Patents by Inventor Thomas HEEGE

Thomas HEEGE has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20260041590
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to an absorbent article (1) for personal hygiene, preferably a disposable pant, comprising:—a substantially transversely extending front panel (2);—a substantially transversely extending back panel (3); and—a substantially longitudinally extending absorbent insert (4) joined to each of said front and back panels (2, 3), said absorbent insert (4) comprising front and back transversal edges and left and right longitudinal edges connecting the front and back transversal edges to form a perimeter thereof; wherein the front and back panels (2, 3) are joined together to define a pair of side seams, and characterised in that said article comprises a transversal waist barrier (5) proximal to the front and/or back transversal edges of the absorbent insert (4) wherein said barrier (5) comprises a plurality of liquid retarding layers and in that said barrier is in the form of a patch and from about 50% to about 75% of a perimeter thereof is joined to said insert (4) and/or panels (2, 3) s
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Publication date: February 12, 2026
    Inventors: Thomas HEEGE, Dirk IFFLAND, Michiel BUYSSE, Lukas PSCHYKLENK, Markus FRANSEN, Michael HOCHHAUSEN, Patrick BARAN
  • Publication number: 20260041589
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a method for the manufacture of an absorbent article (1), said method comprising the steps of: # providing a front panel (2); # providing a back panel (3); # providing an absorbent insert (4) comprising front and back transversal edges and left and right longitudinal edges connecting the front and back transversal edges to form a perimeter thereof; # folding a portion of said absorbent insert (4) proximal to the front and/or back transversal edges thereof onto itself, preferably in the shape of a substantially U-fold, to form transversal waist barrier(s) (5); # joining said insert (4) to said front and back panels (2, 3); and # joining said front and back panels (2, 3) together along a pair of oppositely disposed side seams. The present disclosure also relates to an apparatus (20) to manufacture an absorbent article (1) according to the present method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Publication date: February 12, 2026
    Inventors: Thomas HEEGE, Dirk IFFLAND, Michiel BUYSSE, Lukas PSCHYKLENK, Markus FRANSEN, Michael HOCHHAUSEN, Patrick BARAN
  • Publication number: 20260041591
    Abstract: An absorbent article for personal hygiene, preferably a disposable pant, comprising: a substantially transversely extending front panel; a substantially transversely extending back panel; and a substantially longitudinally extending absorbent insert joined to each of said front and back panels, said absorbent insert comprising front and back transversal edges and left and right longitudinal edges connecting the front and back transversal edges to form a perimeter thereof and generally wherein the left and right longitudinal edges extend substantially along the longitudinal axis y and are oppositely disposed such that said longitudinal axis y extends therebetween, and the front and back transversal edges extend substantially along the transversal axis x, and typically substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis y, and are oppositely disposed such that said transverse axis x extends therebetween).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Publication date: February 12, 2026
    Inventors: Thomas HEEGE, Dirk IFFLAND, Michiel BUYSSE, Lukas PSCHYKLENK, Markus FRANSEN
  • Patent number: 12383436
    Abstract: The current invention concerns a transfer head (24) configured for the transfer of a pad (6) from a pick-up location (26) to a drop-off location (62). According to the invention, the transfer head (24) comprises a support module (28) comprising a vacuum manifold, and a core module (30) comprising an elastic mean (32). The current invention also concerns a method of transferring pad (6) from a pick-up location (26) to a drop-off location (62). The current invention also concerns an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article using said method of transferring pad (6) from a pick-up location (26) to a drop-off location (62). The invention also concerns a method of manufacturing an absorbent articles using said method of transferring pad (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignees: ONTEX BV, ONTEX GROUP NV
    Inventors: Christian Adams, Thomas Heege
  • Patent number: 12336893
    Abstract: A method for making an absorbent article comprising an absorbent core comprising one or more channels, the method comprising the steps of: i. providing a first endless moving surface comprising a plurality of molds, each mold comprising a non-porous insert therein, typically said insert having the inverse shape of said channel(s), wherein the molds are in fluid communication with an under-pressure source except for said insert; ii. feeding a first nonwoven web to said first endless moving surface and over one or more said molds; iii. depositing an absorbent material, comprising cellulose fibers and/or superabsorbent polymer particles, over at least a portion of said nonwoven web; iv. removing said absorbent material from areas of the nonwoven web corresponding to said insert; v. applying a second nonwoven web directly or indirectly over the absorbent material, or folding said first nonwoven web, such to sandwich said absorbent material between upper and lower layers of said nonwoven web(s); vi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignees: ONTEX BV, ONTEX GROUP NV
