US3738905A

US3738905A - Paper toweling material and method of combining into multi ply products

Info

Publication number: US3738905A
Application number: US00032912A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Thomas
Original assignee: Kimberly Clark Corp
Current assignee: Kimberly Clark Corp
Priority date: 1970-04-29
Filing date: 1970-04-29
Publication date: 1973-06-12
Anticipated expiration: 1990-06-12
Also published as: AT342407B; NL7305764A; AU461221B2; DE2238005A1; ATA573273A; FR2227389B1; AU4389672A; FR2227389A1; GB1382714A

Abstract

MULTI-PLY CREPED CELLULOSE WADDING MATERIAL USEFUL IN SHEET FORM AS A PAPER TISSUE TOWELING AND THE LIKE. THE MULTI-PLLY WADDING MATERIAL STRUCTURE INCLUDES LANDS AND RECESS AREAS EMBBOSSED INTO OUTER WEBS OF THE SHEET. IN TWO-PLY TOWELLING MATERIAL INTERNAL LANDS OF ONE PLY EXTEND TRANSVERSELY INTO INTERNAL LANDS OF THE OTHER AND THE TWO PLIES ARE SECURED TOGETHER AT SPACED CROSS-OVER ZONES OF THE LANDS. THE LANDS BRIDGE RECESS AREAS AND LIMIT SHEET

EXTENSION IN THE WET AND DRY STATE OF THE SHEET. ADDITIONAL WADDING PLIES MAY BE PROVIDED BETWEEN THE OUTER EMBOSSED PLIES. THE OUTER WEBS ARE EMBOSSED PRIOR TO LAMINATION IN A STEEL NIP, FOR EXAMPLE, AND ARE UNITED INTO A SHEET STRUCTURE IN THE STEEL TO STEEL NIP.

Description

June 12, 1973 G D; M S 3,738,905

PAPER 'rowmuuu MATERIAL- AND METHOD OF COMBINING INTO MULTI-PLY PRODUCTS Filed April 29, 1970 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 12, 1973 G D, THOMAS, 3,738,905

PAPER TOWELING MATERlAL AND METHOD OF COMBINING INTO MUL'II-PLY PRODUCTS Filed April 29, 1970 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

June 12,- 1973 D THOMAS 3,738,905

PAPER TOWELING MATERIAL AND METHOD OF COMBINING INTO MULTI-PLY PRODUCTS Filed April 29, 1970 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG-3 IFIG.4

June 12, 1973 v G. D. THOMAS 3,738,905 PAPER TOWELING MATERIAL AND METHOD OF COMBINING INTO MULTI-PLY PRODUCTS Filed April 29, 1970 8 Sheets -Sheet 4 June 12, 1973 G THQMAS 3,738y905 PAPER TOWELING MATERIAL AND METHOD OF COMBINING INTO MULTI-PLY PRODUCTS Filed April 29, 1970 a Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 8

June 12, 1973 G H AS 3,738,905

PAPER TOWELING MATERIAL AND METHOD OF COMBINING INTO MULTI-PLY PRODUCTS Filed April 29, 1970 '8 Sheets-Sheet 6 June 12*, 1973 D THOMAS 3,738,905

G. PAPER TOWELING MATERIAL AND METHOD OF COMBINING INTO MULTI'PLY PRODUCTS Filed April 29, 1970 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 June 12, 1973 THOMAS 3,738,905

PAPER TOWELING MATERIAL AND METHOD OF COMBINING INTO MULTI-PLY PRODUCTS Filed April 29, 1970 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG. l5

United "States Patent Office Patented June 12, 1973 U.S. Cl. 161-127 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Multi-ply creped cellulose wadding material useful in sheet form as a paper tissue toweling and the like. The multi-ply wadding material structure includes lands and recess areas embossed into outer webs of the sheet. In two-ply toweling material internal lands of one ply extend transversely to internal lands of the other and the two plies are secured together at spaced cross-over zones of the lands. The lands bridge recess areas and limit sheet extension in the wet and dry state of the sheet. Additional wadding plies may be provided between the outer embossed plies. The outer webs are embossed prior to lamination in a steel nip, for example, and are united into a sheet structure in the steel to steel nip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to absorbent creped cellulosic wadding or paper products, particularly multi-ply paper towels, and to methods of producing such products.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved multi-ply paper towel having a novel structural arrangement requiring a minimum of bonding for adequate ply attachment and which has good liquid absorbency, towel bulk, softness, tensile strength, fluid capacity and the like.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a novel method of web ply assembly which permits high speed ply combining while attaining a hig bulk product.

