Absorbent sheet for pets and method for manufacturing an absorbent sheet for pets

Abstract

This invention provides a pet absorbent sheet and a method for manufacturing a pet absorbent sheet that can reflect the pH value regardless of where urine is excreted on the sheet, through a simpler and lower-cost configuration. [Solution] The system comprises a liquid-permeable surface sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent sheet interposed between the surface sheet and the back sheet. The absorbent sheet has a pH detection pattern formed by dropping a test ink, on which a pH test indicator for detecting the pH of urine is fixed, onto the entire surface of the absorbent sheet, including the edges.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a water-absorbent sheet for pets and a method for producing a water-absorbent sheet for pets.

Background Art

[0002] It has become common to keep companion animals (pets) such as dogs and cats indoors, and water-absorbent sheets for pets for treating excrement of indoor-kept pets have become widespread. In recent years, in particular, an increasing number of owners want to detect abnormalities in the health condition of their pets at an early stage.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration of a water-absorbent sheet for pets, which includes a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorber containing a highly water-absorbent resin that is wrapped on both sides with crepe paper and interposed between the top sheet and the back sheet, wherein a pH discrimination portion formed of functional ink that exerts its function when wet is provided on the crepe paper on the top sheet side.

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Patent Document 1 aims to make the pH discrimination area on crepe paper more likely to exhibit a color that reflects the pH value of the pet's urine by making the area where the pH discrimination area is formed a region where the absorbent polymer is absent. However, there is a problem that pets do not always urinate in the center of the pet toilet or the sheet placed on the flooring, and in some cases, urine may be urinated on the edge of the sheet, making it impossible to confirm the pH value of the urine with the pH discrimination area. In addition, there is a problem that the cost increases due to the additional process required to create a region where the polymer is absent, which may make it difficult to always use absorbent sheets for pets.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a pet absorbent sheet and a method for manufacturing a pet absorbent sheet that can reflect the pH value regardless of where urine is excreted on the sheet, using a simpler and lower-cost configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The above objective of the present invention is achieved by the following configuration. (1) A surface sheet having liquid permeability, A backing sheet having liquid impermeability, The system comprises an absorbent sheet interposed between the surface sheet and the back sheet, The absorbent sheet is formed by dropping a test ink, which has a pH test indicator fixed to it for detecting the pH of urine, onto the entire surface of the absorbent sheet, including the edges, thereby creating a spotted pH detection area. Pet absorbent sheets. (2) A water-absorbing layer formation step, in which a water-absorbing layer made of cotton pulp is formed on the second water-absorbing paper, A pH detection unit formation step is performed by uniformly dropping a test ink, on which a pH test indicator for detecting the pH of urine is fixed, onto the entire water-absorbing layer, including the edges, to form a spotted pH detection unit on the water-absorbing layer. A water-absorbing sheet forming step involves laying a first water-absorbing paper on the water-absorbing layer, and then cutting the water-absorbing sheet, which consists of the first water-absorbing paper, the water-absorbing layer, and the second water-absorbing paper, to a desired size. The process includes a finishing step of bonding the surface sheet and the back sheet using an adhesive, with the water-absorbing layer positioned between the surface sheet and the back sheet, where the water-absorbing layer is positioned between the surface sheet and the back sheet. A method for manufacturing absorbent sheets for pets. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, a pet absorbent sheet that can reflect the pH value regardless of where the urine is excreted on the sheet can be manufactured more simply and at a lower cost. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an absorbent sheet for pets. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an exploded view showing the structure of a pet absorbent sheet. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the manufacturing process of absorbent sheets for pets. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the pet absorbent sheet of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the pet absorbent sheet. Figure 2 is an exploded view showing the configuration of the pet absorbent sheet.

[0011] The pet absorbent sheet 100 comprises a surface sheet 10, a back sheet 20, and an absorbent sheet 30. The pet absorbent sheet 100 is laminated in the order of back sheet 20, absorbent sheet 30, and front sheet 10, with the absorbent sheet 30 sandwiched between the front sheet 10 and back sheet 20. This configuration can be seen in Figure 2.

[0012] The top sheet 10 is a liquid-permeable sheet-shaped member. In the present embodiment, a sheet-shaped polypropylene nonwoven fabric is used as the top sheet 10. The top sheet 10 is not limited to polypropylene nonwoven fabric, as long as it allows pet urine to permeate therethrough. The top sheet 10 may be polyethylene nonwoven fabric, polyester nonwoven fabric, or the like.

[0013] The back sheet 20 is a liquid-impermeable sheet-shaped member. In the present embodiment, a sheet-shaped polyethylene film is used as the back sheet 20. The back sheet 20 may be a polyester film or the like.

[0014] The water-absorbent sheet 30 is interposed between the top sheet 10 and the back sheet 20, and absorbs urine that has permeated through the top sheet 10. The water-absorbent sheet 30 includes a water-absorbent layer 31 formed by shaping flocculent pulp into a sheet shape, a first water-absorbent paper 32 disposed on the front surface side of the water-absorbent layer 31, and a second water-absorbent paper 33 disposed on the back surface side of the water-absorbent layer 31. The water-absorbent sheet 30 is laminated such that the water-absorbent layer 31 is sandwiched between the first water-absorbent paper 32 and the second water-absorbent paper 33.

