Abstract: A process for increasing the tactile properties of a base web without adversely effecting the strength of the web is disclosed. In one embodiment, the process includes the steps of placing a base web between a first moving conveyor and a second moving conveyor. The conveyors are then wrapped around a shear-inducing roll which creates shear forces that act upon the base web. The shear forces disrupt the web, increasing the softness and decreasing the stiffness of the web. The shear-inducing roll typically has a relatively small diameter. In some applications, more than one shear-inducing roll may be incorporated into the system. Base webs made according to the present invention have been found to have improved void-volume and fuzz-on-edge properties.

Abstract: A process for increasing the tactile properties of a base web without adversely effecting the strength of the web is disclosed. In one embodiment, the process includes the steps of placing a base web between a first moving conveyor and a second moving conveyor. The conveyors are then wrapped around a shear-inducing roll which creates shear forces that act upon the base web. The shear forces disrupt the web, increasing the softness and decreasing the stiffness of the web. The shear-inducing roll typically has a relatively small diameter. In some applications, more than one shear-inducing roll may be incorporated into the system. Base webs made according to the present invention have been found to have improved void-volume and fuzz-on-edge properties.

Abstract: A method for increasing caliper control of a fibrous web as the web is wound onto a roll is provided. The method includes winding the fibrous web containing cellulosic fiber onto the roll to form a wound product and conveying the web through a nip prior to winding the web onto the roll. The nip is configured to apply a pressure to the web to selectively decrease the caliper of the web as the web is wound onto the roll. Also disclosed is a system for controlling the caliper of the fibrous web in which a calender device forms a nip through which the fibrous web is conveyed. The system includes an adjustment device, which is configured to adjust the nip of the calender device to increase pressure on the fibrous web as the diameter of the roll increases thus increasing uniformity of the caliper of the fibrous web.

Abstract: A process for producing paper webs having a pattern formed into the web is disclosed. The pattern is formed during formation of the web and is made by varying the basis weight of the web. The paper web is produced by depositing an aqueous suspension of fibers between two forming surfaces. One or both of the forming surfaces include lower permeability areas that create lower basis weight areas in the web. The lower permeability areas are contained in the forming surface according to a particular pattern. For instance, the lower permeability areas can be formed into a drainage roll sleeve contained on a drainage roll which contacts a forming surface. The drainage roll can be a forming roll or a breast roll.

Abstract: A process for increasing the tactile properties of a base web without adversely effecting the strength of the web is disclosed. In one embodiment, the process includes the steps of placing a creped base web between a first moving conveyor and a second moving conveyor. The conveyors are then wrapped around a shear-inducing roll which creates shear forces and compressive forces that act upon the base web. The shear forces disrupt the web, increasing the softness and decreasing the stiffness of the web. The compressive forces are localized at the areas where the fabric knuckles contact the base web, imparting a unique fabric-imprinted pattern to the web with limited caliper reduction. The shear-inducing roll typically has a relatively small diameter. In some applications, more than one shear-inducing roll may be incorporated into the system.

Abstract: A process for increasing the tactile properties of a base web without adversely effecting the strength of the web is disclosed. In one embodiment, the process includes the steps of placing a base web between a first moving conveyor and a second moving conveyor. The conveyors are then wrapped around a shear-inducing roll which creates shear forces that act upon the base web. The shear forces disrupt the web, increasing the softness and decreasing the stiffness of the web. The shear-inducing roll typically has a relatively small diameter. In some applications, more than one shear-inducing roll may be incorporated into the system. Base webs made according to the present invention have been found to have improved void-volume and fuzz-on-edge properties.

Abstract: A process for increasing the tactile properties of a base web without adversely effecting the strength of the web is disclosed. In one embodiment, the process includes the steps of placing a creped base web between a first moving conveyor and a second moving conveyor. The conveyors are then wrapped around a shear-inducing roll which creates shear forces and compressive forces that act upon the base web. The shear forces disrupt the web, increasing the softness and decreasing the stiffness of the web. The compressive forces are localized at the areas where the fabric knuckles contact the base web, imparting a unique fabric-imprinted pattern to the web with limited caliper reduction. The shear-inducing roll typically has a relatively small diameter. In some applications, more than one shear-inducing roll may be incorporated into the system.

Abstract: A system and process for measuring paper formation characteristics in real time is disclosed. The system comprises apparatus used in a papermaking process, and includes a rotating forming fabric having an upper and lower surface. A paper slurry is deposited upon the upper surface of the moving forming fabric to prepare a wet paper web. The wet paper web typically moves at a high rate of speed as it rides along upon the surface of the forming fabric Light is transmitted from a light source to the surface of the wet paper web, and then reflected from the surface of the wet paper web to a camera. An image is formed corresponding to the pattern of the reflected light, and in some instances data generated from the reflected light may be compared to other values to provide a feedback loop to adjust the parameters of the papermaking process in real time.

Abstract: A process for increasing the tactile properties of a base web without adversely effecting the strength of the web is disclosed. In one embodiment, the process includes the steps of placing a base web between a first moving conveyor and a second moving conveyor. The conveyors are then wrapped around a shear-inducing roll which creates shear forces that act upon the base web. The shear forces disrupt the web, increasing the softness and decreasing the stiffness of the web. The shear-inducing roll typically has a relatively small diameter. In some applications, more than one shear-inducing roll may be incorporated into the system. Base webs made according to the present invention have been found to have improved void-volume and fuzz-on-edge properties.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring a nonwoven web in a wet papermaking process to a fabric is disclosed. The system includes a vacuum shoe that operates in conjunction with a transfer shoe. The vacuum shoe is contacted against a carrier fabric which is designed to receive the nonwoven web. The transfer shoe, on the other hand, is configured to contact a transfer fabric from which the web is transferred. The transfer shoe includes an air nozzle which contacts the nonwoven web with a pressurized gas as the web is drawn towards the vacuum shoe. The system of the present invention is particularly well suited to processing lower basis weight webs and can be used in rush transfer processes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus permitting the player of a set of drums such as bongo or conga drums to alter the character of the sound produced, selectively and with complete freedom as to exactly when such effect will occur, through the use of a foot pedal which controls a set of damping elements mounted upon an adjacently located but separate damper arm and stand assembly.

Abstract: The formation of wet-pressed tissue webs useful for facial tissue, bath tissue, paper towels or the like is substantially improved by forming the wet tissue web in layers in which the second-formed layer has a consistency which is significantly less than the consistency of the first-formed layer. The fiber support index of the forming fabric is about 170 or greater. The resulting improvement in web formation enables uniform debonding during creping, which in turn provides a significant improvement in softness and a reduction in linting. Wet-pressed tissues made with this process are uniformly internally debonded, as measured by a high Void Volume Index, which is comparable to that of throughdried tissues.

Abstract: The formation of paper webs produced by papermaking headboxes having damaged or imperfectly-formed headbox lips can be improved by providing the headbox with an extended flexible divider sheet which extends beyond the slice opening and is positioned adjacent the defective headbox lip. The extended divider sheet so positioned substantially eliminates the adverse effects of the defective lip on the stock jet characteristics.

Abstract: A process for making two-ply nested paper towels utilizing matched steel engraved rolls, each steel roll having male and female elements spaced apart by a neutral zone, wherein nesting and ply attachment are achieved by partially conforming each of two plied to the steel rolls, applying adhesive to the raised portions of at least one of the partially conformed plies, and partially engaging the two steel rolls such that the raised portions of one ply contact the depressions of the other ply.