Abstract Absorbent paper products, such as towels, absorbent wipes, toilet tissue, facial tissue and the like fibrous webs of relatively high bulk, are produced by a method comprising the steps of treating hydrophilic cellulosie fibers to impart kinks, curls, bends, twists, to the fibers; dispersing the treated fibers in an aqueous forming medium, and wet-forming a stratified single-ply web constituted of at least one stratum of the treated fibers and at least one stratum of conventional paper-making fibers. The treating step may consist of wet or dry mechanical working, chemical treatment or a combination of mechanical and chemical treatments. The web forming step comprises preparing a first aqueous furnish of the treated fibers, preparing a second aqueous furnish of the conventional fibers, and concurrently depositing the two furnishes in contiguous layers on a moving foraminous support.
In a process for production of a fibrous web towel or tissue product of enhanced softness, absorbency and bulk, the steps comprising: (a) forming treated dry cellulosic papermaking fibers characterized by twists, kinks, curls, crimps, or the like by dry hammermilling wood papermaking fibers without substantial fibrillation or breakage of the fibers; (b) preparing an unfoamed aqueous furnish by dispersing said dry treated papermaking fibers in water; (c) depositing a layer of fibers from said furnish onto a moving foraminous support forming a fibrous web; and (d) removing water from the fibrous web within a period of time not greater than about five minutes after the time of initial contact of the treated dry fibers with the water.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
In a process for production of a fibrous web towel or tissue product of enhanced softness, absorbency and bulk, the steps comprising: (a) forming treated dry cellulosic papermaking fibers characterized by twists, kinks, curls, crimps, or the like by dry hammermilling wood papermaking fibers without substantial fibrillation or breakage of the fibers; (b) preparing an unfoamed aqueous furnish by dispersing said dry treated papermaking fibers in water; (c) depositing a layer of fibers from said furnish onto a moving foraminous support forming a fibrous web; and (d) removing water from the fibrous web within a period of time not greater than about five minutes after the time of initial contact of the treated dry fibers with the water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the water is removed from the web within a period of time not greater than about three minutes from the time of initial contact of the treated dry fibers with the aqueous carrier medium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein the furnish temperature is within the range of 60 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the wet web is pressed by means of consolidation rollers to remove water therefrom prior to drying.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the aqueous furnish is made up of a blend of hammermilled dry fibers and natural papermaking fibers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process as defined in claim 1 wherein the furnish of hammermilled papermaking fibers and a separate aqueous furnish having a fiber content consisting essentially of natural cellulosic wood papermaking fibers are deposited on the foraminous support in laminar relationship to one another forming a single ply bonded web.