[0015] In the present embodiment, tissue paper thin enough to allow the opposite side to be seen through is used for the first water-absorbent paper 32 and the second water-absorbent paper 33. In the present embodiment, only flocculent pulp is used as the water-absorbent layer 31, and the structure is achieved at low cost without using a water-absorbent polymer. Depending on the application, a configuration may be adopted in which a water-absorbent polymer is laid on the back surface side of the water-absorbent layer 31.

[0016] In the water-absorbent layer 31, a pH detection section 35 for detecting the pH of urine is formed using test ink in which a pH test indicator is fixed. The test ink is directly dropped onto the entire water-absorbent layer 31 including the edge portion thereof so as to form a speckled pattern. The test ink is dropped such that the pH detection section 35 is formed as uniformly as possible over the entire surface of the sheet-shaped water-absorbent layer. As a result, the pH detection section 35 is provided in an irregular speckled pattern over the entire pet water-absorbent sheet including the edge portion thereof.

[0017] The test ink that forms the pH detection section 35 contains promothymol blue as a pH test indicator (pH color former) in the ink. That is, in the present embodiment, promothymol blue ink is used as the test ink.

[0018] In the present embodiment, the pH detection section 35 is orange, and changes color according to the pH (hydrogen ion concentration) of urine after absorbing the urine. As the alkalinity of urine becomes stronger, the pH detection section exhibits a deeper blue color. This allows the health condition of a pet to be predicted to a certain extent from urine. Generally, the higher the alkalinity of urine, the more likely it is a sign of disease.

[0019] Next, a method for manufacturing a pet water-absorbent sheet will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the manufacturing process of the pet water-absorbent sheet. The manufacturing process of the pet water-absorbent sheet 100 includes a water-absorbent layer forming step S101, a pH detection section forming step S102, a water-absorbent sheet forming step S103, and a finishing step S104.

[0020] In the water-absorbent layer forming step S101, cotton-like pulp is laid in a sheet shape on the second water-absorbent paper 33, thereby forming the sheet-shaped water-absorbent layer 31 on the second water-absorbent paper 33.

[0021] In the pH detection section forming step S102, test ink having a pH test indicator for detecting the pH of urine fixed thereto is dropped at a uniform density over the entire water-absorbent layer 31 made of cotton-like pulp. Thereby, the spotted pH detection section 35 is formed over the entire water-absorbent layer 31.

[0022] In the water-absorbent sheet forming step S103, the first water-absorbent paper 32 is laid on the water-absorbent layer 31, thereby forming the water-absorbent sheet 30 composed of the first water-absorbent paper 32, the water-absorbent layer 31, and the second water-absorbent paper 33. Thereafter, the water-absorbent sheet 30 is cut into a desired size. According to this configuration, the pH detection section 35 can be formed over the entire water-absorbent sheet 30 including the edge portion thereof. Furthermore, after laying the first absorbent paper 32 on the absorbent layer 31, the surface of the first absorbent paper (absorbent sheet) is embossed. In this embodiment, intersecting diagonal recesses 37 are formed on the entire surface of the absorbent sheet 30 to form a grid pattern. As a result, the first absorbent paper 32, the absorbent layer 31, and the second absorbent paper 33 are bonded together in a simple and low-cost manner to form the absorbent sheet 30.

[0023] In the finishing step S104, with the absorbent sheet 30 positioned between the permeable surface sheet 10 and the impermeable back sheet 20, the surface sheet 10 and the back sheet 20 are bonded together using an adhesive. Specifically, hot melt adhesive is used, and pet absorbent sheets 100 can be manufactured smoothly and easily by heat bonding. Furthermore, the surface sheet 10 and the back sheet 20 are formed to be slightly larger than the water-absorbing sheet 30, and a frame-shaped sealing portion 36 is formed on the outer edge side of the water-absorbing sheet 30, to which the surface sheet 10 and the back sheet 20 are directly bonded.

[0024] (Mechanism of action and effects) The functions and effects of the pet absorbent sheet 100 described above and the method for manufacturing the pet absorbent sheet will be explained below. The above-mentioned pet absorbent sheet 100 has pH detection sections 35 with a spotted pattern formed as evenly as possible across the entire sheet, including the edges. Therefore, the pH value of the absorbed urine can be determined regardless of where the urine is excreted on the pet absorbent sheet 100, including the edges. Furthermore, by laminating the first absorbent paper 32 onto the surface of the absorbent layer 31 on which the pH detection unit 35 is formed, the urine absorbed by the absorbent sheet 30 spreads more easily over a wider area.

[0025] The pet absorbent sheet 100 has a pH detection section 35 formed by directly dropping test ink onto an absorbent layer 31 that is made of a simple structure without using polymers. Therefore, manufacturing costs can be kept low compared to cases where test ink is printed on the sheet. This makes it easier to always use the pet absorbent sheet 100, which determines the pH value of urine, and as a result, changes in the pet's health can be detected immediately.

