The invention relates to fasteners comprising a flexible planar backing provided with a fastening element on its upper side and/or on its lower side, wherein the fastener consists of at least one generally Y-shaped one-piece section defined by two opposing arms, which are separated from each other by a recess, and by a third arm joined to the two opposing arms and extending away from said recess, wherein the shape and size of said third arm correspond to the shape and size of said recess.

An absorbent article includes front and rear portions and a fastener for connecting side edges of the front and rear portions. The fastener includes a grasping element attached to an outer surface of the fastener to provide for grasping by the wearer or caregiver. The grasping element may be formed of flexible material and may have a variety of configurations, including a tube, a flange, a tunnel or a pocket.

The present invention is an equipment and a method for handling web materials, in particular for recombining portions as are cut out from an essentially continuous web material machine-directionally offset with this web.

Manufacturing a multiple use absorbent article includes producing an absorbent article having a liquid permeable chassis topsheet, a liquid impermeable chassis backsheet, and a chassis absorbent core sandwiched between the chassis topsheet and the chassis backsheet. The method also includes producing an absorbent insert having an insert topsheet, an insert backsheet, and an insert absorbent core. The method also includes producing a separable line of weakness within or adjacent to the peripheral sealing region, and bonding the insert backsheet to the chassis topsheet, wherein the line of weakness provides for separation of the absorbent insert into a removable portion configured to be removed from the chassis absorbent unit, and a resident portion that remains bonded to the chassis absorbent unit.

The invention relates to a method for producing a multiplicity of disposable incontinence diapers (2) having a diaper main part (4) and, joined thereto, front and rear diaper side parts (22, 20), said method having the following method steps: feeding and conveying of an endless diaper main-part web (50); feeding of an endless diaper side-part web (21) to the separation and application station (24); singulating the disposable incontinence diapers (2) by separating the diaper main-part web (50) transversely relative to the first longitudinal direction (18), the curved edges of the longitudinal portions (46a, 46b), after separation from the diaper side-part web (21), being contoured in such a way that, after the first and second longitudinal portions (46a, 46b) have been secured to the first and second regions (56a, 56b) of the diaper main-part web, each rear diaper side part (20) has a lower edge (65) which has a convex portion, and each front diaper side part (22) has an upper edge (66) which has a concave portion.

An absorbent article has a chassis having an outer cover at least in part defining the outer surface of the article, a pair of ears extending transversely outward from opposite sides of the chassis, and a fastening system comprising a primary fastening system and a secondary fastening system. The secondary fastening system includes a secondary second fastening component located on each of the ears and a corresponding secondary first fastening component located on the outer surface of the article at a first waist portion. A ΔE value calculated using the Color Contrast Test between the secondary first fastening components uncovered by the ears and the outer cover being greater than 20.

A method for making absorbent sanitary articles including the steps of preparing at least a first continuous web and a second continuous web of material, the first having two longitudinal edges parallel to each other, cutting the first web in such a way as to divide it into a plurality of portions positioned one after the other, rotation and/or translation of at least part of the portions so as to associate them in pairs to define a plurality of pairs of portions and connecting the portions to the second web. The cutting step is performed in such a way as to form, on the first web, an alternating succession of first, second, third and fourth portions, having respective orientations different from each other and each equipped with a first and a second side parallel with each other, defining part of the longitudinal edges of the first web.

A method for folding a fastener during a high speed manufacturing process and maintaining the fastener in a folded configuration throughout the high speed manufacturing process. The method includes obtaining an article that has a foldable fastener and moving the article in the machine direction during the high speed manufacturing process. The foldable fastener has first and second opposing surfaces, a web and at least one engaging member joined to the web. The method includes applying a frangible bonding agent to a first portion of the first surface of the fastening system; folding the fastening system such that the frangible bonding agent contacts a second portion of the first surface of the fastening system; and allowing the frangible bonding agent to cool at a temperature of less than 60° C.

Closure elements that include elastic and non-elastic regions are disclosed as well as absorbent articles that include closure elements.

A device for forming and applying accessory elements to a continuous band of absorbent material, includes a unit for feeding a continuous strip to a conveyor roller, a unit for cutting the strip in a continuous and alternating succession of first and second pieces, a first and a second roller rotating about respective axes parallel to the first direction, each including a movement device acting along a circumferential direction around the respective axis and configured for imparting to each unit a respective motion between positions for picking up and releasing the pieces. A unit for applying a pair of pieces to the band is equipped with a separating unit equipped with a spacer device for moving first and/or second carriages along a separating direction between closed and far axial positions, wherein the spacer device includes a plurality of linear actuators each associated with a respective first carriage.