By Fluid Pressure Patents (Class 162/115)
  • Patent number: 10400373
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high-strength light-weight non-woven fabric made of spunbonded non-woven, particularly for use as a reinforcement or strengthening material, comprising at least one ply of melt-spun synthetic filaments, which are bonded by means of high-energy water jets, characterized in that it includes a thermally activatable binding agent, which is applied onto the ply of melt-spun filaments in the form of at least one thin layer. The invention further relates to a method for producing such a non-woven fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: CARL FREUDENBERG KG
    Inventors: Ivo Ruzek, Ararad Emirze
  • Patent number: 10309055
    Abstract: Exciting and flashy images are created on a garment with a method that includes the steps of selecting a stretch fabric having a front side and a back side. A front side of the fabric is dyed with a solid color. A back side of the fabric is dyed with a knock out image. The knock out image is visible when the stretch fabric is stretched and is not visible when the stretch fabric is in a relaxed state. In one case, the fabric is part of jersey and when the player stretches the fabric an image becomes visible. In another case, the image expands or seems to glow. This provides a dynamic flashy image that is exciting to advertisers and fans alike.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Inventor: Adam Michael Conard
  • Patent number: 10206826
    Abstract: A liquid permeable substrate for an absorbent article is disclosed. The substrate includes a first layer including a hydrophobic material and a second layer including a hydrophilic material. The first layer is joined to the second layer. The substrate includes a plurality of recesses, a plurality of projections, and a plurality of land areas. The land areas surround at least a majority of the plurality of projections and a plurality of the recesses. The plurality of recesses, the plurality of projections, and the plurality of land areas together form a first three-dimensional surface on a first side of the substrate and a second three-dimensional surface on a second side of the substrate. The substrate has an overall z-directional height in the range of about 1000 ?m to about 6000 ?m according to the Overall Substrate Height Test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Olaf Erik Isele, Jörg Endres, Gueltekin Erdem, Rodrigo Rosati, Paul Thomas Weisman, Sharon Ann Young, Mike P. Purdon
  • Patent number: 9822487
    Abstract: A method for producing a flushable hydroentangled moist wipe or hygiene tissue includes the steps of: dry-, wet-, or foam-forming a fibrous web on a moving support, hydroentangling said fibrous web in a hydroentangling station to form a hydroentangled nonwoven web. The moving support includes a plurality of protruding elongated elements protruding above the surface of the moving support. The protruding elements will produce weakenings in the hydroentangled web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: SCA HYGIENE PRODUCTS AB
    Inventors: Hannu Ahoniemi, Lars Fingal, Anders Strålin
  • Patent number: 9702084
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a machine for making a tissue paper web (W) in which the tissue paper web W is passed through an extended nip N formed between an extended nip unit (2) and a Yankee drying cylinder (1) and in which the tissue paper web W is carried on a felt (3) through the extended nip N in such a way that, in the extended nip N, the tissue paper web W contacts the outer surface (4) of the Yankee drying cylinder (1). The web W and the felt (3) are led over a suction roll (5) prior to the extended nip N in such a way that the felt (3) contacts the suction roll (5) and the tissue paper web W is separated from the suction roll (5) by the felt (3). The suction roll (5) has a suction zone (6) over which the felt (3) and the tissue paper web W pass together, and a first hood (7) is arranged opposite the suction roll (5) and partially surrounds the suction roll (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: VALMET S.P.A.