    Inventors: Thomas Heege, Ainas Weber, Christel Mailinger, Manfred Breu, Detlef Vollrath, Alissa Idelson, Christoph Wagner
  • Patent number: 12239512
    Abstract: A method for making an absorbent article comprising an absorbent core comprising one or more channels, the method comprising the steps of: i. providing a first endless moving surface comprising a plurality of molds typically in the form of pockets, each mold comprising an insert therein, wherein the molds are in fluid communication with an under-pressure source except for said insert such that a suction zone is formed in areas neighboring said insert; ii. feeding a first nonwoven web to said first endless moving surface and over one or more said molds; iii. depositing an absorbent material, comprising cellulose fibers and/or superabsorbent polymer particles, over at least a portion of said nonwoven web; iv. optionally further selectively removing said absorbent material from areas of the nonwoven web corresponding to said insert; v.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignees: ONTEX BV, ONTEX GROUP NV
    Inventors: Ainas Weber, Thomas Heege
  • Publication number: 20250009569
    Abstract: A method for making an absorbent article comprising an absorbent core comprising one or more channels, the method comprising the steps of: i. providing a first endless moving surface comprising a plurality of molds, each mold comprising a non-porous insert therein, typically said insert having the inverse shape of said channel(s), wherein the molds are in fluid communication with an under-pressure source except for said insert; ii. feeding a first nonwoven web to said first endless moving surface and over one or more said molds; iii. depositing an absorbent material, comprising cellulose fibers and/or superabsorbent polymer particles, over at least a portion of said nonwoven web; iv. removing said absorbent material from areas of the nonwoven web corresponding to said insert; v. applying a second nonwoven web directly or indirectly over the absorbent material, or folding said first nonwoven web, such to sandwich said absorbent material between upper and lower layers of said nonwoven web(s); vi.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: Thomas HEEGE, Ainas WEBER, Christel MAILINGER, Manfred BREU, Detlef VOLLRATH, Alissa IDELSON, Christoph WAGNER
  • Patent number: 12157649
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of guiding a web with a shifting path of the web to a substantially constant centration point. It comprises the steps of providing a web with a shifting path of the web from a source of the web, measuring upstream of said centration point, the position and/or orientation of said web by a sensor arrangement, and guiding said web to said centration point in accordance to the measurement results. The present invention advantageously relates to operations in the manufacturing of absorbent articles such as unwinding web rolls that are wound in a shifted manner, in particular spirally wound web rolls, and removing web from containers of loose web material. The invention also relates to a device for the execution of the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignees: Ontex BV, ONTEX GROUP NV
    Inventor: Thomas Heege
  • Patent number: 12127922
    Abstract: A method for making an absorbent article comprising an absorbent core comprising one or more channels, the method comprising the steps of: i. providing a first endless moving surface comprising a plurality of molds, each mold comprising a non-porous insert therein, typically said insert having the inverse shape of said channel(s), wherein the molds are in fluid communication with an under-pressure source except for said insert; ii. feeding a first nonwoven web to said first endless moving surface and over one or more said molds; iii. depositing an absorbent material, comprising cellulose fibers and/or superabsorbent polymer particles, over at least a portion of said nonwoven web; iv. removing said absorbent material from areas of the nonwoven web corresponding to said insert; v. applying a second nonwoven web directly or indirectly over the absorbent material, or folding said first nonwoven web, such to sandwich said absorbent material between upper and lower layers of said nonwoven web(s); vi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignees: Ontex BV, Ontex Group NV
    Inventors: Thomas Heege, Ainas Weber, Christel Mailinger, Manfred Breu, Detlef Vollrath, Alissa Idelson, Christoph Wagner
  • Publication number: 20240207108
