Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080208156 | Disposable absorbent article having deployable belt ears - A simple disposable absorbent article including a chassis and an absorbent assembly. The chassis includes laterally opposing side flaps formed by laterally inwardly disposed portions of the chassis and deployable belt ears. Each belt ear is held laterally inwardly disposed until being released and deployed laterally outward so as to project laterally outward beyond the adjacent side flap. Fastening elements may be disposed on at least two of the belt ears, the fastening elements being adapted for fastening portions of the article together to encircle a waist and legs of a wearer. The chassis may be extensible. The absorbent assembly may be attached in a cruciform pattern to the chassis to allow portions of the chassis underlying the absorbent assembly and lying outside the cruciform attachment pattern to extend laterally. | 08-28-2008 |
20090094941 | Method for Bifolding an Article and Article Made Thereby - A method is provided for bifolding articles on a high speed production line on which the articles are moved along a predetermined path. The method includes the use of a vacuum conveyor assembly to engage the leading end portion of an article and transport it in the machine direction, thereby potentially reducing the occurrence of undesirable misalignment of the article end edges during a bifolding process. | 04-16-2009 |
20090098995 | System for Bifolding an Absorbent Article - A system is provided for bifolding disposable absorbent articles on a high speed production line on which the disposable absorbent articles are moved along a predetermined path. The system includes the use of one or more vacuum conveyor assemblies to engage and transfer the leading end portion of the article from the surface of a peel-roll to a folding drum, thereby potentially reducing the occurrence of undesirable misalignment between opposing edges of an article during a bifolding process. | 04-16-2009 |
20110039678 | METHOD FOR BIFOLDING AN ARTICLE AND ARTICLE MADE THEREBY - A method is provided for bifolding articles on a high speed production line on which the articles are moved along a predetermined path. The method includes the use of a vacuum conveyor assembly to engage the leading end portion of an article and transport it in the machine direction, thereby potentially reducing the occurrence of undesirable misalignment of the article end edges during a bifolding process. | 02-17-2011 |
20110173796 | Refastenable Absorbent Article - An absorbent article is provided that comprises a front waist region, a back waist region, a crotch region disposed between the front waist region and the back waist region, a front waist end edge, a back waist end edge, a longitudinal axis extending from a mid-point of the front waist end edge to a mid-point of the back waist end edge, a first longitudinally extending side edge, a second longitudinally extending side edge, an exterior surface, an interior surface, a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet. A portion of the front waist region and a portion of the back waist region are joined in a surface to surface relationship to form a pant comprising a first permanent side edge seam and a laterally opposed second permanent side edge seam. The first and second permanent side edge seams define an initial waist opening circumference and a pair of leg openings. The absorbent article comprises a first fastening component comprising a first fastening surface and a first attachment surface. The first attachment surface is disposed on the interior surface or the exterior surface of the absorbent article in the front waist region. The absorbent article comprises a second fastening component comprising a second fastening surface. The second fastening component is disposed on or forms a portion of the same surface of the absorbent article on which the first attachment surface is disposed. The initial waist opening circumference formed by the first and second permanent side edge seams is configured to be opened. The first fastening surface and the second fastening surface are configured to be refastenably engaged and separated with each other. | 07-21-2011 |
20110174432 | Refastenable Absorbent Article - An absorbent article is provided that comprises a front waist region, a back waist region, a crotch region disposed between the front waist region and the back waist region, a front waist end edge, a back waist end edge, a longitudinal axis extending from a mid-point of the front waist end edge to a mid-point of the back waist end edge, a first longitudinally extending side edge, a second longitudinally extending side edge, an exterior surface, an interior surface, a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the backsheet and the topsheet. A portion of the front waist region and a portion of the back waist region are joined in a surface to surface relationship to form a pant comprising a first permanent side edge seam and a laterally opposed second permanent side edge seam. The first and second permanent side edge seams define an initial waist opening circumference and a pair of leg openings. The absorbent article comprises a first fastening component comprising a first fastening surface and a first attachment surface. The first attachment surface is disposed on the interior surface or the exterior surface of the absorbent article in the front waist region. The absorbent article comprises a second fastening component comprising a second fastening surface. The second fastening component is disposed on or forms a portion of the same surface of the absorbent article on which the first attachment surface is disposed. The initial waist opening circumference formed by the first and second permanent side edge seams is configured to be opened. The first fastening surface and the second fastening surface are configured to be refastenably engaged and separated with each other. | 07-21-2011 |
