Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Corporation

Kimberly-clark World, Inc.

Gregory John Rajala

Steven Craig Gehling

Paul Daniel Suke

Daniel James Oshefsky

Joseph Daniel Coenen

Paul Martin Niemi

Joyce Ann Damico

Daniel James Heuer

Gerald Leigh Rabe

Mahendra Mittapalli

Mohammed Shafi Khurieshi

John Soosai Alphonse

Robert Donald Lorenz

Robert A Stevens

John C Wilson

Kurt J Kloehn

Thomas David Ehlert

Paul Theodore Van Gompel

Robert Eugene Vogt

Dennis Stein Everhart

Jody Dorothy Suprise

Patricia A Mitchler

Stanley Roy Kellenberger

Gerald Keith Sosalla

Jacqueline Ann Gross

James Dell Milner

Leona G Boland

Andrew Michael Lake

Shelley Rae Rasmussen

Kent William Abel

Moshe Saraf

Thomas Raymond Holston

Edward G Wollangk

Troy Leonard Tipton

Paul A Gavronski

Lon Martin King

Dean Edward Paszek

Veronica Maria Lingnowski

Mark Scott Schrading

Robert J Shavlik

Brandon S May

Edwin L Cutright

Georgia Lynn Zehner

Thomas Walter Odorzynski

Jack Lee Couillard

Gregory L Malchow

Bruce Michael Siebers

Scott M Belliveau

Carl Gerard Rippl

Ricky Wayne Purcell

Brian Keith Rhodes

Ki Bok Song

Laurie Couture-Dorschner

Jason Kyle Sieck

Kenneth John Wagner

Toriono A Granger

Timothy A Thorson

James Frederick Roth

Elizabeth Ellen Bell

William J Moore

Stephen Bradford Cook

Brian James Ludka

Rebecca D Hayes

Steven Ray Burnett

Karl V Fredrick

Thomas Bohlmann

Donald J Holewski

Donald Joseph Holewinski

Qingyuan Deng

Sena S Corbin

Rae Leonard Kirkwood

Joyce A D'Amico

John Sorebo

Walter Reynold Johnson

Richard John Makovec

Brian K Rhodes

James D Milner

Paul D Suke

Daniel J Heuer

Joyce A Damico

Elizabeth E Bell

Elasticized absorbent articles containing weakened elasticized portions and methods of manufacture are disclosed. A method comprises applying a first amount of adhesive to a first portion of at least one of the first web of material and the elastic strand, applying a second amount of adhesive to a second portion of at least one of the first web of material and the elastic strand, covering the elastic strand with either the first surface of the first web of material or a first surface of a second web of material to form an elasticized web. The elasticized web comprises a heavy bonding region and a light bonding region, wherein the heavy bonding region comprises a greater area density of adhesive than the light bond region. Finally, the method may further comprise partially weakening the waist panel elastic strand at least at one location within the second region.

Elasticized absorbent articles and methods of weakening elastic portions in elasticized absorbent articles

An apparatus and method for applying a first web to a base web in a nonlinear pattern as the base web is advanced in a machine direction in contact with a back-up roller are disclosed. The apparatus can include a guide roller and a guide roller translations system. The guide roller can be configured to define a nip with the back-up roller. The guide roller translation system can be configured to allow the guide roller to move with respect to the back-up roller to control the position of the nip to allow the first web to be applied to the base web in the non-linear pattern in the machine direction.

Apparatus and method for applying a first web to a base web in a nonlinear pattern

A method of bonding a first web of material to a second web of material to form a composite material is disclosed herein. First, a first web of material and a second web of material moving in a machine direction is provided. The webs of material pass over a first energy application device extending transverse in the cross-machine direction. The first energy application device includes a primary bonding pattern and a secondary bonding pattern. The primary bonding pattern in combination with the secondary bonding pattern extends continuously across the first energy application device in the cross-machine direction. In addition, a second energy application device is provided. The second energy application device is moved in the cross-machine direction, and thereby extending the second energy application device over the first energy application device and operating the first and second energy application devices in combination to bond a composite web.

