A process for manufacturing a disposable absorbent article is disclosed. The method includes providing a first layer having a first surface and an opposing second surface; color printing the first layer on at least one of the first or second surface; providing a second layer having a first and an opposing second surface; providing a topsheet, an absorbent core, and a backsheet; and placing the first layer and second layer between a topsheet and an absorbent core such that the color printing is visible through a wearer-facing surface of the disposable absorbent article.

In a method for making absorbent sanitary articles, each absorbent article includes a pair of side tabs fed from a single continuous tape divided by oblique cuts into first and second series of side tabs oriented in opposite directions. The side tabs of the first and second series are then fed along a first path and along a second path, respectively and are first rotated by 180 and then combined and transferred separately along a third, common path along which each tab of the first series has a respective tab of the second series placed alongside it to form a pair of side tabs. At least one of the side tabs of each pair is moved sideways such that each pair of side tabs is applied to a continuous web of material at a predetermined spacing.

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 process for manufacturing a disposable absorbent article is disclosed. The method includes providing a first nonwoven layer with bi-component fibers and having a first surface and an opposing second surface; color printing the first nonwoven layer on at least one of the first or second surface; providing a second nonwoven layer with bi-component fibers and a first and an opposing second surface; joining the first and the second nonwoven layers together to form a laminate structure, wherein the color printing faces the second nonwoven layer; providing a topsheet, an absorbent core, and a backsheet; and placing the laminate between a topsheet and an absorbent core such that the color printing is visible through the topsheet.

Apparatus for attaching discrete segments together to form a continuous web include a first segment transfer device adapted to receive a first continuous web at a first pick-up location and to release a first discrete segment cut from the first web at an application location. The first segment transfer device has a first speed profile. A second segment transfer device is adapted to receive a second continuous web at a second pick-up location and to release a second discrete segment cut from the second web at the application location such that the second discrete segment is attached to the first discrete segment. The second segment transfer device has a second speed profile that is different than the first speed profile.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method of applying a single SAP (Super Adsorbent Polymer) type granules or multiple SAP types at high speed in a continuous or intermittent 2-dimesional or 3-dimensional profile via volumetric or gravimetric metering onto a receiving system such as a carrier layer and/or into an air stream for use in an absorbent article, particularly diapers for babies or adults, training pants, pull-up diapers (diaper pants), sanitary napkins, panty liners or the like. These articles typically comprise of a carrier layer with the SAP particles and/or a mixed SAP and fiber core together with further layers, making up the complete article.

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.

The present disclosure relates to folding methods and apparatuses that operate to fold an advancing substrate in the cross direction along a central region to bring a second end region into a facing relationship with a first end region. In some embodiments, the second end region of the advancing substrate is folded around a folding axis 180 to bring the second end region into a facing relationship with the first end region. The folding axis may also be defined by an arc extending in the machine direction MD, wherein the second end region of the advancing substrate is helically folded toward the inside of the arc. A folding apparatus including a curved or arc-shaped folding axis may also be configured such the first and second web paths have substantially equal lengths.

A device for cutting a web of material comprises movement means for moving a web of material to be cut, defining a feed path for the web at least partly rotatable about a central axis and equipped with at least one conveyor mounted around the central axis, at least one cutting head equipped with a laser source and an optical system configured to direct the laser beam towards a cutting zone, where the optical system of the cutting head comprises at least one directing member located inside the conveyor to direct the laser beam away from the central axis towards the cutting zone.

Apparatus for shaping a segment of material includes a forming member having a curved sidewall shaped complementary to a desired shape of the segment of material, and a conforming member having an applicator side and an engagement side disposed for engagement with the curved sidewall of the forming member. The conforming member includes a plurality of attachment regions disposed on the applicator side. Each attachment region is adapted to hold the segment of material on the conforming member. Engagement of the conforming member with the forming member causes the attachment regions to move from a first shape profile to a second shape profile, the second shape profile being the desired shape of the segment of material.