The improved sheet material in accordance with the invention has a multi-ply structure and outer webs of the toweling are each provided with lands which border recess areas. In a two-ply toweling, the lands of each outer web are internal, project cross-wise of lands of the other outer web and are abutted and secured at cross-over adhesive zones; adjacent recess areas are bridged by the internal lands so that the lands serve somewhat as beams restricting sheet extension. The lands thus provide a towel with some structural rigidity. The rigidity is imparted to the toweling without aflfecting materially the softness and other desirable qualities provided by creped tissue webs. The adhesive zones on the lands are preferably of waterresistant adhesive to prevent ply delamination and complete release of the united structure under wetted conditions, thus enhancing towel bulk in the wet state.

The lands and the recess areas, I have found, may be provided in tissue products by roll embossing webs separately and then preserving the embossments until web combination into a multi-ply sheet. For this purpose the webs to be combined are carried on their embossing rolls to a common nip and adhesively secured in the nip. The embossing rolls, in accordance with the invention, have a sequence of lands and recess areas, and suitably, web attachment is effected only where lands of cooperating rolls cross each other.

The embossing rolls may take any of a variety of forms but basically, in accordance with the invention, the cooperating embossing rolls have lands of significant surface area and which lands, in the combining nip, so cross each other as to provide relatively small pressure zones, thus providing for secure but limited attachment of tissue webs to form the multi-ply sheet structure. For the sake of convenience herein, individual plies are generally referred to as webs while the multi-ply structure is commonly termed a sheet.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of apparatus on which multi-ply toweling material or the like of the present invention may be formed;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating in perspective the apparatus arrangement of FIG. 1, the arrow indicating the direction of sheet travel through the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view in plan, idealized and enlarged, representing particularly adhesive bonding zones of a two-ply toweling material which may be produced in accordance with the illustrations set out in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view partially in section of a two-ply toweling material and with a portion of one ply of the two-ply material removed and the view being much enlarged;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the two-ply product of FIG. 2 based on a photograph enlarged about 13 times, the section being taken transversely to the direction of sheet travel, and in the dry sheet condition;

FIG. 6 is a view like that of FIG. 5 but taken in the direction of sheet travel;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the product of FIG. 6 after it has been well wetted;

FIG. 8 is a view like that of FIG. 1 but illustrating production of a three-ply product in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, sectional view like that of FIG. 5 of a three-ply product;

FIG. 10 is a view like that of FIG. 9 but taken looking transversely to that of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a view of a product similar to that of FIG. 10 after it has been wetted;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view illustrating particularly common cross-over areas of embossing rolls each having a generally parallelogram pattern and by means of which small zones of bonding are formed in multi-ply toweling material, for example;

FIG. 13 is a view like that of FIG. 12 but wherein the embossing roll pattern is essentially a sine wave;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary, enlarged view partially in section of a three-ply product produced with embossing rolls having a pattern like that of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary enlarged view, partially in section, of a three-ply product produced with embossing rolls having a sine wave pattern like that of FIG. 13, portions of plies being removed for sake of clarity of illustration.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 1 in FIG. 1 indicates a web of creped tissue moving in the direction indicatedby the arrow around a resilient rubber roll 2 through a nip 3 formed by the resilient roll 2 and a metal male embossing roll 4. The term web as already noted will be used generally herein to indicate a single ply, and the term sheet to indicate the composite structure. The web 1 as it proceeds to a combining nip 5 is embossed in the nip 3 by indentation of the resilient rubber roll 2 to provide upstanding embossments having surfaces '6 which are supplied with adhesive 7 by a fiexographic type adhesive applicator indicated generally at 8. The web material in the area of the surface 6 will be locally stressed relative to adjacent web areas as the roll 2 forces the web to conform to the pattern on roll 4 as noted more particularly hereinafter. The adhesive applicator -8 includes transfer roll 9, doctor roll 10 and pickup roll 11, all rotating in the direction indicated by the arrows. The

rolls

9, 10 and 11 are smooth surfaced rolls and, accordingly, adhesive is applied only to the embossment surfaces 6 as the web proceeds to the nip 5. Such adhesive need only be a very thin film and, accordingly, is not generally visible to the unaided eye.