[0026] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified, improved, etc., as appropriate.

[0027] As described above, the following matters are disclosed in this specification: (1) A surface sheet having liquid permeability, A backing sheet having liquid impermeability, The system comprises an absorbent sheet interposed between the surface sheet and the back sheet, The absorbent sheet is formed by dropping a test ink, which has a pH test indicator fixed to it for detecting the pH of urine, onto the entire surface of the absorbent sheet, including the edges, thereby creating a spotted pH detection area. Pet absorbent sheets. This configuration allows for the simpler and lower-cost manufacturing of pet absorbent sheets that can reflect the pH value regardless of where urine is excreted on the sheet.

[0028] (2) Using bromothymol blue ink as an indicator for pH testing, (1) Pet absorbent sheet as described above. According to this configuration, the absorbed urine will turn blue if its pH value is alkaline, allowing you to monitor your pet's health.

[0029] (3) The absorbent sheet is made of cotton pulp, (1) or (2) above: Pet absorbent sheet. This configuration allows for the retention of the dispensed test ink while keeping manufacturing costs low.

[0030] (4) The absorbent sheet comprises an absorbent layer made of cotton pulp, a first absorbent paper disposed on the surface of the absorbent layer, and a second absorbent paper disposed on the back surface of the absorbent layer. (3) Pet absorbent sheet as described above. This configuration allows the shape of the cotton-like pulp, formed into a sheet, to be maintained with a simple structure.

[0031] (5) The first absorbent paper is embossed on top of the first absorbent paper, (4) Pet absorbent sheet as described above. This configuration allows for the integration of absorbent sheets in a simple and low-cost manner.

[0032] (6) The first absorbent paper and the second absorbent paper are made into tissue paper. (4) or (5) Pet absorbent sheet. This configuration allows for the production of absorbent sheets at a lower cost.

[0033] (7) A water-absorbing layer formation step, in which a water-absorbing layer made of cotton-like pulp is formed on the second water-absorbing paper, A pH detection unit formation step is performed by uniformly dropping a test ink, on which a pH test indicator for detecting the pH of urine is fixed, onto the entire water-absorbing layer, including the edges, to form a spotted pH detection unit on the water-absorbing layer. A water-absorbing sheet forming step involves laying a first water-absorbing paper on the water-absorbing layer, and then cutting the water-absorbing sheet, which consists of the first water-absorbing paper, the water-absorbing layer, and the second water-absorbing paper, to a desired size. The process includes a finishing step of bonding the surface sheet and the back sheet using an adhesive, with the water-absorbing layer positioned between the surface sheet and the back sheet, where the water-absorbing layer is positioned between the surface sheet and the back sheet. A method for manufacturing absorbent sheets for pets. This configuration allows for the simpler and lower-cost manufacturing of pet absorbent sheets that can reflect the pH value regardless of where urine is excreted on the sheet. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 10 Surface Sheet 20 Back sheet 30 absorbent sheets 31 Water absorption layer 32 1st absorbent paper 33 Second absorbent paper 35 pH detection unit 36 Sealing part 37 Recess 100 Pet Absorbent Sheets

Claims

1. A surface sheet with liquid permeability, A backing sheet having liquid impermeability, The system comprises an absorbent sheet interposed between the surface sheet and the back sheet, The absorbent sheet is formed by dropping a test ink, which has a pH test indicator fixed to it for detecting the pH of urine, onto the entire surface of the absorbent sheet, including the edges, thereby creating a spotted pH detection area. Pet absorbent sheets.

2. Using bromothymol blue ink, which contains bromothymol blue, as an indicator for pH testing, Pet absorbent sheet according to claim 1.

3. The absorbent sheet uses cotton-like pulp. Pet absorbent sheet according to claim 1.

4. The absorbent sheet comprises an absorbent layer made of cotton pulp, a first absorbent paper disposed on the surface of the absorbent layer, and a second absorbent paper disposed on the back surface of the absorbent layer. Pet absorbent sheet according to claim 3.

5. The first absorbent paper is embossed on top of the above, Pet absorbent sheet according to claim 4.

6. The first absorbent paper and the second absorbent paper are made into tissue paper. The pet absorbent sheet according to claim 4 or claim 5.

7. A water-absorbing layer formation step involves forming a water-absorbing layer made of cotton-like pulp on top of a second water-absorbing paper, pH detection unit formation step: Forms a spotted pH detection unit on the absorbent layer by dropping a test ink, on which a pH test indicator for detecting the pH of urine is fixed, at a uniform density over the entire surface including the edge of the absorbent layer. A water-absorbing sheet forming step involves laying a first water-absorbing paper on the water-absorbing layer, and then cutting the water-absorbing sheet, which consists of the first water-absorbing paper, the water-absorbing layer, and the second water-absorbing paper, to a desired size. The process includes a finishing step of bonding the surface sheet and the back sheet using an adhesive, with the water-absorbing layer positioned between the surface sheet and the back sheet, where the water-absorbing layer is positioned between the surface sheet and the back sheet. A method for manufacturing absorbent sheets for pets.

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