Interfolded Absorbent Sheet Folding Pattern for Softness and Drape
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Solution Overview
Problem
Interfolded paper napkins with single folds require high basis weight to achieve absorbency, resulting in low softness and drape properties, which are important for user perception of quality.
Innovation Solution
A stack of interfolded absorbent sheet products with a specific folding pattern of three folds defining 3×2 panels, reducing the surface area of the folded sheet to one-sixth of the unfolded sheet, while maintaining absorbency and improving softness and drape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If single fold is used to achieve simplicity in folding structure, then ease of manufacture is improved, but absorbency cannot be achieved without increasing basis weight which reduces softness and drape properties
Solution Approach 1:
The napkin sheet is divided into multiple panels through multiple folds (first fold creating front and back panels, second fold creating additional panels). This segmentation allows the same basis weight to provide absorbency across multiple smaller absorbent areas, eliminating the need to increase basis weight for single-fold designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-fold (one-dimensional folding) to a multi-fold structure with folds in different directions and orientations. The first fold creates front and back panels, while the second fold creates additional panels, effectively utilizing multiple dimensions to distribute absorbency across the folded structure without increasing basis weight.
2Quantity of substance
If plural parallel folds are used to increase absorbency, then quantity of substance is improved, but the napkin shape becomes relatively elongated
Solution Approach 1:
The second fold is positioned asymmetrically relative to the first fold, creating an offset arrangement where the folds do not align perfectly. This asymmetric positioning allows the multiple panels to be distributed in a way that maintains a more balanced, less elongated overall shape while still providing multiple absorbent surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple panels created by the first and second folds are nested within each other in the folded configuration. The front panel, back panel, and additional panels are arranged in a nested sequence that compactS the structure and reduces elongation, allowing multiple absorbent surfaces to be contained within a compact folded form.
3Ease of operation
If multiple folds are used to create balanced configuration, then softness and drape properties are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first fold and second fold are pre-configured in specific positions and orientations during manufacturing. The offset positioning of the second fold relative to the first fold is predetermined, allowing the napkin to automatically achieve the balanced multi-panel configuration when folded, without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms or user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the folding parameters by introducing an offset distance between the first fold and second fold. This parameter modification (offset positioning) creates the multi-panel structure with improved softness and drape, while the specific offset value is optimized to maintain manufacturing simplicity and avoid excessive structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A stack of interfolded absorbent sheet products includes a plurality of absorbent sheets. Each sheet product includes a first fold, a second fold running parallel to the first fold, and a third fold which is perpendicular to the first and second folds, so that the three folds define a pattern of 3×2 panels, including two first side panels, two center panels, and two second side panels. Each sheet product has its first side panels folded onto its center panels, its second side panels folded onto its first side panels in a C-fold, and its second side panels then folded onto each other so as to obtain a folded configuration including at least six panels. Each sheet product within the stack receives between two inwardly facing adjacent panels three adjacent panels from each of two sheet products disposed respectively above and below the sheet product in the stack.