With Additional Deformation Patents (Class 162/113)
  • Patent number: 7531062
    Abstract: A method of embossing an absorbent web with a machine direction undulatory structure is described. The web has a plurality of ridges extending in its machine direction occurring at a frequency, F, across the web and the method includes providing the web to an embossing station where the web is embossed between a first and second embossing roll, each of which rolls may be provided with a plurality of embossing elements configured to define a plurality of embossing nips. At least a portion of the embossing nips are substantially oriented in a cross-machine direction with respect to the web and have a cross direction length, L. The product F×L is from about 0.1 to about 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Thomas N. Kershaw, Dale Gracyalny, Paul Ruthven, Galyn Schulz
  • Patent number: 7503998
    Abstract: A method of making a fabric-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet is provided which includes dewatering a papermaking furnish and partially drying the web without wet-pressing before applying it to a translating transfer surface moving at a first speed. The process further includes fabric-creping the web from the transfer surface at a consistency of from about 30 to about 60 percent utilizing a creping fabric, the creping step occurring under pressure in a creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping fabric wherein the fabric is traveling at a second speed slower than the speed of said transfer surface, the fabric pattern, nip parameters, velocity delta and web consistency being selected such that the web is creped from the surface and redistributed on the creping fabric. After creping, the web is dried, preferably with a plurality of can dryers to a consistency of at least about 90 percent while it is held in the creping fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Frank C. Murray, Greg A. Wendt
  • Patent number: 7435312
    Abstract: An improved paper and the process of making an improved paper web are disclosed. The improved paper is characterized as having two regions; one is a network (or open grid) region and the other is a plurality of domes. At least a portion of either region of the paper web contains a bonding material that penetrates at least partially through the paper's thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Dean Lindsay, Michael Alan Hermans, Mike Thomas Goulet, Mark John Hassman, Maurizio Tirimacco, Jeffrey Janne Johnson, Rebecca Catherine Mohr
  • Patent number: 7419569
    Abstract: A method of making soft, strong, high bulk tissue is disclosed. The method includes pre-conditioning a wet web by straining the wet web in the cross-machine direction prior to transferring the wet web to a throughdrying fabric. The pre-conditioned web provides improved sheet softness and conforms more readily to the surface contour of the throughdrying fabric, thereby creating greater caliper (bulk) in the resulting dried sheet. The bulk is maintained during a subsequent creping step by maintaining the dried sheet in registration with the throughdrying fabric when the dried sheet is applied to the surface of the creping cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Alan Hermans, Cristina Asensio Mullally, Stephanie Lee Berube, Frank Stephen Hada, Lacey Leigh Hansen, Jeffrey David Mathews
  • Patent number: 7416637
    Abstract: A low-compaction method of making an absorbent cellulosic web includes: forming a nascent web from a papermaking furnish; dewatering the nascent web to a consistency of from about 10 to about 30 percent on a foraminous forming support traveling at a first speed; rush-transferring the web at a consistency of from 10 to about 30 percent to an open texture fabric traveling at a second speed slower than the first speed of the forming support; further dewatering the web on the impression fabric to a consistency of from about 30 to about 60 percent by way of (i) combining the open texture fabric bearing said web with a fluid distribution membrane and an anti-rewet felt as the three pass through a nip into a pressure chamber defined in part by a plurality of nip rolls, the fluid distribution membrane bearing against the side of the open texture fabric away from the web, with the anti-rewet felt bearing against the web, and (ii) applying a pneumatic pressure gradient from the distributor membrane through the web ther
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Frank C. Murray, Greg A. Wendt
  • Patent number: 7294231
    Abstract: A method of embossing an absorbent web with a machine direction undulatory structure is described. The web has a plurality of ridges extending in its machine direction occurring at a frequency, F, across the web and the method includes providing the web to an embossing station where the web is embossed between a first and second embossing roll, each of which rolls may be provided with a plurality of embossing elements configured to define a plurality of embossing nips. At least a portion of the embossing nips are substantially oriented in a cross-machine direction with respect to the web and have a cross direction length, L. The product F×L is from about 0.1 to about 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas N. Kershaw, Dale Gracyalny, Paul Ruthven, Galyu Schulz
  • Patent number: 7291379
    Abstract: For the production of a sheet product including at least two layers (V1, V2) it is suggested, among other things, an embossing device including a first pressure roller (5; 105) interacting with a first and a second embossing cylinder (1, 3; 101, 103) provided with respective points (1P, 3P; 101P, 103P) on their cylindrical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Fabio Perinin S.p.A.
