Simulated anatomical components, such as simulated vascular vessels, produced by a method that includes forming an anatomical component mold from a soluble polymer such that the mold defines an interior void of the simulated anatomical component. One or more layers of an elastomeric material is applied around the anatomical component mold and the material is allowed to cure to form a wall of the simulated anatomical component. At least a portion of the mold is dissolved to form a passage for liquid within the simulated anatomical component. Simulated anatomical components are connectable to other components of a surgical simulation system and can be modularized.

A laminate molding system in which three or more press devices are continuously provided and a laminate molded article is sequentially pressure-molded. The laminate molding system includes first, second and third press devices. The first press device includes a pressure reducable chamber and a pressurizing surface formed of an elastic body sheet or a pressurizing surface formed of an elastic body sheet, the laminate molded article being pressurized by a driving force of a servomotor. The second press device includes a pressurizing surface formed of a metal press plate, the laminate molded article being pressurized by a driving force of a servomotor. The third press device includes a pressurizing surface formed of a metal press plate, the laminate molded article being pressurized by a driving force of a servomotor.

A layered body containing continuous sheets is thermally fused when passing through a space between an anvil roll and an energy applying device to form a layered sheet. A nip stage for sandwiching the layered body is provided upstream of the space between the anvil roll and the energy applying device. The nip stage includes at least one displacement member which is displaced in accordance with the thickness of the layered body sandwiched by the nip stage. Whether the thickness of the layered body sandwiched by the nip stage has deviated from a reference range is detected on the basis of the displacement of the displacement member, and when it is detected that the thickness has deviated from the reference range, the energy applying device is caused to retreat in a direction going away from the anvil roll.

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.

A method for manufacturing an absorbent article that includes: a first sheet body that includes two first sheets and a first elastic string that is stretchable and contractible in a left-right direction; a second sheet body; and a first weld portion. The method includes: (a) placing the first elastic string in a stretched state where the first elastic string is stretched in the left-right direction between the first sheets disposed in a thickness direction intersecting the left-right direction; (b) causing the second sheet body to overlap with the first sheet body in the thickness direction; (c) releasing the stretched state to bring about a released state; and (d) welding one end portion of the first sheet body in the left-right direction and one end portion of the second sheet body in the left-right direction to each other, to form the first weld portion.

An apparatus for manufacturing an elastic composite structure is provided. The apparatus includes an anvil having a face with a first edge and a second edge separated in a cross-machine direction and a first contact surface extending out from the face, the first contact surface including a first notch. The first notch has an interior configured to receive a portion of an elastic thread and a portion of a web layer therein, and the first notch includes a first facing surface and a second facing surface defining at least a portion of the interior. Each of the first facing surface and the second facing surface are in a non-perpendicular orientation relative to the first contact surface and angled toward the first edge of the face.

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.

The present disclosure relates to methods for making elastomeric laminates that may be used as components of absorbent articles. The elastomeric laminates may include a first substrate, a second substrate, and an elastic material located between the first and second substrates. During assembly of an elastomeric laminate, a beam is rotated to unwind the elastic strands from the beam, wherein the strands may include a spin finish. First bonds are applied to bond discrete lengths of the stretched elastic strands with and between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the discrete first bonds are arranged intermittently along the machine direction. In addition, second bonds are applied between consecutive first bonds to bond the first and second substrates directly to each other, wherein the second bonds extend in the machine direction and may be separated from each other in a cross direction by at least one elastic strand.

The present disclosure relates to methods for making elastomeric laminates that may be used as components of absorbent articles. In particular, discrete mechanical bonds are applied to a first substrate and a second substrate to secure elastic strands therebetween, wherein the discrete bonds are arranged intermittently along the machine direction. During the bonding process, heat and pressure are applied to the first substrate and the second substrate such that malleable materials of the first and second substrates deform to completely surround an outer perimeter of a discrete length of the stretched elastic strand. After removing the heat and pressure from the first and second substrates, the malleable materials harden to define a bond conforming with a cross sectional shape defined by the outer perimeter of the stretched elastic strand.

The improved mold assembly for cultured marble molding is provided. The mold assembly can comprise a male mold portion and a female mold portion. The assembly can further comprise a molding tool. The molding tool can have a side wall having an upper curved portion and a lower curved portion. The molding tool can have a bowl portion and an apron portion spaced from the bowl portion by a gap. The molding tool can be constructed from a flexible and/or soft material. The molding tool can facilitate molding of a countertop having at least one seamless curved edge and/or an at least partially seamless sink portion.