Patterned Additive Deposition on Creped Tissue for Fluid Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tissue products face a challenge in balancing absorbency with the addition of hydrophobic additives during creping processes, as these additives can interfere with fluid absorption.
Innovation Solution
A method of applying an additive composition to a tissue sheet in a pattern using a topographical surface with elevations, allowing for controlled deposition and minimizing untreated areas for fluid absorption, while enhancing properties like bulk and softness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If an additive composition is applied to the tissue sheet during creping, then properties like bulk and softness are improved, but the ability of the tissue sheet to absorb fluids deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the additive composition in a patterned manner rather than uniformly across the entire tissue sheet. The creping drum surface is selectively coated with additive composition at specific locations, which then transfers to the tissue sheet during creping. This creates treated zones that provide enhanced bulk and softness while leaving untreated zones that maintain fluid absorption capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The tissue sheet surface is divided into treated and untreated areas through the patterned application process. The creping drum rotation and selective coating create discrete deposits of additive composition separated by untreated portions of the tissue sheet, allowing different functional zones to coexist on the same product.
2Strength
If a uniform layer of additive composition is applied to the tissue sheet, then the improvement in bulk and softness is maximized, but the untreated areas for fluid absorption are minimized
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniform application, the additive composition is applied locally at specific positions on the creping drum surface. This selective localization ensures that only necessary areas receive the additive treatment, preserving maximum untreated surface area for fluid absorption while still achieving the desired bulk and softness improvement in treated zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies additive composition partially rather than completely across the entire tissue sheet surface. By using partial action through patterned deposition, the invention achieves sufficient improvement in bulk and softness properties without the excessive application that would eliminate fluid absorption areas.
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 method ensures effective liquid absorption while improving tissue sheet properties such as bulk and softness by strategically positioning additive deposits and shavings, maintaining the sheet's absorbency without interference.
Implementation Method 1
The tissue web is pressed against the creping surface while being supported by the topographical surface. The elevations on the topographical surface form contact areas between the tissue web and the creping surface. During the creping process, the additive composition is transferred to a surface of the tissue web forming deposits.
Implementation Method 2
A creping blade is then used to remove the tissue web from the surface of the drum. Creping the web from the drum foreshortens the web and can break fiber to fiber bonds which both increases the bulk and softness of the product.
Implementation Method 3
The additive composition can comprise, for instance, a thermoplastic polymer resin, a lotion, a debonder, a softener, and the like.
Data Source
AI summary
Tissue sheets are disclosed containing an additive composition. The additive composition is applied to the tissue sheet during a creping process in a controlled manner such that the additive composition forms deposits on the sheet separated by untreated areas. In one embodiment, the additive composition is applied to a creping surface. A wet tissue sheet is then transferred to the creping surface by a topographical surface containing elevations. The elevations press the tissue sheet against the creping surface. When creped from the surface, the additive compositions transfers to the tissue sheet according to where the elevations were located on the topographical surface.