Abstract: In a system and method for controlling the length of a discrete segment of an elastic web, a wound off tension of the web is determined during unwinding from a wound roll. The unwound web is delivered to a processing station while being maintained in tension. A discrete segment of the web is transported away from the processing station for at least a time t wherein the discrete segment decreases in length to a recovered length. The recovered length is predicted based at least in part on the wound off tension and in response to the predicted recovered length, at least one of the following is controlled: 1) the speed at which the web is delivered to the processing station, 2) the tension in the continuous web as it is delivered to the processing station, and 3) the length of the discrete segment at the processing station.

Abstract: In a system and method for controlling the length of a discrete segment of an elastic web, a wound off tension of the web is determined during unwinding from a wound roll. The unwound web is delivered to a processing station while being maintained in tension. A discrete segment of the web is transported away from the processing station for at least a time t wherein the discrete segment decreases in length to a recovered length. The recovered length is predicted based at least in part on the wound off tension and in response to the predicted recovered length, at least one of the following is controlled: 1) the speed at which the web is delivered to the processing station, 2) the tension in the continuous web as it is delivered to the processing station, and 3) the length of the discrete segment at the processing station.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the detection of marked components of a composite article. The present invention relates to detecting the presence, position, concentration and/or distribution of one or more components in a composite article, and to registration inspection of a composite article using infrared radiation. In one embodiment of the invention, infrared blockers, such as absorbing infrared blockers, are incorporated into the component of interest in the composite to increase the visibility of the marked component during inspection.

Abstract: In a system and method for controlling the length of a discrete segment of an elastic web, a wound off tension of the web is determined during unwinding from a wound roll. The unwound web is delivered to a processing station while being maintained in tension. A discrete segment of the web is transported away from the processing station for at least a time t wherein the discrete segment decreases in length to a recovered length. The recovered length is predicted based at least in part on the wound off tension and in response to the predicted recovered length, at least one of the following is controlled: 1) the speed at which the web is delivered to the processing station, 2) the tension in the continuous web as it is delivered to the processing station, and 3) the length of the discrete segment at the processing station.

Abstract: A swimwear garment having a material which is permeable to liquid but substantially impermeable to bowel movement material. In one embodiment, the garment can comprise a stand-alone disposable pant liner in the form of a swimpant with waist elastics and leg elastics. In other embodiments, a mesh liner can be a layer within a disposable swimpant. The mesh liner can be attached to the disposable swimpant around the perimeter of the composite structure, or in swimpants containing containment flaps, to the containment flaps. The mesh liner can, optionally, further include elastic strands attached under the mesh liner to provide further lift and hold the mesh liner close to the body of the wearer.

Abstract: A method is described for determining the effectiveness of maintenance or other improvements to a system having multiple sections and multiple modes of failure. The method uses a simulation model that is dynamic in that it can change during a simulation run to show how a system event such as a failure of one system section can effect a different system section. By running the simulation model multiple times, it may become apparent which system section will benefit most from maintenance or other improvements.

Abstract: In a system and method for controlling the length of a discrete segment of an elastic web, a wound off tension of the web is determined during unwinding from a wound roll. The unwound web is delivered to a processing station while being maintained in tension. A discrete segment of the web is transported away from the processing station for at least a time t wherein the discrete segment decreases in length to a recovered length. The recovered length is predicted based at least in part on the wound off tension and in response to the predicted recovered length, at least one of the following is controlled: 1) the speed at which the web is delivered to the processing station, 2) the tension in the continuous web as it is delivered to the processing station, and 3) the length of the discrete segment at the processing station.

Abstract: An elongate elastic member is secured to a substrate to form an elastic composite. The elastic member extends along an elastic axis between a first location on the substrate and a second location on the substrate spaced longitudinally from the first location. At least a portion of the elastic axis is generally non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the substrate. The elastic member crosses its elastic axis at least twice as it extends along the elastic axis, with the elastic member crossing itself at least once as it extends along the elastic axis. In another embodiment, the elastic member generally forms a wave pattern which defines a width of the securement path and has at least two different periods along the securement path. In yet another embodiment, the elastic member defines a continuous series of loops wherein each loop defines a closed portion having a generally tear-drop shape.

Abstract: A method is described for determining the effectiveness of maintenance or other improvements to a system having multiple sections and multiple modes of failure. The method uses simulation model that is dynamic in that it can change during a simulation run to show how a system event such as a failure of one system section can effect a different system section. By running the simulation model multiple times, it may become apparent which system section will benefit most from maintenance or other improvements.

Abstract: A method of spraying patterns on a web that includes directing at least one intermittent spray of liquid onto the web to form a pattern on the web; sensing a position of a leading edge of at least one of the spray and the pattern relative to one or more references on the web; generating a first correction signal when the leading edge is out of position; and adjusting the spray of liquid in response to the first correction signal to correctly position a leading edge of a subsequent pattern. The method further includes sensing a position of a trailing edge of at least one of the spray and the pattern relative to one or more references on the web; generating a second correction signal when the trailing edge is out of position; and adjusting the spray of liquid in response to the second correction signal to correctly position a trailing edge of subsequent patterns.

