The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 25, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 13, 1999
Richard Martin Urquhart, New Milford, CT (US);
Paul Douglas Beuther, Neenah, WI (US);
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for forming a thin fibrous mat, such as a tissue sheet, with improved edge strength is disclosed. The apparatus includes a headbox having a top, a bottom, a pair of lateral sides, a back with an inlet formed therein and a front with an outlet formed therein. A first conduit is connected to the inlet of the headbox and flow therethrough is regulated to convey a first aqueous slurry at a desired flow rate into the headbox. The first aqueous slurry has a predetermined fiber consistency. A second conduit is connected to one of the lateral sides of the headbox and a second aqueous slurry is directed therethrough into the headbox at a different flow rate than through the first conduit. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for drying or draining water from the aqueous slurry exiting the outlet to form a thin fibrous mat. The thin fibrous mat has increased strength adjacent to an edge located downstream from the second conduit. The method includes the steps of introducing a first aqueous slurry to the inlet of the headbox and introducing a second aqueous slurry to at least one side of the headbox to form a fibrous mat with improved edge strength and better basis weight uniformity.