EP2124862A1

EP2124862A1 - A layered acquisition/distribution component and a production method thereof

Info

Publication number: EP2124862A1
Application number: EP08719643A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ayse Evyap Arin; Emre Ozer; Sule Kucukoglu; Fatma Algul; Sinan Akyuz; Mesut Suzen; Gultekin Genc
Original assignee: Evyap Sabun Yag Gliserin Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS
Current assignee: Evyap Sabun Yag Gliserin Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS
Priority date: 2007-03-19
Filing date: 2008-03-11
Publication date: 2009-12-02
Also published as: EA200901131A1; WO2008114165A1; GEP20146095B; TR200701707A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a production method for a dye printed absorbent and dispersing component (5), or surge layer, which is used in a sanitary napkin or absorbent article, and which absorbs the liquid faster and returns less, and to an absorbent and dispersing component (5) produced according to the said method.

Description

A LAYERED ACQUISITION/DISTRIBUTION COMPONENT AND A PRODUCTION METHOD THEREOF

[ 1 ] Field of the Invention

[2] The present invention relates to a production method for a dye printed absorbent and dispersing component, which is used as a sanitary pad in the sanitary and hygiene sector, and which absorbs the liquid faster and returns less, and to an absorbent and dispersing component produced according to the said method.

[3] Prior Art

[4] Absorbent products enable retaining of the liquids or menses discharged from the body out of control, and are safely used in the sanitary and hygiene sector. Absorbent products basically comprise a perforated upper layer which transfers liquid to the lower layer, a liquid impermeable lower layer which contacts the garment, and an absorbent layer located in between these two layers. The absorbent layer comprises polymers which enable gellification of the liquid. In the state of the art, compressed absorbent materials (airlaid) made of cellulose - cellulose or cellulose based cellulose and synthetic fiber or materials made of petrochemical based fibers (high-loft) are used as absorbent materials in absorbent products like sanitary pads. In some products, dye is applied on paper or an absorbent material which has a cellulose-based structure or which comprises a cellulose structure and is multilayer being connected with different fibers.

[5] Nonwoven surfaces [PP] constitute the inner cover of the absorbent components. The middle absorbent layer within the pad consists of compressed absorbent material (airlaid) made of cellulose (pulp) or paper based cellulose and synthetic fiber. There are super absorbent polymers (SAP) within cellulose and airlaid. These polymers have an absorbing and retaining value of 10 - 30%; they gel the liquid retaining it within the middle absorbent layer.

[6] Production of the absorbent layer located within the absorbent and dispersing component is performed on separate lines by using the same or similar raw materials. Additionally, dying of the said component is carried out in the part between the two layers forming the absorbent layer. In said type of dying, absorbency rate decreases. This feature, which has a negative impact on the sanitary pad, increases the risk of leakage during use of the sanitary pad product.

[7] The USA patent application No. US6251322, in the state of the art, discloses synthetic polyester absorbent materials. The inventive synthetic fiber materials are used as the absorbent material in diapers, sanitary pads and adult incontinent pads. The said fibers are short and bulky, characterized by lengths between 2 and 37 mm. There may be capillary channels on the surface. The most significant feature of the material is its increased absorbency.

[8] In the USA patent application No. US2004015145, another state of the art application, there are absorbent materials having a printed graphic visible through the body contacting surface. The sanitary pads or pantiliners are comprised of an absorbent layer disposed in between an upper layer and the lowest layer. Graphics are printed on the body contacting surface or garment contacting surface and it is disclosed that the said printings are visible on the body contacting layer.

[9] The USA patent application No. US5304161, describing another state of the art, discloses multilayer absorbent components with an increased absorbency rate. The multilayer absorbent layer is comprised of an upper layer which rapidly absorbs the liquid and a lower layer where the liquid is retained. Liquid is gelled in this lower layer in less than 10 seconds.

[10] The Japanese patent application No. JP2006043198, another state of the art, discloses absorbent materials which prevent the liquid from flowing to a different direction on the absorbent component. The said component is comprised of a liquid permeable front surface, a liquid impermeable rear surface and an absorbent layer arranged between the said two surfaces. The absorbent layer prevents deviations during flowing of the liquid, by means of a foaming resin layer. The prevention is also realized by foaming printing over the liquid impermeable rear layer. The said application comprises all of the synthetic fiber materials.

