CA1324909C - Towel and process for preparing same - Google Patents
Towel and process for preparing sameInfo
- Publication number
- CA1324909C CA1324909C CA000600009A CA600009A CA1324909C CA 1324909 C CA1324909 C CA 1324909C CA 000600009 A CA000600009 A CA 000600009A CA 600009 A CA600009 A CA 600009A CA 1324909 C CA1324909 C CA 1324909C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- towel
- fibrous web
- foraminous belt
- belt
- prepared
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
- D21F—PAPER-MAKING MACHINES; METHODS OF PRODUCING PAPER THEREON
- D21F11/00—Processes for making continuous lengths of paper, or of cardboard, or of wet web for fibre board production, on paper-making machines
- D21F11/14—Making cellulose wadding, filter or blotting paper
- D21F11/145—Making cellulose wadding, filter or blotting paper including a through-drying process
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
- D21F—PAPER-MAKING MACHINES; METHODS OF PRODUCING PAPER THEREON
- D21F11/00—Processes for making continuous lengths of paper, or of cardboard, or of wet web for fibre board production, on paper-making machines
- D21F11/006—Making patterned paper
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
- D21F—PAPER-MAKING MACHINES; METHODS OF PRODUCING PAPER THEREON
- D21F11/00—Processes for making continuous lengths of paper, or of cardboard, or of wet web for fibre board production, on paper-making machines
- D21F11/14—Making cellulose wadding, filter or blotting paper
Landscapes
- Paper (AREA)
- Cleaning Implements For Floors, Carpets, Furniture, Walls, And The Like (AREA)
- Gloves (AREA)
- Body Washing Hand Wipes And Brushes (AREA)
- Nonwoven Fabrics (AREA)
Abstract
IMPROVED HAND OR WIPER TOWEL
Abstract of the Disclosure Hand or wiper towels are made according to a process which includes the steps of: forming a furnish of cellulosic fibers; depositing the furnish on a traveling foraminous belt, thereby forming a fibrous web on top of the traveling foraminous belt; subjecting the fibrous web to non-compressive drying to remove the water from the fibrous web; and removing the dried fibrous web from the traveling foraminous belt. These hand towels possess superior levels of absorbent capacity, absorbent rate, softness, and strength to other prior art hand or wiper towels with the same or about the same basis weight.
Embossing of the hand or wiper towels enhances the superior qualities of the towels. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transfer of the fibrous web from a foraminous belt of a higher speed to a foraminous belt of a lower speed produces a towel with enhanced strength and softness.
Abstract of the Disclosure Hand or wiper towels are made according to a process which includes the steps of: forming a furnish of cellulosic fibers; depositing the furnish on a traveling foraminous belt, thereby forming a fibrous web on top of the traveling foraminous belt; subjecting the fibrous web to non-compressive drying to remove the water from the fibrous web; and removing the dried fibrous web from the traveling foraminous belt. These hand towels possess superior levels of absorbent capacity, absorbent rate, softness, and strength to other prior art hand or wiper towels with the same or about the same basis weight.
Embossing of the hand or wiper towels enhances the superior qualities of the towels. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transfer of the fibrous web from a foraminous belt of a higher speed to a foraminous belt of a lower speed produces a towel with enhanced strength and softness.
Description
132~909 IMPROVED HAND GR WIPER TOWEL
Technical Field This invention relates to an improved paper towel.
More particularly, this invention relates to a more absorbent hand or wiper towel and a process ~or its manufacture.
Background Disposable paper towels are commonly manufactured and wid~ly used. A primary function of these towels is absorbing liquid. Paper towels possess varying degreec of certain qualities which make them suitable for different tasks. Some of these qualities are softness, absorbent capacity, absorbent rate, and strength. The absorbent capacity is the maximum amount of liquid a paper towel can absorb, and the absorbent rate is the speed with which the paper towel can absorb liquid. The strength of paper a towel is generally the tensile strength of the paper towel which is a measure of the stress required to pull the paper towel apart.
Hand or wiper towels are a particular type of paper towel and are often used in washrooms for drying hands and for cleaning up liquid spills. These towels are also used for wiping surfaces clean with a solvent such as in washing windows or counter tops. Accordingly, towels must '3~' r 2 1 ~ 2 ~
absorb relatively laJge ~uantities of liquid veIy quickly and poss~ss enough strength so ~hat ~hey do not bre~k apart when subjected to stress even when ~e towe]s are saturated wi~
liquid. Purther, it is also desirable ~or hand or wiper towels s to be soft, pa~ticularly when ~e towels are used for drying h~nds so d~at they are comfo~able to the user's skin and when wiping finished surfaces~ such as ~e~k tops or aut~mobile exte~iors, so ~at the towels do not ~cratch ~e finished ~aces.
0 Prior art hand or wiper towels which ar~ made from cellulosic fibers are no~n~lly strong even when saturated with liquid, but orten lack desirable levels of absor~nt capaci~r, absorbent rate, and softness. These prior art towels are generally made wi~ ~l conventional wet fonning process wherein the beginning fumish contains chemical bonding agents to bind ~e celllllosic fibers together and p~otnote the ~trength of dle towel. The fu~nish is deposited on a ~aveling foraminou~ belt ~ere~y fo~ning a web of moist cellulosic ~Ibers on top of ~e for~minous belt.
~0 The mois~ ~Ibrous web is transfened to an ab~orben~ carrier belt and ~en pressed by one or a selies of rollers to remove water from the ~Ibrous web al~d to compact d~e ~ e - web t~ ther promote the stFen8th of the towel. The pressed flbto~s web is transferred to ~ ouhr surfa~e of a 2S rotat~ng steam-heat~d dryer where~y part of the remain~ng water ig evaporated ~rom the flb~ous web. The ~Ibrous web is ~en "creped" by a blade positioned adja~ent th¢ out~r surface of ~e d~er whioh scrapes the partially~ ed fibrous web from ~e outer surface of ~be dryer. Tho creped ~Ibrous wcb is ~en conveyed over a selies of steam-heated d~ye~s to evaporate the 20-S0% moistur~ rema~ning in dle web af~er creping. The creping enhances the absorbent capacity and abso~ t ra~ of ~e towel The conventional p~Ç8S for malcing ~oft paper towels is similar to the conventional process for m~iking ~nd .
_ 3 _ ~ 13249~g or wiper towels; however, creping of the fibrous web is done when moisture content has been reduced to 10% or less. An adhesive solution is also applied to the outer surface of the "Yankee" creping dryer so that the fibrous web adheres tightly to the surface of the dryer. The creped fibrous web requires no further drying in this process. The resulting soft towels possess high levels of absorbent capacity and absorbent rate; however, these soft towels are also very weak and tend to break apart when saturated with liquid. Accordingly, soft paper towels are not an adequate substitute for hand or wiper paper towels.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a towel having an absorbent capacity of at least 385%, and an absorbent rate of about 8 seconds or less, the towel being prepared by forming a furnish of cellulosic fibers, water, and a chemical debonder, depositing the furnish on a first travelling foraminous belt thereby providing a web on top of the travelling foraminous belt, subjecting the fibrous web to non-compressive drying to remove the water from the fibrous web, and removing the dried fibrous web from the travelling foraminous belt without creping the fibrous web.
Surprisingly, the towel prepared by the process of the present invention, which does not involve a creping step, possesses high levels of absorbent capacity, absorbent rate, strength and softness.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the first foraminous belt travels at a first velocity, and there is included the further step of transferring the fibrous web from the first travelling foraminous belt to a second foraminous belt, the second foraminous belt travelling at a second velocity up to about 10% slower than the first velocity, thereby providing a series of transverse folds in the fibrous web prior to subjecting the fibrous web to non-compressive drying.
Another aspect of the invention resides in a towel - 4 - 132490~
having an absorbent capacity of at least about ~00~, an absorbent rate of about 6 seconds or less, a dry tensile strength of at least 1800 grams, and a wet tensile strength of at least about 380 grams.
Such a towel is prepared by a process comprising the following steps performed in sequence, forming a furnish of cellulosic fibers, water and a chemical debonder, depositing the furnish on a first travelling foraminous belt thereby forming a fibrous web on top of the travelling foraminous belt, subjecting the fibrous web to non-compressive drying to remove the water from the fibrous web, removing the dried fibrous web from the travelling foraminous belt without creping, and then embossing the dried fibrous web.