A second and similar web of creped tissue 12 is provided to the nip over similar embossing equipment designated 13 and 14, the embossment surfaces of the traveling web being indicated at 15, and the direction of roll movement being indicated by the arrows. The soft rubber roll 13 forms with the steel roll 14 the embossing nip 16, as clearly shown in FIG. 1, and is eflFective to cause the crepe tissue 12 to assume the surface contour of the steel roll 14. The stress in web 12 due to the steelrubber nip action is greater in the area of the surface 15, and the web may locally be stressed beyond the elastic limit of the wadding. The combined tissue webs move from the nip 5 in the direction of the arrow to a subsequent conventional in-line converting operation such as equipment designed to produce roll towels or folded products.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 2, the

steel rolls

4 and 14 may be seen to be ribbed rolls. Thus, roll 4 has a series of spirally arranged lands and recesses extending around the axis of the roll, the lands being designated at 24 and the recesses being indicated at 25. A similar roll 14 has a similar series of lands and recesses designated at 26, 27. The

lands

24, 26 in the embodiment illustrated are in the form of substantially continuous ribs and they form the

surfaces

6, 15 on the

webs

1, 12 respectively. The rolls '4, 14 rotate in opposite rotational directions, and the lands of each of the rolls (FIG. 2) extend in crossing relation. Accordingly, a zone of relatively high pressure exists on

tissue webs

1 and 12 where the lands of

rolls

4 and 14 meet to urge the

embossment surfaces

6 and 15 respectively of

webs

1 and 12 together. A pattern of pressure and adhesive zones 30 such as that illustrated by the dotted zones in FIG. 3 results. The adhesive, however, is applied to all of the embossment surfaces '6, for example (FIG. 2) and, accordingly, some areas of the upper web 1 will carry adhesive but will not be bonded to lower web 12 since adhesive contact with the lower web is only intermittent. Thus, adhesive bonding occurs only in the zones 30 (FIGS. 3 and 4). This results, in effect, as may be most clearly seen from FIG. 4, in a combination of the two

webs

1 and 12, each of which, however, has its own series of lands and recesses. These lands and recesses extend (FIG. 4) generally at 45 to the roll axis and are in contact with one another in the product (FIG. 4). The lands 6 of the web 1 become the internal lands of the upper web 1 coinciding over a short length with internal lands 15 of the lower web 12 to define the zones 30; the recesses 33 of the upper web provide, as do the recesses 34 of the lower web, in effect, open channels. The material forming the lands is pressed and is considerably more stressed than the web material forming the recesses.

As shown in FIG. 4 where a portion of upper web 1 is removed,

internal lands

6, 15 of the two webs extend in opposed crossing relation bridging the

recesses

33, 34 to restrict extension of the material in these areas. Also, the abutment of the lands provides for an overall thickness of sheet where lands cross which is dependent upon substantially the sum of the heights of the original web embossments. Also, it is to be noted that, though the webs are plied as is customary with both webs extending longitudinally in the machine direction (indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 3 and 4), the bonded zones and the internal lands and recesses project at 45 to the axis in this instance. Such a 90 relationship of the lands is not necessary but the lands should not mate and, preferably, the e as angle is 9 9 F? 99.

As clearly indicated in FIG. 5, which is based on a much enlarged (13 times) photograph of a two-ply sheet in accordance with the invention, the spacing 37 between the two webs is well open on either side of the bonded zones 30. In this two-ply structure, as may be seen from FIG. 6, which is a view transverse to that of the sheet of FIG. 5, also enlarged 13 times, the structure is quite symmetrical, the bonding zones 30 being regularly spaced (FIG. 3) to provide the combination of

webs

1, 12 in a symmetrical arrangement (FIG. 2). Such multi-ply sheet, when wetted as indicated by FIG. 7, which is also an enlargement 13 times of the view similar to that of FIG. 6, the

webs

1, 12 collapse on each other, retaining, however, a crepe type configuration and exhibiting good bulk.

