Kimberly-clark Corporation

Timothy L Wehman

Robert A Stevens

Edward E Werner

Bruce Reed Shafer

Jeffrey W King

Christopher M Pieper

Kenneth M Enloe

An apparatus for forming a zoned distribution of particulate material within a fibrous web includes a conveying mechanism for providing a gas entrained supply of the particulate material and a segregating mechanism for centrifugally directing at least a portion of the particulate material into an accumulation region of the apparatus. A transferring mechanism selectively directs particulate material from the accumulation region into a delivery gas stream to provide an intermittent flow volume of a selected quantity of particulate material from the accumulation region through a delivery conduit and into a web forming chamber. A fiberizing mechanism provides a flow of a selected fibrous material into the web forming chamber, and a directing mechanism controls the intermittent flow of particulate material from the delivery conduit into the forming chamber. A foraminous forming layer is disposed within the forming chamber for receiving the fibrous material and the particulate material to produce a fibrous web which includes zoned regions having selected, different amounts of the particulate material therein.

Method and apparatus for intermittently depositing particulate material

A method for forming a zoned distribution of particulate material within a fibrous web includes a conveying step for providing a gas entrained supply of the particulate material and a segregating step centrifugally directing at least a portion of the particulate material into an accumulation region. A transferring step selectively directs particulate material from the accumulation region into a delivery gas stream to provide an intermittent flow volume of a selected quantity of particulate material from the accumulation region through a delivery conduit and into a web forming chamber. A fiberizing step provides a flow of a selected fibrous material into the web forming chamber, and a directing step controls the intermittent flow of particulate material from the delivery conduit into the forming chamber. A foraminous forming layer is disposed within the forming chamber for receiving the fibrous material and the particulate material to produce a fibrous web which includes zoned regions having selected, different amounts of the particulate material therein.

Method for intermittently depositing particulate material in a substrate

Apparatus for intermittently depositing particulate material in a

Apparatus and process for forming a laid fibrous article includes a foraminous forming surface for depositing thereon of fibers under the influence of a pressure differential imposed on the surface, wherein the improvement comprises the provision of a concavely contoured portion of the forming surface to yield a non-stepwise gradation in basis weight of the laid fibrous article. The concavely contoured surface portion is bounded by walls defining angles of from about 45.degree. to 68.degree., whereby the laid fibrous article is readily removable from the forming surface, which may comprise the cylindrical surface of a rotating drum.

Apparatus and process for forming a laid fibrous web

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Appleton, WI, United States of America

Timothy L Wehman