Abstract: Apparatus for longitudinal compressive treatment of a continuous web of material. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical drive roll for advancing the web, a smooth-surfaced primary member to press the web against the drive roll, and a generally-stationary retarder downstream of the primary member to engage and retard the web before the web has left the drive roll. The retarder surface has a large multiplicity of parallel ridges and grooves set on a diagonal, and effective to cause longitudinal compression of the web and to cause the web to flow at an angle to the original direction of drive. The retarder surface also has a reorienting retarding surface, effective after the web advances incrementally at the angle, to effect further compression and to reorient the travel of the web to be generally parallel to the original direction of drive.

Abstract: Apparatus for longitudinal compressive treatment of a continuous web of material, comprising a cylindrical drive roll (100), a sheet form assembly (112, 114) to engage and press the web against the drive roll, and a sheet holder (200) for positioning the sheet assembly over the drive roll. A configuration stands from one face of the sheet assembly, the sheet holder defines a channel (21) transverse to the direction of motion of the web, the cannel being open at one of tis ends for insertion of the assembly endwise into the sheet holder by sliding motion in the transverse direction, and the channel is engageable with the standing configuration to retain and position the sheet assembly int eh longitudinal direction. This holding arrangement provides for simple installation, while accomodating thermal expansion and contraction of the sheet assembly during operation.

Abstract: Apparatus for longitudinal compressive treatment of a continuous web of material. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical drive roll for advancing the web, a smooth-surfaced primary member to press the web against the drive roll, and a generally-stationary retarder downstream of the primary member to engage and retard the web before the web has left the drive roll. The retarder surface has a large multiplicity of parallel ridges and grooves set on a diagonal, and effective to cause longitudinal compression of the web and to cause the web to flow at an angle to the original direction of drive. The retarder surface also has a reorienting retarding surface, effective after the web advances incrementally at the angle, to effect further compression and to reorient the travel of the web to be generally parallel to the original direction of drive.

Abstract: In a product including at least a first layer of fibers, the layer residing in a thickened, shortened microundulated state as a result of longitudinal micro-compressive treatment, the layer is characterized by being shortened at least 20% of its original length in the direction of treatment, there being at least 10 microundulations per inch in the layer in the direction of the treatment, the compressed-together relationship achieved by the treatment being substantially preserved in said product with adjacent microundulations in said layer residing with their sides abutting one another. The microundulated layer is shape-retentive and has stored mechanical energy capable, under activating conditions, to cause the product to expand. Products, and a method of producing such products, are also described. The products include superabsorbent assemblages, tampons, pads, cushions and liquid distributing and storage articles.

Abstract: Machines and methods for longitudinal compressive treatment of a web are shown. A retarder blade disposed adjacent a roll provides a web-contacting slide surface to which the longitudinally compressed web transfers and upon which it slides as it leaves the roll. This retarder blade has two spaced-apart roll-contacting regions disposed toward the roll, one of the roll-contacting regions being at the forward tip of the blade near the drive region and the second roll-contacting region being at a heel region spaced downstream. A pair of drive rolls defines a nip for driving the web forward, the surface of each of the rolls comprising a series of principle web-gripping grooves extending in only one direction helically about the roll axis. At the nip line of the rolls the angle of the grooves of one roll is inclined positively relative to the direction of travel of the web, and the angle of the grooves of the other roll is inclined negatively relative to the direction of travel of the web.

Abstract: A web treating machine and method employing a web-gripping drive surface, a primary member that presses the web against the drive surface, and a stationary retarding surface, supported by a sheet form member, that retards the web before it leaves the drive surface, has the following of features. The sheet form support member is elastically deflectable. A tip deflector applies deflecting pressure on the downstream end of the support member to deflect the support member toward the drive member. A cavity stabilizer, in the form of a second sheet form member, extends in face-to-face reinforcing relationship over the initial portion of the support member in the region immediately downstream of the primary member, the portion of the support member extending between the cavity stabilizer and the tip deflector being relatively unreinforced. The cavity stabilization and tip deflection is obtained by deflection of various spring members, in one instance an advantageous gull-wing form being achieved.

Abstract: A machine and process for a web of material employing two side-by-side sets of spaced apart driven disks adapted to rotate respectively in opposite directions about two spaced apart parallel axes, the axes being sufficiently close that peripheral margins of the disks of one set run between the peripheral margins of the disks of the other set in a mated relationship, the sets of disks mutually defining a series of web driving regions spaced apart in a direction parallel with the axes, with successive web driving regions, offset from one another, open channels between said disks providing, with the driving regions, a width-wise continuous, non-linear cross-section corridor through which the web passes, the driving regions adapted to impart to a web led lengthwise into the corridor, crosswise tension in the web, pulling the web about the edges of the disks, the tension enabling the disks to apply forward driving force to the web and retarding means closely disposed to the driving regions located to apply retardi

Abstract: A machine and method for treating a web by longitudinal compressive action, by pressing a web against a driven roll to drive it into a treatment cavity bounded by the roll and an overlying surface, followed by application of retarding forces by extrusion in which the extrusion orifice is arranged with its axis substantially parallel to the roll at the web-drive point, and in which resilient self-adjustment of the extrusion orifice is achieved by employing a plate-form member parallel to the web which is resiliently urged toward the drive nip in the direction of extent of the plate-form member.