20110178490 | Refastenable Absorbent Article - Absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, incontinent briefs, diaper holders, training pants and the like, having elastomeric side panels and a fastening system that provides the user with different options as to how the absorbent article may be fitted to and removed from the wearer. The absorbent articles allow the wearer to choose between conventional and pull-on diaper configurations, or combinations thereof, and properly and comfortably fit a large range of wearer sizes. Further, the absorbent articles can be pulled on and/or off as a pant. | 07-21-2011 |
20110245060 | System for Bifolding an Absorbent Article - A system is provided for bifolding disposable absorbent articles on a high speed production line on which the disposable absorbent articles are moved along a predetermined path. The system includes the use of one or more vacuum conveyor assemblies to engage and transfer the leading end portion of the article from the surface of a peel-roll to a folding drum. Thereby potentially reducing the occurrence of undesirable misalignment between opposing edges of an article during a bifolding process. | 10-06-2011 |
20110251040 | Apparatuses and Methods for Folding an Absorbent Article - Aspects of the present disclosure involve methods and apparatuses for folding absorbent articles. | 10-13-2011 |
20120012439 | Method and Apparatus for Transferring Articles of Different Sizes - Method and apparatus for transferring articles from a first carrier moving at a first speed to a carrier moving at a second speed. The apparatus may include a first transfer surface driven by a first motor and second transfer surface driven by a second motor. The first and second transfer surfaces receive and transfer different portions of an article at different speeds such that a desired amount of spacing can be provided between discrete articles in a process independent of the size of the article. | 01-19-2012 |
20120015790 | Apparatus and Method for Folding Articles - An apparatus for folding articles advancing in a machine direction including a rotatable roll having a roll surface, at least one protrusion that defines an outermost surface of the roll and at least one pocket that defines an innermost surface of the roll. The apparatus also includes a peel assembly and a folding assembly. The peel assembly and/or folding assembly may be configured as one or more movable heads for receiving an article or article portion from a first carrier at a first speed and transferring the article to a second carrier travelling at a second speed. | 01-19-2012 |
20120015791 | Apparatus and Method for Folding Article - An apparatus for folding articles advancing in a machine direction including a rotatable roll having a roll surface, at least one protrusion that defines an outermost surface of the roll and at least one pocket that defines an innermost surface of the roll. The apparatus also includes a first and second vacuum conveyor assembly, each comprising two vacuum conveyors. The roll and the vacuum conveyor assemblies are cooperatively configured to fold an article. | 01-19-2012 |
20120015792 | Method and Apparatus for Transporting and Folding Articles - An apparatus for folding articles advancing in a machine direction including a rotatable roll having a roll surface, at least one protrusion that defines an outermost surface of the roll and at least one pocket that defines an innermost surface of the roll. The apparatus also includes a first and second vacuum conveyor assembly, each comprising two vacuum conveyors. The roll and the vacuum conveyor assemblies are cooperatively configured to fold an article. A method for folding articles by accelerating a portion of the article to create slack in the article, as may be practiced using an apparatus as described. | 01-19-2012 |
20120061015 | Method of Making Prefastened Refastenable Disposable Absorbent Articles - Aspects of the methods according to the present disclosure relate to the fabrication of refastenable pant diapers wherein discrete chassis are advanced in a machine direction such that the lateral axis is parallel with the machine direction. First side panels are then refastenably connected with the first waist region, and second side panels are permanently connected the second waist regions of the discrete chassis. The methods disclosed herein connect chassis with discrete lengths of side panel material and/or connection zone material, and forms a continuous web of articles formed by intermittently spaced chassis and intermittently spaced side panels bridging the gap between the intermittently spaced chassis. The chassis are then folded in the cross direction parallel to a lateral centerline and the first and second side panels are subsequently bonded together. The article is then subjected to knife cut adjacent the bonded regions to create discrete, pre-fastened refastenable pant diapers. | 03-15-2012 |
20120061016 | Method of Making Prefastened Refastenable Disposable Absorbent Articles - The present disclosure relates to methods for manufacturing absorbent articles, and in particular, methods for making pre-fastened refastenable pant diapers. Aspects of the methods according to the present disclosure relate to the fabrication of refastenable pant diapers wherein discrete chassis are advanced in a machine direction such that the lateral axis is parallel with the machine direction. First side panels are then refastenably connected with the first waist region, and second side panels are permanently connected the second waist regions of the discrete chassis. The chassis are connected with discrete lengths of side panel material and/or connection zone material. The chassis are then folded, and the first and second side panels are subsequently bonded together. The article is then subjected to knife cut at or adjacent the bonded regions to create discrete, pre-fastened refastenable pant diapers. | 03-15-2012 |
