Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

3m Innovative Properties Company

Douglas A Swenson

David M Kielb

Dennis L Krueger

Herbert J Fox

Rochelle L Lockridge

Melvin J Straub

Edwin Kalash

Donald L Plaschko

Robert S Mulder

Diaper fastener

Diaper fastening tab closure

An elastic film is provided with non-elastic regions and elastic regions formed from a multi-layer film of an elastomeric layer and a relatively inelastic layer(s).

Elastic film laminate

An elastic film is provided with non-elastic regions and elastic regions formed from a multi-layer film of an elastomeric layer and a relatively inelastic layer (s).

A device for applying spaced layers generally transversely across an elongate web which defines a through path for the web including parallel inlet and outlet path portions spaced sideways from each other and a transverse path portion between adjacent terminal and beginning ends of the inlet and outlet path portions. The web is moved lengthwise at a predetermined speed in a first direction along the inlet and outlet path portions, the device periodically moves the portion of the web along the transverse path portion generally edgewise in a direction parallel to the first direction and at about the predetermined speed to essentially stop longitudinal movement of the portion of the web along the transverse path portion; and the device applies a layer of material such as tape generally transversely across the portion of the web along the transverse path portion as it moves tangentially by the periphery of a rotating applicator drum.

Cross web layer application device

A disposable article, such as a disposable diaper, is provided. The article has a fastening means comprising a film substrate having a target strip and a fastening tape. The target strip comprises a backing film having a first pressure-sensitive adhesive on one face thereof adhered to the film substrate and on the other face thereof a hydrophobic polyvinyl carbamate release coating. The fastening tape has a second pressure-sensitive adhesive on one face thereof for adhesion to the target strip. The target strip release coating has been subjected to ionizing plasma treatment such that the fastening tape has an increase in adhesion to the target strip of at least about 50% over an untreated target strip and which increased adhesion does not decrease more than 60% after storage at about 50.degree. C. for 15 days.

Closure systems for diapers and method of preparation

A device for stretching the width of strip material including two rotatably mounted circular pulleys having portions of their peripheries at a close spacing at a first location and portions of their peripheries at a larger spacing at a second location. Two flexible belts are mounted for movement along predetermined paths including clamping path portions with portions of the belts and pulleys in engagement from an inlet position adjacent the first location to an outlet position adjacent the second location. Edge portions of the strip material are guided between the belts and the peripheral surfaces at the inlet position and the portion of the strip material extending from the inlet position to the outlet position is clamped to the peripheral surface of the pulley by the belts and is stretched to widen its width as the pulleys rotate during movement of the strip material from the inlet position to the outlet position.

Width stretching device

Apparatus and method for applying heat-sensitive adhesive tape, such as frontal diaper tape, of the type having a layer of heat sensitive adhesive material to a web moving at high speed, such as a web of water-resistant material designed for use as the outer layer of disposable diapers. The apparatus comprises a tape-feed wheel for preheating and feeding the tape to the apparatus from a supply of generally continuous tape, and a tape-applying wheel in rolling engagement with the web for applying tape fed to it from the tape-feed wheel to the web. The tape-applying wheel includes vacuum passageways for providing suction through a circumferential surface of the tape-applying wheel to hold the tape thereon, and a heating mechanism for heating the tape to an elevated temperature at which the heat-sensitive adhesive is tacky and for maintaining the tape at the elevated temperature until it is applied to the web. Successive end portions of the tape are cut against the tape-applying wheel into pieces to be applied to the web, and each successive piece of tape cut from the tape is accelerated by the tape-applying wheel from the relatively slow velocity of the tape-feed wheel to the relatively fast velocity of the web and applied to the web.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Douglas A Swenson