A sheet of absorbent material, roll, log and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

A sheet of absorbent material having opposite sheet side edges spaced apart from one another to define an overall width of the absorbent sheet, the sheet of absorbent material including zones of weakness spaced along the sheet of absorbent material according to a machine direction, each zone of weakness extending substantially transversally to said machine direction, each zone of weakness defining two adjacent individual absorbent sheet portions, each zone of weakness being a tear line. The tear line comprises two edge regions and a central region, a first edge region beginning at one of the sheet side edges towards the central region, a second edge region beginning at the other sheet side edges towards the central region, the central region including alternating perforated segments and unperforated segments. The edge regions are unperforated so as to constitute attachment areas within the tear line between two adjacent individual absorbent sheet portions.

1 . A sheet of absorbent material having opposite sheet side edges spaced apart from one another to define an overall width of the sheet of absorbent material, the sheet of absorbent material comprising zones of weakness spaced along the sheet of absorbent material according to a machine direction, each zone of weakness extending substantially transversally to said machine direction, each zone of weakness defining two adjacent individual absorbent sheet portions, each zone of weakness being a tear line,
 wherein:   the tear line comprises two edge regions and a central region, a first edge region beginning at one of the sheet side edges towards the central region, a second edge region beginning at the other sheet side edges towards the central region, the central region comprising alternating perforated segments and unperforated segments,   said edge regions are unperforated so as to constitute attachment areas within the tear line between two adjacent individual absorbent sheet portions.   
     
     
         2 . The sheet of absorbent material of  claim 1 , wherein a width ratio of the edge regions relatively to the central region ranges from about 4% to about 20% 
     
     
         3 . The sheet of absorbent material of  claim 1 , wherein an edge region width ranges from about 3 mm to about 10 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The sheet of absorbent material according to  claim 1 , wherein the central region comprises alternating perforated segments and unperforated segments according to a perforation pattern comprising at least two perforated segments separated by one unperforated segment, each segment having substantially an identical width. 
     
     
         5 . The sheet of absorbent material according to  claim 1 , wherein the central region comprises alternating perforated segments and unperforated segments according to a perforation pattern comprising multiple perforated segments, two adjacent perforated segments being separated by one unperforated segment, each perforated segment having a width increasing from one side edge towards the opposite side edge, each unperforated segment having a constant width. 
     
     
         6 . The sheet of absorbent material according to  claim 1 , wherein the central region comprises alternating perforated segments and unperforated segments according to a perforation pattern comprising multiple perforated segments, two adjacent perforated segments being separated by one unperforated segment, each unperforated segment having a width increasing from one side edge towards the opposite side edge, each perforated segment having a constant width. 
     
     
         7 . A roll of sheet of absorbent material comprising a sheet of absorbent material according to  claim 1  wound onto a core or on itself. 
     
     
         8 . An absorbent sheet product comprising the sheet of absorbent material according to  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent sheet is chosen among the group consisting of napkins, towels, kitchen towels, hand towels, toilet papers, wipes and facial tissues. 
     
     
         9 . A log base sheet made of absorbent material having opposite log side edges spaced apart from one another to define an overall width of the log base sheet, the log base sheet comprising zones of weakness spaced along the log base sheet according to a machine direction of the log base sheet, each zone of weakness extending substantially transversally to said machine direction, each zone of weakness being a tear line, the log base sheet comprising multiple phantom lines parallel to the machine direction representing imaginary lines for cutting the log base sheet,
 wherein:   the tear line comprises multiple successions of first edge region, a central region and a second edge region from one of the log side edge towards the other log side edge, the central region comprising alternating perforated segments and unperforated segments,   said edge regions are unperforated, and   each phantom line is positioned at a boundary between two adjacent edge regions so as to constitute attachment areas within said tear line between two adjacent central regions.   
     
     
         10 . The log base sheet of  claim 9 , wherein a central region out of two in each tear line is replaced by an unperforated region, and wherein two consecutive tear lines are staggered according to a cross-machine direction such that all the central region are positioned between two adjacent phantom lines. 
     
     
         11 . A log of sheet of absorbent material comprising a log base sheet made of absorbent material according to  claim 9  wound onto a core or on itself. 
     
     
         12 . A method for manufacturing a roll of sheet of absorbent material comprising the steps of:
 feeding a log base sheet made of absorbent material into a perforating unit, the log base sheet having opposite log side edges spaced apart from one another to define an overall width of the log base sheet;   defining zones of weakness spaced along the log base sheet according to a machine direction of the log base sheet, each zone of weakness extending substantially transversally to said machine direction, by pinching each zone of weakness as a tear line;   defining multiple phantom lines in the log base sheet parallel to the machine direction representing imaginary lines for cutting the log base sheet;   wounding the pinched log base sheet onto a core or on itself to form a log;   cutting the pinched log base sheet once a desired log diameter is reached;   cutting the log into multiple and individual rolls of absorbent material sheet; the manufacturing method is characterized in that it further comprises:   pinching each tear line as multiple successions of first edge region, a central region and a second edge region from one of the log side edge towards the other log side edge, the central region comprising alternating perforated segments and unperforated segments;   unperforating said edge regions; and   positioning each phantom line at a boundary between two adjacent edge regions so as to constitute attachment areas within said tear line between two adjacent central regions.   
     
     
         13 . The manufacturing method of  claim 12 , wherein a central region out of two in a tear line is replaced by an unperforated region, and wherein two consecutive tear lines are staggered according to a cross-machine direction such that all the central region are positioned between two adjacent phantom lines.