GB2548994A

GB2548994A - An absorbent sheet material product

Info

Publication number: GB2548994A
Application number: GB1704921.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Riaz Sajid
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-03-31
Filing date: 2017-03-27
Publication date: 2017-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2037-03-27
Also published as: GB201704921D0; GB2548994B

Abstract

An absorbent sheet material product 4 for wiping and/or drying, is made of paper 6 and microcapsules (8, figure 3) containing at least one healthcare material. The microcapsules (8) are applied to the paper by rotary spraying from a rotary sprayer 10 to reduce breakages of the microcapsules during spraying. Further microcapsules containing skincare products may also be included. The sheet material may be paper towel or toilet paper. Microcapsules that do not stay on the paper during the spraying operation may be received by a barrier 22 and returned to a supply tank via conduit 24.

Description

AN ABSORBENT SHEET MATERIAL PRODUCT

This invention relates to an absorbent sheet material product and, more especially, this invention relates to an absorbent sheet material product which is for use for wiping and/or drying. This invention also relates to a process for the production of the absorbent sheet material product.

Typical known absorbent sheet material products which are made of paper and which are for use for wiping and/or drying are paper towels and toilet paper. The paper towels are typically used in kitchens where they are often referred to as kitchen towels. Such absorbent sheet material products were initially produced solely for wiping and/or drying. Improved absorbent sheet material products were then provided with the improved products including the provision of fragrances. These improved absorbent sheet material products were then further improved by the inclusion of healthcare material such for example as an antibacterial agent and/or an antimicrobial agent and/or an antiviral agent. The healthcare material was included in the absorbent sheet material product with a view to helping to stop the transmission of transmittable healthcare problems such for example as those caused by bacteria, microbes and viruses.

It is known to provide the healthcare material in microcapsules. The microcapsules are then provided on the absorbent sheet material by the use of spraying equipment using small jet nozzles. A problem occurs in that the microcapsules tend to rupture as they are forced through the jet nozzles and/or as they contact the absorbent sheet material product. The rupturing of the microcapsules means that the healthcare material is wasted. The result may be that there is insufficient healthcare material on the absorbent sheet material product. An alternative is to spray more of the microcapsules than would normally be required onto the absorbent sheet material product, in order to allow for breakage of a percentage of the microcapsules but still i retain sufficient unbroken microcapsules to have the healthcare material in the required concentration for the healthcare material to be effective.

It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided an absorbent sheet material product which is for use for wiping and/or drying, and which is such that: (i) the absorbent sheet material product is made of paper; (ii) the absorbent sheet material product comprises a plurality of microcapsules; (iii) the mierocapsules contain at least one healthcare material; and (iv) the microcapsules have been applied to the paper by rotary spraying from a rotary sprayer.

The absorbent sheet material product may be used for wiping and/or drying. The absorbent sheet material product may be used for wiping surfaces that are dry, for example a person’s hands or work surfaces. Alternatively, the absorbent sheet material product may be used on surfaces that are wet, for example the person’s hands or the work surfaces. The wet surfaces may be dried, and at the same time be treated such that they are free from, or contain only a minimum of, substances likely adversely to affect a person’s health.

The application of the microcapsules by the rotary spraying substantially reduces the breakage of the microcapsules due to the known provision of the microcapsules on the absorbent sheet material product by the jet spraying. The spraying of the microcapsules and their consequent breakage has been a known problem in the industry for an appreciable time. The application of the microcapsules by the rotary spraying thus enables the existing problem in the industry to be overcome or substantially reduced.

The healthcare material may be an antibacterial agent and/or an antimicrobial agent and/or an antiviral agent. The healthcare material may be just one of these agents, or it may be two or more of these agents. Generally, the healthcare material can be a single agent or a combination of agents that provide healthcare, for example by killing one or more of germs, bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

The microcapsules are preferably present as a layer on at least one surface of the paper. The microcapsules may thus be present on just one surface of the paper or on both surfaces of the paper. Usually one surface of the paper containing the microcapsules will be sufficient.

The absorbent sheet material product may be such that it includes microcapsules containing at least one skincare material.

The skincare material may be a skin softener or a skin moisturiser. Other skincare materials may alternatively or additionally be included.

The microcapsules containing the skincare material may be separate from the microcapsules containing the healthcare material. In this case, there may be two separate sets of the microcapsules on the paper. Alternatively, the microcapsules containing the skincare material may be the same as the microcapsules containing the healthcare material. In this case, both the skincare material and the healthcare material will be in the same capsules.

Preferably, the absorbent sheet material product is in the form of a paper towel or toilet paper. In this case, the paper towel and the toilet paper are preferably in the form of rolls. However, if desired, the paper towel and the toilet paper may be in the form of separate sheets. The absorbent sheet material product may be other than paper towels and toilet paper so that, for example, the absorbent sheet material product may simply be a general wiping product.

In another non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a process for the production of an absorbent sheet material product which is for use for wiping and/or drying, and which process comprises: (i) producing the absorbent sheet material product from paper; (ii) providing a plurality of microcapsules that contain at least one healthcare product; and (iii) applying the microcapsules to the paper by rotary spraying from a rotary sprayer.

