EP0677612A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method of making soft tissue products
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
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Filing: 1995-04-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-04-12
Abstract
Abstract Throughdried tissue products such as facial tissue, bath tissue, and paper towels are made using a throughdrying fabric having from about 5 to about 300 machine direction impression knuckles per 6.45 cm<2> (1 square inch) which are raised above the plane of the fabric. These impression knuckles create corresponding protrusions in the throughdried sheet which impart a significant amount of cross-machine direction stretch to the sheet. In addition, other properties such as bulk, absorbent capacity, absorbent rate and flexibility are also improved. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Greg Arthur Wendt
- 👤 Theodore Edwin Farrington, Jr.
- 👤 Kai F. Chiu
- 👤 David Alan Heaton
- 👤 Mark Alan Burazin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:11
CPC Classifications
D; D21; D21F; D21F11/00; D21F11/14; D21F11/145; D21F1/00; D21F1/0027; D21F1/0036; D21F11/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of making a tissue sheet comprising the steps of: a. providing a web comprising papermaking fibers and water on a forming fabric; b. optionally transferring the web from the forming fabric to a transfer fabric traveling at a speed of from about 10 to about 80% slower than the forming fabric; c. transferring the web to a throughdrying fabric having from about 5 to about 300 impression knuckles per 6.45 cm² (1 square inch) which are raised at least about 0.12 mm (0.005 inch) above the plane of the fabric, wherein the web is macroscopically rearranged to conform to the surface of the throughdrying fabric; and d. throughdrying the web.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the transfer fabric has from about 5 to about 300 impression knuckles per 6.45 cm² (1 square inch) which are raised about 0.12 mm (0.005 inch) or greater above the plane of the transfer fabric.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of making a tissue sheet comprising the steps of: a. providing a web comprising papermaking fibers and water on a forming fabric; b. transferring the web to a transfer fabric traveling at a speed of from about 10 to about 80 % slower than the forming fabric, said transfer fabric having from about 5 to about 300 impression knuckles per 6.45 cm² (1 square inch) which are raised at least about 0.12 mm (0.005 inch) above the plane of the transfer fabric, wherein the web is macroscopically rearranged to conform to the surface of the transfer fabric; and c. transferring the web to a throughdrying fabric and drying the web.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
56 words
The method of one of the preceding claims wherein the step (a) further comprises the steps of: depositing an aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers having a consistency of about 1% or less onto a forming fabric to form a wet web; and dewatering the wet web to a consistency of from about 20 to 30 %.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
48 words
The method of one of the preceding claims wherein the number of impression knuckles in the throughdrying fabric and/or the transfer fabric is from about 10 to about 150 per 6.45 cm² (1 square inch), or from about 10 to about 75 per 6.45 cm² (1 square inch).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
14 words
The method of one of the preceding claims wherein the throughdried web is calendered.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
14 words
The method of one of the preceding claims wherein the throughdried web is creped.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
15 words
The method of one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the throughdried web is uncreped.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
221 words
A method of making a soft uncreped throughdried tissue product especially according to one of the preceding claims comprising: a. forming an aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers having a consistency of about 20 percent or greater; b. mechanically working the aqueous suspension at a temperature of about 60°C (about 140°F) or greater provided by an external heat source with a power input of about 0.736 kW-day (about 1 horsepower-day) per ton of dry fiber or greater; c. diluting the aqueous suspension of mechanically worked fibers to a consistency of about 0.5 percent or less and feeding the diluted suspension to a layered tissue-making headbox providing two or more layers; d. including a temporary or permanent wet strength additive in one or more of said layers; e. depositing the diluted aqueous suspension onto a forming fabric to form a wet web; f. dewatering the wet web to a consistency of from about 20 to about 30 percent; g. transferring the dewatered web from the forming fabric to a transfer fabric traveling at a speed of from about 10 to about 80 percent slower than the forming fabric; h. transferring the web to a throughdrying fabric whereby the web is macroscopically rearranged to conform to the surface of the throughdrying fabric; i. throughdrying the web to final dryness; and j. calendering the web.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
A throughdried tissue sheet, especially an uncreped throughdried tissue sheet, having a basis weight of from about 10 to 70 g/m² and from about 5 to about 300 protrusions per 6.45 cm² (1 square inch) having a height of about 0.12 mm (about 0.005 inch) or greater which corresponds to impression knuckles on the throughdrying fabric and/or the transfer fabric, said tissue sheet having a cross-machine direction stretch of about 9% or greater.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The tissue sheet of claim 10 having from about 10 to about 150 protrusions per 6.45 cm² (1 square inch).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The tissue sheet of one of claims 10 or 11 having from about 10 to about 75 protrusions per 6.45 cm² (1 square inch).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The tissue sheet of one of claims 10 to 12 having from about 10 to about 50 protrusions per 6.45 cm² (1 square inch).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The tissue sheet of one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the height of the protrusions is from about 0.12 mm (about 0.005 inch) to about 1.3 mm (about 0.05 inch).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The tissue sheet of one of claims 10 to 14 wherein the height of the protrusions is from about 0.12 mm (about 0.005 inch) to about 0.762 mm (about 0.03 inch).