Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Brian Robert Vogt

Charles Robert Tomsovic

Jason Gene Csida

Robert Lee Popp

Michael Lee Lohoff

Jack Lee Couillard

Henry Louis Carbone, Ii

Tim G Dollevoet

Kurt Garrett Krupka

David Albert Maxton

Archie Dodds Morgan

Bradley W Schoon

Richard Mark Konetzke

Joseph J Gimenez

Michael William Protheroe

Patricia Katherine Eng

John Gerard Hein

Kyle Solomon Allen

Scott Gerald Chapple

Clinton David Clark

Jason Kyle Sieck

Jamie L Bell

Bradley M Marohl

Lloyd Carl Hietpas

Stephen Alan Kolasinski

Matthew Lee Koele

Thomas Earl Williamson

Timothy A Thorson

Larry Dean Primeau

Steven L Schnasse

Steven Kolasinski

Michael John Wanner

John P Hillmer

Dale H Damsteegt

Mike L Lohoff

Wade L Behnke

Timothy G Dollevoet

Stephen A Kolasinski

Henry L Carbone Ii

Henry L Ii Carbone

Scott G Chapple

John G Hein

Kyle S Allen

Timothy Alan Thorson

Clinton D Clark

Michael W Protheroe

A method of folding a pant-like disposable absorbent garment includes providing a garment defining first and second waist side regions, a waist center region positioned therebetween, and a crotch region longitudinally below the waist center region. In particular embodiments, the method further includes folding the garment along a transversely extending fold line so as to bring the crotch region into superposed relation with the waist center region; providing a chute having a floor and first and second side walls; urging the garment into the chute; and, while the garment is in the chute, folding the garment along longitudinally extending first and second fold lines so as to position the first and second waist side regions over the waist center region. The first and second fold lines are adjacent the first and second side walls, respectively.

Method of folding pant-like disposable absorbent garments in a chute

A method of folding a pant-like disposable absorbent garment includes providing a garment defining first and second waist side regions, a waist center region positioned therebetween, and a crotch region longitudinally below the waist center region. In particular embodiments, the method further includes folding the garment along a transversely extending fold line so as to bring the crotch region into superposed relation with the waist center region; providing a trough having a floor and first and second side walls; placing the waist center region in the trough; and, while the garment is in the trough, folding the garment along longitudinally extending first and second fold lines so as to position the first and second waist side regions, respectively, over the waist center region. The first and second fold lines are adjacent the first and second side walls, respectively.

Method of folding pant-like disposable absorbent garments in a trough

A method for positioning side panels during manufacture of a pant includes positioning the side panels on side panel transfer devices. The side panels move perpendicular to a pant transport plane as the pant is transported in the machine direction and the side panels reside on the side panel transfer devices. The side panels can include refastenable fastening components. The method and apparatus can move the fastening components closer together in the cross-machine direction or maintain the fastening components at a constant cross-machine position while the side panels reside on the side panel transfer devices.

Garment side panel conveyor system and method

A panel of a material is transported in operative proximity to an air knife having a nozzle and a curved Coanda surface, such that the panel is folded over the curved Coanda surface as the material is transported in a machine direction. The panel can be folded to a variety of angles and can comprise a refastenable fastening component. Air knives are employed in various methods for folding garment side panels and forming prefastened garments, such as refastenable pants.

Presentation and bonding of garment side panels

Systems and methods for guiding one or more web components in connection with a web converting manufacturing process such as that used for manufacturing disposable absorbent garments. Some of the disclosed embodiments include relating inspection data, such as product (or process) attribute data, to data from other manufacturing-related systems. Also disclosed are systems and methods for linking product (or process) attribute data obtained during the manufacturing process with one or more data sources including raw material data, process setting data, product quality data, and/or productivity data. Also disclosed are systems and methods for identifying manufacturing set point changes and automatically implementing such changes and automated web steering changes based on data from one or more inspection systems.

