An absorbent article having longitudinal cuffs of improved structure is disclosed. The improved cuffs may be elasticized by a plurality of elastic strands that are substantially greater in number, closer in spacing, lower in pre-strain, and lower in decitex, or any combination of these, as compared with those in conventional articles. This combination of features results in ruffles or gathers of cuff material joined to the elastic strands that are substantially greater in machine-direction frequency and substantially lesser in z-direction amplitude, than those in conventional articles. As a result, the cuff structure lies more closely and evenly against the wearer's skin, has an improved, more cloth-like appearance, provides improved gasketing, and provides improved wearer comfort, as compared with cuff structures in conventional articles. A method for manufacturing articles with such cuff structures, utilizing a warp beam as a supply mechanism, is also disclosed.

A method for welding profiled elements in plastic material, includes the steps of: preparing two profiled elements, arranged with respective zones to be facing one another; making a groove in correspondence to at least one zone, by a removal operation on a peripheral edge of at least one profiled element; heating the zones to be welded; coupling the zones to be welded to one another, pressing the profiled elements one against the other so as to keep the zones to be welded in reciprocal contact. The coupling step includes: melting the zones to be welded into one another in order to define a welding bead; making a containing compartment defined by the groove, the welding bead being made internally of the containing compartment; and arranging a containing presser in correspondence to the containing compartment for preventing exit of the welding bead from the compartment itself.

A method for welding profiled elements in plastic material includes: preparing two profiled elements, arranged with respective weld zones facing one another; making a groove corresponding to at least one weld zone of the profiled elements, the grooving performed by a removal operation on a peripheral edge of at least one profiled element; heating the weld zones; coupling the zones to be welded to one another, pressing the profiled elements together to keep the zones to be welded in reciprocal contact. The coupling step includes: a sub-step of melting the zones to be welded into one another in order to define a welding bead; a sub-step of making a containing compartment defined by the groove, the welding bead being made internally of the containing compartment; and the step of arranging a containing presser in correspondence to the containing compartment for preventing exit of the welding bead from the compartment itself.

The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles comprising belts comprising one or more pluralities of tightly spaced (less than 4 mm, less than 3 mm, less than 2 mm, and less than 1 mm) and/or low decitex (less than 300, less than 200, less than 100 dtex) and/or low strain (less than 300%, less than 200%, less than 100%) elastics to deliver low pressure less than 1 psi (according to the conditions defined by the Pressure-Under-Strand Test in the Method below) under the elastics, while providing adequate modulus of (between about 2 gf/mm and 15 gf/mm), resulting in a Product Hip-to-Waist Silhouette from about 0.8 to about 1.1 and a Product Waist-to-Crotch Silhouette from about 0.8 to about 2.0 to provide for the advantages described above.

The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles comprising belts comprising one or more pluralities of tightly spaced (less than 4 mm, less than 3 mm, less than 2 mm, and less than 1 mm) and/or low decitex (less than 300, less than 200, less than 100 dtex) and/or low strain (less than 300%, less than 200%, less than 100%) elastics to deliver low pressure less than 1 psi (according to the conditions defined by the Pressure-Under-Strand Test in the Method below) under the elastics, while providing adequate Section-Modulus of (between about 2 gf/mm and 15 gf/mm), resulting in a Product Length-to-Waist Silhouette that is within from about 0.3 to about 0.3 of the Target Body Length-to-Waist Silhouette to make the article conform better to the body of the wearer at a lower Pressure-Under-Strand, even with a loaded core (holding at least 50 mls of liquid), to provide for the advantages described above.

The present disclosure relates to one or a combination of an absorbent article's chassis, inner leg cuffs, outer leg cuffs, ear panels, side panels, waistbands, and belts that may comprise one or more pluralities of tightly spaced and/or low Average-Dtex and/or low Average-Pre-Strain elastics to deliver low Pressure Under Strand, while providing adequate Section-Modulus to make the article easy to apply and to comfortably maintain the article in place on the wearer, even with a loaded core, to provide for the advantages described above. Further, the elastomeric laminates of the present disclosure outperform existing laminates currently used for disposable absorbent articles as it relates to one or more key parameters (including Percent Contact Area, 2-98% Height Value, Pressure-Under-Strand, Air Permeability, Water Vapor Transmission Rate, Caliper, Caliper Retention Value, Cantilever Bending, Open Area, Section-Modulus, Rugosity Wavelength, Rugosity Frequency, Graphic Distortion Ratio).

A device for welding profiled elements in plastic material includes: a base frame supporting retaining members of respective profiled elements, to engage the profiled elements with corresponding zones to be welded facing one another; a heater for heating the weld zones of the profiled elements; a unit to move the retaining members, to shift the profiled elements between a first reciprocal away direction and a second reciprocal closer direction wherein the zones to be welded are coupled together; and a removal unit utilizing milling The removal unit includes: a supporting frame positioned in correspondence to the retaining members; at least one machining tool; a motor part associated with the tool; and a movement member of the tool, to move it between a first idle condition and a second working condition wherein it is placed between the profiled elements.

A method for welding profiled elements in plastic material includes: preparing two profiled elements, arranged with respective weld zones facing one another; making a groove corresponding to at least one weld zone of the profiled elements, the grooving performed by a removal operation on a peripheral edge of at least one profiled element; heating the weld zones; coupling the zones to be welded to one another, pressing the profiled elements together to keep the zones to be welded in reciprocal contact. The coupling step includes: a sub-step of melting the zones to be welded into one another in order to define a welding bead; a sub-step of making a containing compartment defined by the groove, the welding bead being made internally of the containing compartment; and the step of arranging a containing presser in correspondence to the containing compartment for preventing exit of the welding bead from the compartment itself.

A method and apparatus for mechanically deforming a substrate assembly. The substrate assembly may advance toward a bonder apparatus. The bonder apparatus may rotate about an axis of rotation. The bonder apparatus may include a plurality of manifolds positioned about the axis of rotation. The substrate assembly may be advanced onto the bonder apparatus such that the substrate assembly is disposed on the plurality of manifolds. Fluid may be passed to the manifolds onto which the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion of the substrate assembly are disposed. The manifolds may heat the fluid and the heated fluid may be released onto the trailing edge portion and the leading edge portion of the substrate assembly. The heated portion of the substrate assembly may then be bonded forming a seam.

A substrate assembly is mechanically deformed to form various products. In part, the substrate assembly may advance toward a bonder apparatus. The bonder apparatus rotates about a longitudinal axis and includes a plurality of manifolds. The plurality of manifolds allow for substrate assemblies including different process product pitches to be processed on a single bonder apparatus.