Absorbent Product Embossment Design for Wrinkle Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing absorbent articles face issues with wrinkles and 'floating' at bent parts of embossments due to abrupt direction changes, and low detectability of bent parts, which affects the absorption and measurement of body fluids.
Innovation Solution
The absorbent article features a permeable front-side sheet with embossments having angled outer edges and curved inner edges at bent parts, allowing for easier detection and reducing wrinkles by gradually changing the force direction, with protruding bent parts that enhance fluid absorption and measurement capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the embossment direction changes abruptly at bent parts, then the embossment structure is simple, but wrinkles and floating occur on the surface material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the inner edge of bent parts by forming it as a curved part rather than a sharp angle. This curved configuration allows the embossment direction to change gradually, distributing the directional change over a curved path. This resolves the technical contradiction by maintaining the simplicity of the embossment structure while eliminating wrinkles and floating on the surface material through the gradual directional transition provided by the curved inner edge.
2Manufacturing precision
If the outer edge of bent parts is curved, then the embossment structure is smooth, but the bent part is difficult to detect visually
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by differentiating the configurations of the outer and inner edges of bent parts. The outer edge is formed as an angled part with a sharp transition, while the inner edge is formed as a curved part with a gradual transition. This asymmetric design allows the bent part to be visually detectable through the angled outer edge while maintaining smoothness and preventing wrinkles through the curved inner edge, thereby resolving the technical contradiction.
3Ease of manufacture
If the embossment direction changes abruptly, then the embossment formation process is simple, but the surface material detaches from the absorber
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the inner edge of bent parts to create a gradual transition zone. This curved configuration distributes the directional change of the embossment over a curved path, reducing stress concentration and preventing the surface material from detaching from the absorber. The curved inner edge maintains the simplicity of the embossment formation process while significantly improving the reliability of surface material bonding.
Data Source
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AI summary
[PROBLEM] To reduce the occurrence of wrinkles and floating at a bent part of an embossment during formation of the embossment, and to improve the detectability of the bent part. [SOLUTION] An incontinence pad (1) includes a permeable front-side sheet (3), a back-side sheet (2), an absorber (4) disposed between the permeable front-side sheet and the back-side sheet, and a pair of right and left embossments (10) formed in the front surface of the permeable front-side sheet (3). The embossment (10) includes bent parts (30) at which an embossment direction abruptly changes. An outer edge of each of the bent parts (30) is an angled part (31), and an inner edge of each of the bent parts (30) is a curved part (32). The bent parts (30) include at least three bent parts (30) that are sequentially arranged in the longitudinal direction of the incontinence pad (1) such that a bent part (30a) protruding inward in the width direction of the incontinence pad (1) and a bent part (30b) protruding outward in the width direction are alternately arranged to form a zigzag shape.