    Inventor: Guglielmo Biagiotti
  • Patent number: 7252741
    Abstract: A method of forming a cellulosic web is discussed, the product of which may, for example, possess at least one of increased softness, strength, and absorbency. The method measures the total anionic charge and controls the net charge of an aqueous stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Kang Chang Yeh, Gary L. Worry, Thomas N. Kershaw, Henry S. Ostrowski
  • Patent number: 7195810
    Abstract: An absorbent sheet made from an air-laid fiber web includes a functional emboss pattern of a continuous (wave-like) shape extending in the machine direction of the sheet. The emboss pattern defines a plurality of compressed regions operative to preferentially convey sorbed liquid away from the point of insult to prevent product failure. The sheet is particularly useful as absorbent core material within a multi-layer absorbent pad. In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of making absorbent sheet utilizing an emboss roll provided with radially projecting circumferential sinuate bosses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley G. Schmidt, Jennifer N. Wergin, Barbara V. Buman, Michael P. Bouchette
  • Patent number: 7041196
    Abstract: A fibrous structure and method for making the fibrous structure, wherein the method includes the steps of: providing a plurality of cellulosic fibers onto a forming member having a pattern of channels such that at least some of the cellulosic fibers are disposed in the channels; providing a plurality of synthetic fibers onto the cellulosic fibers such that the synthetic fibers are disposed adjacent to the cellulosic fibers; and forming the unitary fibrous structure from the synthetic fibers and the cellulosic fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Timothy Jude Lorenz, Osman Polat, Paul Dennis Trokhan, Dean Phan
  • Patent number: 7037406
    Abstract: A method of embossing an absorbent web with a machine direction undulatory structure is described. The web has a plurality of ridges extending in its machine direction occurring at a frequency, F, across the web and the method includes providing the web to an embossing station where the web is embossed between a first and second embossing roll, each of which rolls may be provided with a plurality of embossing elements configured to define a plurality of embossing nips. At least a portion of the embossing nips are substantially oriented in a cross-machine direction with respect to the web and have a cross direction length, L. The product F×L is from about 0.1 to about 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas N. Kershaw, Dale Gracyalny, Paul Ruthven, Galyn Schulz
  • Patent number: 7022201
    Abstract: A composite fabric comprising a necked and creped spunbond nonwoven web of monocomponent fibers hydraulically entangled with a fibrous component that comprises cellulosic fibers. The nonwoven web contains thermoplastic fibers and the fibrous component comprises greater than about 50% by weight of the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Lee Anderson, Eugenio Go Varona
  • Patent number: 7008506
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a machine and process for producing a tissue web. The machine includes a forming area including at least one rotating continuous dewatering wire with zonally varied wire permeability, and at least one shoe press. The process includes dewatering the tissue web with at least the at least one continuous dewatering wire with zonally varied wire permeability, and pressing the tissue web in the at least one shoe press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Thoröe Scherb, Harald Schmidt-Hebbel
  • Patent number: 6998017
    Abstract: An improved method for imprinting a paper web during a wet pressing event is disclosed which results in asymmetrical protrusions corresponding to the deflection conduits of a deflection member. In one embodiment, differential velocity transfer during a pressing event serves to improve the molding and imprinting of a web with a deflection member. Improved deflection members are also disclosed. Improved tissue webs produced are also disclosed having useful sets of physical and geometrical properties, such as a pattern densified network and a repeating pattern of protrusions having asymmetrical structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Dean Lindsay, Mark Alan Burazin, Fung-jou Chen, Michael Alan Hermans, Philip Sim Lin, Kenneth Curtis Larson
  • Patent number: 6998016
    Abstract: The present invention is a through-air-drying process for producing a fibrous web that possesses not only softness and absorbency but also strength. The method of the present invention monitors and controls the overall charge in the headbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Kang Chang Yeh, Gary L. Worry, Thomas N. Kershaw, Henry S. Ostrowski
