Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying an elastic ribbon in a curved path to a continuously moving web of material. A rotatable roll is moved essentially transversely to the direction of the moving web of material. The movement of the roll is imparted to the elastic ribbon which is then adhered to the continuously moving web of material. The elastic ribbon passes around the roll with a predetermined stretch. The axis of the roll may be disposed essentially transverse to the direction of movement of the moving web or essentially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the moving web. The roll may be cylindrical in shape with a uniform radius, it may have a nonuniform radius or it may have a portion of the surface with a larger radius intermediate to the ends of the roll.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for winding a thin elastomeric ribbon having a low coefficient to friction onto a reel is disclosed. The ribbon is fed onto a rotating reel while being traversed along the axial length of the reel to distribute the ribbon onto the reel. The nodes typically formed on the axial ends of ribbon rolls wound in this manner are eliminated by reversing the traversed direction of the ribbon short of the end cap of the reel to form a gap between the axial end of the ribbon roll and the end cap and then shifting the ribbon turns into the gap to thereby collapse the node.

Abstract: A method for winding soft elastomeric ribbon on spools of substantially greater width than the width of the ribbon is provided which includes the winding of the ribbon on a surface driven spool. The ribbon passes through guides from a feed source, with the guides in proximity to the take-up spool. Traversing of the ribbon is provided by either shifting the guides or the take-up apparatus across the horizontal length less than the length of the spool to prevent overrunning of the outer edges of the spool. The invention also includes the spool wound with soft elastomeric ribbon to a thickness several times that of the ribbon and along a length several times greater than the width of the ribbon.

Abstract: A disposable diaper with uniformly stretched elastic bands adhesively bonded along the entire length of both edges of the diaper with heavier concentrations of adhesive in the waistband portions than in the crotch portion to reduce gathering and creep of the elastic in the waistband portions. Preferably the diaper is of hour glass shape with the elastic outboard of the absorbent batt in the crotch portion and extending across the laterally extending ears of the absorbent batt in the waistband portions to further improve the stability thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for elasticizing the leg areas of a conformable garment is disclosed in which a continuous length of web material is continuously fed onto a moving support surface. As the web is fed onto the support surface, oscillating means moves the web in alternating directions in the direction of movement of and opposite to the direction of movement of the web as a whole to form spaced apart relatively flat folds in the web. Continuous, moving elastic ribbon is applied and adhered to the web in a tensioned condition across the folds, the folds are at least partially opened and the elastic is severed opposite the partially opened folds to provide discrete elastic strips attached at desired locations to the web.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying discrete lengths of elastic strip material to predetermined areas of a continuously moving web by corrugating the web and applying the discrete lengths of substantially unstretched adhesively coated elastic over the corrugations in predetermined areas, bonding the elastic to the areas, and withdrawing the web from the corrugations to stretch the elastic; and the conformable garment produced thereby which may be in the form of an elasticized leg disposable diaper.

Abstract: An extruder nozzle for producing a relatively wide flat ribbon of extruded fluid is provided. The extruder nozzle includes a groove in communication with the orifice of the nozzle, the groove being generally arcuate in shape and so dimensioned that the ends of the arc are closer to the extrusion point than is the center so as to cause the orifice to fill completely and thereby permit the extrusion of a relatively wide flat ribbon. A shim means is provided to establish the size of the orifice and to cut off the arcuate groove at each of its ends to establish a reservoir of fluid at each end of the groove and thereby eliminate the formation of a needle or the like at the lateral edges of the extruded ribbon. Shim means of various thicknesses may be utilized to control the thickness (or depth) of the extruded ribbon.

Abstract: Apparatus for inserting elastic strips into elastic leg diapers wherein elastic strips are adhesively secured continuously along the crotch area and in relaxed condition along the waist areas including a mechanism for feeding a continuous strip of elastic at a constant rate, a mechanism for feeding a continuous sheet of diaper material at a constant rate, and an oscillating arm for guiding the sheet of diaper material and inducing periodic variations in the velocity or distance of the diaper material with respect to the elastic feeding mechanism, thereby alternately stretching and relaxing predetermined lengths of continuous elastic strips as they are adhesively secured to the diaper material.

Abstract: A method for applying measured amounts of viscous material in a predetermined pattern in registry to a continuously moving sheet is provided which includes the steps of introducing the viscous material into a rotary valve having a bore in the valve rotor operatively communicative with the fluid inlet, and a passage radially communicating between the axial bore and an opening in the valve seat through which the material is dispensed onto the sheet stock. The length of the material dispensed to the sheet stock is determined by a slot formed on the surface of the valve rotor which surrounds the opening for the radial passage. Registry of the pattern is accomplished by correlation of the rotation of the valve with the rate by which the sheet material passes underneath the valve orifice. The valve containing the slot and related apparatus is also part of the invention.

Abstract: Diaper folder mechanism including a folding board having a minimum number of moving parts in which the diaper folding board is also a pickup board and is mounted for rotation in a circular path. Diaper feed means direct an unfolded diaper into the path of the rotating pickup and folding board. The board carries means for retaining the diaper and means for tucking portions of the diaper inwardly of itself as the diaper is smoothed over the board by apparatus fixedly positioned in the circular path. The board is carried on a spoke or radial support and is oriented relative to the spoke as the spoke and board rotate. This provides for removal of the diaper from the board by transfer means, moving in a path eccentric to the path of travel of the board. The transfer means are operated to permit stacking of the diaper on a movable table in a continuous manner. The provision of a plurality of spokes with a folding board on each leads to high production, that is, in excess of 300 diapers folded per minute.