Abstract: An apparatus for applying a first fluid to an advancing substrate comprising a nozzle body made, at least in part, using an additive manufacturing method. The nozzle body comprises a fluid orifice for receiving the first fluid; a conduit in fluid communication with the fluid orifice for receiving the first fluid received by the fluid orifice; a passageway in fluid communication with the conduit for receiving the first fluid received by the conduit; and a slot in fluid communication with the passageway for applying the first fluid to the advancing substrate. A method for making an apparatus comprising a nozzle body is also provided, comprising: sequentially forming, from at least one material using an additive manufacturing method, a plurality of layers in a configured pattern corresponding to a shape of at least one of an upper nozzle assembly member or of a lower nozzle assembly member of the nozzle body.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for sealing absorbent cores of disposable diaper pants during the assembly process. The diaper pants may include a chassis connected with a ring-like elastic belt. Aspects of the assembly methods involve bonding a continuous length of absorbent cores between a continuous topsheet substrate and a continuous backsheet substrate advancing in a machine direction. The combined continuous topsheet substrate, continuous backsheet substrate, and continuous length of absorbent cores are then cut along a cross direction to create discrete chassis, wherein the topsheet, the backsheet, and the absorbent core of each chassis have equal longitudinal lengths. The discrete chassis are then deposited onto a first continuous elastic laminate and a second continuous elastic laminate. Opposing end regions of the absorbent cores may then be sealed by positioning a sealing layer across the topsheets of the chassis.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to manufacturing elastomeric laminates that may include a first substrate, a second substrate, and an elastic material located between the first substrate and second substrate. Methods and apparatuses may be configured to automatically isolate elastic strands that may break during the assembly process. As discussed in more detail below, the apparatuses may include a snare member extending adjacent to and across a travel path of elastic materials in a converting process. Thus, during the manufacture process, stretched elastics strands may advance past the snare member without contacting the outer circumferential surface of the snare member before being joined with a substrate. In the event that an elastic strand breaks, an upstream end portion of the elastic strand may retract back toward the snare member, wherein the upstream end portion wraps partially or completely around the outer circumferential surface of the snare member.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to manufacturing elastomeric laminates that may include a first substrate, a second substrate, and an elastic material located between the first substrate and second substrate. Methods and apparatuses may be configured to automatically isolate elastic strands that may break during the assembly process. As discussed in more detail below, the apparatuses may include a snare member extending adjacent to and across a travel path of elastic materials in a converting process. Thus, during the manufacture process, stretched elastics strands may advance past the snare member without contacting the outer circumferential surface of the snare member before being joined with a substrate. In the event that an elastic strand breaks, an upstream end portion of the elastic strand may retract back toward the snare member, wherein the upstream end portion wraps partially or completely around the outer circumferential surface of the snare member.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to manufacturing elastomeric laminates that may include a first substrate, a second substrate, and an elastic material located between the first substrate and second substrate. Methods and apparatuses may be configured to automatically isolate elastic strands that may break during the assembly process. As discussed in more detail below, the apparatuses may include a snare member extending adjacent to and across a travel path of elastic materials in a converting process. Thus, during the manufacture process, stretched elastics strands may advance past the snare member without contacting the outer circumferential surface of the snare member before being joined with a substrate. In the event that an elastic strand breaks, an upstream end portion of the elastic strand may retract back toward the snare member, wherein the upstream end portion wraps partially or completely around the outer circumferential surface of the snare member.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly may be used to apply fluid to an advancing substrate. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle body made from a first material. The nozzle body may include one or more abrasion resistant materials fused to the nozzle body. The nozzle body may be configured to deposit a fluid, using a shim plate, onto the advancing substrate. As the substrate advances past the nozzle assembly, the substrate and/or the fluid may contact the nozzle assembly resulting in wear. The one or more abrasion resistant materials, which is different than the first material of the nozzle body, may be fused to a portion of the nozzle body to reduce the wear and prolong the life of the nozzle body. Thus, the portion of the nozzle body having the abrasion resistant material is restored rather than having to replace the entire nozzle body.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a first fluid to an advancing substrate comprising a nozzle body made, at least in part, using an additive manufacturing method. The nozzle body comprises a fluid orifice for receiving the first fluid; a conduit in fluid communication with the fluid orifice for receiving the first fluid received by the fluid orifice; a passageway in fluid communication with the conduit for receiving the first fluid received by the conduit; and a slot in fluid communication with the passageway for applying the first fluid to the advancing substrate. A method for making an apparatus comprising a nozzle body is also provided, comprising: sequentially forming, from at least one material using an additive manufacturing method, a plurality of layers in a configured pattern corresponding to a shape of at least one of an upper nozzle assembly member or of a lower nozzle assembly member of the nozzle body.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly may be used to apply fluid to an advancing substrate. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle body made from a first material. The nozzle body may include one or more abrasion resistant materials fused to the nozzle body. The nozzle body may be configured to deposit a fluid, using a shim plate, onto the advancing substrate. As the substrate advances past the nozzle assembly, the substrate and/or the fluid may contact the nozzle assembly resulting in wear. The one or more abrasion resistant materials, which is different than the first material of the nozzle body, may be fused to a portion of the nozzle body to reduce the wear and prolong the life of the nozzle body. Thus, the portion of the nozzle body having the abrasion resistant material is restored rather than having to replace the entire nozzle body.