pattern preferably varies from the average composite contact length by no more than about 13 percent. In preferred embodiments, stress transfer and dissipation elements direct stresses inwardly into the interior of the pattern. In some embodiments, transfer and dissipation elements have first ends disposed on the interior of the pattern, and extend to second ends adjacent side edges of the pattern between respective ones of the stress receptor elements.

Tear-resistant bond pattern

Tear-resistant adhesive/combination bond pattern

The bonded composite in accordance with the invention has first and second thin-section sheet materials bonded together by bond elements defining a bond pattern. The bond elements can consist of stress receptor elements, stress transfer and dissipation elements, and stress termination elements. In general, the stress receptor elements, and the transfer and dissipation elements, receive stresses into the bond pattern, and distribute stresses internally, generally inwardly into the interior of the bond pattern. The termination elements function to accumulate and coordinate termination of stresses transferred from the receptor elements and the transfer and dissipation elements. In general, bond elements in the interior of the bond pattern are closer together than bond elements proximate the side edges of the bond pattern. Bonds corresponding to the bond elements can be formed via a wide variety of bond forming processes, including thermal energy and ultrasonic-frequency energy. The bond elements preferably occupy from about 10 percent to about 40 percent of the overall area of the bond pattern. Exemplary use of the bond pattern is illustrated in an absorbent article. The absorbent article in the present invention can serve a variety of functions including, but not limited to, a feminine hygiene article, diaper, or adult incontinence product.

A liquified gas dry-cleaning system having a pressure vessel for containing a liquid wash bath and a perforated basket rotatably supported within the pressure vessel for containing items during cleaning. For enhancing cleaning and the removal of solid particulate matter on the items to be cleaned, the basket has a plurality of radial mixing baffles fixed to the periphery of the rotary basket and a plurality of gas jet manifolds fixed to the baffles which are operable for directing pressurized jet streams of liquified gas into the basket for agitating the contained items and wash bath simultaneously with physical agitation by the mixing baffles. The dry-cleaning system has a successively operated air purge cycle prior to a dry cleaning cycle, which includes sealing the pressure chamber, introducing a gaseous form of the liquified gas which makes up the wash bath, rotating the basket so that items contained therein are turned and flexed to release at least a portion of any contained air therein, and venting the introduced gas and released air from the pressure vessel.

Liquified gas dry-cleaning machine with improved agitation system

A liquified gas dry cleaning system is provided which includes a cleaning vessel for containing a pressurized cleaning fluid and a storage tank for receiving and storing a cleaning fluid supply. The system also includes a cleaning fluid recovery still for separating contaminants from the cleaning fluid along with a filtration system for filtering contaminants from the cleaning fluid. A purge tank for receiving gaseous cleaning fluid which is in fluid communication with the cleaning vessel is also provided. The cleaning vessel, storage tank, purge tank, solvent recovery still and filtration system are arranged in a plurality of modules. The modules are in fluid communication with each other through a fluid line for carrying liquified cleaning fluid and a gas line for carrying gaseous cleaning fluid. The fluid line and gas line each include a respective junction for permitting separation of the modules. The fluid line junction and the gas line junction are disposed and configured such that the modules can be assembled in different configurations without any requiring any rerouting of the liquid and gas lines.

Liquified gas dry-cleaning machine with convertible installation configuration

Bond pattern for an absorbent article

A liquified gas dry-cleaning machine having a cleaning vessel with a chamber for containing a wash bath and items to be cleaned and a removable door for sealing the cleaning chamber during a dry-cleaning operation. The dry-cleaning machine has a door opening and closing apparatus which includes a pivot frame for moving the door outwardly from the cleaning vessel in an arced path of movement, and a slide for lowering the door on the pivot frame in a linear path of movement to a position below the level of the cleaning vessel. Reverse movement of the pivot frame thereupon positions the door in a tucked stored position at the same axial location with respect to the cleaning vessel as when the door is closed so as not to impede access to the cleaning chamber nor increase the axial reach of an operator necessary for removing items from the chamber. The door opening and closing apparatus further includes a protective plate which is carried by the pivot frame and is movable between a raised position for protecting operating personnel during door opening and closing operations and a lower position for permitting access to the cleaning chamber following a door opening operation.

