Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Gerald Keith Sosalla

Yung Hsiang Huang

Stephen Robert Kehn

Joseph Daniel Coenen

Paige Annette Dellerman

Rodney Carlton Christianson

James Ronald Bath

Timothy Walter Shoaf

Gregory John Rajala

Robert Samuel Schlaupitz

Yung Hsaing Huang

Joseph John Sina

Ryan Leslie Fulscher

Gary Alan Turchan

Finbarr Charles Ronald Williamson

John Soosai Alphonse

Mohammed Shafi Khurieshi

Mahendra Mittapalli

Sarah Elizabeth Knight

Charles Robert Sample

Kristina Marie Price

Kendall Jean Wendrick

John David Amundson

Stephen Michael Campbell

Duane Lyle McDonald

Chinmay Suresh Betrabet

James Dell Milner

Paul Roy Schmidt

Wael Rafat Joseph

Jennifer Cappel Larson

Adam Schoultz

Andrew Kuo

Christopher Vincent Decker

Steven Todd Moore

Michael Joseph Muhlebach

Caleb E Ihrig

Scott D Howells

Kendell Jean Wendrick

Joseph E Cwiakala

Robert Samuel Shlaupitz

John C Taylor

Adam Nicholas Schoultz

Alethea AM Swiecicki

A plurality of stacked, interconnected wipes that collectively define a stack. Each wipe is connected to at least one other wipe on only one of the right side and the left side of the stack via a connection. In particular embodiments, immediately successive connections in a stacked direction are on alternating right and left sides of the stack. In other embodiments, immediately successive connections in a stacked direction are on the same side of the stack.

Plurality of interconnected wipes for use in dispenser

A method of dispensing wipes includes providing a stack of wipes. Each wipe is generally rectangular in shape and defines four corners. A dispenser has a dispensing orifice. The method includes grasping a presented corner of a leading wipe, and pulling the presented corner of the leading wipe to withdraw the leading wipe out of the dispenser, whereby the leading wipe releases from a succeeding wipe such that a presented corner of the succeeding wipe, and no other corner of the succeeding wipe, protrudes from the dispensing orifice. In particular embodiments, the presented corner of the leading wipe and the presented corner of the succeeding wipe originate from opposite sides of the stack. In other embodiments, the presented corner of the leading wipe and the presented corner of the succeeding wipe each originate from the same side of the stack.

Method of dispensing a plurality of interconnected wipes

An apparatus for folding products includes a conveying member adapted to convey the product, an oscillating member disposed adjacent the conveying member, and a folding roll disposed adjacent the conveying member and the oscillating member. The oscillating member is adapted to grasp and lift a first portion of the product from the conveying member while the product is being conveyed by the conveying member. The oscillating member is moveable in a first direction away from the conveying member and in a second direction toward the conveying member. The folding roll is adapted to receive the first portion of the product from the oscillating member and to place the first portion of the product into engagement with a second portion of the product such that the product is in a folded configuration.

Folding apparatus and method of folding a product using an oscillating member and a folding roll

Apparatus for shaping a segment of material includes a forming member having a curved sidewall shaped complementary to a desired shape of the segment of material, and a conforming member having an applicator side and an engagement side disposed for engagement with the curved sidewall of the forming member. The conforming member includes a plurality of attachment regions disposed on the applicator side. Each attachment region is adapted to hold the segment of material on the conforming member. Engagement of the conforming member with the forming member causes the attachment regions to move from a first shape profile to a second shape profile, the second shape profile being the desired shape of the segment of material.

Apparatus for and method of shaping and applying a segment to a moving web

A vacuum roll includes an inner rotor, an intermediate stator, and an outer shell roll. The inner rotor has open and closed portions and is adapted to rotate within the intermediate stator which is rotationally fixed and also has open and closed portions. The outer shell roll has open and closed portions and is adapted to move around the intermediate stator. Together the inner rotor and the intermediate stator define an internal rotary valve interface adapted to control fluid communication between the interior chamber and the outer shell.

Vacuum roll with internal rotary valve

An apparatus for folding products has a conveying member configured to hold a first portion and a second portion of the product and to release the first portion while continuing to hold the second portion. The conveying member is configured to convey the product at a conveying speed. A folding assembly is disposed adjacent the conveying member. The folding assembly is configured to receive the first portion of the product from the conveying member while moving generally at the conveying speed, to decelerate relative to the conveying member while holding the first portion thereto thereby causing the product to fold about the fold axis, and to place the first portion of the product into contact with the second portion such that the first portion overlies the second portion.

