B
SECTION B — PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
 B01 - 
B07
Subsection index
LIQUID/LIQUID, LIQUID/GAS OR GAS/GAS SEPARATION
Method
General operationsB01D
by centrifugal force, using centrifuges or free-vortex apparatusB01D
using magnetic or electrostatic effectB03C
Apparatus
General operationsB01D
by centrifugal force, using centrifuges or free-vortex apparatusB04B, B04C
using magnetic or electrostatic effectB03C
SOLID/LIQUID OR SOLID/GAS SEPARATION
Method
General operationsB01D
by centrifugal forceB01D
using centrifuges or free-vortex apparatusB01D
using magnetic or electrostatic effectB03C
Apparatus
General operationsB01D
by centrifugal forceB01D
using centrifuges or free-vortex apparatusB04B, B04C
using magnetic or electrostatic effectB03C
SOLID/SOLID SEPARATION
Method
Dry methods
material in bulkB07B
Individual sortingB07C
Screening, sifting, pneumatic sortingB07B
using pneumatic tables or jigsB03B
by magnetic or electrostatic effectB03C
by centrifugal forceB07B
using centrifuges or free-vortex apparatusB07B
Wet methods
General operationsB03B
flotation, differential sedimentationB03D
screeningB07B
Combinations Dry methods - wet methodsB03B
Apparatus
Dry methods
material in bulkB07B
Individual sortingB07C
Screening, sifting, pneumatic sortingB07B
using pneumatic tables or jigsB03B
by magnetic or electrostatic effectB03C
by centrifugal forceB07B
using centrifuges or free-vortex apparatusB04B, B04C
Wet methods
General operationsB03B
flotation, differential sedimentationB03D
screeningB07B
Combinations Dry methods - wet methodsB03B
  
SHAPING
 B32
LAYERED PRODUCTS
 B32B
LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
 B32B

Note(s)

  1. This subclass covers:
    • layered products comprising different kinds of material or layered products not characterised by the particular kind of material used;
    • a product similar to a layered product but comprising only material in the form of a sheet or network embedded in a mass of plastics or of physically-similar substances which mass penetrates the said sheet or network and lies on both sides of the latter (e.g. so that the sheet or network reinforces the plastics substance) provided that the embedded sheet or network extends coherently or connectedly over substantially the whole area of the product; thus the embedded sheet or network may be a fabric or a series of rods connected by cross wires. The manner of making such a product is, however, classified in this subclass only if it is essentially a process of building-up an assembly of layers of which at least one outer layer is preformed. If the embedded material comprises only a series of unconnected rods, the product is not classified in this subclass.
  2. This subclass does not cover:
  3. In this subclass, a film formed on a layer by spreading a substance thereon is not considered to constitute a layer itself if it serves only as an adhesive or its purpose is merely to finish a surface of a product.
  4. In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meanings indicated:
    • "layer" is a sheet or strip or anything else having a small thickness relatively to its other dimensions which, together with at least one other layer, exists in a product, whether it pre-existed, e.g. as a separate sheet or strip, or was formed during the production of the layered product. It may or may not be homogeneous or cohesive; it may be an assembly of fibres or pieces of material. It may be discontinuous, e.g. in the form of a grating, honeycomb, or frame. It may or may not be in complete contact with the next layer, e.g. a corrugated layer against a flat layer;
    • "layered product" comprises at least two layers secured together. The term "secured" includes any method of uniting layers, e.g. needling, stitching, gluing, nailing, dovetailing or the interposition of an adhesive or adhesive impregnated support. It may also be an intermediate stage in the production of an article which is not layered in its final form, e.g. a panel with a protective layer which is stripped off when the panel is placed in its position of use. The layers are preformed layers or layers formed in situ on a preformed layer and may consist of coherent solid materials, including honeycombs and other cellular materials or of non-coherent solid materials composed of assemblies of strands, strips, fibres, tiles or the like;
    • "filamentary layer" means a layer of threads or filaments of any substance (e.g. wires) of more or less unlimited length placed in an orderly arrangement and secured together; it may be woven, knitted, braided, or netted, or formed of threads crossed or laid side and bonded together;
    • "fibrous layer" means a random assembly of fibres or filaments, usually of limited length, e.g. felt, fleece; the fibres may or may not be interengaged or connected, e.g. by adhesive.
  5. In groups B32B 1/00-B32B 33/00, at each level of indentation, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, classification is made in the first appropriate place.
  6. Layered products are classified in groups B32B 37/00 or B32B 38/00 if not characterised by their structure or composition. [8]
  7. The classification of layered products is provided for in many classes, most of which are confined to a particular kind of material. However, in order that this subclass may provide a basis for making a complete search with respect to layered products, all relevant subject matter is classified in this subclass even though it may also be classified in other classes.
 B32B
Subclass index
LAYERED PRODUCTS CHARACTERISED BY
Their structure
general shape 1/00, 3/00
layer structure 3/00, 5/00
relation between layers 7/00
Substances used
bituminous or tarry substances, water-setting substances 11/00, 13/00
metal, glass, ceramics, mineral fibres or particles 15/00, 17/00, 18/0019/00
wood, paper, cellulosic plastic substances 21/00, 29/00, 23/00
rubber, synthetic resin 25/00, 27/00
other substances 9/00
Their properties 33/00
MAKING LAYERED PRODUCTS
Methods or apparatus for laminating 37/00
Ancillary operations 38/00
Controlling or monitoring 41/00
Other operations, e.g. repairing 43/00
P:0 B32B 1/00
Layered products essentially having a general shape other than plane
 B32B 1/00