    Inventors: Olli Jaakko Antero Saikkonen, Lorenzo Simeoni, Ingvar Klerelid
  • Patent number: 9439549
    Abstract: A dispersible, nonwoven multistrata wipe material that is stable in a wetting liquid and flushable in use is provided. More particularly, the materials are layered structures including, but not limited to, one, two, three, or four layers to form the dispersible nonwoven wipe material. The layers contain cellulosic fibers and a binder or additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Nonwovens LLC
    Inventors: Jacek K. Dutkiewicz, Brian Fong
  • Patent number: 9334610
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fibrous web product such as paper, and a method for the preparation of such fibrous web. According to the method microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) together with a pulp of a greater fiber length, such as chemithermomechanical pulp (CTMP), are mixed with a foam of water and a sur-factant, the foam is supplied to a forming fabric of a paper or board machine, dewatered by suction of air through the forming fabric, and dried to the final web product. The method brings a high bulk in combination with a high Scott bond value, to provide improved wet and dry tensile strength for the paper and board products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Stora Enso OYJ
    Inventors: Karita Kinnunen, Tuomo Hjelt
  • Patent number: 9175441
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of a paper or paperboard comprising at least two plies wherein microfibrillated cellulose is added to the surface of a first ply and the other ply is attached to the first ply so that the microfibrillated cellulose located in between the plies. The invention further relates to a paper or board produced according to the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Stora Enso OYJ
    Inventors: Isto Heiskanen, Lars Axrup, Risto Laitinen
  • Patent number: 9005395
    Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a dispersible moist wipe comprising hydroentangled fibers and a binder composition. The moist wipe demonstrates high initial wet strength while maintaining effective dispersion in an aqueous environment. The moist wipe has potential application as a flushable surface cleaning product and/or a flushable cleansing cloth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth John Zwick, Nathan John Vogel, WanDuk Lee, Joseph Kenneth Baker, Colin Ackroyd
  • Patent number: 8900411
    Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a nonwoven fabric that can produce a nonwoven fabric having high strength, high bulk and softness. The method for producing a nonwoven fabric according to the invention comprises a step of supplying a water-containing paper-making material onto a support to form a paper layer 21 on the support, a step of injecting a high-pressure water jet stream onto the paper layer 21 from a high-pressure water jet stream nozzle 12 provided above the support, a step of injecting high-pressure steam onto the paper layer 21 on which the high-pressure water jet stream has been injected, from a steam nozzle 14 provided above the support, and a step of drying the paper layer on which the high-pressure steam has been injected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka, Masaki Yoshida, Toshifumi Hikosaka, Noritomo Kameda
  • Patent number: 8900410
    Abstract: A fine fibrous cellulosic material containing cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, in which the fine fibrous cellulosic material has a width of 1 ?m or less and a length of 5,000 ?m or less and is used for glycation reaction by hydrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Takashi Endo, Seung-Hwan Lee, Yoshikuni Teramoto, Noriko Tanaka, Manami Sakai, Naomi Kadotani
  • Patent number: 8778137
    Abstract: A process for producing a bulky paper with a concavo-convex pattern includes the steps of producing a wet mixed sheet comprising high-basis-weight regions and low-basis-weight regions from a paper-making material prepared by dispersing a fiber starting material and heat-expanding particles in water, the heat-expanding particles being evenly dispersed in the fiber in the high basis-weight and low basis-weight regions; and then heating the wet mixed sheet to cause expansion of the heat-expanding particles and form a concavo-convex pattern. This allows the free designing of concavo-convex sections on bulky papers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Nozaki, Tsutomu Shirai
  • Patent number: 8758569
    Abstract: A fabric structure used to make textured nonwoven products, the structure being permeable to air and water, comprising a web contact surface having a pattern including a series of raised land areas and corresponding depressions adapted to impart a texture to the nonwoven product produced thereon, and a series of through voids adapted to allow passage of both water and/or air from the fabric surface into and/or through the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Bo-Christer Aberg, Cary P. Johnson, Francis L. Davenport, Pierre Riviere, John J. Lafond, Jonas Karlsson, Jean-Louis Monnerie
  • Patent number: 8673116
    Abstract: To provide a water disintegratable fibrous sheet with high water disintegratability and wet strength, that can be used as a cleaning sheet. A prescribed water disintegratable fibrous sheet comprising 30-50% by mass of unbeaten pulp (a) with a beating degree of 700 cc or greater; 20-40% by mass of beaten pulp (b) with a beating degree of 400-700 cc; 15-45% by mass of regenerated cellulose (c) with a beating degree of 700 cc or greater; and 2-15% by mass of fibrillated purified cellulose (d) with a beating degree of 0-400 cc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Kazuya Okada, Jyoji Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8668808
    Abstract: A flushable moist wipe or hygiene tissue including a hydraulically entangled nonwoven material impregnated with a wetting composition. The nonwoven material contains at least 70%, by fiber weight, pulp fibers and the rest manmade fibers and/or natural fibers with a length of at least 6 mm. The moist wipe or hygiene tissue has a length in the machine direction which exceeds the width in the cross-machine direction with at least 25%. The moist wipe or hygiene tissue has a wet strength in machine direction which is at least 3 times higher than the wet strength in cross-machine direction, wherein the wet strength in cross-machine direction is between 50 and 200 N/m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Mikael Strandqvist