Folding apparatus and method of folding a product

In a dispensing system for dispensing wet wipes, a wet wipe has an aqueous solution and microencapsulated delivery vehicles including a temperature agent, and is disposed in a wet wipe container. A cartridge is held in assembly with the wet wipe container and has an activating device that facilitates rupturing of the microencapsulated delivery vehicles as the wet wipe is removed from the dispensing system to allow contact between the temperature change agent and the aqueous solution of the wet wipe to thereby dispense a warm or cooled wet wipe. In another embodiment, the wet wipe has an aqueous solution and a lotion having the microencapsulated heat delivery vehicles disposed in the cartridge free from contact with the wet wipe. The cartridge also has an applicator that is operable to apply the lotion to the wet wipe as the wet wipe is removed from the wet wipe container.

Dispensing system for dispensing warm wet wipes

A method and apparatus for folding an article includes supplying an article to a folder; engaging a first surface of a leading portion of the article with a first conveyor; moving the first conveyor at a first conveyor velocity; engaging a second surface of a trailing portion of the article with a second conveyor; moving the second conveyor at a second conveyor velocity greater than the first conveyor velocity; contacting the first surface of the article with at least one folding guide; moving the folding guide in the machine direction at the second conveyor velocity; and folding the article about the folding guide such that the first surface of the leading portion is in facing relation with the first surface of the trailing portion.

Method and apparatus for folding articles

The invention relates to a stack of fan folded material and related systems and processes. The stack includes at least two clips of fan folded material. Each clip includes a plurality of fan folded sheets, with each sheet joined to at least one adjacent sheet by a weakened line. Each clip is joined to an adjacent clip by a last sheet of one clip being interfolded with or adhesively joined to a first sheet of a succeeding clip.

Stack of fan folded material and combinations thereof

The invention relates to a system and process for loading containers with formed product. The system includes a container transport assembly, a product transport assembly and a combined transport assembly. The container transport assembly advances and positions the containers along a first path towards a loading zone. The product transport assembly advances and positions the formed product along a second path towards the loading zone. The combined transport assembly defines a third path away from the loading zone. The first path and the second path share at least one common direction of travel and each path is in part independent of the other and each path is in part merged with the other. The formed product is loaded into the containers as the paths merge. Thereafter, the containers with formed product loaded therein are advanced away from the loading zone along the third path.

System and process for loading containers with formed product

The invention relates to a group of wipes. The group of wipes includes at least three wipes separably joined together, each wipe separable joined to each adjacent wipe by a weakened line. Each weakened line includes a plurality of first-type weakened zones and at least one second-type weakened zone. The second-type weakened zone has a length that is at least 1.5 times a length of the first-type weakened zone and the second-type weakened zone is randomly positioned along the weakened line such that no two consecutive weakened lines have the second-type weakened zone in the same position relative to opposite ends of consecutive weakened lines.

Separably joined relationship between adjoining wipes

The invention relates to a stack of fan folded material and related systems and processes. The stack includes at least two clips of fan folded material. Each clip includes a plurality of fan folded sheets, with each sheet joined to at least one adjacent sheet by a weakened line. Each clip is joined to an adjacent clip by a last sheet of one clip being separably joined to a first sheet of a succeeding clip.

A coreless roll winder includes two sets of belts traveling in opposite directions. A cigarette of web material is formed, and the web is wound around the cigarette by the contact with the belts. The roll formed from the winding is transported to the downstream end of the belts and separated from the rest of the web.

Continuous motion coreless roll winder

The invention relates to a flexible orifice for pop-up style dispensing with a wet wipes dispenser. The orifice includes a flexible, rubber-like sheet having a top surface and a bottom surface. A continuous slit extends across the top and bottom surfaces of the sheet and enables a wet wipe to pass from the bottom surface to the top surface or from the top surface to the bottom surface. The continuous slit has at least one curved portion connected with at least one non-curved portion. Alternately, the continuous slit has at least one zigzag portion connected with a pair of end leg portions.

Flexible orifice for wet wipes dispenser

Growing community of inventors

Appleton, WI, United States of America

Gerald Keith Sosalla