Abstract: A method of manufacturing an absorbent article in the form of a pants-type diaper or a sanitary panty starts from a flat blank which includes an elongated absorbent body (5) enclosed between two casing sheets (2, 9) which at opposing front and rear end parts of the absorbent body have side parts which extend laterally beyond the body on opposite sides thereof. The method includes the step of folding the blank about a transverse axis so that the end edges of the side parts lie edge-to-edge. The front and rear side parts of the blank which oppose one another in the folded state of the blank are joined together by a releasable and refastenable fastener (20).

Abstract: An absorbent article having a front part (13; 13′), a rear part (14; 14′) and a crotch part (15; 15′) which lies therebetween. The article includes an absorbent body (1; 1′; 25) which is enclosed between an outer, liquid-impermeable casing sheet (7; 7′; 26) and an inner, liquid-permeable casing sheet (8; 8′; 27), this latter sheet lying proximal to a wearer's body in use. The article further includes on opposite sides of a longitudinal symmetry axis of the article flexible, longitudinally extending flaps (9, 10′ 9′, 10′; 28, 29), each of which is connected to the inner casing sheet along a longitudinal edge and which extends from the connected longitudinal edge in toward a longitudinal symmetry axis of the article. The flaps (9, 10; 9′, 10′; 28, 29) are joined together in the crotch part (15; 15′) of the article.

Abstract: In a method and device for applying a thread to a moving substrate, a thread is continuously dispensed to a pick-up point adjacent to the point of contact of two rotating wheels (2, 3) that are inclined towards each other. The peripheries of the wheels have fingers (7) which hook the thread and move it to one side or the other as the wheels rotate, and then deposit the thread extended between the fingers 180° from the pick-up point. Long spaces between the fingers (7) on one wheel or the other make it possible to lay the thread longitudinally (8b) or in a long diagonal line instead of merely in a lateral zigzag pattern. The method and device may be used to make an absorbent article, such as a diaper.

Abstract: A diaper or incontinence guard includes a waist belt (1) and an absorbent unit (2) with a front part (3), a rear part (4) and an intermediate crotch part (5). Fastener devices (9-11 and 6-8 respectively) are disposed at the front end and the rear end of the absorbent unit and can be fastened to the belt. Each of the front and rear ends of the absorbent unit (2) includes a respective central fastener device (10 and 7) that is located on the longitudinal symmetry axis (A—A) of the unit, and two lateral fastener devices (9, 11 and 6, 8 respectively) located on respective sides of the axis.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a front part, a rear part and an intermediate crotch part and also an absorbent body enclosed between the outer liquid-impermeable casing sheet and an inner liquid-permeable casing sheet, and longitudinal flaps located on respective sides of the longitudinal symmetry axis of the article and that extend transversely in towards the axis, and further including longitudinal elastic elements which extend along those edges of the flaps that face toward the longitudinal symmetry axis. The absorbent body is divided into a central part and two side parts at least in the crotch part by folding indications which are located on respective sides of the longitudinal symmetry axis in front and rear sections and which diverge relative to one another up to the side edges of the absorbent body.

Abstract: A method of producing an intermittent elastic web of material. According to the invention, an elongated elastic element (1) is laid-out in a pre-stretched state and in a longitudinal extending wave form and is fastened to a longitudinally extending web (2) such that the web transversely touches or extends beyond the outermost part of wave crests (3) and wave troughs (4) of the wave-shaped elastic element (1), whereafter a longitudinal cut (C) is made in the web so that at least outer parts of wave crests and wave troughs are located on mutually opposite sides of the cut.

Abstract: A production line for manufacturing absorbent disposable articles includes a conveyor path (3, 14, 15) which moves a web of material through the production line, and a row of devices (1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13) which are arranged sequentially in the movement direction of the conveyor path and which perform different operations in the manufacture of the absorbent article. The devices are carried by rectangular carrier plates (29, 34, 35, 39, 47) which are attached to vertical posts (17) which, in a framework (16), are placed on the same side of the conveyor path and sequentially in a direction parallel with the movement direction of the conveyor path. The framework includes a plurality of connectors (27, 28) which connect to flowing media delivery lines, such as electric current and compressed air.

