Non-uniform Internal Structure Patents (Class 162/188)
  • Patent number: 8524041
    Abstract: Embodiments for methods and apparatuses for forming a nonwoven web are described herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes one or more sources configured to dispense a first fluid flow stream comprising a fiber and a second fluid flow stream also comprising a fiber. The apparatus also includes a mixing partition downstream from the one or more sources, where the mixing partition is positioned between the first and second flow streams from the one or more sources. The mixing partition defines one or more openings that permit fluid communication between the two flow streams. The apparatus also includes a receiving region situated downstream from the one or more sources and designed to receive at least a combined flow stream and form a nonwoven web by collecting fiber from the combined flow stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Hemant Gupta, Brad E. Kahlbaugh
  • Patent number: 6478927
    Abstract: A method for forming a paper web with two surfaces having elevated regions is provided. The elevated regions can be imparted onto the surfaces of the tissue utilizing various papermaking techniques and devices, such as using patterned fabrics, wire-mesh, and/or pressure rolls. A tissue formed according to the present invention can have a substantial fiber density gradient in the −z direction and a relatively low fiber density gradient in the x-y plane. Moreover, the tissue can also have a substantial pore size distribution gradient in the −z direction and a relatively low pore size distribution gradient in the x-y plane for improved absorption properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick P. Chen, Daniel R. Sprangers, Mark A. Burazin
  • Patent number: 6214146
    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 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph F. Merker
  • Patent number: 6179963
    Abstract: A process for producing a paper web having an essentially flat basis weight cross-machine profile and for simultaneously producing an essentially flat breaking length ratio cross-machine profile. This is achieved in that the lay of the fibers is deliberately influenced with a knowledge of shrinkage behavior. Techniques for respective sectional adjustments in the cross-machine direction are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Begemann, Adolf Guggemos
  • Patent number: 5858021
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for treating cellulosic fibers using an alkali metal hydroxide. The process first prepares the cellulosic fibers as a high consistency mixture with water and then adds an alkali metal hydroxide. The high consistency process is quite efficient and has been found to produce cellulosic fibers that are essentially uniformly treated. Also disclosed is a handsheet prepared from the treated cellulosic fibers for use is disposable absorbent products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Tong Sun, Yong De Yao, Sheng-Hsin Hu
  • Patent number: 5672249
    Abstract: A process for incorporating a fine particulate filler such as kaolin clay into tissue paper is disclosed. The process results in strong, soft, and low dusting tissue paper webs useful in the manufacture of soft, absorbent sanitary products such as bath tissue, facial tissue, and absorbent towels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Douglas Vinson, John Paul Erspamer, Charles William Neal, Jonathan Andrew Ficke, Jeffress Paul Halter
  • Patent number: 5275876
    Abstract: A static dissipative laminate consistently having an internal resistance less than 2.times.10.sup.6 and a resistance to ground measurement of about 5.times.10.sup.6 and a surface resistance in the static dissipative range even at a very low humidities is produced by the use of an ionic salt and an humectant in the overlay and further by the use of a special top core sheet containing 0.6-1.0% by weight of carbon fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Nevamar Corporation
    Inventors: Robin D. O'Dell, Christine C. Wyche, Israel S. Ungar
  • Patent number: 5244721
    Abstract: A decorative static dissipative high pressure laminate having a plurality of consolidated thermosetting resin impregnated layers including a core and a decor surface layer to provide a surface resistance no greater than 2.times.10.sup.9. The core comprises at least one thermosetting resin impregnated paper core sheet and at least one special thermosetting resin impregnated core sheet of predominately paper fibers and a small quantity of stainless steel fibers irregularly distributed among the paper fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Nevamar Corporation
    Inventors: Christine C. Wyche, Robin O'Dell, Israel S. Ungar
  • Patent number: 4940512
    Abstract: A process for making a wet-laid, elongate, nonwoven flexible sheet having an additive distributed in a predetermined cross-directional pattern includes providing two synthetic fibrous stocks containing the additive in a concentration higher in one stock than in the other stock. The stocks are supplied to a paper machine having a headbox for depositing the stocks on a wire to form a wet sheet with the stocks being introduced into the headbox from a plurality of cross-directional positions equally spaced-apart along the headbox with a generally equal amount of solids being introduced at each position and with the stock with the higher concentration being introduced in higher quantity than the other stock at least at one cross-directional position so that the additive is distributed in the predetermined cross-directional pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co.ny
    Inventors: Gary L. Hendren, Lee J. Hesler
  • Patent number: 4440597
