Abstract: An apparatus and process for imprinting a web. A yankee drum and pressure roll are juxtaposed to form a nip. An imprinting member, such as through air drying belt or other patterning belt is interposed in the nip. A felt is also interposed in the nip, contacting the backside of the imprinting member. The imprinting member carries a paper web. The paper web is imprinted in the nip and simultaneously transferred to the yankee drying drum. The nip may be formed with a vacuum roll juxtaposed with the felt. The vacuum roll may remove from the felt and hence the web.

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: The present invention provides a wet pressed paper web. The web has a first relatively high density region having a first thickness K, a second relatively low density region having a second thickness P, which is a local maxima, and a third region extending intermediate the first and second regions. The third region includes a transition region having a third thickness T, which is a local minima. The present invention also provides a method of making a wet pressed web. An embryonic web of papermaking fibers is formed on a foraminous forming member, and transferred to an imprinting member to deflect a portion of the papermaking fibers in the embryonic web into deflection conduits in the imprinting member. The web and the imprinting member are then pressed between first and second dewatering felts in a compression nip to further deflect the papermaking fibers into the deflection conduits in the imprinting member and to remove water from both sides of the web.

Abstract: A secondary belt for papermaking. The belt has a framework of protuberances arranged in a semicontinuous pattern to provide a semicontinuous pattern of deflection conduits. The semicontinuous pattern is distinguished from the discrete and continuous patterns of the prior art. The protuberances may be generally parallel, or may provide individual cells within the deflection conduits between the protuberances. Also disclosed is the paper made on such a secondary belt.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for applying a curable resin, such as a photosensitive resin, to a substrate such as a papermaker's dewatering felt. The method comprises the steps of providing a substrate; providing a curable liquid resin; providing a second material different from the curable liquid resin; applying the second material to the substrate to occupy at least some of the voids in the substrate intermediate the first and second surfaces of the substrate; applying the curable resin to the substrate; curing at least some of the resin to provide a resin layer on the substrate; and removing at least some of the second material from the substrate, wherein at least some of the second material is removed from the substrate after applying the curable resin to the substrate.

Abstract: A limiting orifice through-air-drying apparatus for papermaking or other absorbent embryonic webs. The apparatus has a first zone and a second zone. The first zone is maintained at a differential pressure less than the breakthrough pressure, while the second zone is maintained at a differential pressure greater than the breakthrough pressure. The residence time of the embryonic web to be dried with the apparatus is maintained at preferably less than 35 milliseconds on the first zone. Using the dual zone system described above, the overall energy required to run the apparatus can be reduced.

Abstract: Tissue paper having an enhanced bulk softness through incorporation of an effective amount of a polyhydroxy compound is disclosed. Preferably, from about 0.1% to about 2.0% of the polyhydroxy compound, on a dry fiber weight basis. These nonionic compounds have high rates of retention when applied to wet tissue paper webs according to the process described herein. Tissue embodiments of the present invention may further comprise a quantity of strength additive, such as starch, to increase paper strength.

Abstract: A backside textured papermaking belt is disclosed which is comprised of a framework and a reinforcing structure. The framework has a first surface which defines the paper-contacting side of the belt, a second surface opposite the first surface, and conduits which extend between first and second surfaces of the belt. The first surface of the framework has a paper side network formed therein which defines the conduits. The second surface of the framework has a backside network with passageways that provide surface texture irregularities in the backside network. The papermaking belt is made by applying a coating of photosensitive resinous material to a reinforcing structure which has opaque portions, and then exposing the photosensitive resinous material to light of an activating wavelength through a mask which has transparent and opaque regions and also through the reinforcing structure.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for making the fibrous structure, having three four, and more regions. The process is similar to known papermaking techniques, but comprises the additional steps of applying a differential pressure to selected regions of the fibrous structure which are not coincident with the regions of the fibrous structure defined by the apparatus in prior steps of the papermaking process. The selective application of noncoincident differential pressure to selected regions of the fibrous structure may result in densification or dedensification of such regions.

Abstract: A limiting orifice through-air-drying apparatus for papermaking or other absorbent embryonic webs. The apparatus has a first zone and a second zone. The first zone is maintained at a differential pressure less than the breakthrough pressure, while the second zone is maintained at a differential pressure greater than the breakthrough pressure. The residence time of the embryonic web to be dried with the apparatus is maintained at preferably less than 35 milliseconds on the first zone. Using the dual zone system described above, the overall energy required to run the apparatus can be reduced.

Abstract: A limiting orifice through-air-drying apparatus for papermaking or other absorbent embryonic webs. The apparatus has a first zone and a second zone. The first zone is maintained at a differential pressure less than the breakthrough pressure, while the second zone is maintained at a differential pressure greater than the breakthrough pressure. The residence time of the embryonic web to be dried with the apparatus is maintained at preferably less than 35 milliseconds on the first zone. Using the dual zone system described above, the overall energy required to run the apparatus can be reduced.

