Plurality of interconnected wipes for use in dispenser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wet wipe dispensers often experience issues with 'multiples' and 'fallbacks' due to ineffective connections between wipes, leading to inconsistent and unreliable single-handed dispensing.
Innovation Solution
The use of integrally interconnected wipes with transverse intermittent cut lines, featuring major and minor ties, to enhance the pop-up dispensing mechanism, ensuring proper release and accessibility of subsequent wipes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional connections between wipes are used, then dispensing can occur, but multiples and fallbacks occur leading to unreliable single-handed dispensing
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between wipes is segmented into major ties and minor ties distributed across the wipe structure. This segmentation allows controlled separation during dispensing, preventing multiples while ensuring reliable single-handed operation. The major ties provide primary connection strength while minor ties facilitate clean separation at the perforation lines.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the wipe connection have different properties: major ties are positioned at specific locations to provide strong connection, while minor ties are positioned to facilitate separation. The perforation lines are strategically placed to enable clean breakage. This local differentiation of connection quality ensures reliable dispensing without multiples or fallbacks.
2Reliability
If strong connections between wipes are used, then multiples are prevented, but excessive force is required for dispensing
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is divided into major ties that provide structural strength and minor ties that facilitate separation. This segmentation allows the overall connection to be strong enough to prevent multiples while localized weak points at perforation lines enable easy dispensing with minimal force.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection parameters are optimized by creating different tie configurations: major ties with sufficient bond strength to prevent premature separation, and minor ties with reduced bond strength at perforation lines to enable easy breaking. This parameter differentiation allows strong overall connection with low dispensing force requirement.
3Force
If weak connections between wipes are used, then dispensing force is reduced, but multiples and fallbacks occur
Solution Approach 1:
The connection is segmented into major ties for strength and minor ties for easy separation. This ensures that while individual minor ties require minimal force to break, the overall connection system maintains reliability through the distributed major ties, preventing multiples and fallbacks.
Solution Approach 2:
Different locations have different connection qualities: major ties provide strong local connections to prevent multiples, while minor ties at perforation lines provide weak local connections for easy separation. This local quality differentiation achieves both low dispensing force and high dispensing consistency.
4Ease of manufacture
If simple wipe connections are used, then manufacturing is easier, but inconsistent dispensing occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The connection is manufactured as a segmented system with major and minor ties that can be integrated into the wipe manufacturing process. This segmentation provides consistent dispensing behavior while remaining compatible with standard manufacturing techniques for creating perforated and bonded wipe structures.
Solution Approach 2:
Manufacturing parameters are optimized by specifying tie distribution patterns, bond strengths, and perforation locations. These parameter changes ensure consistent dispensing performance while maintaining manufacturability through standardized processes for creating bonded and perforated wipe structures.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A plurality of stacked, interconnected wipes that collectively define a stack. Each wipe is connected to at least one other wipe on only one of the right side and the left side of the stack via a connection. In particular embodiments, immediately successive connections in a stacked direction are on alternating right and left sides of the stack. In other embodiments, immediately successive connections in a stacked direction are on the same side of the stack.