Abstract: A disposable absorbent garment can include a waistband assembly that is configured to be worn about a waist of a subject, and an absorbent panel assembly having first and second ends that are coupled to the waistband assembly. The absorbent panel assembly can include a liquid-pervious body-side layer, a liquid impervious external layer, and an absorbent core positioned between the body-side and external layers. At least one of the absorbent panel assembly or the waistband assembly includes a contraction region, such as near the absorbent core, that is configured to be extensible and retractable along a longitudinal axis of the absorbent core. The longitudinal axis can be substantially parallel to a vertical or height axis of a wearer when the absorbent garment is worn by an upright or standing individual.

Abstract: A carton processing apparatus and method can be used to reduce inventory of pre-printed or pre-labeled cartons. The carton processing apparatus can use a stacked inventory of unassembled cartons in a first planar orientation. A carton can be picked from the inventory, rotated from the first planar orientation to a print plane, and transported near a carton coding device, such as an ink jet printer, which can apply indicia to the carton. The processed carton can be further rotated or provided to a downstream device or process.

Abstract: A carton processing apparatus and method can be used to reduce inventory of pre-printed or pre-labeled cartons. The carton processing apparatus can use a stacked inventory of unassembled cartons in a first planar orientation. A carton can be picked from the inventory, rotated from the first planar orientation to a print plane, and transported near a carton coding device, such as an ink jet printer, which can apply indicia to the carton. The processed carton can be further rotated or provided to a downstream device or process.

Abstract: A fiber blending system includes an apparatus and method of forming a mat of cellulosic fibers and synthetic fibers, as well as a mat thereby formed. The method includes the steps of fiberizing cellulosic material into cellulosic fibers in a fiberizer, volumetrically metering a metered amount of synthetic fibers, and injecting the metered amount of synthetic fibers into the cellulosic fibers. The cellulosic fibers are blended with the metered amount of synthetic fibers in a blending chamber to form a fiber blend. The fiber blend is dispersed through a fiber disperser having apertures of a preselected size and shape to provide a dispersed fiber blend. A third type of fiber may also be mixed with the dispersed fiber blend. The dispersed fiber blend is collected as a mat on a fiber collector to provide a mat of blended cellulosic and synthetic fibers. The mat may be thermobonded by a thermobonder and sandwiched between a facing sheet and a backing sheet.