Alternatively, such a towel can be prepared by a process comprising the following steps performed in sequence, forming a furnish of cellulosic fibers, water and chemical debonder, depositing the furnish on a first foraminous belt, the first foraminous belt travelling at a first velocity, thereby forming a fibrous web on top of the first foraminous belt, transferring the fibrous web from the first travelling foraminous belt to a second foraminous belt, the second foraminous belt, travelling at a second velocity up to about 10~ slower than the velocity of the first foraminous belt, thereby providing a series of transverse folds in the fibrous web, subjecting the fibrous web to non-compressive drying to remove the water from the fibrous web, removing the dried fibrous web from the second travelling foraminous belt without creping, and then embossing the dried fibrous web.
Even more particularly, the towel of the present invention is prepared by a process wherein the cellulosic fibers in the furnish comprise secondary cellulosic fibers. The high levels of absorbent capacity, absorbent rate, strenqth, and softness are also achieved usinq the secondary cellulosic fibers. This aspect of the present invention is particularly advantageous because the cost of B
~ 3 2 ~ 9 ~ 9 secondary cellulosic fibers is substantially less than the cost of virgin cellulosic fibers.
Still more particularly, the towel of the present invention is prepared by a process further comprising the step of embossing the dried fibrous web after removing the dried fibrous web from the travelling foraminous belt.
The embossing increases the absorbent capacity, absorbent rate, and softness of the web, but tends to reduce the strength of the web. Towels of the present invention prepared by the process including the embossing step have an absorbent capacity of at least about 400%, an absorbent rate of at least about 6 seconds or less, a tensile strength of at least about 1800 grams to about 2700 grams, and a wet tensile strength of at least about 380 grams to ~5 about 680 grams.
Still more particularly, the towel of the present invention is prepared by a process which includes the steps of: (1) forming a furnish of cellulosic fibers, water, and a chemical debonder; (2) depositing the furnish on a first travelling foraminous belt, thereby forming a fibrous web on top of the first foraminous belt; (3)-transferring the fibrous web from the first travelling foraminous belt to a second foraminous belt travelling at a velocity from about 5 to 10% slower than the velocity of the first foraminous belt, thereby providing a series of transverse folds in the fibrous web; (4) subjecting the fibrous web to non-compressive drying to remove water from the fibrous web; and (5) removing the dried fibrous web from the second travelling foraminous ~32490~
belt. The towel made from ~is p~icular process exhibi~s even greatcr levels of stxength and softnes~ because of the sene~ of folds in dle toweIs. The folds increase the streng~
of the towels by providing a degree of stretch, ~ereby reducing the tendency of ~e towel to ~e~r when subjected to str~ss. The folds in ~e towels increase the so~ness of the towels by increasing ~e ~ickness of ~e l:oweL
Therefore, an object of ~e present invention is to provide a~ improved hand or wip~r towel.
lo Ano~her obje~t of the pre~;ent invention is to provide a hand or wiper towel with high levels of absorbent capacit~, abso~ent rate, streng~, and sofmess.
~ fur~er objeet of ~e present invention is to provide a hand or wiper towel at a reduce~ cost.
O~er objects, features, and advant~ges will become apparent from reading ~e following specifications in conjun~tion wilh ~e accompany~g drawings.
Brief Description oP Drawing~
~ig~ 1 is a perspective view of ~e process line for pr~ducing a preferred embodimcnt of the prescnt invention; and ;~ Fig. 2 i~ an enlarged soctio~al Yiew of the point of transfer between ~e fo~ning belt and the through d~yer belt in a proce~s line for producing another pre~erred embodiment of ~e present inYention.
Detailed Oescription of the Prefer~ed Embodiments Turnillg first to Pig 1, there i~ illustrated a process line 10 for producing a pIeferred embodimeIIt of ~e prcsent inverltion. The process line b~:gins witl~ a papcr-making filmisb 12 comprising a mi~ture of secondary cellulosic fiber, water, and a ~hemical debonder which is deposited fr~m a conventional head bo~ ~not shown) ~rough a r.o~zle 14 on top of a for~minous wirG ~orming belt 16 as 6 132~9~9 shown in Fig. 1. The fonning belt 16 tlavels around a pad~
de~lned by a series of guide rollers. l~e forming belt 16 travels fr~m an upper guide ~oller 20, posi~i~ned below and proximate ~ ~e head box nozzle 14, horizon~ally and away from dle head box no~zle to ano~her upper guide roller 22, passes over ~e upper ~uide ~oller 22 and di~gonally ~nd downw~rdly to a lower guide roller ~, passes under ~e lower guide roIler 24 and diagon~lly and upwardly toward ~e nozzle 14 to a lower g~ide roller 2~i, passes over lower guide ~ller 26 and diagonally and downwardly to lower guide roller 28, passes under lower guide Iolle~ 28, and tums upwardly and slightly inwardly to a guide roller 32, passes behind the ~uide roller 3~ and upwardly and out~1vardly retu~n~ to upper guide roller 7Ø
A ~acuum form1ng box 34 positioned benea~
the fom~ing belt 16 proxunate the opening 36 of ~e head box no~zle 14 ~ediately extracts wa~er from ~e moist fibrous web 38 deposited on top of the fomn~g belt by ~e head bo~c nozzle. Ih¢ partially dewater~d ~;brous web 38 i~ earried by the forming belt 16 in the counterclockwise di~ection, as shown in ~ig. 1, towards the upper guide roller 22. The fibrous web 38 a~ it moves away from the vacuum fo~ng box 34 pre~er~bly comprises from aboul: 19% to abol~t 30%
cellulosic fiber by weight. An edge vacuum 40 positioned 2S below the folming belt 16 pro~imate to d~e upper guide roller 22 is an aid to trimming the edges of d~e ~tbrous web 38.
The ~Ibrous web 38 passes over the upper guide roller 22 and downwardly between ~e fc~rming belt 16 and a ~rough~ er bclt 42.
The ~rough-dryer belt 42 tl~vels around a pa~
deffned by a series of guide rollers. The through-dryer belt 42 travels ~rom a ~uidc roller 44 po~itioned above and vertically of&et f~om guide roller 22 downwardly towards ~e fo~ning belt 16, contacts ~e ~Ibrous web 38, and fhen ~32;4~
downwardly and diagonally away from ~uide roller 24 to guide roller 46, passeg under guide roller 46 and ~un~s horizontally away from the forming belt 16 towards a through-d~er guide roller 48, passes under the through~
s drycr guide roller 48 ~nd turns upwardly and over a dlrough~dryer 50 and downwardly to another ~rough~ryer guide roller 5~, passes under d~rough-dryer guide roller S5 and tu2ns horizontally away from the ~rough-dryer 50 towardg a lower guide roller 54, passe~: under lower guide 0 roller 54, and tums upwardl~ to an uppor guide roller 56, passe~ over the upper guide roller 56 and turns slightly downwar~ly to an upper guids~ roller 58, passes under the upper guid~ roller 5~, and turns slightly upwardly in the d~rection of ~e forming belt 16 to an ul~per guide rolle~ 60, passes over upper guide roller 60 and tu1ns downwa~dly to ~
guide roller 62, passes unde~-guide roller 62 and turns substantiall~ holizontally away ~rom fvrming belt 16 to a guide roller ~4~ passes around guide r~ller 64 and turns : horizontally in the direction of ~e fclrming ~elt 16 an~
returns to guide roller 44.
A ~acuum pickup 66 pulls the ~brous web 38 towards the through-dryer belt 42 and away from fonning bclt 16 as ~e ~lbrous web passes between dle throu~h dryer belt and ~e folming belt . The fibrous ~eb 38 ~dheres to ~e through-dryer bell 4~ and is camed by ~e through-dryer belt downwardly below lower guide roller 46 towards ~e through-dryer S0. Yacuum boxes 68 positioned above and ;~ proximate to the ~rough-drger belt 42 between ~e lower guide roller 46 and the through-dryor guide roller 48 fur~er extlact water from t~e moist fi6rous web 38. The fibrous web 38 preferably compnses between about 25% ~nd 35~o filber by welght after passing beneath the vacuum bo~es 6~.
