Abstract: A process for directly forming multiple layer web, and creping such webs to provide absorbent, soft and bulky, creped tissue. The process produces a laminar fibrous formation with outer layers of strongly bonded fibers separated by an intermediate central section of weakly bonded fibers, which outer layers are creped such that the crepe in one outer layer is independent of the crepe in the other outer layer.

Abstract: A fibrous web is uniformly adhered to the surface of a smooth creping cylinder or other creping surface without causing substantial compression of the web. A raised pattern is pressed into the web toward the creping cylinder to cause the portions of the web that are pressed to adhere more strongly to the creping surface, while the portions of the web that are not pressed remain more lightly adhered to the creping surface. The web is creped from the creping surface with a creping blade, and the resulting product has a pattern creped appearance wherein the portions of the web that are pressed are finely creped while the portions of the web that were not so pressed are coarsely creped.

Abstract: An improved low-density papermaking process particularly suited for use in conjunction with twin wire formation style papermaking machines is disclosed. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a foraminous drying/imprinting fabric conventionally utilized to thermally predry a moist paper web is extended to the twin wire formation zone, thereby eliminating one of the conventionally utilized Fourdrinier wire sections. Extension of the drying/imprinting fabric to the formation zone eliminates disturbance of the deflected portions of the paper web which fill the interstices of the drying/imprinting fabric during formation of the web, thus producing unexpected improvements in finished product bulk and absorptive capacity.

Abstract: Sanitary tissue products which are laminates formed from two dissimilar paper webs. When a web of low density, high bulk process paper is united with a web of conventional paper, a product possessing absorbency softness, flexibility, and bulk properties similar to those of a product comprising two webs of the low density, high bulk process paper is produced. Variations taught by the invention include the use of two paper webs having different creping characteristics to form the laminated sanitary tissue. The teachings of the invention can be extended to other products such as paper towels.

Abstract: A continuously advancing tissue paper web is separated from a Yankee dryer roll and creper, and then received and transported on an endless fabric conveyor and embossing belt travelling toward and over a reel drum. At the reeling station the web is threaded onto a reel spool and wound into a parent roll pressing against the conveyor and embossing belt running over the reel drum and thereby embossing the web in the roll/drum nip. Means are provided for automatically air threading the web onto the reel spool. For higher bulk tissue creped sheet, additional dry embossing may be effected while the sheet is being transported by the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A wet-laid composite, soft, bulky and absorbent paper structure is prepared from two or more layers of furnish which are preferably comprised of different fiber types. The layers are preferably formed from the deposition of separate streams of dilute fiber slurries, the fibers typically being relatively long softwood and relatively short hardwood fibers as used in tissue papermaking, upon one or more endless foraminous screens. The layers are subsequently combined to form a unitary web, and the layered, unitary web is dewatered by the application of fluid forces. The moist, layered web is thereafter transferred to an open mesh drying/imprinting fabric. The application of a fluid force to the web creates patterned discrete areas of fibers numbering from about 100 to about 3600 per square inch of projected surface area on the side of the web which contacts the drying/imprinting fabric.

Abstract: A low-density, soft, bulky and absorbent paper sheet exhibiting a diamond-shaped pattern in its surface after creping, said paper being characterized by having a cross-directional stretch of from about 2 to about 6 percent, as well as improved softness, surface feel and drape, said paper sheet being particularly suitable for use in tissue, toweling and sanitary products. The aforesaid paper sheets are produced by impressing a dot-dash knuckle pattern, wherein the long axis of the dash impressions is aligned parallel to the machine direction of papermaking, using the back side of a monofilament, polymeric fiber, semi-twill fabric of selected coarseness, the knuckle imprint area of which constitutes between about 20 and about 50 percent of the total fabric surface area, as measured in the plane of the knuckles, on an uncompacted paper web at selected fiber consistencies, induced by thermal predrying, prior to final drying and creping.