Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.

Daniel Robert Sprangers

Patrick Pachih Chen

Michael Alan Hermans

Mark Alan Burazin

Frank Stephen Hada

Peter John Allen

Robert Eugene Krautkramer

Samuel August Nelson

Mark John Hassman

Richard Allen Zanon

Robert James Seymour

Richard Mark Hansen

Lennis W Rindy

Nathan J Haiduk

Keith D Glass

Claudia H Javenkoski

David Wilhelm

Andrew Krause

Paul Timothy Baker

Edward J Van Rengen

Nathan John Haiduk

Unlike conventional through-air drying processes the instant invention utilizes at least two through-air driers where the first dyer is at least partially encircled by a first through-air drying fabric and the second dyer is at least partially encircled by a second through-air drying fabric. By providing each through-air dryer with its own fabric the overall drying performance may be increased. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the first and second fabrics may be different to optimize both the drying performance and/or tissue product properties.

Through-air drying apparatus and methods of manufacture

Tissue webs, such as are useful for making bath tissue, can be surface-treated in a pattern with selected papermaking chemicals, such as debonders and strength agents, to selectively improve the directional properties of the resulting tissue product, particularly the cross-machine direction strength properties. The pattern can be applied to the tissue sheet by spraying the selected chemical outwardly through a pattern of open areas in the shell of a rotating hollow roll, where the pattern of open areas corresponds to the desired pattern of chemical deposited on the surface of the tissue web.

Surface treating tissue webs via patterned spraying

An improved system, apparatus and method is disclosed for transferring a running web from a first carrier fabric to a second carrier fabric in the manufacture of webbed products, such as tissue, paper toweling, and the like. A multi-stage vacuum process applies a vacuum to the running web. One or more auxiliary units apply a vacuum to one or more edge portions of the running web. The apparatus provides for a reliable and efficient transfer of the running web among carrier fabrics, in which the carrier fabrics may include topographical features upon their surface.

Apparatus, system and method for transferring a running web

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 &minus;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 &minus;z direction and a relatively low pore size distribution gradient in the x-y plane for improved absorption properties.

Method of forming a tissue with surfaces having elevated regions

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Kaukauna, WI, United States of America

Daniel Robert Sprangers