Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for winding a web about a central axis and a rotating mandrel to form a roll. A feeding mechanism provides a running web to be wound into a roll. A retainer assembly may be configured for holding the web as it is wound upon the rotating mandrel. The retainer assembly may be configured to accommodate oscillating movement of the rotating mandrel between a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction. The web may be wound in one direction and then back again repeatedly to form a roll. Retaining means, such as paddles, may be actuated from an active position in contact with the web to a resting position removed from the roll. Paddles may serve to hold the web upon the outer surface of the roll at the time in which the rotating mandrel is changing rotational direction.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for applying withdrawal strings to tampon pledgets wherein string is pneumatically looped around a pledget, the ends of the loop are knotted, and the knotted loop is driven through a hole in the pledget.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for applying withdrawal strings to tampon pledgets wherein string is pneumatically looped around a pledget, the ends of the loop are knotted, and the knotted loop is driven through a hole in the pledget.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for winding a web about a central axis and a rotating mandrel to form a roll. A feeding mechanism provides a running web to be wound into a roll. A retainer assembly may be configured for holding the web as it is wound upon the rotating mandrel. The retainer assembly may be configured to accommodate oscillating movement of the rotating mandrel between a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction. The web may be wound in one direction and then back again repeatedly to form a roll. Retaining means, such as paddles, may be actuated from an active position in contact with the web to a resting position removed from the roll. Paddles may serve to hold the web upon the outer surface of the roll at the time in which the rotating mandrel is changing rotational direction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for winding a web about a central axis and a rotating mandrel to form a roll. A rolled web product with an alternating winding pattern may be manufactured. A feeding mechanism provides a running web to be wound into a roll. A retainer assembly may be configured for holding the web as it is wound upon the rotating mandrel. The retainer assembly may be configured to accommodate oscillating movement of the rotating mandrel between a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction. The web may be placed upon a roll by winding in one direction and then back again in a second direction repeatedly to form a roll. Retaining means, such as paddles, may be actuated from an active position in contact with the web to a resting position removed from the roll. Paddles may serve to hold the web upon the outer surface of the roll at the time in which the rotating mandrel is changing rotational direction.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for applying withdrawal strings to tampon pledgets wherein string is pneumatically looped around a pledget, the ends of the loop are knotted, and the knotted loop is driven through a hole in the pledget.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for feeding string from a supply involves entraining the string around at least one feed roll and driving the feed roll continuously in cycles in a direction for feeding the string forward. Each of the cycles involves varying the speed of the roll for feeding a predetermined length of string forward per cycle. The string is subjected to a force in the reverse direction upstream from the feed roll and to a force in the forward direction downstream from the feed roll.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for feeding string involving entertainment of the string around two godet rolls, driving one or both rolls in the direction for feeding the string forward, retarding the forward feed upstream from the rolls and accelerating the feed downstream from the rolls by blowing air on the string.

Abstract: A method for producing a pant-type garment in which a first substantially rectangular fabric layer is placed on top of a second substantially rectangular fabric layer. The first substantially rectangular fabric layer is joined to the second substantially rectangular fabric layer, forming a multi-layer fabric. A crescent-shaped cutout section is cutout from the opposed multi-layer fabric edges of the multi-layer fabric, forming opposed tabs at each end of the opposed multi-layer fabric having a first tab and a second tab. The multi-layer fabric is cut transversely in half, forming two multi-layer fabric halves. Each of the multi-layer halves is folded longitudinally and the first tab and the second tab on one side of each of the multi-layer fabric halves is joined to the corresponding first tab and second tab on the opposed side of each respective multi-layer fabric half, forming two outside-in pant-like garments.

Abstract: This invention pertains to processing continuous webs such as paper, film, composites, and the like, in dynamic continuous processing operations. More particularly, it relates to controlling tension in such continuous webs during the processing operation. Tension is controlled in a dancer control system by connecting a corresponding dancer roll to a servo motor or the like, sensing position, tension, and velocity parameters related to the web and the dancer roll, and providing active gain force commands to cause translational movement in the dancer roll to control temporary, short-term tension disturbances in the web. In some applications of the invention, the dancer control system is used to attenuate short-term tension disturbances. In other applications of the invention, the dancer control system is used to create short-term tension disturbances.

Abstract: This invention pertains to processing continuous webs such as paper, film, composites, and the like, in dynamic continuous processing operations. More particularly, it relates to transferring discrete parts to a continuous web, whether paper, film, composite, or the like. Specifically, the invention relates to methods and apparatus for taking discrete parts from a source in a taking zone, optionally taking the discrete parts as components of a continuous web, onto a transport head on a transfer assembly, severing the discrete parts from the continuous web if received as part of a continuous web, rotating the transfer assembly about a first axis and correspondingly rotating the transport head about a second axis radial to the first axis, to thereby present the discrete parts to a receiver in a transfer zone, and transferring the discrete parts to the receiver in the transfer zone.