20120157281 | Method and Apparatus for Assembling Disposable Absorbent Articles - A method of manufacturing an absorbent article in a diaper manufacturing machine, the method includes providing a chassis, folding the chassis along one or more axes, providing two side panels, aligning the side panels with the chassis, and attaching the side panels to the chassis along four seams. The method may include forming the four seams substantially simultaneously. | 06-21-2012 |
20120157283 | METHOD FOR TURNING A PLIABLE MEMBER OF AN ARTICLE MOVING ALONG A MACHINE DIRECTION - A method for turning a pliable member extending laterally from a precursor structure is disclosed. The method may include conveying the precursor structure in a machine direction on a conveyor at a conveyance speed, receiving at least a portion of the pliable member onto an operative twisting moving surface defined by a twisted moving belt situated alongside the conveyor, retaining the portion of the pliable member in contact with the operative twisting moving surface, and driving the twisted moving belt at a speed coordinated with the conveyance speed. | 06-21-2012 |
20120157287 | APPARATUS FOR TURNING A PLIABLE MEMBER OF AN ARTICLE MOVING ALONG A MACHINE DIRECTION - An apparatus for turning a pliable member extending from an article moving along a machine direction is disclosed. The apparatus may include a conveyor system adapted to convey the article along the machine direction, and a member turning system situated alongside the conveyor system in a position to contact the pliable member. The member turning system may include first and second pulleys at first and second locations alongside the conveyor system and having axes of rotation transverse to the machine direction, and a flexible belt engaged about the first and second pulleys in a twisted configuration. The flexible belt may define an operative twisting moving surface between the first and second pulleys that engages the pliable member and turns it as the article moves along the machine direction. | 06-21-2012 |
20120302418 | System For Bifolding An Absorbent Article - A system is provided for bifolding disposable absorbent articles on a high speed production line on which the disposable absorbent articles are moved along a predetermined path. The system includes the use of one or more vacuum conveyor assemblies to engage and transfer the leading end portion of the article from the surface of a peel-roll to a folding drum. Thereby potentially reducing the occurrence of undesirable misalignment between opposing edges of an article during a bifolding process. | 11-29-2012 |
20120318641 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING ARTICLES OF DIFFERENT SIZES - Method and apparatus for transferring articles from a first carrier moving at a first speed to a carrier moving at a second speed. The apparatus may include a first transfer surface driven by a first motor and second transfer surface driven by a second motor. The first and second transfer surfaces receive and transfer different portions of an article at different speeds such that a desired amount of spacing can be provided between discrete articles in a process independent of the size of the article. | 12-20-2012 |
20130248330 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FOLDING ARTICLES - An apparatus for folding articles advancing in a machine direction including a rotatable roll having a roll surface, at least one protrusion that defines an outermost surface of the roll and at least one pocket that defines an innermost surface of the roll. The apparatus also includes a first and second vacuum conveyor assembly, each comprising two vacuum conveyors. The roll and the vacuum conveyor assemblies are cooperatively configured to fold an article. | 09-26-2013 |
20140339046 | Methods and Apparatuses for Rejecting Defective Absorbent Articles from a Converting Line - The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for rejecting defective absorbent articles from a converting line. At a downstream portion of a converting process, the continuous length of absorbent articles may be subjected to a final knife and cut to create separate and discrete absorbent articles in the form of diapers. From the final knife, the discrete absorbent articles may then advance in a first direction on a first carrier. A pneumatic system may be activated to redirect the leading end portion of a defective absorbent article advancing from the first carrier, while upstream of a second carrier. In turn, the redirected leading end portion of the defective absorbent article is transferred from the first carrier to a third carrier. And the third carrier advances the defective absorbent article with the third carrier along the reject article transport path away from the converting process. | 11-20-2014 |
20140342894 | Methods and Apparatuses for Folding Absorbent Articles - The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for manufacturing absorbent articles. More particularly, the systems and methods for folding absorbent articles advancing in a converting line may be configured with tucker blades that prevent opposing end regions of absorbent articles from colliding directly with each other as the absorbent articles are being folded. | 11-20-2014 |
20140342895 | Methods and Apparatuses for Folding Absorbent Articles - The present disclosure relates systems and methods for folding absorbent articles advancing in a converting line. The folding processes and apparatuses herein may be configured with tucker blades that are configured to maximize the period of time wherein the leading edges of the tucker blades move at maximum speeds during the folding process. | 11-20-2014 |