Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatuses for manufacturing absorbent articles, wherein discrete zones of protrusions may be formed on a substrate. In some configurations, the protrusions may be formed as hooks. When forming the discrete zones of protrusions, localized speed variances may be imparted to the advancing substrate to ensure the adequate time to form the protrusions is provided. As such, protrusions may be formed on portions of the substrate that have been temporarily stopped or slowed to relatively slow speeds. The substrates with zones of protrusions may then be incorporated into products, such as assembled absorbent articles, so as to place the protrusions in desired positions on the absorbent articles. As such, the methods and apparatuses herein allow for the use of hook forming techniques on substrates in article manufacturing processes that provide flexibility in such configurations without sacrificing desired manufacturing speeds.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for assembling disposable pant diapers having contoured elastic belts. During the assembly process, opposing end regions of chassis are connected with the elastic belts in the form of first and second continuous elastic laminates. The chassis are then folded to place the elastic laminates into a facing relationship. The inner longitudinal edges of one or both the elastic laminates are then cut to define a contoured shape. Discrete pieces of trim material may be removed from one or both the elastic laminates, and the first and second continuous elastic laminates are cut in the cross direction to form discrete pant diapers. In some configurations, a single knife both removes the trim material and cuts the elastic laminates in cross direction. And in some configurations, a first knife removes the trim material and a second knife cuts the elastic laminates in cross direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to adjusting and maintaining a position of a cutting surface used to create lines of weakness for rolled products.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatuses for manufacturing absorbent articles, wherein discrete zones of protrusions may be formed on a substrate. In some configurations, the protrusions may be formed as hooks. When forming the discrete zones of protrusions, localized speed variances may be imparted to the advancing substrate to ensure the adequate time to form the protrusions is provided. As such, protrusions may be formed on portions of the substrate that have been temporarily stopped or slowed to relatively slow speeds. The substrates with zones of protrusions may then be incorporated into products, such as assembled absorbent articles, so as to place the protrusions in desired positions on the absorbent articles. As such, the methods and apparatuses herein allow for the use of hook forming techniques on substrates in article manufacturing processes that provide flexibility in such configurations without sacrificing desired manufacturing speeds.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for assembling disposable pant diapers having contoured elastic belts. During the assembly process, opposing end regions of chassis are connected with the elastic belts in the form of first and second continuous elastic laminates. The chassis are then folded to place the elastic laminates into a facing relationship. The inner longitudinal edges of one or both the elastic laminates are then cut to define a contoured shape. Discrete pieces of trim material may be removed from one or both the elastic laminates, and the first and second continuous elastic laminates are cut in the cross direction to form discrete pant diapers. In some configurations, a single knife both removes the trim material and cuts the elastic laminates in cross direction. And in some configurations, a first knife removes the trim material and a second knife cuts the elastic laminates in cross direction.

Abstract: Patterned fibrous substrates having a plurality of individual fibers, a first region, and a second region are provided. The first region is visually discernable from the second region. The first region has a first region fluid permeability score (PS1), and the second region has a second region fluid permeability score (PS2). The first region fluid permeability score (PS1) is different than the second region fluid permeability score (PS2). The first region fluid permeability score (PS1) and the second region fluid permeability score (PS2) are both greater than 5 Darcy.

Abstract: Patterned fibrous substrates having a plurality of individual fibers, a first region, and a second region are provided. The plurality of individual fibers comprise a functional surface additive. A plurality of individual fibers of the first region have a first diameter, and a plurality of individual fibers of the second region have a second diameter. The first diameter is less than the second diameter. The first region has a first C.I.E. L* score, and the second region has a second C.I.E. L* score. The first C.I.E. L* score is different than the second C.I.E. L* score.