  • Patent number: 6991706
    Abstract: An improved paper and the process of making an improved paper web is disclosed. The improved paper is characterized as having two regions; one is a network (or open grid) region and the other is a plurality of domes. At least a portion of either region of the paper web contains a bonding material that penetrates at least partially through the paper's thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Dean Lindsay, Michael Alan Hermans, Mike Thomas Goulet, Mark John Hassman, Maurizio Tirimacco, Jeffrey Janne Johnson, Rebecca Catherine Mohr
  • Patent number: 6977026
    Abstract: A method for applying a softening composition to a paper web of a tissue product is provided. The softening composition is applied primarily to the elevated regions of the tissue product. The application of the softening composition in this manner allows for the use of hydrophobic softeners, such as amino-functionalized polysiloxanes, in an amount of from about 0.05% to about 5% by weight of the tissue product while maintaining a Wet Out Time of less than about 10 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Kou-Chang Liu, Daniel Vander Heiden, Strong C. Chuang
  • Patent number: 6958103
    Abstract: An entangled fabric that contains a nonwoven web hydraulically entangled with a fibrous component is provided. The nonwoven web is formed from staple fibers and is creped. For example, in one embodiment, the nonwoven web is a creped, point bonded, carded web. Excellent liquid handling properties can be achieved in accordance with the present invention without resulting in the poor liquid handling capabilities often associated with point bonded nonwoven webs. In fact, the entangled fabric of the present invention can have improved bulk, softness, and capillary tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph L. Anderson, Eugenio G. Varona
  • Patent number: 6946058
    Abstract: A process and product of making a tissue product is provided. For example, the method can comprise (a) providing a first papermaking furnish containing refined softwood fibers; (b) providing a second papermaking furnish containing hardwood fibers; (c) incorporating the first and second papermaking furnishes into a tissue web such that the tissue web has a hardwood layer and a softwood layer; (d) contacting the tissue web with a drying surface so that the hardwood layer is disposed adjacent thereto; and (e) removing the tissue web from the drying surface with a creping blade at a creping pocket angle of less than about 82 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Sheng-hsin Hu
  • Patent number: 6939440
    Abstract: Paper products, such as wiping products, are disclosed that have a fabric-imprinted pattern in combination with a crepe pattern. In producing paper products according to the invention, a base web containing pulp fibers is formed. Once the base web is substantially dry, the web is creped to form a first pattern. The creped web is then placed between two moving conveyors and guided around one or more compression inducing elements. As the web is guided around the compression inducing element in between the two conveyors, shear forces and compressive forces are imparted to the web that form a fabric-imprinted pattern superimposed on the crepe pattern. In one embodiment, the fabric-imprinted pattern comprises high density troughs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Drew, Frank G. Druecke, Patricia Riedl, Peter J. Allen
  • Patent number: 6926308
    Abstract: Toilet paper, paper towel and facial tissue products (10) are presented. Information may be placed, through printing or embossing, on the toilet paper, paper towels and facial tissues. The information (62) may comprise advertisements, coupons, prizes (such as stickers and crossword puzzles), games or other promotional materials. In addition, information (62) may be placed on a sheet separate from the toilet paper and/or paper towels and/or facial tissues. The information sheet may be then be placed in conjunction with the toilet paper, paper towel or facial tissue by rolling or by interleaving (16) the information sheet with the toilet paper, paper towel or facial tissue. In another aspect, different information may be place on two or more sheets to convey a story (39) or other information. The information (72) may, for example, be used to help potty train children, or to teach children numbers or the alphabet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventors: Daniel Joel Penn, Michael Charles Penn, Amir Nathaniel Penn
  • Patent number: 6855227
    Abstract: A method of dewatering a fiber web in a paper machine, includes the steps of: dewatering the fiber web in a forming section to a solids content of greater than approximately 10%; displacement pressing the fiber web in an air press assembly to a solids content of greater than approximately 40%; and through air drying the fiber web in at least one air press assembly to a higher solids content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventor: David Beck