Method of forming a composite web utilizing a rotary bonding system with an anvil pattern

An applicator for and method of guiding a first web to a base web in a nonlinear pattern as the base web is advanced in a machine direction are disclosed. The applicator can include a support structure, a cantilever arm, a guide roller, and a connecting link. The cantilever arm can be supported by the support structure and moveable through a range of motion relative to the support structure in a cross machine direction. The guide roller can guide the first web onto the base web and can be pivotally mounted on the cantilever arm for pivotal movement of the guide roller with respect to the cantilever arm. The connecting link can be operatively coupled to the guide roller. Pivotal movement of the guide roller can be dependent on movement of the connecting link. Positioning of the guide roller in the cross machine direction can be dependent on movement of the cantilever arm.

An anvil system for use in an ultrasonic bonder includes an anvil assembly including an anvil bar having an anvil aperture in at least one anvil bar longitudinal end, the anvil aperture having an anvil aperture inner surface, a shaft separate from the anvil bar and partially disposed in the anvil aperture, the shaft having a circumferential surface and extending outwardly beyond the anvil bar longitudinal end, and a first elastomeric shaft O-ring disposed on the shaft between the shaft circumferential surface and the anvil aperture inner surface; a mounting bracket with a mounting bracket hole having a hole surface; a bushing disposed in the mounting bracket hole and sized to accommodate an end of the shaft, the bushing having a bushing inner surface; and a second elastomeric shaft O-ring disposed on the shaft between the shaft circumferential surface and the bushing inner surface.

Ultrasonic anvil having low transmissibility

An applicator for applying adhesive to a moving web has a housing with an interior chamber, an inlet and a discharge port. The inlet and discharge port are in fluid communication with the interior chamber. A rotor is disposed within the interior chamber of the housing. The rotor has a body and a nonlinear channel extending about at least a portion of the body. The nonlinear channel is selectively positionable for fluid communication with the inlet and the discharge port of the housing such that adhesive flowing into the housing through the inlet flows through and is directed by the nonlinear channel to the discharge port in the housing. The rotor is rotatable relative to the housing to change the position of the nonlinear channel relative to the discharge port and thereby change the location from which adhesive flows from the discharge port.

Adhesive applicator with rotary valve

An apparatus for folding products includes a conveying member adapted to convey the product, an oscillating member disposed adjacent the conveying member, and a folding roll disposed adjacent the conveying member and the oscillating member. The oscillating member is adapted to grasp and lift a first portion of the product from the conveying member while the product is being conveyed by the conveying member. The oscillating member is moveable in a first direction away from the conveying member and in a second direction toward the conveying member. The folding roll is adapted to receive the first portion of the product from the oscillating member and to place the first portion of the product into engagement with a second portion of the product such that the product is in a folded configuration.

Folding apparatus and method of folding a product using an oscillating member and a folding roll

An apparatus for folding a product includes a receiving roll having a first direction of rotation. The receiving roll is adapted to selectively hold first and second portions of the product. A folding roll of the apparatus has a second direction of rotation that is opposite from the first direction of rotation. The folding roll is adapted to selectively hold the first portion of the product thereto. An oscillating member is adapted to transfer the first portion of the product from the receiving roll to the folding roll. The oscillating member is configured to move in both the first direction and the second direction.

Folding apparatus and method of folding a product

An apparatus for folding a product having a first portion and a second portion has a receiving roll with a drive assembly for rotating the receiving roll at variable surface speeds in a first direction of rotation. The receiving roll is adapted to selectively hold the first and second portions of the product thereto. A folding roll has a drive assembly for rotating the folding roll at variable surface speeds in a second, opposite direction of rotation. The folding roll is adapted to selectively hold the first portion of the product thereto. An oscillating member is adapted to transfer the first portion of the product from the receiving roll to the folding roll. The oscillating member has a drive assembly for moving the oscillating member at variable surface speeds in both the first direction and the second direction.

