Kimberly-clark Corporation

Jeffrey J Samida

Ronald H Wideman

Donald F Arthur

Thomas M Ales, Jr

Thomas Michael Ales

This invention is generally accomplished by providing continuous self-adhesive strands of elastic to a substrate having retractable supports extending therefrom. The retractable supports in a convex pattern are contracted with the self-adhering elastic and the substrate bearing the elastic and supports is brought into contact with the web to which the elastic is to be transferred. The series of supports around which the elastic contacts are forced to retract as the self-adhering elastic is pressed against the web causing the elastic to transfer to the substrate thereby creating an elastic band on the substrate. In a preferred form the substrate is fed two strips of self-adhering elastic that are applied on each side of a series of a convex pattern of pins and then pressed together around opposing sides of the convex pattern of pins to seal the elastic to itself and sever the elastic, creating a contoured closed loop around the pins.

Apparatus for applying contoured elastic to a substrate

Method for applying contoured elastic to a substrate

Apparatus and method for ultrasonically bonding a web utilizes ultrasonic bonders having respective anvil and sonotrode components which are synchronously orbited with each other and with the rotation of a rotatable drum which carries the web of material to be bonded. One of the anvil and sonotrode components is orbited exteriorly of the drum and the other interiorly of the drum and they are brought into facing alignment through openings in the drum to clamp segments of the material therebetween during passage through a bonding segment of the travel path of the web about the drum. The bonder component orbiting exteriorly of the drum is axially translated away from the anvil along the drum in order to provide clearance for withdrawal of the bonded material from the drum. In this manner, an ultrasonic bonder may clamp the material at a single location for a large segment of its travel along the rotation path of the drum, thereby attaining a bonding time not limited entirely by the travel speed of the web.

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Neenah, WI, United States of America

Jeffrey J Samida