A further embodiment of the product of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, may be formed with the apparatus of FIG. 8. In FIG. 8 a second fiexographic adhesive type applicator, indicated generally at 17, is provided for application of adhesive 21 by

rolls

18, 19 and 20 to embossment surfaces 15. A third web 22 is fed directly to the nip 5 between

webs

1 and 12 and is secured to the outer webs by the

adhesives

7 and 21. The FIG. 9 view is taken looking in the machine direction (indicated by the arrow, FIG. 8) and, consequently, little of the actual crepe structure is apparent. However, the third and intermediate ply 22 is shown to separate the

outer plies

1, 12 and to divide the open spacing into intermediate spaces 39, 40'. The crepe structure, particularly the high crepe intermediate ply 22, is more clearly shown in FIG. 10, this view being taken looking in the cross direction. FIG. 11 illustrates the product of FIG. 10, in the wetted condition and clearly indicates that the high stretch center ply serves to space the

outer plies

1, 12 providing wet bulk in the product.

Various patterns of bonding of the two or three ply structure may be employed. I prefer to utilize the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 wherein the lands and recesses or grooves of the two

rolls

4, 14 are each similar in dimension, extend continuously in a spiral the length of and around the roll at a constant angle with the axis of the roll, and are so presented to each other in their nip that the lands of one cross the other at a significant angle, suitably as in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, it is not nec essary that both rolls have the same configuration of lands and recesses, nor is it necessary that the lands and grooves cross each other to form the 90 arrangement of FIG. 3 where the adhered zones 30 are small diamondshaped areas. Additionally, it is not necessary that the lands extend continuously; in accordance with the invention the lands need only be of sufiicient length to bridge a recess of another web and be secured to lands of that web bordering the recess.

In FIG. 12 the pattern of adhesive attachment of a twoply towel product, for example, is formed by cooperating embossing rolls having lands respectively as at 42, 43 in the shape of parallelograms. The lands 42 of one roll are indicated in solid lines and the lands 43 of the other roll are represented by dash lines. The zone 44 in which adhesive attachment of sheets carried on the rolls would occur appears as small diamond areas 44.

In FIG. 13 the illustration is of a pattern resulting from cooperating embossing rolls each of which has lands as designated at 46, 47 by solid and dash lines respectively. The zones of contact in roll rotation which would provide adhesive zones are indicated at '48.

FIG. 14 is illustrative of a three-ply product formed with

outer webs

51, 52 embossed on rolls of the type shown in FIG. 12. The intermediate ply which suitably is creped tissue also, but not embossed, is designated at 53 and may, of course, be eliminated, if desired. The parallelogram type recess embossments of the

webs

51, 52 are indicated respectively at 54, 55. These embossme s n e ch eb a e r e ted g l y o the ma h ne direction of the sheets as indicated by the arrow, and the embossments are themselves disposed so that the

inner lands

56, 57 of the

webs

51, 52 completely border or surround each recess. Adhesive bonding zones as at 58 provide for the adhesive attachment of the inner lands of the outer plies to the central web 53 or, in the case of a two-ply structure, to bond the outer webs to each other.

FIG. is illustrative of another embodiment in accordance with the invention and, as shown, includes an upper web 60, a lower web 61, and an intermediate ply 62. The intermediate ply suitably is an unembossed crepe tissue web and may be eliminated, if desired. The sinusoidal wave type embossments, or internal land 63 of web 60 and internal land 64 of web 61 extend at substantially right angles to the machine direction of the webs indicated by the arrow, and the zones of adhesive, as indicated at 64, define Zones which secure the outer webs to the inner. In the absence of an intermediate ply 62 the adhesive, as at 65, carried on one web is useful to secure the two embossed webs together.

As will be noted from the foregoing, in each instance the resilient roll urges the web to conform to the pattern on the steel embossing roll locally stressing the web in the area of the land of the embossing roll; this stressed web area then in each instance becomes an internal land of the multi-ply sheet and the internal land in each instance borders a less stressed recess area of its own web. Each internal land also bridges a lower stressed recess area of the other web.