  • Publication number: 20140014284
    Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a nonwoven fabric that can produce a nonwoven fabric having high strength, high bulk and softness. The method for producing a nonwoven fabric according to the invention comprises a step of supplying a water-containing paper-making material onto a support to form a paper layer 21 on the support, a step of injecting a high-pressure water jet stream onto the paper layer 21 from a high-pressure water jet stream nozzle 12 provided above the support, a step of injecting high-pressure steam onto the paper layer 21 on which the high-pressure water jet stream has been injected, from a steam nozzle 14 provided above the support, and a step of drying the paper layer on which the high-pressure steam has been injected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Konishi, Toshio Hiraoka, Masaki Yoshida, Toshifumi Hikosaka, Noritomo Kameda
  • Patent number: 8580080
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a bulky paper with a concavo-convex pattern consisting of low density regions with a high degree of expansion of the heat-expanding particles and high density regions with a low degree of expansion of the heat-expanding particles, comprising: making a wet mixed sheet having heat-expanding particles uniformly dispersed in fibers from a paper-making material prepared by dispersing a fiber starting material and heat-expanding particles in water; then spraying prescribed sections of the wet mixed sheet with moist hot air or water vapor at above the initial expansion temperature of the heat-expanding particles to cause expansion of the heat-expanding particles at those sections; and then drying at a temperature at which the heat-expanding particles do not fully expand. The process allows free designing of concavo-convex sections on bulky papers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Nozaki, Tsutomu Shirai
  • Patent number: 8470219
    Abstract: Method for producing a fibrous web exclusively from cellulose fibers of natural origin, comprising the following procedural steps: forming an essentially uniformly thick, dry fiber layer from loose fibers having a low moisture content, pressing and embossing the fiber layer to obtain a fibrous web and forming an embossed pattern, moistening the fibrous web with a water-latex mixture having a high water concentration (75 to 99% by weight of water) and precipitating the latex in a drying process while the fibers are bonded inside and outside the fiber bond zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Inventor: Morton Rise Hansen
  • Patent number: 8196314
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for drying a fibrous web, in particular a paper web, paperboard web or tissue web, by way of hot air, on which the fibrous web is charged with the supply air for the drying from a supply air chamber and on which exhaust air from the drying operation passes into an exhaust air chamber, whereby the exhaust air from the exhaust air chamber is supplied at least partly to the suction side of a pressure booster and at least a part of the supply air from the pressure side of the pressure booster is supplied to the supply air chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Munch
  • Publication number: 20110083819
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a bulky paper with a concavo-convex pattern consisting of low density regions with a high degree of expansion of the heat-expanding particles and high density regions with a low degree of expansion of the heat-expanding particles, comprising: making a wet mixed sheet having heat-expanding particles uniformly dispersed in fibers from a paper-making material prepared by dispersing a fiber starting material and heat-expanding particles in water; then spraying prescribed sections of the wet mixed sheet with moist hot air or water vapor at above the initial expansion temperature of the heat-expanding particles to cause expansion of the heat-expanding particles at those sections; and then drying at a temperature at which the heat-expanding particles do not fully expand. The process allows free designing of concavo-convex sections on bulky papers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Nozaki, Tsutomu Shirai
  • Patent number: 7871493
    Abstract: A method of making an environmentally-friendly tissue sheet for conversion into a single-ply roll product, such as bath tissue or paper towels, is disclosed. The method utilizes numerous process aspects that are determined to minimize energy consumption, which is about 100 grams CO2 equivalent emissions or less per 38 square feet of tissue, while at the same time producing a tissue roll product having desirable roll bulk, firmness and absorbency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, David Vincent Spitzley, Daniel Scott Westbrook
  • Patent number: 7758722
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an absorbent fiber product, starting with a parent fiber product that comprises fibers that, on the one hand, lie at a statistical distance from one another and, on the other hand, make contact with one another at contact points. The method comprises treating the parent fiber product with a fluid medium in such a way that the fibers are at least partially wetted and the fluid medium is then rapidly evaporated by irradiation, so that the evaporation pressure generated by the evaporating fluid medium has a kinematic effect on the fibers, which increases the distance between them. In this way the risk of inadvertent, in particular, thermal damage to the fibers is eliminated. Furthermore, the intrinsic fiber structure is left unaffected, or is only affected in a controlled manner. This prevents the uncontrolled destruction of the fiber structure and a detrimental effect on the fiber product, for example, to its tear resistance when wet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Saueressig GmbH + Co.
    Inventor: Kilian Saueressig
  • Patent number: 7351307
    Abstract: A method of dewatering a fibrous web in a paper machine including the steps of carrying the fibrous web on a side of a first fabric; contacting the fibrous web with a side of a second fabric, the fibrous web being between the first fabric and the second fabric; and passing air successively through the first fabric, the fibrous web and the second fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Thoröe Scherb, Jeffrey Herman, Luiz Carlos Silva
  • Patent number: 7326318
    Abstract: A wetlaid or foam formed hydraulically entangled nonwoven material containing at least 30%, by weight, pulp fibres and at least 20%, by weight, man-made fibres or filaments. The material has a basis weight variation in a non-random pattern in that it comprises a plurality of higher basis weight cushions protruding from one major surface of the material. The cushions as a main component comprise pulp fibres and are surrounded by a lower basis weight network which as a main component comprises the man-made fibres or filaments. The invention further refers to a method for making the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Mikael Strandqvist
  • Patent number: 7186317
    Abstract: A process for producing tissue webs is disclosed. The process includes the step of partially dewatering a tissue web and then subjecting the web to multiple deflections against fabrics prior to drying the tissue web. For instance, in one embodiment, the tissue web is deflected multiple times in between two opposing fabrics. The tissue web can be deflected against the fabrics under sufficient pressure to cause the tissue web to mold against the fabrics. By deflecting the tissue web multiple times, rearrangement of the papermaking fibers contained in the tissue web occurs increasing the bulk of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Beuther, Frank Druecke, Jeffrey Holz
  • Patent number: 7160418
    Abstract: An improved process for making sheet from a fibrous furnish includes: depositing the furnish on a foraminous support; compactively dewatering the furnish to form a nascent web; drying the web on a heated cylinder; creping the web therefrom and throughdrying the web to a finished product. The microstructure of the web is controlled so as to facilitate throughdrying. The product exhibits a characteristic throughdrying coefficient of from 4 to 10 when the airflow through the sheet is characterized by a Reynolds Number of less than about 1. The novel products of the invention are characterized by wet springback ratio, hydraulic diameter and an internal bond strength parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Greg A. Wendt, Robert J. Marinack, Michael J. Vander Wielen, Stephen J. McCullough, Jeffrey C. McDowell, Guy H. Super, Gary L. Worry
  • Patent number: 7118647
    Abstract: A process for making a fibrous structure including the steps of: providing a deflection member comprising a macroscopically monoplanar, patterned framework having a backside forming an X-Y plane and a web-side opposite to the backside, wherein the framework comprises a plurality of bases extending from the X-Y plane in a Z-direction perpendicular to the X-Y plane, and a plurality of suspended portions laterally extending from the plurality of bases in at least one direction substantially parallel to the X-Y plane and elevated in the Z-direction from the X-Y plane to form void spaces between the X-Y plane and the suspended portions; providing a plurality of fibers on the deflection member, thereby forming a partly-formed fibrous structure; and separating the partly-formed fibrous structure from the deflection member, thereby forming the fibrous structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: David William Cabell, Paul Dennis Trokhan
  • Patent number: 6818101
    Abstract: A tissue product comprising cellulosic fibers and having at least 10% of fugitive wet strength and at least about 3% of a fiber-flexibilizing composition. The fugitive wet strength can be generated by adding a binder that promotes acid-catalyzed formation of hemiacetal functional inter-fiber cross-links. The fiber-flexibilizing composition can comprise either a humectant or a plasticizer. The humectant can be selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride; lactic acid and its salts, high fructose corn syrup, glycerol, triacetin, sorbitol, maltitol, mannitol, propylene glycol, and any combination thereof. The plasticizer can be selected from the group consisting of urea, alkyloxylated glycols, dextrose, sucrose, ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, and any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Douglas Vinson, Paul Joseph Coffaro
  • Patent number: 6808598
    Abstract: Herein provided is a water-decomposable fibrous sheet includes water-dispersible fibers having a fiber length of at most 20 mm, and a gel compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Naohito Takeuchi, Takayoshi Konishi
  • Patent number: 6784126