    Abstract: High bulk, absorbent paper having a relatively high MD elongation at rupture, and a substantially greater stress/strain modulus in the lowest one-third of its range of MD extensibility--preferably when wet--than equally machine-direction-stretchable, purely dry-foreshortened (e.g., dry-creped) paper having substantially identical MD elongation at rupture. The process includes a differential velocity transfer of a wet-laid embryonic web having relatively low fiber consistency from a carrier to a substantially slower moving, open-mesh transfer fabric having a substantial void volume; and thereafter drying the web while precluding substantial macroscopic rearrangement of the fibers in the plane of the web. The differential velocity transfer is effected without substantial compaction of the web by avoiding substantial mechanical pressing, centrifugal slinging, air blasting, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1984
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Edward R. Wells, Thomas A. Hensler
  • Patent number: 4318774
    Abstract: The properties of nonwoven glass fiber and nonwoven polymer fiber are combined efficaciously in a composite web that comprises two component webs of particular composition. One of the component webs is formed by screen casting, squeezing, and drying an aqueous dispersion of glass fiber, thermoplastic fiber, and a hydrophilic polymer so that temporary adhesion bonding occurs. The other of the component webs is formed by orienting textile polymer fiber and thermoplastic fiber so that temporary matting occurs. The composite web is formed by superposing and calendering the component webs under heat and pressure so that fusion bonding of the thermoplastic fiber occurs within each and between both of the component webs. As a result, the glass fiber and textile fiber are predeterminedly locked and the properties of both are predeterminedly available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1982
    Assignee: Powell Corporation
    Inventors: Henry J. Powell, Albert G. Hoyle
  • Patent number: 4238280
    Abstract: A photographic support is produced by heat consolidating paper made wholly of thermoplastic synthetic fibres. The consolidation is carried out in such a way as to produce a homogeneous surface film having a desired surface finish for receiving a photographic coating, a fully bonded but still fibrous layer adjacent the film, and a lightly bonded fibrous layer adjacent the fully bonded fibrous layer. The homogeneous surface film is produced in such a manner that its surface is substantially free of pits. This may be achieved by consolidating the web by heating it on one surface while cooling it on the other surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1980
    Assignee: The Wiggins Teape Group Limited
    Inventors: Roger E. Wallis, Michael R. Chamberlain
  • Patent number: 4168200
    Abstract: This relates to the manufacture of wet process hardboard. The invention involves supplying additional heat curable resin to the mid-thickness regions of the panel by injecting additional resin into the moving mat as it is being formed on a forming surface. The region of injection of the resin is selected so that the bottom of the partially formed mat is sufficiently consolidated to resist the passage of resin therethrough while at the same time the top of the mat is still sufficiently liquid so that disturbances of the fibers of the partially dewatered mat caused by the injection of the resin have an opportunity to mend. The resin may be injected into the longitudinal marginal portions of the mat in continuous fashion such that, after the edges of the final board product have been trimmed, the resin treated areas are exposed to view. The additional resin reinforces the edge portions and assists in providing uniform caliper of the board across its width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1979
    Assignee: Abitibi Paper Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Gerald P. Bilton
  • Patent number: 4113555
    Abstract: Hard and medium density board made of lignocellulosic fibers having a central layer with substantially higher concentration of set resin than both the outer layers of said board have as good strength properties as a corresponding board having said higher concentration of said resin throughout the thickness of the board. Said board is produced by introducing a thermosetting resin solution or a high resin content pulp into and evenly across the width of the central layer of the pulp or the wet lap to be pressed and heat treated, the pressing period being shortened as well as the press cycle. Said process can be carried out with an apparatus including a member to be inserted in the pulp slurry flow in the headbox of a board machine or in the flow on the moving continuous wire screen of the board machine comprising an element having nozzles or slits through which a thermosetting resin solution or a high resin content slurry can be brought to flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1978
    Assignee: Svenska Traforskningsinstitutet
    Inventors: Jan O. Nyren, Soren B. Nordin, Leif A. Flodman
  • Patent number: 4044185
    Abstract: A colored decorative plastic laminate is made from a core layer and a superimposed decorative layer comprising: a fibrous material, coloring particles having a Moh's hardness of up to about 6 and an average particle size range of between about 53 to 210 microns, and thermoset resin; where the weight ratio of fiber material:coloring particles is from about 1:0.04 to 1:0.4 and the colored decorative layer is characterized in that the pigments are dispersed only through the bottom two-thirds of the colored layer and concentrated in the colored layer near the core-decorative layer interface, the top one-third of the colored layer containing substantially no pigment particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1977
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Harold O. McCaskey, Jr., Salvatore E. Palazzolo