Smooth and bulky rolled tissue products

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10040265-B2
Application number	US-201515557267-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2015
Priority date	Mar 31, 2015
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

The novel tissue products of the present invention are generally produced by calendering a tissue basesheet using at least one patterned roll. In one embodiment the patterned roll replaces the flat steel roll commonly used in calendering. The elements on the patterned roll provide a means of providing a nip having variable loading such that Z-direction variability in the web is reduced, yielding a smoother web, but without subjecting the web to excessive compression forces and preventing excessive caliper loss. Thus, webs converted according to the present invention tend to retain a greater percentage of their caliper and bulk when converted compared to webs converted using conventional calendering means.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A calendering process comprising the steps of: providing a tissue web comprising pulp fibers; conveying the tissue web through a gap formed between an outer surface of a rotating pattern roll and an opposing moving surface such that the tissue web contacts the outer surface of the rotating pattern roll and the opposing moving surface, and spirally winding the tissue web into a rolled product after exiting the gap wherein the outer surface of the pattern roll comprises male elements and landing areas, wherein the male elements have a height (H) from about 0.30 to about 2.0 mm and comprise from about 60 to about 95 percent of the outer surface of the rotating roll, wherein the rolled product has a Roll Firmness of less than about 8.0 mm and a Roll Structure greater than about 1.80.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the tissue web comprises a single ply web having a basis weight greater than about 35 gsm, a GMT greater than about 1750 g/3″ and wherein the rolled product has a Roll Bulk of greater than about 15 cc/g.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the opposing surface comprises a rotating roll having an exterior surface comprising a polymeric material.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the male elements are discrete and comprise from about 70 to about 95 percent of the outer surface area of the pattern roll.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the male elements form a continuous or a semi-continuous pattern and comprise from about 70 to about 95 percent of the outer surface area of the pattern roll.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the male elements are discrete and are substantially similar in size and shape, having a height (H) from about 0.5 to about 1.5 mm and comprise from about 75 to about 90 percent of the outer surface of the pattern roll.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the tissue web has a Sheet Bulk from about 15 to about 20 cc/g.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein the tissue web has a caliper from about 640 to about 700 μm.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein the rolled product has Roll Firmness from about 4.5 to about 8.0 mm and a Roll Structure from about 1.8 to about 2.5.

10. The process of claim 1 wherein spacing of adjacent male elements is from about 5 to about 10 mm.

11. The process of claim 1 wherein male elements have sidewalls and the angle of the sidewall relative to the plane of the landing areas is from about 90 to about 130 degrees.

Assignees

• Kimberly Clark Co

Inventors

• Slayton Donald John
• Nelson Samuel August

Classifications

• B31F1/07 Primary

  Embossing {, i.e. producing impressions formed by locally deep-drawing, e.g. using rolls provided with complementary profiles}({B31F1/128 takes precedence;} corrugating B31F1/20; embossing in combination with printing B41F19/02, B41M1/24; typewriters for embossing B41J3/38; stamping in combination with deforming B41K3/36) · CPC title

• D21F11/006

  Making patterned paper · CPC title

• D21H27/02

  Patterned paper (patterned coatings D21H19/66; embossing B31F1/07; prepared on the paper-making machines D21F11/00) · CPC title

• B31F2201/0738

  Cross sectional profile of the embossments · CPC title

• A47K10/16

  Paper towels; Toilet paper; Holders therefor · CPC title