Abstract: A promotional item (10) comprising a substrate (11) having on one surface (12) thereof a transferable, mirror image (14) of a coupon, said image (14) being capable of being transferred from the substrate (11) to a carrier (15) to form a redeemable coupon.

Abstract: A caddy assembly for storing a cleaning wand. The caddy includes a housing for storing the wand cleaning head, the wand handle extending downward through a groove in the housing. The caddy housing may be readily locked in an open or closed position by engaging the cleaning wand with the housing lid or a bracket mechanism, respectively. The assembly also includes apparatus for mounting the caddy in a vertical, upright position.

Abstract: A web spreading apparatus that includes a set of spreader rolls spaced from each other in the machine direction of web formation with the axles of the rolls extending generally in the cross-machine direction of web formation. The set of spreader rolls includes a first upstream group of curved rolls and a second downstream group of rolls. Each roll in the downstream group has a central region having less curvature than the end regions joining the central region.

Abstract: A dispensing port in a wall of a container 10 for dispensing perforated sheets. The dispensing port comprises three slots 62 generally extending radially from a central opening 61 of the dispensing port to form three flexible, triangular flaps 56, the apex 58 of each flap 56 being rounded. The flaps 56 apply tension to a leading sheet being pulled through the slots 62 to cause the leading sheet to be separated from the next sheet at the perforations while leaving a tip 75 of the next sheet projecting through the dispensing port.

Abstract: The invention relates to a papermaking machine employing a differential pressing felt for simultaneously dewatering the paper web and imprinting the paper web as the web is deposited onto the surface of a heated drying cylinder. The felt has a felt facing material greater than about 153 grams/m.sup.2 and imprinting yarn strands forming knuckles adjacent to the felt facing. The yarn strands have a spacing of about 6 to about 25 0.0254 meters.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying particulate material that is directed through an outlet passage (50) of a chamber (40). The apparatus includes a slurry-conveying conduit (54) communicating with the outlet passage and further including liquid flow control means (58, 68, 70 and 59) for only partially filling the conduit with a liquid for conveying the particulate material away from the chamber as a slurry while maintaining an air passage (72) in the conduit that communicates with the outlet passage of the chamber; and vacuum creating means (74, 77) communicating with the air passage in the conduit for establishing a partial vacuum in the passage to impede liquid vapors from flowing into the chamber. The method in which the above apparatus is operated also forms a part of the present invention.

Abstract: A conveyor system for flanged containers includes downwardly inclined, laterally-spaced rails for supporting the flanges of the containers as the containers move by gravity toward a take-away conveyor. Control means are provided for permitting each container to move by gravity on the rails into engagement with a leading edge of an adjacent aperture in the take-away conveyor with flanges of each container still supported by a lower section of the spaced rails. Preferably the lower section is movable, and an actuating system is provided for moving it to positively direct a lower trailing end of each container into its adjacent aperture.

Abstract: A multi-layered wiper and method of making it, the wiper having at least one strong surface region of fibers having a predominate length of less than one-fourth inch and having bonding material disposed therein in a fine spaced apart pattern, the areas in the strong surface region where the bonding material is disposed being finely creped and at least one inner core region of fibers having a predominate length of less than one-fourth inch and generally having less fiber concentration than the surface region, and at least one interior strong region of fibers having a predominate length of less than one-fourth inch and having a greater fiber concentration than in the inner core region and having bonding material disposed therein in a fine spaced apart pattern to bond the fibers in the interior strong region together into a strong network, the bonding material in the interior strong region being substantially unconnected to the bonding material in the strong surface region and a strengthening layer comprising a

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting a roll towel dispenser (30) on the door (12) of a recessed paper towel cabinet (10). The apparatus includes a bracket assembly (40) that has a hooked end portion (54) adapted to fit over the top edge of the door (12) of the recessed cabinet (10). The bracket assembly (40) is secured by means of nuts (56) and bolts (50) to the rear wall of the roll towel dispenser (30). The bracket assembly (40) is also adhered to the front surface of the door (12) of the recessed cabinet (10) in order to stabilize, or prevent relative motion between the assembly comprising the bracket (40) and roll towel dispenser (30) and the door (12). In one aspect of the invention, the bracket (40) is formed so that when it is assembled to the door (12) of the recessed towel cabinet (10), a portion (42) of the bracket plate (40) is spaced apart from the surface of the door (2) of the recessed cabinet (10) so that it clears the projecting portion of a lock assembly (34).

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric is made by first forming a web (12) consisting predominately of thermoplastic fibers, then pattern embossing the web at an elevated temperature to form autogenous thermal bonds extending through the web, then creping the bonded web by pressing the bonded web against a driven, grooved roll (30) which feeds the web against a retarding member (32). The temperature of the web during the creping step is controlled so that some of the thermoplastic fibers are softened which assists the formation and retention in the web of both the crepe and noticeable ridges 50 of predominately unbonded fibers. This heating of the web (12) also results in some bonding of fibers in the grooves (52) of the creped web (12) which gives the web (12) a striped appearance. In the creped web, when the autogenous bonds are lineal and generally extend in the cross direction of the web, the creped web can take on a seersucker or corduroy-like appearance depending upon the amount of compaction during the creping step.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric is made by first forming a web (12) consisting predominately of thermoplastic fibers, then pattern embossing the web at an elevated temperature to form autogenous thermal bonds extending through the web, then creping the bonded web by pressing the bonded web against a driven, grooved roll (30) which feeds the web against a retarding member (32). The temperature of the web during the creping step is controlled so that some of the thermoplastic fibers are softened which assists the formation and retention in the web of both the crepe and noticeable ridges 50 of predominately unbonded fibers. This heating of the web (12) also results in some bonding of fibers in the grooves (52) of the creped web (12) which gives the web (12) a striped appearance. In the creped web, when the autogenous bonds are lineal and generally extend in the cross direction of the web, the creped web can take on a seersucker or corduroy-like appearance depending upon the amount of compaction during the creping step.

