An apparatus for fabricating an elastic nonwoven material generally includes a first bonding module and a second bonding module. The second bonding module is positionable in close proximity to the first bonding module. At least one of the first bonding module and the second bonding module has a face with a width dimension and a circumferential axis and is rotatable about a rotation axis. The face has a plurality of ridges. The ridges are positioned such that at least two adjacent ridges overlap along the circumferential axis.

An absorbent article such as a baby diaper comprising a three-dimensional laminate 30 having a first layer 1 intermittently bonded to a second layer 2 by a heterophase polymer. The topsheet comprises three-dimensional protrusions 9 in the first layer 1 which are not bonded to the second layer 2. The heterophase polymer has an enthalpy of fusion of at least 10 J/g. The laminate may be used on the wearer-facing side of the article as topsheet 24 and/or on the garment-facing side as part of the backsheet 26. The first layer may comprise natural fibers.

The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for stretching, transferring, and bonding elastic parts under tension to an advancing carrier substrate during the assembly of absorbent articles. A continuous carrier substrate may be advanced in a machine direction at a first speed, and a discrete elastic part may be cut from a continuous elastic substrate having a direction of stretch in a cross direction. The speed of the discrete elastic part is changed from a second speed to the first speed, and the central region of the discrete elastic part is stretched in the cross direction. The discrete elastic part is bonded with the continuous carrier substrate such that the stretched central region extends in the cross direction between the first and second longitudinal edges of the continuous carrier substrate. The discrete elastic part may also be bonded with the carrier substrate with adhesive and/or mechanical bonds.

An absorbent article such as a baby diaper comprising a three-dimensional laminate 30 having a first layer 1 intermittently bonded to a second layer 2 by a heterophase polymer. The topsheet comprises three-dimensional protrusions 9 in the first layer 1 which are not bonded to the second layer 2. The heterophase polymer has an enthalpy of fusion of at least 10 J/g. The laminate may be used on the wearer-facing side of the article as topsheet 24 and/or on the garment-facing side as part of the backsheet 26. The first layer may comprise natural fibers.

In the present invention, one surface of a belt-shaped sheet laminate (10), in which a plurality of sheets are laminated, is pressed against a support member (21) having a light passage section (27) through which a laser beam (30) can pass, and the belt-shaped sheet laminate (10) is irradiated, from the support member (21) side via the light passage section (27), with a laser beam (30) to cut and fusion-bond the belt-shaped sheet laminate (10), thereby sealed edge sections (4) are formed by fusion-bonding the edge sections of the plurality of sheets.

Elastic laminate with hooks comprising an upper layer (2) of nonwoven fabric extending in width in a direction CD and in length in a direction MD, a web (5) with hooks (10) comprising a strip, in particular made of thermoplastic material, from which hooks protrude, and which is attached onto the upper face of the upper layer of nonwoven fabric, the hooks being intended to engage with loops according to a hook-and-loop fastening system, an elastic film (3; 4) extending in the direction CD over a width less than or equal to the width of the upper layer (2) of nonwoven fabric, the upper face of the elastic film (3; 4) being attached to the lower side of the upper layer of nonwoven fabric, the web with hooks extending between respective side end points, left-hand and right-hand respectively, and characterised in that one (Pg6; Pd6) of the two side end points (Pg6, Pd6), left-hand and right-hand respectively, of the web (5) with hooks is located vertically in line with a point of the elastic film.

An absorbent article is disclosed. The article includes a topsheet formed of a section of formed nonwoven web material having an ordered arrangement of zones, each zone comprising one or more attenuated regions adjacent to one or more built-up regions, wherein the attenuated regions have a first average basis weight and the built-up regions have a second average basis weight, wherein the first average basis weight is less than the second average basis weight, the difference in basis weights corresponding to disposition of the filaments according to the ordered arrangement. The attenuated region(s) may be included within a configuration of one or more channel portions on the topsheet. Alternatively or in combination, the attenuated region(s) may be included within a hinge portion extending along a wing portion of the topsheet.

An ultrasonic welding system and method for making welds on a strip made of polymeric material. The system includes a supporting structure, N welding equipment mounted thereon, and a processor. Each N welding equipment includes a pair of welding heads made of a sonotrode, including a sonotrode welding surface, and an anvil, including an anvil welding surface. One of the two welding heads is movable with respect to the other between a non-operating position and a welding position. A control member is operatively associated with the sonotrode and configured to vibrate the sonotrode at a nominal ultrasonic vibration frequency and to detect a current value of the vibration frequency. A vibration sensor is mounted on the movable welding head. The processor monitors the alignment condition between the sonotrode welding surface and the anvil welding surface by cooperating with the control member and with the vibration sensor.

An elastic nappy element that includes an elastic layer (1) and outer layers (2, 3) made of a non-woven fabric. The nappy element has connecting regions (4, 8) for connecting the outer layers (2, 3) to the elastic layer (1). These connecting regions (4, 8) include zones (7, 9) in which a form-fitting bond of non-woven material and solidified material of the elastic layer (1) is formed.

An absorbent article comprising: a chassis comprising a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and backsheet, and comprising a longitudinal axis (y) extending along a length of said chassis and a transverse axis being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and extending along a width of said chassis, wherein said length extends along the longest dimension of said chassis; and at least one elastically elongatable panel joined to the chassis, wherein the elastically elongatable panel comprises: a. at least one cover layer; and b. an elastomeric film attached to the cover layer, wherein said least one cover layer and elastomeric film are joined by mechanical bonding at a plurality of discrete bonding elements, and wherein each said panel comprises a plurality of wrinkles having peaks and troughs formed on at least one of said cover layer, and wherein the said panel comprises a plurality of openings extending through the film and/or the cover layer(s) and wherein said openings are positioned outboard and/or inboard of said discrete bonding elements so that said openings and said bonding elements do not substantially coincide.