A process for forming an absorbent sanitary article of the type including a pad having a direction of main extension, including a step of at least one absorbent core of the absorbent article by layering a corresponding composite web, a step of preparing a succession of hollows in the composite web obtained by removing for each hollow a corresponding portion of the composite web and a step of applying the portions removed on the composite web.

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.

A method for manufacturing a sheet-like member, associated with an absorbent article, using a continuous sheet. The method includes a supplying step, a processing step, and a detecting step. In the supplying step, the continuous sheet is supplied by transferring the continuous sheet to a processing section by transporting the continuous sheet in a direction of transport. The processing step is performed at a predetermined position in the direction of transport, and a portion of the continuous sheet which is to be the absorbent article is processed by the processing section at an interval in the direction of transport. In the detecting step, a trace of the processing left on the continuous sheet is detected. In the supplying step, a direction-of-transport tension value of the continuous sheet at a time of transferring the continuous sheet to the processing section is adjusted based on the detection result.

Apparatus (1) and method for producing absorbent structures with absorbent layers with channel(s) without absorbent material, using a first moving endless surface (20) with specific raised strip(s) (25) and a second moving endless surface (30) with specific mating strip(s) (31).

A method and a machine for producing absorbent sanitary articles comprising a central body and pairs of front and rear side panels. The side panels are obtained from two continuous web materials on which a series of first transverse cuts are carried out, alternating with a series of second transverse cuts, defining on each of said web materials a first and a second succession of front and rear side panels in which each of the front panels is preceded and followed by one of the rear panels, and each of the rear panels is preceded and followed by one of the front panels, and wherein the proximal edge of each of the rear panels is aligned with the distal edge of each of the front panels and the distal edge of each of the rear panels is aligned with the proximal edge of each of the front panels.

Extensible nonwoven fabrics having improved elongation, extensibility, abrasion resistance and toughness. In particular, embodiments of the invention are directed to extensible spunbond fabrics comprising a polymeric blend of a metallocene catalyzed polypropylene, polyethylene, and a third polymer component.

A feeding unit for feeding a component of a hygiene absorbent article; the feeding unit has: at least one sucking-holding head, which is designed to receive and hold the component; a conveyor to cyclically move the holding head along an annular application path; an input station in which the holding head receives a corresponding component which is connectedwithout gapsto a continuous web; a cutting station provided with a cutting device, which cuts the continuous web crosswise; and an output station in which the holding head releases the component; the conveyor has: an annular guide; a slide which supports the holding head and is coupled to the guide so as to freely slide along the guide itself; and a linear electric motor, which has a stator, which is arranged in a fixed position along the guide and a mobile slider which is electro-magnetically coupled to the stator so as to receive, from the stator, a driving force and is rigidly connected to the slide.

Apparatus and method for producing absorbent structures with absorbent layers with channel(s) without absorbent material, using a first moving endless surface with specific raised strip(s) and a second moving endless surface with specific mating strip(s).

An absorbent article comprising an absorbent core sandwiched between a liquid permeable topsheet and a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an acquisition distribution layer positioned between said topsheet and said absorbent core, wherein the absorbent core comprises absorbent material selected from the group consisting of cellulose fibers, superabsorbent polymers and combinations thereof, wherein said absorbent core comprises at least one core wrap substrate enclosing said absorbent material, and wherein a top layer of said core wrap is adhered to a bottom layer of said core wrap to form one or more channels substantially free of said absorbent material, wherein said channels have a length extending along a longitudinal axis and the absorbent core has a length extending along said longitudinal axis and wherein the length of said channels is from 10% to 95% of the length of said absorbent core and wherein said channels each follow a substantially continuous path such as from a first end of a channel to a second end of the same channel wherein the acquisition distribution layer comprises a spunbond and/or carded nonwoven layer comprising synthetic fibers, wherein said synthetic fibers are comprised at a level of greater than 80% wt by weight of said acquisition distribution layer, and wherein said acquisition distribution layer has a basis weight of from 10 to 50 g/m.sup.2.

Extensible nonwoven fabrics having improved elongation, extensibility, abrasion resistance and toughness. In particular, embodiments of the invention are directed to extensible spunbond fabrics comprising a polymeric blend of a metallocene catalyzed polypropylene, polyethylene, and a third polymer component.