US 5,628,845 AGranted

Process for forming hydratable, flexible refrigement media

AssigneeThermal Products, Inc.

InventorsJoseph C. J. Murray, Jonathan S. Browne

Life of this patent

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Abstract

The present invention utilizes a controlled pressure application system to insure that the proper pressure is applied in a lamination of permeable and semi-permeable roll mounted sheets into a cellular sheet structure. The present invention uses a pressure roller mounted on a carriage which is movable horizontally radially of a heated roll by a controllable linear actuator such that variable and closely controlled pressure may be applied to a web passing between the heated roll and the carriage mounted pressure roller. Additionally, the present invention uses a precisely controllable fluid heated pressure roller and a precisely controllable fluid cooled cooling roller acting as a heat sink for the pressure roller to maintain a precise temperature gradient across the web at the nip. In addition to controlling temperature and pressure on the web, the present invention further controls tension on the web to prevent polymer dissipation, and controls speed of the web such that pressure and temperature dwell time are precisely controlled. Furthermore all of the parameters of operation of the apparatus are electronically recorded for future use.

Claims19

Dependent claims

Apparatus for producing a continuous composite fabric sheet having discrete cells, each cell containing a measured volume of a superabsorbent polymer media, comprising:

(a) means for continuously feeding a thermo-formable sheet of media from a supply roll of such media;
(b) means for dispensing a measured quantity of a superabsorbent polymer media onto an upper surface of said sheet in discrete units spaced transversely and longitudinally on said sheet;
(c) means for continuously supplying a sheet of permeable fabric media from a supply roll of such media in horizontally aligned juxtaposition superjacent said thermo-formable sheet with said discrete units of said polymer media therebetween;
(d) means for maintaining a predetermined tension on said permeable and thermo-formable sheet to prevent dissipation of said polymer from said units;
(e) a heated pattern roller having a raised intersecting pattern formed on the surface thereof and a means for providing precise heat control thereto, said heated pattern defining individual cell dimensions associated with each of said units said pattern roller mounted for rotation about a first axis transverse to said sheets such that said sheets are carried on said pattern roll over a portion of said rotation;
(f) pressure roller means for applying a predetermined pressure to said sheets against said pattern roll such that said fabric sheet and said thermo-formable sheet are integrated by thermal bonds formed along said pattern to form a composite sheet with said superabsorbent polymer confined within cells defined by said thermal bonds;
(g) means for controlling the temperature differential between said heated pattern roller and said pressure roll means;
and,
(h) means for controlling the rate of feed and supply of said sheets over said pattern roll.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/535,543Filed 28 Sep 1995
Granted: 13 May 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

B65B 51/28
Devices specially adapted for producing transverse or longitudinal seams in webs or tubes: rollers for producing longitudinal and transverse seams…
B29C 33/02
Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor: with incorporated heating or cooling means
B65B 9/023
Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs: packaging fluent material
B29C 2037/90
Component parts, details, accessories or auxiliary operations, not covered by group B29C33/00 or B29C35/00: measuring, controlling or regulating