The present invention concerns an ultrasonic vibration unit having a converter (1) for converting an electric ac voltage into a mechanical ultrasonic vibration and a sonotrode which is vibrationally coupled to the converter (1), wherein the sonotrode and the converter (1) are matched to each other in such a way that the ultrasonic vibration unit can vibrate with a natural frequency f, in which a standing longitudinal wave having at least one vibration node and at least two vibration antinodes is formed within the ultrasonic vibration unit. To provide an ultrasonic vibration unit in which the parasitic vibrations which usually occur in operation with a working frequency are slight or do not occur, wherein at the same time the actual working frequency is not attenuated, it is proposed according to the invention that there is provided a damp vibration absorber unit (2) connected to the ultrasonic vibration unit by way of a coupling element (3), wherein the coupling element (3) is connected to the ultrasonic vibration unit at a vibration node, wherein the vibration absorber unit (2) is connected to a damping element (4) which is so adapted that it damps a vibration of the vibration absorber unit (2).

The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing a gathered material, wherein the material consists of two material web portions and a thread positioned between the material web portions and the two material web portions are connected to one another at two connecting surfaces, wherein the thread is disposed between the two connecting surfaces such that the thread is connected to the material web portions, wherein the apparatus comprises a sonotrode having a first sealing surface and a counter tool having a second sealing surface, wherein the counter tool is cylindrical with a lateral surface and a cylinder axis and the second sealing surface is disposed on the lateral surface, wherein the sonotrode and the counter tool are disposed with respect to one another in a processing position such that the material web portions and the thread can be guided through a gap formed by the first and the second sealing surface in a feed direction tangential to the lateral surface of the counter tool. To overcome or at least mitigate the described drawbacks, it is proposed according to the invention that the sonotrode comprise a groove which is oriented in feed direction and extends over the entire first sealing surface for receiving the thread.

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.

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 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.

A process for joining two sheeting articles reinforced with unidirectionally aligned endless-fibres by ultrasonic welding, wherein the fibres are embedded in a matrix of polycarbonate and the sheeting articles have abutting ends that are substantially rectangular and substantially even. The process comprises (1) arranging the sheeting articles next to one another end-to-end in the region of the abutting ends in a welding apparatus between a sonotrode and an anvil, (2) welding the sheeting articles by means of ultrasound, wherein the sonotrode and the anvil exert pressure on the to-be-welded sheeting articles in the melting region between the sheeting articles and perpendicularly to the abutting ends of the sheeting articles, and (3) removing the sheeting articles that are welded to one another from the welding apparatus. Also provided is a second process for joining two sheeting articles, a sheeting article, an apparatus, and a multilayer composite.

The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for making elastomeric laminates with deactivated regions that may be used as components of absorbent articles. The methods and apparatuses may be configured with a pattern roll and a pressing surface adjacent the pattern roll. The pattern roll may include a bonding surface and a protuberance. As the pattern roll rotates, first and second substrates are welded together between the bonding surface and the pressing surface to create bonds between the first and second substrates. As the pattern roll continues to rotate, the first and second substrates and one or more stretched elastic strands are compressed between the pressing surface and the protuberance to sever the one or more stretched elastic strands to create deactivated regions in the elastomeric laminate. The processes and apparatuses may be configured to help prevent ends of the severed elastic strands from retracting in an uncontrolled fashion.

In an underpants-type disposable diaper, three-dimensional gathers are provided on both sides in the width direction of an inner member. A fallen portion of each of the three-dimensional gather has a fallen non-stretchable portion to which a contraction force of gather elastic members does not act. A character representation is printed at a position in the fallen non-stretchable portion of the inner member, and this character representation is made visible from the inside of the diaper.

The present disclosure relates to methods for making apertured elastic laminates that may be used as components of absorbent articles. The methods and apparatuses may be close coupled such that materials may advance directly between aperturing and bonding operations. Such close coupling of devices may help to more precisely control the positions of the apertures in substrates relative to positions of apertures opposing substrates and/or bonds in the assembled laminate. The methods and apparatuses herein may also provide the ability to orient protrusions or protuberances in the substrates created by the aperturing process so as to extend inward and away from both outer surfaces of the assembled laminate. In turn, the assembly processes may be conducted so as to help mitigate reductions in softness that might otherwise result from the aperturing process in the assembled laminate.

A system and method for controlling the speed of both a continuous web and a bonding apparatus is provided in order to effectuate stronger bonds in the web. The bonding system includes a velocity changing device for increasing and decreasing a velocity of the web in a machine direction, an anvil and a corresponding ultrasonic horn that interact to form ultrasonic bonds on the web, and an anvil actuator configured to control a movement of the anvil. A control system is also included in the bonding system for controlling operation of the anvil actuator the velocity changing device, with the control system programmed to decrease a moving velocity of the web from a feed velocity to a bonding velocity as the web passes between the anvil and the ultrasonic horn and control movement of the anvil to synchronize the movement of the anvil with the moving velocity of the web.