Abstract: An unwind stand for unwinding rolled material is disclosed in which a movable carriage mounted on a stationary frame includes at least two roll holders adapted to support a roll of material and a shifting mechanism connected to the movable carriage for moving the carriage between a first unwinding position in which a first roll of material supported by a first roll holder is positioned for unwinding, and a second unwinding position in which a second roll of material supported by a second roll holder is positioned for unwinding. Once a roll is in the unwinding position, the shifting mechanism also functions to maintain the material unwinding from the roll in an alignment position in response to an alignment detector by making fine adjustments to the lateral position of the carriage. The unwind stand may also include a rotatable wheel connected to a carrier slidably mounted on a rodless cylinder for applying a radial braking force to the roll of material, thereby imparting tension to the unwinding material.

Abstract: A container formed from a unitary paperboard blank having a substantially planar inner region, a sidewall region and a rim region formed about the periphery thereof is disclosed. The sidewall region includes a generally annular region flaring upwardly and outwardly from a periphery of the planar inner region and a first frusto-conical region adjoining the annular region with the frusto-conical region sloping outwardly and upwardly from the annular region. The rim region includes an outwardly flaring arcuate annular region adjoining an outer periphery of the first frusto-conical region, and a second frusto-conical region extending substantially tangentially from the arcuate annular region. The second frusto-conical region extends outwardly and downwardly at an angle of about 6.degree. to about 12.degree. and preferably about 6.degree.-10.5.degree. relative to the plane defined by the planar inner region.

Abstract: A microwave responsive heating device useful in microwave packaging for capturing microwave energy in a microwave oven and transmitting the energy to a surface of a food item in a concentrated form to grill, crisp, or brown the surface thereof. The heating device includes an antenna for collecting the microwave energy and a transmission device for transferring the collected energy from the antenna to a surface of a food item. Preferably, the heating device forms an integral portion of the interior of a food package to allow a food item to be stored and cooked therein. The antenna and the transmission device are made from electrically conductive materials and are shaped to, not only, capture and transmit microwave energy efficiently, but also to enhance the intensity of the microwave energy in a concentrated form.

Abstract: A paper product having increased thickness, absorbency, and softness without altering product strength wherein a fiber blend is provided being up to 50% softwood fibers and up to 100% Hesperaloe funifera fibers.

Abstract: A sheet of fibrous web material having one textile-like surface and an opposite substantially smooth surface, a grain depth memory factor greater than 80, an apparent density in the range of about 4 to about 7 pound ream/caliper point in mils, a caliper (at a basis weight between about 50 and about 75 pounds/3000 square feet) greater than 0.008 inch, and a machine-direction sheet stretch of at least 5%.

Abstract: A microwave susceptor package such as a food package is disclosed which contains a microwave reactive material comprising a support material and a microwave interactive coating on the support material. The support material is selected from microwave transparent and thermally stable substrates whereas the microwave interactive coating comprises metal particles in an ink-like substance that may be printed onto the substrate such as a portion of the substrate.

Abstract: A fabric which can be made by a wet-laid process using crimpable bicomponent fibers is disclosed which may have a high bulk and/or elasticity. The fabric can be made by a high speed continuous process wherein the fabric is pulled from a Yankee dryer by a take off roll which rotates faster than the Yankee dryer.

Abstract: A flow management system and process for providing controlled separation and sizing of an incoming flow of wood chips. A flow management screen is provided in the form of a horizontal disk screen having a variable speed drive, with the drive controlled based upon the flow rate of wood chips to the screen. By controlling the rotational speed of the disks of the horizontal disk screen, the flow separation and sizing to subsequent screening stations can be predicted and controlled. As a result, more consistent output is provided, as well as improved system efficiency and ability to accommodate for varying operational conditions and wear.

Abstract: A gable-top type carton and blank for forming the same including a front panel, a back panel, a bottom panel and first and second side walls extending between the front panel and the back panel with at least one of the side walls including a gusset forming section for permitting the front and back panels to converge towards one another from the bottom panel along a length of the side walls to an edge of the front and back panels opposite the bottom panel is disclosed. The gusset forming section includes at least one cut-out section formed in each of the side walls with the cut-out being preferably in the form of a triangle which is spatially positioned in an intermediate portion of the side wall.

Abstract: A mated pair resilient and rigid embossing rolls are disclosed for achieving the advantages of conventional rubber to steel embossing, while avoiding the problems of conventional embossing approaches. In particular, a laser can be utilized to form recesses in a resilient roll such that the resilient roll receives protuberances of a rigid male embossing roll when the rolls are placed in contact. By providing recesses on the resilient roll, the pressure or force required for causing the rubber to flow around the protuberances can be significantly decreased as compared to conventional rubber to steel embossing. As a result, wear on the rolls is reduced, and smaller diameter rolls may be utilized, thereby reducing the cost of the embossing equipment. In addition, since less pressure is required to cause the rubber to flow about the protuberances, roll deflection is not a problem, and an embossed pattern can be imparted having a consistent, high degree of definition across the width of a web.

