Multi-ply Fibrous Articles with Embossed Void Volumes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sanitary tissue products, such as paper towels, face challenges in achieving improved bulk and absorbency without compromising softness, stiffness, flexibility, hand protection, and surface drying, as existing methods often negatively impact these properties when trying to enhance roll bulk, absorbency, or hand protection.
Innovation Solution
The development of multi-ply fibrous structure-containing articles with embossed plies bonded via water-resistant bonds, creating a void volume and utilizing different fibrous elements and topographies on each side to optimize bulk, absorbency, and flexibility, while maintaining softness and stiffness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If conventional methods are used to increase roll bulk and sheet bulk in sanitary tissue products, then bulk properties are improved, but softness, stiffness, and flexibility are negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The product is divided into multiple plies with distinct functions: a first ply providing bulk and absorbency, and a second ply providing softness and flexibility. This segmentation allows each ply to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining different fibrous materials in separate plies. The first ply contains cellulose fibers and synthetic fibers for bulk, while the second ply uses soft cellulose fibers for comfort, creating a multi-material composite that achieves both bulk and softness.
2Quantity of substance
If conventional methods are used to increase absorbency in sanitary tissue products, then absorbency is improved, but softness, stiffness, and flexibility are negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
Absorbency functions are segregated to the first ply through embossed void structures, while the second ply maintains softness and flexibility. This functional segmentation allows high absorbency without sacrificing comfort properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The first ply is formed with embossed voids creating a porous structure that enhances absorbency capacity. These voids provide space for liquid absorption while the multi-ply construction prevents the loss of softness that would occur with increased porosity in a single ply.
3Strength
If conventional methods are used to increase hand protection in sanitary tissue products, then hand protection is improved, but absorbency is negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
Hand protection is provided by the overall multi-ply structure and bonding between plies, while the first ply's embossed voids provide absorbency. The segmentation allows these two functions to coexist without one compromising the other.
4Volume of stationary object
If conventional methods are used to increase roll bulk and sheet bulk in sanitary tissue products, then bulk properties are improved, but opacity is negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-ply construction segments the bulk-providing function (first ply with embossed voids) from the opacity-providing function (second dense ply). The second ply acts as an opaque layer that masks the voids in the first ply, achieving both high bulk and high opacity simultaneously.
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 solution results in articles with enhanced bulk and absorbency that maintain softness and flexibility, offering improved hand protection and surface drying, allowing for a wider range of uses without compromising other essential properties.
Implementation Method 1
the embossed fibrous structure ply is bonded to at least one other fibrous structure ply via one or more and/or two or more and/or a plurality of water-resistant bonds
Implementation Method 2
such that a void volume is created between the two fibrous structure plies at the embossments and such that the articles exhibit improved bulk and/or absorbent properties
Data Source
AI summary
Articles, for example multi-ply fibrous structure-containing articles such as multi-ply sanitary tissue products, containing two or more fibrous structure plies, and more particularly to multi-ply articles containing two or more fibrous structure plies having a plurality of fibrous elements wherein the articles exhibit improved bulk and absorbent properties compared to known articles and methods for making same, are provided.