Abstract: An elastic composite is formed by securing an elastic member to a substrate along a securement path extending longitudinally of the substrate. The position of the elastic member on the substrate varies laterally along the longitudinally extending securement path in a generally periodic wave pattern having at least one period within the securement path. The periodic wave pattern is such that the elastic composite is more stretchable in the direction of the securement path than transverse to the securement path. In another embodiment, the securement path varies laterally as it extends longitudinally along the securement path. The position of the elastic member varies transversely within the securement path to at least partially define a width of the securement path.

Abstract: A swimwear garment having a material which is permeable to liquid but substantially impermeable to bowel movement material. In one embodiment, the garment can comprise a stand-alone disposable pant liner in the form of a swimpant with waist elastics and leg elastics. In other embodiments, a mesh liner can be a layer within a disposable swimpant. The mesh liner can be attached to the disposable swimpant around the perimeter of the composite structure, or in swimpants containing containment flaps, to the containment flaps. The mesh liner can, optionally, further include elastic strands attached under the mesh liner to provide further lift and hold the mesh liner close to the body of the wearer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the detection of marked components of a composite article. The present invention relates to detecting the presence, position, concentration and/or distribution of one or more components in a composite article, and to registration inspection of a composite article using infrared radiation. In one embodiment of the invention, infrared blockers, such as absorbing infrared blockers, are incorporated into the component of interest in the composite to increase the visibility of the marked component during inspection.

Abstract: A composite elastic material including a nonwoven layer, a layer of substantially parallel elastomeric filaments and a bonding component that joins the elastic filaments to the nonwoven layer. The nonwoven layer has a plurality of bonding elements resulting in greater total bonding in a first direction than in total bonding in a second direction; the second direction being nonparallel to the first direction. The configuration of the bonding elements of the nonwoven layer is used to control properties of the composite elastic material. Additional laminate bond elements on the composite elastic material, having greater bond area oriented appropriately can further control properties of the composite elastic.

Abstract: A method of spraying patterns on a web that includes directing at least one intermittent spray of liquid onto the web to form a pattern on the web; sensing a position of a leading edge of at least one of the spray and the pattern relative to one or more references on the web; generating a first correction signal when the leading edge is out of position; and adjusting the spray of liquid in response to the first correction signal to correctly position a leading edge of a subsequent pattern. The method further includes sensing a position of a trailing edge of at least one of the spray and the pattern relative to one or more references on the web; generating a second correction signal when the trailing edge is out of position; and adjusting the spray of liquid in response to the second correction signal to correctly position a trailing edge of subsequent patterns.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the detection of marked components of a composite article. The present invention relates to detecting the presence, position, concentration and/or distribution of one or more components in a composite article, and to registration inspection of a composite article using infrared radiation. In one embodiment of the invention, infrared blockers, such as absorbing infrared blockers, are incorporated into the component of interest in the composite to increase the visibility of the marked component during inspection.

Abstract: An elastic composite is formed by securing an elastic member to a substrate along a securement path extending longitudinally of the substrate. The position of the elastic member on the substrate varies laterally along the longitudinally extending securement path in a generally periodic wave pattern having at least one period within the securement path. The periodic wave pattern is such that the elastic composite is more stretchable in the direction of the securement path than transverse to the securement path. In another embodiment, the securement path varies laterally as it extends longitudinally along the securement path. The position of the elastic member varies transversely within the securement path to at least partially define a width of the securement path.

Abstract: A method and system for directly measuring and controlling the amplitude of an ultrasonic horn comprising an ultrasonic horn, a non-contact measurement device for directly measuring an amplitude of the ultrasonic horn, and a controller for modulating the amplitude of the ultrasonic horn in communication with the non-contact measurement device. In accordance with the noncontact optical detection embodiments, the non-contact measurement device is an optical system in which one of a coherent or noncoherent light beam is transmitted from a light source onto a surface of the ultrasonic horn, generating reflected light at a photodetector. The photodetector produces an output signal proportional to at least one of the intensity or the location of the light spot. Detector output is then correlated to the amplitude of the ultrasonic horn and input to a controller for controlling the amplitude of the ultrasonic horn in real time.

Abstract: An elastic composite is formed by securing an elastic member to a substrate along a securement path extending longitudinally of the substrate. The position of the elastic member on the substrate varies laterally along the longitudinally extending securement path in a generally periodic wave pattern having at least one period within the securement path. The periodic wave pattern is such that the elastic composite is more stretchable in the direction of the securement path than transverse to the securement path. In another embodiment, the securement path varies laterally as it extends longitudinally along the securement path. The position of the elastic member varies transversely within the securement path to at least partially define a width of the securement path.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for controlling at least one of the position, the orientation and the configuration of a material web during movement of the web in a predetermined direction, a magnetically responsive material is applied to the material web and the web is exposed to at least one magnetic field during movement of the web in the predetermined direction. The at least one magnetic field attracts or repels the magnetically responsive material applied to the material web to thereby control at least one of the position, the orientation and the configuration of the web during movement of the web in the predetermined direction. In one embodiment, the magnetic field is generated by a magnetic field generator operable to generate a magnetic field in magnetically responsive communication with the material web upon movement of the web in the predetermined direction.