Cleaning Wipe Pocket Structure for Fluffing and Surface Conformability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning articles with fiber layers bonded to substrate sheets by continuous linear seals lack fluffing and recovery capabilities, resulting in poor conformability to uneven surfaces and inadequate cleaning performance, and often require cumbersome operation.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning article design featuring fiber layers on both sides of a substrate with a unique bonding configuration using continuous and discontinuous linear seals, allowing for enhanced fluffing and recovery, and a method of producing such articles with specific fiber orientation and crimping to improve dust trapping and surface contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the fiber layer is bonded to the substrate sheet by a plurality of continuous linear seals, then the bonding strength is improved, but the fluffing capability and recovery from compression deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding strengthVSAvoidfluffing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous linear seals are divided into multiple discontinuous dot bonds arranged in a pattern. This segmentation allows the fiber layer to expand and fluff between the bond points while maintaining attachment to the substrate sheet, resolving the contradiction between bonding strength and fluffing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bonding structure transitions from uniform continuous bonding to localized discrete bonding points. The dot bonds provide localized attachment strength while leaving other areas free to fluff and conform to surfaces, achieving both bonding and flexibility requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If the fiber layer is bonded to the substrate sheet by continuous linear seals, then the structural stability is improved, but the conformability to uneven surfaces deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidconformability to uneven surfaces
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous linear seals are segmented into discontinuous dot bonds, allowing the fiber layer to independently conform to uneven surfaces while maintaining overall structural attachment through the distributed bond pattern.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bonding system transitions from rigid continuous bonding to flexible discrete bonding, enabling the fiber layer to dynamically adapt its shape to match uneven surfaces while remaining structurally stable through the dot bond attachments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If cleaning articles have fiber layer on only one side of substrate sheet, then the structure is simplified, but the cleaning operation becomes cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidcleaning operation convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning article transitions from symmetric single-sided fiber coverage to asymmetric double-sided fiber coverage, allowing effective cleaning on both sides of the substrate sheet without requiring flipping or repositioning, thus improving operational convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The substrate sheet with fiber layers on both sides becomes a universal cleaning tool that can effectively clean surfaces from either side, eliminating the need for separate cleaning articles for different sides and simplifying the cleaning operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 cleaning article exhibits superior fluffing capabilities, recovery from compression, and improved conformability to uneven surfaces, providing enhanced cleaning performance and user convenience with efficient dust and dirt trapping.

Implementation Method 1

The fiber layer and the substrate sheet are bonded by linear bonding and discontinuous dot bonding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP1992268B1Cleaning article and production method
Publication Date: 2013.01.09 KAO CORP
  • EP1992268B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1992268B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1992268B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cleaning article 10 having a flat tubular pocket 15 and attachable to a holder by inserting the holder into the pocket 15. The pocket 15 is formed by joining pocket-forming sheets 13 facing each other. At least one fiber layer formed of a fiber bundle, accordingly two fiber layers 11A and 11B are provided on each of the upper and lower sides of the pocket 15 of the pocket-forming sheets 13. Each of the first fiber layers 11A closest to the pocket-forming sheets 13 is joined to the respective pocket-forming sheet 13 by a continuous central linear seal 16A continuously extending in the longitudinal direction in a laterally middle portion and a discontinuous side seal 16B discontinuously extending in the longitudinal direction at a position laterally spaced away in at least one of the lateral directions from the central continuous linear seal 16A.