High bulk tissue web

A method of making and processing a soft, high bulk, uncreped throughdried tissue web, comprising:

• depositing an aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers onto an endless forming fabric to form a web and drying the web by throughdrying to final dryness without any significant differential compression to form a dried web having a bulk value of about 15 to 25 cubic centimeters per gram or greater, an MD Stiffness Factor of 50 to 100 kilograms, a machine direction stretch of 15 to 25 percent, and a substantially uniform density;
• transferring the web to a throughdrying fabric;
• throughdrying the web to form an uncreped throughdried web having a bulk of 6.0 grams per cubic centimeter or greater to final dryness without any significant differential compression to form a dried web having a bulk value of about 15 to 25 cubic centimeters per gram or greater, an MD Stiffness Factor of 50 to 100 kilograms, a machine direction stretch of 15 to 25 percent, and a substantially uniform density;
• winding the dried web to form a plurality of parent rolls each comprising an uncreped throughdried web wound on a core;
• transporting the parent rolls to an unwind stand comprising torque transmitting clamping means for engaging opposite end surfaces of a parent roll;
• engaging the clamping means on a first parent roll;
• partially unwinding the first parent roll using variable speed drive means operably associated with the clamping means;
• rotatably supporting the partially unwound first parent roll on a core placement table adapted to receive the partially unwound first parent roll from the clamping means;
• engaging torque transmitting clamping means on a second parent roll;
• joining a leading end portion of the web on the second parent roll to a trailing end portion of the partially unwound first parent roll to form a joined web without glue in a finishing unit comprising rolls defining a finishing unit nip;
• thereafter substantially continuously forming impacts on the web from the first parent roll in the finishing unit nip while the web is unwound from the first parent roll;
• transporting the web from the second parent roll to the finishing unit;
• simultaneously passing the webs from both the first and second parent rolls through the finishing unit nip to bond the webs together;
• thereafter substantially continuously forming impacts on the web from the second parent roll in the finishing unit nip while the web is unwound from the second parent roll;
• and
• rewinding the joined web.

A torque transfer device for unwinding a tissue roll having a circumferential surface, opposite end surfaces, an inner core surface, an outside diameter of at least about 60 inches, and a width between the opposite end surfaces of at least about 55 inches, comprising:

• a frame comprising a pair of arms spaced apart to accommodate the width of the roll there between, each arm comprising a side clamping mechanism mounted thereon and adapted to engage one of the opposite end surfaces of the tissue roll, the side clamping mechanism comprising:
• a backing plate operably connected to and rotatable with an unwind shaft connected to an electric drive means;
• an inflatable bladder mounted on the backing plate;
• and
• means for inflating the bladder such that the opposite end surfaces of the roll are sandwiched between the side clamping mechanisms.