Abstract:
A wood pulp slurry (17, 73, 123, 209) is treated with oxygen (89, 429, 212) in a mill with little change to the process or structure of the mill. No special pressure tanks are required. The consistency of the pulp need not be altered for the treatment step. It may be treated at the usual process consistency of the pulp; e.g.; it may be treated at the usual consistency of the pulp leaving a washer or subsequent steam mixer (86, 426, 206) without additional dewatering or additional dilution. The oxygen is added into a closed section of the system so that it cannot immediately vent to the atmosphere. Alkali (85, 425, 207) should also be present when the oxygen is mixed with the slurry. The mixing (88, 428, 211) should occur near to the point of oxygen addition. The pulp is treated with oxygen several times during a sequence. Some sequences are O-X-O and O-O-X-O in which X may be a hypochlorite, a peroxide or ozone, or chlorine, chlorine dioxide, combinations of chlorine (438) and chlorine dioxide (471), hypochlorite, peroxide or ozone. The sequence may be followed by a D stage (232). Specific mixer designs are also disclosed.
Abstract:
In one aspect, a method is provided for increasing germination vigor of conifer somatic embryos produced in vitro. The method comprises (a) singulating a plurality of individual immature conifer somatic embryos from a first culture of embryos after a first incubation period in a first development media; and (b) contacting the plurality of singulated immature conifer somatic embryos with a second development media for a second incubation period.
Abstract:
A process and material therefrom is described where a material comprised of a continuous orientable polymer matrix with one or more discontinuous or continuous second phases is stretched in the solid state using more than one device to apply force to the unoriented material to form a material that consists of a continuous oriented polymer matrix with one or more other phases. At least one of the phases releases from the oriented polymer matrix forming voids during the orientation process, thereby reducing the density to less than that of the original unoriented mixture. One or more of the phases may stay bonded to the continuous oriented polymer phase, acting as a reinforcing agent and forming no voids. Methods for forming such a material allowing for the control of the final shape and affecting the final density independent of the composition are also disclosed.
Abstract:
Aspects of the present invention are directed at using LiDAR data to identify attributes of vegetation. In this regard, a method is provided that allocates points to individual items of vegetation from raw LiDAR data. In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a coordinate position represented in the LiDAR data that generated a return signal. Then, a determination is made regarding whether the selected coordinate position is inside a geographic area allocated to a previously identified item of vegetation. If the selected coordinate position is not within a geographic area allocated to a previously identified item of vegetation, the method determines that the selected coordinate position is associated with a new item of vegetation. In this instance, a digital representation of the new item of vegetation is generated.
Abstract:
Aspects of the present invention are directed at estimating the value of an attribute at a specified geographic location. In one embodiment, a method is provided that estimates the elevation at a principal point using LiDAR data that was collected from spatially related secondary points. More specifically, the method includes identifying secondary points where sample attribute data was obtained that are within a predetermined distance to the principal point where the attribute is being estimated. A secondary point may be selected and allocated a masking zone and a determination made regarding whether one or more distant secondary points are within the area of the masking zone. In this regard, more distant secondary points that are inside a masking zone may be assigned less relevance when estimating the value of the attribute.
Abstract:
A two stage printing process that includes a digital first stage in the form of a non-contact material metering device (24), such as one or more digital inkjet heads, for selectively discharging a metered quantity of material (80), and an analog second stage, such as flexographic print (50) and impression cylinders (54), for transferring the material deposited thereon by the non-contact material metering device onto a substrate (60).
Abstract:
A metering head (20) for a sowing machine (22) is provided. The metering head includes a housing (40) and a metering disc (62) rotatably disposed within the housing. The metering disc includes a seed receptacle (78) substantially defining a perimeter of the metering disc and adapted to engage a seed (44) at any random position along the seed receptacle.
Abstract:
A method for providing for encapsulating a cellulose based substrate (20) with polymeric films (43) involves heating the respective films using a non-electrogmagnetic radiation heating source and providing a pressure differential between an environment defined between the films (43) and an environment external to the films (43) so that conformance of the films to the cellulose based substrate (20) is promoted. The cellulose based substrate (20) is entirely encapsulated by the films and the films are sealed around the peripheral edges of the container as well as edges that are defined adjacent slots (32) and cutouts (42).
Abstract:
A cellulose based substrate encapsulated with a polymeric film involves and an adhesive applied to at least one of the respective films. The cellulose based substrate is encapsulated by the polymeric films and the films are sealed around the peripheral edges of the cellulose based substrate as well as edges that are defined by slots and cutouts.