US6585856B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for controlling degree of molding in through-dried tissue products
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
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Filing: 2001-09-25
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Granted: 2003-07-01
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Expires: 2021-09-25
Abstract
Abstract A method of controlling the degree of molding of a paper web during formation of a tissue product is provided. Initially, a liquid furnish of papermaking fibers is deposited onto a foraminous surface. The web is transferred to a through-drying fabric having a three-dimensional surface contour. In one embodiment, during transfer, the wet web is deflected onto the through-drying fabric so that it is molded to the surface contours of the fabric. The degree of molding is controlled by increasing or decreasing the solids consistency of the web without changing the deflection pressure or force.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth J. Zwick
- 👤 Chris Lawler
- 👤 Nathan J. Haiduk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:36
CPC Classifications
D; D21; D21F; D21F11/00; D21F11/14; D21F11/145; D21F11/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of controlling the degree of molding of a paper web during formation of a tissue product, said method comprising: a) providing a liquid furnish containing papermaking fibers; b) depositing said furnish onto a foraminous surface to form a paper web; c) transferring said paper web to a through-drying fabric, said through-drying fabric having a three-dimensional surface contour; d) deflecting said paper web onto said through-drying fabric using a certain deflection pressure such that said web is substantially molded to said three-dimensional surface contour of said fabric; e) selectively adjusting the consistency of said paper web from a first solids consistency to a second solids consistency while holding said deflection pressure constant to increase or decrease the degree to which said paper web molds to said three-dimensional surface contour of said through-drying fabric; and f) substantially drying said paper web with a dryer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of controlling the degree of molding of a paper web during formation of a tissue product, said method comprising: a) providing a liquid furnish containing papermaking fibers; b) depositing said furnish onto a foraminous surface to form a paper web; c) transferring said paper web to a through-drying fabric, said through-drying fabric having a three-dimensional surface contour; d) deflecting said paper web onto said through-drying fabric using a certain deflection pressure such that said web is substantially molded to said three-dimensional surface contour of said fabric; e) selectively adjusting the consistency of said paper web from a first solids consistency to a second solids consistency while holding said deflection pressure constant to increase or decrease the degree to which said paper web molds to said three-dimensional surface contour of said through-drying fabric; and f) substantially drying said paper web with a dryer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein said deflection pressure is applied to said paper web during transfer to said through-drying fabric.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein said selectively adjusting step includes increasing said degree of molding of said paper web to said three-dimensional surface contour of said through-drying fabric by decreasing said first solids consistency to a second solids consistency while holding said deflection pressure constant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as defined in claim 3 , wherein said second solids consistency is less than about 40%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim 3 , wherein said second solids consistency is between about 10% to about 34%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim 3 , wherein said second solids consistency is between about 15% to about 30%.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein said selectively adjusting step includes decreasing said degree of molding of said paper web to said three-dimensional surface contour of said through-drying fabric by increasing said first solids consistency to a second solids consistency while holding said deflection pressure constant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as defined in claim 7 , wherein said second solids consistency is greater than about 10%.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim 7 , wherein said second solids consistency is between about 10% to about 34%.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim 7 , wherein said second solids consistency is between about 15% to about 30%.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein said deflection pressure is a negative pressure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising transferring said web to a transfer fabric prior to transfer to said through-drying fabric.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as defined in claim 12 , wherein said transfer fabric travels at a slower speed than said foraminous surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as defined in claim 12 , further comprising dewatering said paper web after transfer to said transfer fabric but prior to transfer to said through-drying fabric.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising adding water to said paper web prior to transfer to said through-drying fabric.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein said paper web is partially dried while on said through-drying fabric but prior to being dried by said dryer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein said dryer is a through-air dryer.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
184 words
A method of controlling the degree of molding of a paper web during formation of a tissue product, said method comprising: a) providing a liquid furnish containing papermaking fibers; b) depositing said furnish onto a foraminous surface to form a paper web; c) transferring said paper web to a transfer fabric having a three-dimensional surface contour, wherein said transfer fabric travels at a slower speed than said foraminous surface; d) transferring said paper web from said transfer fabric to a through-drying fabric, said through-drying fabric having a three-dimensional surface contour; e) deflecting said paper web onto said through-drying fabric with a negative deflection pressure such that said web is substantially molded to said three-dimensional surface contour of said through-drying fabric; f) selectively decreasing the consistency of said paper web from a first solids consistency to a second solids consistency while holding said deflection pressure constant to increase the degree to which said paper web molds to said three-dimensional surface contour of said through-drying fabric, said second solids consistency being less than about 40%; and g) substantially drying said paper web with a through-air dryer.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
184 words
A method of controlling the degree of molding of a paper web during formation of a tissue product, said method comprising: a) providing a liquid furnish containing papermaking fibers; b) depositing said furnish onto a foraminous surface to form a paper web; c) transferring said paper web to a transfer fabric having a three-dimensional surface contour, wherein said transfer fabric travels at a slower speed than said foraminous surface; d) transferring said paper web from said transfer fabric to a through-drying fabric, said through-drying fabric having a three-dimensional surface contour; e) deflecting said paper web onto said through-drying fabric with a negative deflection pressure such that said web is substantially molded to said three-dimensional surface contour of said through-drying fabric; f) selectively decreasing the consistency of said paper web from a first solids consistency to a second solids consistency while holding said deflection pressure constant to increase the degree to which said paper web molds to said three-dimensional surface contour of said through-drying fabric, said second solids consistency being less than about 40%; and g) substantially drying said paper web with a through-air dryer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim 18 , wherein said second solids consistency is between about 10% to about 34%.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim 18 , wherein said second solids consistency is between about 15% to about 30%.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as defined in claim 18 , further comprising adding water to said paper web after transfer to said transfer fabric but prior to transfer to said through-drying fabric.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as defined in claim 18 , wherein said paper web is partially dried while on said through-drying fabric but prior to being dried by said dryer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 18 , wherein said dried paper web has a caliper of greater than about 250 micrometers.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as defined in claim 18 , wherein said dried paper web has a caliper of between about 500 to about 1750 micrometers.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 18 , wherein said dried paper web has a cross-directional stretch of greater than about 3%.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as defined in claim 18 , wherein said dried paper web has a cross-directional stretch of between about 7% to about 10%.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 18 , wherein said dried paper web has a machine-direction stretch of greater than about 10%.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as defined in claim 18 , wherein said dried paper web has a machine-direction stretch of between about 15% to about 30%.
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