    Abstract: A high pulp content nonwoven composite fabric is disclosed. The composite fabric contains 1) from more than about 0 to less than about 30 percent, by weight, of a nonwoven layer of conjugate spun filaments, the filaments containing at least one low-softening point component and at least one high-softening point component and having at least some exterior surfaces of the filaments composed of at least one low-softening point component; 2) more than about 70 percent, by weight, of pulp fibers; and 3) regions in which the low-softening point component at the exterior surfaces of the filaments is fused to at least a portion of the fibrous component. This high pulp content composite nonwoven fabric may be used as a heavy duty wiper or as a fluid distribution material, cover material, and/or absorbent material in an absorbent personal care product. Also disclosed is a method of making the high pulp content nonwoven composite fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Cherie Hartman Everhart, Danial Owen Fischer
  • Publication number: 20040149405
    Abstract: A method of dewatering a fiber web in a paper machine, includes the steps of: dewatering the fiber web in a forming section to a solids content of greater than approximately 10%; displacement pressing the fiber web in an air press assembly to a solids content of greater than approximately 40%; and through air drying the fiber web in at least one air press assembly to a higher solids content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventor: David Beck
  • Patent number: 6749718
    Abstract: Disclosed is a water-disintegratable sheet including water-dispersible fibers and microfibrillated cellulose. The water-dispersible fibers are hydroentangled about each other to provide high fiber density regions and low fiber density regions. The hydroentangled water-dispersible fibers are bonded to each other through a hydrogen bonding power of the microfibrillated cellulose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Takai, Takayoshi Konishi
  • Patent number: 6673204
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a non-woven fabric, in which a predetermined pattern of a forming body is transferred to a non-woven fabric immediately after or simultaneously with its formation by urging the non-woven fabric onto the forming body with water jets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Takai, Kazuya Okada, Takayoshi Konishi
  • Patent number: 6602386
    Abstract: Conventional water-decomposable fibrous sheets for cleaning sheets capable of being disposed of in toilets and others do not have well-balanced decomposability in water and strength. The water-decomposable fibrous sheet containing from 5 to 100% by mass of fibrillated rayon having a fiber length of at most 10 mm and having a degree of beating of at most 700 cc, optionally along with other fibers having a length of at most 10 mm, has good decomposability in water and high wet strength. When subjected to water-jetting treatment, it becomes more bulky to have a soft feel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Naohito Takeuchi, Jyoji Shimizu, Kazuya Okada, Toshiyuki Tanio, Takayoshi Konishi
  • Patent number: 6592713
    Abstract: Method for producing a nonwoven material comprising at least one layer of continuous filaments, such as spunbond- or meltblown fibers. A first web of continuous filaments (19) are laid on a wire (14) or other permeable support member having a resilient extensibility in the transverse direction and which substantially resumes its original dimension when the extension is discontinued, that the wire is stretched in the transverse direction to at least 120% of its original width when the continuous filaments are laid on the wire. The stretching is discontinued after the continuous filaments have been laid on the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Hannu Ahoniemi
  • Patent number: 6572735
    Abstract: A wet-formed composite defining latent voids and macro-cavities, the wet-formed composite having a basis weight greater than about 100 grams per square meter and a density of about 0.06 grams per cubic centimeter or more. The wet-formed composite comprises fibers and superabsorbent material, with the superabsorbent material present in an amount of about 10 dry weight percent or less, specifically about 5 dry weight percent or less, and particularly about 2 dry weight percent or less, but more than 0, based on the total dry weight of fibers and superabsorbent material present in the wet-formed composite. By virtue of the superabsorbent material having been allowed to swell and then shrink during the making of the wet-formed composite, macro-cavities are created. Densification compresses the macro-cavities. The resulting composite expands upon wetting and exhibits good absorbency properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Palani Raj Ramaswami Wallajapet, Ronald Lee Edens, Cheryl Ann Mocadlo, Sheng-Hsin Hu, Dmitry Yavich, David Michael Kale
  • Publication number: 20030070781