[11] However the material structure used in these applications differs from the materials selected for the inventive absorbent and dispersing component. One of the distinguishing features of the inventive absorbent and dispersing component is that there is provided a cellulose based paper (tissue) material at the bottom which is an extra tissue. In the sanitary pads within the state of the art, absorbency rate of the dye printed cellulosic based or only petrochemical based absorbent material of the menses discharged in the menstruation days of women is very slow in sitting position and causes leakage in the product. Furthermore, printing can only be performed on cellulose based dispersing layer.

[12] Summary of the Invention

[13] The objective of the present invention is to realize a soft absorbent and dispersing component which absorbs and disperses the liquid rapidly and returns less, and a production method of the said absorbent and dispersing component.

[14] Another objective of the present invention is to realize an absorbent and dispersing component where the absorbent layers are connected on a line, and a production method of the said absorbent and dispersing component. [15] Another objective of the present invention is to realize an absorbent and dispersing component where the layer consisting of fiber and cellulose is printed on the fiber part, and a production method of the said absorbent and dispersing component.

[16] Detailed Description of the Invention

[17] Various properties of the absorbent and dispersing component obtained as a result of the application of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying figures wherein,

[18] Figure 1 is the A-A section of the absorbent product.

[19] Figure 2 is the schematic view of the absorbent and dispersing component structure.

[20] Figure 3 is the view of the production process of the absorbent and dispersing component.

[21] Figure 4 is the view of the printed absorbent and dispersing component.

[22] Figure 5 is the view showing the application of the test apparatus on the product.

[23] Figure 6 shows the product performance experiment results.

[24] The parts in the figures are numbered individually, where the numbers refer to the following:

[25] 1. Absorbent product

[26] 2. Upper layer

[27] 3. Lower layer

[28] 4. Storage layer

[29] 5. Absorbent and dispersing component

[30] 6. Fiber (high loft)

[31] 7. Cellulose paper (tissue)

[32] 8. Adhesive

[33] 9. Figure

[34] 10. Test apparatus

[35] The absorbent product (1) comprises an upper layer (2), a lower layer (3), a storage layer (4) in between these layers and an absorbent and dispersing component (5).

[36] The upper layer (2) is comprised of perforated or imperforated polyethylene, polypropylene or polyethylene fibers. They are also realized perforated or imperforated, in braided or unbraided form.

[37] The lower layer (3) is comprised of a polymeric material like polyethylene and prevents the liquid from leaking from the absorbent and dispersing component (5) and from the very bottom of the storage layer (4) to the garment.

[38] The inventive absorbent and dispersing component (5) comprises fiber (6) (high-loft) and cellulose paper (7) (tissue) layers disposed one over the other. In between the fiber (6) and paper (7) layers, there is preferably a glue-like adhesive. The fiber layer (high-loft) is a form which consists of synthetic fibers and has air gaps therein. Cellulose paper (7) (tissue) is a layer made of cellulose fiber. [39] Within the structure of the fiber (6) (high-loft), preferably a material comprising unbraided fibers consisting of one or a mixture of the polypropylene, polyester and copolymer fibers with air gaps in between the said fibers is used. Cellulose paper (tissue) (7) is a cellulose based structure. Although synthetic cellulose is preferred, natural cellulose can also be used.

[40] The storage layer (4) is a layer, which includes absorbent polymers (SAP), which comprises compressed absorbent material (airlaid) made of cellulose or cellulose based cellulose and synthetic fiber, and which retains the liquid therein.

[41] Absorbing performance of the absorbent product (1) is measured in one application of the inventive absorbent and dispersing component (4). Weight of the unit area of the fiber (6) (high-loft) material consisting of the said petrochemical based fibers is 5 g/m2 to 150 g/m2 and the tensile strength is 10 N/50mm to 300 N/50mm. The fiber (6) (high-loft) material transfers 0.01 to 250 milliliter liquid that it receives to the storage layer (4) in 0.01 to 300 seconds and exhibits an absorbent and dispersing property by returning 0.01 to 6 g of the absorbed liquid under loads. Whereas the cellulose paper (7) (tissue) material, a structure made of cellulose (natural plants), with a weight of 5 g/m2 to 50 g/m2 and a tensile strength of 1 N/50mm to 300 N/50mm, accelerates ab- sorbency upon being connected with fiber (6) (high-loft) material. The fiber (6) (high-loft) material and the cellulose paper (7) (tissue) material can be connected to each other preferably via glue or a such like adhesive (8), by cold and hot printing method and by ultrasonic connection methods. The said two materials namely fiber (6) (high-loft) material and the cellulose paper (7) (tissue) can be connected just by placing one over the other without using any of the methods. A shape, sign or design figure (9) is applied onto the fiber (6) (high-loft) material by employing water, alcohol and petroleum based dyes. Performance of the product increases in terms of ab- sorbency after the absorbent and dispersing component (5) is dyed. The dye diffuses on the fiber (6) (high-loft) material.

