Abstract: A method and apparatus for mechanically deforming a substrate assembly. The substrate assembly may be advanced in a machine direction at a first velocity toward a bonder apparatus. The bonder apparatus may rotate about an axis of rotation and include a support surface between each of a first and a second member. The first member and the second member may be separated by a repitch angle. The second member may be repositioned such that the first member and the second member are separated by a product angle. The first member may receive a leading portion and second member may receive a trailing portion of the substrate assembly and each member may rotate at the first velocity. The leading portion and the trailing portion are separated by a product arc length, which may be equal to a process product pitch. The substrate assembly may then undergo one or more processes such as bonding, cutting, and/or scoring.

Abstract: A method for mechanically deforming, such as by bonding, a substrate assembly. The substrate assembly may be advanced at first velocity toward a bonder apparatus. The bonder apparatus may rotate at a second velocity, which is less than or equal to the first velocity. The bonder apparatus may include a support surface and a process assembly. The substrate assembly may be contracted prior to advancing onto the bonder apparatus. A first process assembly may receive a leading portion of the substrate assembly and a subsequent process assembly may receive a trailing portion. The leading portion and the trailing portion define a product arc length, which is less than or equal to a process product pitch. One or more processes may be performed on the substrate assembly.

Abstract: A method for mechanically deforming a substrate assembly. The substrate assembly may advance at a first velocity toward a bonder apparatus. The bonder apparatus may rotate about an axis of rotation and include a support surface between a first member and a second member. The first and second members may rotate at the first velocity and may be separated by an initial angle. The first member may receive a leading portion and the second member may receive a trailing portion of the substrate assembly. The first member may decelerate to a second velocity, and, subsequently, the second member may decelerate to the second velocity. The first member and the second member may be separated by a process angle, which may be different than the initial angle. A central portion of the substrate assembly may be relaxed while the leading and trailing portion may be held at a process tension. The substrate assembly may then undergo one or more processes.

Abstract: A method includes rotating a drum about an axis and an anvil roll about an axis of rotation. The drum includes a fluid nozzle and a press member, the press member having an outer surface. The anvil roll includes a compliant outer circumferential surface. One or more substrates are advanced in a machine direction onto the drum. The fluid nozzle moves radially outward and a jet of heated fluid may be directed onto the substrates. The fluid nozzle retracts radially inward and the press member may be shifted radially outward. The substrates may be compressed between the press member and the anvil roll such that the press member deforms the compliant outer circumferential surface of the anvil roll.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a drum that rotates about an axis and rotating an anvil roll that rotates about an axis of rotation. The drum includes a fluid nozzle and a press member, the press member having an outer surface. The anvil roll includes a compliant outer circumferential surface. First and second substrates are advanced in a machine direction onto the drum. The fluid nozzle moves radially outward and a jet of heated fluid may be directed onto the substrates. The fluid nozzle retracts radially inward and the press member may be shifted radially outward. The substrates may be compressed between the press member and the anvil roll such that the press member deforms the compliant outer circumferential surface of the anvil roll.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for rotating and transferring a discrete article. The rotation apparatus may include a slot portion defining a longitudinal slot axis. A head assembly may be positioned adjacent to the slot portion. The head assembly may include a transfer member. The transfer member may define a longitudinal transfer axis. A support member extending from the transfer member toward the slot portion may rotate about the longitudinal transfer axis. A first follower and a second follower may be operatively engaged with the support member. The first follower may include a first follower outer surface defining a first longitudinal follower axis and the second follower may include a second follower outer surface defining a second longitudinal follower axis. The first follower and the second follower may be positioned such that the first longitudinal follower axis and the second longitudinal follower axis intersect the longitudinal slot axis.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for rotating and transferring a discrete article. The rotation apparatus may include a rib portion defining a longitudinal rib axis. A head assembly may be positioned adjacent to the rib portion. The head assembly may include a transfer member. The transfer member may define a longitudinal transfer axis. A support member extending from the transfer member toward the rib portion may rotate about the longitudinal transfer axis. A first follower and a second follower may be operatively engaged with the support member. The first follower may include a first follower outer surface defining a first longitudinal follower axis and the second follower may include a second follower outer surface defining a second longitudinal follower axis. The first follower and the second follower may be positioned such that the first longitudinal follower axis and the second longitudinal follower axis intersect the longitudinal rib axis.

Abstract: A method includes rotating a drum about an axis and rotating an anvil roll about an axis adjacent to the drum so as to form a nip there between. The drum includes a fluid nozzle and a press member, the press member having an outer surface. The anvil roll includes a compliant outer circumferential surface. First and second substrates are advanced in a machine direction onto the drum. The fluid nozzle moves radially outward and a jet of heated fluid is directed onto the substrates. The fluid nozzle retracts radially inward and the press member is shifted radially outward. The substrates are advanced through the nip and compressed between the press member and the anvil roll such that the press member deforms the compliant outer circumferential surface of the anvil roll.

