Abstract: A micropore drying apparatus having a noncircular profile. The apparatus has a machine direction and dries a web thereon as the web or apparatus moves in the machine direction. The micropore drying apparatus comprises a micropore drying medium which has pores therethrough smaller than the interstitials in the web to be dried thereon. The micropore drying medium may be movable or stationary, as desired. The noncircular profile may have a major axis which is substantially vertically oriented. This arrangement provides the advantage that greater residence time for the web to be dried thereupon is provided, without increasing the machine direction footprint.

Abstract: A paper web and method of making the paper web are disclosed. The paper web has a background portion and a non-embossed decorative pattern. The decorative pattern has at least one high basis weight region having a basis weight greater than the average basis weight of the surrounding background portion. The decorative pattern can include a number of discrete, decorative indicia. Each decorative indicia can be separated from adjacent decorative indicia by the background portion.

Abstract: A paper web of the present invention has a longitudinal centerline and a transverse centerline, and comprises a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions. The first regions form boundaries separating the second regions, the first regions being substantially in a plane of the paper web. The second regions comprise a plurality of raised out-of-said-plane rib-like elements, the rib-like elements of each second region being disposed parallel to a major rib axis and perpendicular to a minor rib axis. All or most of each first regions have both major rib axis and minor rib axis components. The first and second regions undergo geometric deformation when the web material is subjected to an applied elongation along at least one axis.

Abstract: A wiping implement suitable for use as a bath tissue can be formed into sheets, each sheet comprising at least one ply of a paper web having a basis weight of at least about 25 lb/3000 square feet. The sheet can have a width of at least about 4.5 inches and temporary wet tensile properties. The sheet of the present invention can have an area of at least about 30 square inches. In a multiple ply embodiment, the sheet can have an optimized basis weight of at least about 42 lb/3000 square feet while maintaining nearly the same amount of actual total fiber usage per cleaning task as current premium bath tissues.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for removing water from a cellulosic web. The papermaking apparatus comprises imprinting member having an absolute void volume that enables a hydraulic connection to be formed between a cellulosic web and a capillary dewatering member when compressed in a nip. The absolute void volume is predetermined based on an estimate of the volume of water expressed from the cellulosic web.

Abstract: A micropore drying apparatus having a variable wet flow resistance. The flow resistance preferably decreases in the machine direction. The micropore drying apparatus may comprise a single integral unit having an decreasing wet flow resistance from the beginning to the end of the unit. Alternatively, the micropore drying apparatus may comprise a plurality of discrete units, each unit having a successively lesser flow resistance than that of the preceding unit. Alternatively, a hybrid arrangement may be used wherein each discrete unit has a successively decreasing flow resistance within that unit. The micropore drying apparatus may comprise one or more micropore drying media. The micropore drying media have pores which allow air flow therethrough. The pores are disposed in a grid, to form a field of pores. The decreasing flow resistance may preferably be provided by adjusting one or more of said pores, which affect the flow resistance through a single pore or through the entire field of the pores.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a box (10) for containing tissues, comprising at least one opening (11) located on at least one side of the box, under which a dispensing insert (14) is positioned so that it covers at least partially said opening of the box, said dispensing insert further comprising a cut-out portion (15) or a dispensing slot with at least two portions (16) that contact the border of the box opening, said box being characterized in that the dispensing insert is made out of material with high resilience, so that after being bent it is capable of coming back to its initial shape on its own, without losing its elastic properties.

Abstract: A slider opens or closes an elongate, rigid reclosable fastener sealing a lid to the flange of a container where the fastener lies in a plane defining mutually orthogonal directions. The slider is slidably movable and attachable to a track disposed along the fastener defining a travel path having vector components in each of the orthogonal directions. The slider biases interlocking elements of the reclosable fastener operatively associated therewith into engagement with one another as the slider moves in a first direction and separates interlocking elements as the slider moves in a second direction opposite the first.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible bag comprising at least one sheet of flexible sheet material assembled to form a semi-enclosed container having an opening defined by a periphery. The opening defines an opening plane, and the bag has an upper region adjacent to the opening and a lower region below the upper region. The upper region has a preferential elongation axis perpendicular to the opening plane which permits the upper region to expand in response to an externally-applied force upon the bag, while the lower region has a preferential elongation axis parallel to the opening plane which permits the lower region to expand in response to forces exerted by contents within the bag to provide an increase in volume of said bag. The bag therefore exhibits increased stability in use and is easier to close.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible bag comprising at least one sheet of flexible sheet material assembled to form a semi-enclosed container having an opening defined by a periphery. The opening defines an opening plane, and bag is expandable in response to forces exerted by contents within the bag to provide an increase in volume of the bag such that said the accommodates the contents placed therein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible storage bag having an opening, a closure system for the opening, and a closure indicator. The closure indicator may be provided by, at or near the edges of the bag which define the opening. For example, the edges may be sinusoidal in shape or have another irregular shape, such that misalignment of the edges occurs when the bag is open. Upon closing the bag, the edges substantially align and become generally colinear. Alternatively, the closure indicator may comprise a mechanical seal which becomes colinear upon closing. In an alternative embodiment, flaps may be juxtaposed with the closure system. The flaps encounter a change of position upon closure of the bag. The change in position may either be complete severance from the bag, or inflect from a first position to a second position upon closure or opening of the bag. Closure and/or opening of the bag may be accomplished by a slider.

Abstract: The present invention is a papermaking belt comprising two primary elements: a reinforcing structure and pattern layer. The reinforcing structure comprises a web facing first surface of interwoven first machine direction yarns and cross-machine direction yarns, the first surface having an FSI of at least about 68. The reinforcing structure has a machine facing second surface which comprises second machine direction yarns binding only with the cross-machine direction yarns in a N-shed pattern, where N is greater than four, wherein the second machine direction yarns bind only one of the cross-machine direction yarns per repeat. The pattern layer extends outwardly from the first surface, wherein the pattern layer provides a web contacting surface facing outwardly from the first surface, the pattern layer extending at least partially to the second surface.

Abstract: A web winding apparatus and a method of operating the apparatus include a turret assembly, a core loading apparatus, and a core stripping apparatus. The turret assembly supports rotatably driven mandrels for engaging hollow cores upon which a paper web is wound. Each mandrel is driven in a closed mandrel path, which can be non-circular. The core loading apparatus conveys cores onto the mandrels during movement of the mandrels along the core loading segment of the closed mandrel path, and the core stripping apparatus removes each web wound core from its respective mandrel during movement of the mandrel along the core stripping segment of the closed mandrel path. The turret assembly can be rotated continuously, and the sheet count per wound log can be changed as the turret assembly is rotating. The apparatus can also include a mandrel having a deformable core engaging member.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for applying a curable resin such as a photosensitive resin, to a substrate such as a papermaker's dewatering felt. The method comprises the steps of providing a curable liquid resin, providing a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the substrate comprising fibers defining voids intermediate the first and second surfaces, and the substrate comprising a second material different from the curable liquid resin, the second material coating at least some of the fibers, wherein the voids adjacent the coated fibers provide fluid communication from the first surface of the substrate to the second surface of the substrate; removing at least some of the second material coating at least some of the fibers; applying the curable liquid resin to the substrate; and curing at least some of the resin to provide a resin layer on the substrate.