Robert J Makolin

US Patent:

6409883, Jun 25, 2002

Filed:

Apr 12, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/548117

Inventors:

Robert J. Makolin - Neenah WI
Emmanuelle C. Damay - Neenah WI
Wendy L. Hamilton - Neenah WI
Patsy A. Hansen - Omro WI
William G. Reeves - Appleton WI
Heather A. Sorebo - Appleton WI
Fung-jou Chen - Appleton WI
Jeffrey D. Lindsay - Appleton WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

D21C 110

US Classification:

162 52, 162 9, 162 56, 162 18, 162 28, 162111, 162112, 428283

Abstract:

A method of making fiber bundles and fibrous structures. The efficacy of a fiber bundle in handling complex fluids may be improved by subjecting an aqueous suspension of fibers at high consistency to elevated energy input with sufficient working of the fibers. The fibrous structures prepared according to the methods herein include at least one fiber bundle and at least one debonding agent. The fiber bundle includes at least one particulate material consisting essentially of entangled fibers.

US Patent:

6562192, May 13, 2003

Filed:

Apr 12, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/547202

Inventors:

Wendy L. Hamilton - Neenah WI
Heather A. Sorebo - Appleton WI
William G. Reeves - Appleton WI
Patsy A. Hansen - Omro WI
Emmanuelle C. Damay - Neenah WI
Robert J. Makolin - Neenah WI
Joseph DiPalma - Neenah WI
Fung-Jou Chen - Appleton WI
Jeffrey D. Lindsay - Appleton WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

D21D 100

US Classification:

162 56, 162141, 604375

Abstract:

Free flowing particles useful in absorbent articles are disclosed, including fibrous nits and methods of preparing fibrous nits. In one embodiment, fibrous nits are prepared from disperging cellulosic fibers in the presence of a nit conditioner which modifies nit particle size and properties for improved performance of the particles. In other embodiments, nits are prepared in multiple disperging steps or by disperging fibers under two or more conditions.

US Patent:

6667424, Dec 23, 2003

Filed:

Apr 12, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/547203

Inventors:

Wendy L. Hamilton - Neenah WI
Heather A. Sorebo - Appleton WI
William G. Reeves - Appleton WI
Patsy A. Hansen - Omro WI
Emmanuelle C. Damay - Neenah WI
Robert J. Makolin - Neenah WI
Joseph DiPalma - Neenah WI
Fung-Jou Chen - Appleton WI
Jeffrey D. Lindsay - Appleton WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

A61F 1315

US Classification:

604375, 604360, 604378

Abstract:

Absorbent articles comprising fibrous nits and other free-flowing particles are provided. In one embodiment, an absorbent article includes free-flowing particles in a central portion which, in conjunction with other absorbent members, provides excellent body fit and good fluid handling performance. In another embodiment, good leakage control is provided by the combined effect of good intake and fluid handling performance of fibrous nits coupled with a wicking barrier between the nits and the longitudinal sides of the articles. An optional central rising member can further enhance the topography of the article when compressed by urging the portion comprising nits to deflect vertically upward. Also provided are methods of preparing cellulosic nits and incorporating them into absorbent articles.

US Patent:

6673185, Jan 6, 2004

Filed:

Dec 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/027786

Inventors:

Mark W. Beduhn - Menasha WI
Kent E. Kordsmeier - Neenah WI
Rodney L. Abba - Oshkosh WI
Robert J. Makolin - Neenah WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B65H 6906

US Classification:

156157, 1563041, 428 57, 270 3905

Abstract:

A process is provided for splicing multiple blocks of multi-lane festooned material. The tail ends of stacks from a first block are spliced to lead ends of stacks from a second block, and the tail ends of the stacks in the second block are spliced with the lead ends of stacks in the first block or another block.

US Patent:

6702212, Mar 9, 2004

Filed:

Dec 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/039077

Inventors:

Rodney L. Abba - Oshkosh WI
Robert J. Waldron - Appleton WI
Robert J. Makolin - Neenah WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B65H 1610

US Classification:

2421602, 242167

Abstract:

A method of preparing connected coils of wound ribbon in an alternating pattern to reduce twisting thereof during continuous axial ribbon feed to a processing machine. Each coil has a sequence of turns wound about a central axis and includes central end at an inner-most turn of the sequence of turns and an outer end at an outer-most turn of the sequence of turns. The outer end of a first coil of the coils is connected to the central end of a second coil of the coils. The method includes orienting the first coil in a clockwise winding direction and orienting the second coil in a counterclockwise winding direction such that at least some twists developed during axial ribbon feed of the first coil are removed during axial ribbon feed of the second coil.

US Patent:

6726142, Apr 27, 2004

Filed:

Dec 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/038803

Inventors:

Rodney L. Abba - Oshkosh WI
Robert J. Waldron - Appleton WI
Robert J. Makolin - Neenah WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B65H 5718

US Classification:

242566, 2426152

Abstract:

A twist controlling device for ribbon material wound in a coil about a central axis. The device controls twists in the ribbon material as it is fed from the coil to a processing machine. The device includes a gate adapted to be positioned along a ribbon feed path from the coil to the processing machine and having an opening therethrough for receiving the ribbon material. The gate is adapted to engage the ribbon and is rotatable about a gate axis generally coincident with a center of the opening for controlling twisting of the ribbon.

US Patent:

6735933, May 18, 2004

Filed:

Dec 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/038794

Inventors:

Rodney L. Abba - Oshkosh WI
Robert J. Waldron - Appleton WI
Robert J. Makolin - Neenah WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

D01H 100

US Classification:

57 23, 57 66, 57 90

Abstract:

A method of controlling twisting in ribbon material fed from a coil of ribbon material into a processing machine. The coil has a central axis perpendicular to a plane of the coil. The method includes pulling ribbon material from the coil in a direction having a twist-promoting axial component relative to the plane of the coil and continuously rotating the coil during the pulling step at a rotational speed greater than zero so that a number of twists in the unwound ribbon is maintained below a predetermined number.

US Patent:

6737141, May 18, 2004

Filed:

Jul 9, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/192136

Inventors:

Robert J. Makolin - Neenah WI
David J. Nickel - Menasha WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B32B 316

US Classification:

428 57

Abstract:

A process for splicing a first section of absorbent material to a second section of absorbent material to form a longer, continuous length ( ) of absorbent material suitable for a substantially uninterrupted sequential in-feed to a processing machine. The process includes a placing of a trailing end ( ) of a first portion ( ) of absorbent material in a position that substantially overlaps a leading end ( ) of a second portion ( ) of absorbent material to provide an overlapped splicing region ( ). The trailing end ( ) of the first portion ( ) is attached to the leading end ( ) of the second portion ( ) along at least a part of the overlapped splicing region ( ) with a thermal bond that provides a splice between the first portion ( ) of absorbent material and the second portion ( ) of absorbent material, and in a particular aspect, the absorbent material can be configured to provide an airlaid, nonwoven absorbent material. In another aspect, the trailing end ( ) of the first portion ( ) can be aligned with the leading end ( ) of the second portion ( ). In a further aspect, the splice has an operative tensile strength which is sufficient to support the sequential in-feed.