Note(s)

For classification of a product in this group, surface unevennesses or non-uniformities and the shape of individual layers are ignored.

P:10 B32B 3/00
Layered products essentially comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar form (continuous layers of fibres or filaments B32B 5/02; foamed layers B32B 5/18); Layered products essentially having particular features of form (B32B 1/00 takes precedence)
 B32B 3/00

Note(s)

In this group, channels, voids, and cavities may be filled otherwise than with air, e.g. with gas, with liquid, with other material different from that of the layer in which they occur.

 B32B 3/02
·  characterised by features of form at particular places, e.g. in edge regions
 B32B 3/04
·  ·  characterised by a layer folded at the edge, e.g. over another layer
 B32B 3/06
·  ·  for securing layers together; for attaching the product to another member, e.g. to a support (use or provision of nails, stitches, or similar separate fastening elements for these purposes B32B 7/08)
 B32B 3/08
·  ·  characterised by added members at particular parts
 B32B 3/10
·  characterised by a discontinuous layer, i.e. apertured or formed of separate pieces of material
 B32B 3/10

Note(s)

In this group, a series of spaced separate elements forming in effect a broken surface should be regarded as a layer.

 B32B 3/12
·  ·  characterised by a layer of regularly-arranged cells whether integral or formed individually or by conjunction of separate strips, e.g. honeycomb structure
 B32B 3/14
·  ·  characterised by a face layer formed of separate pieces of material
 B32B 3/18
·  ·  characterised by an internal layer formed of separate pieces of material
 B32B 3/24
·  ·  characterised by an apertured layer, e.g. of expanded metal (layer of netting or fibres B32B 5/02)
 B32B 3/26
·  characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids (regular cells B32B 3/12)
 B32B 3/28
·  ·  characterised by a layer comprising a deformed thin sheet, e.g. corrugated, crumpled (B32B 29/00 takes precedence)  [3]
 B32B 3/30
·  ·  characterised by a layer formed with recesses or projections, e.g. grooved, ribbed
P:20 B32B 5/00
Layered products characterised by the non-homogeneity or physical structure of a layer (B32B 9/00-B32B 29/00 take precedence)
 B32B 5/00

Note(s)

In this group, fibres, filaments, granules, or powder forming or included in a layer may be impregnated, bonded together, or embedded in a substance such as synthetic resin. If the substance of the fibres, or the like, or the impregnating, bonding, or embedding substance, is important it is classified in the relevant group for the substance.

 B32B 5/02
·  characterised by structural features of a layer comprising fibres or filaments (formed of particles, e.g. chips, chopped fibres, powder, B32B 5/16)
 B32B 5/02

Note(s)

This group covers, in addition to filamentary and fibrous layers as defined in Note (4) following the title of this subclass, layers of substances having an intrinsic fibrous nature (e.g. paper, wood), if the fibrous nature is important and the particular substance is not important.

