3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Larry D Humlicek

Daniel H Carlson

James N Dobbs

John T Strand

William Vogel Dower

John S Huizinga

Gregory F King

David W Kuhns

Vincent W King

Thelma E Hunter, Legal Representative

Samuel Hunter, Legal Representative

Robert M Biegler

Daniel J Theis

Ronald P Swanson

Bruce E Nelson

James A Wilson

Steven W Sorensen

James R Preston

Samuel W Hunter

Thelma Hunter

Curtis D Ronnander

A web-handling machine frame, at least partially built from reconfigurable interconnected blocks having precision alignment points. From such blocks, modular equipment web-handling lines for web-handling operations can be constructed ad hoc with their shaft mounted web-contacting devices in tram without the need for separate alignment procedures.

Web-handling machine frame

A microreplicated article is disclosed. The article includes a web including first and second opposed surfaces. The first surface includes a first microreplicated structure having a plurality of first features. The second surface includes a second microreplicated structure having a plurality of second features. Corresponding opposed features cooperate to form a lens features.

Microreplicated article

An apparatus for casting a patterned surface on both sides of a web. The apparatus includes a first patterned roll; a second pattered roll; and a means for rotating the first and second patterned rolls such that their patterns are transferred to opposite sides of the web while it is in continuous motion. During this process, their patterns are maintained in continuous registration to within at least 100 microns, and preferably at least 20 microns.

Apparatus and method for producing two-sided patterned webs in registration

Dry silver film processor

A novel blown microfiber web having a network of compacted high-density regions and pillowed low-density regions exhibits a unique combination of low density and good tensile strength and integrity. Such a web may be collected on a perforated screen so that microfibers deposited on the land area of the screen form the compacted high-density regions, and microfibers deposited over the openings of the screen form the pillowed low-density regions.

Pillowed web of blown microfibers

Growing community of inventors

Ham Lake, MN, United States of America

Larry D Humlicek