[42] Example:

[43] The apparatuses employed in measuring performance of the absorbent product (1) in which the absorbent and dispersing component (5) is used, are as follows:

[44] • Blood solution: NaCl :6.10 g + NaHCCβ :2.30 g +CaCl 2 :0.3 g +Albumin: 65 g

+CMC :13 g + Antispumin DNF (by weight of 10 % solution) :4 g + Cosmetic dye: 4 g + water : 905,30 g

[45] • Ruler

[46] • Balance (precision: 0.01 g)

[47] • Test apparatus (10)

[48] • Load (2800 g and 500g with the upper apparatus)

[49] • Graduated cylinder 10 ml [50] • Chronometer

[51] • Countdown chronometer

[52] • Filter paper ( Iso lab 40*40 cm )

[53] • Load (2800 g and 500 g)

[54] • Scissors

[55] The application with the below given steps is realized by the above mentioned apparatuses:

[56] • Average product (1) weight is found out.

[57] • The center of the product (1) is located.

[58] • The product (1) is disposed in between two apparatuses. The center of the product

(1) should be centered with the place where the blood solution will be applied. [59] • Pre-adjusted loads (500 g standing - 2800 g seated, with the upper apparatus) are placed on the apparatus. [60] • 5 ml blood solution is applied to the product by means of a graduated cylinder. At the same time, the chronometer and the countdown chronometer (set to 15 minutes) are started. The time (Tl) when the solution is completely absorbed is recorded. [61] • When the countdown chronometer rings an alarm, an additional 5 ml blood solution is applied to the product and the time (T2) the product completely absorbs the solution is recorded. When the solution is started to be applied, the countdown chronometer is also started. [62] • When the countdown chronometer rings an alarm, the loads are removed from the product and filter papers of ~ 50 g are placed on the product (1) after being weighed

(Wl). Dimensions of the filter paper should be 10 mm longer than the width and length of the absorbent component (5). [63] • 500 g and 2800 g loads are placed on the filter papers for standing and sitting positions respectively. [64] • After 10 minutes, the loads are removed. The filter papers are weighed (W2). The filter papers containing solution are discarded and they are replaced with newly cut filter papers, and brought again to ~ 50 g. [65] • The product is again disposed in between two apparatuses. The center of the product (1) should be centered with the place where the blood solution will be applied. [66] • Pre-adjusted loads (500 g standing - 2800 g seated, with the upper apparatus) are placed on the apparatus. [67] • 5 ml blood solution is applied to the product by means of a graduated cylinder. At the same time, the chronometer and the countdown chronometer (set to 15 minutes) are started. The time (T3) when the solution is completely absorbed is recorded. [68] • When the countdown chronometer rings an alarm, the loads are removed from the absorbent component and filter papers of ~ 50 g are placed on the product after being weighed (W3). [69] • 500 g and 2800 g loads are placed on the filter papers for standing and sitting positions respectively. [70] • After 10 minutes, the loads are removed. The filter papers are weighed (W4). The filter papers containing solution are discarded and they are replaced with newly cut filter papers, and brought again to ~ 50 g. [71] • The product is again disposed in between two apparatuses. The center of the absorbent and dispersing component (5) should be centered with the place where the blood solution will be applied. [72] • Pre-adjusted loads (500 g standing - 2800 g seated, with the upper apparatus) are placed on the apparatus. [73] • 5 ml blood solution is applied to the product by means of a graduated cylinder. At the same time, the chronometer and the countdown chronometer (set to 15 minutes) are started. The time (T4) when the solution is completely absorbed is recorded. [74] • When the countdown chronometer rings an alarm, the loads are removed from the product and filter papers of ~ 50 g are placed on the product after being weighed (W5). [75] • 500 g and 2800 g loads are placed on the filter papers for standing and sitting positions respectively.

[76] • After 10 minutes, the loads are removed. The filter papers are weighed (W6).

[77] • When any of the absorption times is >900 seconds or in case of a leakage the test is discontinued and the rewet test is not performed.

[78] • A photocopy of the product's upper surface is taken in order to calculate dispersion.

[79] • The absorbent material layer of the photocopy paper is cut and weighed (Xl).

[80] • The part containing the solution is cut and weighed (X2).