Abstract: This invention pertains to handling a continuous web in a continuous processing operation wherein the web incorporates therein one or more stretched elastic-type elements having retractive forces active in the cross-machine direction, and limiting shrinkage of the web in the cross-machine direction to no more than about 5%. Shrinkage in the width dimension is controlled using methods including transporting the web on a sequence of rolls having on their outer working surfaces protuberances which interact with edges of openings in the web, inhibiting lateral movement of elements defining the edges of the openings, and thereby stabilizing the web in the width dimension.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for producing a novel fastener means of the type having a plurality of fastening means extending from bight portions 60 bonded to a backing material 48. Products fabricated with the novel fastener means. The apparatus generally comprises means for drawing an array of filaments 46, or other material, onto a forming wheel 14 having a plurality of grooves 28, and land zones 30 between the grooves, means for positioning a plurality of pins 42 against the filaments 46 and aligned with the grooves 28, means for urging the pins 42 into the grooves 28 and thereby forming loops 50 in the filaments 46, and means for placing a backing material 48 against the filaments 46 and bonding the backing material to the filaments at spaced locations. Pins 42 are trapped in spaces 53 between the filaments 46 and the backing material 48. The apparatus further includes means for releasing the pins from the spaces.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) of the type for applying an elastic ribbon (18) onto the surface of a moving web (12) in curved line path relative to the longitudinal centerline (14) of the web (12) includes a nip roll (16) for directly rolling the elastic ribbon (18) into engagement with the moving web (12) and an oscillating roll (20) adjacent to and spaced from the nip roll (16) for oscillatiang the elastic ribbon (18) in a direction transverse the centerline of the web (12) and applying the elastic ribbon (18) to the nip roll (16) in the curved line path. A guide roll (22) guides the elastic ribbon (18) to wrap around the oscillating roll (20) and tension the elastic ribbon sufficiently for tracking and holding the lateral position of the elastic ribbon (18) on the nip roll (16) to be applied to the moving web (12) in the curved line path.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent garment (10) of the type having opposed engageable waistband portions (14) separated by an intermediate portion (16), comprises a breathable elastomeric nonwoven fabric outer cover (12) and a superposable absorbent structure (32), including a liquid-impervious baffle (36), a liquid-pervious bodyside liner (34), and an absorbent core (38) disposed therebetween. The absorbent structure (32) preferably forms an independent insert separately attached to the outer cover (12) without restricting the stretchability thereof. The garment (10) has a generally asymmetrical hourglass profile with leg cut-out openings (18) converging together to define a narrow crotch portion, front (28) and rear (30) panels on either side of the crotch and pairs of front (20, 22) and rear (24, 26) ear portions extending from the waistbands (14) to the leg openings (18).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for applying an elastic material (14) to a backing material (18) includes an applicator assembly (12) for applying a length of elastic material (14) to a bonding template (16), and a bonding template (16) for supporting the length of elastic material (14) relative to the backing material (18) for a bonding operation. Ultrasonic horns (104,106) bond the length of elastic material (14) to the backing material (18). The applicator assembly (12) includes rolls (32,36) for tensioning the elastic material (14) and a vacuum mechanism for selectively retaining the length of tensioned material (14) and releasing the tensioned elastic material (14) to the bonding template (16). A mechanism is provided for transferring the tensioned elastic material (14) from the applicator assembly (12) to the bonding template (16) while maintaining the elastic material (14) in the tensioned condition.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for producing a novel fastener means of the type having a plurality of fastening means extending from bight portions 60 bonded to a backing material 48. Products fabricated with the novel fastener means. The apparatus generally comprises means for drawing an array of filaments 46, or other material, onto a forming wheel 14 having a plurality of grooves 28, and land zones 30 between the grooves, means for positioning a plurality of pins 42 against the filaments 46 and aligned with the grooves 28, means for urging the pins 42 into the grooves 28 and thereby forming loops 50 in the filaments 46, and means for placing a backing material 48 against the filaments 46 and bonding the backing material to the filaments at spaced locations. Pins 42 are trapped in spaces 53 between the filaments 46 and the backing material 48. The apparatus further includes means for releasing the pins from the spaces.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent garment (10) of the type having opposed waistband portions (14 ) separated by an intermediate portion (16), comprises a breathable elastomeric nonwoven fabric outer cover (12) having an absorbent structure (32) integral therewith, including a liquid-impervious baffle (36), a liquid-pervious bodyside liner (34), and an absorbent core (38) therebetween. The absorbent structure (32) preferably forms an insert attached to the outer cover (12) without restricting the stretchability thereof. The garment (10) has a generally asymmetrical hourglass profile with leg cut-out openings (18) converging together to define a narrow crotch with front (28) and rear (30) panels on either side thereof, having pairs of front (20, 22) and rear (24, 26) ear portions, respectively. Laterally-opposed pairs of rear fastener members (42, 44) and front (46, 48) fastener members extend across the rear ear portions (20, 22) and front ear portions (24, 26), respectively.

Abstract: A fastener for disposable diapers having a first pair of fastener members (70,72) attached to an outer cover (20) of the disposable diaper, a second pair of fastener members (74,76) attached to the outer cover (20). The fastener members (70,72 and 74,76) have a complementary cross section for mating engagement and are releasably interlockable. Each of the fastener members (70,72,74,76) are sufficiently flexible to prevent skin irritation of a wearer and sufficiently inflexible to prevent unwanted unfastening of the fastener members during normal use. A value (E) (I), the product of the Modulus of Elasticity and the Moment of Inertia is utilized as a measure of the flexibility and inflexibility of the fastener. Each fastener member, for example, fastener member 70 has an essentially flat base portion (90) with an aperture (92) separating a pair of clasps (94,96).

Abstract: An anatomically form-fitting, self-adjusting disposable diaper with a stretchable outer cover (20), an absorbent structure (22) and fixed position fasteners (70) (72) (74) (76) attached to the outer cover (20).