The process of the present invention may use the healthcare material described above in connection with the absorbent sheet material product. Similarly, the process of the present invention may be such that the microcapsules are on at least one surface of the paper as described above for the absorbent sheet material product. Also similarly, the process of the present invention may include microcapsules containing at least one skincare material as described above for the absorbent sheet material product. Also, the process of the present invention is preferably for the production of an absorbent sheet material product in the form of a paper towel or toilet paper, but it may be for producing other absorbent sheet material products as mentioned above.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows schematically apparatus in use for the production of an absorbent sheet material product;

Figure 2 is an enlarged end view of part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the part of the apparatus shown in Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a plan view of part of an absorbent sheet material product of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown apparatus 2 for use in the production of an absorbent sheet material product 4. The sheet material product 4 is for use for wiping and/or drying. The sheet material product 4 is made of paper 6. The absorbent sheet material product 4 comprises a plurality of microcapsules 8. The microcapsules 8 contain at least one healthcare material. The microcapsules 8 have been applied to the paper 6 by rotary spraying. The apparatus 2 is a rotary sprayer.

The apparatus 2 comprises the rotor sprayer 10 and a carrier 12 which carries the rotary sprayer 10. A spray 14 of the microcapsules 8 is sprayed onto the paper 6 as shown from the rotary sprayer 10. A layer of the microcapsules 8 is thus formed on the surface 16 of the paper 6 nearest the rotary sprayer 10.

The microcapsules 8 are provided to the rotary sprayer 10 via a conduit 18 from a supply tank 20.

The apparatus 2 includes a barrier 22 for receiving microcapsules 8 from the spray 14 that do not stay on the paper 6. The barrier 22 returns these microcapsules 8 to the supply tank 20 via a conduit 24. The returned microcapsules 8 are returned from a return tank 26 in the supply tank 20 to the rotary sprayer 10 via a conduit 28.

The normal supply of the microcapsules 8 to the rotary sprayer 10 is via the conduit 18 which leads to a metering pump 30. The metering pump 30 leads to a filter 32 and a flow meter 34. The filter 32 is able to filter out unwanted material. The flow meter 34 is able to ensure a controlled supply Of the microcapsules 8 to the rotary sprayer 10. Thus the microcapsules 8 are able to be supplied at a rate commensurate with the rate at which the microcapsules 8 are being sprayed onto the paper 6 as the spray 14.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the apparatus may be such that the return tank 26 and the return conduit 28 are omitted. In this case, the returned microcapsules 8 are mixed with the microcapsules 8 already in the supply tank 20 and they are sent via the conduit 18 to the rotary sprayer 10 as described above.

As shown in the drawings, the absorbent sheet material product 4 with the microcapsules 8 is able to be wound on a roll. Prior to the spraying of the microcapsules 8 onto the paper 6, the paper 6 may be in the form of a roll or it may be provided direct form a conveyor belt as the paper 6 is being formed.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Individual components shown in the drawings are not limited to use in their drawings and they may be used in other drawings and in all aspects of the invention. The invention also extends to the individual components mentioned and/or shown above, taken singly or in any combination.

Claims

1. An absorbent sheet material product which is for use for wiping and/or drying, and which is such that: (i) the absorbent sheet material product is made of paper; (ii) the absorbent sheet material product comprises a plurality of microcapsules; (iii) the microcapsules contain at least one healthcare material; and (iv) the microcapsules have been applied to the paper by rotary spraying from the rotary sprayer.

2. An absorbent sheet material product according to claim 1 in which the healthcare material is an antibacterial agent and/or an antimicrobial agent and/or an antiviral agent.

3. An absorbent sheet material according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the microcapsules are present as a layer on at least one surface of the paper.

4. An absorbent sheet material product according to any one of the preceding claims and including microcapsules containing at least one skincare material.

5. An absorbent sheet material product according to claim 4 in which the skincare material is a skin softener or a skin moisturiser.

6. An absorbent sheet material product according to claim 4 or claim 5 in which the microcapsules containing the skincare material are separate from the microcapsules containing the healthcare material.

7. An absorbent sheet material product according to claim 4 or claim 5 in which the microcapsules containing the skincare material are the same as the microcapsules containing the healthcare material.

8. An absorbent sheet material product according to any one of the preceding claims and in the form of a paper towel or toilet paper.

9. A process for the production of an absorbent sheet material product which is for use for wiping and/or drying, and which process comprises: (i) producing the absorbent sheet material product from paper; (ii) providing a plurality of microcapsules that contain at least one healthcare product; and (iii) applying the microcapsules to the paper by rotary spraying from a rotary sprayer.

10. A process according to claim 9 in which the healthcare material is an antibacterial agent and/or an antimicrobial agent and/or an antiviral agent.

11. A process according to claim 9 or claim 10 in which the microcapsules are provided as a layer on at least one surface of the paper.

12. A process according to any one of claims 9-11 and including providing microcapsules containing at least one skincare material.

13. A process according to claim 12 in which the skincare material is a skin softener or a skin moisturiser.

14. A process according to any one of claims 9 - 13 in which the microcapsules containing the skincare material are separate from the microcapsules containing the healthcare material.

15. A process according to any one of claims 9 - 13 in which the microcapsules containing the skincare material are the same as the microcapsules containing the healthcare material.

16. A process according to any one of claims 9 - 15 in which the produced absorbent sheet material product is in the form of a paper towel or toilet paper.