Abstract: A waist belt for supporting disposable-type absorbent articles (7), such as incontinence guards or diapers which comprise a front part, a rear part and an intermediate crotch part, wherein the belt can be fastened to the rear part of the article and when fastened to the rear part of the article comprises two front portions (3, 4) which project out laterally from mutually opposing side edges of the rear part of the article and which can be fastened together through the medium of mechanical fastener elements (12, 14) to form a waist band and which taper towards their respective ends over at least a substantial part of their lengths. Each of the front portions includes first fastener elements (12, 13) which are disposed on the outside of the belt, i.e. that side which faces outwardly in relation to the wearer's body in use, and which extend at least over essentially the whole of the tapering portions of the front portions (10, 11) along the longitudinal symmetry lines thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to absorbent articles, such as diapers and like articles and is concerned with methods for preventing undesirable odors and/or preventing the growth of undesirable microorganisms when the articles are in use, and also provides an absorbent article which can be worn for long periods of time without generating undesirable odors, incurring the risk of infection or having a negative effect on skin. Another object is to amplify the presence in the wearer's urogenital zone of microbiological flora that will assist in preventing the occurrence of urinal tract infections. These objects have been achieved by adding to the absorbent articles microorganisms which exhibit antagonistic properties against present undesirable strains of microorganisms, so as to restrain the growth of these or establishing of new undesirable species.

Abstract: An absorbent article such as a diaper, an incontinence protector or the like, comprises an elongated absorbent body, enclosed between a proximal liquid permeable cover layer and a distal liquid impermeable cover layer. In order to prevent feces from being transferred to a front, urine absorbing area of the article, there is provided a barrier means which comprises at least two, adjacent to each other, strip-shaped elastic elements extending transversely over the inside of the article. The elements in a flat state of the article are pretensioned in their longitudinal direction and at least in the use state of the article, extend backwards and out from the article, relative to a longitudinal edge of the strip-shaped elements facing towards the article.

Abstract: An absorbent article having a front part (12), a rear part (14) and an intermediate crotch part (13), such as a diaper, an incontinence guard or like article. The article includes an absorbent body (1), a liquid-impermeable bottom sheet (7) joined to the absorbent body, and a top sheet (9) which is free from connection with the absorbent body over a large part of its surface and which lies proximal to the wearer's body when the article is worn, and which top sheet includes an opening (15) which extends from the rear article part into the crotch part, and elastic devices (24, 25) which are fastened to the top sheet in a stretched state and which when contracting from the stretched state cause the part of the top sheet that is not joined to the absorbent body to be distanced from the body. The top sheet (9) includes a further opening (16) which extends from the front part (12) into the crotch part (13).

Abstract: An absorbent article having a front part (12), a rear part (14) and an intermediate crotch part (13), such as a diaper, an incontinence guard or like article. The article includes an absorbent body (1), a liquid-impermeable bottom sheet (7) joined to the absorbent body, and a top sheet (9) which is free from connection with the absorbent body over a large part of its surface and which lies proximal to the wearer's body when the article is worn, and which top sheet includes an opening (15) which extends from the rear article part into the crotch part, and elastic devices (24, 25) which are fastened to the top sheet in a stretched state and which when contracting from the stretched state cause the part of the top sheet that is not joined to the absorbent body to be distanced from the body. The top sheet (9) includes a further opening (16) which extends from the front part (12) into the crotch part (13).

Abstract: An absorbent article, such as a diaper, an incontinence guard or a sanitary napkin, which includes a superabsorbent material in film or band form which has slots disposed therein. The film or band is stretched transversely to the longitudinal direction of the slots, such as to form openings.

