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.

In a method and device for manufacturing an absorbent material, the degree of freedom in design can be increased by expanding a modifiable distribution pattern of an SAP and broadening the range in which the performance of the absorbent material can be modified. Pulverized pulp is suctioned in a predetermined pattern to form a pulp layer in which the pulp is fiber-laminated. A first distribution opening through which a first distribution device discharges a first SAP and a second distribution opening through which a second distribution opening discharges a second SAP are provided facing the pulp layer, and the first and second SAPs are distributed onto the pulp layer through the first and second distribution openings while moving the pulp layer relative to the first and second distribution openings. The first and second distribution devices can control the discharge amounts of the first SAP and the second SAP, respectively.

Methods and apparatuses for producing a substrate are described. A method and apparatus for introducing a component into a fluid supply is also presented. A method can include providing a first fluid supply. The fluid supply can be configured as a foam in some embodiments. The method can also include providing a component feed system and a supply of the component. The method can include introducing the component to a fluid supply in an eductor in some aspects. A resultant slurry including a fluid supply and the component can be transferred through a headbox. The resultant slurry can be dewatered to provide a substrate including the component.

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).

A disposable absorbent article having barrier cuffs is disclosed herein. The disposable absorbent article has improved pad curl characteristics which can facilitate application of the disposable absorbent article.

A device for manufacturing an absorbent body includes: a shaping unit that includes a recessed portion and that makes liquid absorbent fiber and superabsorbent polymer to be deposited in the recessed portion, shaping the absorbent body; and a supply unit that supplies the liquid absorbent fiber and the superabsorbent polymer to the recessed portion. The recessed portion includes a protruding portion, and the protruding portion protrudes from a bottom surface and includes an inclined surface. In a cross section orthogonal to a ridge line of the protruding portion, an angle of the inclined surface with respect to a surface parallel to the bottom surface is greater than an angle of repose of the superabsorbent polymer and smaller than 90 degrees.

A disposable absorbent article having barrier cuffs is disclosed herein. The disposable absorbent article has improved pad curl characteristics which can facilitate application of the disposable absorbent article.

The present invention relates to a layers layered absorbent element for use in a disposable absorbent article comprising a top layer and a bottom layer. The top layer is a fibrous nonwoven layer having a basis weight of from 20 to 100 gsm, a thickness from 0.25 to 5 mm, is formed with fibers having an average length from 26 to 200 mm and it has a fixed height saturation at 5 cm above 40%. The bottom layer is in direct contact with the top layer and comprises superabsorbent polymer (SAP) and cellulosic fibers. A plurality of fibers protruding from the bottom layer penetrate into the top layer.

An apparatus for manufacturing absorbent cores for absorbent sanitary articles, comprising: a rotating forming wheel including a plurality of forming elements defining a peripheral surface of the forming wheel, a forming chamber containing absorbent material facing a portion of the peripheral surface of the forming wheel, a first roller for feeding a first nonwoven web onto the peripheral surface of the forming wheel upstream of the forming chamber, a second roller for feeding a second nonwoven web onto the peripheral surface of the forming wheel downstream of the forming chamber, wherein each of said forming elements comprises a suction surface connected to a suction source and at least one protruding rib having a blowing surface selectively connected to a stationary blowing device, wherein said at least one blowing surface and said suction surface are spaced apart from each other in a radial direction.

Pulpless absorbent cores and methods of manufacture are disclosed. A first method for forming an absorbent core may comprise advancing a carrier sheet on a foraminous forming surface in a machine direction, the foraminous forming surface having a width extending in a cross-machine direction, creating a pressure differential across the forming surface, applying a first adhesive onto the carrier sheet, advancing the carrier sheet within a particulate material delivery chamber, and dispensing particulate material from a particulate material inlet within the particulate material delivery chamber to deposit the particulate material onto the first adhesive, wherein the particulate material inlet has a width that is between 25% and 75% of the foraminous forming surface width, and wherein the particulate material is delivered from the particulate material inlet at less than 900 meters per minute.