Abstract: Apparatus for ultrasonically bonding a web of bondable material, comprising web transport means for moving the web along a web travel path, a plurality of ultrasonic bonding means disposed along the travel path, means for selectively energizing the ultrasonic bonding means, and carrier means for selectively moving the ultrasonic bonding means into intermittent bonding contact with the web during movement of the web along the travel path, such that the web is multiply untrasonically bonded during travel along said travel path by at least one of: (i) successive bonding contacts with a bonding site on the web by different ones of the plurality of ultrasonic bonding means, and (ii) simultaneous bonding contacts with a plurality of different web bonding sites by different ones of the ultrasonic bonding means. Also disclosed is a corresponding method of ultrasonically bonding a web of bondable material.

Abstract: An absorbent web is provided with spaced apertures which have been formed by slitting, tensioning, and setting fusible material which forms a part of the web. The web preferably includes absorbent material which is capable of increased absorbency when compared to conventional cellulosic fibers.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes for receiving sheets from a sheet stacker, separating them into bundles, and removing the bundles from the discharge area of the sheet stacking apparatus. The apparatus includes a frame, a rotatable receiving means mounted on the frame, means for separating the bundles of sheets being received, and means for rotating the rotatable receiving means. The receiving means may include a plurality of sheet receiving chambers, each chamber having an elevator which may be lowered in the respective chamber. The apparatus also has means for raising each elevator. The separating means accumulates the sheets being received from the sheet stacker while the receiving means is being rotated.

Abstract: The invention is generally accomplished by providing an elongated, curved, better-fitting absorbent pad for absorption of bodily excretions comprising a liquid-impermeable backing member, an absorbent inner member and a liquid-permeable body-side member. The absorbent member is shaped generally in a manner that provides a narrower middle portion of absorbent material. The middle portion also in the preferred embodiment is somewhat thicker than the absorbent portions at the ends of the pad. The pad is provided with upstanding side portions in the middle of each long edge in the area where the absorbent is narrower. The pad further is curved so as to generally conform to the pudendum.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for extruding and cooling self-adhering elastomeric materials to obtain substantial uniform consistency. This is accomplished by bisurfacially exposing the material to cooling while supporting the material as a foraminous means.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for simultaneously folding and pleating a child's training pant or the like. The apparatus generally includes a plunger that is reciprocative through a tube member. The tube member has an interior surface defining an interior space and a pleating surface disposed on the interior surface. Upon the plunger member forcibly urging the training pant through the interior space, it is simultaneously folded by the interior surface and pleated by the pleating surfaces.

Abstract: The invention is generally accomplished by providing a panty-like garment containing an integral menstrual pad. The absorbent pad portion extends from the crotch region up in both the back and the front to a point higher than normal menstrual pads. The pad extends at least up to the area where the crack between the gluteus maximus ends. Further there is an impervious member that is outside of the absorbent pad and greater in area than the absorbent pad.

Abstract: A drum separator includes a cylindrical screen drum which is mounted for rotation within a sealed housing such that a small portion of the perimeter of the screen drum is exposed. Air, fibers, and fines are introduced onto a first part of the exposed portion of the screen drum and fines and air pass through the screen drum into the interior of the housing and then to a fines collector. Fibers which are too large to pass through the screen drum are carried by the rotation of the screen drum to a pick-up head which applies a low pressure to the exterior of the screen drum to remove the fibers. The pick-up head is pivotably mounted to the housing, and air cylinders lift the pick-up head away from the screen drum in the event of an impact. The pick-up head includes a pick-up bar and a plurality of fins which are shaped to optimize removal of fibers from the exterior of the screen drum.

Abstract: An improved wettable creping adhesive comprises an aqueous admixture of polyvinyl alcohol and a water-soluble thermoplastic polyamide resin comprising the reaction product of a polyalkylene polyamine, a saturated aliphatic dibasic carboxylic acid, and a poly(oxyethylene) diamine.

Abstract: The invention is generally accomplished by providing a cloth which is coated or impregnated in a discontinuous manner with a polish composition. The polish composition comprises a silicone oil, a detergent and soap or wax. In a particularly preferred form, the cloth comprises a polypropylene meltblown material that has been treated with a surfactant, and the wax is a combination of saponified and non-saponified waxes. The polishing wipe further may have added thereto antistatic agents, UV absorbers and mineral oil.

Abstract: A composite with an adjustable, conformable opening therein, comprising a base web of less extensible, lower elastic recovery material, joined to a second web, of more extensible, higher elastic recovery material, wherein the base web has a first opening therein, and the second web has a second opening therein generally concentric with the first opening and of smaller size than the first opening, so that the second opening is circumferentially peripherally bounded by an annular-shaped segment of the second web, and the annular-shaped segment of the second web in turn is circumferentially peripherally bounded by the base web. The composite is advantageously employed to form garments and similar articles wherein the opening serves as a conformable, adjustable body part opening, such as in gloves, shirts, socks, shoe covers, slippers, disposable diapers, training pants, etc.