Abstract: A packaging for a sanitary napkin (1) or like article, wherein the outer surface of the sanitary napkin is at least partially adhesive and the napkin is folded so that the adhesive outer surface thereof faces towards the packaging material. The packaging material presents a relatively small surface area for contact with the outer surface of the sanitary napkin.

Abstract: An apparatus for air-laying of a material in the form of fibers or granules onto a running band. The apparatus includes at least one delimited space arranged at a first surface on an at least partially air-permeable endless running band. A vacuum exists in the space during operation and the band runs successively over the space. This takes place concurrently with air being sucked through the band into the space. At least two rotatable support elements are placed in the space in order to counteract down-bending of the running band. The support elements have a rotational direction generally coinciding with the running direction of the band.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid-permeable casing sheet (1) for absorbent sanitary articles, such as sanitary napkins, incontinence guards and diapers. According to the invention, the casing sheet (1) includes a first layer (2) which is corrugated across at least a central part of its surface so as to provide a row of mutually parallel waves having wave crests (3) and wave troughs (4), wherein the wave crests form an article contact surface with the wearer's body when the article is in use. The casing sheet also includes rows of through-penetrating openings (6) which extend perpendicularly to the corrugations or waves and each of which opening passes through a wave crest (3). The invention also relates to a method for producing such a casing sheet.

Abstract: An absorbent body for use in an absorbent product such as a diaper, incontinence pad, sanitary napkin or the like and which comprises a liquid acquisition portion and a liquid storage portion adjacent thereto. The liquid acquisition portion has a cover layer which covers at least substantial portions of the liquid storage portion and at least one portion which is located at the assumed wetting area of the absorbent body and extends into the underlying liquid storage portion. The material in the liquid acquisition portion has a mean pore size which is greater than the mean pore size of the liquid storage portion. The absorbent body has a high instantaneous absorption, even upon repeated wetting and a low rewetting.

Abstract: An absorbent article which includes a liquid-permeable outer sheet (1) disposed on a first surface of the article, a liquid-impermeable outer sheet (2) disposed on a second surface of the article, and an absorbent body (3) which is enclosed between the two casing sheets and which includes a receiving space (24) for taking-up body liquid, wherein the space is comprised of at least one cavity or region of lower density than the density of a part of the absorbent body (3) adjacent the receiving space (24) and located generally in the same plane. The article is mainly characterized in that the receiving space (24) is disposed in a storage layer (19) in the absorbent body (3), and in that parts (20,125) of the storage layer (19) adjacent the receiving space (24) include a material which when wetted increases in volume in a direction generally perpendicular to the first surface of the article, whereby the size of the receiving space (24) is also increased in this direction as a result of wetting the article.

Abstract: A facing sheet (10) for absorbent articles is disclosed in the form of a laminate made up of at least a first layer (12) and a second layer (14). The first layer is intended to face a wearer when the absorbent article is in use and presents a plurality of through holes (16) delimited by an upper perimeter (18) and a lower perimeter (20) to thereby permit liquid to migrate through to the second layer (14). The second layer presents first depressions (22) which are arranged such that the lower perimeter (20) of each hole in the first layer (12) is aligned with an associated depression in the second layer (14). The invention further relates to a method which may be used to produce such a facing sheet.

Abstract: A method of elastifying a non-woven or plastic jacket of a pants-type article in its unassembled hour-glass form, arranged end-to-end in a longitudinal web, includes the steps of stretching a web length of elastic net, film or elastomeric non-woven material, which is rectilinear in its unstretched state, transversely but not longitudinally at the two end portions (113) which will form the waist, stretching the length of elastic net, film or elastomeric non-woven material longitudinally but not transversely at the intermediate crotch portion (14) therebetween, whereby the net or film will naturally assume the desired hour-glass shape of the jacket to be elastified, then bonding the stretched net or film in its hour-glass shape to the jacket (5).