 B32B 5/04
·  ·  characterised by a layer being specifically extensible by reason of its structure or arrangement
 B32B 5/06
·  ·  characterised by a fibrous layer needled to another layer, e.g. of fibres, of paper
 B32B 5/08
·  ·  the fibres or filaments of a layer being specially arranged or being of different substances
 B32B 5/10
·  ·  characterised by a fibrous layer reinforced with filaments
 B32B 5/12
·  ·  characterised by the relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of adjacent layers
 B32B 5/14
·  characterised by a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts, e.g. denser near its faces
 B32B 5/16
·  characterised by features of a layer formed of particles, e.g. chips, chopped fibres, powder
 B32B 5/18
·  characterised by features of a layer containing foamed or specifically porous material
 B32B 5/20
·  ·  foamed in situ
 B32B 5/22
·  characterised by the presence of two or more layers which comprise fibres, filaments, granules, or powder, or are foamed or specifically porous
P:30 B32B 7/00
Layered products characterised by the relation between layers, i.e. products essentially comprising layers having different physical properties or products characterised by the interconnection of layers (in respect of orientation of features, see the relevant groups for the features concerned, e.g. B32B 5/02 for direction of fibres; in respect of substances B32B 9/00-B32B 29/00)
 B32B 7/02
·  in respect of physical properties, e.g. hardness
 B32B 7/04
·  characterised by the connection of layers
 B32B 7/06
·  ·  permitting easy separation
 B32B 7/08
·  ·  by mechanical connection, e.g. stitching (by interengagement of layers B32B 3/00, e.g. B32B 3/04, B32B 3/06, B32B 3/30; by needling fibrous layers B32B 5/06)
 B32B 7/10
·  ·  one or both of the layers having adhesive or inter-reactive properties
 B32B 7/12
·  ·  using an adhesive
 B32B 7/14
·  ·  ·  applied in stripes or other spaced arrangement
 B32B 9/00 - 
B32B 29/00
Layered products characterised by particular substances used
 B32B 9/00 - 
B32B 29/00

Note(s)

In groups B32B 9/00-B32B 29/00, the following expressions are used with the meanings indicated:

  • "specific substance" covers specified alternative substances if they are all covered by a single main group;
  • "particulate layer" means a layer of particles, e.g. chips, chopped fibres, powder.