: ~ Thc through-dryer 50 ge~erally compr~ses an oute~ rotatable perforated cylinder Sl and an outer hood S2 13~4909 for ncceiving ~e hot air blown ~rough ~e perfora~ons 53, the ~Ibrous web ~8, and ~e through-dryer belt 42 as is known to ~se skilled in the a~. The ~ough-dryer belt 42 car~es ~e fibrou~ web 38 over ~e upper portion of ~e through-dryer outer cylinder 50. Th~ heated air fo~ced ~rou~h ~e perforations 53 in the outer cylinde~ Sl of ~e through-dlyer 50, lemoves the remaining water ~om the fibr~us web 3~. The tempe~atur~ of the air for~ed ~ougll the ~Ibrou~ web 38 by the ~rou~h-dryer is preferably a~out 0 30~ to 350- P.
l~e through-dryer belt 42 ca~ies the dried fibrous web 3~ below the throu~ll-dr~re~ guide roller SS
toward~ the lower ~guide roller ~4. The slried fibrous web 38 is pulled from ~e through~dlyer belt ~t lower ~uide roller 54 ~y a takeup roller 70. The dried fi~rous web 38 passes from the ~rough-dryer belt 42 ~o a ~ip between a pair of embossing rollers 72. The dried ~nd e~lbo~sed ti~rous web 38 then pasges from the nip betweel) ~c ~,mbossing rollers 7 to ~e takeup roller 70 whe~e ~e flbrous ~b is wound înto a ~o pr~duct ~oll 74.
1~ an even more preferred embodiment of dle present ~nve~tio~, ~e pr~cess line 10 previously de~cribed is - modified so that the through dryer belt 42 tra~els at a velocity from about S to 10% slov~ver ~n dls velocity of ~e as folming belt 16. Ag a result, ~e moist fibrou~ w~b 38 arrives at ~c point of transfer 7~ betw~en tlhe formin~g belt 16 and ~e t~rough-dryer belt 42 at a faster rate than the fibrous wcb is carried away by thc ~ough-dryer belt . As dle moist flbrous web 38 buiIds up at the point of t~nsfer 76~
dle moist fab~io tends to bend into a sçries of transverse folds 78 as shown in Fig. 2. The folds provide for ~ degrec of stretch in ~e fibrous web ~ereby ~ncreasing the overall strength of the filbrou~ w~b, and because ~e folds stack on ~op of one ano~er, ~e ~Ibrolls web bccorncs dlicker and ~us 3~ ~oftcl.
132490~
vention is further illustrated ~y the following example u~hi~h is illustrative of a preferred embodiment desi~ned to teach ~ose of o~din~ry skill in ~e art how to practice ~is in~ention.
s Example 1 An initial paper-making furnish is prepared comprising 0.15% by weight of secon~lary cellulogic ~Iber and ~.85% water, The seeonda~y cellulosic ~Iber used in lo ~e fun~ish comprises a mixture of 80% cup stoclc ~Iber and 20% deinked wastepaper. 20 wet lbs. of Berocel 584 debonder, a ~urfa~tant manufactured by Berolchemie AG, per t~n of dry seconda~r cellulosic ~ber is added to the initial furnish mixture. 11.4 dry Ibs. o~ K~mene 557 H wet lS s~rength resin, a polyamide epichlorohydrin resin manufactured by ~ercules and 500 ml. of Stero~ D~, a rewettin~ agellt m~nufactured by Mons~nto, ar~ also added to each dry ton of the initial fumish resulting i~ a ~u~nish with a CanadiaI~ Standard Freeness of 410 cc.
~0 The fînal fumish is deposited from a head box through a 114 i~. wid~ opening onto ~ g4 M Appleton forming web, manufactured by Appleton Wire. The folming belt travels at a velocity of 40 ft. p~r minute. The deposited fumish forms a web of cellulosic ~Ibers with a dry :; 25 basis weiBht of 46 grams per sq. me~r on top of ~c forming :: belt.
Immedhtely after the fîbrou~ web is forMed on top of ~e forming bclt, the ~Ibrous web passes over a folming box vacllum which oper~tes at a pnssure of 8 ~n. H8 below a~nospheric pressure and extracts water from the fibrous web. The ~Ibrous web ~en passes over an ed~e :~ vacuum which operates at a vacuwn of 11-15 in. Hg below atmospheric pn~sure and ~urther trims ~e edges of the ~Ibrou~ web.
The i~lb~us web i8 ~en tr~nsferred to a 31 A
''` 10 Albany tllrough-dryer belt, manuf~ctured by Albany International, with ~e aid of a ~acuuln pickup which produces a v~cuum of 11-15 in. Hg below atmospheric pressur~. The through~dlyer belt also travels at a velo~ity of 40 ft. per minute. The consistency of thl~ partially dewatered fibro~s web after the transfer to the througll-dryer belt contains 19% b~ weight of dry cellulosit: fiber.
The through-dryer belt carries the par~ially dewatered ~lbrous web over a pair of vacuurn boxes each producing a vacuum of 14 i~. Hg below atm~spheric pressure and fur~her dewaters the fibrous web. The through-dryer ~elt then carnes ~e fibrous web around the upper portion of a c~lindrical through~dryer. The ~Ibrous web plior to transfer to a~e d~rou~h-dJyer comprises 26% to 27% by weight of cellulosic fiber. l~e ~rou~h~yer forces air at a temperature of 33S' F throu~h ~e fibrous web and removes the r~main~ng water from ~. fibro~s web. The dried ~lbrou~ web is pulled di~ectly from t~he ~rough-dryer belt for u~ ~s a hand or wiper towel.
A towel produced according to the speci~lcations in ~xample 1 was subjected to a se~ies of tosts to det~nnine ~e a~sorbency and s~eng~ of the towe~ ~nd is - ~ndicated in Table 1 as Bxampl~ 1 base towel. The base towel from Example 1 w~s also subjected to post-treatrnent embossing ~ollowed ~y ~e same series of tests. A pOniOn of the E~tample 1 bas¢ towel was em~ossed with Kimberly Clar~ Embossing PattcrD 1 (Northen~ E~ngra~ing Pattern No. 1804) and anothet portion of ~e E~;ample 1 base towel was em~ossed wi~ Kimberly Clark Pattern 2 (Nor~ern Engravirlg Pattorn No. 1557). Tho resulls of tests performcd on ~c embossed ~owels i8 also shown ~n Table 1. nlrec prior art hand c~r wiper towels, the Scott 180, the Po~t Howard 202, and the Cr~wn Zellerbach 820, wcrc also subjected to the sam8 tests as ~e Bx~rnple 1 basc tow~l. ~e results of d~c 3S tests perfonn~d on ~he p~ior art towcls a~e also shown in ~32~90~
Table 1 for ~omparative pUlpOSÇS.
The basis wei~h~ of ~e towels shown in Table 1 was de~m~ed according to ASTM D3776-g and is shown in units of pounds of dry towel per 2,~80 sq. ft. of towel.
S The water capacity of the towel~ in Tabl~ 1 wa~ mea~u~ed accordin~ to federal specification UU T-595C ~nd is showrl as ~e percent of ~e weight of ~e towel which ~e towel can absorb in wei~ht of water. The ~ater ~&te of the towels in Table 1 was measured according to TAPPI (Te~hnical As~ociation of ~e Pulp and Paper Industry~ T432 SU~72.
~e wa~er rate is shown in Table 1 as ~e number of seconds for a 4" x 4" towel to become satura~:d wi~ water. The thiek~ess of the towel is mea6u~ed a¢cording to TAPPI
T411-68 and is shown in inches ill Tflble 1. The ~ens;le s~reng~s of ~e towel~ shown in Table 1 a~e mea~ured according to ~STM r~ 7-6 and r)1~82. The ten~ile strength is ~e amount of stress re~,ui~ed to pull a 3~ len~dl of towel apart. The tensi~e streng~s shown iII Table 1 are expressed in ~rarns. The tensil~ s~eng~s of d~y towels were measured in both ~e machine direction and ~e ~ross di~ection. The tensile strengdls of th~ ~owels saturated with water wer~ measu~ed in ~e cross direction.