[81] Summary of the data obtained after the application can be described as follows:

[82] Absorption time (s)

[83] Tl: 1. absorption time

[84] T2: 2. absorption time

[85] T3: 3. absorption time

[86] T4: 4. absorption time

[87] Rewet test (g)

[88] W2-W1: 1. Rewet test

[89] W4-W3: 2. Rewet test

[90] W6-W5: 3. Rewet test

[91] Dispersion (%)

[92] Dispersion (%)=(X2/X1)* 100

[93] Data obtained as a result of the above described application of the invention is given in Figure 6. [94] It is ensured that the two different materials [fiber (6) and paper (7)] used in the absorbent and dispersing component (5) provided within the absorbent product (1) are easily connected on the line and dye is applied thereon, and that the cellulose paper (7) (tissue) material prevents the dye from being transferred to the lower layer during dyeing of the other fibrous absorbent fiber (6) (high-loft) material comprising air gaps. Furthermore the absorbent and dispersing component (5) has a softer texture and increased absorbency rate in comparison with the pads containing a compressed absorbent layer (airlaid) made of cellulose and synthetic fiber.

[95] The unbraided fibers (6) (high-loft) comprised of one or a mixture of the polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester or co-polymer fibers with air gaps therebetween, can be connected with the cellulose paper (7) (tissue) material disposed thereunder obtained from natural plant fibers, by means of glue or any adhesive (8) material. The said fiber (6) (high-soft) and cellulose paper (7) (tissue) can be connected on the sanitary pad machine line by means of an adhesive (8) such as glue or by any ultrasonic and thermosealing adhesion system without using any adhesive (8).

[96] The fiber (6) (high-loft) dyed with any printing method and the cellulose paper (7)

(tissue) material placed thereunder are connected to each other by means of any adhesive (8) with the help of the above described systems whereby a dyed absorbent and dispersing component (5) is obtained. The said component (5) is used in disposable or non-disposable absorbent products (1) utilized in the sanitary and hygiene sector like sanitary pads. This way, the absorbency performance of the absorbent products (1) is also improved.

[97] Another production method applied to the inventive absorbent and dispersing material (5) is connecting the fiber (6) (high-loft) and cellulose paper (7) (tissue) material in or out of the production line by means of any of the lamination methods.

[98] Within the framework of the fundamental principles described herein, it is possible to develop various embodiments of the invention. Details of the invention which are not disclosed in this description are details known to a person skilled in the art. The invention is essentially according to the claims.

Claims

[1] An absorbent and dispersing component (5) located in between the storage layer

(4) and upper layer (2), within the absorbent product (1) which comprises at least one upper layer (2), at least one lower layer (3) and at least one storage layer (4) with absorbent polymers in between the said layers, characterized by two layers including fiber (6) comprising unbraided synthetic fibers consisting of one or a mixture of polymeric fibers like polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester or co-polymer and air gaps between the said fibers, and paper (7) made of cellulose, and an adhesive (8), preferably glue, which is placed in between the said layers.

[2] An absorbent and dispersing component (5) according to Claim 1, characterized by a fiber (6) material comprised of absorbent and dispersant petrochemical based synthetic fibers, of which the weight of the unit area is 5 g/m2 to 150 g/m2 and the tensile strength is 10 N/50mm to 300 N/50mm, which transfer 0.01 to 250 milliliter liquid to the lower layer in 0.01 to 300 seconds and which returns 0.01 to 6 g of the absorbed liquid under loads, and cellulose based paper (7) of which the weight of the unit area is 5 g/m2 to 50 g/ m2 and the tensile strength is 10N/50mm to 300 N/50mm and which accelerates absorption upon being connected with the said fiber (6) material.

[3] An absorbent and dispersing component (5) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized by fiber (6) and cellulose paper (7) which are connected on the sanitary pad machine line by means of any ultrasonic and thermosealing adhesion system with an adhesive (8) or without using any adhesives (8).

[4] An absorbent and dispersing component (5) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized by fiber (6) dyed by any printing method and cellulose paper (7) disposed thereunder, which are connected by means of any ultrasonic and thermosealing adhesion system by using an adhesive (8).

[5] An absorbent and dispersing component (5) according to Claim 4, characterized by a fibrous absorbent fiber (6) which comprises air gaps and absorbency performance of which is enhanced with the dye applied thereon, and a cellulose paper (7) which prevents the dye from being transferred to the lower layer during dying of the said fiber (6) material.

[6] An absorbent and dispersing component (5) according to Claim 3 or 5, characterized by fiber (7) and cellulose paper (8) connected in or out of the production line by means of any of the lamination methods.