Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-15
2003-05-20
Ball, Michael W. (Department: 1733)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
C156S073100, C156S202000, C156S204000, C156S444000, C604S385040
Reexamination Certificate
active
06565691
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to processes and apparatus for forming a lap seam, and more particularly to processes and apparatus for making prefastened disposable absorbent garments including lap seams.
Garments such as disposable absorbent garments have numerous applications including diapers, training pants, feminine care products, and adult incontinence products. The typical disposable absorbent garment is formed as a composite structure including an absorbent assembly disposed between a liquid permeable bodyside liner and a liquid impermeable outer cover. These components can be combined with other materials and features such as elastic materials and containment structures to form a product that is specifically suited to its intended purposes.
What is lacking and needed in the art are processes and apparatus for forming lap seams such as for the manufacture of prefastened disposable absorbent garments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In response to the above-referenced unfulfilled need in the art, new processes and apparatus for forming lap seams and making prefastened disposable absorbent articles have been discovered.
In one aspect, the invention concerns an apparatus for positioning a pair of panels in overlapping orientation. The apparatus comprises a transport system defining a machine center line, an interior folding mechanism adapted to position a first panel in an interior position, and an exterior folding mechanism adapted to position a second panel in an exterior position relative to the interior position. The interior folding mechanism comprises a mandrel transversely spaced from the machine center line and defining a curved peripheral surface, and an interior forming shoulder in proximity to the mandrel and defining an interior surface disposed toward the mandrel and an opposite exterior surface. The curved peripheral surface and the interior surface define an inner passage therebetween. A fluid pressure device is operatively associated with the inner passage and adapted to establish an air flow through the inner passage.
In another aspect, the invention concerns an apparatus for positioning first and second panels in overlapping orientation, comprising: a transport system defining a machine center line; an interior panel folding mechanism adapted to position a first panel in an interior position; and an exterior panel folding mechanism adapted to position a second panel in an exterior position relative to the interior position. The interior panel folding mechanism comprises a mandrel transversely spaced from the machine center line and defining a curved peripheral surface. The interior panel folding mechanism also comprises an interior forming shoulder defining an interior surface disposed toward the mandrel, an opposite exterior surface, a distal edge, and a head portion adjacent the distal edge and in contact with the mandrel. The curved peripheral surface and the interior surface define an inner passage therebetween, and a fluid pressure device is operatively associated with the inner passage and adapted to establish an air flow through the inner passage and against the interior surface.
In another aspect, the invention concerns an apparatus for positioning first and second panels in overlapping orientation, comprising a transport system defining a machine center line, and an interior panel folding mechanism adapted to position a first panel in an interior position. The interior panel folding mechanism comprises: a mandrel transversely spaced from the machine center line and defining a body having a curved peripheral surface, an internal mandrel chamber within the body, and an aperture through the body and in communication with the internal mandrel chamber; an interior forming shoulder in proximity to the mandrel and defining an interior surface disposed toward the mandrel and an opposite exterior surface, the curved peripheral surface and the interior surface defining an inner passage therebetween; and a fluid pressure device operatively associated with the inner passage and adapted to establish an air flow through the inner passage and into the internal mandrel chamber; and an exterior panel folding mechanism adapted to position a second panel in an exterior position relative to the interior position.
In another aspect, the invention concerns a method for forming a lap seam. The method comprises transporting first and second panels in a machine direction, where the first and second panels are discontinuous in the machine direction. The first panel is fluidly directed onto a curved peripheral surface of a mandrel as the first panel is transported in the machine direction. A second panel is positioned transversely outward from the first panel, with the first panel disposed between the curved peripheral surface and the second panel. The first and second panels are either permanently or refastenably bonded together.
In another aspect, the invention concerns a method of forming a lap seam, comprising: transporting first and second panels in a machine direction with a mandrel comprising a curved peripheral surface disposed between the panels, the first panel disposed between the curved peripheral surface and an interior surface of an interior forming shoulder, the curved peripheral surface and the interior surface defining an inner passage therebetween; establishing an air flow through the inner passage such that the first panel is fluidly directed toward the curved peripheral surface; positioning the second panel transversely outward from the first panel, with the first panel disposed between the mandrel and the second panel; and bonding the first and second panels together.
In yet another aspect, the invention concerns a method for progressively folding first and second discrete panels to form a lap seam. First and second panels are transported in a machine direction. A mandrel is introduced in proximity to the first panel. The mandrel defines a body having a curved peripheral surface. An air flow is established and directed toward the first panel at multiple machine direction positions, such that the air flow directs the first panel toward the curved peripheral surface. The method also includes modifying the direction of the air flow at downstream machine direction positions so that the air flow increasingly folds the first panel over the curved peripheral surface as the first panel is transported in the machine direction. The second panel is positioned transversely outward from the first panel, and the first and second panels are bonded together.
In still another aspect, the invention concerns a method for seaming a pant with first and second pairs of side panels, comprising: transporting a folded pant in a machine direction, the folded pant having opposite first and second waist regions in facing relation, including first side panels of the first waist region in facing relation with second side panels of the second waist region; positioning the first side panels adjacent mandrels having curved peripheral surfaces; creating air flows adjacent the first side panels to direct the first side panels toward the curved exterior surfaces; modifying the direction of the air flows at downstream machine direction positions; and bonding the respective first and second side panels together.
In another aspect, the invention concerns a method for making a pant. The method comprises providing a pant chassis defining a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region which extends between and interconnects the waist regions, first side panels disposed in the first waist region and second side panels disposed in the second waist region. The pant chassis is folded about a fold line extending in a lateral direction through the crotch region, thereby positioning the waist regions and respective first and second side panels in a facing relation. The folded pant chassis is transported in a machine direction with mandrels disposed between each of the facing first and second side panels, such that each first side panel is disposed between a curved
Coenen Joseph Daniel
Maxton David Albert
Tomsovic Charles Robert
Ball Michael W.
Corcoran Gladys
Gage Thomas M.
Kimberly--Clark Worldwide, Inc.
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