    Abstract: A tissue sheet is made using a modified wet pressing process employing an integrally sealed air press. After initial formation and conventional vacuum dewatering, the wet web may be conformed to the surface contour of a relatively coarse fabric to give the web a textured surface. By creating a pressure differential across the web, the air press noncompressively dewaters the wet web to a consistency of about 30 to about 40 percent prior to a heated drying cylinder. The web may be dried to substantially preserve its three-dimensional, throughdried-like texture. The process provides a web having an exceptionally high degree of bulk and absorbency not expected in wet-pressed products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Frank Stephen Hada
  • Patent number: 6547927
    Abstract: There is disclosed a water-decomposable fibrous sheet including water-dispersible fibers and water-insoluble carboxymethyl cellulose. The water-insoluble carboxymethyl cellulose has a degree of substitution for etherification (DE) falling between 0.3 and 0.6. In the water-insoluble carboxymethyl cellulose, the hydrogen of the carboxyl group in at least 95% of the carboxymethyl groups is substituted with a metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Naohito Takeuchi, Takayoshi Konishi, Jyoji Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6544912
    Abstract: Provided is a water-decomposable fibrous sheet includes fibers containing fibrillated rayon. The fibrillated rayon has primary fibers of a predetermined fiber length and microfibers extending from the primary fibers. The fibrillated rayon includes a first type of fibrillated rayon having a degree of beating of at most 700 cc, of which the length of the primary fibers falls between 1.8 mm and 4.0 mm at the peak of its self-weighted, average fiber length distribution profile curve, and a second type of fibrillated rayon having a degree of beating of at most 700 cc, of which the length of the primary fibers falls between 4.5 mm and 10.0 mm at the peak of its self-weighted, average fiber length distribution profile curve. The microfibers extending from the first and second, types of fibrillated rayon are entangled with and/or hydrogen-bonded to at least either of other microfibers and other fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Tanio, Jyoji Shimizu, Kazuya Okada, Naohito Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6514382
    Abstract: A process for producing bulky paper comprising the steps of transferring a fiber web (2) having a water content of 50 to 85% by weight to a patterning zone having a perforated patterning net (31) revolving along a suction unit; patterning the fiber web (2) in conformity to the perforated patterning net (31) by sucking the fiber web (2) which is held on the perforated patterning net (31) while applying 5 kcal/kg or more of heat to the fiber web (2) in a heat application zone simultaneously with or before or after the sucking of the fiber web (2); and then drying the fiber web (2) in a drying zone to obtain patterned bulky paper (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Shusuke Kakiuchi, Kazuhiro Inaba, Hiroyuki Yanagida, Taeko Hayase, Toshiyuki Suga, Hiroyuki Akai, Takao Koyama
  • Publication number: 20030000665
    Abstract: Disclosed is a water-disintegratable sheet including water-dispersible fibers and microfibrillated cellulose. The water-dispersible fibers are hydroentangled about each other to provide high fiber density regions and low fiber density regions. The hydroentangled water-dispersible fibers are bonded to each other through a hydrogen bonding power of the microfibrillated cellulose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: UNI-CHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisashi Takai, Takayoshi Konishi
  • Patent number: 6478927
    Abstract: A method for forming a paper web with two surfaces having elevated regions is provided. The elevated regions can be imparted onto the surfaces of the tissue utilizing various papermaking techniques and devices, such as using patterned fabrics, wire-mesh, and/or pressure rolls. A tissue formed according to the present invention can have a substantial fiber density gradient in the −z direction and a relatively low fiber density gradient in the x-y plane. Moreover, the tissue can also have a substantial pore size distribution gradient in the −z direction and a relatively low pore size distribution gradient in the x-y plane for improved absorption properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick P. Chen, Daniel R. Sprangers, Mark A. Burazin
  • Publication number: 20020100153
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a non-woven fabric, in which a predetermined pattern of a forming body is transferred to a non-woven fabric immediately after or simultaneously with its formation by urging the non-woven fabric onto the forming body with water jets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Applicant: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Takai, Kazuya Okada, Takayoshi Konishi
  • Patent number: 6315864
    Abstract: An improved cloth-like base web is disclosed. In particular, the base web of the present invention has a cloth-like look and feel and has improved absorbency. The base web is made by first hydroneedling a web containing pulp and/or staple fibers. A bonding material is then applied to at least one side of the web and the web is creped on at least one side. By combining a hydroneedling operation with a creping operation, a base web is produced that is strong, stretchable, very soft and absorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph L. Anderson, Fritz Radwanski, Henry Skoog, Donald E. Waldroup