: `
~, .
~32~909 T~BI~
Fort C~wn ~xqrnple Embossed~mbossed How~ Ze~le~h ~ase Basc TowelBRse Towel Scott 180 20~ 820 Towel K-C Pa~ 1K-C Pat. 2 Basis Weight,27 27 2~ 27 27 27 #/2880~2 Abso~bant 284 270 2~S 385 3~ 505 Capacity, 9rO
Absorb~nt Rate, 35 58 6~ R 6 4 Swo~d~
~liCkllGSS, 0.0~420,00430.00460.0077 0,00~Q()0~3 ~ches Tcnsile Slren~
MD D~y, g 7480 ~ 690 10890 6078 ~679 G~ ~r g 3460 3470 2640 S738 2421 1889 CDWetg 1163 ~S0 8~0 1481 6~3 387 ~3 13249~9 A~ shown in Table 1, the 13x~mple 1 b~s~ towel possesses a superior absorbent c~paGity to o~er halld or wiper ~owel~ which comprise ~ sam~: or about the ~an e basis weight as ~e ~3xample 1 base towel. The ab~orbent capaci~ of th~ Example 1 base towel as sh~wn in Table 1 is gO% greater than any of ~e prior art towels also sh~-~rn. The Example 1 ba~e towel also possesses a superior level of absorbent rate ~han the prior ar~ towels shown dlerein. The abso~ t late of ~e Example 1 base towel is at leas~ 4 times 0 faster than any of the prior art towels shown 1n Table 1. The Example 1 base towel also possesses a greater ~ickness than ~hose prior a~t towels shown in Table 1 and ~us is a so~ter towel. Fur~er, ~e tensile strengd~ of the E~xample 1 baso towel is superior to the tensile st~engd~s of the pnor ar~
t~wels shown m Table 1.
The embossed ~xample 1 base towels possess eve~ higher levels of absor~ent capaei~ and abgor~ent rate as shown in Table 1. The tensile strengths of the embossed ;Eixample 1 base towels are reduced somewhat by the embossing bllt remain comparabl~ to ~ tensile streng~s of ~e prior art towels shown in Table 1.
In su~y, ~e d~ n Ta~le 1 show that hand or wiper towels which are prefe~ed embodiments of ~e :~ ~ pr~sent invention pos~ess superlor levels of absorbent capaci~, ab~orbcnt rate, ~oftness and st~ngth to o~er p~ior a~t h~d or wiper towels o~ ~e sam8 or about the same basis weightO
It should be understood that the for~going relates only to preferr~d embodiments of ~he present in~ention, and that numerous changes and modifi~ations may be made without depatting from ~e spirit and scope of ~e in~entdon a~ d~med in ~e followmg claims.
'~ ,
Technical Field This invention relates to an improved paper towel.
More particularly, this invention relates to a more absorbent hand or wiper towel and a process ~or its manufacture.
Background Disposable paper towels are commonly manufactured and wid~ly used. A primary function of these towels is absorbing liquid. Paper towels possess varying degreec of certain qualities which make them suitable for different tasks. Some of these qualities are softness, absorbent capacity, absorbent rate, and strength. The absorbent capacity is the maximum amount of liquid a paper towel can absorb, and the absorbent rate is the speed with which the paper towel can absorb liquid. The strength of paper a towel is generally the tensile strength of the paper towel which is a measure of the stress required to pull the paper towel apart.
Hand or wiper towels are a particular type of paper towel and are often used in washrooms for drying hands and for cleaning up liquid spills. These towels are also used for wiping surfaces clean with a solvent such as in washing windows or counter tops. Accordingly, towels must '3~' r 2 1 ~ 2 ~
absorb relatively laJge ~uantities of liquid veIy quickly and poss~ss enough strength so ~hat ~hey do not bre~k apart when subjected to stress even when ~e towe]s are saturated wi~
liquid. Purther, it is also desirable ~or hand or wiper towels s to be soft, pa~ticularly when ~e towels are used for drying h~nds so d~at they are comfo~able to the user's skin and when wiping finished surfaces~ such as ~e~k tops or aut~mobile exte~iors, so ~at the towels do not ~cratch ~e finished ~aces.
0 Prior art hand or wiper towels which ar~ made from cellulosic fibers are no~n~lly strong even when saturated with liquid, but orten lack desirable levels of absor~nt capaci~r, absorbent rate, and softness. These prior art towels are generally made wi~ ~l conventional wet fonning process wherein the beginning fumish contains chemical bonding agents to bind ~e celllllosic fibers together and p~otnote the ~trength of dle towel. The fu~nish is deposited on a ~aveling foraminou~ belt ~ere~y fo~ning a web of moist cellulosic ~Ibers on top of ~e for~minous belt.
~0 The mois~ ~Ibrous web is transfened to an ab~orben~ carrier belt and ~en pressed by one or a selies of rollers to remove water from the ~Ibrous web al~d to compact d~e ~ e - web t~ ther promote the stFen8th of the towel. The pressed flbto~s web is transferred to ~ ouhr surfa~e of a 2S rotat~ng steam-heat~d dryer where~y part of the remain~ng water ig evaporated ~rom the flb~ous web. The ~Ibrous web is ~en "creped" by a blade positioned adja~ent th¢ out~r surface of ~e d~er whioh scrapes the partially~ ed fibrous web from ~e outer surface of ~be dryer. Tho creped ~Ibrous wcb is ~en conveyed over a selies of steam-heated d~ye~s to evaporate the 20-S0% moistur~ rema~ning in dle web af~er creping. The creping enhances the absorbent capacity and abso~ t ra~ of ~e towel The conventional p~Ç8S for malcing ~oft paper towels is similar to the conventional process for m~iking ~nd .
_ 3 _ ~ 13249~g or wiper towels; however, creping of the fibrous web is done when moisture content has been reduced to 10% or less. An adhesive solution is also applied to the outer surface of the "Yankee" creping dryer so that the fibrous web adheres tightly to the surface of the dryer. The creped fibrous web requires no further drying in this process. The resulting soft towels possess high levels of absorbent capacity and absorbent rate; however, these soft towels are also very weak and tend to break apart when saturated with liquid. Accordingly, soft paper towels are not an adequate substitute for hand or wiper paper towels.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a towel having an absorbent capacity of at least 385%, and an absorbent rate of about 8 seconds or less, the towel being prepared by forming a furnish of cellulosic fibers, water, and a chemical debonder, depositing the furnish on a first travelling foraminous belt thereby providing a web on top of the travelling foraminous belt, subjecting the fibrous web to non-compressive drying to remove the water from the fibrous web, and removing the dried fibrous web from the travelling foraminous belt without creping the fibrous web.
Surprisingly, the towel prepared by the process of the present invention, which does not involve a creping step, possesses high levels of absorbent capacity, absorbent rate, strength and softness.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the first foraminous belt travels at a first velocity, and there is included the further step of transferring the fibrous web from the first travelling foraminous belt to a second foraminous belt, the second foraminous belt travelling at a second velocity up to about 10% slower than the first velocity, thereby providing a series of transverse folds in the fibrous web prior to subjecting the fibrous web to non-compressive drying.
Another aspect of the invention resides in a towel - 4 - 132490~
having an absorbent capacity of at least about ~00~, an absorbent rate of about 6 seconds or less, a dry tensile strength of at least 1800 grams, and a wet tensile strength of at least about 380 grams.
Such a towel is prepared by a process comprising the following steps performed in sequence, forming a furnish of cellulosic fibers, water and a chemical debonder, depositing the furnish on a first travelling foraminous belt thereby forming a fibrous web on top of the travelling foraminous belt, subjecting the fibrous web to non-compressive drying to remove the water from the fibrous web, removing the dried fibrous web from the travelling foraminous belt without creping, and then embossing the dried fibrous web.
