Weyerhaeuser Company Limited

Advanced Sorting Technologies, LLC

Mss, Inc.

Absorbent Products Ltd.

Paul G Gaddis

Garry R Kenny

Amar N Neogi

Lee E Perdelwitz, Jr

James M Roggow

David L Lee

David R Morgan

Russell S Bruner

Mengkui Luo

William C Carlson

Vincent A Roscelli

Michael James Yancey

Edwin Hirahara

Michael R Grubbs

Carl Hebbard

Sen&eacute;n Camarena

David R Ringlee

Michael R Hansen

Richard H Young, Sr

Jeffrey E Hartle

David W Park

Arthur G Doak

Donald D Halabisky

Michael K McKinnis

David G Marsh

Ferhan Kayihan

David E Hanke

Christel Brunnenkant

Octave Levenspiel

Ron H Iff

David G Halley

William C Johnston, Jr

Patrick Gaillard

Mollie K Heilesen

Curtis A Bryan

Michael E Cotie

Katherine M Salatas

David Hayden

David Lee

Jeanne Bernards

Kevin T Hodgson

Douglas E Redford

Lee E Perdelwitz

Apparatus and methods are provided for sensing the presence of bright white paper on a conveyor of a paper sorting system. The conveyor is constantly illuminated with ultraviolet light. When bright white paper is present in the inspection zone of the conveyor, it will re-radiate fluorescent light energy as a result of the ultraviolet light. Periodically, the inspection zone of the conveyor is illuminated with a second light source in the visible light spectrum. Light is collected from the inspection zone of the conveyor, including reflected light from the secondary source and including emitted fluorescent light energy as a result of the ultraviolet light falling on bright white paper. Periodically a microprocessor associated with the sensor senses reflected light from the second source to determine whether any object if present on the conveyor. The microprocessor then senses the level of fluorescent light energy being emitted from any object on the conveyor. The system determines first whether any object is present on the conveyor, as a result of the reflected secondary light, and then determines whether that object is bright white paper depending upon the measured level of emitted fluorescent light energy. Based upon these determinations, the stream of waste paper on the conveyor can be sorted into two fractions, one of which is the bright white paper.A method of sorting waste paper includes spreading waste paper out into a layer that is substantially one unit thick; detecting the presence or absence of a predetermined optical characteristic as the layer of paper is passed by a sensor; and controlling one or more actuators that direct a sheet of paper based on the presence or absence of the predetermined optical characteristic.

Method of sorting waste paper

A manufactured seed () is provided. The manufactured seed includes a first seed shell () and a first restraint () disposed within the first shell. The first restraint includes a cavity (), and at least two embryos () and () disposed within the manufactured seed.

Multi-embryo manufactured seed

A method of attaching an end seal to a manufactured seed is provided. The method includes providing a manufactured seed having an open end and inflating a sealing material to form an enclosure having an interior surface. The method also includes placing the enclosure into contact with the open end of the manufactured seed and attaching the enclosure to the manufactured seed to seal the open end of the manufactured seed.

Method of attaching an end seal to manufactured seeds

A combination end seal and cotyledon restraint () for an artificial seed () is provided. The combination end seal and cotyledon restraint includes a cap portion () sized to substantially seal one end of an artificial seed and a cotyledon restraint () unitarily formed with the cap portion.

Combination end seal and restraint

A method is provided for sorting white paper from a stream of paper wherein the concentration of white paper is less than the concentration of non-white paper. The method includes identifying the white paper by detecting the presence of an optical characteristic of the white paper as the stream of paper is passed by a sensor. Then the white paper is ejected from the stream of paper by controlling one or more actuators directed against the white paper, and thereby separating the white paper from the non-white paper. The method is particularly applicable to the sorting of white paper during curbside recycling.

System and method for sensing white paper

The present invention is directed to a lyocell fiber having a high hemicellulose content. The fibers are readily cut into staple lengths and can be spun into yarns with excellent knitting and weaving characteristics which dye exceptionally well. The fibers have a cotton-like denier.

