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 machine for making absorbent sanitary articles includes a device for feeding a continuous strip to a conveyor roller and to a device for cutting the strip into first and second pieces. A unit forms and applies at least a pair of first and second pieces, aligned and spaced by a distance (d), for each absorbent article A first and a second roller each comprising a plurality of units pick up and successively release of first and the second pieces. A plurality of concentric units rotating, independently of each other, about a shared axis of rotation, each carries at least one unit. A motor defines a respective law of motion for each of the units and a mechanism translates the units, between a position for picking up the pieces, at the conveyor roller, and a position for releasing the pieces, at the forming and applying unit.

A method of forming a web includes directing a first discrete segment at a first speed to a first pick-up location. The first discrete segment is transferred from the first pick-up location to an application location using a first segment transfer device. A second discrete segment is directed to at a second speed to a second pick-up location. The second discrete segment is transferred from the second pick-up location to the application location using a second segment transfer device. The first and second discrete segments are attached to each other at the application location to form a web.

A method for making absorbent sanitary articles, each comprising a first discrete element and a second discrete element, comprises: feeding a succession of first discrete elements along a first feed path; feeding a succession of second discrete elements along a second feed path; applying each first discrete element of the succession of first discrete elements on a support web having a longitudinal axis and movable in a feed direction along a third feed path, the first discrete elements being applied on the support web at a first applicator station; applying each second discrete element of the succession of second discrete elements on the support web at a second applicator station located downstream of the first applicator station in the feed direction of the support web; the method comprises adjusting a length of the third feed path between the first applicator station and the second applicator station, so that each second discrete element is applied on the support web at a predefined position relative to a respective first discrete element.

A process and apparatus for depositing particulate material in a predetermined pattern onto a moving surface is disclosed. A particulate material may be fed under gravity from a hopper to a discharge zone containing a feed opening. A gas may be supplied, by a gas supply assembly, under pressure to the bulk of particulate material within the hopper discharge zone. The particulate material may be transferred through the feed opening to the surface of a transfer device, which contains a pattern of particulate-receiving recesses. The transfer device may rotate to a deposition zone and transfer the particulate material to a carrier layer.

Provided is a method for feeding a granular powder from a granular powder feeding hopper onto an upper surface of a sheet material. A feeding passage is disposed so as to extend downward from an outlet of the granular powder feeding hopper so that the lower end of the feeding passage faces the upper surface of the sheet material moving beneath the feeding passage. The feeding passage is opened and closed by the open-close means so that the granular powder is intermittently fed from the granular powder feeding hopper onto the sheet material.

The present invention is method for forming a sandwich structure having a pattern of particulate material enveloped between a carrier material and a cover material. The method allows accurate forming of pre-determined pattern at high production speed. Such a method is particularly useful in the manufacture of disposable absorbent articles, such as baby diapers.

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 running 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).

The invention pertains to an absorbent article (10) comprising: a liquid pervious topsheet (14) consisting essentially of natural fibers, a liquid impervious backsheet (16) comprising a plastic material, an absorbent core (12) arranged between said topsheet (14) and backsheet (16) comprising absorbent material, wherein the topsheet (14) and the backsheet (16) are attached via attachment means to one another in a bonding region (13), said bonding region (13) being positioned along the periphery of the absorbent article (10). According to the present disclosure, said bonding region (13) is substantially free of adhesive.

The present invention relates to a method of applying absorbent gelling material (AGM) granules by indirect printing onto an carrier layer for use in an absorbent article, particularly diaper for babies or adults, training pants, pull-up diapers (diaper pants), sanitary napkins, panty liners or the like. These articles typically comprise the carrier layer with the AGM particles together with further layers, making up the complete article.