Cleaning article
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleaning sheets fail to effectively capture and retain small and large particles of dirt, dust, and debris due to their flat design, leading to accumulation at the leading edge or raised portions, necessitating a more efficient debris pick-up mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning article featuring a skip-slit sheet with multiple strands that are initially aligned in a plane but spread to form channels, with bridging regions that are staggered and twisted out of plane, creating a capturing surface for debris retention, and optionally incorporating adhesive, electrostatic charge, or wax for enhanced debris pick-up.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a flat cleaning sheet is used, then the sheet is simple in structure and easy to manufacture, but the debris accumulates at the leading edge and cannot be effectively captured across the working surface
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning sheet is segmented into multiple channels by creating recessed portions and raised portions across the working surface. This segmentation allows different regions of the sheet to perform specialized functions: recessed portions capture and retain debris while raised portions guide debris toward the recessed areas, solving the problem of debris accumulation at the leading edge.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional flat sheet to a three-dimensional structured surface with varying heights. By creating recessed portions that extend downward and raised portions that extend upward, the sheet gains vertical dimensionality that enables effective debris capture across the entire working surface rather than just at the leading edge.
2Productivity
If raised or recessed portions are added to the cleaning sheet, then debris capture is improved, but the sheet structure becomes more complex and manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The skip-slit sheet is pre-formed with interrupted slits and bridging regions in its initial flat state before being spread. This preliminary structuring allows the channels to be created simply by spreading the sheet in use, rather than requiring complex three-dimensional forming processes during manufacturing, thus reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining effective debris capture.
3Productivity
If the cleaning sheet is spread to form channels, then debris pick-up is enhanced, but the sheet requires more complex deployment and attachment processes
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning sheet transitions from a compact flat state for easy storage and attachment to an expanded three-dimensional channel structure during use. The sheet is designed to be spread open at the working surface to form channels that enhance debris pick-up, while maintaining simplicity in its initial state for easy deployment. This dynamic transformation allows the sheet to adapt between storage and operational requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed cleaning article includes a working surface made from first ends of a plurality of channels and a capturing surface. The channels are formed from multiple strands of a skip-slit sheet, which in an initial state extend in a first direction and together define a plane. The multiple strands are attached to each other at bridging regions. At least some of the strands are spread from the initial state and separated from each other between the bridging regions to provide the plurality of channels, and at least some of the strands that are separated from each other are twisted out of the plane. A cleaning tool including the cleaning article, a method of making the cleaning tool, and a stack of skip-slit spunbond nonwoven sheets are also disclosed.