A fixing device for fixing an elastic sheet and a low-stretchable sheet via fixing parts while superposing the sheets in a thickness direction includes: a rotating member including protrusions on an outer peripheral surface to form the fixing parts and rotatable along a transport direction; and a sandwiching member arranged at a predetermined position of the rotating member in a rotational direction, and sandwiching the sheets by a surface portion in cooperation with each of the protrusions to form the fixing parts when each of the protrusions passes through the predetermined position, the surface portion being larger than a top surface of each of the protrusions. At a sandwiching position in which the sheets are sandwiched cooperatively by the sandwiching member and the rotating member, the low-stretchable sheet is located between the elastic sheet and the top surface of each of the protrusions of the rotating member.

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.

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.

Provided is a method for producing a granular powder-containing sheet containing a granular powder in separated container rooms between two sheet materials. After the container rooms are formed in a first sheet material, the first sheet material is transported on the circumferential surface of an anvil roller. In the process of transportation, the granular powder that is fed from a granular powder feeding hopper through a feeding passage is received in the container rooms. Thereafter, the container rooms are covered with a second sheet material, and the two sheet materials are joined to each other on the peripheries of the container rooms.

An absorbent article includes an absorbent core having an absorbent material enclosed in a core wrap having a top layer and a bottom layer. The bottom layer of the core wrap comprises a nonwoven comprising synthetic fibers, which has a basis weight from about 6 g/m.sup.2 to about 10 g/m.sup.2 and the nonwoven has a static coefficient of friction as measured in cross-machine direction of no more than 0.40.

A substantially planar absorbent core (28) extending in a transversal direction (x) and a longitudinal direction (y), comprising a core wrap (16, 16) enclosing an absorbent material (60), wherein the absorbent material is substantially free of cellulose fibers and forms a pattern of discrete absorbent material areas. The pattern comprises dot-shaped areas (751) and at least one of transversally-orientated areas (752) or longitudinally-orientated areas (754). The absorbent core may also comprise a pair of channel-forming areas (26).

Pulpless absorbent cores and methods of manufacture are disclosed. A method of forming an absorbent core may comprise moving a forming surface in a machine direction, creating a pressure differential across the forming surface, advancing a base carrier sheet on the forming surface in the machine direction, applying a first adhesive onto the base carrier sheet, and applying a first quantity of particulate material onto the first adhesive at a first cross-machine direction width. The method may further comprise depositing a matrix of material onto the first quantity of particulate material at a second cross-machine direction width, the matrix of material comprising a second quantity of particulate material and a second adhesive, wherein the second cross-machine direction width is smaller than the first cross-machine direction width, and wherein the second quantity of particulate material and the adhesive are pre-mixed prior to deposition onto the first quantity of particulate material.

A machine for making sanitary articles including an impermeable outer layer and an absorbent pad superposed thereon, the machine including a feed line feeding the outer web and a unit forming the absorbent pad. The forming unit includes a first feeder feeding a first web along an operating direction, a second feeder feeding a second web, a coupling station coupling the first web to the second web, a dosing/depositing station located upstream of the coupling station where a distributed quantity of absorbent material is placed on the first web. The dosing/depositing station includes an apparatus for distributing particulate material with a tank containing particulate material, a feed mechanism feeding the material and a downstream distribution mechanism receiving the material to distribute the material on a drum or conveyor. The distribution mechanism includes a diffuser and a vibrating device to shake the diffuser.

The present invention relates to a nonwoven comprising a first layer comprising a first fiber and a second fiber, and a second layer comprising a third fiber; wherein the first fiber is hydrophobic and the second fiber is hydrophilic, and wherein the second layer is more hydrophilic than the first layer; a method for manufacturing the nonwoven according to the present invention; and an absorbent article comprising a topsheet; and a backsheet joined to the topsheet, wherein the topsheet comprises the nonwoven according to the present invention.

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).