3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Other

Michael R Gorman

Dennis L Becker

William L Melbye

Kristopher K Biegler

Susan K Nestegard

Leigh E Wood

Dennis L Krueger

William C Unruh

Neelakandan Chandrasekaran

Shou-Lu G Wang

Bradley W Eaton

Dylan T Cosgrove

Rodney K Hehenberger

Robert D Kampfer

Catherine A Leatherdale

Raymond Patrick Johnston

Ronald Wayne Ausen

Jeffrey O Emslander

John Charles Clark

Jun-Ying Zhang

Naimul Karim

Junkang Jacob Liu

David F Slama

Robert L W Smithson

Haiyan Zhang

Thomas R Corrigan

Timothy M Dietz

Donald W Folske

Ronald L Ott

Thomas R LaLiberte

Randall L Alberg

Victor F Panza

Nedlin B Johnson

Jorge A Ferreiro

Omar A Parodi

Gabriela F Serra

Timothy P Pariseau

John L Barry

Jeffrey R McMahon

Zhiqun Zhang

Barry S Carpenter

Thomas J Gilbert

Mark A Peltier

Anthony B Ferguson

Philip Miller

Fay T Salmon

Christina D Cowman-Eggert

Tilo Remhof

Roger D Pavlis

Tadato Oritani

Shilpi K Sanghi

Thomas Hertlein

Hans-Gerd Vollmers

Todd L Nelson

Thomas P Besonen

John H Horns

Thomas J Rieger

Siegfried R Gabriel

Scott M Niemi

Vincent Jusuf

David P Rasmussen

Abbi G Johnson

Alex P Beane

Shin Katoh

David E Slama

Robert LW Smithson

The present disclosure provides adhesive mounting articles that permit sliding movement along a primary path, even while the article is fixed between a mounting object and a mounting surface. The adhesive articles can allow user precise control over the location and orientation of his or her mounting object, particularly frames.

Adjustable adhesive articles with permissible movement parallel to bonding plane

Various apparatuses are disclosed including those that have curvature arresting properties. According to one example, the apparatus can optionally include a flexible first film, a second film and a first plurality of features. The first plurality of features can be disposed between the first film and the second film At least some of the first plurality of features are spaced apart from one another by a gap when the first film is not subject to an applied bending force or is subject to the applied bending force below a predetermined magnitude in one or both of the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction, and at least some of the first plurality of features contact one another to arrest a curvature of the first film when the applied bending force is at or above the predetermined magnitude.

Curvature limiting film

The method of making a laminate () includes stretching a thermoplastic layer () so that it plastically deforms, relaxing the plastically deformed thermoplastic layer () to reduce its tensile strain, and subsequently laminating the thermoplastic layer () to a substrate () to make the laminate (). The stretching, relaxing, and laminating are completed in-line. The thermoplastic layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, with the first surface of the thermoplastic layer bearing a plurality of male fastening elements. The second surface of the thermoplastic layer () is laminated to the substrate ().

Method of making a laminate with a stretched thermoplastic layer

A sheet of loop material having utility as the landing zone in the manufacture of, e.g. disposable diapers and having excellent properties and an exceptionally low basis weight. Methods and apparatus for forming the sheet of loop material are also disclosed.

Sheet of loop material, method and apparatus for forming same

The present invention relates to printed hook components for hook and loop mechanical fasteners, and other components such as on diaper chassis and other personal hygiene articles, and methods for making the same. The hook component comprises an organic polymer, a laser-sensitive agent, and a laser-induced print on the hook component created by the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with the laser-sensitive agent. The hook component can be used in a variety of applications, including mechanical fastening devices for personal hygiene articles such as diapers, adult incontinence pads, and medical gowns.

