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.

An absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus has a particle collision surface (224) that extends downward from a cylinder outer surface (211) in between the lowermost part of a supply cylinder (21) and a second sheet conveying roller (41). Some of the particles emitted forward in the rotation direction of the supply cylinder (21) from recessed supply portions (212) that have passed a first cover part (221) collide with the particle collision surface (224), and the colliding particles are guided by the particle collision surface (224) onto a first sheet member (91). This suppresses direct collision of particles emitted from the supply cylinder (21) with a second sheet member (92) on the second sheet conveying roller (41). Scattering of particles that have collided with the second sheet member (92) around the first sheet member (91) and the second sheet member (92) is thus suppressed.

An absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus has a particle collision surface (224) that extends downward from a cylinder outer surface (211) in between the lowermost part of a supply cylinder (21) and a second sheet conveying roller (41). Some of the particles emitted forward in the rotation direction of the supply cylinder (21) from recessed supply portions (212) that have passed a first cover part (221) collide with the particle collision surface (224), and the colliding particles are guided by the particle collision surface (224) onto a first sheet member (91). This suppresses direct collision of particles emitted from the supply cylinder (21) with a second sheet member (92) on the second sheet conveying roller (41). Scattering of particles that have collided with the second sheet member (92) around the first sheet member (91) and the second sheet member (92) is thus suppressed.

An absorbent article can have a topsheet layer, a liquid impermeable layer, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet layer and the liquid impermeable layer. The absorbent article can further include an exudate management layer in fluid communication with the topsheet layer. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer can be positioned on a body facing surface of the topsheet layer. In various embodiments, the exudate management layer can be positioned between the topsheet layer and the absorbent core. The exudate management layer has a first component which defines an opening for direct passage of body exudates into the absorbent core. The exudate management layer has a second component which at least partially overlaps the first component of the exudate management layer and further extends in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article in a direction towards the posterior region of the absorbent article.

An absorbent article comprising an absorbent core sandwiched between a liquid permeable topsheet and a liquid impermeable back-sheet, and an acquisition distribution system 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 material is contained within 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 system is multi-layered and comprises at least one spunbond layer and at least one meltblown layer, and wherein said acquisition distribution system is positioned between said absorbent core and said topsheet such that said spunbond and/or meltblown layers are in direct contact with said absorbent core and said topsheet.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatuses printing and curing energy curable inks printed on substrates. The printing systems may include a printing station, a light source, and a reflective device. During operation, the printing station deposits energy curable ink onto a first surface of the substrate to define a printed region, wherein an amount of the curable ink may penetrate into the substrate from the first surface toward a second surface. The light source directs ultraviolet light onto the first surface of the substrate to define a first illumination zone. The reflective device reflects ultraviolet light traveling from the second surface of the substrate back toward the second surface to define a second illumination zone. The substrate is advanced in a machine direction to advance the energy curable ink through the first illumination zone and the second illumination zone to cure the energy curable ink.

A manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article, the manufacturing apparatus including: an upstream transport mechanism and a downstream transport mechanism that transports a stretchable sheet-like member along a transporting direction, the stretchable sheet-like member continuing along the transporting direction; an extension-ratio adjustment mechanism that is located between the upstream transport mechanism and the downstream transport mechanism, and that adjusts an extension ratio at which the stretchable sheet-like member extends in the transporting direction; and a processing apparatus that performs the certain process to the stretchable sheet-like member that is being transported by the downstream transport mechanism. When the upstream transport mechanism transports a first stretchable sheet-like member in which parts to be the absorbent article are lined up at a first pitch in the transporting direction, the extension-ratio adjustment mechanism adjusts an extension ratio of the first stretchable sheet-like member so that the parts to be the absorbent article are lined up at a predetermined pitch. When the upstream transport mechanism transports a second stretchable sheet-like member in which the parts to be the absorbent article are lined up at a second pitch in the transporting direction, the second pitch being different from the first pitch, the extension-ratio adjustment mechanism adjusts an extension ratio of the second stretchable sheet-like member so that the parts to be the absorbent article are lined up at the predetermined pitch.

A method for making an absorbent article comprising an absorbent core comprising one or more channels, the method comprising the steps of: i. providing a first endless moving surface comprising a plurality of molds, each mold comprising a non-porous insert therein, typically said insert having the inverse shape of said channel(s), wherein the molds are in fluid communication with an under-pressure source except for said insert; ii. feeding a first nonwoven web to said first endless moving surface and over one or more said molds; iii. depositing an absorbent material, comprising cellulose fibers and/or superabsorbent polymer particles, over at least a portion of said nonwoven web; iv. removing said absorbent material from areas of the nonwoven web corresponding to said insert; v. applying a second nonwoven web directly or indirectly over the absorbent material, or folding said first nonwoven web, such to sandwich said absorbent material between upper and lower layers of said nonwoven web(s); vi. joining said upper and lower layers together at least in the areas of the nonwoven web(s) corresponding to the insert to form an absorbent core having one or more channels substantially free of absorbent material; vii. optionally joining an acquisition distribution layer to said absorbent core, typically a skin facing surface of said upper layer; viii. optionally laminating said absorbent core and acquisition distribution layer between a liquid pervious topsheet and a liquid impervious backsheet; wherein step vi. comprises the step of selectively applying a first pressure onto the absorbent core, preferably only, in a central portion thereof and a second pressure, preferably only, along peripheral longitudinal side edges thereof miming opposite and parallel to each other and being outboard of said central portion, said central portion corresponding at least to a region of the core comprising said channel(s), and wherein said first and second pressures are successively applied along a machine direction (MD).

A manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article, the manufacturing apparatus including: an upstream transport mechanism and a downstream transport mechanism that transports a stretchable sheet-like member along a transporting direction, the stretchable sheet-like member continuing along the transporting direction; an extension-ratio adjustment mechanism that is located between the upstream transport mechanism and the downstream transport mechanism, and that adjusts an extension ratio at which the stretchable sheet-like member extends in the transporting direction; and a processing apparatus that performs the certain process to the stretchable sheet-like member that is being transported by the downstream transport mechanism. When the upstream transport mechanism transports a first stretchable sheet-like member in which parts to be the absorbent article are lined up at a first pitch in the transporting direction, the extension-ratio adjustment mechanism adjusts an extension ratio of the first stretchable sheet-like member so that the parts to be the absorbent article are lined up at a predetermined pitch. When the upstream transport mechanism transports a second stretchable sheet-like member in which the parts to be the absorbent article are lined up at a second pitch in the transporting direction, the second pitch being different from the first pitch, the extension-ratio adjustment mechanism adjusts an extension ratio of the second stretchable sheet-like member so that the parts to be the absorbent article are lined up at the predetermined pitch.

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.