Abstract: The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles having refastenably connected front and back waist regions. The absorbent article may comprise a first and second flanges, each flange comprising a first surface and a second surface, and each flange comprising a first end region and a second end region. The first surfaces of the first end regions of the first and second flanges are bonded with a wearer facing surface of a first belt. The second surfaces of the second end regions of the first and second flanges are in a facing relationship with a wearer facing surface of the second belt. The second end regions of the first and second flanges are refastenably connected with the second end region of the second belt.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for assembling absorbent articles having refastenably connected front and back waist regions. The absorbent article may comprise a first and second flanges, each flange comprising a first surface and a second surface, and each flange comprising a first end region and a second end region. The first surfaces of the first end regions of the first and second flanges are bonded with a wearer facing surface of a first belt. The second surfaces of the second end regions of the first and second flanges are in a facing relationship with a wearer facing surface of the second belt. The second end regions of the first and second flanges are refastenably connected with the second end region of the second belt.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to bonding a first substrate together a second substrate with adhesives that are substantially tackifier free. A layer of substantially tackifier free adhesive may be applied to a first surface of the second substrate to define an adherence zone, and the first substrate is positioned on the adherence zone of the second substrate to form a laminate. The first and second substrates are pressed against each other in the adherence zone to force the substantially tackifier free adhesive to penetrate into the first and second substrates. A first portion of the layer of the adhesive penetrates into the first substrate and a second portion of the layer of the adhesive penetrates into the second substrate. A central portion of the layer of the adhesive between the first and second portions separates the second surface of the first substrate from the first surface of the second substrate.

Abstract: An absorbent article including a side panel having an ultrasonically bonded, gathered laminate is provided. The laminate has an elastomeric layer and a substrate and is joined to the absorbent article chassis at a chassis attachment bond and positioned in one of a first or second waist region. The ultrasonically bonded, gathered laminate also includes an ear structural feature comprising a surface modification to the substrate and comprising at least one of the following: embossing, apertures, perforations, slits, melted material or coatings, compressed material, secondary bonds that are disposed apart from a chassis attachment bond, plastic deformation, and folds.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a first waist region, a second waist region, and a crotch region disposed between the first and second waist regions; and a chassis having a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. The article also includes a side panel having an ultrasonically bonded, gathered laminate. The laminate has an elastomeric layer and a substrate and is joined to the chassis at a chassis attachment bond and positioned in one of the first or second waist regions. The ultrasonically bonded, gathered laminate also includes an ear structural feature comprising a surface modification to the substrate and comprising at least one of the following: embossing, apertures, perforations, slits, melted material or coatings, compressed material, secondary bonds that are disposed apart from a chassis attachment bond, plastic deformation, and folds.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles with waist panels configured with physical properties for mitigating assembly complications. In some configurations, a waist panel comprises a longitudinal bending stiffness with peak load of at least about 0.19 N; a machine direction web modulus at 2% of at least about 72 N/%; a tensile load at peak of at least about 7 N/cm, as measured according to a MD tensile test; and/or a thickness of least about 0.4 mm, as measured according to Thickness Test. Such physical properties may help prevent and/or reduce instances of manufacturing problems and/or defective products during assembly by: enhancing the ability to consistently cut desired machine direction lengths of waist panels; reducing the possibility of a waist panel to undesirably fold back onto itself during assembly; enhancing the ability to absorb heat without damage and more consistently transfer discrete elastic parts between transformation apparatuses.

Abstract: An absorbent article includes a first waist region, a second waist region, and a crotch region disposed between the first and second waist regions; and a chassis having a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet. The article also includes a side panel having an ultrasonically bonded, gathered laminate. The laminate has an elastomeric layer and a substrate and is joined to the chassis at a chassis attachment bond and positioned in one of the first or second waist regions. The ultrasonically bonded, gathered laminate also includes an ear structural feature comprising a surface modification to the substrate and comprising at least one of the following: embossing, apertures, perforations, slits, melted material or coatings, compressed material, secondary bonds that are disposed apart from a chassis attachment bond, plastic deformation, and folds.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for recycling multi-compartment unit dose articles to avoid significant cross-contamination between the contents of the individual compartments.

Abstract: The need for a means to recycle multi-compartment unit dose articles, while avoiding significant cross-contamination between the contents of the individual compartments, is met by recycling the contents of each compartment of the unit dose article separately.