Alternatively, such a towel can be prepared by a process comprising the following steps performed in sequence, forming a furnish of cellulosic fibers, water and chemical debonder, depositing the furnish on a first foraminous belt, the first foraminous belt travelling at a first velocity, thereby forming a fibrous web on top of the first foraminous belt, transferring the fibrous web from the first travelling foraminous belt to a second foraminous belt, the second foraminous belt, travelling at a second velocity up to about 10~ slower than the velocity of the first foraminous belt, thereby providing a series of transverse folds in the fibrous web, subjecting the fibrous web to non-compressive drying to remove the water from the fibrous web, removing the dried fibrous web from the second travelling foraminous belt without creping, and then embossing the dried fibrous web.
Even more particularly, the towel of the present invention is prepared by a process wherein the cellulosic fibers in the furnish comprise secondary cellulosic fibers. The high levels of absorbent capacity, absorbent rate, strenqth, and softness are also achieved usinq the secondary cellulosic fibers. This aspect of the present invention is particularly advantageous because the cost of B
~ 3 2 ~ 9 ~ 9 secondary cellulosic fibers is substantially less than the cost of virgin cellulosic fibers.
Still more particularly, the towel of the present invention is prepared by a process further comprising the step of embossing the dried fibrous web after removing the dried fibrous web from the travelling foraminous belt.
The embossing increases the absorbent capacity, absorbent rate, and softness of the web, but tends to reduce the strength of the web. Towels of the present invention prepared by the process including the embossing step have an absorbent capacity of at least about 400%, an absorbent rate of at least about 6 seconds or less, a tensile strength of at least about 1800 grams to about 2700 grams, and a wet tensile strength of at least about 380 grams to ~5 about 680 grams.
Still more particularly, the towel of the present invention is prepared by a process which includes the steps of: (1) forming a furnish of cellulosic fibers, water, and a chemical debonder; (2) depositing the furnish on a first travelling foraminous belt, thereby forming a fibrous web on top of the first foraminous belt; (3)-transferring the fibrous web from the first travelling foraminous belt to a second foraminous belt travelling at a velocity from about 5 to 10% slower than the velocity of the first foraminous belt, thereby providing a series of transverse folds in the fibrous web; (4) subjecting the fibrous web to non-compressive drying to remove water from the fibrous web; and (5) removing the dried fibrous web from the second travelling foraminous ~32490~
belt. The towel made from ~is p~icular process exhibi~s even greatcr levels of stxength and softnes~ because of the sene~ of folds in dle toweIs. The folds increase the streng~
of the towels by providing a degree of stretch, ~ereby reducing the tendency of ~e towel to ~e~r when subjected to str~ss. The folds in ~e towels increase the so~ness of the towels by increasing ~e ~ickness of ~e l:oweL
Therefore, an object of ~e present invention is to provide a~ improved hand or wip~r towel.
lo Ano~her obje~t of the pre~;ent invention is to provide a hand or wiper towel with high levels of absorbent capacit~, abso~ent rate, streng~, and sofmess.
~ fur~er objeet of ~e present invention is to provide a hand or wiper towel at a reduce~ cost.
O~er objects, features, and advant~ges will become apparent from reading ~e following specifications in conjun~tion wilh ~e accompany~g drawings.
Brief Description oP Drawing~
~ig~ 1 is a perspective view of ~e process line for pr~ducing a preferred embodimcnt of the prescnt invention; and ;~ Fig. 2 i~ an enlarged soctio~al Yiew of the point of transfer between ~e fo~ning belt and the through d~yer belt in a proce~s line for producing another pre~erred embodiment of ~e present inYention.
Detailed Oescription of the Prefer~ed Embodiments Turnillg first to Pig 1, there i~ illustrated a process line 10 for producing a pIeferred embodimeIIt of ~e prcsent inverltion. The process line b~:gins witl~ a papcr-making filmisb 12 comprising a mi~ture of secondary cellulosic fiber, water, and a ~hemical debonder which is deposited fr~m a conventional head bo~ ~not shown) ~rough a r.o~zle 14 on top of a for~minous wirG ~orming belt 16 as 6 132~9~9 shown in Fig. 1. The fonning belt 16 tlavels around a pad~
de~lned by a series of guide rollers. l~e forming belt 16 travels fr~m an upper guide ~oller 20, posi~i~ned below and proximate ~ ~e head box nozzle 14, horizon~ally and away from dle head box no~zle to ano~her upper guide roller 22, passes over ~e upper ~uide ~oller 22 and di~gonally ~nd downw~rdly to a lower guide roller ~, passes under ~e lower guide roIler 24 and diagon~lly and upwardly toward ~e nozzle 14 to a lower g~ide roller 2~i, passes over lower guide ~ller 26 and diagonally and downwardly to lower guide roller 28, passes under lower guide Iolle~ 28, and tums upwardly and slightly inwardly to a guide roller 32, passes behind the ~uide roller 3~ and upwardly and out~1vardly retu~n~ to upper guide roller 7Ø
A ~acuum form1ng box 34 positioned benea~
the fom~ing belt 16 proxunate the opening 36 of ~e head box no~zle 14 ~ediately extracts wa~er from ~e moist fibrous web 38 deposited on top of the fomn~g belt by ~e head bo~c nozzle. Ih¢ partially dewater~d ~;brous web 38 i~ earried by the forming belt 16 in the counterclockwise di~ection, as shown in ~ig. 1, towards the upper guide roller 22. The fibrous web 38 a~ it moves away from the vacuum fo~ng box 34 pre~er~bly comprises from aboul: 19% to abol~t 30%
cellulosic fiber by weight. An edge vacuum 40 positioned 2S below the folming belt 16 pro~imate to d~e upper guide roller 22 is an aid to trimming the edges of d~e ~tbrous web 38.
The ~Ibrous web 38 passes over the upper guide roller 22 and downwardly between ~e fc~rming belt 16 and a ~rough~ er bclt 42.
The ~rough-dryer belt 42 tl~vels around a pa~
deffned by a series of guide rollers. The through-dryer belt 42 travels ~rom a ~uidc roller 44 po~itioned above and vertically of&et f~om guide roller 22 downwardly towards ~e fo~ning belt 16, contacts ~e ~Ibrous web 38, and fhen ~32;4~
downwardly and diagonally away from ~uide roller 24 to guide roller 46, passeg under guide roller 46 and ~un~s horizontally away from the forming belt 16 towards a through-d~er guide roller 48, passes under the through~
s drycr guide roller 48 ~nd turns upwardly and over a dlrough~dryer 50 and downwardly to another ~rough~ryer guide roller 5~, passes under d~rough-dryer guide roller S5 and tu2ns horizontally away from the ~rough-dryer 50 towardg a lower guide roller 54, passe~: under lower guide 0 roller 54, and tums upwardl~ to an uppor guide roller 56, passe~ over the upper guide roller 56 and turns slightly downwar~ly to an upper guids~ roller 58, passes under the upper guid~ roller 5~, and turns slightly upwardly in the d~rection of ~e forming belt 16 to an ul~per guide rolle~ 60, passes over upper guide roller 60 and tu1ns downwa~dly to ~
guide roller 62, passes unde~-guide roller 62 and turns substantiall~ holizontally away ~rom fvrming belt 16 to a guide roller ~4~ passes around guide r~ller 64 and turns : horizontally in the direction of ~e fclrming ~elt 16 an~
returns to guide roller 44.
A ~acuum pickup 66 pulls the ~brous web 38 towards the through-dryer belt 42 and away from fonning bclt 16 as ~e ~lbrous web passes between dle throu~h dryer belt and ~e folming belt . The fibrous ~eb 38 ~dheres to ~e through-dryer bell 4~ and is camed by ~e through-dryer belt downwardly below lower guide roller 46 towards ~e through-dryer S0. Yacuum boxes 68 positioned above and ;~ proximate to the ~rough-drger belt 42 between ~e lower guide roller 46 and the through-dryor guide roller 48 fur~er extlact water from t~e moist fi6rous web 38. The fibrous web 38 preferably compnses between about 25% ~nd 35~o filber by welght after passing beneath the vacuum bo~es 6~.
