An absorbent article (10, 110, 210) can include an absorbent assembly (43) including a bodyside liner (28), an outer cover (26, 126, 226), and an absorbent body (35) disposed between the bodyside liner (28) and the outer cover (26, 126, 226). The outer cover (26, 126, 226) can include at least one opaque region (64, 164, 264) and a first indicator region (66, 166, 266). The first indicator region (66, 166, 266) can have a light transmittance that is greater than a light transmittance of the at least one opaque region (64, 164, 264). At least a portion of the first indicator region (66, 166, 266) can be located between the first longitudinal edge (36) of the absorbent body (35) and the first coupling length (45) of the first containment flap (44) in at least the crotch region (16) of the absorbent article (10, 110, 210).

An energy apparatus can be configured for providing energy to an item being transferred over a rotatable drum. The energy apparatus can include a first energy mechanism configured to be fixedly coupled to the rotatable drum and rotate with the rotatable drum. The energy apparatus can also include a second energy mechanism configured to rotate around a circumference of the rotatable drum. The energy apparatus can additionally include a translation system coupled to the second energy mechanism and configured to move the second energy mechanism to an end position that allows the second energy mechanism and the first energy mechanism to provide energy to the item while there is no relative motion between the first energy mechanism and the second energy mechanism. Methods of providing energy to an item utilizing an energy apparatus are also disclosed.

The present invention is a roll as may function as an anvil roll that comprises protrusions on its outer surface, that are outwardly or z-directionally oriented arcs of an arc wire such as wavy wire or an axially canted helical coil extending along a length or x-direction, which are pinched perpendicularly to the z- and x-direction. Such anvil rolls may be used to treat materials such as web materials, such as by embossing or bonding these web materials. In a particular application, such rolls may interact with an ultrasonic sonotrode.

An ultrasonic processing system adapted to subject a web running in a machine direction to ultrasonic processing includes a first mechanical element defined by one of an ultrasonic horn and an anvil and a second mechanical element defined by a remainder. The web placed on an outer peripheral surface of a rotary drum moves conforming to the drum in a machine direction. The first mechanical element is provided on the inner side of the drum and the second mechanical element is provided on the outer side of the drum. The first and second mechanical elements repeat a step of forward movement and a step of backward movement in a direction intersecting the machine direction across the web. In both steps, the first and second mechanical elements come in close contact with each other by the intermediary of the web and thereby subject the web to the ultrasonic processing.

A separating device separates liquid absorbent fibers from a material including the liquid absorbent fibers of an absorbent article and impurities. The separating device includes: a case; an insertion port for inserting the material into the case on an airflow; a rotation member in the case for agitating and opening the material; and a discharge port for discharging the liquid absorbent fibers from inside the case on an airflow. The rotation member has a revolving axis with an axial direction along a predetermined direction from the insertion port to the discharge port, and a shaft member rotating around a rotating axis that has been set with an axial direction along the predetermined direction, while revolving around the revolving axis. The shaft member has protruding sections protruding outward and intersecting with an axial direction of the shaft member.

An absorbent article and method of making the absorbent article are disclosed. The absorbent article having a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core structure having one or more layers wherein at least one layer is a heterogeneous mass layer, wherein the topsheet and the heterogeneous mass are integrated such that they reside in the same X-Y plane.

A pull-on garment (1) includes an outer cover (3) forming an outer surface of the garment, both lateral side edge portions of the outer cover in a front body portion F and both lateral side edge portions of the outer cover in a back body portion R being joined to each other to form a pair of side seals (4), a waist opening (8), and a pair of leg openings (9). Each of the side seals (4) includes a seal edge portion (41) where the edge portion (3F) of the outer cover (3) in the front body portion F and the edge portion of the outer cover (3) in the back body portion R are bonded to each other by a continuous linear fusion-bonded portion (40) extending in a longitudinal direction of the side seal (4). In a cross-section orthogonal to a direction in which the side seal (4) extends, the fusion-bonded portion (40) includes a narrow section (4F) which is formed at a middle portion thereof in the thickness direction Q and of which a width W along the inner-to-outer direction P is small. The narrow section (4F) includes broad sections (4A, 4B) which are provided on both sides of the narrow section (4F) in the thickness direction Q and of which the width W is larger than the width of the narrow section (4F).

Nonwoven materials having discrete three-dimensional deformations therein forming protrusions that extend outward from the first surface of the nonwoven material and wide base openings adjacent to the second surface of the nonwoven material are disclosed. At least some of the three-dimensional deformations may have improved protrusion dimensions after compressive forces are applied on the nonwoven material. In some cases, at least some of the protrusions may have one or more holes therein or completely therethrough. Methods of making the same are also disclosed.

The present application relates to an electronic wetness-sensing absorbent article and related methods. The electronic wetness-sensing absorbent article includes a flexible waterproof thin film; at least two mutually separated and insulated flexible electrodes disposed on one surface of the flexible waterproof thin film; a water-permeable braided fabric layer; and an absorbent layer disposed on the other surface of the flexible waterproof thin film, located between the flexible waterproof thin film and the water-permeable braided fabric layer, and adapted to absorb a liquid entering from the water-permeable braided fabric layer. The flexible waterproof thin film, the flexible electrodes, and the liquid contained in the absorbent layer form a non-polar variable electrolytic capacitor. The wetness state of the electronic wetness-sensing absorbent article is obtained by detecting the capacitance value of the variable electrolytic capacitor and change thereof.

A latent elastic film laminate is provided including a film predominantly comprising olefin elastomers. The film is stretched and maintained in a stretched state in order to impart the desired level of latent elasticity such that the conditioned film laminate will shrink upon activation, such as by heating. The latent elastic film laminate can be advantageously used in the manufacture of various elasticated articles, including absorbent personal care articles, by activating the latent elasticity after attachment to the article and thereby shirring and elasticizing components to which the film laminate is attached.