Abstract: A cleaning article. The cleaning article has discrete tufts of tow fibers. The discrete tufts are unequally spaced from adjacent tufts, to provide improved collection and retention of debris from a target surface. The tufts may have a pitch, the pitch decreasing as the longitudinal axis of the cleaning article is approached. The cleaning article may be made by cutting out spaces between tufts from a precursor sheet and attaching the precursor sheet to a carrier sheet. Or the cleaning article may be made by cutting a precursor sheet having tufts into discrete portions. These discrete portions are bonded to a carrier sheet.

Abstract: A cleaning article. The cleaning article has discrete tufts of tow fibers. The discrete tufts are unequally spaced from adjacent tufts, to provide improved collection and retention of debris from a target surface. The tufts may have a pitch, the pitch decreasing as the longitudinal axis of the cleaning article is approached. The cleaning article may be made by cutting out spaces between tufts from a precursor sheet and attaching the precursor sheet to a carrier sheet. Or the cleaning article may be made by cutting a precursor sheet having tufts into discrete portions. These discrete portions are bonded to a carrier sheet.

Abstract: A cleaning article for cleaning a target surface. The cleaning article has strips which present a dynamically changing surface area to the target surface during use. The surface area has also has a bundle of tow fibers which may be oriented transverse to the strips. The tow fibers may extend outwardly from the plane of the strips, allowing particles to migrate towards and be retained near the center of the cleaning article, without interfering with the strips.

Abstract: A cleaning pad for absorbing liquids from a hard, target surface. The cleaning pad has a hydrophobic floor sheet, and a core joined to the floor sheet. The core has absorbent gelling material therein with a gradient distribution, so that the pad has a particular minimum absorbency as used with water or with common amine oxide cleaning solution. A hydrophilic smoothing strip is joined to the outwardly facing surface of said floor sheet. The cleaning pad provides both good absorbency and a coefficient of friction falling within a specified range judged advantageous for cleaning. The absorbency and coefficient of friction work well with both water and an amine oxide cleaning solution.

Abstract: A cleaning article. The cleaning article has discrete tufts of tow fibers. The discrete tufts are unequally spaced from adjacent tufts, to provide improved collection and retention of debris from a target surface. The tufts may have a pitch, the pitch decreasing as the longitudinal axis of the cleaning article is approached. The cleaning article may be made by cutting out spaces between tufts from a precursor sheet and attaching the precursor sheet to a carrier sheet. Or the cleaning article may be made by cutting a precursor sheet having tufts into discrete portions. These discrete portions are bonded to a carrier sheet.

Abstract: A cleaning article for cleaning a target surface. The cleaning article has strips which present a dynamically changing surface area to the target surface during use. The surface area has also has a bundle of tow fibers which may be oriented transverse to the strips. The tow fibers may extend outwardly from the plane of the strips, allowing particles to migrate towards and be retained near the center of the cleaning article, without interfering with the strips.

Abstract: A drone which can be piloted by a user. The drone has at least one or both of a depending head and an outwardly extending elongate handle. A cleaning sheet may be removably disposed on the head, to clean a target surface, such as a floor or countertop. A duster may be removably disposed on the handle, to clean a target surface, such as an elevated surface or clean personal items.

Abstract: A drone which can be piloted by a user. The drone has at least one or both of a depending head and an outwardly extending elongate handle. A cleaning sheet may be removably disposed on the head, to clean a target surface, such as a floor or countertop. A duster may be removably disposed on the handle, to clean a target surface, such as an elevated surface or clean personal items.

Abstract: A cleaning pad for absorbing liquids from a hard, target surface. The cleaning pad has a hydrophobic floor sheet, and a core joined to the floor sheet. The core has absorbent gelling material therein with a gradient distribution, so that the pad has a particular minimum absorbency as used with water or with common amine oxide cleaning solution. A hydrophilic smoothing strip is joined to the outwardly facing surface of said floor sheet. The cleaning pad provides both good absorbency and a coefficient of friction falling within a specified range judged advantageous for cleaning. The absorbency and coefficient of friction work well with both water and an amine oxide cleaning solution.

Abstract: A plural sided cleaning article optionally removably attachable to a handle. The cleaning article may have a layered construction. The construction may comprise a sheet, to accommodate optional and removable attachment to a handle, intermediate tow fibers, and a non-planar structure extending outwardly from the side of the tow fibers opposite the sheet. This arrangement avoids the disadvantage of strips according to the prior art while increasing the surface area of the tow fibers.