Abstract: Patterned fibrous substrates having a plurality of individual fibers, a first region, and a second region are provided. The patterned fibrous substrates have a plurality of individual fibers of the first region having a first diameter and a plurality of individual fibers of the second region have a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is less than the second diameter. The individual fibers of the first region and the individual fibers of the second region are substantially free of bonds, other than primary bonds. The first region has a first C.I.E. L* score, and the second region has a second C.I.E. L* score, according to the Color Test Method. The first C.I.E. L* score is different than the second C.I.E. L* score.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatuses for manufacturing absorbent articles, wherein discrete zones of protrusions may be formed on a substrate. In some configurations, the protrusions may be formed as hooks. When forming the discrete zones of protrusions, localized speed variances may be imparted to the advancing substrate to ensure the adequate time to form the protrusions is provided. As such, protrusions may be formed on portions of the substrate that have been temporarily stopped or slowed to relatively slow speeds. The substrates with zones of protrusions may then be incorporated into products, such as assembled absorbent articles, so as to place the protrusions in desired positions on the absorbent articles. As such, the methods and apparatuses herein allow for the use of hook forming techniques on substrates in article manufacturing processes that provide flexibility in such configurations without sacrificing desired manufacturing speeds.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article may include a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region disposed between the first and the second waist regions, and a chassis having a topsheet, backsheet, absorbent core, and chassis periphery. The chassis periphery has a varying width, WV.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to absorbent articles with waist panels including frangible bonds, wherein a waist panel may be connected with a chassis and positioned in a front or back waist region. A first region of the waist panel is bonded with the chassis and extends laterally adjacent an outboard lateral edge of the waist panel, and at least a portion of an inboard lateral edge of the waist panel is unattached to the chassis so as to form a pocket during use. The waist panel is also releasably bonded with the chassis with a frangible bond positioned on the inboard lateral edge of the waist panel and/or longitudinally between the inboard lateral edge of the waist panel and the first region. The frangible bond may be an adhesive and/or mechanical bond and may be configured to break during production or during normal use of the absorbent article.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article may include a first waist region, a second waist region, a crotch region disposed between the first and the second waist regions, and a chassis having a topsheet, backsheet, absorbent core, and chassis periphery. The chassis periphery has a varying width, Wv.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses configured to bond elastic laminates together between a rotating drum and anvil. The drum includes a fluid nozzle and a press member. As such, a first elastic laminate and a second elastics laminate may be advanced in a machine direction onto the rotating drum. A fluid is heated to a temperature sufficient to partially melt substrate layers of the first and second elastic laminates. As the drum rotates, the press member shifts radially outward from the drum wherein a length, L, of the pattern surface extends in the cross direction across a plurality of elastic strands of first and/or second elastic laminates. And the partially melted portion of the substrate layers of the first and second elastic laminates and the plurality of elastic strands are then bonded together by being compressed between the pattern surface and the anvil roll.

Abstract: Methods and systems for mechanically forming one or more surface protrusions integrally from a garment material, the one or more surface protrusions extending outwardly from a garment surface of the garment material, include placing at least one selected area of the garment surface against a first surface of a forming die having a plurality of openings which have a configuration and orientation corresponding with the configuration and orientation of the one or more surface protrusions of the garment material. The garment surface may be softened by application of a source of energy, wherein the source of energy comprises at least two sonotrodes mounted in a rotary drum. At least some of the softened garment surface is positioned into at least one opening of the plurality of openings.

Abstract: Methods and systems for mechanically forming one or more surface protrusions integrally from a garment material, the one or more surface protrusions extending outwardly from a garment surface of the garment material, include pre-heating at least one selected area of the garment material; placing the at least one selected area of the garment surface that is pre-heated against a first surface of a forming die, the first surface having a plurality of openings which have a configuration and orientation corresponding with the configuration and orientation of the one or more surface protrusions of the garment material. The garment surface may be softened by application of a source of energy, at least some of the softened garment surface positioned into at least one opening of the plurality of openings.

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: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to absorbent articles with front and back waist panels having different stretch characteristics. A first waist panel may be connected with a chassis and positioned in a first waist region, and a second waist panel may be connected with the chassis and positioned in a second waist region. In some configurations, the first waist panel may comprise a first structural feature that is not included in the second waist panel or may comprise a first structural feature is different from a second structural feature included in the second waist panel. As such, the first structural feature provides different stretch characteristics between the first waist panel and the second waist panel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to transfer and fold a partially folded absorbent article. The transfer apparatus includes a frame that is rotatable about a first axis of rotation and a transfer member that is rotatable about a second axis of rotation. The transfer member includes a receiving surface. While advancing absorbent article, the transfer member rotates the absorbent article about the second axis of rotation. The partially folded absorbent article is transferred to a folding apparatus. The folding apparatus advances the partially folded absorbent article such that the end regions of the belt of the partially folded absorbent article are directed away from the folding apparatus. The end regions are engaged by a folding assembly. The folding assembly guides and/or pushes the end regions toward the central region of the belt and/or the chassis to form a folded absorbent article.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ring-like elastic belt having a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction comprising: a pair of side seams which join the lateral edges of the front belt and the back belt such that the front fold over and the back fold over cooperatively define a distal edge of the ring-like elastic belt, the side seam made by a hot air bond which at least partially melts material of the elastic laminate, the side seam having continuity of the melted material along the substantial entirety of its longitudinal dimension; wherein the side seam has a Belt Minimum Peel Strength of at least about 6N/25 mm, a Belt Maximum Peel Strength of no more than 18N/25 mm, and a Top Bottom Difference of no more than 15%, according to the measurements herein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to transfer and fold a partially folded absorbent article. The transfer apparatus includes a frame that is rotatable about a first axis of rotation and a transfer member that is rotatable about a second axis of rotation. The transfer member includes a receiving surface. While advancing absorbent article, the transfer member rotates the absorbent article about the second axis of rotation. The partially folded absorbent article is transferred to a folding apparatus. The folding apparatus advances the partially folded absorbent article such that the end regions of the belt of the partially folded absorbent article are directed away from the folding apparatus. The end regions are engaged by a folding assembly. The folding assembly guides and/or pushes the end regions toward the central region of the belt and/or the chassis to form a folded absorbent article.