  • Patent number: 6835264
    Abstract: The present invention provides a one or two step method for bonding and creping or double creping a nonwoven web. In the method of the present invention, a nonwoven web is adhered to a creping roll and bonded while on the creping roll. The bonding of the nonwoven adheres the nonwoven to the creping roll in a pattern of the bonding roll. Once creped from the creping roll, the resulting nonwoven web is creped in the pattern of the bonding roll. The creped nonwoven webs of the present invention are useful in a wide variety of application including as wipes, liners, transfer or surge layers, outercovers, other fluid handling materials and looped fastener materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: John Joseph Sayovitz, Gregory Todd Sudduth, Charles Edward Edmundson, Howard Martin Welch, Stephen Michael Campbell, Wendy Marie Takken
  • Patent number: 6827819
    Abstract: An ultra soft, bulky, multi-ply tissue having low overall sidedness and a geometric mean tensile strength of less than about 800 g/3″ wherein an embossed ply has a TMI sidedness of at least about 0.45 and an embossed area of at least about 2%, which is capable of being made from non-premium furnish, and method for making such products are disclosed. An ultra soft, bulky, multi-ply tissue having low overall sidedness and a geometric mean tensile strength of less than about 35 g/3″ per lb. of basis weight wherein an embossed ply has a TMI sidedness of at least about 0.45 and an embossed area of at least about 2%, which is capable of being made from non-premium furnish, and method for making such products are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: John H. Dwiggins, Frank D. Harper, Galyn A. Schulz, Pamela J. Wiese, Joseph C. Leege, T. Philips Oriaran, Brian J. Schuh, Michael S. Heath, Greg A. Wendt
  • Patent number: 6811652
    Abstract: A method of making a multilayer paper web, wherein at least two paper sheets are formed and dried separately to a dry content of no more than 80% by weight, imparting a three-dimensional pattern of alternating raised and recessed portions in the paper sheets during drying, combining the paper sheets into a multilayer web, in which void volumes are created between the raised and recessed portions of the combined sheets and drying the multilayer web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Holger Hollmark
  • Patent number: 6797114
    Abstract: In the practice of the invention, a multi-ply paper product or tissue having hardwood layers on the outside and on the inside provides reduced amounts of undesirable sloughing. The multi-ply product includes at least two plies, with three layers in each ply. Hardwood layers, such as for example eucalyptus-containing fiber layers, are provided on the outside surfaces of each ply and also on the interface of one or more plies. The resulting paper product may exhibit reduced sloughing, with little or no sacrifice in softness. A product having two, three, four, or more plies is shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Sheng-hsin Hu
  • Patent number: 6749719
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of making a tissue product. An aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers is deposited onto a forming fabric thereby forming a wet tissue web. The wet tissue web is transferred to a woven sculpted fabric having a tissue contacting surface. The tissue contacting surface includes at least a first group of strands and a second group of strands wherein the first group of strands extend in a first direction and the second group of strands extend in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Alan Burazin, Kai F. Chiu, Jeffrey Dean Lindsay
  • Publication number: 20040065421
    Abstract: A process for making a fibrous structure including the steps of: providing a deflection member comprising a macroscopically monoplanar, patterned framework having a backside forming an X-Y plane and a web-side opposite to the backside, wherein the framework comprises a plurality of bases extending from the X-Y plane in a Z-direction perpendicular to the X-Y plane, and a plurality of suspended portions laterally extending from the plurality of bases in at least one direction substantially parallel to the X-Y plane and elevated in the Z-direction from the X-Y plane to form void spaces between the X-Y plane and the suspended portions; providing a plurality of fibers on the deflection member, thereby forming a partly-formed fibrous structure; and separating the partly-formed fibrous structure from the deflection member, thereby forming the fibrous structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: David William Cabell, Paul Dennis Trokhan
