Multicomponent Nonwoven Webs with Patterned Bond Sites

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing nonwoven webs for disposable absorbent and cleaning articles face challenges in creating visually distinct appearances without increasing production costs or risking color rub-off/wash-off, especially when used in disposable absorbent articles where inks must be compatible with surfactants and body liquids.

Innovation Solution

A nonwoven web composed of multicomponent fibers with differently colored components, where the difference in color between bonded and unbonded areas is induced by the fiber components themselves, rather than external printing, ensuring a durable and cost-efficient visual distinction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If printing images on nonwoven webs is used to create visual distinction, then visual appearance is improved, but production cost increases and color rub-off occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual appearanceVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by incorporating colored components specifically at bond sites within the nonwoven web structure. Rather than uniformly coloring the entire web or applying surface prints, the colored components are localized to bonding areas, creating visual distinction only where needed while maintaining cost efficiency and eliminating rub-off issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials by integrating multicomponent fibers with differently colored components into the nonwoven web structure. These composite fibers contain multiple colored components that become visible at bond sites, providing visual distinction through material composition rather than surface printing, thereby eliminating color rub-off and reducing production costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Shape

If printing images on nonwoven webs is used to create visual distinction, then visual appearance is improved, but color fastness deteriorates due to rub-off and wash-off

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual appearanceVSAvoidcolor fastness

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by incorporating colored components specifically at bond sites within the nonwoven web structure. Rather than uniformly coloring the entire web or applying surface prints, the colored components are localized to bonding areas, creating visual distinction only where needed while maintaining cost efficiency and eliminating rub-off issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials by integrating multicomponent fibers with differently colored components into the nonwoven web structure. These composite fibers contain multiple colored components that become visible at bond sites, providing visual distinction through material composition rather than surface printing, thereby eliminating color rub-off and reducing production costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of manufacture

If uniformly colored nonwoven webs are used, then production cost is reduced, but visual distinction between areas is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction costVSAvoidvisual appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by incorporating colored components specifically at bond sites within the nonwoven web structure. Rather than uniformly coloring the entire web or applying surface prints, the colored components are localized to bonding areas, creating visual distinction only where needed while maintaining cost efficiency and eliminating rub-off issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials by integrating multicomponent fibers with differently colored components into the nonwoven web structure. These composite fibers contain multiple colored components that become visible at bond sites, providing visual distinction through material composition rather than surface printing, thereby eliminating color rub-off and reducing production costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP2999447B1Nonwoven webs with visually distinct bond sites and method of making

Publication Date: 2019.10.23 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

Figure 1

AI summary

The present invention refers to a nonwoven web with multicomponent fibers having at least a first and a second component which differ from each other in color. The nonwoven web is pattern bonded to obtain bonded areas have a different color versus the unbonded areas.