: ~ Thc through-dryer 50 ge~erally compr~ses an oute~ rotatable perforated cylinder Sl and an outer hood S2 13~4909 for ncceiving ~e hot air blown ~rough ~e perfora~ons 53, the ~Ibrous web ~8, and ~e through-dryer belt 42 as is known to ~se skilled in the a~. The ~ough-dryer belt 42 car~es ~e fibrou~ web 38 over ~e upper portion of ~e through-dryer outer cylinder 50. Th~ heated air fo~ced ~rou~h ~e perforations 53 in the outer cylinde~ Sl of ~e through-dlyer 50, lemoves the remaining water ~om the fibr~us web 3~. The tempe~atur~ of the air for~ed ~ougll the ~Ibrou~ web 38 by the ~rou~h-dryer is preferably a~out 0 30~ to 350- P.
l~e through-dryer belt 42 ca~ies the dried fibrous web 3~ below the throu~ll-dr~re~ guide roller SS
toward~ the lower ~guide roller ~4. The slried fibrous web 38 is pulled from ~e through~dlyer belt ~t lower ~uide roller 54 ~y a takeup roller 70. The dried fi~rous web 38 passes from the ~rough-dryer belt 42 ~o a ~ip between a pair of embossing rollers 72. The dried ~nd e~lbo~sed ti~rous web 38 then pasges from the nip betweel) ~c ~,mbossing rollers 7 to ~e takeup roller 70 whe~e ~e flbrous ~b is wound înto a ~o pr~duct ~oll 74.
1~ an even more preferred embodiment of dle present ~nve~tio~, ~e pr~cess line 10 previously de~cribed is - modified so that the through dryer belt 42 tra~els at a velocity from about S to 10% slov~ver ~n dls velocity of ~e as folming belt 16. Ag a result, ~e moist fibrou~ w~b 38 arrives at ~c point of transfer 7~ betw~en tlhe formin~g belt 16 and ~e t~rough-dryer belt 42 at a faster rate than the fibrous wcb is carried away by thc ~ough-dryer belt . As dle moist flbrous web 38 buiIds up at the point of t~nsfer 76~
dle moist fab~io tends to bend into a sçries of transverse folds 78 as shown in Fig. 2. The folds provide for ~ degrec of stretch in ~e fibrous web ~ereby ~ncreasing the overall strength of the filbrou~ w~b, and because ~e folds stack on ~op of one ano~er, ~e ~Ibrolls web bccorncs dlicker and ~us 3~ ~oftcl.
132490~
vention is further illustrated ~y the following example u~hi~h is illustrative of a preferred embodiment desi~ned to teach ~ose of o~din~ry skill in ~e art how to practice ~is in~ention.
s Example 1 An initial paper-making furnish is prepared comprising 0.15% by weight of secon~lary cellulogic ~Iber and ~.85% water, The seeonda~y cellulosic ~Iber used in lo ~e fun~ish comprises a mixture of 80% cup stoclc ~Iber and 20% deinked wastepaper. 20 wet lbs. of Berocel 584 debonder, a ~urfa~tant manufactured by Berolchemie AG, per t~n of dry seconda~r cellulosic ~ber is added to the initial furnish mixture. 11.4 dry Ibs. o~ K~mene 557 H wet lS s~rength resin, a polyamide epichlorohydrin resin manufactured by ~ercules and 500 ml. of Stero~ D~, a rewettin~ agellt m~nufactured by Mons~nto, ar~ also added to each dry ton of the initial fumish resulting i~ a ~u~nish with a CanadiaI~ Standard Freeness of 410 cc.
~0 The fînal fumish is deposited from a head box through a 114 i~. wid~ opening onto ~ g4 M Appleton forming web, manufactured by Appleton Wire. The folming belt travels at a velocity of 40 ft. p~r minute. The deposited fumish forms a web of cellulosic ~Ibers with a dry :; 25 basis weiBht of 46 grams per sq. me~r on top of ~c forming :: belt.
Immedhtely after the fîbrou~ web is forMed on top of ~e forming bclt, the ~Ibrous web passes over a folming box vacllum which oper~tes at a pnssure of 8 ~n. H8 below a~nospheric pressure and extracts water from the fibrous web. The ~Ibrous web ~en passes over an ed~e :~ vacuum which operates at a vacuwn of 11-15 in. Hg below atmospheric pn~sure and ~urther trims ~e edges of the ~Ibrou~ web.
The i~lb~us web i8 ~en tr~nsferred to a 31 A
''` 10 Albany tllrough-dryer belt, manuf~ctured by Albany International, with ~e aid of a ~acuuln pickup which produces a v~cuum of 11-15 in. Hg below atmospheric pressur~. The through~dlyer belt also travels at a velo~ity of 40 ft. per minute. The consistency of thl~ partially dewatered fibro~s web after the transfer to the througll-dryer belt contains 19% b~ weight of dry cellulosit: fiber.
The through-dryer belt carries the par~ially dewatered ~lbrous web over a pair of vacuurn boxes each producing a vacuum of 14 i~. Hg below atm~spheric pressure and fur~her dewaters the fibrous web. The through-dryer ~elt then carnes ~e fibrous web around the upper portion of a c~lindrical through~dryer. The ~Ibrous web plior to transfer to a~e d~rou~h-dJyer comprises 26% to 27% by weight of cellulosic fiber. l~e ~rou~h~yer forces air at a temperature of 33S' F throu~h ~e fibrous web and removes the r~main~ng water from ~. fibro~s web. The dried ~lbrou~ web is pulled di~ectly from t~he ~rough-dryer belt for u~ ~s a hand or wiper towel.
A towel produced according to the speci~lcations in ~xample 1 was subjected to a se~ies of tosts to det~nnine ~e a~sorbency and s~eng~ of the towe~ ~nd is - ~ndicated in Table 1 as Bxampl~ 1 base towel. The base towel from Example 1 w~s also subjected to post-treatrnent embossing ~ollowed ~y ~e same series of tests. A pOniOn of the E~tample 1 bas¢ towel was em~ossed with Kimberly Clar~ Embossing PattcrD 1 (Northen~ E~ngra~ing Pattern No. 1804) and anothet portion of ~e E~;ample 1 base towel was em~ossed wi~ Kimberly Clark Pattern 2 (Nor~ern Engravirlg Pattorn No. 1557). Tho resulls of tests performcd on ~c embossed ~owels i8 also shown ~n Table 1. nlrec prior art hand c~r wiper towels, the Scott 180, the Po~t Howard 202, and the Cr~wn Zellerbach 820, wcrc also subjected to the sam8 tests as ~e Bx~rnple 1 basc tow~l. ~e results of d~c 3S tests perfonn~d on ~he p~ior art towcls a~e also shown in ~32~90~
Table 1 for ~omparative pUlpOSÇS.
The basis wei~h~ of ~e towels shown in Table 1 was de~m~ed according to ASTM D3776-g and is shown in units of pounds of dry towel per 2,~80 sq. ft. of towel.
S The water capacity of the towel~ in Tabl~ 1 wa~ mea~u~ed accordin~ to federal specification UU T-595C ~nd is showrl as ~e percent of ~e weight of ~e towel which ~e towel can absorb in wei~ht of water. The ~ater ~&te of the towels in Table 1 was measured according to TAPPI (Te~hnical As~ociation of ~e Pulp and Paper Industry~ T432 SU~72.
~e wa~er rate is shown in Table 1 as ~e number of seconds for a 4" x 4" towel to become satura~:d wi~ water. The thiek~ess of the towel is mea6u~ed a¢cording to TAPPI
T411-68 and is shown in inches ill Tflble 1. The ~ens;le s~reng~s of ~e towel~ shown in Table 1 a~e mea~ured according to ~STM r~ 7-6 and r)1~82. The ten~ile strength is ~e amount of stress re~,ui~ed to pull a 3~ len~dl of towel apart. The tensi~e streng~s shown iII Table 1 are expressed in ~rarns. The tensil~ s~eng~s of d~y towels were measured in both ~e machine direction and ~e ~ross di~ection. The tensile strengdls of th~ ~owels saturated with water wer~ measu~ed in ~e cross direction.
: `
~, .