  • Patent number: 6709548
    Abstract: A creping blade for creping a cellulosic web from a rotatable cylinder in a creping process includes first and second side faces. The first side face is at least substantially opposite to the second side file. The blade also includes an upper surface adjacent to the first and second side faces. A plurality of notches is provided along the upper surface. Each of the notches has a bottom portion and an open end defined by at least a portion of the upper surface. The notches are configured to increase the caliper of the cellulosic web when the creping blade crepes the cellulosic web from an outer surface of the rotatable cylinder. Creped paper and improved methods of manufacturing paper are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Marinack, Anthony O. Awofeso, Frank D. Harper, Thomas N. Kershaw
  • Patent number: 6673202
    Abstract: Highly textured tissue sheets, particularly suitable for use as bath tissue, are produced by throughdrying and have a low number and/or low amount of pinholes. The low number or amount of pinholes is provided by using a throughdrying fabric having parallel wide ridges with a height suited to the particular tissue sheet being produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Alan Burazin, Cristina Asensio Mullalhy, Andrew Peter Bakken, Christopher Scott Kowalski, Bernhardt Edward Kressner, Michael Stephen Vance, Kevin Joseph Vogt
  • Patent number: 6656569
    Abstract: The invention concerns an absorbent paper product with a basic weight ranging from about 20 to 80 g/m2 comprising an embossed ply including raised designs consisting at least partly of discrete protuberances oriented inwards of the structure and a non-embossed ply. The invention is characterised in that the embossed ply has at least over part of its surface at least 30 protuberances per cm2 whereof the top surface area is less than 1 mm2 preferably less than 0.7 mm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific France
    Inventors: Gilles Roussel, Pierre Laurent, Rémy Ruppel
  • Patent number: 6649024
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of applying a chemical treating agent to a cellulose web. The invention is further a means of increasing the bulk, absorbency and pattern definition in an embossed cellulose web without losing softness in the web. Finally, the invention includes products produced by the foregoing processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: T. Philips Oriarian, Galyn A. Schulz, Dale T. Gracyalny, Michael E. Hennes, Thomas N. Kershaw, Anthony O. Awofeso
  • Patent number: 6649025
    Abstract: A laminate wiping product is disclosed. The wiping product includes a first outer ply that has a textured surface. For example, the first outer ply can be an uncreped throughdried paper web having a three-dimensional conformation. The second outer ply, on the other hand, can be a smoother and softer web. The plies are laminated together by any suitable process. In one embodiment, the plies are embossed and nested together to form the final product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell P. Mills, Rick Behm, Thomas Barta, Laurent Paquot
  • Publication number: 20030201081
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Robert A. Drew, Frank G. Druecke, Patricia Riedl, Peter J. Allen
  • Patent number: 6610173
    Abstract: An improved method for imprinting a paper web during a wet pressing event is disclosed which results in asymmetrical protrusions corresponding to the deflection conduits of a deflection member. In one embodiment, differential velocity transfer during a pressing event serves to improve the molding and imprinting of a web with a deflection member. Improved deflection members are also disclosed. Improved tissue webs produced are also disclosed having useful sets of physical and geometrical properties, such as a pattern densified network- and a repeating pattern of protrusions having asymmetrical structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Dean Lindsay, Mark Alan Burazin, Fung-jou Chen, Michael Alan Hermans, Philip Sim Lin, Kenneth Curtis Larson
  • Patent number: 6592636
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a press fabric having an anti-rewet scrim or “barrier” within the internal structure of a press fabric, and a method for making same. External materials are not necessary in creating the barrier. In other words, the existing material is modified to create a natural barrier to prevent water migration back to the press fabric surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventor: Michael J. Joyce
  • Patent number: 6573203