Abstract: A package for use in storing, vending and microwave cooking of food products. The package includes a double center wall which divides an interior food cavity into two food compartments. The center wall and the remaining interior surfaces of the container are coated with a microwave interactive layer thereby exposing an increased surface area of the food articles to the microwave interactive layers. Improved surface cooking, such as surface browning and crisping are achieved, as well as increased convenience in packaging and cooking.

Abstract: A paperboard tissue box having a decahedral prismatic configuration which may be rapidly fabricated using available high speed machinery providing an attractive appearance while retaining high strength is disclosed. The outer surface of the tissue box of the present invention is a decahedron having two parallel octagonal faces linked by eight rectangular lateral faces extending between the edges of the octagon and generally being disposed at right angles to the octagonal faces in the erected carton, each of the ten faces being formable by folding a unitary blank having impressed fold lines defining regions in the blank which become panels in the erected box.

Abstract: A carton is disclosed having a reclosable pour spout formed in a top panel thereof. The pour spout being formed by cooperating portions of an upper minor flap, an exterior top panel and an interior top panel which cooperate to form the top panel of the carton. A portion of the interior top panel forming a central closure pane is formed by inside and outside cut scores formed in the interior top panel defining a ply separation region therebetween which extends from a lift tab to a hinge line formed in the interior top panel.

Abstract: A disposable volume-extending drink-through lid for hot and cold beverages that extends beyond the upper edge of a drinking cup is provided. The lid may be integrally formed by conventional thermoforming processes to include a cup engaging section, a raised volume-extending section and a drink-through section above the upper surface of the volume-extending section to allow a consumer to drink without leakage or spills beverages such as whipped cream-topped cappuccino, ice cream sodas and the like while moving or in a moving vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for press forming products having a desired shape from a web is provided. The apparatus includes a cyclically operating blanking section for cutting the web to produce a single blank for each blanking cycle and a cyclically operating forming section for receiving a plurality of single blanks from the blanking section during a first portion of each forming cycle and for press forming the plurality of single blanks into a plurality of three dimensional press formed paperboard products having the desired shape during a second portion of each forming cycle. The forming section includes a die set having a plurality of forming die cavities wherein each of the forming die cavities receives a single blank. The blanking section operates cyclically at a predetermined rate r and the die set of the forming section includes n forming die cavities, the blanking section operating at n cycles for each forming cycle and the forming section operating cyclically at a rate r/n.

Abstract: A flat, cloth-like composite laminate including airlaid, nonwoven pulp web layers reinforced by a wetlaid bicomponent web layer. The bicomponent web layer has a sheath-core configuration, wherein the fiber component of the sheath member has a lower melting point than the fiber component of the core member. If desired, an adhesive material can be utilized between the bicomponent layer and the airlaid pulp web layer.

Abstract: A creping adhesive is described which provides the ability to readily control glass transition temperature (Tg) and adhesion and which can be easily removed from dryer surfaces. The creping adhesive contains a crosslinkable polymer and preferably an ionic crosslinking agent such as metal cations having a valence of three or more.

Abstract: A method for the production of a fibrous web having textile length fibers wherein a fiber furnish is formed by dispersion of the fibers in an unfoamed carrier medium of water and an associative thickener of ethylene oxide base urethane block copolymers or hydroxyethylcellulose ethers having a C.sub.10 to C.sub.24 alkyl side chain in an amount within the range of from about 1 to about 150 pounds of thickener per ton of dry fiber and including an anionic viscosity modifier in the range of 10 to 500 ppm. The furnish having a consistency in the range of 0.05 to 0.2 weight percent fibers is supplied to a high speed papermaking machine for forming a fibrous web. The textile length fibers may be polyester fibers being 1.5 denier and 3/4 inches. The high speed papermaking machine may be a twin-wire papermaking machine or a suction breast roll papermaking machine or a crescent former papermaking machine.

Abstract: A product press formed from a paperboard and a method for forming the same is provided, wherein the product includes a press formed three-dimensional curvilinear region having a desired shape and containing a formation improvement structure for facilitating the press formation and maintenance of the desired product shape and for preventing the machine directionality of the paperboard from distorting the product from its desired shape. The press formed paperboard product of the preferred embodiment comprises a planar wall having a periphery which is at least partially curvilinear and a peripheral wall angularly oriented with respect to the planar wall. The peripheral wall extends along at least a portion of the curvilinear periphery of the planar wall and the closest portion of the peripheral wall is spaced a substantial radial distance from the periphery of the planar wall.