Hygienic Article Fiber Deposition With Excess Fiber Recirculation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing hygienic articles with absorbent cores face challenges in managing the variability of excess fibers due to varying support layer widths, which can disrupt mill operations and affect production efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that recirculates excess fibers back into the deposition system, utilizing a deposition station with collection nozzles and air jets to separate and redirect excess fibers, ensuring consistent fiber distribution across varying support layer widths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a predetermined amount of fibres is released from the deposition device, then the fibre deposition process can be simplified, but the variability of excess fibres causes disruption to mill operations and reduces production efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers excess fibres that would otherwise be wasted by collecting them at the deposition device and redirecting them back to the mill through recirculation ducts. This recovery process prevents the excess fibres from causing disruption to mill operations and maintains production efficiency while keeping the deposition process simple.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the support layer width is varied to produce different sized hygienic articles, then the adaptability of the production system is improved, but the amount of excess fibres varies significantly causing operational disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where excess fibres collected at the deposition device are recirculated back to the mill through recirculation ducts. This feedback loop ensures that variations in support layer width do not cause operational disruptions, as the excess fibres are continuously returned to the deposition process to be redistributed.
3Device complexity
If excess fibres are not recirculated, then the apparatus structure remains simple, but the fibre distribution becomes uneven and production efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pneumatic systems with recirculation ducts and air flows to transport excess fibres back to the mill. This pneumatic approach maintains relative structural simplicity while achieving uniform fibre distribution, as the air-powered recirculation system efficiently redistributes excess fibres without requiring complex mechanical handling mechanisms.
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
This approach maintains production efficiency by managing excess fibers effectively, preventing mill disruption and ensuring uniform fiber distribution, thereby optimizing the production of hygienic articles of different sizes.
Implementation Method 1
The deposition of the fibres takes place by falling from the deposition device. This fall is aided by an air flow which, coming from the deposition device, passes through the support layer strip.
Implementation Method 2
at least one pair of concentrated air jets, each of the air jets laps a respective longitudinal edge of the support layer strip
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing a hygienic article having a support layer and a plurality of fibres arranged on the support layer. The method includes supplying a support layer strip to a deposition station having at least one deposition device configured to release a predetermined amount of fibres per time unit, releasing the predetermined amount of fibres towards the support layer strip so that a first percentage of the predetermined amount of fibres falls on a deposition surface of the support layer strip and a remaining percentage of the predetermined amount of fibres falls at the sides of the support layer strip, collecting the remaining percentage, sending the remaining percentage to the at least one deposition device. The remaining percentage varies between 5% and 60% of the predetermined amount of fibres, depending on the width of the support layer strip. An apparatus suitable for carrying out the method.