    Abstract: The present invention may provide a towel desirably including first and second layers having cellulosic fibers and a repellant agent. The first and second layers may substantially sandwich a third layer having cellulosic fibers with higher absorbency than the first and second layers. All three layers may form a single ply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Wesley James McConnell, Jay Chiehlung Hsu, Joseph Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6562194
    Abstract: A non-oil-based release aid used in a creping process for releasing a paper web from a Yankee dryer in the manufacture of a paper product having a formula for its block version as follows: R—(OC3H6)y(OC2H4)zOH; where R is a C8 to C20 alkyl or alkylaryl group, y plus z is greater than 20, and y is greater than z. The y moles of propylene oxide (OC3H6) and the z moles of ethylene oxide (OC2H4) may be added in random or block fashion. Examples of the chemical compound for the release aid are alkoxylated alkylphenols, alkoxylated fatty acids, and alkoxylated alcohols. A preferred chemical compound is an alkoxylated tall oil fatty acid. The release aid may optionally comprise from about 0% to about 20% by weight of an emulsifying surfactant. The release aid may comprise 70% to 100% by weight of the chemical compound, 0% to 20% by weight of emulsifying surfactants, and 0% to 10% by weight water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Calgon Corporation
    Inventors: Sammy L. Archer, Robert E. Dristas, Ross T. Gray
  • Patent number: 6558510
    Abstract: There is provided a method of making absorbent sheet including the steps of: (a) an aqueous cellulosic furnish on a foraminous support; (b) at least partially dewatering the furnish to form a nascent web; (c) applying the nascent web to a rotating cylinder and drying the web to a consistency of from about 30 to about 90 percent solids; (d) creping the web at the consistency of from about 30 to about 90 percent while maintaining a narrow creping shelf effective width; and (e) drying the creped web to form an absorbent sheet, wherein the absorbent sheet exhibits a Void Volume of at least about 3.5 gms/gm. The process is advantageously applied to absorbent sheet having a thickness of from about 0.003 inches to about 0.010 inches while utilizing a creping blade having a creping surface with a ledge width of from about 0.005 inches to about 0.025 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Robert J. Marinack
  • Patent number: 6547928
    Abstract: Disclosed is a composition for softening an absorbent tissue and tissue structures softened using the composition. The composition includes an effective amount of a softening active ingredient; a vehicle in which the softening active ingredient is dispersed; an electrolyte dissolved in the vehicle; a bilayer disrupter and a high polymer. The electrolyte and the bilayer disrupter cooperate to cause the viscosity of the composition to be less than the viscosity of a dispersion of the softening active ingredient in the vehicle alone. The high polymer adds “stringiness” to the composition opening the air pressure operating window for spray application of the softening composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Steven Lee Barnholtz, Kenneth Douglas Vinson, Paul Joseph Coffaro, Larry Neil Mackey, Amy Jo Hamilton, Errol Hoffman Wahl, Gayle Marie Frankenbach, Yenchun Wu
  • Patent number: 6547926
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Drew, Frank G. Druecke, Patricia Riedl, Peter J. Allen
  • Patent number: 6540879
    Abstract: A creping blade for creping a cellulosic web from a rotatable cylinder in a creping process includes first and second side faces. The first side face is at least substantially opposite to the second side file. The blade also includes an upper surface adjacent to the first and second side faces. A plurality of notches is provided along the upper surface. Each of the notches has a bottom portion and an open end defined by at least a portion of the upper surface. The notches are configured to increase the caliper of the cellulosic web when the creping blade crepes the cellulosic web from an outer surface of the rotatable cylinder. Creped paper and improved methods of manufacturing paper are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Marinack, Anthony O. Awofeso, Frank D. Harper
  • Patent number: 6534151
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to wiping products having great softness and strength. The wiping products are made from a web of material containing binder fibers alone or in combination with pulp fibers. Once the web is formed, the web is adhered to a creping surface and creped. According to the present invention, the web may be creped once or creped multiple times. Of particular advantage, the web can be adhered to a creping surface through the use of the binder fibers without the use of an adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph F. Merker