  • Patent number: 6287419
    Abstract: There is disclosed a water-decomposable non-woven fabric including a first regenerated cellulose fiber having a fiber length of 3 mm or more to 5 mm or less, a second regenerated cellulose fiber having a fiber length of 6 mm or more to 10 mm or less, and a natural fiber having a fiber length of 10 mm or less, in which at least the second cellulose fiber is entangled with at least one of the first regenerated cellulose fiber, the second regenerated cellulose fiber and the natural fiber. This water-decomposable non-woven fabric is bulky with soft touch, and is also excellent in both water decomposability and wet strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corportation
    Inventors: Naohito Takeuchi, Takayoshi Konishi
  • Patent number: 6270623
    Abstract: A method for making an apertured nonwoven fabric includes the steps of: obtaining wet sheet from slurry containing 0.5˜20% by weight of fibrous component in water, which comprises, in turn, thermoplastic synthetic fibers having a length of 7˜30 mm and a fineness of 0.1˜0.8 d, and subjecting the wet sheet to a processing for fiber entangling by high velocity water jet streams and to a processing for aperture forming by aperture forming elements having predetermined configurations adapted to be followed by individual fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Goda, Tomoko Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20010008180
    Abstract: An improved cloth-like base web is disclosed. In particular, the base web of the present invention has a cloth-like look and feel and has improved absorbency. The base web is made by first hydroneedling a web containing pulp and/or staple fibers. A bonding material is then applied to at least one side of the web and the web is creped on at least one side. By combining a hydroneedling operation with a creping operation, a base web is produced that is strong, stretchable, very soft and absorbent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Publication date: July 19, 2001
    Inventors: RALPH L ANDERSON, FRITZ RADWANSKI, HENRY SKOOG, DONALD E WALDROUP
  • Patent number: 6258210
    Abstract: Provided is a multi-layered water-decomposable fibrous sheet with a plurality of layers each having a different fibrous constitution being integrated, including a top layer on a top surface and a back layer on a back surface. The top layer includes fibrillated rayon of at least 3% by mass of all fibers constituting the top layer. The fibrillated rayon has a degree of beating of at most 700 cc, and has primary fibers of a predetermined fiber length and microfibers extending from the primary fibers. The microfibers are entangled with and/or hydrogen-bonded to at least either of other microfibers and other fibers. The back layer includes fibers containing no fibrillated rayon, the fibers entangled with and/or hydrogen-bonded to each other, or the back layer includes the fibrillated rayon in an amount smaller than that in the top layer. The microfibers of the fibrillated rayon are entangled with and/or hydrogen-bonded to at least either of other microfibers and other fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Naohito Takeuchi, Kazuya Okada
  • Patent number: 6194477
    Abstract: Expanded cellular structures are formed from dense nonporous cellulose paper with an air permeance of less than 30 ml/min which cellular structure is provided with a shape retention of at least 90%. The shape stability is obtained by forming the cellular structure, spraying with an aqueous liquid and heating, the amount of liquid, time and temperature of heating being selected and sufficient to provide the desired shape retention. The minimum amount of water is at least 30 weight % of dry paper more usually at least 75% with minimum heating of 1 minute at 100° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Hexcel Corporation
    Inventors: John Leslie Cawse, Ayub Khan, Graham Kemp, Terence Charles Webb
  • Patent number: 6190735
    Abstract: A process for treating a fibrous material which includes the steps of: 1) providing a liquid suspension composed of fibrous material; 2) intermixing the liquid suspension of fibrous material with a treatment over a time period T1—wherein the treatment requires a period of time TR sufficient to treat the fibrous material; 3) depositing the liquid suspension of fibrous material and intermixed treatment onto a forming surface to form a layer and removing a substantial portion of the liquid, over a perod of time T2; and 4) applying pressurized jets of a liquid to the layer of fibrous material to wash unused treatment from the fibrous material within a period of time T3. Periods of time T1, T2 and T3 are immediately consecutive and amount to a total period of time at least as great as TR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Robert Radwanski, Henry Skoog