Embossing process and product

• US 4,759,967 A
• Filed: 01/30/1984
• Issued: 07/26/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
• Inventors: Bauernfeind, Robert N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thibodeau, Paul J.
• Application Number:
  US06/574,646
• Time in Patent Office: 1,639 Days
• Field of Search: 428/156, 428/172, 428/154, 428/153, D 6/595, D 5/37, D 5/53
• US Class Current: 428/154
• CPC Class Codes: B31F 1/07 Embossing , i.e. producing impressions formed by locally deep-drawing, e.g. using rolls provided with complementary profilesB31F1/128 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 Class Codes: B31F 2201/0728 Material
• CPC Class Codes: B31F 2201/0733 Pattern
• CPC Class Codes: B31F 2201/0738 Cross sectional profile of the embossments
• CPC Class Codes: B31F 2201/0743 having a matching profile
• CPC Class Codes: B31F 2201/0761 Multi-layered
• CPC Class Codes: B31F 2201/0764 the layers being nested
• CPC Class Codes: B31F 2201/0787 Applying adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: D21H 27/40 at least one of the sheets being non-planar, e.g. crêped crêping or corrugating paper B31F
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24455 Paper
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24463 Plural paper components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24479 including variation in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 Composite web or sheet

Abstract

Cross-machine strength reduction of creped wadding sheets due to embossing is reduced by a background embossing pattern having elongated embossments oriented with the major axis of the embossments substantially parallel to the cross-machine direction of the sheet.

Claims

1. A paper towel or tissue product having a background embossing pattern comprising embossments spaced apart by substantially undeflected neutral planes wherein the embossments of the background embossing pattern have a major and minor axis and wherein the major axis of a majority of the embossments of the background embossing pattern is substantially aligned in the cross-machine direction of the product, whereby the cross-machine direction tensile strength of said product is greater than an otherwise identical product having the major axis of the embossments of its background embossing pattern aligned parallel to its machine direction.

2. The paper sheet of claim 1 wherein the major axis of substantially all of the embossments of the background embossing pattern is substantially aligned in the cross-machine direction of the sheet.

3. The paper sheet of claim 1 wherein the embossments of the background emnbossing pattern are oval, rectangular, or diamond-shaped.

4. The paper sheet of claim 1 wherein the major axis of the embossments of the background embossing pattern is parallel to the cross-machine direction of the sheet.

5. The paper sheet of claim 4 wherein the spacing of the embossments of the background embossing pattern is at least as great as the minor axis dimension.

6. The paper sheet of claim 5 wherein the embossments of the background embossing pattern are oval in shape.

7. The paper sheet of claim 6 wherein the length of the major axis of the oval embossments is about 0.075 inch, the length of the minor axis of the oval embossments is about 0.035 inch, and the spacing between adjacent oval embossments is about 0.035 inch.

8. A two-ply paper towel having first and second sides and having a background embossing pattern thereon, said background embossing pattern comprising successive curvilinear rows of alternately protruding and depressed oval-shaped embossments oriented with the major axis of each oval aligned in the cross-machine direction of the towel and spaced apart by a substantially undeflected neutral plane wherein the depressed and protruding embossments of the first side correspond to the protruding and depressed embossments, respectively, of said second side.

9. The paper towel of claim 8 wherein the background embossing pattern is intermittently interrupted by a design pattern containing oval-shaped protruding and depressed embossments having the major axis of the ovals aligned in a direction different than that of the ovals in the background embossing pattern.

10. The paper towel of claim 9 wherein the design pattern is a shamrock.