Folding apparatus having rolls with variable surface speeds and a method of folding a product

A ribbon applicator configured to guide ribbon to a web includes a support structure and a cantilever arm supported by the support structure. The cantilever arm is moveable through a range of motion relative to the support structure. A guide roller guides the ribbon onto the web. The guide roller is pivotally mounted on the cantilever arm for pivotal movement of the guide roller with respect to the cantilever arm.

Apparatus for bonding ribbon in a nonlinear pattern to a web

This invention pertains to a three dimensional disposable panty, subassemblies of the panty, and an apparatus and methods for making the panty and subassemblies. The panty is designed to hold a primary absorbent sanitary pad. The panty may have elasticized leg and waist openings and be stretchable about the hip and stomach regions of a user. the panty provides backup protection to control egress of fluids that leak or seep around or through the primary sanitary pad. The panty includes a secondary absorbent positioned in the crotch area and extending into the body of the disposable panty, front and back, and preferably over the leg elastics to trap, inside the panty, leakage from the primary absorbent, and to prevent strike through onto e.g. outer clothing and bed linen. The apparatus and methods facilitate assembling leg elastics and crotch elastics into the panty subassemblies while assembling a series of panty subassemblies in a continuous web structure at a constant, or relatively constant, continuous and efficient speed.

Disposable undergarment and related manufacturing equipment and processes

An apparatus for folding products has a conveying member configured to hold a first portion and a second portion of the product and to release the first portion while continuing to hold the second portion. The conveying member is configured to convey the product at a conveying speed. A folding assembly is disposed adjacent the conveying member. The folding assembly is configured to receive the first portion of the product from the conveying member while moving generally at the conveying speed, to decelerate relative to the conveying member while holding the first portion thereto thereby causing the product to fold about the fold axis, and to place the first portion of the product into contact with the second portion such that the first portion overlies the second portion.

A vacuum roll has an inner cylinder defining an interior chamber. The interior chamber is fluidly connected to a vacuum source for applying a vacuum thereto. An outer cylinder is rotatable about the inner cylinder and has a plurality of apertures therein. An actuator is configured to move the inner cylinder between a first position and a second position. The vacuum roll has a first vacuum profile with the inner cylinder in the first position and a second vacuum profile with the inner cylinder in the second position.

Vacuum roll and method of use

A method is provided for manufacturing a medicated tampon assembly having a tampon body, the method including applying a formulation including a therapeutic agent to a substrate to produce a plurality of dosage forms; separating one of the dosage forms from the substrate; and coupling one of the dosage forms to the tampon body. A medicated tampon assembly is provided including a dosage form including a formulation including a therapeutic agent; a substrate portion separated from a substrate, wherein the substrate portion is coupled to the dosage form; and a tampon body having a distal end, wherein the substrate portion is coupled to the distal end of the tampon body.

Methods of manufacturing a medicated tampon assembly

This invention pertains to a three dimensional disposable panty, subassemblies of the panty, and an apparatus and methods for making the panty and subassemblies. The panty is designed to hold a primary absorbent sanitary pad. The panty may have elasticized leg and waist openings and be stretchable about the hip and stomach regions of a user, the panty provides backup protection to control egress of fluids that leak or seep around or through the primary sanitary pad. The panty includes a secondary absorbent positioned in the crotch area and extending into the body of the disposable panty, front and back, and preferably over the leg elastics to trap, inside the panty, leakage from the primary absorbent, and to prevent strike through onto e.g. outer clothing and bed linen. The apparatus and methods facilitate assembling leg elastics and crotch elastics into the panty subassemblies while assembling a series of panty subassemblies in a continuous web structure at a constant, or relatively constant, continuous and efficient speed.

Method of manufacturing a disposable undergarment

Growing community of inventors

Neenah, WI, United States of America

Gregory John Rajala