An absorbent structure includes a first area of fibrous absorbent material and a second area of fibrous absorbent material. The first area has a greater basis weight than the second area. The second area includes a plurality of segments separated by vertical interfaces. Each of the vertical interfaces has a width less than 1 cm. Bridging of fibrous absorbent material extends across the vertical interfaces.

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.

In order to absorb a small amount of liquid, to prevent an absorbent article from being disintegrated by the absorbed liquid, and to prevent piping of a toilet from being clogged even if the absorbent article is flushed into a flush toilet, the absorbent article includes a pulp layer containing a crushed pulp or fibers mainly containing a crushed pulp, and the pulp layer has a water repellent surface layer portion formed by applying a water repellent agent to at least one surface layer portion.

A method for splicing a material associated with an absorbent article, including: transporting the material in a direction of transport with a material wound around an entrance roll and a moving roll of a dancer unit; splicing a subsequent material with a preceding material which is a material being transported, by bonding a leading end portion of the subsequent material with the preceding material; and cutting the preceding material so that the total length of a bonded portion and an stacking portion is larger than a path length of the material from a downstream end of a winding portion of the material that is wound around the entrance roll to an upstream end of another winding portion of the material that is wound around the moving roll positioned at a reference position.

The invention relates to slit absorbent articles and the use of slits in absorbent materials to provide improved liquid intake rate, flexibility and softness compared to the unmodified material. The absorbent material, including superabsorbent materials, are particularly useful as absorbent cores in disposable absorbent articles such as diapers, incontinent products, sanitary napkins and the like.

A sanitary article includes an absorbent pad including an upper sheet layer, a lower sheet layer, and a pulp-and-SAP powder layer combination. The powder layer combination is constituted by alternate layers of pulverized pulp and superabsorbent polymer (SAP) powder. A method for making the sanitary article is also disclosed.

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.

The invention encompasses composite materials having a fibrous core that is at least partially covered by a water-swellable coating layer in which the water-swellable coating layer includes a water-swellable polymer. The invention also encompasses methods for manufacturing such a composite material, and further encompasses articles of manufacture made from such composite materials and methods for manufacturing such articles.

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.

Methods and tooling for forming performance zones in substrates are provided. The methods and tooling for forming performance zones in substrates may be for use on an absorbent article manufacturing line.