Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31F—MECHANICAL WORKING OR DEFORMATION OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31F1/00—Mechanical deformation without removing material, e.g. in combination with laminating
  • B31F1/07—Embossing, i.e. producing impressions formed by locally deep-drawing, e.g. using rolls provided with complementary profiles
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES
  • A47K10/00—Body-drying implements; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
  • A47K10/16—Paper towels; Toilet paper; Holders therefor
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
  • D21H—PULP COMPOSITIONS; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D21H27/00—Special paper not otherwise provided for, e.g. made by multi-step processes
  • D21H27/02—Patterned paper
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31F—MECHANICAL WORKING OR DEFORMATION OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31F2201/00—Mechanical deformation of paper or cardboard without removing material
  • B31F2201/07—Embossing
  • B31F2201/0707—Embossing by tools working continuously
  • B31F2201/0715—The tools being rollers
  • B31F2201/0723—Characteristics of the rollers
  • B31F2201/0733—Pattern
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31F—MECHANICAL WORKING OR DEFORMATION OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31F2201/00—Mechanical deformation of paper or cardboard without removing material
  • B31F2201/07—Embossing
  • B31F2201/0707—Embossing by tools working continuously
  • B31F2201/0715—The tools being rollers
  • B31F2201/0723—Characteristics of the rollers
  • B31F2201/0738—Cross sectional profile of the embossments
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31F—MECHANICAL WORKING OR DEFORMATION OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
  • B31F2201/00—Mechanical deformation of paper or cardboard without removing material
  • B31F2201/07—Embossing
  • B31F2201/0758—Characteristics of the embossed product
  • B31F2201/0761—Multi-layered
  • B31F2201/0764—Multi-layered the layers being nested
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
  • D21H—PULP COMPOSITIONS; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D21H27/00—Special paper not otherwise provided for, e.g. made by multi-step processes
  • D21H27/002—Tissue paper; Absorbent paper
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
  • D21H—PULP COMPOSITIONS; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D21H27/00—Special paper not otherwise provided for, e.g. made by multi-step processes
  • D21H27/30—Multi-ply
  • D21H27/40—Multi-ply at least one of the sheets being non-planar, e.g. crêped

Definitions

• This invention relates to the use of an embossing pattern on a wet-laid cellulosic fibrous structure for a superior cleaning response.
• the present invention has particular application to cellulosic fibrous structures which can be used for cleaning areas of the human person, for example, dry toilet tissue, paper towels, facial tissues, skin care articles for cosmetic and therapeutic purposes and dry wipes; for cleaning other surfaces, for example, kitchen and bathroom surfaces; and for surfaces which require cleaning in industry, for example, machinery or vehicle surfaces.
• the ensuing description focuses on cellulosic fibrous structures such as paper towels and toilet tissue for application to the human skin, but what is said must be understood in light of the foregoing comments about the wider applicability of the present invention.
• Embossed cellulosic fibrous structures are well known in the art and are a staple of everyday life.
• cellulosic fibrous structures are formed by superimposing laminae.
• the embossing is performed by one of two processes, namely, nested embossing wherein the protuberances of a roll mesh between the protuberances of another roll, and knob-to-knob embossing wherein protuberances on axially parallel rolls juxtaposed to form a nip therebetween are registered with protuberances on the opposing roll.
• US 4,325,773, US 4,487,796, US 3,940,529, US 3,414,459, US 3,547,723, US 3,556,907, US 3,708,366, US 3,738,905, US 4,483,728, US 3,867,224 illustrate embossed cellulosic fibrous structures comprising either nested or knob-to-knob embossments on the constituent laminae.
• US 5,294,475 and US 5,468,323 teach an embossed cellulosic structure and an improved process and apparatus for making such embossed cellulosic structures.
• the use of a repeating embossing pattern on a wet-laid cellulosic fibrous structure to improve the cleaning performance of the cellulosic fibrous structure is described.
• the embossing pattern is non-continuous in at least one diagonal direction and comprises non-equidistant discrete embossing sites.
• the cleaning performance of the cellulosic fibrous structure can be measured and is expressed in terms of an index, the index being not less than 105 and preferably being 110.
• the index is represented in terms of an equation.
• the embossing pattern is of an angular nature.
• the embossing pattern is in the form of a rhombus.
• the cellulosic fibrous structure comprises at least two laminae.
• Each of the laminae comprises discrete embossed sites and essentially continuous non-embossed regions; each of the discrete embossed sites of one lamina being oriented towards the non-embossed region of the opposite lamina.
• Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of wet-laid cellulosic fibrous structure according to the present invention.
• Figure 2 is a plan view of the more preferred embossing pattern on the wet-laid cellulosic fibrous structure.
• embssing refers to the process of deflecting a relatively small portion of a cellulosic fibrous structure normal to its plane and impacting the projected portion of the cellulosic fibrous structure against a relatively hard surface to permanently disrupt the fibre to fibre bonds. Embossing typically results in a permanent localised deformation of the "embossed site" so deflected. The embossed site projects normal to the plane of the cellulosic fibrous structure and towards the opposite lamina.
• discrete means not contiguous.
• the cellulosic fibrous structure 10 according to the present invention is macroscopically two-dimensional and planar, although not necessarily flat.
• the cellulosic fibrous structure 10 does have some thickness in the third dimension.
• the third dimension is relatively small compared to the actual first two dimensions or to the capability to manufacture a cellulosic fibrous structure 10 having relatively large measurements in the first two dimensions.
• Figure 1 displays a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a cellulosic fibrous structure 10 according to the present invention.
• the cellulosic fibrous structure 10 of the present invention comprises at least two laminae, namely lamina 11 and lamina 12.
• Each of the laminae 11 and 12 comprises two distinct zones, essentially continuous non-embossed regions 13 and discrete embossed sites 14 projecting generally outward therefrom and preferably orthogonal thereto.
• Each discrete embossed site 14 of one lamina 11, 12 is oriented towards the non- embossed region 13 of the opposite lamina 11, 12.
• the non-embossed regions 13 and the embossed sites 14 of each lamina 11, 12 are composed of fibres approximated by linear elements.
• the fibres are components of the cellulosic fibrous structure 10, which have one relatively large dimension (along the longitudinal axis of the fibre) compared to the other two relatively very small dimensions (mutually perpendicular, and being both radial and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fibre), so that linearity is approximated. While microscopic examination of the fibres may reveal two other dimensions which are small compared to the principal dimension of the fibres, such other two small dimensions need not be substantially equivalent nor constant throughout the axial length of the fibre. It is only important that the fibre be able to bend about its axis, be able to bond to other fibres and be distributed by a liquid carrier or by air.
• the fibres comprising the cellulosic fibrous structure 10 may be synthetic, such as polyolefin or polyester; are preferably cellulosic, such as cotton linters, rayon or bagasse; and more preferably are wood pulp, such as soft woods (gymnosperms or coniferous) or hard woods (angiosperms or deciduous).
• a fibrous structure 10 is considered "cellulosic” if the fibrous structure 10 comprises at least about 50 weight percent or at least about 50 volume percent cellulosic fibres, including but not limited to those fibres listed above.
• a cellulosic mixture of wood pulp fibres comprising softwood fibres having a length of 2.0 to about 4.5 millimetres and a diameter of about 25 micrometres to about 50 micrometres, and hardwood fibres having a length of less than about 1.0 millimetre and a diameter of about 12 micrometres to about 25 micrometres has been found to work well for the cellulosic fibrous structures 10 described herein.
• the fibres may be produced by any pulping process including chemical processes such as sulphite, sulphate and soda processes; and mechanical processes such as stone groundwood. Alternatively, the fibres may be produced by combinations of chemical and mechanical processes or may be recycled. The type, combination and processing of the fibres used are not critical to the present invention.
• the hardwood and softwood fibres may be layered throughout the thickness of the cellulosic fibrous structures 10.
• the cellulosic fibrous structure 10 is wet-laid according to principles and machinery associated with paper-making.
• the fibres are first mixed with chemicals and water to obtain a uniform dispersion called a slurry at very high dilutions of 0.01 to 0.5 percent weight of the fibre.
• the slurry is then deposited on a moving wire screen where the excess water is drained off, leaving the fibres randomly laid in a uniform web, which is then bonded and finished as required.
• the webs are usually formed at rates up to 300 metres per minute from textile fibres and up to 2500 metres per minute for tissue made from pulp fibres.
• the embossed sites 14 of lamina 11 are not registered with the embossed sites 14 of lamina 12.
• the embossed sites 14 of each lamina 11, 12 represent discrete regions of relatively high density due to the compaction of the fibres which occur during embossing.
• the essentially continuous non-embossed regions 13 have a lesser density than the embossed sites 14, since the essentially continuous non-embossed regions 13 are not compacted in the embossing process.
• the density of the essentially continuous non-embossed regions 13 approximate the density of the discrete embossed sites 14 prior to begin embossed.
• non-continuous there is an interruption in the equidistant spacing of the embossing sites 14 on the laminae 11, 12.
• the term "repeating" means that the pattern is formed more than once in the cellulosic fibrous structure 10.
• the embossed sites 14 of the cellulosic fibrous structure 10 correspond to the topography of the apparatus used to manufacture the cellulosic fibrous structure 10.
• a preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the embossing pattern is of an angular nature.
• a more preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the embossing pattern is in the form of a rhombus. The more preferred embodiment is illustrated in Figure 2. Nevertheless, any shape is possible and shapes include, but are not limited to, polygons, semi-circles, ellipsoids, etc., and any combinations thereof providing that the pattern is a non-continuous, repeating diagonal one.
• the cleaning performance is expressed in terms of an index CPIg, the index being not less than 105 and preferably being 110.
• Table I indicates the results obtained from tests in which the cleaning performance of the DNE (samples with the preferred embossing pattern) and regular (samples with embossing but no pattern) samples were measured.
• a suitable method to enable the calculation of the cleaning performance index for the cellulosic fibrous structure 10 of the present invention is described below in the "Description of test procedure" section.
• the cleaning performance is a function of the soil removed divided by the number of sheets used for cleaning. For experimental purposes, a value of 0.8 grammes is chosen to represent the maximum removable quantity of soil. Thus, for an ideal cleaning performance, the amount of soil removed is 0.8 grammes and the number of sheets used by the consumer is 1, resulting in a cleaning performance value of 0.8.
• the cleaning performance index CPIg can be calculated.
• the cleaning performance index CPIg is represented in terms of the following equation:
• CPIE is the cleaning performance index of said fibrous structure 10
• CPV is the cleaning performance value of said fibrous structure 10
• CPVR is the cleaning performance value of said fibrous structure 10 without said embossing pattern
• CPVR soil removed from said fibrous structure 10 without said pattern no. of said fibrous structure 10 sheets without said pattern
• the cleaning performance index for the DNE samples CPIg is much greater than 100, i.e., not less than 105 and preferably 110. This suggests that the consumer is most positively influenced by the presence of a particular embossing pattern on a cellulosic fibrous structure 10.
• a method is herein described which outlines the procedure for the calculation of the cleaning performance index for the cellulosic fibrous structure 10 of the present invention.
• the cellulosic fibrous structure 10 is taken to be a sheet of toilet tissue.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Cleaning Implements For Floors, Carpets, Furniture, Walls, And The Like (AREA)
• Paper (AREA)
• Laminated Bodies (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=26142305

Family Applications (2)

Family Applications Before (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (4)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 1996
  • 1996-12-19 EP EP96120452A patent/EP0843042A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 1997
  • 1997-11-13 CA CA002271467A patent/CA2271467A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-11-13 WO PCT/US1997/020567 patent/WO1998022284A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1997-11-13 JP JP52372398A patent/JP2001505496A/ja active Pending
  • 1997-11-13 AU AU54341/98A patent/AU5434198A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-11-13 KR KR1019997004387A patent/KR100339934B1/ko not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-11-13 BR BR9714833-4A patent/BR9714833A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1997-11-13 EP EP97948241A patent/EP0942831A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1997-11-13 CN CN97199873A patent/CN1088010C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (2)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events