Animal Excrement Disposal Material with Uneven Colored Layer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional animal excrement disposal materials with a colored layer covering the entire surface fail to adequately utilize the absorbency of the granule, limiting their effectiveness in recognizing and managing excrement.

Innovation Solution

The animal excrement disposal material is designed with a core layer, a colored layer, and a covering layer, where the colored layer is unevenly applied and the covering layer is composed of pulp and super absorbent polymer, allowing for improved light transmittance and absorbency, enabling better recognition and management of excrement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the colored layer covers the whole surface of the granule, then the coloration visibility is improved, but the absorbency of the granule is insufficiently utilized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoloration visibilityVSAvoidabsorbency
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating an uneven colored layer where only specific regions of the granule surface are colored rather than the entire surface. This allows the colored portions to provide visibility while leaving other portions exposed to effectively absorb excrement, thus resolving the contradiction between coloration visibility and absorbency utilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If the colored layer is applied evenly across the granule surface, then the appearance is uniform, but the light transmittance when wet is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveappearance uniformityVSAvoidlight transmittance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs asymmetry by deliberately creating an uneven distribution of the colored layer on the granule surface. This asymmetric configuration allows light to pass through the uncovered regions more effectively when wet, improving light transmittance while still providing sufficient coloration visibility through the colored portions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Strength

If the covering layer is made thick to maintain aggregated state, then the structural stability is improved, but the light transmittance and absorbency are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidlight transmittance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by using a thin covering layer that is sufficient to maintain the aggregated state of the disposal material but not so thick as to block light transmission or hinder absorbency. This partial coverage approach resolves the contradiction between structural stability and light transmittance/absorbency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design enhances the visibility of the colored layer when wet, improves absorbency, and maintains the aggregated state of the disposal materials, making it easier to recognize and remove excrement effectively.

Implementation Method 1

a colored layer provided on the core layer and a covering layer that covers the core layer having the colored layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

improves light transmittance and absorbency, enabling better recognition and management of excrement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmittance change:

Data Source

PatentEP2976943B1Production method for animal excrement treatment material
Publication Date: 2022.08.24 UNI CHARM CORP
  • EP2976943B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2976943B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2976943B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A production method for animal excrement treatment material and a production device therefor, having: a step in which raw material is granulized and a granular material (1102) is obtained; and a step in which a coloring agent (1201) is applied to the granular material (1102). The step in which the coloring agent (1201) is applied to the granular material (1102) has: a step in which the granular material (1102) is suspended; and a step in which the coloring agent (1201) is sprayed on the suspended granular material (1102).