Abstract: limiting orifice through-air-drying apparatus for papermaking or other absorbent embryonic webs. The apparatus has a first zone and a second zone. The first zone is maintained at a differential pressure less than the breakthrough pressure, while the second zone is maintained at a differential pressure greater than the breakthrough pressure. The residence time of the embryonic web to be dried with the apparatus is maintained at preferably less than 35 milliseconds on the first zone. Using the dual zone system described above, the overall energy required to run the apparatus can be reduced.

Abstract: Tissue paper having an enhanced bulk and tactile softness through incorporation of an effective amount of a polyhydroxy compound and an oil is disclosed. Preferably, from about 0.05% to about 2.0% of the polyhydroxy compound, on a dry fiber weight basis, and from about 0.05% to about 2.0% of an oil, on a dry fiber weight basis, are incorporated in the tissue paper. These nonionic compounds have high rates of retention when applied to wet tissue paper webs according to the process described herein. Tissue embodiments of the present invention may further comprise a quantity of strength additive, such as starch, to increase paper strength.

Abstract: Tissue paper products comprising a two component chemical softener composition and binder materials, either permanent or temporary wet strength binders, and/or dry strength binders are disclosed. The two component chemical softening composition comprises a quaternary ammonium compound and a polysiloxane compound. Preferred quaternary ammonium compounds include dialkyl dimethyl ammonium salts such as di(hydrogenated)tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride and/or di(hydrogenated)tallow dimethyl ammonium methyl sulfate. Preferred polysiloxanes include amino-functional polydimethyl polysiloxanes wherein less than about 10 mole percent of the side chains on the polymer contain an amino-functional group.

Abstract: A belt for through-air drying a cellulosic fibrous structure. The belt comprises two layers, a web contacting first layer and a machine facing second layer. The yarns of the first layer are substantially transparent to actinic radiation, and the yarns of the second layer are substantially opaque to actinic radiation. The two layers are joined together by either adjunct tie yarns or integral tie yarns. The tie yarns are substantially transparent to actinic radiation. The resulting belt has a backside texture caused by opaque yarns which shield actinic radiation. The opaque yarns are limited to the second layer, and do not tie the second layer to the first layer.

Abstract: A paper structure having at least three regions is disclosed. The paper structure has a first region, a patterned second region, and a third transition region connecting the first and second regions. The first and second regions are disposed at different elevations, and can each have a thickness less than a thickness of the transition region. An apparatus and process for making such a paper structure are also disclosed.

Abstract: A backside textured papermaking belt is disclosed which is comprised of a framework and a reinforcing structure. The framework has a first surface which defines the paper-contacting side of the belt, a second surface opposite the first surface, and conduits which extend between first and second surfaces of the belt. The first surface of the framework has a paper side network formed therein which defines the conduits. The second surface of the framework has a backside network with passageways that provide surface texture irregularities in the backside network. The papermaking belt is made by applying a coating of photosensitive resinous material to a reinforcing structure which has opaque portions, and then exposing the photosensitive resinous material to light of an activating wavelength through a mask which has transparent and opaque regions and also through the reinforcing structure.

Abstract: A process for making an absorbent structure having a capillary substrate and regions of osmotic absorbent on the capillary substrate. The osmotic absorbent is cured from a liquid precursor applied to the capillary substrate. The capillary substrate has regions of topographically different elevations, taken normal to the plane of the capillary substrate. The capillary substrate is passed through a gap between a transfer roll and an anvil roll in a printing apparatus. The transfer roll has at liquid precursor on its periphery. The liquid precursor is applied to only the topographically elevated regions of the capillary substrate which contact the periphery of the transfer roll. By changing the topography of the capillary substrate, the liquid precursor can be applied to the capillary substrate in different pattern, without changing the transfer roll.

Abstract: A process for making an absorbent structure having a capillary substrate and regions of osmotic absorbent on the capillary substrate. The osmotic absorbent is cured from a liquid precursor applied to the capillary substrate. The capillary substrate has regions of topographically different elevations, taken normal to the plane of the capillary substrate. The capillary substrate is passed through a gap between a transfer roll and an anvil roll in a printing apparatus. The transfer roll has a liquid precursor on its periphery. The liquid precursor is applied to only the topographically elevated regions of the capillary substrate which contact the periphery of the transfer roll. By changing the topography of the capillary substrate, the liquid precursor can be applied to the capillary substrate in different pattern, without changing the transfer roll.

Abstract: Substantially waterless self-emulsifiable biodegradable chemical softening compositions are provided comprising a mixture of an ester-functional quaternary ammonium compound and a polyhydroxy compound. Preferred biodegradable ester-functional quaternary ammonium compounds include diesterdialkyl dimethyl ammonium salts such as diester ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride, diester di(touch hydrogenated)tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride and diester di(hydrogenated)tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride. Preferred polyhydroxy compounds are selected from the group consisting of glycerol, polyglycerols having a weight average molecular weight from about 150 to about 800 and polyoxyethylene glycols and polyoxypropylene glycols having a weight average molecular weight from about 200 to about 4000.