Water-Soluble Binder Paper Sheet for Disintegrating Roll Carrier Mandrel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cardboard cores used in sanitary and household rolls are non-reusable and do not disintegrate quickly in water, leading to waste and potential clogging issues when disposed of in wastewater systems.

Innovation Solution

A method for manufacturing a sheet of paper that disintegrates in water, involving the use of a water-soluble binder material, such as starch, combined with cellulose fibers, which are wound helically to form a core with similar strength to cardboard, allowing controlled disintegration and environmental friendliness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional cardboard cores are used, then structural strength and roll support are maintained, but the core does not disintegrate quickly in water and becomes waste

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoiddisintegration time

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The core is made from a composite material consisting of cellulose fibers bound with water-soluble adhesive (such as starch or alginate). This composite structure provides the necessary mechanical strength while enabling rapid disintegration in water, as the water-soluble adhesive breaks down quickly, allowing the cellulose fibers to separate and disperse.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the core material by using a high proportion of cellulose fibers (90-99% by weight) combined with water-soluble binders, rather than traditional cardboard materials. This parameter change enables the core to maintain structural integrity when dry while disintegrating rapidly when exposed to water.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional cardboard cores are used, then manufacturing cost is low, but environmental friendliness and reusability are poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidenvironmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The core is designed to be discarded in an environmentally friendly manner by disposing of it directly in the wastewater system. The water-soluble adhesive allows the core to disintegrate rapidly in water, with the cellulose fibers breaking down into small particles that can be flushed away without causing blockages, eliminating the need for separate disposal processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The core is designed as a disposable product with a short functional life, intended to be discarded after use. By using inexpensive materials like cellulose fibers and water-soluble adhesives, the patent creates a cheap, single-use core that can be safely disposed of in the wastewater system, eliminating the need for recovery or recycling processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If the core disintegrates quickly in water, then disposal with wastewater is enabled, but structural strength during handling and transport may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisintegration timeVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The core exhibits dynamic properties, remaining structurally intact and strong in its dry state during manufacturing, handling, and transport, but transforming into a disintegrating structure when exposed to water. The water-soluble adhesive maintains bond strength when dry but rapidly dissolves when wet, enabling the core to adapt its structural properties based on environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

The resulting core disintegrates faster than traditional cardboard cores, maintaining structural integrity comparable to cardboard while being environmentally friendly and inexpensive, thus addressing the issue of waste and clogging.

Implementation Method 1

a water-soluble binder material, such as starch... The core disintegrates faster than traditional cardboard cores

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolubility: Solvation

Implementation Method 2

wetting, joining and pressing the three bands

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS9034478B2Method for making a sheet of degradable paper, use of said sheet for making a mandrel defining a roll carrier, degradable paper sheet, and mandrel including at least one of said sheets

Publication Date: 2015.05.19 ESSITY OPERATIONS FRANCE SAS

AI summary

A method for making a water-degradable paper sheet involves the following: providing at least one strip of a water-soluble binding material in the form of a dry film; providing at least two strips each made of at least one ply of cellulose wadding; placing the strip of water-soluble binding material between the two strips of cellulose wadding; humidifying, assembling and pressing the three strips; and drying the complex strip thus obtained. The sheet thus obtained can be used for making a roll carrier mandrel by helically winding one or more strips from the sheet about a cylinder. Articles produced from the sheet can particularly be used in the field of products for sanitary or domestic use.