Abstract: A pickup device for a piece of sheet-form flexible fabric or the like includes first and second fabric gripping elements that come together at the face of the fabric piece to grip a localized portion of the fabric, a support for resiliently biasing the fabric gripping elements together in a gripping position, and an actuatable separator for applying force to overcome the biasing to move the fabric gripping elements apart. Upon deactuation of the separator, the support is adapted to resiliently return the gripping elements to the gripping position. A pickup system and method for loosening and removing a single face piece of fabric from a stack of pieces aligned at an edge are also described in which a vacuum stabilizing system is combined with a jet directing air under the raised edge of a fabric piece.

Abstract: A machine and method for longitudinally compressing a web under the influence of driving forces provided at a nip line defined by spaced-apart pairs of matched rotating disks and under the influence of retarding forces provided by sets of retarding fingers inserted in the spaces between the disks.

Abstract: A thermoplastic nonwoven web is softened by stretching the web in the cross-machine direction, stretching the web in the machine direction, and shearing the surfaces of the web relative to each other. The resulting web has increased flexibility and increased surface nap which correlates with increased perceived softness.

Abstract: In a clothes washer of the type which has an array of tuckers and which is reciprocated vertically toward and away from the bottom of a container of washing liquid, a diaphragm is mounted to have an extended orientation during downward stroke for displacing liquid, and a relatively collapsed orientation during upward stroke, and a volume-outlining, clothes-restraining open uper structure provided over the diaphgram, this open structure extending upwardly from the diaphragm so that at least a part of it extends above the normal liquid level when the washer is in its lowest position. In action, as the diaphragm displaces liquid downwardly, the open structure, in following behind the diaphragm, restrains articles of clothes from moving inwardly over the diaphragm but allows liquid to move inwardly through the clothes and through the open structure to fill in behind the diaphragm.

Abstract: A method of automated garment assembly includes providing a shingled array of limp garment segments on a movable conveyor with the leading portion of the forwardmost segment exposed for contact by the segment transfer device, and subjecting the array to conditions promoting separation of the forwardmost segment from the array without disturbance of the alignment of the remaining segments in the array and simultaneously engaging the forwardmost segment with the segment transfer device and displacing it from the array to a segment processing station. Apparatus for performing the method are also described.

Abstract: A pickup device for sheet-form flexible fabric comprising first and second gripping elements which move laterally in the plane of the fabric in an angle to the direction of clamping, whereby the fabric is tensioned before clamping. Preferably the clamping elements of the teeth have vertical frontal edges, the teeth arranged to come together during final motion, and preferably the teeth being in matching parallel lines. Jets of air are employed to assist in separation, either blowing down at the gripping lines, or between pairs of devices that tension the fabric, or, in regions where the fabric droops below a lifting pickup, using a device that moves the jets closely against the drooping fabric portion. An array of such pickups is rotated about an axis to turn upside down or end for end. All features can be achieved simply by lines of teeth carried on elongated spring arms that are cammed together.

Abstract: A fabric component pickup apparatus or the like having first and second fabric gripping elements defining first and second opposed gripping lines in the plane of the face of the fabric component, the fabric gripping elements adapted for movement relative to each other essentially in the plane with simultaneous components of motion closing the distance between the gripping lines and displacing one gripping line laterally in the plane of the fabric at an angle to the closing motion. As the fabric lying between gripping lines is tensioned by the component of lateral displacement motion of the gripping elements, the fabric is simultaneously gathered by the component of closing motion. In one preferred embodiment, an air blast is directed through the porosity created by tensioning the fabric to impinge upon the underlying layer of fabric.

Abstract: The exterior of a compressed tampon, e.g. for absorbing menstrual discharge, is formed from a bat of substantially aligned absorbent fibers that have been preshortened in a microundulated state as a result of longitudinal compressive pretreatment. The preshortening, generally more than 20% of original length of the fibers, is selected to permit substantial recovery of original dimension, there being at least 10 of the microundulations per inch prior to incorporation in the tampon. The microundulations are shape-retentive (in the dry state) and reside with the sides of adjacent microundulations close together. Because of the pretreated state, the absorbent fibers have stored mechanical energy in a predetermined selected direction within the final tampon. They are highly moisture sensitive, responsive to small amounts of liquid to cause release of the mechanical energy and expansion in the given direction to cause rapid expansion of the exterior of the tampon.

Abstract: Improved machine and method for longitudinal compressive treatment of webs employing a two roll drive nip. Specially arranged initial parts of one or a pair of stationary retarding members are positioned at the exit side of the drive nip in the region of minor divergence of the roll surfaces to provide damming forces. The initial part of the retarding member, preferably a curved, resilient nipping element, is shaped to oppose the flow of the web. By its construction and position close to the line of centers of the rolls, it establishes a very compacted column extending upstream to an initial treatment point continually located in the drive nip, between the moving surfaces of the rolls. In this region, longitudinal compressive action occurs upon the web in a continuous and uniform manner, preferably with compensatory action in response to variations in the forces exerted by the compacted column of web.