Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Richard William Kubalek

Susan Jean Moder

James John Hlaban

Thomas Patrick Keenan

Stephen Lanard Nunn

Daniel James Heuer

Moshe Saraf

Dale J Fischer

Michael K Lewis

Scott D Dobslaw

Jeffrey Dean Lindsay

William Grover Reeves

Andrew Michael Lake

Shelley Rae Rasmussen

Christine Marie Cowell

Laura Jane Walker

Harold R Elmer, Ii

The invention is directed to method and system for folding pads. In one aspect, the system includes a conveyor for conveying a series of pads, one after another, to a folding station. A folding apparatus at the folding station folds each pad along said major axis as the pad is conveyed in a forward direction. The folding apparatus includes a hold-down member adapted to contact a center section of each pad extending generally parallel to said major axis as the pad is conveyed forward. The folding apparatus also includes a pair of folders on opposite sides of the hold-down member adapted to contact side sections of the pad on opposite sides of said major axis as the pad is fed forward and as it is held down by the hold-down member to fold the side sections of the pad to positions facing one another. The pads may be used as feminine protection pads.

Pad folding system and method

The invention is directed to method and apparatus for blending fibers. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises blending apparatus for blending fibers of different materials, at least one of which is absorbent, and for conveying the blended fibers to a fiber collection station. A first weighing apparatus weighs out a first quantity of first fibers at a first weigh station. A second weighing apparatus weighs out a quantity of second fibers at a second weigh station. The first and second quantities of fibers are conveyed to a blend opener having a beater roll rotatable in the blend opener. The beater roll opens and mixes the fibers. The fibers are entrained in an air stream by a pneumatic conveyor system and conveyed to a fine opener. The fine opener has a rotatable clothing roll to further open and mix the fibers. The pneumatic conveyor system is operable to separate fiber fines from longer fibers and to deliver the longer fibers to said fine opener. The blended fibers can be used for making pads, such as feminine protection pads.

Fiber blending apparatus and method

The invention is directed to method and apparatus for making pads, such as interlabial pads. The apparatus includes a blending apparatus that weighs and blends fibers of different materials, at least one of which is absorbent. The blended fibers are conveyed through a chute to a fiber collection station. At the fiber collection station, collecting and feeding apparatus collects the blended fibers and feeds them to a forming apparatus that forms the blended fibers into a continuous blended-fiber web. The blended-fiber web is fed to a pad-making apparatus that cuts fluid-absorbent bodies in the blended-fiber web and laminates the bodies with at least one continuous cover web to form a laminated web. The laminated web is fed to a sealing and cutting apparatus to make the pads. Folding apparatus is provided for folding each pad along a major axis thereof.

Method and apparatus for making interlabial pads

The invention is directed to method and apparatus for wrapping pads. A web of flexible wrapping material is adapted to be pulled in tension over a forming device. The forming device has first and second folding members having angled folding edges adapted for contact by respective opposite side margins of the web as the web is pulled past the folding edges. A web guide guides the web toward the folding edges. An opening between the web guide and the folding edges is adapted to be spanned by a central portion of the web as the web is pulled past the forming device. A series of pads are conveyed by a conveyor, one after another, and placed on the web as it is pulled past the forming device so that the pads move with the web over the opening and past the folding edges of the forming device. A surface applies a force to the pads to force the pads against the central portion of the web as the pads move across said opening. The force is sufficient to cup the web to position the pads for travel past the first and second folding members with concurrent folding of the side margins of the web by respective folding edges to form a tube around the pads.

Method and apparatus for wrapping pads

Improved aperturing of a web can be obtained by providing pins with an extended tapered section that is substantially convex in shape. When the tapered section is longer than the penetration depth of the pins into the receiving recesses of a female roll, frictional forces in the nip between layers are reduced. Pins with extended tapered sections can be used in devices for producing apertured composite web assemblies comprising sections of absorbent matter attached to a nonwoven web or other carrier layer.

System for aperturing and coaperturing webs and web assemblies

A process and system for maintaining a position of a feminine-care treatment ( ) includes a providing of an operative quantity of at least one feminine-care treatment material ( ), and a depositing of the treatment material into a vulva-vaginal area of a recipient, female user. A maintenance article, such as provided by an interlabial device ( ), is placed into an interlabial space of the user. The maintenance article ( ) is configured to operatively impede an undesired movement of the treatment material ( ) from the vulva-vaginal area when the interlabial device is placed in the interlabial space of the user. In a particular aspect, the maintenance article ( ) can include a liquid-permeable topsheet layer ( ), and a pliable core ( ) which operatively joined to the topsheet layer ( ). In another aspect, the maintenance article ( ) can include a backsheet layer ( ) which is joined to the topsheet layer ( ), and can have the pliable core member ( ) positioned between the topsheet layer ( ) and the backsheet layer ( ). Still another aspect can include a bundling mechanism ( ) for operatively holding the treatment material ( ) and the interlabial device ( ) in a convenient system-assembly ( ).

