Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Tissue Company

Strong C Chuang

Kenneth Kaufman

Robert H Schiesser

Sheng-Hsin Hu

Joseph George Capizzi

Amber Marie Fortune

Daniel John Vander Heiden

Jason D Rottier

Peter John Allen

Paul Douglas Beuther

Frank Gerald Druecke

Kou-Chang Liu

Jay Chiehlung Hsu

Lee Patrick Garvey

Ken Kaufman

Keu-Chang Liu

Alan Chan

Daniel Vander Heiden

A method for applying a softening composition to a paper web of a tissue product is provided. The softening composition is applied primarily to the elevated regions of the tissue product. The application of the softening composition in this manner allows for the use of hydrophobic softeners, such as amino-functionalized polysiloxanes, in an amount of from about 0.05% to about 5% by weight of the tissue product while maintaining a Wet Out Time of less than about 10 seconds.

Method for applying softening compositions to a tissue product

A method for forming a tissue product that is soft and produces relatively low levels of slough is provided. The method includes providing a liquid furnish of cellulosic fibers and forming a multi-layered wet web therefrom. The web is dried (e.g., through-dried) to a solids consistency of 90% or greater. A latex having a glass transition temperature less than about 30&#xb0; C. is applied to the dried web (e.g., foamed, printed, sprayed, etc.) such that the latex comprises less than about 3% by weight of the dry weight of the web. The latex remains substantially uncured after being applied to the dried web.

Tissue products having reduced slough

A process for producing tissue webs is disclosed. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an improved process for drying webs. According to the present invention, a formed web still containing a substantial amount of moisture is passed through a nip formed between a press roll and a heated drum. When passed through the nip, the web is placed on a porous fabric. The web is then carried through the nip for a period of time and subjected to temperatures and pressures sufficient to create a steam front which travels through the web and expels a significant amount of moisture from the web through the porous fabric.

Tissue impulse drying

A method for forming a tissue product that is soft and produces relatively low levels of slough is provided. The method includes providing a liquid furnish of cellulosic fibers and forming a multi-layered wet web therefrom. The web is dried (e.g., through-dried) to a solids consistency of 90% or greater. A latex having a glass transition temperature less than about 30&deg; C. is applied to the dried web (e.g., foamed, printed, sprayed, etc.) such that the latex comprises less than about 3% by weight of the dry weight of the web. The latex remains substantially uncured after being applied to the dried web.

The present invention is a foam applicator system for applying foam to a tissue web. The foam applicator system comprises a foam applicator capable of applying a liquid-based composition to a tissue web. The foam applicator includes an extrusion head comprising a first nozzle bar and a second nozzle bar and having an inner surface and an outer surface. A first end of a flexible scraper is operatively associated with the first nozzle bar of the extrusion head. A second end of the flexible scraper outward from the first end of the flexible scraper. The foam applicator system may also comprise a vacuum slot positioned opposing the extrusion head with the tissue web therebetween.

Nozzle apparatus having a scraper for the application of the foam treatment of tissue webs

A method is disclosed for topical application of compositions containing a chemical additive onto a paper web. The present invention is also directed to paper products formed from the method. In general, the method includes the steps of extruding a composition containing a chemical additive through a melt blown die and then applying the composition to a moving paper web. In one embodiment, the chemical composition is extruded into fibers and applied to the paper web. The chemical composition can contain, for instance, various additives, such as a polysiloxane softener.

Method for the application of viscous compositions to the surface of a paper web and products made therefrom

The present invention is a method for uniformly applying a foam to a wet tissue web is provided. Specifically, a foam is first formed from a liquid-based composition and a gas, such as air. Once formed, the foam is applied by a foam applicator to the wet tissue web. In one embodiment, for example, the foam applicator applies the foam with a flexible scraper contacting the wet tissue web during the application of the foam. When applied with the foam, the wet tissue web typically has a solids consistency less than about 95% by dry weight of the tissue web. In some embodiments, one or more vacuum slots may be utilized in conjunction with the foam applicator to facilitate uniform application of the foam to the wet tissue web.

Method of using a nozzle apparatus for the application of the foam treatment of tissue webs

A system and process for removing unwanted fibers from a forming fabric during a wet papermaking process is disclosed. The system includes a scarfing shower configured to emit a cleaning fluid that contacts the forming fabric. In particular, the cleaning fluid tangentially contacts the forming fabric while the forming fabric is being guided around a turning roll. Preferably, the cleaning fluid is emitted in a direction that is opposite to the direction at which the forming fabric is moving.

Scarfing shower for fabric cleaning in a wet papermaking process

A system and method for transferring a nonwoven web in a wet papermaking process to a fabric is disclosed. The system includes a vacuum shoe that operates in conjunction with a transfer shoe. The vacuum shoe is contacted against a carrier fabric which is designed to receive the nonwoven web. The transfer shoe, on the other hand, is configured to contact a transfer fabric from which the web is transferred. The transfer shoe includes an air nozzle which contacts the nonwoven web with a pressurized gas as the web is drawn towards the vacuum shoe. The system of the present invention is particularly well suited to processing lower basis weight webs and can be used in rush transfer processes.

Air knife assisted sheet transfer

A method for making throughdried tissue products includes a throughdryer which functions without a throughdrying fabric. The tissue web is formed in a conventional manner and dewatered to a high consistency prior to being transferred to the surface of the throughdryer. The inside of the throughdryer is operated with a vacuum while a hot air hood serves to blow hot air through the web into the dryer. In one embodiment, the surface of the throughdrying drum is provided with circumferential ridges to impart bulk and cross-machine directional stretch to the resulting tissue. A doctor blade having ridges which intermesh with the circumferential ridges on the throughdryer surface can be used to skim the dried sheet from the dryer surface.

Method and apparatus for making a throughdried tissue product without a throughdrying fabric

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

Appleton, WI, United States of America

Strong C Chuang