    Abstract: The current invention concerns a laminate (2) for an absorbent article, preferably to be used as the backsheet of said absorbent article, said laminate (2) comprising: —a first layer (4) comprising a fibrous material such as a nonwoven material; —a second layer (6) comprising a film; —a third layer (8) comprising an adhesive; —the third layer (8) being arranged between the first (4) and second (6) layer; wherein the adhesive in the third layer (8) is applied in a pattern, said pattern comprising: —a first sub-pattern (10) comprising a frame (12) following the perimeter of the laminate (2) and defining an inner surface, said first sub-pattern (10) comprising a first amount of adhesive; —a second sub-pattern (14) arranged within the inner surface of the frame (12), said second sub-pattern (14) comprising a second amount of adhesive, the second amount of adhesive being less than the first amount of adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas HEEGE, Dirk IFFLAND, Christina LAMBERTZ, Martín GRANADO ESCUDERO, Ainas WEBER
  • Publication number: 20240180756
    Abstract: A method for inspecting disposable absorbent articles, the method comprising: providing a controller comprising an inspection algorithm with a convolutional neural network; providing a sensor, preferably selected from the group consisting of an optical sensor, thermal sensor, and combinations thereof; the sensor being in data communication with the controller; providing a reference database, wherein the reference database comprises a plurality of pre-processed images of disposable absorbent articles and/or components thereof that have been labeled with one or more of: a feature or element of the article and/or component thereof; a non-acceptable defect within a feature or element of the article and/or component thereof; an acceptable defect within a feature or element of the article and/or component thereof; an acceptable faultless feature or element of the article and/or component thereof; and combinations thereof; and the method comprising the steps of: training the convolutional neural network preferably t
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventors: Ainas WEBER, Thomas HEEGE, Antonio TORRES SAAVEDRA
  • Publication number: 20240148563
    Abstract: The current invention concerns a forming pocket (10), suitable for forming moulded absorbent material deposit structures to be used as absorbent core for absorbent articles, the forming pocket (10), extending in a longitudinal, transversal and vertical direction (L,T,V), comprises: a grid structure (12) comprising a first set of grid members (18) and a second set of grid members (20), each set of grid members (18,20) comprising a plurality of plates (19,21), each plate (19,21) comprising a plurality of slits (22,26), a supporting frame (30) encasing said grid structure (12), said supporting frame (30) comprising a first set of frame elements (32) forming two opposite longitudinal walls (32) of the supporting frame (30) and a second set of frame elements (34) forming two opposite transversal walls of the supporting frame; a mesh substrate (40) arranged on said upper surface of the grid structure (12), and an insert (48) arranged on the upper surface of the mesh substrate (40), wherein the insert (48) is cou
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Michael HOCHHAUSEN, Thomas HEEGE
  • Patent number: 11938010
    Abstract: An absorbent core comprising substantially continuous zones of one or more high fluid distribution structures and discontinuous zones of fluid absorption structures surrounding the one or more high fluid distribution structures, wherein the one or more high fluid distribution structures are arranged to distribute fluid across the absorbent core at a speed that is faster than the speed of fluid distribution across the absorbent core by said discontinuous fluid absorption structures, and wherein said continuous zones extend along a path that is substantially parallel to at least a portion of the perimeter of the core, said portion of the perimeter of the core comprising at least a portion of the sides of the core and one of the ends of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignees: ONTEX BV, ONTEX GROUP NV
    Inventors: Ainas Weber, Manfred Breu, Christel Mailinger, Thomas Heege
  • Publication number: 20240041669
    Abstract: The present disclosure invention relates to a disposable absorbent article (100) comprising a liquid-pervious topsheet (10), a liquid-impervious backsheet (20) and an absorbent assembly (30) between the topsheet (10) and the backsheet (20). The absorbent assembly (30) comprises an absorbent core (40), an upper core wrap (50) and a lower core wrap (60). The absorbent core (40) comprises at least two cavities (70) free of absorbent material wherein the upper core wrap (50) and the lower core wrap (60) are permanently attached to each other, said cavities (70) being interconnected via at least one connecting line (80) comprising absorbent material. The absorbent core (40) has a first basis weight in the zone out of the cavities (70) and the connecting lines (80) and a second basis weight in the connecting lines (80), the first basis weight being greater than the second basis weight. in the cavities (70).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Karen ROETS, Christel MAILINGER, Thomas HEEGE
  • Publication number: 20240016666
