Generating a unique crepe structure

Abstract

A process for producing a creped sheet as well as a creping blade and creped paper product formed by such blade is set forth with the process including the steps of adhering a cellulosic web to a moving surface, providing a stepped creping blade disposed to crepe the cellulosic web from the moving surface and creping the cellulosic web from the moving surface forms a creped paper product having greater bulk and absorbency than previously prepared creped paper products. The stepped creping blade used in carrying out the process of the present invention includes an elongated body adapted to be engagable against, and span the width of, the moving surface, the elongated body having a cross section including a relief surface generally facing toward the moving surface, a back surface substantially parallel to the relief surface and generally facing away from the moving surface, a top surface adjacent both the relief surface and a recessed surface with the recessed surface being adjacent both the top surface and the back surface and forming a contact edge with the top surface such that the contact edge engages against the moving surface for creping the cellulosic web from the moving surface. The top surface and the recessed surface form a back step edge while the recessed surface and the back surface form a trailing edge. When utilizing such a blade configuration, the process further includes the steps of first contacting the cellulosic web conveyed by the moving surface with the contact edge, then optionally contacting the cellulosic web creped by the contact edge with the back step edge and subsequently contacting the cellulosic web creped by the contact edge with the trailing edge.