Methods and apparatuses for producing a substrate are described. A method and apparatus for introducing a component into a fluid supply is also presented. A method can include providing a first fluid supply. The fluid supply can be configured as a foam in some embodiments. The method can also include providing a component feed system and a supply of the component. The method can include introducing the component to a fluid supply in an eductor in some aspects. A resultant slurry including a fluid supply and the component can be transferred through a headbox. The resultant slurry can be dewatered to provide a substrate including the component.

A method for producing an elastic laminate with at least a first top layer and an elastic film, wherein the first top layer is fed along a production direction to a first stretching device, is subsequently stretched transverse to the production direction by means of the first stretching device and is puckered, and is either connected to an extrusion web provided for forming the elastic film such that the top layer is connected to the extrusion web only by portions facing the melt web or is connected to a pre-produced elastic film in that the elastic film is at least incipiently melted on its side facing the first top layer, the first top layer is pressed against the at least incipiently melted side of the elastic film only by portions, and is therefore at least partially embedded in a polymer matrix of the elastic film.

A substantially planar absorbent core (28) extending in a transversal direction (x) and a longitudinal direction (y), and comprising a core wrap (16, 16′) enclosing an absorbent material (60) substantially free of cellulose fibers, the absorbent material forming a pattern of discrete absorbent material areas. The pattern comprises transversally-orientated areas (752) and longitudinally-orientated areas (754). The absorbent core may further comprise at least two longitudinally-orientated channel-forming areas (26).

Methods and apparatuses for producing a substrate are described. A method and apparatus for introducing a component into a fluid supply is also presented. A method can include providing a first fluid supply. The fluid supply can be configured as a foam in me embodiments. The method can also include providing a component feed system and a supply of the component. The method can include introducing the component to a fluid supply in an eductor in some aspects. A resultant slurry including a fluid supply and the component can be transferred through a headbox. The resultant slurry can be dewatered to provide a substrate including the component.

An absorbent structure includes a first area of fibrous absorbent material and a second area of fibrous absorbent material. The first area has a greater basis weight than the second area. The second area includes a plurality of segments separated by vertical interfaces. Each of the vertical interfaces has a width less than 1 cm. Bridging of fibrous absorbent material extends across the vertical interfaces.

Three-dimensional laminates and methods for making the same are provided. The three-dimensional laminates may be apertured and may have welds between various substrates. The three-dimensional laminates may be used in absorbent articles, such as diapers and pants, for example, as topsheets, as topsheets and acquisition layers, or as outer cover materials, for example. The three-dimensional laminates may be produced on an absorbent article manufacturing line.

A carded nonwoven fibrous web and method of making is provided. The web comprises at least 50%, by weight of the fibrous web, of staple fibers and at least 10%, by weight of the fibrous web, of non-fibrous latex binder, wherein, the staple fibers are autogenously bonded to each other and are bonded to each other by the latex binder.

An absorbent disposable article, such as a diaper, panty diaper, panty liner, sanitary napkin or incontinence device is disclosed. The article has a porous polymer-based structure obtainable by a process of: (a) depositing and photopolymerizing, layer-by-layer in accordance with a predetermined 3D model, an emulsion having an external continuous phase surrounding droplets of an internal phase having has one or more photopolymerizable monomers and/or oligomers and a photopolymerization initiator; and (b) removing the internal phase from the continuous polymer phase formed from the one or more photopolymerizable monomers and/or oligomers. The process produces a monolithic porous structure having three types of pores: (i) pores resulting from the location from which the internal phase was removed, (ii) pores interconnecting the pores according to (i), and (iii) pores as predetermined by the 3D model. The invention also relates to a method of making the article.

An absorbent member manufacturing method of the invention is a method for manufacturing an absorbent member (100) for an absorbent article and including synthetic fibers (10b). The method involves: a cutting step of cutting a continuous synthetic fiber sheet (10bs) at predetermined lengths in a first direction and a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and forming sheet fragments (10bh) including the synthetic fibers (10b); a transporting step of transporting the formed sheet fragments (10bh) to an accumulating portion (41); and an accumulating step of accumulating, in the accumulating portion (41), the sheet fragments (10bh) transported in the transporting step, and obtaining an accumulation (100a) which is a constituent member of the absorbent member (100).

In order to absorb a small amount of liquid, to prevent an absorbent article from being disintegrated by the absorbed liquid, and to prevent piping of a toilet from being clogged even if the absorbent article is flushed into a flush toilet, the absorbent article includes a pulp layer containing a crushed pulp or fibers mainly containing a crushed pulp, and the pulp layer has a water repellent surface layer portion formed by applying a water repellent agent to at least one surface layer portion.