Web guiding system and method

In a method and apparatus for securing engagement between fastening components of a pre-fastened garment upon initial assembly thereof, the fastening components are arranged by the apparatus in at least partially opposed relationship with each other and then engaged with each other to define an engagement seam. The garment is then mechanically handled by the apparatus to subject the engagement seam to a shear stress to promote increased engagement between the fastening components during initial assembly of the garment.

Apparatus and method for securing engagement between fastening components of pre-fastened garments

Method and apparatus for inspecting articles with multiple elements to determine if the elements are properly located, which includes pinching at least a portion of the article including at least some of the elements at an inspection station; irradiating the pinched portions of the article and elements at the inspection station with a radiation source; and capturing an image of the pinched, irradiated elements and article with an image capturing device.

Apparatus and method for inspecting articles

In a method and apparatus for securing engagement between fastening components of a pre-fastened garment the fastening components are aligned in at least partially overlapping relationship with each other and engaged with each other to define an engagement seam. The fastening components are then flexed at the engagement seam to generate a shear stress at the seam to thereby promote increased engagement between the fastening components. In another embodiment, the fastening components are delivered in a predetermined direction to a nip and then drawn into the nip at a speed greater than the speed at which the fastening components are delivered to the nip. The fastening components are passed through the nip generally to squeeze the fastening components together at the engagement seam for promoting enhanced engagement between the fastening components.

A method and apparatus which determine the location of one component on an article relative to a datum position on the article at a first location in the manufacturing process and then subsequently locating the datum position on the article at a second location in the manufacturing process and determining if the distance from another component to the datum position. The location of two components relative to one another can be determined by comparing their positions relative to the datum position. In a manufacturing process for producing articles such as children's training pants, cameras and a radiation source can be utilized to determine the positions of fastening components on the training pants when they are hidden within the pants.

Method and apparatus for inferring item position based on multiple data

In a method and apparatus for making and inspecting pre-fastened articles, such as disposable training pants, having at least two generally flexible elements capable of connection with each other during initial assembly of the article, the elements are arranged in overlapping relationship with each other and connected together to define an engagement seam of the article. The article is arranged to define an interior space thereof whereby the interior space is bounded in part by the engagement seam. The elements are irradiated at the engagement seam by a radiation source within the interior space of the article and an image of the irradiated engagement seam is captured by an image capturing device. In one embodiment, the image capturing device is positioned within the interior space of the article and the radiation source is either within the interior space or exterior of the article.

Apparatus and method for inspecting pre-fastened articles

A system and process for inspecting an underlying edge of a composite article, such as a disposable absorbent article. The article has first and second panels in at least partially opposed, overlapping engagement with each other. The process and system determine whether the panels of the article are present and/or properly positioned. Also disclosed is a process and system for detecting whether one or more components are present and/or properly positioned in the composite article by use of infrared radiation. Also disclosed is a process and system for defining a window in an image of the article, scanning the defined window to determine a position of the edge and redefining the window in the event that the edge is not located within the defined window during scanning of the defined window.

Infrared detection of composite article components

A method and apparatus for folding garments is suitable for use with garments having discrete mechanical fastening components and suitable for the manufacture of prefastened and refastenable garments. The garments or other discrete articles define leading and trailing halves with opposed side panels. A chassis portion and side panels of the garments can be controlled during folding by providing a three piece vacuum puck design and/or a channeled transfer plate as well as a layer of air under the leading side panels.

Methods for improving product chassis and panel control during folding of garment

A method for positioning side panels during manufacture of a pant includes positioning the side panels within fluid flow devices. The side panels can move parallel or perpendicular to a pant transport plane as the pant is transported in the machine direction and the side panels reside within the fluid flow devices. The side panels can include refastenable fastening components. The method and apparatus can move the fastening components closer together in the cross-machine direction while the side panels reside within the fluid flow devices.

Method for positioning garment side panels

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Oshkosh, WI, United States of America

Brian Robert Vogt