Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.

Metso Paper Karlstad Ab

Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Valmet Aktiebolag

Paul Douglas Beuther

Jeffrey Dean Holz

Frank Stephen Hada

Ingvar Berndt Erik Klerelid

Hans Ivarsson

Johan Ragard

Frank Gerald Druecke

Richard Martin Urquhart

Robert Paul Guarnotta

Jeffrey Dean Lindsay

Kevin Joseph Vogt

Peter John Allen

Richard Louis Underhill

David John Enz

Kou-Chang Liu

Brian Keith Rhodes

Scott A Baum

Roger Edward Wendler, Jr

Robert Irving Gusky

Stephen Percival John McGary

Michael Alan Hermans

Thomas Gerard Shannon

Michael John Rekoske

Robert Lewis Clarke

Richard Joseph Kamps

Tammy Lynn Baum

Timothy M McFarland

Kenneth Curtis Larson

Strong C Chuang

Lee Patrick Garvey

Philip Sim Lin

Young Ko

John Jerald Urlaub

Cristina Asensio Mullally

Charles Herbert Goerg

William James Raynor, Jr

Patrick Dean Abney

Paulin Pawar

Kurt W Ostermeier

David Robert Gruber

Anthony Mark Gambaro

Kevin Gerald Dolan

Craig A Blodgett

Stephanie Lee Oliver

Devin Charles McElrath

Johan Ulf Rågård

Bryan Robert Moore

Kevin J Mullally

Amy Christina Seewoester

Keu-Chang Liu

Alan Chan

Andrew J Feyen

Terrance David Ries

Allen Arthur Hammerstad

Mike John Rekoske

Ingvar Klerelid

Johan Ulf Ragard

Devin Charles Mcelrath

Brian K Rhodes

A plate configured to contact a web includes a first region having a first characteristic and a second region having a second characteristic different than the first characteristic. The plate has a substantially arcuate wall with an inner surface and an outer surface. A plurality of vacuum holes extends between the inner and outer surfaces and are configured to be in fluid communication with a vacuum source. A vacuum region is adapted to contact the first region of the web and a reduced-vacuum region is adapted to receive the second region of the web. The plurality of vacuum holes are configured such that, when attached to the vacuum source, a vacuum pressure at the vacuum region is greater than a pressure at the reduced-vacuum region so that the first region of the web is held against the plate with a greater force than the second region.

Plate for an anvil roll with a reduced-vacuum region for use in a slip and cut system and method of using the same

A method of modifying a male fastener of a fastening system includes feeding a web having a base substrate and a male fastening material to a modifying member having an outer surface. The male fastening material has a plurality of male fasteners with a first, unmodified profile. The profile of at least some of the plurality of male fasteners of the male fastening material are modified by engagement of the plurality of male fastener with the outer surface of the modifying member and by causing the plurality of male fasteners to slip along the outer surface of the modifying member. A modified male fastening material includes a plurality of male fasteners modified from a first profile to a second, different profile by passing the male fastening material over the outer surface of the modifying member.

Process for modifying a hook profile of a fastening component and a fastening component having hooks with a modified profile

A method of forming an elastomeric laminate having targeted elastic properties for use in personal care articles is disclosed. In particular embodiments, the method comprises providing first and second nonwoven webs; providing a core layer of elastomeric material under tension; sandwiching the core layer between the first and second nonwoven webs; bonding the core layer to at least one of the first and second nonwoven webs; providing an elastomeric film ribbon web under tension; sandwiching the elastomeric film ribbon web between the first and second nonwoven webs; and fusing the elastomeric film ribbon web to the first and second nonwoven webs. In particular embodiments, the core layer of elastomeric material is an elastomeric film web core layer. In particular embodiments, the elastomeric film ribbon web, the core layer, or both is/are bonded to the first and second nonwoven webs solely by fusing, without the use of adhesive.

Method of forming elastomeric laminates having targeted elastic properties for use in personal care articles

A tissue product, which includes a carton and a stack of tissues, is provided with a flattened arched-shaped sheet that supports the stack of tissues. As the tissues are withdrawn from the carton and the weight of the tissue stack is reduced, the flattened arch-shaped sheet gradually assumes its normal arched shape, thereby raising the stack of tissues within the carton. Raising the stack substantially reduces or eliminates 'fall-back', which is a common dispensing problem, as the stack height is reduced.

