Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Karl R Dehn

John W Hoffman

Keith Gervaise Bellin

Donald J Sanders

An apparatus and method are disclosed for securing elastic to a flexible backing for use in catamenial pads. The apparatus includes means for feeding the backing sheet onto a first drum having a plurality of surface grooves formed therein. The backing sheet is pulled into each of the grooves such as by a vacuum. A strip of elastic is then placed across each of the grooves and anchored at its respective ends. The backing sheet is then drawn off of the drum and extended so that the elastic is stretched to overlay the backing sheet. The apparatus further includes means for adhering portions of the elastic intermediate the anchored ends to the backing sheet while the elastic is in its extended position. The method for applying the elastic material to the backing sheet uses the apparatus discussed above.

Apparatus for and method of applying an elastic material to a flexible

An apparatus for forming at least one elasticized flap section on a substantially continuous web comprises a web supplying mechanism for delivering a moving, substantially continuous web having first and second, oppositely-facing major surfaces, and having first and second side edges. An elastic supplying mechanism delivers at least one elastic member into contact with the web, and an attaching mechanism secures the elastic member to the web. A first folding mechanism bends the web along a primary foldline located inboard from the first side edge of the web to define at least one primary panel portion of the web. The folding mechanism operably moves the primary panel portion to overlie the first major web surface with the elastic member located between the primary panel portion and the first major web surface. A second folding mechanism bends the web along a flap foldline, which is located substantially inboard from the primary foldline and substantially inboard from the elastic member, to define at least one flap panel portion of the web. The second folding mechanism moves the flap panel portion to overlie the second major surface of the web. A third folding mechanism bends a selected marginal section of the primary panel portion to move the marginal section away from its overlying position relative to the first major web surface.

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Appleton, WI, United States of America

Karl R Dehn