P:150 B32B 9/00
Layered products essentially comprising a particular substance not covered by groups B32B 11/00-B32B 29/00
 B32B 9/02
·  comprising animal or vegetable substances
 B32B 9/04
·  comprising such substance as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific substance
P:40 B32B 11/00
Layered products essentially comprising bituminous or tarry substances
P:50 B32B 13/00
Layered products essentially comprising a water-setting substance, e.g. concrete, plaster, asbestos cement, or like builders' material
P:60 B32B 15/00
Layered products essentially comprising metal
 B32B 15/01
·  all layers being exclusively metallic  [3]
 B32B 15/02
·  in a form other than a sheet, e.g. wire, particles
 B32B 15/04
·  comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific substance
 B32B 15/06
·  ·  of rubber
 B32B 15/08
·  ·  of synthetic resin
 B32B 15/10
·  ·  of wood
 B32B 15/12
·  ·  of paper or cardboard
 B32B 15/14
·  next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
 B32B 15/16
·  next to a particulate layer
 B32B 15/18
·  comprising iron or steel
 B32B 15/20
·  comprising aluminium or copper
P:70 B32B 17/00
Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or fibres of glass, slag or the like
 B32B 17/02
·  in the form of fibres or filaments
 B32B 17/04
·  ·  bonded with or embedded in a plastic substance
 B32B 17/06
·  comprising glass as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific substance
 B32B 17/12
·  next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
P:80 B32B 18/00
Layered products essentially comprising ceramics, e.g. refractory products  [4]
P:90 B32B 19/00
Layered products essentially comprising natural mineral fibres or particles, e.g. asbestos, mica
P:100 B32B 21/00
Layered products essentially comprising wood, e.g. wood board, veneer, wood particle board
P:110 B32B 23/00
Layered products essentially comprising cellulosic plastic substances
P:120 B32B 25/00
Layered products essentially comprising natural or synthetic rubber
P:130 B32B 27/00
Layered products essentially comprising synthetic resin
 B32B 27/02
·  in the form of fibres or filaments
 B32B 27/04
·  as impregnant, bonding, or embedding substance
 B32B 27/06
·  as the main or only constituent of a layer next to another layer of a specific substance
 B32B 27/08
·  ·  of synthetic resin of a different kind
 B32B 27/10
·  ·  of paper or cardboard
 B32B 27/12
·  next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
 B32B 27/14
·  next to a particulate layer
 B32B 27/16
·  specially treated, e.g. irradiated
 B32B 27/18
·  characterised by the use of special additives
 B32B 27/20
·  ·  using fillers, pigments, thixotroping agents
 B32B 27/22
·  ·  using plasticisers
 B32B 27/24
·  ·  using solvents or swelling agents
 B32B 27/26
·  ·  using curing agents
 B32B 27/28
·  comprising copolymers of synthetic resins not wholly covered by any one of the following subgroups
 B32B 27/30
·  comprising vinyl resin; comprising acrylic resin
 B32B 27/32
·  comprising polyolefins
 B32B 27/34
·  comprising polyamides
 B32B 27/36
·  comprising polyesters
 B32B 27/38
·  comprising epoxy resins
 B32B 27/40
·  comprising polyurethanes
 B32B 27/42
·  comprising condensation resins of aldehydes, e.g. with phenols, ureas or melamines
P:140 B32B 29/00
Layered products essentially comprising paper or cardboard
P:170 B32B 33/00
Layered products characterised by particular properties or particular surface features, e.g. particular surface coatings (surface unevennesses or non-uniformities B32B 3/00); Layered products designed for particular purposes not covered by another single class
 B32B 37/00
Methods or apparatus for making layered products; Treatment of the layers or of the layered products  [8]
 B32B 37/00 - 
B32B 39/00

Note(s)

In groups B32B 37/00 and B32B 39/00, the following expressions are used with the meanings indicated:

  • "laminating" means the action of combining previously unconnected layers to become one product whose layers will remain together;
  • "partial laminating" occurs when one layer does not fully cover a surface of another layer, whereby the layer with the greater surface area is laminated on only part of its surface;
  • "adhesive" means a layer, or part of a layer, applied in any state or in any manner, which is incorporated for the purpose of bonding. [8]

P:180 B32B 37/00
Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding  [8]
 B32B 37/02
·  characterised by a sequence of laminating steps, e.g. by adding new layers at consecutive laminating stations  [8]
 B32B 37/04
·  characterised by the partial melting of at least one layer  [8]
 B32B 37/06
·  characterised by the heating method  [8]
 B32B 37/08
·  characterised by the cooling method  [8]
 B32B 37/10
·  characterised by the pressing technique, e.g. using direct action of vacuum or fluid pressure  [8]
 B32B 37/12
·  characterised by using adhesives  [8]
 B32B 37/14
·  characterised by the properties of the layers  [8]
 B32B 37/28
·  involving assembly of non-flat intermediate products which are flattened at a later step, e.g. tubes  [8]
 B32B 37/30
·  Partial laminating  [8]
P:190 B32B 38/00
Ancillary operations in connection with laminating processes  [8]
 B32B 38/04
·  Punching, slitting or perforating  [8]
 B32B 38/06
·  Embossing  [8]
 B32B 38/08
·  Impregnating  [8]
 B32B 38/10
·  Removing layers, or parts of layers, mechanically or chemically (punching, slitting or perforating B32B 38/04)  [8]
 B32B 38/12
·  Deep-drawing  [8]
 B32B 38/14
·  Printing or colouring  [8]
 B32B 38/16
·  Drying; Softening; Cleaning  [8]
 B32B 38/18
·  Handling of layers or the laminate  [8]
P:200 B32B 39/00
Layout of apparatus or plants, e.g. modular laminating systems  [8]
P:210 B32B 41/00
Arrangements for controlling or monitoring lamination processes; Safety arrangements  [8]
 B32B 41/02
·  Safety arrangements  [8]
P:220 B32B 43/00
Operations specially adapted for layered products and not otherwise provided for, e.g. repairing; Apparatus therefor  [8]