Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Tissue Company

Kenneth Kaufman

Strong C Chuang

Robert H Schiesser

Jeff Herman

Richard Ignatius Wolkowicz

A stack of interleaved towels is provided wherein each towel is configured from a sheet of material having a first fold offset from a centerline of the sheet to generate a first panel folded toward a first surface of the sheet and extending between the first fold and a first end of the sheet. A second fold in the sheet is made substantially parallel to the first fold to create a second panel extending between the first and second folds and a third panel extending between the second fold and a second end of the sheet such that the first end of the sheet is positioned between the second and third panels. In the stack, the third panel of each towel is disposed adjacent the first panel of an adjacent towel such that the towels are interleaved.

Interleaved towel fold configuration

The present invention encompasses a machine direction extensible noncalendered fibrous web produced by a transfer system of at least eight percent negative draw including a matrix of fibrous web material having a wet mullen burst at least about 10 percent greater than a convex transfer system produced web. In addition, the matrix of fibrous material has a wet mullen burst of at least about 74500 pascals. Moreover, the matrix of fibrous web material has a GMBL ranging from about 2047 to about 2704. Furthermore, the matrix of fibrous web material includes fibers, which may be selected from the group consisting of a bonded carded web, spunbonded web, meltblown fiber web, and multi-ply fibrous web. Moreover, the matrix of fibrous web material may have an elmendorf tear greater than about 66.5 centinewton. Also, the matrix of fibrous web material may have a tensile modulus of at least about 1544 gram per centimeter squared. Additionally, the matrix of fibrous web material may have greater strength at lower negative draw percent. Furthermore, the matrix of fibrous web material may have a greater machine direction toughness at about the same GMBL as a convex transfer produced web.

Transfer system and process for making a stretchable fibrous web and article produced thereof

An improved absorbent consumer paper product is made on an improved drying fabric that forms an aesthetically pleasing and functionally superior pattern on the paper web before creping. The drying fabric is characterized by a plurality of shute threads extending substantially parallel to each other in a cross-direction of the drying fabric; and a plurality of warp threads extending substantially parallel to each other in a machine direction of the drying fabric. The shute and warp threads are woven together so as to define a number of relatively long warp knuckles at locations where one of said warp threads crosses over at least four of the shute threads. The long warp knuckles are positioned in a shed pattern so as to form (a) a first axis of bulky ridges that are defined by long warp knuckles which are positioned next to each other on adjacent warp threads, the first axis being disposed at a first angle with respect to the cross-direction of the drying fabric that is substantially within the range of greater than 68 degrees but less than 90 degrees; and (b) a second axis formed by each of the long warp knuckles with other, overlapping long warp knuckles on nearby, but not immediately adjacent, warp threads, the second axis forming a second angle with respect to the cross-direction of the drying fabric and being less than about 28 degrees.

System for making absorbent paper products

An improved absorbent consumer paper product such as toilet tissue involves drying fabric that forms an aesthetically pleasing and functionally superior pattern on the paper web before creping. The drying fabric is characterized by a plurality of shute threads extending substantially parallel to each other in a cross-direction of the drying fabric; and a plurality of warp threads extending substantially parallel to each other in a machine direction of the drying fabric. The shute and warp threads are woven together so as to define a number of relatively long warp knuckles at locations where one of said warp threads crosses over at least four of the shute threads. The long warp knuckles are positioned in a shed pattern so as to form (a) a first axis of bulky ridges that are defined by long warp knuckles which are positioned next to each other on adjacent warp threads, the first axis being disposed at a first angle with respect to the cross-direction of the drying fabric that is substantially within the range of greater than 68 degrees but less than 90 degrees; and (b) a second axis formed by each of the long warp knuckles with other, overlapping long warp knuckles on nearby, but not immediately adjacent, warp threads, the second axis forming a second angle with respect to the cross-direction of the drying fabric and being less than about 28 degrees.

A papermaking fabric, particularly useful as a throughdrying fabric, which has shute and warp threads woven together to define a top surface plane on the sheet side containing only a number of relatively long warp knuckles at locations where one of the warp threads crosses over at least four of the shute threads. The long warp knuckles are positioned in a shed pattern to form (a) a first axis of bulky ridges that are defined by long warp knuckles positioned next to each other on adjacent warp threads, the first axis being disposed at a first angle with respect to the cross-direction of the drying fabric that is substantially between 68 and 90 degrees; and (b) a second axis formed by each of the long warp knuckles with other, overlapping long warp knuckles on nearby, but not immediately adjacent, warp threads, the second axis forming a second angle with respect to the cross-direction of the drying fabric of less than about 28 degrees.

Disclosed is a method for reducing the moisture content of a paper web in a papermaking process from in the range of 10% to 32% dry to the range of 33% to 50% dry wherein the embryonic web is supported on a knuckled through drier fabric and lightly pressed between the knuckled through drier fabric and a capillary membrane of a capillary dewatering roll. The capillary membrane has capillary pores therethrough which have a substantially straight through, non-tortuous path with a pore aspect ratio of from about 2 to about 20. A vacuum is drawn within the capillary dewatering roll which is not greater than the negative capillary suction pressure of the capillary pores.

Growing community of inventors

Mount Laurel, NJ, United States of America

Kenneth Kaufman