~32~909 T~BI~
Fort C~wn ~xqrnple Embossed~mbossed How~ Ze~le~h ~ase Basc TowelBRse Towel Scott 180 20~ 820 Towel K-C Pa~ 1K-C Pat. 2 Basis Weight,27 27 2~ 27 27 27 #/2880~2 Abso~bant 284 270 2~S 385 3~ 505 Capacity, 9rO
Absorb~nt Rate, 35 58 6~ R 6 4 Swo~d~
~liCkllGSS, 0.0~420,00430.00460.0077 0,00~Q()0~3 ~ches Tcnsile Slren~
MD D~y, g 7480 ~ 690 10890 6078 ~679 G~ ~r g 3460 3470 2640 S738 2421 1889 CDWetg 1163 ~S0 8~0 1481 6~3 387 ~3 13249~9 A~ shown in Table 1, the 13x~mple 1 b~s~ towel possesses a superior absorbent c~paGity to o~er halld or wiper ~owel~ which comprise ~ sam~: or about the ~an e basis weight as ~e ~3xample 1 base towel. The ab~orbent capaci~ of th~ Example 1 base towel as sh~wn in Table 1 is gO% greater than any of ~e prior art towels also sh~-~rn. The Example 1 ba~e towel also possesses a superior level of absorbent rate ~han the prior ar~ towels shown dlerein. The abso~ t late of ~e Example 1 base towel is at leas~ 4 times 0 faster than any of the prior art towels shown 1n Table 1. The Example 1 base towel also possesses a greater ~ickness than ~hose prior a~t towels shown in Table 1 and ~us is a so~ter towel. Fur~er, ~e tensile strengd~ of the E~xample 1 baso towel is superior to the tensile st~engd~s of the pnor ar~
t~wels shown m Table 1.
The embossed ~xample 1 base towels possess eve~ higher levels of absor~ent capaei~ and abgor~ent rate as shown in Table 1. The tensile strengths of the embossed ;Eixample 1 base towels are reduced somewhat by the embossing bllt remain comparabl~ to ~ tensile streng~s of ~e prior art towels shown in Table 1.
In su~y, ~e d~ n Ta~le 1 show that hand or wiper towels which are prefe~ed embodiments of ~e :~ ~ pr~sent invention pos~ess superlor levels of absorbent capaci~, ab~orbcnt rate, ~oftness and st~ngth to o~er p~ior a~t h~d or wiper towels o~ ~e sam8 or about the same basis weightO
It should be understood that the for~going relates only to preferr~d embodiments of ~he present in~ention, and that numerous changes and modifi~ations may be made without depatting from ~e spirit and scope of ~e in~entdon a~ d~med in ~e followmg claims.
'~ ,
Claims (24)
1. A towel having an absorbent capacity of at least about 385%, and an absorbent rate of about 8 seconds or less, prepared by a process comprising the steps of:
forming a furnish of cellulosic fibers, water, and a chemical debonder;
depositing the furnish on a first travelling foraminous belt thereby forming a fibrous web on top of the travelling foraminous belt;
subjecting the fibrous web to non-compressive drying to remove the water from the fibrous web; and removing the dried fibrous web from the travelling foraminous belt without creping the fibrous web.
forming a furnish of cellulosic fibers, water, and a chemical debonder;
depositing the furnish on a first travelling foraminous belt thereby forming a fibrous web on top of the travelling foraminous belt;
subjecting the fibrous web to non-compressive drying to remove the water from the fibrous web; and removing the dried fibrous web from the travelling foraminous belt without creping the fibrous web.
2. The towel prepared by a process as in claim 1, wherein:
the cellulosic fibers in the furnish comprise secondary cellulosic fibers.
the cellulosic fibers in the furnish comprise secondary cellulosic fibers.
3. The towel prepared by a process as in claim 2, wherein:
the non-compressive drying is achieved with a through-dryer.
the non-compressive drying is achieved with a through-dryer.
4. The towel prepared by a process as in claim 3, wherein:
the towel has a dry tensile strength of at least about 5700 grams, and a wet tensile strength of at least about 1200 grams.
the towel has a dry tensile strength of at least about 5700 grams, and a wet tensile strength of at least about 1200 grams.
5. The towel prepared by a process as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:
embossing the dried fibrous web after removing the dried fibrous-web from the travelling foraminous belt.
embossing the dried fibrous web after removing the dried fibrous-web from the travelling foraminous belt.
6. The towel prepared by a process as in claim 5, wherein:
the cellulosic fibers in the furnish comprise secondary cellulosic fibers.
the cellulosic fibers in the furnish comprise secondary cellulosic fibers.
7. The towel prepared by a process as in claim 6, wherein:
the non-compressive drying is achieved with a through-dryer.
the non-compressive drying is achieved with a through-dryer.
8. The towel prepared by a process as in claim 7, wherein:
the towel has an absorbent capacity of at least about 400%, an absorbent rate of about 6 seconds or less, a dry tensile strength of at least about 1800 grams to about 2700 grams, and a wet tensile strength of at least about 380 grams to about 680 grams.
the towel has an absorbent capacity of at least about 400%, an absorbent rate of about 6 seconds or less, a dry tensile strength of at least about 1800 grams to about 2700 grams, and a wet tensile strength of at least about 380 grams to about 680 grams.
9. A towel prepared by a process as in claim 1, wherein:
the first foraminous belt travels at a first velocity;
and further comprising the step of, transferring the fibrous web from the first travelling foraminous belt to a second foraminous belt, the second foraminous belt travelling at a second velocity up to about 10% slower than the first velocity, thereby providing a series of transverse folds in the fibrous web prior to subjecting the fibrous web to non-compressive drying.
the first foraminous belt travels at a first velocity;
and further comprising the step of, transferring the fibrous web from the first travelling foraminous belt to a second foraminous belt, the second foraminous belt travelling at a second velocity up to about 10% slower than the first velocity, thereby providing a series of transverse folds in the fibrous web prior to subjecting the fibrous web to non-compressive drying.
10. The towel prepared by a process as in claim 9, wherein:
the cellulosic fibers in the furnish comprise secondary cellulosic fibers.
the cellulosic fibers in the furnish comprise secondary cellulosic fibers.
11. The towel prepared by a process as in claim 10, wherein:
the non-compressive drying is achieved with a through-dryer.
the non-compressive drying is achieved with a through-dryer.
12. The towel prepared by a process as in claim 11, further comprising the step of:
embossing the dried fibrous web after removing the dried fibrous web from the second travelling foraminous belt.
embossing the dried fibrous web after removing the dried fibrous web from the second travelling foraminous belt.
13. The towel of claim 1, having an absorbency capacity of about 500%.
14. The towel of claim 1 or 13, having a wet tensile strength of about 1500 grams.
15. A towel having an absorbent capacity of at least about 400%, an absorbent rate of about 6 seconds or less, a dry tensile strength of at least about 1800 grams, and a wet tensile strength of at least about 380 grams prepared by a process comprising the following steps performed in sequence:
forming a furnish of cellulosic fibers, water, and a chemical debonder;
depositing the furnish on a first travelling foraminous belt thereby forming a fibrous web on top of the travelling foraminous belt;
subjecting the fibrous web to non-compressive drying to remove the water from the fibrous web;
removing the dried fibrous web from the travelling foraminous belt without creping; and embossing the dried fibrous web.
forming a furnish of cellulosic fibers, water, and a chemical debonder;
depositing the furnish on a first travelling foraminous belt thereby forming a fibrous web on top of the travelling foraminous belt;
subjecting the fibrous web to non-compressive drying to remove the water from the fibrous web;
removing the dried fibrous web from the travelling foraminous belt without creping; and embossing the dried fibrous web.
16. The towel prepared by a process as in claim 15, wherein:
the cellulosic fibers in the furnish comprise secondary cellulosic fibers.
the cellulosic fibers in the furnish comprise secondary cellulosic fibers.
17. The towel prepared by a process as in claim 16, wherein:
the non-compressive drying is achieved with a through-dryer.
the non-compressive drying is achieved with a through-dryer.
