Abstract: An absorbent cellulosic sheet made by a method that includes forming an aqueous cellulosic web on a structuring fabric in a papermaking machine, non-compactively dewatering the cellulosic web on the structuring fabric, and drying the cellulosic web to form the absorbent cellulosic sheet. A portion of the structuring fabric on which the cellulosic web is formed has an adjusted planar volumetric index of at least about 27.

Abstract: An absorbent cellulosic sheet made by a method that includes forming an aqueous cellulosic web on a portion of a structuring fabric in a papermaking machine, and drying the cellulosic web to form the absorbent cellulosic sheet. The portion of the structuring fabric on which the cellulosic web is formed has a planar volumetric index of at least about 26. The absorbent cellulosic sheet has a caliper of at least about 160 mils/8 sheets and a dry machine direction (MD) to cross machine direction (CD) tensile ratio of less than about 1.0.

Abstract: A papermaking machine for making a paper product using a through air drying process. A headbox supplies an aqueous furnish. A structuring fabric has a surface with a contact area and (i) receives the furnish from the headbox on the surface to thereby form a cellulosic web from the furnish and (ii) non-compactively dewaters the cellulosic web. At least one through air drier dries the cellulosic web on the structuring fabric. A portion of the structuring fabric on which the cellulosic web is formed has an adjusted planar volumetric index of at least about 27.

Abstract: A method of making a paper product includes forming an aqueous cellulosic web on a structuring fabric in a papermaking machine, non-compactively dewatering the cellulosic web on the structuring fabric, and drying the cellulosic web to form the paper product. The portion of the structuring fabric on which the cellulosic web is formed has a planar volumetric index of at least about 26.

Abstract: A process of forming a papermaking fabric. A value of at least one characteristic of a first papermaking fabric is determined. The at least one characteristic is related to one of (i) knuckles in the first papermaking fabric, (ii) pockets in the first papermaking fabric, and (iii) both knuckles and pockets in the first papermaking fabric. A second papermaking fabric is formed. The second papermaking fabric is configured such that a value of the at least one characteristic in the second papermaking fabric is different from the value of the characteristic in the first papermaking fabric.

Abstract: A papermaking machine for making a paper product using a through air drying process. A headbox supplies an aqueous furnish. A structuring fabric has a surface with a contact area and (i) receives the furnish from the headbox on the surface to thereby form a cellulosic web from the furnish and (ii) non-compactively dewaters the cellulosic web. At least one through air drier dries the cellulosic web on the structuring fabric. A portion of the structuring fabric on which the cellulosic web is formed has an adjusted planar volumetric index of at least about 27.

Abstract: Apparatuses, processes, and systems for determining features of a paper-making fabric. The apparatus, processes, and systems utilize a representation of a portion of a surface of the fabric, with the representation showing at least one of (i) locations and (ii) sizes of knuckles and pockets in the surface of the fabric. An image of the portion of the fabric is generated based on the representation. Using the displayed image, an outline is drawn around at least one of the knuckles, and guidelines are drawn such that the guidelines at least one of (i) pass through the center of the outlined knuckle, (ii) pass through the other knuckles, and (iii) form a shape that surrounds areas of the image that correspond to where the pockets are formed between the knuckles. With the outlined knuckle and guidelines, properties that affect the paper-making functionality of the fabric may be calculated.

Abstract: A process of determining the depth of a pocket in a woven fabric. A representation is formed of a portion of a surface of the woven fabric to provide a fabric representation showing at least one of (i) at least one of locations and sizes of knuckles that are a part of the surface of the fabric and (ii) at least one of locations and sizes of pockets that are formed in areas between the knuckles. Particular knuckles are identified that surround a particular pocket. A path is determined in the fabric representation that passes from a first of the knuckles across the particular pocket to a second of the knuckles. The fabric is scanned using a measurement device along a line that corresponds to the determined path. A depth of the particular pocket is determined, to which cellulosic fibers can penetrate in a papermaking process, based on the scan.

Abstract: Paper products, such as hand towels, have high absorbency, high caliper, and good perceived softness. The paper products are made using a structuring fabric that has a high adjusted planar volumetric index, which indicates a relation between the contact area ratio of a papermaking web contacting surface of the structuring fabric and the volume of pockets of the fabric, with the contact area ratio and the volume of pockets being calculated on the basis of a non-rectangular, parallelogram unit cell.

Abstract: A method of making a belt-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet. A papermaking furnish is compactively dewatered to form a dewatered web. The dewatered web is applied to a translating transfer surface. The web is belt-creped from the transfer surface utilizing a polymeric creping belt having perforations. The web is creped from the transfer surface and redistributed on the creping belt to form a web including a plurality of fiber-enriched hollow domed regions protruding from an upper surface of the web, the hollow domed regions having sidewalls being formed along at least a leading edge of the web. Connecting regions form a network interconnecting the hollow domed regions. Transition areas include fibers that transition from the connecting regions into the hollow domed regions, by extending upwardly from the connecting regions into the sidewalls of the domed regions. The web is dried to produce the sheet.