Abstract: Apparatus for curing a bonded, air-permeable web. The apparatus includes drying means (16-26, 42, 48, 54, 56 and 80) for passing heated air at a predetermined temperature through the web 10 for a predetermined time. Means (128, 132, 134, 136, 150, 160, 164 and 166) are provided for generating a first signal representing the pressure drop, at a predetermined velocity, across the web 10 outside of the drying means (16-26, 42, 48, 54, 56 and 80). Means (68, 108 and 110) are also provided for generating a second signal representing the pressure drop across the web (10) inside the drying means (16-26, 42, 48, 54, 56 and 80). Means (120) responsive to the first and second generated signals control the velocity of the heated air passing through the web so as to maintain the pressure drop across the web 10 inside the drying means (16-26, 42, 48, 54, 56 and 80) equal to the pressure drop as measured by the means (128, 132, 134, 136, 150, 160, 164 and 166) for generating the first signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a unitary or integral laminate-like fibrous web having a first and second surface region and a central core region which has less fiber concentration than the first surface region. The first surface region has a surface disposition of bonding material disposed only in that region to form a strong, abrasion-resistant surface. The central core region has a penetrating disposition of bonding material extending through that region in a fine, spaced-apart pattern occupying less area in the plane of the web than the surface bonding material in the first surface region. The penetrating bonding material in the central core region penetrates entirely through that region and connects the first and second surface regions together by penetrating to at least within a fiber thickness of the web surface to provide abrasion-resistance for that surface region.

Abstract: The method of autogenously bonding a nonwoven web formed predominantly of thermoplastic fibers is characterized by the steps of directing heat into the web from only one surface thereof to preheat the web, and then directing the preheated web through a bonding nip formed between opposed rolls, one of said rolls being hotter than the other roll, being capable of heating the web surface it engages to a temperature above the melt point of the thermoplastic fibers and being positioned to engage the surface of the web opposite the one into which heat was directed during the preheating operation; said webs being preheated by means completely independent of the opposed rolls that form the bonding nip, and most preferably by infrared panels. The nonwoven product formed in accordance with this method also forms a part of the instant invention.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing the permeability of porous web materials. The porous web 12 is placed against a surface of a test head 10 of the apparatus. The test head 10 contains at least one aperture 28 and a vacuum source 87 connected to the test head 10 causes air to be drawn through the web 12 and then through the aperture 28. The test head 10 also includes at least one static port 32 that communicates with the aperture 28. The static port 32 is located very close to the web 12 and measures the static pressure within the aperture 28 before it leaves the aperture 28. A pressure transducer 46 is connected to the static port 32 and provides a measurement of the pressure drop across the web 12. If the volumetric flow rate of air through the web 12 is kept constant, the pressure transducer 46 output 52 is representative of the permeability of the web 12.

Abstract: A dry-formed nonwoven fabric; preferably an air lay web; including a fiber composition which is at least 50%, by weight, wood pulp fiber less than about 0.635 cm (1/4 inch) in length with 25% or more of the fiber composition in the web, by weight, being kraft wood pulp fibers, and under 50%, by weight, reinforcing fibers intermixed with the wood pulp fibers throughout the web structure; an embossment in the web providing a plurality of compressed, densified valley regions and less-dense high loft regions; the web including no more than about 5.1 g/m.sup.2 (3.0 lbs per ream of 2,880 ft..sup.2) of a binder and having a cross machine direction wet tensile strength no lower than about 0.09 Kg/cm (0.5 lbs/inch), and preferably at least 0.107 Kg/cm (0.6 lbs/inch). A higher cross-machine direction wet tensile strength in excess of 0.267 Kg/cm (1.5 lbs/inch) can be established at a binder level less than 8.5 g/m.sup.2 (5 lbs/ream), and preferably at a binder level between 6.8-8.5 g/m.sup.2 (4-5 lbs/ream).

Abstract: The method of autogenously bonding a nonwoven web formed predominantly of thermoplastic fibers is characterized by the steps of directing heat into the web from only one surface thereof to preheat the web, and then directing the preheated web through a bonding nip formed between opposed rolls, one of said rolls being hotter than the other roll, being capable of heating the web surface it engages to a temperature above the melt point of the thermoplastic fibers and being positioned to engage the surface of the web opposite the one into which heat was directed during the preheating operation; said webs being preheated by means completely independent of the opposed rolls that form the bonding nip, and most preferably by infrared panels. The nonwoven product formed in accordance with this method also forms a part of the instant invention.