Abstract: A plural sided cleaning article optionally removably attachable to a handle. The cleaning article may have a layered construction. The construction may comprise a sheet, to accommodate optional and removable attachment to a handle, intermediate tow fibers, and a non-planar structure extending outwardly from the side of the tow fibers opposite the sheet. This arrangement avoids the disadvantage of strips according to the prior art while increasing the surface area of the tow fibers.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for making a papermaking belt are provided, the belt comprising a reinforcing structure and a resinous framework joined together. The preferred continuous process comprises the steps of depositing a flowable resinous material onto a patterned molding surface; continuously moving the molding surface and the reinforcing structure at a transport velocity such that at least a portion of the reinforcing structure is in a face-to-face relationship with a portion of the molding surface; applying a fluid pressure differential to transfer the flowable resinous material from the molding surface onto the reinforcing structure and causing the flowable resinous material and the reinforcing structure to join together; and solidifying the resinous material thereby forming the resinous framework joined to the reinforcing structure.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for making a papermaking belt are provided, the belt comprising a reinforcing structure and a resinous framework joined together. The preferred continuous process comprises the steps of depositing a flowable resinous material onto a patterned molding surface; continuously moving the molding surface and the reinforcing structure at a transport velocity such that at least a portion of the reinforcing structure is in a face-to-face relationship with a portion of the molding surface; applying a fluid pressure differential to transfer the flowable resinous material from the molding surface onto the reinforcing structure and causing the flowable resinous material and the reinforcing structure to join together; and solidifying the resinous material thereby forming the resinous framework joined to the reinforcing structure.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for making a papermaking belt are provided, the belt comprising a reinforcing structure and a resinous framework joined together. The preferred continuous process comprises the steps of depositing a flowable resinous material onto a patterned molding surface; continuously moving the molding surface and the reinforcing structure at a transport velocity such that at least a portion of the reinforcing structure is in a face-to-face relationship with a portion of the molding surface; applying a fluid pressure differential to transfer the flowable resinous material from the molding surface onto the reinforcing structure and causing the flowable resinous material and the reinforcing structure to join together; and solidifying the resinous material thereby forming the resinous framework joined to the reinforcing structure.

Abstract: A woven papermaking belt having a paper contacting top surface plane and an opposed backside. The belt comprises a fabric having yarns disposed, in part, in the top surface plane to form knuckles. The belt further comprises reinforcing piles extending from a proximal end to a distal end. The distal ends of the reinforcing piles are disposed between the top surface plane of the papermaking belt and the backside of the papermaking belt. The reinforcing piles resist applied loads and may prevent deflection of the knuckles during the papermaking process. The applied loads may either be normal to the belt, as occurs during imprinting, within the plane of the belt, which causes sleaziness of the belt, or both. The belt according to the present invention may have piles with proximal ends disposed at two or more different elevations, as well as distal ends, which are disposed at two or more elevations.

Abstract: A papermaking through-air drying belt and a method of making the same, as well as a paper web produced on the belt and the process of making the web are disclosed. The belt comprises a resinous framework having a web-side surface defining an X-Y plane, a backside surface opposite the web-side surface, a Z-direction perpendicular to the X-Y plane, and a plurality of discrete deflection conduits extending between the web-side surface and the backside surface. Each of the discrete conduits has an axis and walls. The axes of at least some of the discrete conduits and the Z-direction form acute angles therebetween. Preferably, the belt also comprises an air-permeable reinforcing structure joined to the resinous framework.

Abstract: A papermaking forming belt and a method of making the same, as well a cellulosic web and the process of making the web are disclosed. The belt comprises an air-permeable reinforcing structure and a resinous framework. The reinforcing structure has a web-facing side defining an X-Y plane, a machine-facing side opposite the web-facing side, and a Z-direction perpendicular to the X-Y plane. The resinous framework is comprised of a plurality of discrete protuberances extending from the reinforcing structure, each of the protuberances having an axis, a top surface, a base surface opposite the top surface, and walls. The axes of at least some of the protuberances and the Z-direction form an acute angles therebetween.

Abstract: A cellulosic fibrous structure having two regions distinguished from one another by basis weight. The first region is an essentially continuous high basis weight network. The second region comprises a plurality of discrete low basis weight regions. The cellulosic fibers forming the plurality of second regions are generally radially oriented within each region. The cellulosic fibrous structure may be formed by a forming belt having zones of different flow resistances arranged in a particular ratio of flow resistances. The zones of different flow resistances provide for selectively draining a liquid carrier through the different zones of the belt in a radial flow pattern.

Abstract: A cellulosic fibrous structure having two regions distinguished from one another by basis weight. The first region is an essentially continuous high basis weight network. The second region comprises a plurality of discrete low basis weight regions. The cellulosic fibers forming the plurality of second regions are generally radially oriented within each region. The cellulosic fibrous structure may be formed by a forming belt having zones of different flow resistances arranged in a particular ratio of flow resistances. The zones of different flow resistances provide for selectively draining a liquid carrier through the different zones of the belt in a radial flow pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cellulosic fibrous structure having multiple regions distinguished from one another by basis weight. The structure is a paper having an essentially continuous high basis weight network, and discrete regions of low basis weight which circumscribe discrete regions of intermediate basis weight. The cellulosic fibers forming the low basis weight regions may be radially oriented relative to the centers of the regions. The paper may be formed by using a forming belt having zones with different flow resistances. The basis weight of a region of the paper is generally inversely proportional to the flow resistance of the zone of the forming belt, upon which such region was formed. The zones of different flow resistances provide for selectively draining a liquid carrier having suspended cellulosic fibers through the different zones of the forming belt.