Fiber sheet

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fiber sheets for cleaning often lack both excellent skin feel and effective wiping performance, and existing solutions do not adequately address these requirements.

Innovation Solution

A fiber sheet configuration featuring a laminated structure with a surface sheet layer and a softness imparting layer, where the softness imparting layer is formed from crushed pulp and has a varying fiber density, and the entire sheet is embossed with protrusions and depressions to enhance bulkiness and flexibility, while a binder is applied to improve strength and skin feel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a fiber sheet is made with high strength to improve wiping performance, then the strength increases, but the skin feel deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewiping performanceVSAvoidskin feel
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fiber sheet is divided into multiple layers with different functions: a first sheet layer providing strength for wiping performance, and a second sheet layer providing softness for skin feel. Each layer is optimized independently to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the fiber sheet have different properties - the first sheet layer has high strength characteristics for effective wiping, while the second sheet layer has soft, skin-friendly characteristics. This local differentiation allows each region to optimize its specific function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a fiber sheet is made with high softness to improve skin feel, then the skin feel improves, but the wiping performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveskin feelVSAvoidwiping performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The fiber sheet is segmented into functional layers where the second sheet layer provides softness for skin feel while the first sheet layer maintains wiping strength. This segmentation allows softness enhancement without sacrificing structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fiber sheet uses a composite structure combining different fiber materials and layer configurations. The first sheet layer uses high-strength fibers for wiping, while the second sheet layer uses soft, skin-friendly fibers, creating a composite material that exhibits both properties simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of manufacture

If the fiber sheet structure is simplified to reduce manufacturing complexity, then the manufacturing ease improves, but the balance between strength and flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing complexityVSAvoidstrength-flexibility balance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The fiber sheet is manufactured as segmented layers that can be produced and optimized independently, then combined. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing by allowing each layer to be processed separately while maintaining the complex overall structure needed for both strength and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple sheet layers with different properties are merged into a single integrated structure. The first and second sheet layers are combined to create a unified fiber sheet that exhibits both high strength and appropriate flexibility, achieving a balanced composition through merging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3150371B1Fiber sheet
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 YAMADA CO LTD
  • EP3150371B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3150371B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3150371B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

A fiber sheet having both a bulky feel and softness is provided. A fiber sheet (1) is provided with a surface sheet layer (5) and a softness imparting layer (6). The fiber sheet (1) is subjected to embossing and a binder is applied to the fiber sheet (1). The softness imparting layer (6) is constituted by a plurality of fibers; and the fibers exist densely in a compressed state in a region of a boundary face between the surface sheet layer (5) and the softness imparting layer (6). Additionally, the surface sheet layer (5) is a paper material formed from pulp paper or a material including pulp as a principal raw material; and the softness imparting layer (6) is formed from crushed pulp or a material including crushed pulp as a principal raw material. Furthermore, the surface sheet layer (5) is manufactured by a paper making process; and the softness imparting layer (6) is formed by laminating crushed pulp along a flow of an airflow on a surface of the surface sheet. Moreover, depressions are formed via the embossing and, thereafter, the binder is applied.