  • Patent number: 6517673
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a soft, thick, single-ply, printed, absorbent paper product having a Yankee side and an air side wherein the absorbent paper is printed on before or after embossing on the Yankee side, air side, or both sides, said absorbent paper exhibiting a serpentine configuration. This inventions also relates to a process for the manufacture of such absorbent paper product having a basis weight of at least about 12.5 lbs. per 3000 square foot ream and having low sidedness, said tissue exhibiting: a specific total tensile strength of between 40 and 200 grams per 3 inches per pound per 3000 square foot ream, a cross direction specific wet tensile strength of between 2.75 and 20.0 grams per 3 inches per pound per 3000 square foot ream, the ratio of MD tensile to CD tensile of between 1.25 and 2.75, a specific geometric mean tensile stiffness of between 0.5 and 3.2 grams per inch per percent strain per pound per 3000 square foot ream, a friction deviation of less than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Heath, T. Philips Oriaran, Mark S. Siegel, Frank D. Harper, John H. Dwiggins
  • Patent number: 6514383
    Abstract: A tissue product having improved hand feel and good wettability is produced by printing onto one or both sides of the tissue an aqueous emulsion containing a derivitized amino-functional polysiloxane. The derivitized amino-functional polysiloxane structure has one or more pendant groups containing an amine derivative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Kou-Chang Liu, Geoffrey Fenn Carlow, Timothy Dale Ferguson, Amber Marie Fortune, Daniel John VanderHeiden, Heath David Van Wychen, Roger Edward Wendler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6511580
    Abstract: A tissue product having improved hand feel and good wettability is produced by printing onto one or both sides of the tissue an aqueous emulsion containing a derivitized amino-functional polysiloxane. The derivitized amino-functional polysiloxane structure has one or more pendant groups containing an amine derivative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Kou-Chang Liu
  • Publication number: 20030000664
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Robert A. Drew, Patricia Riedl, Peter J. Allen, Brian Klaubert, Paul Arnold, Susan E. Smith, Michael A. Hermans, Phil S. Lin
  • Publication number: 20020189773
    Abstract: A creping blade for creping a cellulosic web from a rotatable cylinder in a creping process includes first and second side faces. The first side face is at least substantially opposite to the second side file. The blade also includes an upper surface adjacent to the first and second side faces. A plurality of notches is provided along the upper surface. Each of the notches has a bottom portion and an open end defined by at least a portion of the upper surface. The notches are configured to increase the caliper of the cellulosic web when the creping blade crepes the cellulosic web from an outer surface of the rotatable cylinder. Creped paper and improved methods of manufacturing paper are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: Fort James Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Marinack, Anthony O. Awofeso, Frank D. Harper, Thomas N. Kershaw
  • Patent number: 6488810
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for influencing web characteristic in a machine for producing a fibrous web. The process includes guiding the fibrous material web in a still-wet state and stretching the still-wet state fibrous material web in a crosswise direction. The apparatus includes a stretching device arranged to stretch the fibrous material web in a still-wet state in a direction crosswise to a travel direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiertechnik Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Günter Halmschlager
  • Patent number: 6470945
    Abstract: A device for embossing and laminating a multiple-web web material, comprising: a first and second embossing cylinder (1, 3), provided with tips and arranged with parallel and adjacent axes so as to farm a nip (G) between them; a pair of pressure rollers, (5, 7), each of which cooperates with one of the embossing cylinders; an adhesive applicator (17) associated with the first embossing cylinder; and a laminating roll (13) arranged downstream of the nip (G) between the embossing cylinders (1, 3) and cooperating with the first embossing cylinder (1). Planes (P3, P5) contain axis (1A, 3A) of each embossing cylinder (1, 3) and the axis (5A, 7A) of the corresponding pressure roll (5, 7) are both inclined with respect to the plane. (P2) containing the axes (1A, 3A) of the embossing cylinders at an angle different from 0 and 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Fabio Perini S.p.A.
    Inventor: Guglielmo Biagiotti