The recess areas are then prevented from extending during sheet use or upon water wetting to a large degree, depending on the residual stretch or crepe remaining in the embossed web, since the adhered internal lands restrict such movement.

In more detail, toweling material for conventional household uses may be conveniently made on conventional papermaking equipment from a pulp furnish of wood pulp such as follows:

40% by weight of bleached softwood kraft 50% by weight of bleached softwood sulfide 10% by weight of bleached hardwood kraft Such furnish is not critical, as other wood pulp constituents and in other proportions may be substituted with only generally minor product characteristics insofar as the practice of the present invention is concerned. Suitably, however, such furnishes do contain a wet strength agent to the extent of between about 0.25 to 0.75 percent by weight of the fiber of the furnish and the Webs are creped in usual manner. In some instances a quantity of short synthetic fibers may be included in the furnish to provide special characteristics.

The webs in two-ply product manufacture are fed to the equipment of FIG. 1 as already described, and the ribs of the rolls impart the rib pattern to the webs. Other similar roll design arrangements in which the cooperating embossing rolls have ribs which cross each other in the roll nip at large angles may, of course, be employed. The ribs need not be substantially straight but may be irregular, and, also, they need not be continuous but are of a length greater in magnitude than the sum of the width of the rib or raised land and the width of a recess area. The greater the length to width ratio of the rib, the less critical is registration of the metal embossing rolls. This is in distinct contrast to peg-on-peg type embossing where mated registration of identical embossments is required and at substantial speed, roll and peg wear are an ever present problem.

EXAMPLE 1 A very suitable toweling material is produced as follows: base webs each having a dryer basis weight of about 10.8 lbs. per 2880 sq. ft., a stretch at break of about 32%, dry tensile strengthtper 3" width) of about 1900 grams in the machine direction and about 1200 grams in the cross direction, a wet tensile strength (per 3" width) of about 640 grams in the machine direction and about 310 grams in the cross direction, and with polyvinyl alcohol as the adhesive bonding agent, are formed into a two-ply sheet on the equipment of FIG. 1 with the spiral rib pattern and had characteristics as follows:

The spiral pattern used in producing the above example had a depth of 0.070". The lands of the pattern were 0.030" wide and extended continuously at a 45 angle with respect to the axis of the roll. The distance between adjacent lands or ribs was 0.070".

The above data, that is, the sheet thickness, tensile strength and stretch values, were obtained with an Instron tester (Model TM-l). The absorbent rate test was made by placing a 0.1 ml. drop of water on the test sample and measuring the time for the gloss to disappear, which is the end point for the absorption of water by the sample. The absorbent capacity test was performed by weighing a 4" x 4" dry sample, soaking it with water for 3 minutes, hanging it by one corner for 1 minute to allow excess water to be drained oif, and re-weighing. The difference in the wet and dry weight is the water pickup of the sample.

The Handle-O-Meter values were obtained by using a common Thwing-Albert Handle-O-Meter test. For testing Handle-O-Meter in the machine direction, 2 /2" wide by 6" long samples were used, and for cross direction samples were 2 /2" wide by 3 /2" long. The Handle-O- Meter values give an indication of sheet stiffness and lower values indicate better handle and less stiffness. By this test procedure, two-ply sheets produced as described and conventional creped tissue towel products have Handle-O-Meter values generally in the range of about l-25 in each direction (machine and cross-direction).

The compressive modulus value is given in inch-grams per cubic inch and is an indication of sheet softness, with low values indicating more compressible and softer products. In general, two-ply sheets produced as described and conventional creped tissue toweling material have modulus values in the range of 2001400. These values are obtained by using an Instron, with a sample between compression plates having an area of four square inches. Loading of the compression plates at a rate of about 0.02 inch per minute provides a stress-strain curve from the slope of which the modulus value is derived at a loading of gms./sq. in.

In the example above described, and preceding examples, ply attachment was in the range of 40-50 gms. per 4" width. This ply attachment test was made by cutting a four-inch wide sample by about six inches long, separating the two outer webs on a portion of the sample, and then placing those four-inch wide separated web portions in an Instron tester to measure the force (grams) required for ply separation. Values for conventional multi-ply towel materials are generally at least 10 gms. or more. Values of 25 gms. or more are considered very satisfactory ply attachment.

