Dual textured tissue product
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing papermaking processes, particularly wet-pressing, compress the paper web, reducing bulk and failing to produce tissue products with differing outer surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves creating an embossed multi-ply tissue product where both the bottom and top plies have embossments, with the bottom ply having protruding embossments that contact the user, providing distinct surface topography and handfeel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If wet-pressing is used to remove water from the paper web, then dewatering effectiveness is improved, but web thickness and bulk are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue product is divided into multiple plies (first tissue ply and second tissue ply) with different embossment configurations. This segmentation allows each ply to contribute differently to bulk and surface characteristics, resolving the contradiction between dewatering efficiency and bulk retention by distributing functional requirements across separate layers.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the tissue product are given different properties: the first ply has embossments oriented toward the interior for bulk contribution, while the second ply has embossments oriented away from the interior for surface texture. This local differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of bulk (interior structure) and surface quality (exterior texture) without compromise.
2Volume of moving object
If conventional embossing and plying processes are used, then product bulk is improved, but the ability to produce products with differing outer surfaces is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different embossment orientations to different plies: the first ply has embossments oriented toward the interior portion while the second ply has embossments oriented away from the interior portion. This creates distinct outer surfaces with different textures and handfeels while maintaining high product bulk through the nested embossment configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The embossment orientations are made asymmetric between plies rather than symmetric/conventional. The first ply's embossments face inward while the second ply's embossments face outward, creating intentional asymmetry that enables different surface characteristics on each side of the product while preserving bulk properties.
3Shape
If both plies are embossed with protruding embossments oriented away from the interior, then distinct surface texture is improved, but bulk is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Different embossment orientations are applied to different plies based on their functional requirements. The first ply uses inward-oriented embossments optimized for bulk contribution, while the second ply uses outward-oriented embossments optimized for surface texture. This localized functional differentiation resolves the contradiction between surface topology and bulk volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The tissue product is segmented into two plies with differentiated embossment configurations. This segmentation allows the first ply to specialize in bulk provision (inward embossments) while the second ply specializes in surface texture (outward embossments), achieving both goals simultaneously without compromise.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are embossed, multi-ply tissue products having differing texture on each of their first and second outer surfaces. The difference in texture may be measured using a Tissue Softness Analyzer and the second side may have a TS750 value that is about five times greater than the TS750 value of the first side. The differing texture may be imparted by different embossing patterns disposed on the first and second surfaces where the embossments forming the second pattern are oriented such that they protrude outwardly away from the second surface. Despite having differing textures, the products are generally soft, such as having an Average TS7 value less than about 12.0 and have good sheet bulk, such as a sheet bulk greater than about 10.0 cubic centimeters per gram (cc/g).