Abstract: Methods and apparatuses herein may provide for the application of viscous fluids, such as adhesives, in pre-determined patterns to an advancing substrate. The fluid application apparatus may include a slot die applicator and a substrate carrier. The substrate carrier may include one or more pattern elements and may be adapted to advance the substrate past the slot die applicator as the slot die applicator discharges adhesive onto the substrate. In operation, the substrate is disposed on the substrate carrier; the substrate carrier advances the substrate past the slot opening of the slot die applicator. In turn, the substrate is intermittently compressed between the slot die applicator and the pattern surface of the pattern element. As the substrate is intermittently compressed, adhesive discharged from the slot die applicator is applied onto the substrate in an area having a shape substantially the same as a shape defined by the pattern surface.

Abstract: Aspects of methods and apparatuses herein relate to making elastic laminates, and more particularly, methods and apparatuses for applying fluids onto elastic material positioned on an advancing substrate. The elastic material may be in various forms, such as for example, elastic strands, ribbons, and/or panels. Particular embodiments of the apparatuses and methods disclosed herein provide for the application of viscous fluids, such as adhesives, in pre-determined patterns to elastic material positioned on an advancing substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles including a slot coated fluid positioned on a substrate, wherein the fluid is arranged in discrete pattern areas having shapes that correspond with shapes of pattern surfaces on a substrate carrier. The fluids applied to the absorbent articles herein may include various types of viscous fluids, such as adhesives and wetness indicator compositions, and may also include a color that is different than the substrate onto which the fluid is applied.

Abstract: Aspects of the methods and apparatuses herein involve applying fluids onto an advancing substrate. The apparatuses and methods herein may provide for the application of viscous fluids, such as adhesives, in pre-determined patterns to an advancing substrate. The fluid application apparatus may include a slot die applicator and a substrate carrier. The slot die applicator may include a slot opening, a first lip, and a second lip, the slot opening located between the first lip and the second lip. And the substrate carrier may be adapted to advance the substrate past the slot die applicator as the slot die applicator discharges adhesive onto the substrate. In operation, when a first surface of the substrate is disposed on the substrate carrier, the substrate carrier advances a second surface of the substrate past the slot opening of the slot die applicator.

Abstract: Aspects of the methods and apparatuses relate to making elastic laminates, and more particularly, methods and apparatuses for applying elastic material in a curved path onto an advancing substrate. The elastic material may be in various forms, such as for example, elastic strands and/or ribbons. Apparatuses and methods disclosed herein may also provide for the application of viscous fluids, such as adhesives, in pre-determined patterns to the elastic material while being positioned on an advancing substrate.

Abstract: A social network server system including a qualitative Social network share level for a post, photo, etc. submitted by a given social network user device. The social network share level is based on actual content sensitivity, permitting each shared post, photo, or other information viewable by other social network user devices based on its own individual social network share level, or “closeness rating.” The closeness rating is inclusive and based on a social network share level set by the poster when making the post, adding the photo or other information. The social network share level establishes individually which connected social network user device(s) to which the poster has an established relationship may have access to the shared post, photo, information, etc. A privacy level is defined for each post, photo, etc. vis-a-vis each other social network user to which a poster has a defined relationship.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses herein may provide for the application of viscous fluids, such as adhesives, in pre-determined patterns to an advancing substrate. The fluid application apparatus may include a slot die applicator and a substrate carrier. The substrate carrier may include one or more pattern elements and may be adapted to advance the substrate past the slot die applicator as the slot die applicator discharges adhesive onto the substrate. In operation, the substrate is disposed on the substrate carrier; the substrate carrier advances the substrate past the slot opening of the slot die applicator. In turn, the substrate is intermittently compressed between the slot die applicator and the pattern surface of the pattern element. As the substrate is intermittently compressed, adhesive discharged from the slot die applicator is applied onto the substrate in an area having a shape substantially the same as a shape defined by the pattern surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a batt of particulate material which may be used in an absorbent article. The apparatus may include a vacuum zone, an air impermeable fence zone adjacent to the vacuum zone, and an air permeable fence zone adjacent to the vacuum zone. The air permeable fence zone may comprise an ambient air entry conduit in communication with an ambient air exit port. The method may include providing a laydown drum and a first web of material, positioning the first web of material substantially adjacent to the laydown drum, generating a vacuum through the laydown drum, depositing particulate matter onto the first web of material, and rotating the laydown drum.

Abstract: Aspects of the methods herein relate to the fabrication of absorbent articles wherein a continuous topsheet web is advanced in a machine direction. A liquid acquisition layer and an absorbent core are combined with the continuous topsheet web. The combined continuous topsheet web, liquid acquisition layer, and absorbent core advance through the embossing nip to emboss a pattern in the continuous topsheet web. As the combined continuous topsheet web, liquid acquisition layer, and absorbent core advance through the embossing nip, the rotating patterned embossing roll contacts the continuous topsheet web. And the rotating anvil roll contacts the absorbent core. By advancing the topsheet together with the acquisition layer and absorbent core through the embossing nip, a relatively deep pattern can be embossed into the topsheet than otherwise might be possible when embossing relatively thin topsheet web materials.

