Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Barton Andrew Laughlin

Thomas David Ehlert

Patrick Sean McNichols

John Ford Condron

Timothy James Blenke

Tauhid Husain

Harold Norbert Heller

Paul Gordon Klemp

Vasily Aramovich Topolkaraev

Palani Raj Ramaswami Wallajapet

Daniel Hoo

Chinmay Suresh Betrabet

James Melvin Gaestel

Dennis Y Lee

Patrick Martin Downey

Nagabhusan Senapati

Davis Hoang Nhan

In a method and apparatus for forming a bonded web comprised at least in part of a polyester, a first material web and a second material web are arranged in opposed relationship with each other at least along those portions of the first and second material webs to be bonded together. At least one of the first and second material webs is comprised at least in part of the polyester. The opposed webs are transported in a machine direction to the nip of a bonding apparatus comprised of a first bonding member and a second bonding member defining the nip therebetween for passage of the opposed first and second material webs therebetween in the machine direction. A shear force is applied to the webs generally in the machine direction at the nip and the webs are mechanically bonded together at the nip while the shear force is applied to webs.

Method and apparatus for mechanically bonding material webs

A method for reducing adhesive build-up on ultrasonic bonding surfaces of ultrasonic bonding systems is disclosed. The method includes providing an ultrasonic bonding surface. A pad is provided proximate to, and in fluid contact with, the ultrasonic bonding system. A fluid is conducted to the pad such that the fluid is applied is intermittently or continuously applied to at least a portion of the ultrasonic bonding surface.

Method and apparatus for reducing adhesive build-up on ultrasonic bonding surfaces

An ultrasonic processing method and apparatus ( ) can include a rotatable, ultrasonic horn member ( ) that is operatively joined to an isolation member ( ) which has high rigidity. Additionally, a rotatable anvil member ( ) can be cooperatively positioned to provide a selected horn-anvil gap ( ) between the anvil member ( ) and the horn member ( ). A transfer device ( ) can be configured to selectively adjust the horn-anvil gap ( ), and an automated drive ( ) can be operatively connected to the transfer device ( ) to selectively modify the horn-anvil gap ( ). A force sensor ( ) can be configured to detect a gap force at the horn-anvil gap ( ), and an electronic processor ( ) can be configured to employ an output from the force sensor ( ) to monitor the gap force, and provide a drive signal to the automated drive ( ) to thereby adjust the horn-anvil gap ( ).

Control of processing force and process gap in rigid rotary ultrasonic systems

An ultrasonic processing method and apparatus ( ) can include a rotatable, ultrasonic horn member ( ) that is operatively joined to an isolation member ( ) which has high rigidity. A rotatable anvil member ( ) can be cooperatively positioned to provide a selected horn-anvil gap ( ), and an automated drive ( ) can be connected to an actuator ( ), or other transfer device, to automatically adjust the horn-anvil gap ( ). An electronic processor ( ) can be configured to monitor an intermittent gap force detected from an output provided by a force sensor ( ), and can provide a drive signal to the automated drive ( ) to thereby adjust the horn-anvil gap ( ) to operatively maintain a target, gap force value.

Rotary ultrasonic bonder or processor capable of high speed intermittent processing

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Hortonville, WI, United States of America

Barton Andrew Laughlin