7 EXAMPLE 2 A three-ply product was produced employing the same base webs as in Example 1 as the outer webs and using as the center a web having: a dryer basis weight of about 7.7 lbs/2880 sq. ft.; a stretch level of about 92%; a dry tensile strength (per 3 width) of about 1200 gms. in the machine direction and about 500 gms. in the cross-direction; a wet tensile strength (per 3 width) of about 510 grams in the machine direction and about 135 grams in the cross-direction; and polyvinyl alcohol was employed as the adhesive bonding agent of each outer web. A threeply sheet formed with the spiral rib pattern had characteristics as follows:

EXAMPLES 3 AND 4 Employing the same base webs and process as in Examples 1 and 2, except using the parallelogram embossing pattern (FIG. 12), corresponding two and three-ply sheets had characttristics as follows:

2-ply 3-ply Basis weightlbs./2,880 sq. ft 24. 38. Sheet thickness, in. at

0.2 lbs/sq. in 0.029 0.037 0.4 lbs/sq. in. 0. 022 0.029 Tensile strength (gms MD dry 3, 550 4, 200 CD dry 1, 380 2, 600 MD Wet 1, 090 830 CD Wet 500 650 Percent strctch 18 18 Absorbent rate, sec 11. 4 2. 4 Absorbent capacity, gnis./16 sq. in 2. 11 3. 95 Handle-O-Metcr (gms.):

MD 6.9 7. 0 CD 5. 2 8. 3 Compressive modulus 345 329 The parallelogram pattern used in producing Examples 3 and 4 had a pattern depth of about 0.070" and the width of the lands was 0.020". Opposing acute and obtuse angles of one enclosed parallelogram of the pattern were 60 and 120, respectively. Enclosed opposing sides of each parallelogram were A" and Mt".

EXAMPLES 5 AND 6 Employing the same base Webs and process as in EX-

amples

1 and 2, except using the wave embossing pattern (FIG. 13), corresponding two and three-ply sheets had characteristics as follows:

2-ply 3-ply Basis weight, lbs/2,880 s ft 23. 1 Sheet thickness, in. tit- 38 6 0.2lbs./sq.1 n 0. 023 0. 039 0 4 lbs/sq. in- 0. 018 0. 013 Tensile strength (gms MD dry 2,500 2, 400 CD 1, 300 2, 020 MD wet 950 710 CD wet 420 580 Percent stretch 17 16 figsorgenz rate, so: 8. 6 12. 2 sor en capaci y, gm 2. 9 Handlc-O-Meter (grns.): q o 4 43 MD 5. 7 7.8 14. 9 705 The wave embossing pattern used in producing Examples 5 and 6 had a pattern depth of about 0.050 and the width of the continuous lands Was 0.030". Each sinusoidal portion of the continuous transverse lands had a parallel length with respect to the axis of the embossing roll of 0.420". Each sinusoidal portion consisted of two half-circles having a radius of 0.09" to the inside of the raised land and the maximum distance between adjacent continuous lands was 0.180".

The toweling material made as described results in high bulk, good absorbency, and softness qualities. These product attributes, as noted in the examples, can be altered depending on the embossing pattern and number of plies in the finished product. As may be noted, the high stretch center web of the three-ply examples increases the basis weight of the finished product above that of the two-ply examples. The highest bulk with two-ply samples occurred with the parallelogram pattern, while bulk was highest with the wave pattern on three-ply samples.

The tensile strength of the examples is mainly affected by the embossing pattern. In particularly, it will be noted that the machine direction strength is changed little for the two and three-ply examples embossed with the same pattern, but cross-direction strength shows a significant increase for the three-ply. This is because the high stretch center web contributes very little to the breaking tensile strength of the two lower stretch outer webs in the threeply examples. The center web does contribute to the cross-direction strength since stretch characteristics in this direction are very similar for all webs. Of the patterns used in the examples, the least tensile strength was obtained with the wave pattern.