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for manufacturing absorbent articles. More particularly, the systems and methods for folding absorbent articles advancing in a converting line may be configured with tucker blades that prevent opposing end regions of absorbent articles from colliding directly with each other as the absorbent articles are being folded.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for sealing absorbent cores of disposable diaper pants during the assembly process. The diaper pants may include a chassis connected with a ring-like elastic belt. Aspects of the assembly methods involve bonding a continuous length of absorbent cores between a continuous topsheet substrate and a continuous backsheet substrate advancing in a machine direction. The combined continuous topsheet substrate, continuous backsheet substrate, and continuous length of absorbent cores are then cut along a cross direction to create discrete chassis, wherein the topsheet, the backsheet, and the absorbent core of each chassis have equal longitudinal lengths. The discrete chassis are then deposited onto a first continuous elastic laminate and a second continuous elastic laminate. Opposing end regions of the absorbent cores may then be sealed by positioning a sealing layer across the topsheets of the chassis.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to manufacturing elastomeric laminates that may include a first substrate, a second substrate, and an elastic material located between the first substrate and second substrate. Methods and apparatuses may be configured to automatically isolate elastic strands that may break during the assembly process. As discussed in more detail below, the apparatuses may include a snare member extending adjacent to and across a travel path of elastic materials in a converting process. Thus, during the manufacture process, stretched elastics strands may advance past the snare member without contacting the outer circumferential surface of the snare member before being joined with a substrate. In the event that an elastic strand breaks, an upstream end portion of the elastic strand may retract back toward the snare member, wherein the upstream end portion wraps partially or completely around the outer circumferential surface of the snare member.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to manufacturing elastomeric laminates that may include a first substrate, a second substrate, and an elastic material located between the first substrate and second substrate. Methods and apparatuses may be configured to automatically isolate elastic strands that may break during the assembly process. As discussed in more detail below, the apparatuses may include a snare member extending adjacent to and across a travel path of elastic materials in a converting process. Thus, during the manufacture process, stretched elastics strands may advance past the snare member without contacting the outer circumferential surface of the snare member before being joined with a substrate. In the event that an elastic strand breaks, an upstream end portion of the elastic strand may retract back toward the snare member, wherein the upstream end portion wraps partially or completely around the outer circumferential surface of the snare member.

Abstract: An apparatus may be used to control the cross-directional movement of a web advancing in a machine direction. The web defines a machine direction centerline. The apparatus may include a frame rotatable about a first axis of rotation and a guide member connected with the frame and configured to receive an advancing web. The apparatus may include a first rotation member connected with the frame and configured to rotate the frame by a first angle of rotation about the first axis of rotation to align a machine direction centerline of the advancing web with a target cross-directional position. The apparatus comprises a second rotation member connected with the frame and configured to rotate the frame about a second axis of rotation by a second angle of rotation to adjust the target cross-directional position, wherein the second angle of rotation is greater than the first angle of rotation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to manufacturing elastomeric laminates that may include a first substrate, a second substrate, and an elastic material located between the first substrate and second substrate. Methods and apparatuses may be configured to automatically isolate elastic strands that may break during the assembly process. As discussed in more detail below, the apparatuses may include a snare member extending adjacent to and across a travel path of elastic materials in a converting process. Thus, during the manufacture process, stretched elastics strands may advance past the snare member without contacting the outer circumferential surface of the snare member before being joined with a substrate. In the event that an elastic strand breaks, an upstream end portion of the elastic strand may retract back toward the snare member, wherein the upstream end portion wraps partially or completely around the outer circumferential surface of the snare member.

Abstract: An apparatus may be used to control the cross-directional movement of a web advancing in a machine direction. The web defines a machine direction centerline. The apparatus may include a frame rotatable about a first axis of rotation and a guide member connected with the frame and configured to receive an advancing web. The apparatus may include a first rotation member connected with the frame and configured to rotate the frame by a first angle of rotation about the first axis of rotation to align a machine direction centerline of the advancing web with a target cross-directional position. The apparatus comprises a second rotation member connected with the frame and configured to rotate the frame about a second axis of rotation by a second angle of rotation to adjust the target cross-directional position, wherein the second angle of rotation is greater than the first angle of rotation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates systems and methods for folding absorbent articles advancing in a converting line. The folding processes and apparatuses herein may be configured with tucker blades that are configured to maximize the period of time wherein the leading edges of the tucker blades move at maximum speeds during the folding 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, the continuous length of absorbent articles may be subjected to a final knife and cut to create separate and discrete absorbent articles in the form of diapers. From the final knife, the discrete absorbent articles may then advance in a first direction on a first carrier. A pneumatic system may be activated to redirect the leading end portion of a defective absorbent article advancing from the first carrier, while upstream of a second carrier. In turn, the redirected leading end portion of the defective absorbent article is transferred from the first carrier to a third carrier. And the third carrier advances the defective absorbent article with the third carrier along the reject article transport path away from the converting process.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for manufacturing absorbent articles. More particularly, the systems and methods for folding absorbent articles advancing in a converting line may be configured with tucker blades that prevent opposing end regions of absorbent articles from colliding directly with each other as the absorbent articles are being folded.