Absorbent Article Recessed Groove Embossing Buffer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Absorbent articles with recessed grooves along a longitudinal direction on the front surface face challenges such as decreased absorption rates and wearability issues due to expansion of absorbent materials, leading to clogging and reduced volume capacity, especially for frequent urination or large fluid discharge scenarios.
Innovation Solution
The absorbent article features an absorber recessed part formed into a recessed groove or slit shape, with an embossed part on the permeable front surface sheet that acts as a buffer zone, maintaining absorption performance and preventing clogging by controlling the expansion of absorbent materials through fiber stacking or laminated structures, and ensuring flexibility and rapid fluid absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If a recessed groove is formed on the front surface of the absorber, then the volume capacity for receiving body fluid is improved, but the absorption rate deteriorates due to clogging from expansion of absorbent materials
Solution Approach 1:
The absorber is divided into multiple layers (first absorber layer, second absorber layer, third absorber layer) with the recessed groove formed between them. This segmentation allows the groove to maintain its shape while surrounding absorbent materials can expand without clogging the groove, thus preserving both volume capacity and absorption rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The recessed groove is formed by nesting the absorber layers in a specific configuration where the second absorber layer is positioned within the groove formed by the first and third layers. This nested structure allows the groove to maintain its volume capacity while the absorbent materials can expand freely without causing clogging.
2Volume of stationary object
If a recessed groove is formed on the front surface of the absorber, then the volume capacity for receiving body fluid is improved, but the structure collapses under external forces reducing wearability
Solution Approach 1:
The absorber is segmented into multiple layers with the recessed groove formed between them. This segmentation provides structural support to the groove, preventing collapse under external forces while maintaining the volume capacity for receiving body fluid.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the absorber are given different properties: the areas forming the recessed groove maintain higher compressibility for volume capacity, while the surrounding areas provide structural support. This local differentiation allows the groove to maintain its shape and volume without collapsing under external forces.
3Quantity of substance
If absorbent materials are allowed to expand for high absorption capacity, then the volume capacity is improved, but the recessed groove becomes clogged reducing absorption performance
Solution Approach 1:
The absorber is segmented into multiple layers with the recessed groove formed between them. This segmentation allows the absorbent materials to expand freely in their respective layers without encroaching on and clogging the groove, thus maintaining both absorption capacity and preventing clogging.
Solution Approach 2:
The recessed groove is extracted from the absorber structure by forming it as a space between layers rather than as a cavity within a single layer. This extraction allows the groove to remain clear and unclogged while the surrounding absorbent materials can expand to provide high absorption capacity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution maintains initial absorption performance, prevents clogging, and ensures excellent wearability by controlling the expansion of absorbent materials, allowing for rapid absorption of large fluid volumes without compromising the structure under external forces.
Implementation Method 1
a gap which is disposed between the permeable front surface sheet (3) interposed in the absorber recessed part (20) by the embossed part (21), and a side surface of the absorber recessed part (20), works as a buffer zone (Z) for temporarily storing a body fluid permeating through the permeable front surface sheet (3)
Implementation Method 2
an absorbent article in which a recessed groove is formed along a longitudinal direction on a front surface side... ensuring flexibility and rapid fluid absorption
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5(B)
AI summary
In an absorbent article in which a recessed groove is formed on a front surface side along a longitudinal direction, even during water absorption or when an external force is applied, an effect of the recessed groove is maintained, an absorption rate is not decreased, and wearability is prevented from deteriorating. In an incontinence pad 1 having an absorber 4 interposed between a permeable front surface sheet 3 and a back surface sheet 2, the absorber 4 is provided with an absorber recessed part 20 formed into a recessed groove shape or into a slit shape, without relying on compression, on a surface on a side of the permeable front surface sheet 3 along an incontinence pad 1 longitudinal direction and over a longitudinal direction range including a body fluid discharge site H. By embossing from a front surface side of the permeable front surface sheet 3, an embossed part 21 imparted with an emboss width smaller than a groove width of the absorber recessed part 20 is disposed along the absorber recessed part 20 in the inside of the absorber recessed part 20.