One of the major quality differences between the two and three-ply examples is the much higher absorbent capacity of the latter. This increase in capacity is greater than the basis weight differences would indicate and is due to the three-ply product design, i.e., having a higher stretch center web than the outer webs, which, when wet, creates greater thickness and fluid holding capacity than the two-ply design. Thereby it is less subject to the degree of collapse that occurs in a two-ply design in which both plies are of the same weight and stretch characteristics.

Handle-O-Meter values show that the spiral rib examples are slightly stiffer than those with the other patterns. Also, the three-ply examples are slightly stiffer than the two-ply examples in the cross-direction as would be expected. However, these values are well within the acceptable limpness range suitable for toweling.

The two-ply examples are slightly more compressible than the three-ply examples, as shown by the compressive modulus values. The lowest values were obtained on the parallelogram pattern examples. All values are, however, within the range for good toweling.

Besides the embossing pattern and the number of webs in the product design, the product characteristics given for the examples above can also be altered depending on the embossing pressures employed and the characteristics of the base webs used for the outer and center plies, such as the dryer basis weight, fineness of crepe, level of stretch and tensile strength. For example, two and three-ply products have been produced by making some of these changes that result in absorbent capacity values in the range of 2.0-7.0 gms./ 16 sq. in. For toweling, the dryer basis weight range of the outer webs in the product design that are applicable are in the 7-15 lb./2880 sq. ft. range per web, with a 9-11 lb./2880 sq. ft. preferred range. Base web stretch levels applicable are in the 15- 45 range, with a level of 25-35% preferred. For product designs of more than two webs, center webs having a dryer basis weight and stretch level range of 5-11 lbs/2880 sq. ft. and 20-120%, respectively are applicable. Preferred ranges are 6-8 lbs/2880 sq. ft. and 60-80% stretch. The preferred a ges for dry r basis weight and Z-ply a ply Finished basis weight 20-30 30 15 Stretch level 6-25 -25 Sheets produced in accordance with the invention are characterized generally by distinctly contoured raised areas corresponding with the channels or recesses of the embossing patterns of the rolls. For toweling purposes the bulk of the sheets as measured in well raised areas is for two-ply material between about 0.15 and 0.040" thickness at a pressure or loading of about 0.2 pound per sq. in.; a three-ply toweling material may bulk to 0.080" depending upon the nature of the plies, the graphics of the embossments and the like. The pressure applied by the embossing rolls is most suitably between about 100 and 300 pounds per lineal inch; higher embossing pressures lead to greater bulk and bulked areas of the final product measuring 0.020" to about 0.050 are generally preferred. Too high an embossing pressure may lead to web breakage by a forcing of the web too severely into the channels or recesses of the embossing rolls. An embossing roll pattern depth of 0.030" to 0.080" is generally satisfactory although a range of 0.040 to about 0.060 is preferred for toweling uses. To provide for ready conformance of the rubber roll with the embossing roll, I have found a cover thickness of about A" to 1" to be satisfactory while generally I prefer a thickness in the range of /2" to /i. The hardness of such rolls is usefully in the range of 30 to 60 Shore Durometer A, and preferably 35 to 45.

Generally, I prefer to provide the male embosser rolls of the web combining nip at a fixed clearance sufficient to attain the degree of ply adhesion for the purpose. The area of pressure application in the combining nip corresponds to the cross-over areas of the internal lands of the sheet product. The width of the land for toweling purposes I prefer to keep in the range of about 0.010" to about 0.050", with about 0.030" generally optimum. The bulked area has suitably a width generally at least one or more times that of the internal land width, and the pressed area in the combining nip would, therefore, consist of about a maximum of 25% of the sheet area. Depending on the graphics Olf the sheet, the bulked area may be as much as 25 times that of the internal land area, and the pressed cross-over area in the combining nip might then constitute less than 1% of the sheet area.

The products of my method are, for toweling purposes, very absorbent, soft, strong and controllably so. Conventional furnishes are suitable for the purpose. For altering some characteristics such as the degree of softness or to attain a particular feel of the sheet to a hand of a user, I contemplate that some other fibers may be employed with the conventional wood pulp fibers. For example, a weight percent of synthetic fibers, such as or more by weight of short rayon, may be included to achieve a very soft feeling product.