18. The towel of claim 15, having an absorbency capacity of about 500%.
19. The towel of claim 15 or 18, having a wet tensile strength of about 1500 grams.
20. A towel having an absorbent capacity of at least about 400%, an absorbent rate of about 6 seconds or less, a dry tensile strength of at least about 1800 grams and a wet tensile strength of at least about 380 grams prepared by a process comprising the following steps performed in sequence:
forming a furnish of cellulosic fibers, water and a chemical debonder;
depositing the furnish on a first foraminous belt, the first foraminous belt travelling at a first velocity, thereby forming a fibrous web on top of the first foraminous belt;
transferring the fibrous web from the first travelling foraminous belt to a second foraminous belt, the second foraminous belt travelling at a second velocity up to about 10% slower than the velocity of the first foraminous belt, thereby providing a series of transverse folds in the fibrous web;
subjecting the fibrous web to non-compressive drying to remove the water from the fibrous web;
removing the dried fibrous web from the second travelling foraminous belt without creping; and embossing the dried fibrous web.
forming a furnish of cellulosic fibers, water and a chemical debonder;
depositing the furnish on a first foraminous belt, the first foraminous belt travelling at a first velocity, thereby forming a fibrous web on top of the first foraminous belt;
transferring the fibrous web from the first travelling foraminous belt to a second foraminous belt, the second foraminous belt travelling at a second velocity up to about 10% slower than the velocity of the first foraminous belt, thereby providing a series of transverse folds in the fibrous web;
subjecting the fibrous web to non-compressive drying to remove the water from the fibrous web;
removing the dried fibrous web from the second travelling foraminous belt without creping; and embossing the dried fibrous web.
21. The towel prepared by a process as in claim 20, wherein:
the cellulosic fibers in the furnish comprise secondary cellulosic fibers.
the cellulosic fibers in the furnish comprise secondary cellulosic fibers.
22. The towel prepared by a process as in claim 21, wherein:
the non-compressive drying is achieved with a through-dryer.
the non-compressive drying is achieved with a through-dryer.
23. The towel of claim 20, having an absorbency capacity of about 500%.
24. The towel of claim 20 or 23, having a wet tensile strength of about 1500 grams.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US19523488A | 1988-05-18 | 1988-05-18 | |
| US195,234 | 1988-05-18 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1324909C true CA1324909C (en) | 1993-12-07 |
Family
ID=22720578
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000600009A Expired - Lifetime CA1324909C (en) | 1988-05-18 | 1989-05-17 | Towel and process for preparing same |
Country Status (8)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0342646B1 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE140284T1 (en) |
| AU (2) | AU3487589A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1324909C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE68926800T2 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2088874T3 (en) |
| MX (1) | MX172304B (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA893657B (en) |
Families Citing this family (25)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ242947A (en) * | 1991-07-19 | 1994-07-26 | Johnson & Johnson Inc | Non-defiberised fluid-absorbent sheet has debonding agent and cross linked fibres and method of manufacture |
| US5348620A (en) * | 1992-04-17 | 1994-09-20 | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | Method of treating papermaking fibers for making tissue |
| US5667636A (en) * | 1993-03-24 | 1997-09-16 | Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. | Method for making smooth uncreped throughdried sheets |
| CA2098326A1 (en) * | 1993-03-24 | 1994-09-25 | Steven A. Engel | Method for making smooth uncreped throughdried sheets |
| US5599420A (en) * | 1993-04-06 | 1997-02-04 | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | Patterned embossed nonwoven fabric, cloth-like liquid barrier material and method for making same |
| US5399174A (en) * | 1993-04-06 | 1995-03-21 | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | Patterned embossed nonwoven fabric, cloth-like liquid barrier material |
| FR2715288B1 (en) * | 1993-05-21 | 1998-01-09 | Kimberly Clark Co | Multi-jet cellulosic product with an aqueous absorption capacity independent of its size. |
| FR2715051B1 (en) * | 1993-05-21 | 1998-01-09 | Kimberly Clark Co | Base sheet especially for multi-jet cellulosic product and its manufacturing process. |
| US5399412A (en) * | 1993-05-21 | 1995-03-21 | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | Uncreped throughdried towels and wipers having high strength and absorbency |
| AU695610B2 (en) * | 1993-05-21 | 1998-08-20 | Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. | A calendered multi-ply cellulosic product useful as a wiper or towel |
| FR2715047B1 (en) * | 1993-06-24 | 2000-04-28 | Kimberly Clark Co | Soft paper fabrics dried by transverse air. |
| US5607551A (en) * | 1993-06-24 | 1997-03-04 | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | Soft tissue |
| CA2142805C (en) * | 1994-04-12 | 1999-06-01 | Greg Arthur Wendt | Method of making soft tissue products |
| CA2134594A1 (en) * | 1994-04-12 | 1995-10-13 | Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. | Method for making soft tissue products |
| JP3902649B2 (en) * | 1995-01-10 | 2007-04-11 | ザ、プロクター、エンド、ギャンブル、カンパニー | Smooth and passing air-dried tissue and method for producing the same |
| KR100249607B1 (en) * | 1995-01-10 | 2000-03-15 | 데이비드 엠 모이어 | High density tissue and process of making |
| US6821386B2 (en) | 1995-01-10 | 2004-11-23 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Smooth, micropeak-containing through air dried tissue |
| US6551453B2 (en) | 1995-01-10 | 2003-04-22 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Smooth, through air dried tissue and process of making |
| US5493790A (en) * | 1995-01-31 | 1996-02-27 | Beloit Technologies, Inc. | Sheet transfer apparatus |
| US6187137B1 (en) * | 1997-10-31 | 2001-02-13 | Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. | Method of producing low density resilient webs |
| US6447640B1 (en) * | 2000-04-24 | 2002-09-10 | Georgia-Pacific Corporation | Impingement air dry process for making absorbent sheet |
| ITFI20040102A1 (en) | 2004-04-29 | 2004-07-29 | Guglielmo Biagiotti | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF TISSUE PAPER |
| US7749355B2 (en) | 2005-09-16 | 2010-07-06 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Tissue paper |
| ITFI20050218A1 (en) | 2005-10-20 | 2007-04-21 | Guglielmo Biagiotti | IMPROVEMENT OF METHODS AND DEVICES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF TISSUE PAPERS AND PAPER VEIL FROM THESE DERIVATIVES |
| US7744723B2 (en) | 2006-05-03 | 2010-06-29 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Fibrous structure product with high softness |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3844880A (en) * | 1971-01-21 | 1974-10-29 | Scott Paper Co | Sequential addition of a cationic debonder, resin and deposition aid to a cellulosic fibrous slurry |
| US3817827A (en) * | 1972-03-30 | 1974-06-18 | Scott Paper Co | Soft absorbent fibrous webs containing elastomeric bonding material and formed by creping and embossing |
| US4093765A (en) * | 1976-02-13 | 1978-06-06 | Scott Paper Company | Soft absorbent fibrous web and disposable diaper including same |
| US4236963A (en) * | 1978-11-21 | 1980-12-02 | Beloit Corporation | Apparatus for texturing untextured dry tissue web |
| US4492044A (en) * | 1983-08-19 | 1985-01-08 | Boise Cascade Corporation | Pocket ventilation roll baffle assembly |
-
1989
- 1989-05-16 ZA ZA893657A patent/ZA893657B/en unknown
- 1989-05-17 AU AU34875/89A patent/AU3487589A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1989-05-17 AT AT89108866T patent/ATE140284T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1989-05-17 ES ES89108866T patent/ES2088874T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-05-17 MX MX016088A patent/MX172304B/en unknown
- 1989-05-17 EP EP89108866A patent/EP0342646B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-05-17 DE DE68926800T patent/DE68926800T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-05-17 CA CA000600009A patent/CA1324909C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1990
- 1990-08-28 AU AU61933/90A patent/AU630499B2/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0342646A2 (en) | 1989-11-23 |
| AU6193390A (en) | 1990-11-29 |
| DE68926800D1 (en) | 1996-08-14 |
| DE68926800T2 (en) | 1996-11-07 |
| EP0342646B1 (en) | 1996-07-10 |
| EP0342646A3 (en) | 1991-07-03 |
| MX172304B (en) | 1993-12-13 |
| ATE140284T1 (en) | 1996-07-15 |
| AU3487589A (en) | 1989-11-23 |
| ES2088874T3 (en) | 1996-10-01 |
| ZA893657B (en) | 1990-01-31 |
| AU630499B2 (en) | 1992-10-29 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKLA | Lapsed | ||
| MKEC | Expiry (correction) |
Effective date: 20121205 |