Generally stated, the present invention provides a distinctive absorbent article comprising a backsheet layer, and a topsheet layer which is disposed in facing relation with the backsheet layer. An absorbent body is interposed between the backsheet layer and topsheet layer. The absorbent body includes a retention portion which comprises a matrix of substantially hydrophilic fibers having a distribution of high-absorbency particulate material therein. The hydrophilic fibers and high-absorbency particles can be provided in a fiber-to-particle weight ratio within the range of about 70:30 to about 30:70. A surge management layer, comprising bicomponent fibers having a denier of not more than about 3 d, is located adjacent at least one major, facing surface of the topsheet layer, and can cooperate with the article components to provide for a liquid Penetration Rate index of not less than about 2.67 ml/sec.

Thin absorbent article having rapid uptake of liquid

This invention pertains to a three dimensional disposable garment, subassemblies of the garment, and apparatus and methods for making the garment and subassemblies. The garment is designed to hold a primary absorbent sanitary pad. The garment may have elasticized leg and waist openings and be stretchable about the hip and stomach regions of a user. The garment provides backup protection to control egress of fluids that leak or seep around or through the primary sanitary pad. The garment includes a secondary absorbent positioned in the crotch area and extending into the body of the disposable garment, front and back, and preferably over the leg elastics to trap, inside the garment, leakage from the primary absorbent, and to prevent strike through onto e.g. outer clothing and bed linen. The apparatus and methods facilitate assembling leg elastics and crotch elastics into the garment subassemblies while assembling a series of garment subassemblies in a continuous web structure at a constant, or relatively constant, continuous and efficient speed.

Disposable garment and related manufacturing equipment and methods

Here is disclosed a method for manufacturing individual disposable underpants provided around a waist line and a pair of leg-holes with elastic members from two continuous webs and a plurality of continuous elastic members, characterized by that the webs are applied on predetermined locations with adhesive so that the elastic members can be reliably held on the webs although the elastic members must be forcibly curved when the elastic members are bonded between the webs with use of adhesive.

Method of manufacturing disposable underpants by applying annular adhesive zones to the backsheet and top sheet for retaining elastic for leg holes

A disposable absorbent article (20) includes a multi-functional fastening system (50) which includes a pair of primary fasteners (52, 54) which are located on the opposed side edges in one of the waist regions of the absorbent article. The primary fasteners (52, 54) are configured to releasably engage the opposite waist region of the absorbent article. The fastening system also includes at least on secondary fastener (56, 58) which is located in one of the waist regions of the absorbent article (20). The secondary fastener is configured to releasably engage the opposite waist region of the absorbent article to conform the waist regions of the article to a wearer's body after the primary fasteners (52, 54) have been releasably engaged. The primary fasteners (52, 54) may be prefastened to allow the disposable absorbent article to be pulled on or off over the wearer's hips. The fastening system (50) may further include a belt segment (62) to which the secondary fasteners (56, 58) are attached.

A multi-functional fastener for disposable absorbent articles

An elastic ribbon is fed over a vacuum drum. Rotating cutter blades use the drum as an anvil to cut the ribbon into spaced apart segments. A sheet comprising a diaper web runs over a roll that is spaced from the drum. A segment transferring and stretching device is arranged between the drum and roll. One embodiment of the transferring device has grippers rotating together about the axes that are not coaxial but are at opposite acute angles relative to the roll and drum axes. The grippers engage an unstretched elastic segment on the drum when the grippers are close together but as they rotate they spread apart and stretch the segment which is then pressed onto the glue treated sheet. In another embodiment of the elastic segment stretching and transferring device, grippers are mounted to the periphery of a vacuum drum. At least one of the grippers is moved alternately toward and away from the other under the influence of a stationary cam as the drum rotates.

Apparatus for applying an elastic waistband transversely of a longitudinally moving web

This invention relates to a method for the continuous or intermittent securing of a moving elastic member or band to a moving web or webs of disposable diaper components and the like, wherein at least one component is provided with an alternating sequence of stretchable or elastic portions and non-stretchable, inelastic portions along its length.

Method for effecting securement of alternating stretched and unstretched elastic ribbon to a moving web

This invention relates to a method for the continuous or intermittent securing of a moving elastic member or band to a moving web or webs of disposable diaper components and the like, wherein the elastic member is moved generally transversely of its length to give the transversely moved portion a non-linear shape.

Apparatus for effecting securement of a transversely moved elastic ribbon to a moving web

Method and apparatus for continuously attaching an elastic member to discrete portions of a moving web to impart an elasticized character to predetermined portions of the web while preserving the inelastic character of the other portions of the web.

Method and apparatus for effecting intermittent securement of a stretched elastic member to a moving web

Apparatus for partitioning and/or shaping a fibrous batt by gripping the batt along adjacent lines with resilient means gripping one surface and non-resilient means gripping the opposite surface and displacing said lines with respect to each other to separate the batt without compacting the parted edges of the batt.

Apparatus for partitioning and shaping a fibrous batt

Method and apparatus for partitioning and/or shaping a fibrous batt by gripping the batt along adjacent lines with resilient means gripping one surface and non-resilient means gripping the opposite surface and displacing said lines with respect to each other to separate the batt without compacting the parted edges of the batt.

Anthony Passafiume

Papers

Method for effecting securement of alternating stretched and unstretched elastic ribbon to a moving web

Apparatus for effecting securement of a transversely moved elastic ribbon to a moving web

Method and apparatus for effecting intermittent securement of a stretched elastic member to a moving web

Apparatus for partitioning and shaping a fibrous batt

Method and apparatus for partitioning and shaping a fibrous batt