    Abstract: The disclosure pertains to a process line (62) for manufacturing absorbent articles comprising a plurality of assembly modules (64), the process line (62) comprising at least one channel (70) fluidically connecting at least one assembly module (64) and a main pump (38), said main pump being arranged downstream, with respect to the airflow, of said assembly module (64) wherein at least one booster pump (72) is arranged between an assembly module (64) and said main pump (38), said at least one channel (70) fluidically connecting said assembly module (64), booster pump (72) and main pump (38).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventor: Thomas HEEGE
  • Publication number: 20240001277
    Abstract: The current disclosure concerns a filtering apparatus (10) for filtering the air from an absorbent articles manufacturing process line, said filtering apparatus (10) comprising a. a housing (36) comprising one or more inlets (12); b. a filtering media 14 arranged downstream with respect to the airflow of the one or more air inlets (12); c. a support structure (16) comprising a cylindrical drum (18) comprising a first and second longitudinal ends (49,60), the filtering media (14) being secured to said cylindrical drum (18); d. a motor device (52) to rotate the cylindrical drum (18); and e. a first pump (38). According to the disclosure, the motor device (52) comprises a driving mean (56) and the cylindrical drum (18) comprises the corresponding driven mean (50) arranged at the periphery of one of the longitudinal ends (49,60) of the cylindrical drum (18), the driving mean (56) actuating the driven mean and cylindrical drum (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventor: Thomas HEEGE
  • Publication number: 20230329921
    Abstract: The current invention concerns a transfer head (24) configured for the transfer of a pad (6) from a pick-up location (26) to a drop-off location (62). According to the invention, the transfer head (24) comprises a support module (28) comprising a vacuum manifold, and a core module (30) comprising an elastic mean (32). The current invention also concerns a method of transferring pad (6) from a pick-up location (26) to a drop-off location (62). The current invention also concerns an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article using said method of transferring pad (6) from a pick-up location (26) to a drop-off location (62). The invention also concerns a method of manufacturing an absorbent articles using said method of transferring pad (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Christian ADAMS, Thomas HEEGE
  • Patent number: 11752047
    Abstract: An absorbent core comprising substantially continuous zones of one or more high fluid distribution structures and discontinuous zones of fluid absorption structures surrounding the one or more high fluid distribution structures, wherein the one or more high fluid distribution structures are arranged to distribute fluid across the absorbent core at a speed that is faster than the speed of fluid distribution across the absorbent core by said discontinuous fluid absorption structures, and wherein said continuous zones extend along a path that is substantially parallel to at least a portion of the perimeter of the core, said portion of the perimeter of the core comprising at least a portion of the sides of the core and one of the ends of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignees: ONTEX BV, ONTEX GROUP NV
    Inventors: Ainas Weber, Manfred Breu, Christel Mailinger, Thomas Heege
  • Publication number: 20230240913
    Abstract: An absorbent article comprising: a liquid permeable topsheet, a liquid impermeable backsheet, and an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and backsheet, wherein the absorbent core comprises an absorbent material, said absorbent material comprising cellulose fibers and/or superabsorbent polymers, and wherein said absorbent material is contained within at least one core wrap substrate enclosing said absorbent material therein, wherein the absorbent core further comprises an intermediate layer positioned between a top layer of said core wrap and a bottom layer of said core wrap such that said absorbent material is disposed between said top layer and said intermediate layer and/or between said bottom layer and said intermediate layer, and wherein said top layer, said bottom layer, and said intermediate layer are joined together to form one or more channel forming areas substantially free of said absorbent material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Ainas WEBER, Stefanie PANNWITT, Martín GRANADO, Norbert GARAJ, Christina LAMBERTZ, Christel MAILINGER, Thomas HEEGE, Björn INGENFELD
  • Patent number: 11712378
    Abstract: An absorbent core comprising a front portion; a back portion; a middle portion positioned between the front portion and the back portion; and a longitudinal axis extending along a length of said core and crossing said front, middle and back portions, the absorbent core having a width extending perpendicular to said length and a perimeter comprising at least two opposing ends and at least two opposing sides positioned between said ends wherein the absorbent core comprises one or more channels having a first shape when the absorbent core is in dry state and a second shape when the absorbent core is in wet state and wherein said first and second shapes are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignees: ONTEX BV, ONTEX GROUP NV
    Inventors: Ainas Weber, Manfred Breu, Christel Mailinger, Thomas Heege