High pressure cleaning vessel with a space saving door opening/closing apparatus

A liquified gas dry-cleaning system having a cleaning vessel, a rotary basket supported within the cleaning vessel for containing items during cleaning, and a door movable between a closed position sealing the cleaning vessel and an open position for permitting access to the rotary basket and items contained therein. A lint filter is mounted within the cleaning vessel for removing lint and other course particulate matter from the liquified gas wash bath as it is drained from the cleaning vessel following a dry-cleaning cycle. The lint filter has a filter surface which is disposed under a front entry opening of the basket for easy access and manual cleaning each time the cleaning vessel door is opened and items are removed from the basket following a cleaning cycle.

Liquified gas dry-cleaning vessel with self-contained front access lint panel

A liquified gas dry-cleaning machine having a cleaning vessel with a chamber for containing a wash bath and items to be cleaned, a removable door for sealing the cleaning chamber during a dry-cleaning operation, and a locking ring for retaining the door in closed position. A door opening and closing apparatus is provided which includes a pivot frame for moving the door in an arced path of movement into and out of closed position with the cleaning vessel. The door and locking ring have respective locking lugs with a specifically designed geometry for enabling arced movement of the door into and out of the closed position and for centering the door in aligned relation to the cleaning chamber as an incident to such movement. The locking lugs further have mating locking surfaces designed for point contact in a manner that minimizes stress concentrations at n the roots of the locking ring lugs.

Dry cleaning vessel door opening apparatus with self-aligning and reduced stress locking lugs

A bearing system for mounting a rotating shaft includes a bearing assembly and a bearing mounting structure. The bearing assembly has an inner race which contacts the rotating shaft, an outer race, and bearing elements positioned therebetween. The outer race has an exterior surface with an outer dimension. The bearing mounting structure has a region for affixing it to an external structure in which the bearing system is to function. An internal surface of the bearing mounting structure defines a bearing cavity in which the bearing assembly is to be disposed. The internal surface engages the exterior surface of the outer race. The retention force exerted by the internal surface on the outer surface is determined by the design of the inner surface of the bearing mounting structure that defines the bearing cavity. The internal surface has cut-outs, or scallops, extending axially (with respect to the shaft) along the internal surface. Furthermore, the internal surface is slightly pre-angled inwardly toward the shaft prior to the installation of the bearing assembly. As the installation of the bearing assembly occurs, the internal surface flexes outwardly as the spring action due to the pre-angle provides the requisite retention force. The amount of retention force for a given material with a known thickness depends on the geometry of the cut-outs on the internal surface and the pre-angle. Because the retention force associated with the spring action is a function of known variables, a bearing mounting structure can be designed for a specific retention force by selecting the variables to produce the retention force.

Method of manufacturing a bearing mounting structure with reduced

A pressure vessel which includes a door operating apparatus which enables a door to the pressure vessel to be moved between open and closed positions quickly and easily is provided. The door operating apparatus includes a translation rod supported on the pressure vessel for sliding movement relative to the housing of the pressure vessel such that the sliding movement of the translation rod guides the door in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the door opening in the housing between the open and closed positions. The translation rod further being supported on the pressure vessel for pivotal movement with respect to the pressure vessel housing so as to enable the door to pivot about an axis defined by the translation rod into a fully open position. A handle can also be pivotally connected in off-center relation to a front face of the door for movement between a retracted position wherein the handle is arranged substantially adjacent to the front face of the door and an extended position wherein the handle extends away from the front face of the door and towards an outer periphery of the door.

Growing community of inventors

Oshkosh, WI, United States of America

Gregory L Malchow