Diaper closing strip and method and device for the production thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a diaper closing strip (1), comprising a substrate (2) and a plurality of mechanical closing elements (3) arranged thereon, which mechanical closing elements have a front-side engaging surface and a rear-side fastening surface, wherein an adhesive element (6) is arranged between the substrate (1) and the rear-side fastening surface of each mechanical closing element (3), which adhesive element does not completely cover the rear-side fastening surface of the mechanical closing element (3).

Claims

1. A diaper fastening tape comprising a substrate and a plurality of mechanical fasteners arranged thereon, wherein each mechanical fastener has a front engaging surface and a rear attachment surface, wherein the front engaging surface is formed by a plurality of male fastening elements which at one end are directly joined to a supporting layer, and wherein the rear attachment surface is formed by the surface of the supporting layer opposite the surface from which the male fastening elements extend, characterized in that between the substrate and the rear attachment surface of each mechanical fastener a respective adhesive element is arranged that does not entirely cover the rear attachment surface of the mechanical fastener.

2. The diaper fastening tape as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the substrate in a zone in which the plurality of mechanical fasteners are arranged cannot stretch in the plane of the substrate and/or comprises a tensile strength in accordance with DIN EN 29073-3 of more than 10 N/50 mm.

3. The diaper fastening tape as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the substrate in the zone in which the plurality of mechanical fasteners are arranged cannot stretch in the cross direction.

4. The diaper fastening tape as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the substrate in the zone in which the plurality of mechanical fasteners are arranged comprises good deformability out of the substrate plane.

5. The diaper fastening tape as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the adhesive element covers between 60% and 90% of the rear attachment surface of the mechanical fastener.

6. The diaper fastening tape as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical fasteners comprise male fastening elements that extend from a supporting layer.

7. The diaper fastening tape as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical fasteners are formed from polyethylene or polypropylene.

8. The diaper fastening tape as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the adhesive element comprises an adhesive, which is selected from polyolefin-based heat-seal adhesives, HMPSA (hot melt pressure sensitive adhesives) based on natural and synthetic rubber and/or polyacrylate hot melt adhesives.

9. A method for producing a diaper fastening tape as claimed in claim 1, comprising: (a) providing a substrate; (b) providing of a plurality of mechanical fasteners each with an adhesive element on a rear attachment surface; and (c) joining the mechanical fasteners to the substrate by means of the adhesive element; characterized in that the respective adhesive element is provided such that it does not completely cover the rear attachment surface of the mechanical fastener.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the adhesive element is provided such that it covers between 60% and 90% of the rear attachment surface of the mechanical fastener.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that steps a. to c. are performed continuously.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the providing of the plurality of mechanical fasteners each with an adhesive element on a rear attachment surface in step b is performed by dividing one mechanical fastener into a plurality of mechanical fasteners, in particular by cutting or stamping, and then applying one adhesive element to the rear attachment surface of each of the resultant mechanical fasteners.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the adhesive element is provided such that it covers between 70% and 80% of the rear attachment surface of the mechanical fastener.

14. A device for producing a diaper fastening tape as claimed in claim 1, comprising: a substrate feed for providing a substrate; a fastener feed for providing at least one mechanical fastener having a front engaging surface and a rear attachment surface; a coating device for applying adhesive to the rear attachment surface of the at least one mechanical fastener; and a contact-making device for joining the at least one mechanical fastener to the substrate by means of the adhesive, characterized in that the coating device comprises a nozzle arrangement having a plurality of nozzle apertures for providing a corresponding number of adhesive elements.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the coating device also comprises a guiding aid for guiding the at least one mechanical fastener.

16. The device as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the guiding aid comprises a plurality of recesses for guiding a plurality of mechanical fasteners, wherein each recess in the guiding aid is allocated a corresponding nozzle aperture in the nozzle arrangement.

17. The device as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that each of the nozzle apertures has a diameter in the cross direction that is less than the diameter of the corresponding recess in the guiding aid in the cross direction.

18. The device as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the guiding aid and the nozzle arrangement are integrally formed.

19. The device as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the guiding aid and the nozzle arrangement are integrally formed in the form of an assembly having a plurality of T-shaped recesses.

20. A diaper comprising one or more diaper fastening tapes as claimed in claim 1.

21. The diaper fastening tape as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the substrate in a zone in which the plurality of mechanical fasteners are arranged cannot stretch in the plane of the substrate and/or comprises a tensile strength in accordance with DIN EN 29073-3 between 15 and 200 N/50 mm.

22. The diaper fastening tape as claims in claim 1, characterized in that the substrate in a zone in which the plurality of mechanical fasteners are arranged cannot stretch in the plane of the substrate and/or comprises a tensile strength in accordance with DIN EN 29073-3 between 20 and 150 N/50 mm.

23. The diaper fastening tape as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the adhesive element covers between 70% and 80% of the rear attachment surface of the mechanical fastener.

Description

(1) The invention is described by way of example below with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a diaper fastening tape according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the line A-A in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary nozzle arrangement for providing a plurality of adhesive elements;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic lateral view of the exemplary nozzle arrangement of FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line A-A in FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic lateral view of a coating device having a guiding aid and a separate nozzle arrangement according to one embodiment of the invention;

(8) FIG. 7 is a schematic lateral view of a coating device according to a further embodiment of the invention, in which the guiding aid and the nozzle arrangement are integrally formed;

(9) FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary device for producing a diaper fastening tape according to an embodiment of the invention; and

(10) FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a diaper, of which on each diaper ear a diaper fastening tape according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is attached.

