An absorbent article includes a novel design printing portion suitable for a stretchable region. An absorbent article has an elastic film stretchable structure, in which an elastic film is stacked between a first sheet layer and a second sheet layer. The first sheet layer and the second sheet layer are bonded together directly or through the elastic film by a large number of sheet bonded portions arranged at intervals. A region having the elastic film stretchable structure includes a stretchable region. The stretchable region is contracted in a stretchable direction by a contraction force of the elastic film is extensible in the stretchable direction. A design printing portion is provided in a portion located in the stretchable region in the elastic film.

An apparatus to join two panels together includes a chamber, a horn positioned within the chamber, the horn moving reciprocally within the chamber, and a set of heating elements positioned about the horn to heat the horn. One of the panels has a post molded to it, the post extending through the other panel, and after the horn is heated an end of the horn is placed on top of the post and is ultrasonically vibrated to form a head of the post to join the two panels together.

A method of joining includes disposing a second workpiece adjacent to a first workpiece. The method further includes identifying a determined hardness parameter of at least one of the first and second workpieces at a welding position. The determined hardness parameter is determined by at least one of estimation, calculation, and measurement. The method includes selecting a weld schedule based on the determined hardness parameter and welding the first and second workpieces together using the selected weld schedule. A welding horn includes a shank and a tip having an end face, the tip being disposed at an end of the shank and configured to contact a workpiece and to transmit energy to the workpiece. Knurls are disposed on the end face, each knurl having a distal end. A curved indenter extends from the end face beyond the distal ends of the knurls.

The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for mechanically bonding substrates together. The apparatuses may include a pattern roll including a pattern element protruding radially outward. The pattern element includes a pattern surface and includes one or more channels adjacent the pattern surface. The pattern roll may be positioned adjacent an anvil roll to define a nip between the pattern surface and the anvil roll, wherein the pattern roll is biased toward the anvil roll to define a nip pressure between pattern surface and the anvil roll. As substrates advance between the pattern roll and anvil roll, the substrates are compressed between the anvil roll and the pattern surface to form a discrete bond region between the first and second substrates. As such, during the bonding process, some yielded substrate material flows from under the pattern surface and into the channel to form a channel grommet region.

Both high air permeability and high peeling strength are achieved. The above problem is solved by providing an underpants-type disposable diaper including a stretchable region (80) stretchable at least in one direction in an outer body (20), in which the stretchable region (80) is formed by stacking an elastic film (30) between a first sheet layer (20A) composed of a nonwoven fabric and a second sheet layer (20B) composed of a nonwoven fabric, and in a state in which the elastic film (30) is stretched in the stretching and contracting direction, the first sheet layer (20A) and the second sheet layer (20B) are joined via through holes (31) formed in the elastic film (30) at a large number of sheet bond portions (40) arranged at intervals in each of a stretching and contracting direction and a direction orthogonal thereto, and in the sheet bond portions (40), the first sheet layer (20A) and the second sheet layer (20B) are joined at least by a melted and solidified material (30m) of the elastic film (30) among the first sheet layer (20A) and the second sheet layer (20B).

A novel ledge forming system used to attach a polymer retention hub to a thin wall nozzle core to provide an efficient way to produce a conjunct nozzle. The inventive apparatus provides a means for assembly of components by a method involving use of a press with a heating element to elevate temperature of a thermoplastic polymer to permit formation of a ledge that overhangs the flange of a nozzle core, mechanically locking components together. Execution of the process is rapid, low cost and eliminates damage to the thin wall of the core that would occur if the polymer retention hub were molded around the nozzle core.

A method of fastening a second object to a fiber composite part including a structure of fibers embedded in a matrix material includes: providing the fiber composite part including an attachment surface, with a portion of the structure of fibers being exposed at the attachment surface; providing the second object; placing the second object relative to the fiber composite part, with a resin in a flowable state between the attachment surface and the connector; pressing the second object and the fiber composite part against each other and causing mechanical vibration to act on the second object or the fiber composite part or both, thereby causing the resin to infiltrate the exposed structure of fibers and activating the resin to cross-link; whereby the resin, after cross-linking, secures the second object to the fiber composite part.

A disposable wearable article has an elastic sheet stretchable structure in which a first and second sheet layer are bonded through joint holes penetrating an elastic sheet at a plurality of bonded portions arranged at intervals, wherein a part of the elastic sheet located in a stretchable region is printed with a first design, a part of the elastic sheet in the non-stretchable region is printed with a second design, the first design and the second design are the same when the stretchable and non-stretchable region are at an elongation at elastic limit, and a stretchable direction dimension of design elements of the first design when a stretch rate of the stretchable region is 130% or more is 80% or more of a stretchable direction dimension of design elements of the first design when the stretchable region is at the elongation at elastic limit.

An absorbent article includes a novel design printing portion suitable for a stretchable region. An absorbent article has an elastic film stretchable structure, in which an elastic film is stacked between a first sheet layer and a second sheet layer. The first sheet layer and the second sheet layer are bonded together directly or through the elastic film by a large number of sheet bonded portions arranged at intervals. A region having the elastic film stretchable structure includes a stretchable region. The stretchable region is contracted in a stretchable direction by a contraction force of the elastic film is extensible in the stretchable direction. A design printing portion is provided in a portion located in the stretchable region in the elastic film.

An ultrasonic welding method for joining a first thermoplastic part and a second thermoplastic part without causing visible read-through on an exposed surface of the second part. The method includes arranging the first part on an inner surface of the second part. The inner surface is opposite the exposed surface. The first part has an interface portion contacting the inner surface. The method includes causing a horn of an ultrasonic welding stack to be pressed against the first part by applying ultrasonic energy oscillating at a frequency in a range of 45-70 kHz through the horn, to thereby join the first part and the second part together. The horn has at least one protruding distal portion configured to penetrate through the first part as the ultrasonic energy is imparted through the horn. The distal portion has a length longer than a thickness of the first part. A collapse distance of a weld formed at the interface portion is less than the thickness of the first part, to avoid read-through effects on the exposed surface of the second part.