US5348620A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of treating papermaking fibers for making tissue
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
•
Filing: 1992-12-18
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Granted: 1994-09-20
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Expires: 2012-12-18
Abstract
Abstract The throughdryability of dewatered, but wet, sheets made from papermaking fibers can be significantly increased by subjecting an aqueous suspension of the fibers at high consistency to elevated temperatures with sufficient working of the fibers. Such a treatment is particularly effective for improving the efficiency of throughdrying processes used in the manufacture of certain products, such as tissues and paper towels, made from furnishes having a significant amount of secondary or recycled fibers.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael A. Hermans
- 👤 Robert J. Makolin
- 👤 Kristin A. Goerg
- 👤 Fung-Jou Chen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:08
CPC Classifications
D; D21; D21F; D21F11/00; D21F11/02; D21F11/04; D21B; D21B1/00; D21B1/04; D21B1/12; D21B1/30; D21B1/32; D21F11/14; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W30/00; Y02W30/50; Y02W30/64
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for making tissue comprising (a) forming an aqueous suspension comprising papermaking fibers having a consistency of from about 30 to about 50 percent; (b) passing the aqueous suspension through a shaft disperger having a rotating shaft with a multiplicity of arms which work the fibers substantially by fiber-to-fiber contact, wherein the temperature of the aqueous suspension is about 150° F. or greater and the power input is about 1 horsepower-day per ton of dry fiber or greater, wherein the TD Index of the fibers is increased about 25 percent or greater; (c) feeding the fibers through a tissue making headbox to form a wet web; and (d) drying the web to form a dried tissue.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for making tissue comprising (a) forming an aqueous suspension comprising papermaking fibers having a consistency of from about 30 to about 50 percent; (b) passing the aqueous suspension through a shaft disperger having a rotating shaft with a multiplicity of arms which work the fibers substantially by fiber-to-fiber contact, wherein the temperature of the aqueous suspension is about 150° F. or greater and the power input is about 1 horsepower-day per ton of dry fiber or greater, wherein the TD Index of the fibers is increased about 25 percent or greater; (c) feeding the fibers through a tissue making headbox to form a wet web; and (d) drying the web to form a dried tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the TD Index is increased about 50 percent or greater.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the TD Index is increased about 75 percent or greater.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the temperature is about 210° F. or greater.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the temperature is about 220° F. or greater.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the power input is about 2 horsepower-days per ton of fiber or greater.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the papermaking fibers are secondary fibers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the papermaking fibers are virgin hardwood fibers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a softening agent is added to the aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers prior to passing the suspension through the shaft disperger.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a softening agent is added to the aqueous suspension after the suspension has passed through the shaft disperger.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the wet web is throughdried.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for making throughdried tissue comprising (a) forming an aqueous suspension comprising secondary fibers having a consistency of from about 30 to about 50 percent; (b) passing the aqueous suspension through a shaft disperger having a rotating shaft with a multiplicity of arms which work the fibers substantially by fiber-to-fiber contact, wherein the temperature of the aqueous suspension is about 150° F. or greater and the power input is about 1 horsepower-day per ton of dry fiber, wherein the TD Index of the fibers is increased to about 0.15 or greater; (c) feeding the fibers through a tissue making headbox to form a wet web; and (d) throughdrying the web to form a throughdried tissue.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for making throughdried tissue comprising (a) forming an aqueous suspension comprising secondary fibers having a consistency of from about 30 to about 50 percent; (b) passing the aqueous suspension through a shaft disperger having a rotating shaft with a multiplicity of arms which work the fibers substantially by fiber-to-fiber contact, wherein the temperature of the aqueous suspension is about 150° F. or greater and the power input is about 1 horsepower-day per ton of dry fiber, wherein the TD Index of the fibers is increased to about 0.15 or greater; (c) feeding the fibers through a tissue making headbox to form a wet web; and (d) throughdrying the web to form a throughdried tissue.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the resulting fibers from step (b) have a TD Index of about 0.2 or greater.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the resulting fibers from step (b) have a TD Index of about 0.3 or greater.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the resulting fibers from step (b) have a TD Index of about 0.5 or greater.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the temperature is about 210° F. or greater.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the temperature is about 220° F. or greater.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the power input is about 2 horsepower-days per ton of dry fiber.
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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) | 1997-09-19 | 1998-03-21 | 1998-09-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-19 | 2002-03-21 | 2002-09-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-19 | 2006-03-21 | 2006-09-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |