Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Mark Scott Lancaster

Michael Barth Venturino

James George Van Himbergen

Robert Eugene Vogt

Frank Paul Abuto

Davis-Dang H Nhan

Seth M Newlin

Michael Joseph Garvey

Anthony John Wisneski

Timothy James Rymer

James Alvin Boldra

Dennis John DeGroot

Sara J Schewe

David P Hunter

Gerald Frank Mischler

James Lawrence Kappell

Joe Michael Kugler

In an absorbent structure for an absorbent article, a non-woven absorbent core extends from one longitudinal end region of the absorbent structure through a central region thereof to an opposite longitudinal end region of the absorbent structure. The absorbent core has a first face, a second face opposite the first face, and laterally opposite side edges. A liquid permeable wrapsheet is wrapped about the first face, the laterally opposite side edges and at least a portion of the second face of the absorbent core to define a wrapped configuration of the wrapsheet. Tbe wrapsheet is constructed of a non-woven material and is secured in its wrapped configuration about the absorbent core at at least one securement region having a length substantially less than the length of the absorbent structure.

Wrapped absorbent core

In a method and apparatus for making an absorbent structure, an absorbent core and a wrapsheet are arranged in an unwrapped configuration with a first face of the absorbent core facing a first face of the wrapsheet, and with the absorbent core disposed laterally between laterally opposite side margins of the wrapsheet such that the side margins of the wrapsheet extend laterally outward beyond the side edges of the absorbent core. Gas is directed to flow over the first and second faces of the wrapsheet at the lateral side margins thereof in a direction which moves the lateral side margins of the wrapsheet from the unwrapped configuration around the side edges of the absorbent core and over at least a portion of the second face of the absorbent core to define a wrapped configuration of the wrapsheet.

Method and apparatus for making a wrapped absorbent core

A method of making stretchable absorbent articles includes the steps of providing a continuous substrate layer, providing one or more streams of adhesive fibers and superabsorbent particles, shaping the one or more streams of adhesive fibers and superabsorbent particles, depositing the adhesive fibers and superabsorbent particles on the substrate layer to form a plurality of shaped absorbent cores bound to the substrate layer, and separating the absorbent cores from each other. The absorbent cores thus formed do not prevent stretching of the substrate layer. The combination of absorbent core and substrate layer can be used in a wide variety of personal care absorbent articles and medical absorbent articles.

Method of making absorbent articles having shaped absorbent cores on a substrate

A method for forming a stabilized airlaid layer () can include an airforming of a substantially unbonded fibrous layer () which includes absorbent fibers and binder-fibers. The fibrous layer () is exposed to high-frequency electromagnetic energy during a distinctively short activation period to activate the binder-fibers to provide the stabilized, airlaid layer (). In a particular aspect the activation period can be not more than about 3 sec.

Method and apparatus for making on-line stabilized absorbent materials

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Neenah, WI, United States of America

Mark Scott Lancaster