US5501768A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of treating papermaking fibers for making tissue
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
•
Filing: 1994-04-29
•
Granted: 1996-03-26
•
Expires: 2014-04-29
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-Wood
- 👤 Fung-Jou Chen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 00:17
CPC Classifications
D; D21; D21B; D21B1/00; D21B1/04; D21B1/12; D21B1/30; D21B1/32; D21F; D21F11/00; D21F11/02; D21F11/04; D21F11/14; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W30/00; Y02W30/50; Y02W30/64
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for making tissue comprising (a) forming an aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers comprising at least 25 weight percent secondary fibers and having a consistency of about 20 or greater; (b) passing the aqueous suspension through a shaft disperser having a volume-to-working surface area ratio of about 1 centimeter or greater at a temperature of 150° F. or greater with a power input of 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
113 words
A method for making tissue comprising (a) forming an aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers comprising at least 25 weight percent secondary fibers and having a consistency of about 20 or greater; (b) passing the aqueous suspension through a shaft disperser having a volume-to-working surface area ratio of about 1 centimeter or greater at a temperature of 150° F. or greater with a power input of 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
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the temperature is from about 170° F. to about 220° F.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of secondary fibers is about 50 weight percent or greater.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of secondary fibers is about 75 weight percent or greater.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the shaft disperser has a volume-to-working surface area ratio of about 3 centimeters or greater.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the shaft disperser has a volume-to-working surface area ratio of from about 5 to about 10 centimeters.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the consistency is from about 20 to about 60 weight percent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the consistency is from about 30 to about 50 weight percent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a softening agent is added to the papermaking fibers prior to passing the fibers through the shaft disperser.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a softening agent is added to the papermaking fibers while the fibers are passing through the shaft disperser.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a softening agent is added to the fibers after the fibers have passed through the shaft disperser.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the wet web is throughdried.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for making tissue comprising: (a) forming an aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers having a consistency of about 20 percent or greater, said fibers containing about 7 weight percent fines or greater; (b) passing the aqueous suspension through a shaft disperser at a temperature of 150° F. or greater with a power input of at least about 1 horsepower-day per ton of dry fiber, 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 19
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for making tissue comprising: (a) forming an aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers having a consistency of about 20 percent or greater, said fibers containing about 7 weight percent fines or greater; (b) passing the aqueous suspension through a shaft disperser at a temperature of 150° F. or greater with a power input of at least about 1 horsepower-day per ton of dry fiber, 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 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the TD Index is increased about 50 percent or greater.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the TD Index is increased about 75 percent or greater.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the temperature is about 210° F. or greater.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the temperature is about 220° F. or greater.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the temperature is from about 170° F. to about 220° F.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the shaft disperser has a volume-to-working surface area ratio of about 1 centimeter or greater.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the shaft disperser has a volume-to-working surface area ratio of about 3 centimeters or greater.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the shaft disperser has a volume-to-working surface area ratio of from about 5 to about 10 centimeters.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the amount of fines is about 10 weight percent or greater.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the amount of fines is from about 10 to about 25 weight percent.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 17 wherein a softening agent is added to the fibers prior to passing the fibers through the shaft disperser.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 17 wherein a softening agent is added to the fibers while the fibers are passing through the shaft disperser.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 17 wherein a softening agent is added to the fibers after the fibers have passed through the shaft disperser.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of making tissue comprising (a) forming an aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers comprising at least about 20 weight percent short fibers; (b) passing the aqueous suspension through a shaft disperser having a volume-to-working surface area ratio of about 1 centimeter or greater at a temperature of 150° F. or greater with a power input of 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 34
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of making tissue comprising (a) forming an aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers comprising at least about 20 weight percent short fibers; (b) passing the aqueous suspension through a shaft disperser having a volume-to-working surface area ratio of about 1 centimeter or greater at a temperature of 150° F. or greater with a power input of 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 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the TD Index is increased about 50 percent or greater.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the TD Index is increased about 75 percent or greater.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the temperature is about 210° F. or greater.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the temperature is from about 170° F. to about 220° F.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the amount of short fibers is about 50 percent or greater.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the amount of short fibers is about 75 percent or greater.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the short fibers are virgin hardwood fibers.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the shaft disperser has a volume-to-working surface area ratio of about 3 centimeters or greater.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the shaft disperser has a volume-to-working surface area ratio of from about 5 to about 10 centimeters.
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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) | 1999-03-26 | 1999-09-25 | 2000-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-03-26 | 2003-09-25 | 2004-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-03-26 | 2007-09-25 | 2008-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |