Through-air drying apparatus and methods of manufacture

US10240292B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Mark John Hassman · Oshkosh, US
• Peter Allen · Birmingham, US
• Frank Stephen Hada · Appleton, US
• Robert J. Seymour · Wellesley, US
• Richard Allen Zanon · Appleton, US
• Richard M. Hansen · Oshkosh, US
• Nathan J. Haiduk · Hortonville, US
• Samuel August Nelson · Belleville, US
• Daniel Robert Sprangers · Kaukauna, US
• Paul Timothy Baker · Appleton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 29, 2016
• Grant date: Mar 26, 2019
• Expiry date: Feb 29, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC D): Textiles; Paper
• CPC primary: D21H27/30
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Unlike conventional through-air drying processes the instant invention utilizes at least two through-air driers where the first dyer is at least partially encircled by a first through-air drying fabric and the second dyer is at least partially encircled by a second through-air drying fabric. By providing each through-air dryer with its own fabric the overall drying performance may be increased. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the first and second fabrics may be different to optimize both the drying performance and/or tissue product properties.