Facial tissue product with a clip riser

A soft, layered, single-ply wet-pressed tissue can be made with improved softness by providing one or both outer layers of the tissue with polysiloxane-treated pulp fibers. A particularly suitable wet-pressing process includes pressing a wet tissue web between a felt and a transfer belt to dewater the web, followed by transfer of the dewatered web to a texturizing fabric where the wet web is provided with a three-dimensional texture. Thereafter the texturized web is transferred to a Yankee dryer, dried and creped. The combination of the polysiloxane fibers and the texturizing step provides a particularly effective combination of surface feel, low stiffness and high bulk (caliper).

Molded wet-pressed tissue

An apparatus for transferring a wet paper web from a press nip to a drying cylinder of a papermaking machine, and for structuring the web, includes an impermeable transfer belt that passes through the press nip along with the paper web, and a permeable structuring fabric for transfer of the web onto the drying cylinder, the structuring fabric being arranged in a loop within which a suction transfer device is disposed. A web-contacting surface of the belt has a non-uniform distribution of microscopic-scale depressions, and a suction zone of the transfer device includes a transfer point spaced a distance D from the press nip. The belt is arranged to bring the web into contact with the structuring fabric in the suction zone for a length L, such that suction is exerted on the paper web to transfer the paper web from the belt onto the structuring fabric at the transfer point.

Apparatus with an impermeable transfer belt in a papermaking machine, and associated methods

A papermaking machine for making paper includes a forming section, a press section, and a drying section. The paper web is pressed between two press members while enclosed between a press felt and a transfer belt having non-uniformly distributed microscopic depressions in its surface, the web following the transfer belt from the press to a transfer point at which the web is transferred via a suction transfer device onto a structuring fabric, the web then being dried on a drying cylinder. The transfer point is spaced a distance D from the press nip selected based on machine speed, a basis weight of the web, and the surface characteristics of the transfer belt, such that within the distance D a thin water film between the web and the transfer belt at least partially dissipates to allow the web to be separated from the transfer belt.

Methods employing an impermeable transfer belt in a papermaking machine

An apparatus for transferring a wet paper web from a press nip to a drying cylinder () of a papermaking machine, and for structuring the web, comprises an impermeable transfer belt () having a web-contacting surface, the wet paper web passing through the press nip enclosed between a press felt () and the transfer belt, and a permeable structuring fabric () for transfer of the web onto the drying cylinder, the structuring fabric having a structured surface and being arranged in a loop within which a suction transfer device () is disposed, said suction transfer device having a suction zone (). According to the invention the web-contacting surface of the belt has a non-uniform distribution of microscopic-scale depressions, and that the suction zone includes a transfer point () spaced a distance D from the press nip along which the belt runs, the belt being arranged to bring the web into contact with the structuring fabric in the suction zone for a length L, such that suction is exerted on the paper web to transfer the paper web from the belt onto the structuring fabric. at the transfer point.

Papermaking machine employing an impermeable transfer belt, and associated methods

A process for producing tissue webs is disclosed. The process includes the step of partially dewatering a tissue web and then subjecting the web to multiple deflections against fabrics prior to drying the tissue web. For instance, in one embodiment, the tissue web is deflected multiple times in between two opposing fabrics. The tissue web can be deflected against the fabrics under sufficient pressure to cause the tissue web to mold against the fabrics. By deflecting the tissue web multiple times, rearrangement of the papermaking fibers contained in the tissue web occurs increasing the bulk of the web.

Method for producing soft bulky tissue

A reel for winding a paper roll including: a frame supporting a reel drum and a pair of rails; a reel spool supported for translation by the rails and upon which a paper roll is wound; an endless flexible belt wrapping a portion of the periphery of the reel drum and a portion of the periphery of the paper roll; and a loading member for loading the paper roll against the reel drum and the endless flexible belt.

Apparatus and method for winding and transporting paper

Growing community of inventors

Neenah, WI, United States of America

Paul Douglas Beuther