Labial product system to maintain a treatment agent

The feminine sanitary protection package and method provide a vaginal insertion device and a panty shield configured to fit the pudendal region of a woman. The panty shield is tri-folded over the vaginal insertion device. A pouch contains the combination including the panty shield and the vaginal insertion device. The pouch provides for transporting and disposing of the panty shield and vaginal insertion device.

Feminine sanitary protection package and method

Feminine sanitary protection packaging is disclosed which includes a combination vaginal insert or insert applicator and an absorbent pad of a sanitary napkin or panty liner configured to fit the pudendal region of a woman. In one aspect, the panty liner or an ultrathin pad is longitudinally C-wrapped to form a C-wrapped combination panty liner or ultrathin pad and vaginal insert or insert applicator. A pouch is positioned around the longitudinally C-wrapped combination. The pouch provides a means for transporting and disposing of the combination packaging. In one aspect, the vaginal insert includes a tampon or a vaginal suppository. In another aspect, the vaginal insert applicator includes a tampon applicator or a vaginal suppository applicator. In one aspect, the sanitary napkin includes an ultrathin pad or maxipad. In still another aspect, the pouch is sealed and optionally can be perforated on at least one closed end for ease in opening. The pouch can be formed from the release strip of the sanitary napkin or the panty liner and can be used to seal the longitudinally C-wrapped combination.

C-wrapped absorbent pad article and method

Feminine sanitary protection packaging is disclosed which includes a combination vaginal insert or insert applicator and an absorbent pad of a sanitary napkin or panty liner configured to fit the pudendal region of a woman. In one aspect, the sanitary napkin or panty liner is rolled laterally to form a laterally rolled combination sanitary napkin or panty liner and vaginal insert or insert applicator. A pouch is positioned around the laterally rolled combination. The pouch provides a means for transporting and disposing of the combination packaging. In one aspect, the vaginal insert includes a tampon or a vaginal suppository. In another aspect, the vaginal insert applicator includes a tampon applicator or a vaginal suppository applicator. In one aspect, the sanitary napkin includes an ultrathin pad or maxipad. In still another aspect, the pouch is sealed and optionally can be perforated on at least one closed end for ease in opening. The pouch can be formed from the release strip of the sanitary napkin or the panty liner and can be used to seal the laterally rolled combination.

Absorbent pad packaging article and method

A feminine sanitary protection packaging is disclosed which includes a packaging article and method. The feminine sanitary protection packaging provides a vaginal insert or insert applicator and a panty liner configured to fit the pudendal region of a woman. The panty liner is C-wrapped longitudinally to form a longitudinally C-wrapped combination panty liner and vaginal insert or insert applicator. A pouch encloses the longitudinally C-wrapped panty liner and vaginal insert or insert applicator combination. The pouch provides a means for transporting and disposing of the longitudinally C-wrapped combination. The vaginal insert includes a tampon or a vaginal suppository. The vaginal insert applicator includes a tampon applicator or a vaginal suppository applicator. The pouch is sealed and optionally can be perforated on at least one closed end for ease in opening. The pouch can be formed from the release strip of the panty liner and can be sealed around the longitudinally C-wrapped combination.

C-wrapped absorbent article and method

A feminine sanitary protection packaging is disclosed which includes a packaging article and method. The feminine sanitary protection packaging provides a vaginal insert or insert applicator and a panty liner configured to fit the pudendal region of a woman. The panty liner is rolled laterally to form a laterally rolled combination panty liner and vaginal insert or insert applicator. A pouch is positioned around the laterally rolled panty liner and vaginal insert or insert applicator combination. The pouch provides a means for transporting and disposing of the laterally rolled combination panty liner and vaginal insert or insert applicator. In one aspect, the vaginal insert includes a tampon or a vaginal suppository. In another aspect, the vaginal insert applicator includes a tampon applicator or a vaginal suppository applicator. In still another aspect, the pouch is sealed and optionally can be perforated on at least one closed end for ease in opening. The pouch can be formed from the release strip of the panty liner and can be sealed around the laterally rolled panty liner and vaginal insert or insert applicator combination.

Growing community of inventors

Appleton, WI, United States of America

Richard William Kubalek