(11) FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a diaper fastening tape according to the invention. More precisely, FIG. 1 shows a precursor from which two diaper fastening tapes 1 suitable for fitting to a diaper are obtained by cutting along the line S. Each of these two diaper fastening tapes obtained in this manner comprises a substrate 2, which extends over a user region 4 and a retaining region 5. The substrate 2 is formed from a nonwoven fabric layer, which extends in a plane defined by MD and CD. Mechanical fasteners 3 are arranged on the substrate 2 in the user region 4. Each of the mechanical fasteners 3 covers an underlying adhesive element (not shown), which lies between the mechanical fastener 3 and the substrate 2.

(12) FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the line A-A in FIG. 1. This figure also shows in addition to the substrate 2 and mechanical fasteners 3, adhesive elements 6 arranged therebetween. The adhesive elements 6 comprise a smaller spatial extent along the CD than the mechanical fasteners.

(13) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an exemplary nozzle arrangement 9 for providing a plurality of adhesive elements. The nozzle arrangement 9 comprises a nozzle body 9a and a nozzle lip 9b. In the form shown, the nozzle arrangement 9 is formed from two pieces and can be dismantled along a dividing line running through both the nozzle body 9a and the nozzle lip 9b. Intercommunicating channels (not shown) extend inside the nozzle body 9a and the nozzle lip 9b. Adhesive introduced into the nozzle body can be carried in the communicating channels to the nozzle lip and can exit the nozzle arrangement via a plurality of nozzle apertures.

(14) FIG. 4 shows a schematic lateral view of the exemplary nozzle arrangement 9 of FIG. 3, comprising the nozzle body 9a and the nozzle lip 9b. In the lower region of the nozzle lip 9b are recesses 9c, each of which is allocated to a respective nozzle aperture (not shown) and which extend over the full depth of the nozzle lip in the MD.

(15) FIG. 5 shows a sectional view along the line A-A in FIG. 4. It shows the nozzle arrangement 9 comprising the nozzle body 9a and the nozzle lip 9b, and a nozzle 11 formed from a channel that extends through the nozzle body 9a and the nozzle lip 9b. In the lower region of the nozzle lip 9b are recesses 9c, each of which is allocated to a respective nozzle aperture (not shown) and which extend over the full depth of the nozzle lip in the MD.

(16) FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of a coating device 7. In the variant shown, this device comprises a guiding aid 8 for guiding mechanical fasteners, and a nozzle arrangement 9. The guiding aid 8 and the nozzle arrangement 9 each comprise recesses 10 and nozzles 11 respectively that correspond with one another, i.e. each recess 10 in the guiding aid 8 is allocated a nozzle 11 in the nozzle arrangement 9. Each recess 10 in the guiding aid 8 has a larger diameter than the corresponding nozzle 11 in the nozzle arrangement 9. The distance between the guiding aid 8 and the nozzle arrangement 9 can be varied. In particular, the guiding aid 8 and the nozzle arrangement 9 can be moved closer together with the result that they make contact or nearly make contact.

(17) FIG. 7 is a schematic lateral view of a coating device 7 according to a further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the guiding aid 8 and the nozzle arrangement 9 are integrally formed. More precisely, the coating device 7 comprises recesses 10 and nozzles 11 that in cross-section have the shape of a T, where the wider region in each T, i.e. the cross-piece of the T, serves as a guiding aid.

(18) FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary device for producing a diaper fastening tape according to an embodiment of the invention. The device comprises a substrate feed for providing the substrate 2, a fastener feed for providing the mechanical fasteners 3, a coating device 7 for applying the adhesive element 6 to the rear attachment surface of each of the mechanical fasteners 3, and a contact-making device 12 for bringing the adhesive-coated mechanical fastener 3 into contact with the substrate 2. The contact-making device 12 comprises a horizontally arranged upper roller 13 and a lower roller 14 arranged parallel thereto. The lower roller 14 carries the substrate 2 in the MD. The mechanical fasteners 3 are fed in an opposite direction to the MD above the substrate web, and turned around by means of the upper roller 13 and brought into contact with the substrate 2 in the machine direction. Before being turned around, the mechanical fasteners 3 are coated with adhesive 6 by the coating device 7.

(19) FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of a diaper 15 having a rear waist region 16 and a front waist region 17. On each diaper ear 18 thereof is attached a diaper fastening tape 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Each diaper fastening tape 1 is connected via the attachment region 4 thereof to the diaper ear 18. The front waist region 17 of the diaper 15 comprises a landing zone 19. This landing zone comprises female fastening elements, which can form a detachable retaining connection to the male fastening elements of the mechanical fasteners 3.

(20) The invention has been illustrated by way of example using preferred embodiments. A person skilled in the art will recognize that variants thereof are possible that still lie within the concept forming the basis of the invention. The embodiments shown shall therefore not be understood to limit the scope of protection, which is defined by the accompanying claims.

LIST OF REFERENCES

(21) 1 diaper fastening tape

(22) 2 substrate

(23) 3 mechanical fasteners

(24) 4 attachment region

(25) 5 user region

(26) 6 adhesive elements

(27) 7 coating device

(28) 8 guiding aid

(29) 9 nozzle arrangement; 9a nozzle body; 9b nozzle lip; 9c recesses

(30) 10 recess in guiding aid

(31) 11 nozzle

(32) 12 contact-making device

(33) 13 upper roller

(34) 14 lower roller

(35) 15 diaper

(36) 16 rear waist region

(37) 17 front waist region

(38) 18 diaper ear

(39) 19 landing zone