Abstract: A compact tube applicator is provided in which a nesting telescoping inner tube has slits on its leading edge to receive the tampon pledget and a ring positioned around the trailing end, the trailing end being narrower in diameter than the leading end when the inner tube is pulled backward, the tampon is expelled through the leading ends of the two tubes by the inwardly compressive forces provided by the ring.

Abstract: The invention is generally accomplished by providing an absorbent pouch for the male genitalia that has a generally triangular opening wherein one side of the triangle is adapted to be worn flat against the upper genital region and the other two portions of the triangular opening extend into the crotch and meet behind the scrotum. The pouch extending downward from the triangular opening has sufficient capacity to comfortably contain the male genitalia, and the opening at the top is sufficient to allow air circulation. The allowance for air circulation decreases skin problems. The method for forming the device consists of folding a retangular sheet of composite material on a first fold line that is offset from the middle of the sheet. Next, the points forming the outer ends of the first fold line are folded toward each other so that they are adjacent. The newly formed edges are then folded inwardly toward each other a predetermined distance so as to form the generally triangular opening.

Abstract: A method for restoring the catalytic activity of solid particles using an improved apparatus for separating solid particles from vapor is disclosed. The apparatus includes a novel inlet system, a novel particle outlet system and a chamber having novel dimensional relationships which result in an apparatus that separates solid particles from vapor with less attrition, or "break-up" of particulate matter, while maintaining a high separation efficiency at high loading conditions, e.g., the apparatus maintains a tangential wall velocity of less than about 50 feet per second and separates, from a mixture of solid particles and vapor, more than about 95% of the solid particles that are larger than about 20 microns in diameter while processing more than about 200 cubic feet of the mixture per second.

Abstract: The pad of the invention is composed of impervious backing sheet and a pervious body-side liner with an absorbent material there between. The pad is elasticized along its edges from points at substantially one end extending along the longer edges of the rectangular pad for at least two-thirds of the length of the pad. In a preferred form of the invention the pad has as its absorbent material a coform structure of air-formed meltblown polymers combined with air-formed cellulose fibers that have been formed onto a pervious spunbonded material that serves as the pervious body-side liner. In the preferred form the backing sheet is formed of an extrusion-coated spunbonded material that has the spunbonded material on the outer surface with the backing sheet folded over to overlap on the body side of the garment with the fabric toward the body. The folded portion forms the pad's baffles.

Abstract: Ink-bearing secondary fiber feedstocks are mechanically fiberized in a substantially dry state to produce substantially discrete fibers and ink-bearing fines, and the fibers are separated from the fines in a substantially dry state.

Abstract: A hot or cold compress a layer of substituted urea/urethane hydrogel material bonded to a porous substrate. The hydrogel material is made up of a high molecular weight polyol, a toluene diisocyanate prepolymer and water. Generally, the water and polyol each comprises between about 40 to 50% by weight of the hydrogel, with the diisocyanate prepolymer making up the remaining 12-16% by weight. The hot or cold compresses of the present invention are formed by preparing the hydrogel material and then placing a porous substrate in contact with the hydrogel prior to the time that gel formation is complete. In this manner, the hydrogel becomes integrally bonded to the porous substrate. Other materials such as terrycloth can be bonded to the porous substrate prior to bonding the substrate to the hydrogel. Articles useful in therapy can then be formed by attaching the edges of the cloth/porous substrate to form the desired object.

Abstract: An abrasive polypropylene meltblown web having a very light basis weight and thick fibers is made by depositing the fibers onto a substrate while in a semi-molten state.

Abstract: A method of forming folded hems about the periphery of openings in a moving fabric web includes inserting a mandrel having radially expandable and contractible folding means into the openings to turn out of the web a peripheral portion of the fabric which is then folded back by radial expansion of the folding means. The folding means is radially contracted for entry and withdrawal of the mandrel. Apparatus for carrying out the method may comprise a rotating drum within which a plurality of mandrels is mounted to orbit with the drum. A continuous web of fabric having openings therein is carried by the drum and positioning means reciprocatingly insert and withdraw the mandrel through the fabric openings. Control means radially expand and contract the folding means synchronously with the positioning means.

Abstract: Apparatus for folding, bonding and severing a longitudinally extending web, comprising a rotatable disc having a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart, radially extending protrusions at its periphery, means for rotating the disc, means for feeding the longitudinally extending web onto the disc during rotation thereof, so that outer extremities of the protrusions contact the web at its medial region to cause folding of the web so that its sides overlap one another between the protrusions, means for bonding the folded web at its overlapping sides between adjacent protrusions during rotation of the disc, and means for severing the folded web at its overlapping sides between adjacent protrusions during rotation of the disc. Also disclosed is a corresponding method wherein the longitudinally extending web is folded, bonded and severed.