Abstract:
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for winding and unwinding web materials, the web materials having a plurality of narrow lanes which form a spool (12). In a first aspect of the invention each lane of web material (20) is defined by a width measured in the axial direction of the spool and between a minimum and a maximum radial height measured radially from a central axis of the spool. Each lane (30) is wound, in turn, with web material (20) up to the maximum radial height, the web material (20) is folded by a first (41), second (42), third (43) and fourth (44) folds so that the web material (20) is realigned parallel to the adjacent lane and wound to form the adjacent lane.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an apparatus for making an absorbent structure for an absorbent article, the apparatus comprising: a printing roll comprising a plurality of cavities in the outer surface of the printing roll, each cavity having cavity sides which are formed by the walls of the cavity within the outer surface of the printing roll and a cavity base, and each cavity has a volume within the outer surface of the printing roll defined by the cavity sides and the cavity base, and wherein the plurality of cavities comprises cavities having different volume.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for sensing distortions in patterns of reflected light to create profiles representing surface topographies of absorbent structures during the manufacture of absorbent articles. Inspection systems may include sensors arranged adjacent an advancing absorbent structure on a converting line. In turn, a controller may monitor and affect various operations on the converting line. The inspection systems herein may also include a radiation source that illuminates a surface of an absorbent structure with a predetermined pattern of light extending in the cross direction CD. The sensor senses distortions in patterns of light reflected from the illuminated surface of the absorbent structure and triangulates changes in elevation of the illuminated surface of the absorbent structure relative to the sensor. Based on the triangulated changes in elevation, the sensor creates a profile representing a surface topography of the illuminated surface of the absorbent structure.
Abstract:
An absorbent article (20) comprising a wearer-facing topsheet (24), a backsheet (26) and an absorbent core (28) disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, characterized in that the absorbent core comprises: a first absorbent layer (1) comprising a first substrate (2), a layer (3) of first superabsorbent polymer particles deposited on the first substrate, and a fibrous layer (4) of thermoplastic adhesive material covering the layer of first superabsorbent polymer particles; a second absorbent layer (5), the second absorbent layer comprising a second substrate (6) and a mixed layer (7) deposited on the second substrate, the mixed layer comprising a mixture of second superabsorbent particles and cellulosic fibers, the first absorbent layer and the second absorbent layer being combined together such that at least a portion of the fibrous layer (4) of thermoplastic adhesive material of the first absorbent layer contacts at least a portion of the mixed layer (7) of the second absorbent layer (5), and wherein the first absorbent layer (1) is placed closer to the topsheet than the second layer (5).
Abstract:
An absorbent article (20) comprising a liquid-permeable topsheet (24), a liquid-impermeable backsheet (25), an absorbent core (28) and a cushion layer (60) between the absorbent core (28) and the backsheet (25). The cushion layer comprises at least two sub-layers (61, 62, 63..). The sub-layers advantageously have different width or a bonded to each other by one or more longitudinally-extending attachment area (70).
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a process for depositing particulate material in a predetermined pattern onto a moving surface comprising the steps of: feeding the particulate material under gravity from a hopper to a discharge zone containing an feed opening; supplying a gas under pressure to the bulk of particulate material within the hopper discharge zone; transferring the particulate material through the feed opening to the surface of a transfer device, wherein the outer surface of the transfer device contains a pattern of particulate-receiving recesses; rotating the transfer device to a deposition zone and transferring the particulate material to a carrier layer. The present invention further relates to an apparatus comprising: a hopper comprising a discharge zone, the discharge zone comprising a feed opening, and wherein the discharge zone further comprises a gas supply assembly to supply gas under pressure into particulate material within the discharge zone; a transfer device adjacent to the feed opening, wherein the outer surface of the transfer device contains a pattern of particulate-receiving recesses.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method of distributing an adhesive from a nozzle (10), the method comprising the steps of: melting the adhesive at a temperature of at least 100°C; transporting the molten adhesive to the nozzle (10), wherein the nozzle (10) comprises upper nozzle assembly, lower nozzle assembly and at least one duct (40) within at least the upper nozzle assembly through which the molten adhesive is transported; wherein the lower nozzle assembly comprises at least one cooling gas duct (50), and passing cooling gas through the cooling gas duct (50) wherein in the temperature of the cooling gas is from -20°C to +50°C. Additionally the present invention relates to method of distributing an adhesive from a nozzle (10), wherein the nozzle (10) comprises an adhesive distribution shim (60), the adhesive distribution shim (60) comprises two sides, and wherein adhesive distribution channels are arranged in both sides of the adhesive distribution shim (60). The present invention further relates to nozzle assembly suitable for use in the methods described above.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for forming and transferring an unbonded fibrous structure to a carrier, the method comprising the steps of: receiving fibrous material on a shell (50) travelling at a first speed through a receiving zone to form a fibrous patch (25); transferring the shell (50) from the receiving zone (23) to an application zone (27); applying the fibrous patch (25) to the carrier (30) travelling at a second speed through the application zone (27); and controlling the speed of the shell by a motor, the motor comprising a stator (103) and at least one mover (60); wherein the shell is driven by at least one mover (60), wherein the mover (60) maintains the shell (50) at the first speed in the receiving zone (23) and the second speed in the application zone (27), and wherein the mover (60) is mounted on a stationary track (100).
Abstract:
A spool comprises a three-dimensional substrate and a core. The three-dimensional substrate comprises a plurality of projections extending outwardly from a plane of the substrate. The spool comprises a first plurality of spirally wound portions and a first plurality of helically wound portions. The substrate is spirally wound around the core to form each spirally wound portion of the first plurality of spirally wound portions. The spirally wound portions of the first plurality of spirally wound portions are located next to each other along a longitudinal axis of the core between a first transversal side edge of the core and a second transversal side edge of the core. The substrate is helically wound around the core along the longitudinal axis of the core to form each helically wound portion. Each helically wound portion extends between two adjacent spirally wound portions of the first plurality of spirally wound portions.
Abstract:
An absorbent core (28) for use in an absorbent article, the absorbent core comprising: a first absorbent layer (1) comprising a first substrate (2), a layer (3) of first superabsorbent polymer particles deposited on the first substrate on a deposition area (8) and a fibrous layer (4) of thermoplastic adhesive material covering the layer of first superabsorbent polymer particles, a second absorbent layer (5) comprising a second substrate (6) and a mixed layer (7) comprising a mixture of second superabsorbent particles and cellulosic fibers deposited on the second substrate. The first and second absorbent layers are combined together such that at least a portion of the fibrous thermoplastic adhesive material of the first absorbent layer contacts at least a portion of the mixed layer of the second absorbent layer.