US 11,932,988 B2
Foam-based manufacturing system and process
Marvin E. E. Swails, Alpharetta, GA (US); Vicky S. Polashock, Roswell, GA (US); Michael Payne, Acworth, GA (US); Joseph K. Baker, Cumming, GA (US); and Charles W. Colman, Marietta, GA (US)
Assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US)
Appl. No. 17/789,463
Filed by Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US)
PCT Filed Dec. 30, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/067419
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 27, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/138393, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 8, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/955,481, filed on Dec. 31, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0074870 A1, Mar. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. D21C 3/00 (2006.01); D21F 1/02 (2006.01); D21F 1/80 (2006.01)
CPC D21C 3/003 (2013.01) [D21F 1/024 (2013.01); D21F 1/80 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a pulper configured to (i) accept surfactant, a liquid and fiber stock, and (ii) generate a foam that suspends the fiber stock, and (iii) mix the surfactant, liquid and fiber stock; and wherein the foam has a half-life;
a headbox configured to receive the foam-suspended fiber stock from the pulper and displace the foam-suspended fiber stock onto a forming wire, wherein a time it takes the foam-suspended fiber stock to move from the pulper to the headbox is less than the half-life;
a conduit directly connecting the pulper to the headbox such that no intervening equipment is between the pulper and headbox to adjust a consistency of the fiber stock, and wherein the conduit is configured to move the foam-suspended fiber stock from the pulper to the headbox in a time less than the half-life; and
a foam return device that is directly connected to the pulper and that removes at least some of the foam from the forming wire and returns the at least some of the foam to the pulper, wherein a time it takes to move the at least some of the foam from the foam return device to the pulper is less than the half-life.