Certain variations of the specifically described procedures may be practiced to provide towel, napkin and like products in accordance with the invention. For example, while I have referred specifically to the feeding of a single tissue paper web to each of the rubber-metal nips of the roll apparatus (and to the steel-steel nip in 3-ply products) webs in superposition may, of course, be fed to the nips, and such superposed webs may vary in weight, stretch and degree of openness to achieve particular characteristics. Consequently, the outer plies of the sheet or the inner ply may itself be a composite.

In all cases for toweling purposes, however, the sheets have rounded smooth-feeling, rather gross sized bulked protrusions occupying 50% or more of the sheet surface area; generally, in toweling usage the bulked area will be 10 much in excess of the pressed area of the total sheet, up to 25 times that of the internal land area, as already noted.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A multi-ply soft absorbent tissue paper sheet comprising opposed outer creped webs each having embossments constituting internal lands and recess areas of the sheet, said recess areas of each web projecting outwardly from the internal land areas providing bulked sheet areas between said land areas and which recess areas are less stressed than said land areas and have a tendency to extend to cause sheet extension and loss of sheet bulk, said internal lands of each said web projecting toward and crossing transversely to lands of the other outer web and bridging internal recess areas of the other web, said tissue paper sheet exhibiting a compressive modulus value in the range of about 200 to about 1400 and Handle-O-Meter value in each of the machine and cross directions of about 1 to 25, and means interposed between said internal lands of the webs engaging said lands uniting the webs into said sheet inhibiting extension of the bridged recess areas andlimiting sheet extension.

2. A multi-ply soft absorbent tissue sheet according to claim 1 in which the sheet is two play and the internal lands are united only by adhesive means.

3. A multi-ply soft absorbent sheet according to claim 1 in which the means uniting the outer webs includes at least one tissue web interposed between the said internal lands and adhesive means joins internal lands of each web to the said tissue web.

4. A multi-ply soft absorbent tissue paper sheet according to claim 1 in which the web recess areas are individual depressions and provide individual separate protrusions extending from the internal lands of the sheet to the sheet surface.

5. A multi-ply soft absorbent tissue paper sheet according to claim 1 in which the recess areas form channels ex tending completely through the sheet uninterruptedly.

6. A multi-ply soft absorbent tissue paper sheet as claimed in claim 1 in which the sheet is towel material, the recess areas are raised, rounded, bulked areas, and the internal land areas are pressed areas of the outer webs, the towel material having a thickness of between about 0.015 inch and 0.080 inch overall, a basis weight of between about 20 and 45 pounds per 2880 sq. ft. and a stretch of between about 5 and 25 7. A multi-ply soft absorbent sheet according to claim 1 in which the internal lands of the webs of the paper sheet are ribs and the recess areas of each web extend substantially continuously and border the ribs for the width of the web.

8. A multi-ply soft absorbent sheet according to claim 7 in which the lands of the webs are continuous ribs extending the width of the sheet.

9. A multi-ply soft absorbent sheet according to claim 7 in which the ribs are sinusoidal and the recess areas between ribs are longer in the direction of sheet length than the length of the lands in the same direction.

10. A multi-ply absorbent tissue paper sheet as claimed in claim 1 in which the sheet is towel material and the bulked sheet areas have generally a width which is at least that of the width of the internal land areas.

11. A multi-ply absorbent paper towel material according to claim 10 in which the total bulked area of the sheet surface is between about 1 to 25 times the area of the internal lands.

12. A multi-ply absorbent paper towel material according to claim 10 in which the width of the internal lands is between about 0.010 inch to about 0.050 inch.

(References on following page) 11 12 References Cited 1,902,361 3/1933 Hamersley 161-44 X 2,754,236 7/1956 Hermanson 161-129 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,265,550 8/1966 Lindqvist 161-135 X 9/1968 Zlnk 161-136 X 3,542,634 11/1970 Such 619.1. 161- 88 12/1968 Wells 161-131 8/1937 Kappler 156-591 X 5 WILLIAM A. POWELL, Primary Examiner 5/1894 Laver 161-13 6 6/1915 $6611 161-129 as 6/1932 Ellis 161-136