Abstract: An absorbent article comprises a chassis having a belt portion extending therefrom. The belt portion comprises a side edge, a waist opening edge, a leg opening edge, first and second substrates engaged with each other, and elastic elements disposed intermediate the first substrate and the second substrate. The belt portion also comprises a first texture zone comprising a first portion of the substrates and the elastic strands and disposed adjacent to the side edge and the waist opening edge and a second texture zone comprising a second portion of the substrates and the elastic elements and disposed adjacent to the side edge and the leg opening edge. The first texture zone extends at least partially along a first lateral extent of the belt portion and the second texture zone extends at least partially along a second lateral extent of the belt portion.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses herein may provide for the application of viscous fluids, such as adhesives, in pre-determined patterns to an advancing substrate. The fluid application apparatus may include a slot die applicator and a substrate carrier. The substrate carrier may include one or more pattern elements and may be adapted to advance the substrate past the slot die applicator as the slot die applicator discharges adhesive onto the substrate. In operation, the substrate is disposed on the substrate carrier; the substrate carrier advances the substrate past the slot opening of the slot die applicator. In turn, the substrate is intermittently compressed between the slot die applicator and the pattern surface of the pattern element. As the substrate is intermittently compressed, adhesive discharged from the slot die applicator is applied onto the substrate in an area having a shape substantially the same as a shape defined by the pattern surface.

Abstract: In a packet-based transaction processing system, workload is balanced across multiple computer systems. A plurality of packets is received from a plurality of clients over a plurality of communications sessions. Each of the plurality of packets includes a portion of a transaction involving a financial transaction instrument that requires authorization. The plurality of packets are processed to assemble a plurality of transactions. Each of the plurality of transactions is then transmitted to an application server selected from a plurality of servers that provides authorization for the transactions. The server may be selected from the plurality of servers based on a round-robin distribution of the plurality of servers, and additionally, the round-robin distribution may be modified to account for a workload on each of the plurality of servers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a batt of particulate material which may be used in an absorbent article. The apparatus may include a vacuum zone, an air impermeable fence zone adjacent to the vacuum zone, and an air permeable fence zone adjacent to the vacuum zone. The air permeable fence zone may comprise an ambient air entry conduit in communication with an ambient air exit port. The method may include providing a laydown drum and a first web of material, positioning the first web of material substantially adjacent to the laydown drum, generating a vacuum through the laydown drum, depositing particulate matter onto the first web of material, and rotating the laydown drum.

Abstract: An absorbent articles, such as diapers, training pants, adult incontinence articles, feminine protection articles and the like having a specific elasticated topsheet comprising multitude of elasticated areas and one or more openings to receive e.g. feces, the elasticated areas being typically straight, but the elasticated areas operating jointly to provide a diverting-like elastic behavior, and the elasticated areas having optionally different elastic properties.

Abstract: A surgical tissue anchor comprising a plurality of jaws suitable for clamping onto tissue, clamp component(s) operable to bias the jaws in a closed position and attachment structure operable for attachment of the anchor to one or more tethers for retracting the clamped tissue. The one or more tethers are guided to the desired region using a surgical guide.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing light therapy traction to a patient. A light therapy device and a traction mechanism provide concurrent, alternating and/or repetitive treatment to a patient. The light therapy device includes one or more light sources configured to deliver light to a patient. The traction mechanism is configured to provide selective separation to a particular location the patient's body, such as a location of the patient's vertebrae. In some embodiments, the light therapy and traction are performed simultaneously. In other embodiments, the light therapy and lumbar traction are performed in treatment cycles to the patient. Embodiments of the present invention embrace the application of light therapy prior to, during, and/or after a cervical and/or lumbar traction treatment.

Abstract: Aspects of the methods herein relate to the fabrication of absorbent articles wherein a continuous topsheet web is advanced in a machine direction. A liquid acquisition layer and an absorbent core are combined with the continuous topsheet web. The combined continuous topsheet web, liquid acquisition layer, and absorbent core advance through the embossing nip to emboss a pattern in the continuous topsheet web. As the combined continuous topsheet web, liquid acquisition layer, and absorbent core advance through the embossing nip, the rotating patterned embossing roll contacts the continuous topsheet web. And the rotating anvil roll contacts the absorbent core. By advancing the topsheet together with the acquisition layer and absorbent core through the embossing nip, a relatively deep pattern can be embossed into the topsheet than otherwise might be possible when embossing relatively thin topsheet web materials.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses herein may provide for the application of viscous fluids, such as adhesives, in pre-determined patterns to an advancing substrate. The fluid application apparatus may include a slot die applicator and a substrate carrier. The substrate carrier may include one or more pattern elements and may be adapted to advance the substrate past the slot die applicator as the slot die applicator discharges adhesive onto the substrate. In operation, the substrate is disposed on the substrate carrier; the substrate carrier advances the substrate past the slot opening of the slot die applicator. In turn, the substrate is intermittently compressed between the slot die applicator and the pattern surface of the pattern element. As the substrate is intermittently compressed, adhesive discharged from the slot die applicator is applied onto the substrate in an area having a shape substantially the same as a shape defined by the pattern surface.

Abstract: A process is claimed for making a composite sheet useful as topsheet with one or more openings to receive fecal material useful for an absorbent article, said composite sheet comprising a wrinkled, patterned elasticized region that comprises a patterned first sheet and an elastic material said first sheet being patterned with troughs, that are typically compacter, i.e. of higher density, prior to attachment to the elastic material. The troughs are attached to the elastic material. The resulting composite sheet has a uniform wrinkle pattern. Also claimed are specific absorbent articles. Also claimed are composite sheets with a specific residual strain and peel force value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a batt of particulate material which may be used in an absorbent article. The apparatus may include a vacuum zone, an air impermeable fence zone adjacent to the vacuum zone, and an air permeable fence zone adjacent to the vacuum zone. The air permeable fence zone may comprise an ambient air entry conduit in communication with an ambient air exit port. The method may include providing a laydown drum and a first web of material, positioning the first web of material substantially adjacent to the laydown drum, generating a vacuum through the laydown drum, depositing particulate matter onto the first web of material, and rotating the laydown drum.