US4189896A — Liquid impregnating system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 97 words

A method of introducing a liquid into absorbent sheets that are maintained in a stacked condition with at least a portion of the stack positioned within the interior of a container, said method including the steps of: (a) applying a compressive force to only a limited region of the upper sheet of the stack in a manner to both reduce the height of said stack and reduce the intimacy of contact between sections of at least some adjacent sheets of said stack; and (b) directing a liquid into engagement with the sheets while maintaining said compressive force.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 97 words

A method of introducing a liquid into absorbent sheets that are maintained in a stacked condition with at least a portion of the stack positioned within the interior of a container, said method including the steps of: (a) applying a compressive force to only a limited region of the upper sheet of the stack in a manner to both reduce the height of said stack and reduce the intimacy of contact between sections of at least some adjacent sheets of said stack; and (b) directing a liquid into engagement with the sheets while maintaining said compressive force.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of applying the compressive force is achieved by engaging the upper sheet of the stack inwardly of end margins.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 2 wherein the limited region to which the compressive force is applied is along a medial line of the stack.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 58 words

The method of claim 3 including folding the sheets in the stack so that the medial region of the sheets has fewer plies than side regions of said sheets, said compressive force being applied solely in the medial region to cause the side regions of at least some adjacent sheets to at least partially separate from each other.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 90 words

A method of introducing a liquid into absorbent sheets that are maintained in a stacked condition with at least a portion of the stack positioned within the interior of a container, said method including the steps of: (a) compressing the stack of sheets inwardly of side margins thereof; (b) flaring apart side margins of at least some adjacent sheets of the stack; and (c) directing a liquid into engagement with the sheets when the stack is compressed and the side margins of said at least some adjacent sheets are flared.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 90 words

A method of introducing a liquid into absorbent sheets that are maintained in a stacked condition with at least a portion of the stack positioned within the interior of a container, said method including the steps of: (a) compressing the stack of sheets inwardly of side margins thereof; (b) flaring apart side margins of at least some adjacent sheets of the stack; and (c) directing a liquid into engagement with the sheets when the stack is compressed and the side margins of said at least some adjacent sheets are flared.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 100 words

In a method of forming a package of liquid-impregnated absorbent sheets; (a) positioning a stack of absorbent sheets in the interior compartment of a tub with the upper sheet of the stack extending above the upper surface of the compartment; (b) compressing the stack of sheets so that at least a portion of the upper sheet of the stack is positioned below the upper surface of the compartment, and, while said stack is so compressed; (c) introducing the liquid into engagement with at least the portion of the upper sheet that is positioned below the upper surface of the compartment.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 100 words

In a method of forming a package of liquid-impregnated absorbent sheets; (a) positioning a stack of absorbent sheets in the interior compartment of a tub with the upper sheet of the stack extending above the upper surface of the compartment; (b) compressing the stack of sheets so that at least a portion of the upper sheet of the stack is positioned below the upper surface of the compartment, and, while said stack is so compressed; (c) introducing the liquid into engagement with at least the portion of the upper sheet that is positioned below the upper surface of the compartment.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 6 wherein the compressing step is carrried out by pressing on only localized areas of the stack to both reduce the height of said stack and reduce the intimacy of contact between sections of at least some adjacent sheets of said stack.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 7, wherein the pressing is in localized areas of the stack intermediate end margins thereof to cause end margins of at least some adjacent sheets of the stack to fan apart.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method of claim 8 wherein the localized areas are spaced apart points, and the step of introducing the liquid into engagement with the sheets is carried out by directing the liquid onto the upper surface of the stack between the spaced apart points.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 116 words

A liquid impregnating system for use in impregnating absorbent, compressible product maintained at least partially within the interior compartment of a container, said impregnating system comprising: (a) a chamber through which liquid can be directed into the interior compartment of the container; (b) pressure means adapted to engage and compress the product within the compartment; (c) movable means mounting said chamber and pressure means; (d) actuating means for moving the chamber and pressure means from a first position above the upper surface of the container to a second position wherein the pressure means engages and compresses the product therein; and (e) liquid feeding means for directing the liquid through the chamber when the product is compressed.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 116 words

A liquid impregnating system for use in impregnating absorbent, compressible product maintained at least partially within the interior compartment of a container, said impregnating system comprising: (a) a chamber through which liquid can be directed into the interior compartment of the container; (b) pressure means adapted to engage and compress the product within the compartment; (c) movable means mounting said chamber and pressure means; (d) actuating means for moving the chamber and pressure means from a first position above the upper surface of the container to a second position wherein the pressure means engages and compresses the product therein; and (e) liquid feeding means for directing the liquid through the chamber when the product is compressed.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 31 words

The system of claim 10, wherein the chamber and pressure means are interconnected to provide a fill head assembly that is moved as a single unit by said actuating means .

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 50 words

The system of claim 10 wherein a normally closed valve communicates with the chamber, said valve being movable to an open position by liquid under pressure, said liquid feeding means being operable for introducing the liquid into the chamber under pressure when the pressure means engages and compresses the product.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 35 words

The system of claim 11 where the pressure means of the fill head assembly includes pressure members spaced diametrically from each other on opposite sides of the chamber through which the liquid can be directed.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system of claim 11 wherein the fill section includes a plurality of said fill head assemblies for introducing liquid into the interior compartment of a plurality of aligned containers.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 25 words

The system of claim 14 including a conveyor for directing a plurality of containers into the fill section into alignment with respective fill head assemblies.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 29 words

The system of claim 15 including conveyor control means for maintaining the conveyor in a stopped condition when the plurality of fill head assemblies are in their second position.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 100 words

An apparatus for introducing a liquid into absorbent sheets that are maintained in a stacked condition with at least a portion of the stack positioned within the interior of a container, said apparatus including: (a) means for applying a compressive force to only a limited region of the upper sheet of the stack in a manner to both reduce the height of said stack and reduce the intimacy of contact between sections of at least some adjacent sheets of said stack; and (b) means for directing a liquid into engagement with the sheets while said compressive force is being maintained.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 100 words

An apparatus for introducing a liquid into absorbent sheets that are maintained in a stacked condition with at least a portion of the stack positioned within the interior of a container, said apparatus including: (a) means for applying a compressive force to only a limited region of the upper sheet of the stack in a manner to both reduce the height of said stack and reduce the intimacy of contact between sections of at least some adjacent sheets of said stack; and (b) means for directing a liquid into engagement with the sheets while said compressive force is being maintained.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1983-02-25	1983-08-27	1984-02-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1987-02-25	1987-08-27	1988-02-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1991-02-25	1991-08-27	1992-02-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Liquid impregnating system

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