US5336373A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet using restrained can drying
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Tissue Co
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Filing: 1992-12-29
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Granted: 1994-08-09
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Expires: 2012-12-29
Abstract
Abstract A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet with improved uniformity by forming the web on a forming fabric with a furnish having a consistency in the range of from about 0.08% to about 0.6% solids, dewatering the web noncompressibly such that the web is the range of from about 30% to about 40% dry, transferring the web from the forming fabric to an imprinting fabric, lightly pressing the web and the imprinting fabric against the drying can to form a pattern of densifications in the web, can drying the web from no more than about 30% to 40% dry to at least 55% to 60% dry, and restraining the web between the imprinting fabric and the drying can during the can drying step until the web is at least 55% to 60% dry. In addition to the benefits on uniformity, chemicals added to the furnish such as wet strength resins, dry strength resins, surfactants and dyes will migrate during the drying step to the face of the sheet facing the drying can and, specifically, to the densifications formed in the sheet.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas F. Scattolino
- 👤 Howard J. Stern
- 👤 John G. Trumball
- 👤 Richard I. Wolkowicz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 01:52
CPC Classifications
D; D21; D21F; D21F11/00; D21F11/006; D21F11/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 to about 70 pounds per ream comprising the steps of: (a) forming a web on a forming fabric with a furnish; (b) dewatering the web non-compressively such that the web is at least 8% dry; (c) transferring the web from the forming fabric to an imprinting fabric by means of a vacuum pick-up; (d) forming a pattern of densifications in the web; (e) can drying the web on the surface of at least one can dryer to at least 60% dry such that only one side of the web is placed in contact against the surface of the can dryer during said can drying step; (f) restraining the web between the imprinting fabric and the surface of at least one car dryer during said can drying step until the web is at least 60% dry; and (g) maintaining the web in registration with the imprinting fabric during steps d, e, and f such that only a single pattern of densifications is formed in the web.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 to about 70 pounds per ream comprising the steps of: (a) forming a web on a forming fabric with a furnish; (b) dewatering the web non-compressively such that the web is at least 8% dry; (c) transferring the web from the forming fabric to an imprinting fabric by means of a vacuum pick-up; (d) forming a pattern of densifications in the web; (e) can drying the web on the surface of at least one can dryer to at least 60% dry such that only one side of the web is placed in contact against the surface of the can dryer during said can drying step; (f) restraining the web between the imprinting fabric and the surface of at least one car dryer during said can drying step until the web is at least 60% dry; and (g) maintaining the web in registration with the imprinting fabric during steps d, e, and f such that only a single pattern of densifications is formed in the web.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of: removing the web from the drying can while the web is still retained on the imprinting fabric.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream as recited in claim 2 further comprising the step of: separating the web from the imprinting fabric when the web is at least 90% dry.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream as recited in claim 1 wherein: said transferring step is performed with the forming fabric travelling at a faster velocity than the imprinting fabric.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream as recited in claim 1 wherein: the vacuum pick-up pulls a vacuum during said transferring step sufficient to conform the web to the topography of the imprinting fabric.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of: adding to the furnish at least one chemical selected from the group consisting of: (a) a wet strength resin; (b) a dry strength resin; (c) a surfactant; (d) a debonder; (e) a dye.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream as recited in claim 6 wherein: the majority of said selected chemical added to the furnish during said adding step migrates to the surface of the individual densifications in the web facing the drying can during said can drying step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream as recited in claim 6 wherein: the majority of said selected chemical added to the furnish during said adding step migrates to reside in the densifications in the web proximate to the surface of the web facing the drying can during said can drying step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream as recited in claim 1 wherein: the web is dewatered such that the web is in the range of from about 26% dry to about 32% dry after said dewatering step.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream as recited in claim 1, wherein: the web is dried to at least 90% dry during said can drying step.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of: separating the web from the drying can without creping.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream as recited in claim 1 wherein: the imprinting fabric includes a pattern of knuckles projecting therefrom, the individual knuckles being spaced apart from one another by a distance not greater than the average fiber length of the furnish.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of: applying a release to the drying can so that the sheet is not pulled from the imprinting fabric as the web traverses the drying can and as the imprinting fabric exits the drying can.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream as recited in claim 1 wherein: said furnish has a consistency in the range of from about 0.08% to about 0.6% solids at the start of said forming step.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream as recited in claim 1 wherein: said pattern of densifications is formed in the web by lightly pressing the web and the imprinting fabric against a drying can.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream as recited in claim 1 wherein: said can drying step is begun when the web is no more than about 30% dry.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream as recited in claim 1 wherein: said can drying step is begun when the web is no more than about 35% dry.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream as recited in claim 1 wherein: said can drying step is begun when the web is no more than about 40% dry.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
65 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream as recited in claim 1 wherein: the imprinting fabric includes a pattern of knuckles projecting therefrom, the individual knuckles being spaced apart from one another by a distance not greater than the average fiber length of the longest fibers in the furnish.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream as recited in claim 1 wherein: said forming the web step is performed with a furnish having a consistency in the range of 0.1% to 0.5% solids.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream as recited in claim 1 wherein: said forming the web step is performed with a furnish having a consistency in the range of 0.1% to 0.2% solids.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream as recited in claim 1, wherein: said furnish includes fibers and fines, the majority of said fines migrating to the densifications during said can drying step.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
219 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream comprising the steps of: (a) forming a web on a forming fabric with a furnish having a consistency in the range of from about 0.08% to about 0.06% solids; (b) dewatering the web non-compressively such that the web is in the range of from about 8% to about 34% dry; (c) transferring the web from the forming fabric to an imprinting fabric by means of a vacuum pick-up; (d) lightly pressing the web and the imprinting fabric against a drying can to form a pattern of densifications in the web; (e) can drying the web on the surface of at least one can dryer from no more than 34% dry to at least 55% dry such that only a single side of the web is ever placed in contact against the surface of the can dryer; (f) restraining the web between the imprinting fabric and the surface of at least one can dryer during said can drying step until the web is at least 55% dry; and (g) maintaining the web in registration with the imprinting fabric during steps d, e, and f such that only a single pattern of densifications is formed in the web.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
219 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream comprising the steps of: (a) forming a web on a forming fabric with a furnish having a consistency in the range of from about 0.08% to about 0.06% solids; (b) dewatering the web non-compressively such that the web is in the range of from about 8% to about 34% dry; (c) transferring the web from the forming fabric to an imprinting fabric by means of a vacuum pick-up; (d) lightly pressing the web and the imprinting fabric against a drying can to form a pattern of densifications in the web; (e) can drying the web on the surface of at least one can dryer from no more than 34% dry to at least 55% dry such that only a single side of the web is ever placed in contact against the surface of the can dryer; (f) restraining the web between the imprinting fabric and the surface of at least one can dryer during said can drying step until the web is at least 55% dry; and (g) maintaining the web in registration with the imprinting fabric during steps d, e, and f such that only a single pattern of densifications is formed in the web.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
49 words
A process for making a strong, bulky, absorbent paper sheet having a basis weight between about 7 and about 70 pounds per ream as recited in claim 23, wherein: said furnish includes fibers and fines, the majority of said fines migrating to the densifications during said can drying step.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-08-08 | 1998-02-07 | 1998-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-08 | 2002-02-07 | 2002-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-08 | 2006-02-07 | 2006-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |