A forming device for gathering the width of a traveling web is disclosed. The forming device includes opposing arrays of flute-forming bars that can be interlaced to define therebetween a longitudinal flute-forming labyrinth effective to reduce the width of a web traveling therethrough by a preselected take-up ratio. The flute-forming bars are curved beginning at an entry end of the forming device such that they converge in a lateral direction as they proceed in the machine direction. In this manner, individual elements of the web traveling between the respective arrays in the machine direction follow contour lines along the curved bars or between adjacent ones of the curved bars so that no such element crosses any flute-forming bar in the cross-machine direction as the web travels and is fluted. A corrugating die for introducing a near-net shape to the intermediate-fluted web is also disclosed, as are a corrugating line incorporating these operations and methods for its operation.

A method of integrating a first fibrous web with a second fibrous web, said method comprising the steps of: a. providing a first absorbent fibrous web material; b. providing a topsheet comprising a second fibrous web material; c. providing an integrating means; and d. integrating said first absorbent fibrous web material and said second fibrous web material by processing through said integrating means. The step of integrating said first absorbent fibrous web material and said second fibrous web material comprises inter-entangling fibers from the first absorbent fibrous web and fibers from the second fibrous web.

A multi-layered balloon is provided where each layer is formed such that each layer is made from tubing that optimizes the inner wall stretch thus providing maximum balloon strength. The high pressure, multi-layer balloon is provided with layers that allow for slipping, such that the balloon has a very high pressure rating and toughness, yet excellent folding characteristics. Methods for producing such multi-layer balloons using existing balloon forming equipment are also provided. The multi-layer balloons can have alternating structural and lubricating layers, or layers with low-friction surfaces. The multi-layer balloons are preferably manufactured using a variety of methods including nesting, co-extrusion, or a combination of nesting and co-extrusion. The multi-layer balloons have balloon layers having substantially similar, or the same, high degree of biaxial orientation of their polymer molecules such that each balloon layer of the multi-layer balloon will fail at approximately the same applied pressure.

A method of integrating a first fibrous web with a second fibrous web, said method comprising the steps of: a. providing a first absorbent fibrous web material; b. providing a topsheet comprising a second fibrous web material; c. providing an integrating means; and d. integrating said first absorbent fibrous web material and said second fibrous web material by processing through said integrating means. The step of integrating said first absorbent fibrous web material and said second fibrous web material comprises inter-entangling fibers from the first absorbent fibrous web and fibers from the second fibrous web.

A reinforced stretch film obtained by a method of producing a reinforced stretch film comprising the steps of: providing an elongated base sheet of plastic stretch film having a longitudinal axis, forming a plurality of cord-like, elongated reinforcement members and a plurality of plastic film strip overlays, positioning the plurality of elongated reinforcement members on the elongated base sheet, positioning a single plastic film strip overlay over each of the elongated reinforcement members, folding each edge of the elongated base sheet inward toward a center of the elongated base sheet to further strengthen and reinforce each edge and attaching the plastic film strip overlays and the folded edges to the cord-like, elongated reinforcement members and to the elongated base sheet to fixedly sandwich the cord-like, elongated reinforcement members between the elongated base sheet and the narrow plastic film strip overlays.

A tool for fixing a protective textile sleeve about an elongate member contained therein and method of use thereof is provided. The tool includes a clamp assembly having opposed clamp members attached to one another for pivotal movement relative to one another between an open state and a closed state. The clamp members have clamping surfaces, wherein at least one of the clamping surfaces has at least one outlet. A fluid source is arranged in fluid communication with the at least one outlet, and a heat source is configured to heat fluid from the fluid source to create steam. The steam is dispensed outwardly from the at least one outlet to cause an adhesive on the sleeve to become activated to bond with an adjacent abutting surface.

A method and apparatus for pleating or otherwise shaping a web are described herein. The method and apparatus may have numerous applications. In some embodiments, the method and apparatus are used in the formation, filling, and sealing of unit dose packages for consumer products. A method and apparatus for forming sealing two moving webs together, which webs have portions that are non-planar are also described herein.

The invention relates to a method for continuously manufacturing elastic pants (28), wherein a flat web material (1, 16, 19) is continuously conveyed in a longitudinal direction (8) of the web material (1, 16, 19), is shaped into a closed tube (4), and is closed in the longitudinal direction (8). The closed tube (4) forms a first outer layer (9). Elastic threads (10) in the form of a tubular reinforcement are then wound around the first outer layer (9) in the conveying direction (8) in such a way that the elastic threads (10) are taut when the outer layer (9) has a convex shape. A second outer layer (15) is then continuously applied to the elastic threads (10) in the conveying direction (8) and is joined to the elastic threads (10) and/or the first outer layer (9). The first outer layer (9), the elastic threads (10) and the second outer layer (15) form an elastic pants web material (21). Further down in the conveying direction (8), the pants web material (21) is closed along a joining section (29) in regular intervals such that the joining section (29) forms two approximately equally large opening sections that lie opposite each other in the transverse direction. Further down in the conveying direction (8), the pants web material (21) is cut at a distance from the joining section (29) such that a pair of elastic pants (28) is formed.

A system and method for forming a composite part. The apparatus comprises a sleeve that molds a composite material. The sleeve has a first face and a second face. The second face has features to mold the composite material. The first face comprises a first inclined surface having an angle less than about 90 degrees and greater than about 0 degrees.

A forming device for gathering the width of a traveling web is disclosed. The forming device includes opposing arrays of flute-forming bars that can be interlaced to define therebetween a longitudinal flute-forming labyrinth effective to reduce the width of a web traveling therethrough by a preselected take-up ratio. The flute-forming bars are curved beginning at an entry end of the forming device such that they converge in a lateral direction as they proceed in the machine direction. In this manner, individual elements of the web traveling between the respective arrays in the machine direction follow contour lines along the curved bars or between adjacent ones of the curved bars so that no such element crosses any flute-forming bar in the cross-machine direction as the web travels and is fluted. A corrugating die for introducing a near-net shape to the intermediate-fluted web is also disclosed, as are a corrugating line incorporating these operations and methods for its operation.