Activatable Colorant Web Substrate for Topical Additive Registration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current manufacturing processes for absorbent articles require additional capital costs and complexity to create colored regions that coincide with topical additive regions, as existing methods necessitate separate registration and printing capabilities, which is not cost-effective and adaptable for high-speed production lines.
Innovation Solution
Web substrates incorporating activatable colorants that change color in response to electromagnetic radiation and heat, allowing for simultaneous color activation with the application of topical additives, eliminating the need for additional printing and registration capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If printing capability is added to the manufacturing process to highlight regions including topical additives, then colored regions can be produced to coincide with topical additive regions, but capital cost and manufacturing complexity increase due to additional printing and registration capabilities required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color-changing materials that respond to external stimuli (such as heat or light) to automatically indicate the presence of topical additives. When the topical additive is applied, it triggers a color change in the underlying material, eliminating the need for separate printing and registration systems. This resolves the contradiction by achieving precise visual registration without adding complex printing equipment.
2Manufacturing precision
If printing capability is added to the manufacturing process to highlight regions including topical additives, then colored regions can be produced to coincide with topical additive regions, but capital cost increases due to additional equipment required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses color-changing materials that respond to external stimuli (heat, light, or chemical reactions from the topical additive itself) to automatically highlight the regions where topical additives are applied. This eliminates the need for separate printing equipment and registration systems, thereby reducing capital costs while achieving precise visual registration of colored regions with topical additive regions.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If topical additives such as lotions are used without colorants, then skin transfer is avoided, but visual highlighting of topical additive regions cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs color-changing materials in the web substrate that respond to the presence or application of topical additives. The color change occurs in the substrate itself rather than in the topical additive, preventing skin transfer while providing clear visual highlighting of the topical additive regions. This resolves the contradiction by separating the visual indication function from the topical additive composition.
4Manufacturing precision
If manufacturing lines are retooled to provide additional printing and registration capabilities, then colored regions can coincide with topical additive regions, but significant additional capital cost is incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The invention integrates color-changing materials directly into the web substrate manufacturing process. The color change is triggered by the topical additive itself or by standard manufacturing conditions (heat or light exposure already present in the production line), eliminating the need for additional printing equipment or registration capabilities. This resolves the contradiction by achieving precise visual registration without requiring costly retooling of existing manufacturing lines.
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
Enables cost-effective production of absorbent articles with colored regions coinciding with topical additives without requiring additional printing or registration capabilities, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing capital costs.
Implementation Method 1
The activatable colorant can have both photoreactive and thermochromic material properties such that it first changes color to a first color upon exposure to electromagnetic radiation such as ultraviolet light
Implementation Method 2
The activatable colorant can have both photoreactive and thermochromic material properties such that it first changes color to a first color upon exposure to electromagnetic radiation such as ultraviolet light and then changes to a second color upon exposure to heat
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a web substrate comprising an activatable colorant and at least one region comprising a topical additive. A first activated color region is produced in the web substrate upon exposure to a first external stimulus and a second activated color region is produced within the first activated color region upon exposure to a second external stimulus. The second activated color region coincides with the topical additive region.