Methods and tooling for making three-dimensional substrates and/or apertured substrates are provided. The three-dimensional substrates and/or apertured substrates may be used in absorbent articles, such as diapers and pants, for example. The methods and tooling may be used on an absorbent article manufacturing line.

An apparatus and method for applying discrete segments to a continuous web includes feeding a first continuous web to a roller, the first continuous web comprising one or more layers, feeding a second continuous web to a vacuum anvil, cutting the first continuous web into a plurality of discrete segments via interaction of the roller with at least one cutting element selectively positionable adjacent the roller, transferring each of the plurality of discrete segments from the roller onto the second continuous web at a first location and via a vacuum pressure from the vacuum anvil, and bonding each of the plurality of discrete segments to the second continuous web at a second location downstream from the first location in a machine direction, each of the plurality of discrete segments bonded to the second continuous web via interaction of the vacuum anvil with a bonding device positioned at the second location.

A liquid absorbent structure is made by dry laying a fibrous web having incorporated therein a superabsorbent material, and applying an aqueous composite stabilizer to at least one surface of the web. The aqueous composite stabilizer imparts integrity to the resulting structure without substantially impairing the effectiveness of the superabsorbent material to absorb liquid while forming the absorbent structure without removing the water from aqueous composite stabilizer or drying out the absorbent structure. The absorbent composite absorbs the water from the aqueous composite stabilizer. The absorbent composite comprises about 70% by weight of a superabsorbent material.

A method of manufacturing an absorbent web includes moving a foraminous member in a machine direction. The foraminous member has at least one masking plate with a partitioned area including at least one partition defining a plurality of segments. The method further includes drawing air through the foraminous member and depositing fibrous material onto the foraminous member to form an absorbent web. The absorbent web has a bridged area with a reduced basis weight corresponding to the partitioned area of the masking plate. The bridged area has vertical interfaces separating web segments and fibrous material at least partly bridging the vertical interfaces.

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

Three-dimensional laminates and methods for making the same are provided. The three-dimensional laminates may be apertured and may have welds between various substrates. The three-dimensional laminates may be used in absorbent articles, such as diapers and pants, for example, as topsheets, as topsheets and acquisition layers, or as outer cover materials, for example. The three-dimensional laminates may be produced on an absorbent article manufacturing line.

Absorbent articles are provided that comprise shaped, soft and textured nonwoven fabrics. The nonwoven fabrics may be a topsheet and an outer cover nonwoven material of the absorbent article. A portion of a wearer-facing surface of the topsheet may have a TS7 in the range of about 1 dB V.sup.2 rms of about 1 to about 4.5 dB V.sup.2 rms and a TS750 in the range of about 6 dB V.sup.2 rms to about 30 dB V.sup.2 rms. A portion of a garment-facing surface of the outer cover nonwoven material may have a TS7 in the range of about 1 dB V.sup.2 rms of about 1 to about 4.5 dB V.sup.2 rms and a TS750 in the range of about 6 dB V.sup.2 rms to about 30 dB V.sup.2 rms. The nonwoven fabrics of the present disclosure provide soft materials with texture.

Shaped, soft, and textured nonwoven fabrics are provided. Absorbent articles that comprise shaped, soft and textured nonwoven fabrics are provided. The nonwoven fabrics may be a topsheet and an outer cover nonwoven material of the absorbent article. A portion of a wearer-facing surface of the topsheet may have a TS7 in the range of about 1 dB V.sup.2 rms of about 1 to about 4.5 dB V.sup.2 rms and a TS750 in the range of about 6 dB V.sup.2 rms to about 30 dB V.sup.2 rms. A portion of a garment-facing surface of the outer cover nonwoven material may have a TS7 in the range of about 1 dB V.sup.2 rms of about 1 to about 4.5 dB V.sup.2 rms and a TS750 in the range of about 6 dB V.sup.2 rms to about 30 dB V.sup.2 rms. The nonwoven fabrics of the present disclosure provide soft materials with texture.

Absorbent articles are provided that comprise shaped, soft and textured nonwoven fabrics. The nonwoven fabrics may be a topsheet and an outer cover nonwoven material of the absorbent article. A portion of a wearer-facing surface of the topsheet may have a TS7 in the range of about 1 dB V.sup.2 rms of about 1 to about 4.5 dB V.sup.2 rms and a TS750 in the range of about 6 dB V.sup.2 rms to about 30 dB V.sup.2 rms. A portion of a garment-facing surface of the outer cover nonwoven material may have a TS7 in the range of about 1 dB V.sup.2 rms of about 1 to about 4.5 dB V.sup.2 rms and a TS750 in the range of about 6 dB V.sup.2 rms to about 30 dB V.sup.2 rms. The nonwoven fabrics of the present disclosure provide soft materials with texture.

Absorbent articles are provided that comprise shaped, soft and textured nonwoven fabrics. The nonwoven fabrics may be a topsheet and an outer cover nonwoven material of the absorbent article. A portion of a wearer-facing surface of the topsheet may have a TS7 in the range of about 1 dB V.sup.2 rms of about 1 to about 4.5 dB V.sup.2 rms and a TS750 in the range of about 6 dB V.sup.2 rms to about 30 dB V.sup.2 rms. A portion of a garment-facing surface of the outer cover nonwoven material may have a TS7 in the range of about 1 dB V.sup.2 rms of about 1 to about 4.5 dB V.sup.2 rms and a TS750 in the range of about 6 dB V.sup.2 rms to about 30 dB V.sup.2 rms. The nonwoven fabrics of the present disclosure provide soft materials with texture.