Printed components and methods for making the same

Herein are disclosed apparatus and methods for impinging fluids, e.g. heated fluids, onto the surface of substrates and then locally removing the impinged fluid. The apparatus may comprise at least first and second fluid delivery outlets that are in diverging relation to each other. The apparatus may comprise at least first and second fluid capture inlets that are locally positioned relative to the first and second fluid delivery outlets, respectively. The apparatus and method may be used e.g. to impinge fluids onto two converging substrates and may be used to heat the surfaces of the substrates so as to facilitate melt-bonding the substrates to each other.

Apparatus and methods for impinging fluids on substrates

A method of fabricating a nozzle that includes casting and curing a first material using a patterned nip roller to form a first microstructured pattern of discrete microstructures, deforming at least one of the discrete microstructures; replicating the first microstructured pattern, including the at least one deformed discrete microstructure, in a second material different than the first material to make a replicated structure comprising a plurality of blind holes formed in the second material, removing second material of the replicated structure to expose tops of microstructures in the first microstructured pattern, and removing the first material from the replicated structure, resulting in a nozzle having a plurality of through-holes in the second material and corresponding to the first microstructured pattern.

Method of making a nozzle

Apparatus and methods for impinging a heated fluid onto the surface of a substrate and then locally removing the impinged fluid. The apparatus and methods may be used to heat a surface of a substrate e.g. so that the substrate can be melt-bonded to another substrate.

Apparatus and methods for impinging a fluid on a substrate

A mechanical fastener is disclosed that includes a thermoplastic backing and multiple, upstanding fastening elements that have a post with a proximal end attached to the thermoplastic backing and a distal end comprising a cap larger in area than a cross-sectional area of the post. The basis weight of the mechanical fastener is in a range from 25 grams per square meter to 75 grams per square meter, and the height of the multiple, upstanding fastening elements is up to 300 micrometers. Fastening systems and disposable absorbent articles including the mechanical fastener are also disclosed.

Mechanical fastener, fastening system, and disposable absorbent article

A method of detecting the presence or position of a first component in an article is disclosed. The first component, which has a predefined response to incident light, includes a microporous film of a semi-crystalline polyolefin and a beta-nucleating agent. The method includes irradiating the article with incident light, detecting light received from the irradiated article; and identifying the predefined response of the first component in the light received from the irradiated article to detect the presence or the position of the first component. A method for preparing a mechanical fastening component for use in an article is also disclosed. The method includes stretching a film backing containing beta-spherulites and having upstanding fastening elements to provide a microporous film backing with sufficient porosity to allow it to be detected when subjected to an inspection system comprising a light detector.

Method of detecting a component of an article and method of preparing a component for detection

A die comprising two die cavities, with each capable of supplying polymeric material, and a distribution plate interposed between at least a portion of each of the two die cavities. The distribution plate has a dispensing edge and a plurality of extrusion channels. First and second extrusion channels extend from entrance openings at the first and second die cavities, respectively, to exit openings on the dispensing edge. The exit openings of the first and second extrusion channels are disposed in alternating positions along the dispensing edge. A method of extruding with such a die and an extruded article made therefrom are also disclosed. The method includes co-extruding a first polymeric composition and a second polymeric composition. The extruded article comprises a plurality of longitudinal first stripes of the first polymeric composition alternating with a plurality of longitudinal second stripes of the second polymeric composition.

Method of co-extruding, co-extrusion die, and extruded articles made therefrom

Herein are disclosed apparatus and methods for impinging fluids, e.g. heated fluids, onto the surface of moving substrates and then locally removing the impinged fluid. The apparatus may comprise at least first and second fluid delivery outlets that are in diverging relation to each other. A long axis of the first fluid delivery outlet may be oriented obliquely to the path of the first moving substrate, and a long axis of the second fluid delivery outlet may be oriented obliquely to the path of the second moving substrate. The apparatus may comprise at least first and second fluid capture inlets that are locally positioned relative to the first and second fluid delivery outlets, respectively.

Growing community of inventors

Lake Elmo, MN, United States of America

Michael R Gorman