Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Patent
1996-04-19
1997-12-02
Aftergut, Jeff H.
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
156163, 156229, 156494, 156495, 156496, 6043852, A61F 1315
Patent
active
056931654
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method of making an absorbent article comprising a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid-impervious backsheet and an absorbent core interposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, the method comprising the steps of: combination thereof along a stationary frame, along an upstream trajectory, a downstream trajectory, and an intermediate trajectory comprised between the upstream trajectory and the downstream trajectory, the web having along the upstream trajectory and along the downstream trajectory a substantially constant speed of transport, the upstream and the downstream trajectory being substantially stationary relative to the frame, are periodically displaceable, and equilibrium position.
The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method according to the invention.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known in the art to produce absorbent articles such as disposable diapers by combining a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet and an absorbent core to form a continuously moving web. In the American patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,301, a method is described to continuously attach discrete lengths of elastic ribbon to the moving web by feeding a continuous elastic ribbon in a pre-stretched state into the nip in which the topsheet and backsheet are joined around the absorbent core. The continuous elastic ribbon which runs along the longitudinal sides of the web, is provided with adhesive at pre-determined intervals. After cutting the web transversely to form individual diapers, parts of the elastic ribbons that have not been provided with glue, retract to their relaxed state to be positioned within the periphery of the topsheet and the backsheet, without gathering the topsheet and the backsheet in the unattached areas.
From the European Patent EP-A-0 256 869 it is known to pass a continuous fibrous web having multiple corrugations, under a powder depositing orifice to deposit an absorbent powder, such as a water-swellable polymeric material in the corrugations. After passing under the powder depositing orifice, the web is fed to a motion changing device to change the movement of the web from continuous to intermittent motion. The motion changing device comprises a vertically oscillating roller, under which the web is passed. When the roller travels downwardly, the web at the upstream side of the roller is stored along the extra path length created by the downward movement, the motion of the web downstream of the roller being stopped.
The above method has as a disadvantage that all the web downstream of the oscillating roller is accelerated and decelerated by the reciprocation of the vertical roller. The interruption of movement of the web may interfere with the functioning of applicator devices located downstream of the vertical roller. Also the accelerations acting on the web by changing the speed of all of the web downstream of the vertical roller, results in a relatively high strain being exerted on the web.
From U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,905 an apparatus for forming a stack of articles is known, in which a flight of grippers are mounted on an endless belt. The belt is looped around transport members, which are reciprocated so that a part of the belt is cyclically stopped, at a continuous drive of the belt. By moving the transport members against the direction of transport of the belt, with the transport velocity, the speed of the belt relative to stationary frame of the stacker is stopped.
A disadvantage of the above apparatus is that the velocity of the reciprocating transport member needs to equal the speed of transport of the belt for a part of the belt to become stationary. Furthermore, the path length of the part of the belt hat extends between the transport member and a stationary roller, changes upon reciprocation of the transport member. Hence, the known apparatus can only be used in combination with a chain or a toothed belt but not in combination with a flat web or relatively low strength.
The European Patent A
REFERENCES:
patent: 4236955 (1980-12-01), Prittie
patent: 4987940 (1991-01-01), Straub et al.
patent: 5109767 (1992-05-01), Nyfeler et al.
patent: 5127981 (1992-07-01), Straub et al.
Aftergut Jeff H.
Johnson Kevin C.
Miller Steven W.
Rasser Jacobus C.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
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