Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Richard Allen Zanon

Mark Alan Burazin

Kevin Joseph Vogt

Mark William Sachs

Lynda Ellen Collins

Jeffrey Dean Holz

Richard Joseph Behm

Christopher Steven LeCount

Donald John Slayton

Douglas Wayne Stage

Jennifer Leigh Jeschke

Joseph Walter Buyeske

Mike Thomas Goulet

Frank Stephen Hada

Peter John Allen

Jason Robert Boon

Christopher Lee Satori

Samuel August Nelson

Geoffrey Fenn Carlow

Mark John Hassman

Robert James Seymour

Richard Mark Hansen

Sarah Marie McGinnis

Daniel Robert Sprangers

Nathan J Haiduk

Paul Timothy Baker

Nathan John Haiduk

Disclosed is a two layered belt useful in the manufacture of tissue products comprising a first woven layer and a second nonwoven layer joined together in a laminated arrangement. The woven layer typically forms the machine contacting layer of the belt and is woven from a highly abrasion resistant material, while the nonwoven layer contacts the nascent tissue web. The woven layer may be provided with valleys and ridges that the nascent web is molded into, while the nonwoven layer may be provided with elements that impart a visually aesthetic pattern to the web. In this manner the belt may be useful in the production of products having desirable physical properties resulting from molding into the woven fabric while also being visually pleasing to the user.

Laminated papermaking belt

Provided are tissue webs, and products produced therefrom, that are generally durable, flexible and have improved cross-machine direction (CD) properties, such as CD tensile energy absorption (CD TEA), CD stretch and CD modulus. The inventive tissue products generally comprise multiple tissue plies, such as two or more plies, that have been prepared by through-air drying and more preferably by through-air drying without creping. Moreover, the plies may be produced in a through-air drying process that utilizes a transfer fabric positioned between the forming fabric and the through-air drying fabric where the transfer fabric imparts the nascent web with a high degree of CD strain.

Multi-ply tissue products having improved cross-machine direction properties

The present invention discloses tissue products, specifically rolled paper towel products, such as one, two or three ply tissue products having a basis weight greater than about 35 gsm and a GMT greater than about 1,500 g/3&#x2033;. The products have a three-dimensional surface, typically the air contacting surface, comprising substantially continuous machine direction (MD) oriented elements, discrete cross-machine direction (CD) oriented elements and discrete MD oriented valleys having valley sidewalls formed by the MD oriented elements and valley endwalls formed by the CD oriented elements. The discrete valleys generally have a length greater than about 10.0 mm. The CD oriented elements comprise a relatively small percentage of the tissue surface area, such as less than about 15 percent, yet the tissue products display good anti-nesting properties when spirally wound into rolls, such as a Roll Structure greater than about 1.75.

Papermaking fabrics having machine and cross-machine direction elements and paper products made therewith

The present invention discloses a papermaking fabric having a both machine direction (MD) and cross-machine direction (CD) oriented protuberances for molding and structuring a nascent paper web, particularly tissue paper webs. The MD oriented protuberances are spaced apart from one another in the fabric cross-machine direction and may be continuous and parallel to one another. The CD oriented protuberances are preferably discrete and comprise less than 15 percent of the web contacting surface of the fabric. In certain instances the MD oriented protuberances are formed from interwoven filaments and the CD oriented protuberances are nonwoven and may be applied to the woven fabric substrate by printing.

The present invention discloses a papermaking fabric having a both machine direction (MD) and cross-machine direction (CD) oriented protuberances for molding and structuring a nascent paper web, particularly tissue paper webs. The MD orientated protuberances are spaced apart from one another in the fabric cross-machine direction and may be continuous and parallel to one another. The CD orientated protuberances are preferably discrete and comprise less than about 15 percent of the web contacting surface of the fabric. In certain instances the MD orientated protuberances are formed from interwoven filaments and the CD orientated protuberances are nonwoven and may be applied to the woven fabric substrate by printing.

The present invention discloses tissue products, specifically rolled bath tissue products, having a three-dimensional surface topography comprising substantially continuous machine direction (MD) oriented elements, discrete cross-machine direction (CD) oriented elements and discrete MD oriented valleys having valley sidewalls formed by the MD oriented elements and valley endwalls formed by the CD oriented elements. The discrete valleys generally have a length greater than about 10.0 mm. The CD oriented elements comprise a relatively small percentage of the tissue surface area, such as less than about 15 percent, yet the tissue products display good anti-nesting properties when spirally wound into rolls, such as a Roll Structure greater than about 0.75.

Papermaking fabric

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

Spirally wound paper products are disclosed having desirable roll bulk, firmness and softness properties. The rolled products can be made from single ply tissue webs formed according to various processes.

High bulk tissue sheets and products

Growing community of inventors

Appleton, WI, United States of America

Richard Allen Zanon