Angled Perforation Blade for Tissue Snagging Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional perforation methods struggle to efficiently and cleanly perforate thicker and heavier tissue sheets, often resulting in uneven perforations or sheet tearing due to snagging and picking issues.

Innovation Solution

A specially designed perforation blade with angled side walls and recesses, which allows for more than point contact and prevents snagging, is used in a stationary position to perforate sheet materials, including thicker and heavier tissue sheets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional perforation methods are used on thicker and heavier tissue sheets, then perforation can be achieved, but the sheet tends to be grabbed by the perf blade or gets stuck, creating uneven perforations or tearing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperforation uniformityVSAvoidsnagging and picking
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The perforation blade features teeth with specifically engineered geometry including angled sides and rounded tips, creating localized variations in contact characteristics along the blade edge. This local quality differentiation allows the blade to glide over thick tissue without snagging while still forming clean perforations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the perforation teeth, specifically incorporating angled sides and rounded tips with controlled dimensions. These parameter modifications transform the interaction between blade and tissue, preventing the harmful snagging effect that occurs with conventional sharp-pointed teeth.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If perforation lines have sufficient bond strength to operate efficiently on converting equipment, then equipment operation is reliable, but sheet detaching becomes difficult for consumers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment operation reliabilityVSAvoidsheet detaching ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The perforation system creates segmented bonding patterns along the perforation line, with bonds and perfs alternating in a controlled sequence. This segmentation allows the perforation line to maintain sufficient overall strength for equipment operation while creating localized weak points that facilitate consumer detaching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The perforation blade applies partial cutting action through the tissue thickness, creating bonds that are sufficient for equipment handling but not so strong as to prevent consumer separation. The angled tooth geometry controls the depth and distribution of bonding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of repair

If a stationary perforation blade is used, then blade replacement is easy and downtime is minimized, but it is more difficult to perforate sheet materials cleanly and efficiently

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblade replacement easeVSAvoidperforation cleanliness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The stationary blade incorporates teeth with modified geometric parameters including angled sides and rounded tips, which compensate for the lack of motion-induced cleaning effects. These parameter changes enable the stationary blade to achieve clean perforations equivalent to or better than rotating blade systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The angled sides of the teeth act as intermediary surfaces that guide the tissue through the perforation process, preventing snagging and ensuring clean cuts even in the stationary configuration. The rounded tips serve as mediators that distribute contact pressure evenly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3131842B1Perforation blade for perforating tissue products
Publication Date: 2023.08.30 KIMBERLY CLARK WORLDWIDE INC
  • EP3131842B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3131842B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3131842B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An apparatus for perforating sheet materials is disclosed. The apparatus includes a perforation blade that defines a plurality of teeth for perforating sheet materials, such as tissue products. Each tooth on the perforation blade is defined by a pair of opposing side walls. The teeth are separated along an edge of the perforation blade by a plurality of recesses. In accordance with the present disclosure, the side walis have a non-zero angle with respect to the length direction of the blade, in one embodiment, each recess can have a slanted U-shape such that ail of the side walis are parallel, In an alternative embodiment, the recesses can have a V-shape such that adjacent side walis extend in divergent directions. Perforation blades made according to the present disclosure prevent snagging and picking when a material is perforated.