Soft wet pressed facial tissue

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Solution Overview

Problem

The wet-pressing method for making tissue sheets densifies the web when wet, requiring significant energy for drying and limiting opportunities to impart structure, resulting in tissue products with modest bulk and cross-machine direction properties.

Innovation Solution

The method involves forming a multi-ply tissue product with wet pressed tissue plies, applying a latex polymer to one surface, and creping the web from a Yankee dryer to enhance cross-machine direction tensile properties without compromising softness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the tissue web is wet pressed to dewater, then water removal efficiency is improved, but the web is densified and bulk is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater removal efficiencyVSAvoidweb bulk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by depositing a creping composition on the Yankee dryer surface before the web arrives. This pre-applied composition creates optimal bonding conditions that enable effective creping and bulk restoration without requiring excessive dewatering pressure, thus preserving web bulk while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes parameters by controlling the consistency of the wet web entering the press nip (maintaining at least 30% consistency) and adjusting the creping composition properties (viscosity, solids content). These parameter changes allow the web to withstand creping forces that restore bulk without compromising dewatering efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the web is densified by wet pressing, then dewatering is improved, but energy consumption for drying increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedewatering efficiencyVSAvoiddrying energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by using a pressure nip that achieves sufficient dewatering to at least 30% consistency without over-densifying the web. The creping composition enables effective bulk restoration with moderate pressing, avoiding excessive energy consumption while maintaining productive dewatering rates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If the web is wet pressed immediately prior to drying, then processing efficiency is improved, but the ability to impart structure is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidweb structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The creping composition acts as an intermediary between the wet press and the Yankee dryer. It facilitates controlled web release and creping that imparts desirable structure (crepe pattern, bulk) while maintaining processing efficiency. The composition enables the web to survive the press-nip and subsequent creping without damage, preserving structural development opportunities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Strength

If cross-machine direction strength is increased, then product reliability is improved, but softness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecross-machine direction tensile strengthVSAvoidsoftness

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using a creping composition with specific properties (viscosity 5-500 cP, solids content 5-50%) that creates localized bonding patterns during creping. This produces enhanced cross-machine direction strength at the crepe lines while maintaining overall web softness through controlled, non-uniform structure development

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach results in tissue products with improved cross-machine direction strength, tensile energy absorption, and stretch, while maintaining softness and surface smoothness, achieving GMT greater than 1,400 g/3″ and TS7 less than 16.0.

Implementation Method 1

The web is then final dried on the surface of the Yankee and subsequently creped to impart bulk and softness to the resulting tissue sheet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

The web is then transferred to a papermaking felt and dewatered as it passes through a pressure nip created between a pressure roll and a Yankee dryer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentUS20250188683A1Soft wet pressed facial tissue

Publication Date: 2025.06.12 KIMBERLY CLARK WORLDWIDE INC

AI summary

Multi-ply tissue products, particularly tissue products prepared from two or more wet pressed tissue plies that have been recreped using a print-crepe process that deposits a latex polymer on at least one of the outer surfaces of each tissue ply. The tissue products have improved strength and softness, such as a geometric mean tensile strength (GMT) greater than about 1,400 g/3″, a geometric mean tensile energy absorption (GM TEA) of about 20 g·cm/cm2 or greater and a TS7 value less than about 16.0. In certain instances, the tissue products also have a low degree of stiffness and a relatively smooth surface, such as a Stiffness Index less than about 8.00 and a TS750 value less than about 20.0.