Appeal No. 96-2630
Application No. 08/259,824
both sides of the web with progressive wave-stretch texturing
deformation of the web to release the hydrogen bonds between some
of the fibers in the network of fibers in the web” (Abstract).
As described by Busker in more detail, the softening and bulking
operation includes the steps of
providing cooperating grooved rotary
texturing rolls each of which has generally
radially projecting texturing ribs separated
by grooves, . . . orienting said rolls in nip
relation with the texturing ribs and grooves
of each roll partially interdigitated with
the ribs and grooves of the other of the
rolls, and with the spacing between the
partially interdigitated ribs greater than
the thickness of said web, guiding said dry
web under running tension through the rib and
groove nip of said rolls, effecting
longitudinal running of said dry web and
rotation of said rolls at a common speed,
thrusting said rib crests into the opposite
faces of the running dry web with progressive
wave-stretch deformation of the web areas
engaged by the thrusting crests out of the
original plane of the web, and thereby
mechanically breaking the hydrogen bond of
and partially loosening some of the fibers of
the dry web and texturing and imparting
desired tissue bulk and softness to the
running dry web while retaining satisfactory
web integrity, elasticity and breaking length
characteristics in the textured web, and
after said stretch deformation, releasing
said web areas from said rib crests and
permitting said web areas to return
elastically toward said original plane of the
web [column 1, line 46 through column 2, line
4].
4
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