Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Samuel August Nelson

Michael Alan Hermans

Frank Stephen Hada

Robert Eugene Krautkramer

Paulin Pawar

Donald John Slayton

Peter John Allen

Mark William Sachs

Jeffrey James Timm

Mark John Hassman

Robert James Seymour

Kyle Andrew Krautkramer

Kevin Joseph Vogt

Jeffrey Dean Holz

Richard Allen Zanon

Richard Mark Hansen

Daniel Robert Sprangers

Nathan J Haiduk

Jason Michael Rudolph

Reza Ramazani-Rend

Craig Steven Besaw

Thomas McLachlan Jenn

Rachel Allison Graff

Paul Timothy Baker

Tara Marie Logut

Lucia Yiyi Chai

Nathan John Haiduk

Thomas Mclachlan Jenn

The novel tissue products of the present invention are generally produced by calendering a tissue basesheet using at least one patterned roll. In one embodiment the patterned roll replaces the flat steel roll commonly used in calendering. The elements on the patterned roll provide a means of providing a nip having variable loading that yields a web having a smooth surface without subjecting the web to excessive compression forces and preventing excessive caliper loss. Thus, webs converted according to the present invention have comparable or better surface smoothness compared to webs converted using conventional calendering means and also retain a greater percentage of their caliper and bulk.

Smooth and bulky rolled tissue products

The present disclosure relates to a vacuum dewatering apparatus comprising a vacuum box disposed opposite of a steam box where the steam box comprises a bottom plate having a substantially linear portion and a curvilinear portion. A plurality of apertures are disposed along at least a portion of the curvilinear portion to permit the transmission of steam. In a preferred embodiment, the curvilinear portion is adjacent to the trailing edge and the linear portion is adjacent to the leading edge of the apertured bottom plate. Further, at least a portion of the apertures are aligned opposite the vacuum box which acts to remove the steam. The vacuum dewatering apparatus of the present invention enables the use of high levels of steam improving vacuum dewatering and improving drying efficiency.

Fibrous web dewatering apparatus and method

The present application provides a method of manufacturing a patterned tissue product comprising a textured background surface, and a design element wherein the design element is formed by removing a portion of the textured background. The method comprises the steps of (a) providing a tissue web having a textured top surface lying in a surface plane and a bottom surface lying in a bottom plane wherein there is a z-directional height difference between the surface plane and the bottom plane; (b) conveying the web through a first nip created by a first receiving roll and a pattern roll having a plurality of protuberances forming a design pattern; (c) conforming a portion of the web to the protuberances; and (d) conveying the web into a second nip formed between the pattern roll and a second receiving roll to form a patterned tissue product having a design element corresponding to the plurality of protuberances, the design element lying in a design element plane that is between the surface plane and the bottom plane. The textured surface provides the tissue with an overall background pattern that is typically visually distinct from the design element imparted thereon. The method may further comprise the step of applying a papermaking additive or water to the conformed portion of the web via an applicator roll between step (c) and (d). The pattern roll is generally a hard and non-deformable roll, such as a steel roll. The first receiving roll has a hardness greater than 40 Shore (A), such as from 40 to 100 Shore (A). The second receiving roll may have a smooth or non-smooth surface, and the pressure applied at the second nip is greater than 30 pli, such as from about 50-250 pli.

Texture subtractive patterning

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

The novel tissue products of the present invention are generally produced by calendering a tissue basesheet using at least one patterned roll. In one embodiment the patterned roll replaces the flat steel roll commonly used in calendering. The elements on the patterned roll provide a means of providing a nip having variable loading such that Z-direction variability in the web is reduced, yielding a smoother web, but without subjecting the web to excessive compression forces and preventing excessive caliper loss. Thus, webs converted according to the present invention tend to retain a greater percentage of their caliper and bulk when converted compared to webs converted using conventional calendering means.

Creped tissue webs having low surface-roughness and high sheet bulk are disclosed. Specifically creped, single ply tissue web having a single wire probe mean deviation of MIU (MMD) of less than about 0.040 and a sheet bulk of greater than about 12 cc/g are disclosed. Additionally creped, multi-ply tissue web having a single wire probe mean deviation of MUI (MMD) of less than about 0.035 and a sheet bulk of greater than about 10 cc/g are disclosed.

Smooth bulky tissue

The present disclosure relates to creped tissue webs that demonstrate low surface-roughness and high sheet bulk. The present disclosure relates to a creped, single ply tissue web having a single wire probe mean deviation of MIU (MMD) of less than about 0.040 and a sheet bulk of greater than about 12 cc/g. The present disclosure also relates to a creped, multi-ply tissue web having a single wire probe mean deviation of MUI (MMD) of less than about 0.035 and a sheet bulk of greater than about 10 cc/g.

The present invention provides tissue products having increased CD stretch, which may be manufactured using a process in which the nascent web is subjected to two distinct rush transfers. The first rush transfer occurs when the web is transferred from the forming fabric to the transfer fabric, i.e., the 'first position,' and the second occurs when the web is transferred from the transfer fabric to the through-air drying fabric (TAD) fabric, i.e., the 'second position.' The overall speed differential between the forming fabric and the TAD fabric may be, for example, from about 10 to about 50 percent, with the amount of rush transfer being divided between the first and second position in a manner sufficient to achieve the desired CD stretch and other sheet properties.

Rolled tissue products

Spirally wound paper products are disclosed having desirable roll bulk, firmness and softness properties. The rolled products can be made from a multiple ply tissue webs formed according to various processes. Tissue webs having basis weights greater than about 40 grams per square meter were wound into rolls having a Kershaw roll firmness of less than about 9 mm and a roll bulk of greater than about 15 cc/g. Similarly, tissue webs having basis weights less than about 40 grams per square meter were wound into rolls having a Kershaw roll firmness of less than about 9 mm and a roll bulk of greater than about 18 cc/g.

High bulk rolled tissue products

Tissue products having a high degree of cross machine direction stretch

The present disclosure provides tissue webs with improved durability produced by rewetting a dried tissue web, pressing the rewetted web and drying the web for a second time. This improved durability is manifested by a high cross-machine direction (CD) slope.

Growing community of inventors

Menasha, WI, United States of America

Samuel August Nelson