Abstract: Apparatuses, processes, and systems for determining features of a paper-making fabric. The apparatus, processes, and systems utilize a representation of a portion of a surface of the fabric, with the representation showing locations and sizes of knuckles and pockets in the surface of the fabric. An image of the portion of the fabric is generated based on the representation. Using the displayed image, an outline is drawn around at least one of the knuckles, and guidelines are drawn such that the guidelines pass through the center of the outlined knuckle, pass through the other knuckles, and form a shape that surrounds areas of the image that correspond to where the pockets are formed between the knuckles. With the outlined knuckle and guidelines, properties that affect the paper-making functionality of the fabric may be calculated.

Abstract: Apparatuses, processes, and systems for implementing techniques for determining characteristics of a papermaking fabric. The techniques include forming a representation of a portion of the surface of the fabric, with the representation showing the knuckles and pockets in the surface. The representation can be formed, for example, in pressure measurement film, in wax paper, or as a photograph. An image is generated from the representation, and the image is analyzed to determine characteristics of the surface of the fabric, such as knuckle sizes and pocket sizes. The depth of pockets in the fabric can also be determined. The techniques can be used in processes for analyzing wear of a fabric, and for obtaining a fabric for making a paper product with a particular three-dimensional structure.

Abstract: A method of making a paper product includes forming an aqueous cellulosic web on a structuring fabric in a papermaking machine, non-compactively dewatering the cellulosic web on the structuring fabric, and drying the cellulosic web to form the paper product. The portion of the structuring fabric on which the cellulosic web is formed has a planar volumetric index of at least about 26.

Abstract: Paper products, such as hand towels, have high absorbency, high caliper, and good perceived softness. Two-ply products have a caliper of at least about 260 mils/8 sheets and an SAT capacity of at least about 650 g/m2. The paper products are made using a structuring fabric that has a high planar volumetric index, which indicates a relation between the contact area ratio of a papermaking web contacting surface of the structuring fabric and the volume of pockets of the fabric.

Abstract: A method of creping a cellulosic sheet. The method includes preparing a nascent web from an aqueous papermaking furnish, depositing and creping the nascent web on a multi-layer creping belt that includes (i) a first layer made from a polymeric material having a plurality of openings, and (ii) a second layer attached to a surface of the first layer, with the nascent web being deposited on the first layer, and applying a vacuum to the creping belt such that the nascent web is drawn into the plurality of openings, but not drawn into the second layer.

Abstract: A process of analyzing wear on a papermaking fabric includes forming a first representation of a portion of a surface of the fabric showing locations and sizes of knuckles and pockets in the surface of the fabric. A first image is generated based on the first representation. At least one characteristic related to the surface of the fabric is determined using the first image. The fabric is worn. A second representation of a portion of the surface of the fabric is formed showing locations and sizes of knuckles and pockets in the surface of the fabric. A second image of the knuckles of the fabric is generated based on the second representation. At least one characteristic related to the surface of the fabric is determined using the second image. The determining steps are performed using an image analysis program stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium.

Abstract: A system for forming a print of a surface of a fabric. The system includes a first plate, a second plate, a pressure measurement film, and a fabric that can be used in a papermaking process. The fabric includes a plurality of knuckles on at least one of its surfaces. A print of the knuckles of the fabric is formed on the pressure measurement film by pressing the fabric against the pressure measurement film between the first plate and the second plate.

Abstract: A process of obtaining a fabric. The process includes obtaining an image of a paper product having a three-dimensional structure. A pattern is determined that corresponds to the three-dimensional structure of the paper product. The pattern is determined by using an image analysis program that is stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium to analyze the image of the paper product. A fabric is obtained with a surface that approximates the pattern.

Abstract: A process of determining the depth of a pocket in a woven fabric. A representation is formed of a portion of a surface of the woven fabric to provide a fabric representation showing at least one of (i) at least one of locations and sizes of knuckles that are a part of the surface of the fabric and (ii) at least one of locations and sizes of pockets that are formed in areas between the knuckles. Particular knuckles are identified that surround a particular pocket. A path is determined in the fabric representation that passes from a first of the knuckles across the particular pocket to a second of the knuckles. The fabric is scanned using a measurement device along a line that corresponds to the determined path. A depth of the particular pocket is determined, to which cellulosic fibers can penetrate in a papermaking process, based on the scan.

Abstract: A process of determining the depth of pockets in a woven fabric that includes warp yarns and weft yarns. The process includes forming a representation of a portion of a surface of the woven fabric to provide a fabric representation, with the fabric representation showing locations and sizes of knuckles and pockets at the surface of the fabric. Knuckles surrounding a pocket in the woven fabric are identified, and a path is determined that passes from a first of the knuckles across the pocket to a second of the knuckles. The woven fabric is scanned using a measurement device along a line that corresponds to the determined path to provide a scan of the woven fabric, and a depth of a pocket is determined based on the scan of the woven fabric.