Abstract: A method of preparing coils of wound ribbon to reduce twisting thereof during continuous axial ribbon feed to a processing machine. Each coil has a sequence of turns wound about a central axis and includes a central end at an inner-most turn of the sequence of turns and an outer end at an outer-most turn of the sequence of turns. The method includes orienting a first coil and a second coil so that the first and second coils are wound in identical directions and splicing the central end of the first coil to the central end of the second coil such that at least some twists developed during axial ribbon feed of the first coil are removed during axial ribbon feed of the second coil.

Abstract: A method of controlling twisting in ribbon material fed from a coil of ribbon material into a processing machine. The coil has a central axis perpendicular to a plane of the coil. The method includes pulling ribbon material from the coil in a direction having a twist-promoting axial component relative to the plane of the coil and continuously rotating the coil during the pulling step at a rotational speed greater than zero so that a number of twists in the unwound ribbon is maintained below a predetermined number.

Abstract: A twist controlling device for ribbon material wound in a coil about a central axis. The device controls twists in the ribbon material as it is fed from the coil to a processing machine. The device includes a gate adapted to be positioned along a ribbon feed path from the coil to the processing machine and having an opening therethrough for receiving the ribbon material. The gate is adapted to engage the ribbon and is rotatable about a gate axis generally coincident with a center of the opening for controlling twisting of the ribbon.

Abstract: A method of preparing connected coils of wound ribbon in an alternating pattern to reduce twisting thereof during continuous axial ribbon feed to a processing machine. Each coil has a sequence of turns wound about a central axis and includes central end at an inner-most turn of the sequence of turns and an outer end at an outer-most turn of the sequence of turns. The outer end of a first coil of the coils is connected to the central end of a second coil of the coils. The method includes orienting the first coil in a clockwise winding direction and orienting the second coil in a counterclockwise winding direction such that at least some twists developed during axial ribbon feed of the first coil are removed during axial ribbon feed of the second coil.

Abstract: A process is provided for splicing multiple blocks of multi-lane festooned material. The tail ends of stacks from a first block are spliced to lead ends of stacks from a second block, and the tail ends of the stacks in the second block are spliced with the lead ends of stacks in the first block or another block.

Abstract: A twist controlling device for ribbon material wound in a coil about a central axis. The device controls twists in the ribbon material as it is fed from the coil to a processing machine. The device includes a gate adapted to be positioned along a ribbon feed path from the coil to the processing machine and having an opening therethrough for receiving the ribbon material. The gate is adapted to engage the ribbon and is rotatable about a gate axis generally coincident with a center of the opening for controlling twisting of the ribbon.

Abstract: A method of preparing connected coils of wound ribbon in an alternating pattern to reduce twisting thereof during continuous axial ribbon feed to a processing machine. Each coil has a sequence of turns wound about a central axis and includes central end at an inner-most turn of the sequence of turns and an outer end at an outer-most turn of the sequence of turns. The outer end of a first coil of the coils is connected to the central end of a second coil of the coils. The method includes orienting the first coil in a clockwise winding direction and orienting the second coil in a counterclockwise winding direction such that at least some twists developed during axial ribbon feed of the first coil are removed during axial ribbon feed of the second coil.

Abstract: A method of preparing coils of wound ribbon to reduce twisting thereof during continuous axial ribbon feed to a processing machine. Each coil has a sequence of turns wound about a central axis and includes a central end at an inner-most turn of the sequence of turns and an outer end at an outer-most turn of the sequence of turns. The method includes orienting a first coil and a second coil so that the first and second coils are wound in identical directions and splicing the central end of the first coil to the central end of the second coil such that at least some twists developed during axial ribbon feed of the first coil are removed during axial ribbon feed of the second coil.

Abstract: A method of controlling twisting in ribbon material fed from a coil of ribbon material into a processing machine. The coil has a central axis perpendicular to a plane of the coil. The method includes pulling ribbon material from the coil in a direction having a twist-promoting axial component relative to the plane of the coil and continuously rotating the coil during the pulling step at a rotational speed greater than zero so that a number of twists in the unwound ribbon is maintained below a predetermined number.

Abstract: A textured airlaid web is disclosed. The textured web is formed on a three-dimensional fabric under sufficient force to cause the web to conform to the surface of the fabric. The textured web includes, on a minute scale, peak areas and valley areas. The peak areas and valley areas can improved the liquid handling properties of the web. For instance, webs can be produced having improved absorbency characteristics and/or wicking characteristics.

Abstract: A textured airlaid web is disclosed. The textured web is formed on a three-dimensional fabric under sufficient force to cause the web to conform to the surface of the fabric. The textured web includes, on a minute scale, peak areas and valley areas. The peak areas and valley areas can improved the liquid handling properties of the web. For instance, webs can be produced having improved absorbency characteristics and/or wicking characteristics.

Abstract: A tissue product and method are disclosed in which individual discrete tissue sheets which overlap each other are wound into a roll. The overlapping provides a means for pop-up, one-at-a-time tissue dispensing. Preferably, the sheets are dispensed axially from a coreless roll. The overlapping sheets within the roll can be interleaved as well as overlapped to increase the frictional engagement between successive sheets. This product form is useful for a variety of tissue products, such as facial tissue, bath tissue, kitchen towels and napkins.

Abstract: A microcreping process is improved by using a razor sharp retarder blade positioned such that its razor edge is overlapped by either the primary blade or a back-up blade, whichever extends the furthest downstream. Preferably, pressure is applied to the primary blade through one or more back-up blades arranged in a stepwise configuration.