Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kurt T Otto

James Monroe Perkins

James Leo Baggot

Bernhardt Edward Kressner

Ronald Frederick Gropp

Kevin Berkebile

New and improved methods and products are disclosed relating to softness of fibrous webs. Increased softness, among other things, is obtained by abrading the surface of the web to create fuzziness from protruding fibers.

Method of mechanical softening of sheet material

Paper sheet having improved rate of absorbency

An apparatus for calendering a sheet material web being carried on or between one or more carrier fabrics. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a calender section having first and second calender rolls forming a nip therebetween. At least one carrier fabric is disposed between the first and second calender rolls. The first and second calender rolls apply a load to the carrier fabric and sheet material web as they pass through the nip between the calender rolls so as to reduce the caliper, or thickness, of the sheet material web. A method for calendering the sheet material web includes carrying the sheet material web on one or more carrier fabrics through the calender nip formed by the first and second calender rolls and applying a load to the carrier fabric, and sheet material carried thereby, so as to reduce the thickness of the sheet material web.

Apparatus for calendering a sheet material web carried by a fabric

A method for calendering the sheet material web includes carrying the sheet material web on one or more carrier fabrics through the calender nip formed by the first and second calender rolls and applying a load to the carrier fabric, and sheet material carried thereby, so as to reduce the thickness of the sheet material web.

Growing community of inventors

Aiken, SC, United States of America

Kurt T Otto