Sanitary Tissue Discrete Cells Softness Bulk Trade-off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fibrous structures, such as sanitary tissue products, face challenges in achieving a balance between softness, absorbency, and bulk, while maintaining desired thickness and tensile strength.
Innovation Solution
The use of large-scale cells with legs and concavities to define knuckle or pillow channels, combined with multiple cell sizes to modulate the channels, creates a non-uniform alternating discrete concavity, enhancing softness and absorbency while maintaining bulk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If large-scale cells with legs and concavities are used to define knuckle or pillow channels, then softness and absorbency are increased, but structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The fibrous structure is divided into discrete cells of varying sizes (small, medium, large) arranged in a non-uniform alternating pattern. Each cell contains legs and concavities that segment the pillow channels, creating discrete functional units that provide softness while maintaining overall structural coherence through the segmented architecture
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the fibrous structure contain cells of different sizes and configurations. The non-uniform alternating discrete concavity pattern creates local variations in softness and absorbency, with larger cells providing greater softness in specific areas while smaller cells maintain structural integrity in other regions
2Quantity of substance
If multiple cell sizes are used to modulate knuckle or pillow channels, then absorbency and bulk are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cells are arranged in a periodic non-uniform alternating pattern where small, medium, and large cells repeat in a defined sequence along the fibrous structure. This periodic arrangement modulates the knuckle and pillow channels to enhance absorbency while providing a manageable manufacturing pattern that reduces complexity compared to completely random arrangements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces variation in cell size as an additional dimension beyond the basic presence/absence of cells. By varying cell dimensions (small, medium, large) in addition to their spatial arrangement, the patent creates multi-dimensional modulation of channels that enhances absorbency without requiring overly complex manufacturing processes
3Ease of operation
If cells are arranged in a non-uniform alternating discrete concavity pattern, then softness is increased, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The non-uniform alternating discrete concavity pattern follows a periodic arrangement where cell types repeat in a defined sequence. This periodicity provides manufacturing precision through repeatable patterns while achieving softness through the varying concavity depths and cell sizes within each period
Solution Approach 2:
The fibrous structure is segmented into discrete cellular units with defined boundaries and characteristics. Each cell segment has specific properties (size, concavity depth, leg configuration) that can be independently controlled during manufacturing, reducing the overall precision requirement compared to continuous variations
Data Source
AI summary
Belts and sanitary tissue products of the present disclosure may comprise discrete cells of multiple sizes (including three different cell sizes) and/or certain patterns. The cells may be discrete knuckles or pillows and the fibrous structures may further comprise an emboss, such as a double dot emboss.