Abstract: A liquid impregnating system for impregnating, with a liquid, absorbent, compressible product maintained at least in part within the interior compartment of a tub or other container. The impregnating operation is carried out by compressing the product to increase the residence volume in the tub for the impregnating liquid, and directing the liquid into engagement with the product while it is maintained in its compressed condition. Most preferably, the product is a stack of absorbent sheets and the compressing operation is carried out by pressing downwardly on the uppermost sheet of the stack in localized areas intermediate end margins to cause end margins of at least some adjacent sheets in the stack to fan apart. This increases the accessibility of absorbent surface area within the stack to the impregnating liquid.

Abstract: A method for forming discrete fibrous pads including the steps of entraining fibers in air to form an air-suspension of fibers and directing the suspension selectively to different predetermined regions of a pad-formation assembly to form discrete fibrous pads on the assembly.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes an air-laid fibrous web having a medial portion of a greater basis weight than flanking end and side portions. The fibers forming one surface of the web are adhesively bonded together to provide an abrasion resistant, non-pilling, facing layer, and also to aid in maintaining the structural integrity of the web. The fibers forming the other surface of the web are either adhesively bonded together, or a separate backing sheet, preferably in the form of a water-proof plastic sheet, is adhered directly to the other surface of the web to form a stabilized backing layer. The above constructions are adapted for use as disposable diapers.Apparatus of this invention includes a vacuum box having an open end underlying a discrete section of a foraminous forming surface so that regions of the forming surface extend beyond the open end of the vacuum box.