B29C66/344

Methods and apparatuses for making elastomeric laminates

The present disclosure relates to methods for making elastomeric laminates that may be used as components of absorbent articles. Aspects of the methods for assembling elastomeric laminates may utilize elastic strands supplied from beams that may be joined with first and second substrates, and may be configured to carry out various types of operations, such as bonding and splicing operations.

LAMINATE(S) COMPRISING BEAMED ELASTICS AND ABSORBENT ARTICLE(S) COMPRISING SAID LAMINATE(S)

The present disclosure relates to one or a combination of an absorbent article's chassis, inner leg cuffs, outer leg cuffs, ear panels, side panels, waistbands, and belts that may comprise one or more pluralities of tightly spaced (less than 4 mm, less than 3 mm, less than 2 mm, and less than 1 mm) and/or very fine (less than 300, less than 200, less than 100 dtex) and/or low strain (less than 300%, less than 200%, less than 100%) elastics to deliver low pressure less than 1 psi (according to the conditions defined by the Pressure-Under-Strand method below) under the elastics, while providing adequate modulus of (between about 2 gf/mm and 15 gf/mm) to make the article easy to apply and to comfortably maintain the article in place on the wearer, even with a loaded core (holding at least 50 mls of liquid), to provide for the advantages described above.

ASEPTIC FLUID COUPLINGS
20220341526 · 2022-10-27 ·

This document describes aseptic fluid coupling devices for fluid systems and methods of manufacturing such aseptic fluid coupling devices. For example, this document describes aseptic fluid coupling devices that include removable membrane strips that protect the interior of the aseptic fluid coupling devices from contamination prior to use. Methods for attaching removable membranes to the aseptic fluid coupling devices are also described.

METHOD FOR FORMING ELASTIC FILM STRETCHABLE STRUCTURE AND ABSORBENT ARTICLE
20220313496 · 2022-10-06 · ·

Ultrasonic welding is performed by passing a first sheet layer, a second sheet layer, and an elastic film interposed therebetween in a stretched state in a machine direction between an anvil roll having a large number of protrusions and an ultrasonic horn. The anvil roll includes a region having the protrusions and in the region. A site, in which welding is performed by one ultrasonic horn, has a portion in which an area rate of the protrusions changes in a roll circumferential direction and a roll length direction. A difference between a maximum value and a minimum value in a change of the area rate of the protrusions in the roll circumferential direction is 4.5% or less, and a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value in a change of the area rate of the protrusions in the roll length direction is 1.5% or less.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING ABSORBENT ARTICLES
20220287887 · 2022-09-15 ·

The present disclosure relates to assembling elastic laminates that may be used to make absorbent article components. Methods herein may include an anvil adapted to rotate about an axis of rotation, wherein first and second spreader mechanisms adjacent the anvil roll are axially and angularly displaced from each other with respect to the axis of rotation. During the assembly process, a substrate may be advanced in a machine direction onto the rotating anvil. The first spreader mechanism stretches a first elastic material in the cross direction, and the second spreader mechanism stretches a second elastic material in the cross direction. The stretched first and second elastic materials advance from the spreader mechanisms and onto the substrate on the anvil roll. The combined and elastic materials may then be ultrasonically bonded together on the anvil to form at least one elastic laminate.

Methods and Apparatuses for Making Elastomeric Laminates with Elastic Strands Unwound from Spools on Surface Unwinders
20220257427 · 2022-08-18 ·

The present disclosure relates to methods for assembling elastomeric laminates, wherein elastic material may be stretched and joined with either or both first and second substrates. First spools are rotated to unwind first elastic strands from a first unwinder in a machine direction. The first elastic strands are positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate to form an elastomeric laminate. Before the first elastic strands are completely unwound from the rotating first spools, second spools are rotated to unwind second elastic strands from a second unwinder. Subsequently, the advancement of the first elastic strands from the first unwinder is discontinued. Thus, the elastomeric laminate assembly process may continue uninterrupted while switching from an initially utilized elastic material drawn from the first spools to a subsequently utilized elastic material drawn from the second spools.

METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR ASSEMBLING ELASTIC LAMINATES WITH DIFFERENT BOND DENSITIES FOR ABSORBENT ARTICLES

The methods herein relate to assembling an elastic laminate with a first elastic material and a second elastic material bonded between first and second substrates. During assembly, an elastic laminate may be formed by positioning the first and second substrates in contact with stretched central regions of the first and second elastic materials. The elastic laminates may include two or more bonding regions that may be defined by the various layers or components of the elastic laminate that are laminated or stacked relative to each other. In some configurations, a first plurality of ultrasonic bonds are applied to the elastic laminate to define a first bond density in the first bonding region, and a second plurality of ultrasonic bonds are applied to the elastic laminate to define a second bond density in the second bonding region, wherein the second bond density is not equal to the first bond density.

WEB WELDING SYSTEM AND WELDING METHOD
20220212415 · 2022-07-07 ·

The present welding system includes: a transport device that transports a work in a state where a plurality of webs are overlaid on each other; an anvil roller that includes an anvil which intermittently makes contact with the first surface of the work being transported; an ultrasonic horn that is opposite the second surface of the work and that cooperates with the anvil to apply vibration energy to the work so as to intermittently weld the webs; a speed changing device that lowers the transport speed of the work supplied between the horn and the anvil when the welding is performed; and a pressing device that presses the first surface of the work to the anvil when the welding is performed.

Welding station for an installation for manufacturing packages with pads

A welding station for an installation for manufacturing packages with pads, the welding station including a plurality of longitudinal welding heads. Each welding head is configured to weld to one another two superposed sheets as said sheets advance in a first direction and may include a welder to apply heat on an action area. Each welding head has a main body, a first traction belt wound in the main body and a second traction belt wound to said main body, parallel to the first traction belt and separated from the first traction belt by a separation gap in a second direction which is transverse to the first direction. The action area is arranged in said separation gap, between both traction belts. Each of the longitudinal welding heads is configured to be able to be moved along the second direction.

Aseptic fluid couplings
11415255 · 2022-08-16 · ·

This document describes aseptic fluid coupling devices for fluid systems and methods of manufacturing such aseptic fluid coupling devices. For example, this document describes aseptic fluid coupling devices that include removable membrane strips that protect the interior of the aseptic fluid coupling devices from contamination prior to use. Methods for attaching removable membranes to the aseptic fluid coupling devices are also described.