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The tissue sheet of one of claims 10 to 15 wherein the height of the protrusions is from about 0.25 mm (about 0.01 inch) to about 0.51 mm (about 0.02 inch).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tissue sheet of one of claims 10 to 16 having a cross-machine direction stretch of from about 10 to about 25 percent.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tissue sheet of one of claims 10 to 17 having a cross-machine direction stretch of from about 10 to about 20 percent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tissue sheet of one of claims 10 to 18 having a bulk of about 12 cm³/g or greater.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tissue sheet of one of claims 10 to 19 having a bulk of from about 12 to about 25 cm³/g.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tissue sheet of one of claims 10 to 20 having a bulk of from about 15 to about 20 cm³/g.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The tissue sheet of one of claims 10 to 21 having a flexibility, as measured by the ratio of the geometric mean modulus to the geometric mean tensile strength, of 4.25 km per kg or less.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
The tissue sheet of one of claims 10 to 22 having a flexibility, as measured by the ratio of the geometric mean modulus to the geometric mean tensile strength, of from about 2 to about 4.25 km per kg.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The tissue sheet of one of claims 10 to 23 having a Wicking Rate of about 6.35 cm (about 2.5 inches) per 15 seconds or greater.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The tissue sheet of one of claims 10 to 24 having a Wicking Rate of from about 6.35 to 10.16 cm (about 2.5 to about 4 inches) per 15 seconds.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The tissue sheet of one of claims 10 to 25 having a Wicking Rate of from about 7.62 to about 8.89 cm (about 3 to about 3.5 inches) per 15 seconds.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The tissue sheet of one of claims 10 to 26 having an Absorbent Capacity of about 12 grams per gram or greater.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
60 words
A throughdried tissue sheet especially according to one of claims 10 to 27 having a basis weight of from about 10 to about 70 g/m² and from about 5 to about 300 protrusions per 6.45 cm² (1 square inch) which correspond to impression knuckles of the throughdrying fabric, said tissue sheet having a bulk of about 12 cm³/g or greater.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tissue sheet of one of claims 10 to 28 having a bulk of from about 12 to about 25 cm²/g.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tissue sheet of one of claims 10 to 29 having a bulk of from about 15 to about 20 cm³/g.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tissue sheet of one of claims 10 to 30 having an Absorbent Capacity of about 11 or greater.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The tissue sheet of one of claims 28 to 31 having a CD stretch of about 9 percent or greater.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
34 words
The tissue sheet of one of claims 28 to 32 having a flexibility, as measured by the ratio of the geometric mean modulus to the geometric mean tensile strength, of about 4.25 or less.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
83 words
A tissue sheet especially according to one of claims 10 to 33 having a basis weight of from about 10 to about 70 g/m² and from about 5 to about 300 protrusions per 6.45 cm² (1 square inch) which correspond to impression knuckles of a papermaking fabric, said tissue sheet having a bulk of about 12 cm³/g or greater and a flexibility, as measured by the ratio of the geometric mean modulus to the geometric mean tensile strength, of about 4.25 or less.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The tissue sheet of one of claims 10 to 34 having a MD stiffness value of about 100 kg-µm 1/2 or less.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
The tissue of one of claims 10 to 35 wherein the tissue is uncreped.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tissue of one of Claims 10 to 36 wherein the MD Stiffness value is about 75 kg-µm 1/2 or less.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tissue of one of claims 10 to 37 wherein the MD Stiffness value is about 50 kg-µm 1/2 or less.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
56 words
A calendered uncreped throughdried tissue sheet, suitable for facial or bathroom tissue, having a basis weight of from about 10 to 70 g/m² and from about 5 to 300 protrusions per 6.45 cm² (1 square inch) which correspond to impression knuckles on the throughdried fabric, said tissue having a bulk of about 7.0 cm³/g or greater.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
The tissue of claim 39 having a CD stretch of about 4 percent or greater.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tissue of one of claims 39 or 40 having an Absorbent Capacity of about 9.0 or greater.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tissue of one of claims 39 to 41 having an MD Stiffness value of about 100 kg-µm 1/2 or less.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tissue of one of claims 39 to 42 having an MD Stiffness value of about 75 kg-µm 1/2 or less.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
21 words
The tissue of one of claims 39 to 43 having an MD Stiffness value of about 50 kg-µm 1/2 or less.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
36 words
A soft tissue product having one or more plies, said tissue having a WCB of about 4.5 or greater, an LER of about 50 percent or greater and a WS of about 50 percent or greater.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
14 words
The tissue product of claim 45 having a WCB of about 5.0 or greater.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tissue product of one of claims 45 or 46 having an LER of about 55 percent or greater.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tissue product of one of claims 45 to 47 having a WS of about 60 percent or greater.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
16 words
The tissue product of one of claims 45 to 48 wherein the plies are throughdried plies.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
17 words
The tissue product of one of claims 45 to 49 wherein the plies are uncreped throughdried plies.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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