Abstract: An equipment enclosure includes a first compartment; a second compartment, the first compartment including a first element to guide a conduit from the first compartment to the second compartment, wherein the first element creates a first drip point with respect to the conduit that prevents a liquid from entering the second compartment; and a third compartment including a second element to guide another conduit from the third compartment toward the second compartment, wherein the second element creates a second drip point with respect to the other conduit that prevents a liquid from reaching the second compartment.

Abstract: Methods used with a thermal imager in capturing a primary thermal image of an object or scene and then associating it, as desired, with any of a multitude of information relating to the object or scene. The related information can be associated with the primary thermal image in the field after the image is captured. The related information can pertain to further detail regarding the object, the surroundings of the scene, and/or surroundings of the location of the scene, which when associated with the primary thermal image, collectively represents a form of asset information card for the image.

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 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: A method includes rotating a drum about an axis and rotating an anvil roll about an axis adjacent to the drum so as to form a nip there between. The drum includes a fluid nozzle and a press member, the press member having an outer surface. The anvil roll includes a compliant outer circumferential surface. First and second substrates are advanced in a machine direction onto the drum. The fluid nozzle moves radially outward and a jet of heated fluid is directed onto the substrates. The fluid nozzle retracts radially inward and the press member is shifted radially outward. The substrates are advanced through the nip and compressed between the press member and the anvil roll such that the press member deforms the compliant outer circumferential surface of the anvil roll.

Abstract: An equipment enclosure comprising a first compartment; a second compartment, the first compartment including a first element to guide a conduit from the first compartment to the second compartment, wherein the first element creates a first drip point with respect to the conduit that prevents a liquid from entering the second compartment; and a third compartment including a second element to guide another conduit from the third compartment toward the second compartment, wherein the second element creates a second drip point with respect to the other conduit that prevents a liquid from reaching the second compartment.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for rejecting defective absorbent articles from a converting line. At a downstream portion of a converting process, a continuous length of absorbent articles may be subjected to a final knife and cut to create discrete absorbent articles advancing on a first carrier. From the first carrier, the discrete absorbent articles may be transferred to a transfer apparatus, which in turn, transfers the discrete absorbent articles to a second carrier. The transfer apparatus may include carrier members that orbit around an axis of rotation and may be adapted to receive the absorbent articles from the first carrier and transfer the absorbent articles to the second carrier. Defective absorbent articles may be detected by an inspection system, which may be operably connected with the transfer apparatus and/or the first carrier to remove the defective absorbent articles from the converting process.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for rejecting defective absorbent articles from a converting line. At a downstream portion of a converting process, a continuous length of absorbent articles may be subjected to a final knife and cut to create discrete absorbent articles advancing on a first carrier. From the first carrier, the discrete absorbent articles may be transferred to a transfer apparatus, which in turn, transfers the discrete absorbent articles to a second carrier. The transfer apparatus may include carrier members that orbit around an axis of rotation and may be adapted to receive the absorbent articles from the first carrier and transfer the absorbent articles to the second carrier. Defective absorbent articles may be detected by an inspection system, which may be operably connected with the transfer apparatus and/or the first carrier to remove the defective absorbent articles from the converting process.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for obtaining and maintaining maintenance records for various assets are described. In one embodiment, a computing device may be wirelessly coupled to a measurement device when the computing device is placed in proximity with the computing device. Upon measuring one or more parameters of a device under test (DUT), the measurement device may provide the measured parameters to the computing device in the form of measurement data. In some embodiments, the computing device associates the measured parameters with the corresponding DUT from which the measurements were obtained and provides the associated measured parameter to, for example, a service provider for future access. In another embodiment, the measurement device itself is configured to associate the measurement parameters with the DUT and provide the associated measurement parameters to the service provider.

Abstract: Methods used with a thermal imager in capturing a primary thermal image of an object or scene and then associating it, as desired, with any of a multitude of information relating to the object or scene. The related information can be associated with the primary thermal image in the field after the image is captured. The related information can pertain to further detail regarding the object, the surroundings of the scene, and/or surroundings of the location of the scene, which when associated with the primary thermal image, collectively represents a form of asset information card for the image.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve methods and apparatuses for cutting and removing trim from an advancing substrate. Particular embodiments of the apparatuses and methods disclosed herein provide for removal of continuous lengths of trim, and in some embodiments, discrete pieces of trim from an advancing substrate.