Fibrous Structure Knuckle Pillow Pattern
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fibrous structures, such as sanitary tissue products, often face a contradiction between achieving superior performance properties like softness, strength, and absorbency, and consumer-desired aesthetics, as existing papermaking processes and embossing methods can either enhance performance or aesthetics but not simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
The use of papermaking belts with specific patterns of knuckles and pillows, replicated in the fibrous structure, combined with embossing, to create a product that balances performance and aesthetics, featuring discrete knuckles and pillows arranged in unique patterns to enhance both functional properties and visual appeal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional papermaking processes and embossing methods are used to enhance performance properties, then softness, strength, and absorbency are improved, but visual appeal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The papermaking belt is segmented into discrete knuckles and pillows arranged in specific patterns, creating distinct raised and recessed areas in the fibrous structure that simultaneously provide structural integrity and visual appeal
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the fibrous structure are given different properties through the knuckle-pillow pattern, with knuckles providing strength and pillows providing softness and absorbency, while the overall pattern creates visual appeal
2Strength
If smoothness is enhanced through papermaking belt structure, then performance is improved, but visual appeal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The knuckle and pillow patterns create three-dimensional surface features that add visual interest and texture while maintaining the smooth functional surface needed for performance properties
3Shape
If emboss pattern is applied to enhance visual appeal, then aesthetics are improved, but smoothness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The embossing is applied selectively through the knuckle and pillow patterns rather than uniformly across the entire surface, providing visual appeal in specific areas while preserving smoothness in functional areas
Data Source
AI summary
A fibrous structure may include a plurality of wetformed knuckles or pillows, where the wet-formed knuckles or pillows of the pattern may form a plurality of rows, and the plurality of rows may be curved in a repeating wave pattern.