Lyocell fibers having high hemicellulose content

Apparatus and methods are provided for sensing the presence of bright white paper on a conveyor of a paper sorting system. The conveyor is constantly illuminated with ultraviolet light. When bright white paper is present in the inspection zone of the conveyor, it will re-radiate fluorescent light energy as a result of the ultraviolet light. Periodically, the inspection zone of the conveyor is illuminated with a second light source in the visible light spectrum. Light is collected from the inspection zone of the conveyor, including reflected light from the secondary source and including emitted fluorescent light energy as a result of the ultraviolet light falling on bright white paper. Periodically a microprocessor associated with the sensor senses reflected light from the second source to determine whether any object if present on the conveyor. The microprocessor then senses the level of fluorescent light energy being emitted from any object on the conveyor. The system determines first whether any object is present on the conveyor, as a result of the reflected secondary light, and then determines whether that object is bright white paper depending upon the measured level of emitted fluorescent light energy. Based upon these determinations, the stream of waste paper on the conveyor can be sorted into two fractions, one of which is the bright white paper.

An apparatus and method for reducing the circling upward movement of a product such as waste paper entrained in a carrier stream. The invention includes a product rake placed within a discharge chute to capture and direct product within the product flow. A further aspect of the invention includes a relief valve integrated into the discharge chute to alleviate pressure in the discharge chute and allow excess air to be relieved from the discharge chute to control the product flow.

Method and apparatus for sorting utilizing a product rake and a relief valve

The present invention is directed to a method of preparing continuous lyocell fibers by melt blowing techniques, a pulp useful for making lyocell fibers and to the fibers produced by the method. In particular, the method enables high throughputs of fibers of cotton-like deniers. The fibers are readily cut into staple lengths and can be spun into yarns with excellent knitting and weaving characteristics which dye exceptionally well.

Process for melt blowing continuous lyocell fibers

The present invention includes devices and methods for handling and sorting paper. Devices for accelerating and spreading paper from a paper input to a sensor are disclosed. Operably thin layers of paper are passed through a sensor at cost effective feed rates. One embodiment of the invention includes a spreader positioned to receive paper from the input and an inclined feed section downstream of the spreader. The inclined feed section includes first and second inclined conveyors to further accelerate and spread the paper. A feed accelerator is operably positioned to receive paper from the second inclined conveyor. The feed accelerator further accelerates and separates the paper. The feed accelerator feeds the paper to the sensor which is operably connected to an ejector downstream of the sensor. Targeted paper is ejected from the paper stream and product paper continues downstream to a product conveyor.

Paper sorting system

A system for coating discontinuous fibers with a liquid coating material uses a hopper/blender which entrains the fiber particles in a toroidal mass of moving fibers. The hopper/blender has an inverted conical section with an agitator assembly rotated therein. The agitator assembly has a base disc with tubular blades projecting outwardly therefrom into the conical section. Aft swept lifter blades relative to the direction of rotation are mounted to the agitator disc. A method of applying a liquid coating material to discontinuous fibers is also disclosed.

Hopper blender system and method for coating fibers

A fiber blending system includes an apparatus and method of forming a mat of cellulosic fibers and synthetic fibers, as well as a mat thereby formed. The method includes the steps of fiberizing cellulosic material into cellulosic fibers in a fiberizer, volumetrically metering a metered amount of synthetic fibers, and injecting the metered amount of synthetic fibers into the cellulosic fibers. The cellulosic fibers are blended with the metered amount of synthetic fibers in a blending chamber to form a fiber blend. The fiber blend is dispersed through a fiber disperser having apertures of a preselected size and shape to provide a dispersed fiber blend. A third type of fiber may also be mixed with the dispersed fiber blend. The dispersed fiber blend is collected as a mat on a fiber collector to provide a mat of blended cellulosic and synthetic fibers. The mat may be thermobonded by a thermobonder and sandwiched between a facing sheet and a backing sheet. By varying the aperture preselection, as well as the size and type of fibers, a bonded mat having desired mat characteristics is formed.

Fiber blending system

A fiber product comprises dry discontinuous fibers having a starch binder on at least a portion of the fiber surfaces, at least about seventy percent of the starch binder coated fibers being unbonded to one another, solid particles are adhered to the fibers by the binder without the binder entirely coating the particles. The fibers may be air laid into a web or formed into an absorbent structure. Superabsorbent particles are a specific example of the particles which may be adhered to the fibers.

Binder coated discontinuous fibers with adhered particulate materials

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Paul G Gaddis