Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Robin Kurt Nason

Jack Lee Couillard

Joseph Daniel Coenen

Kent Allan Franklin

Valerie Victoria Finch

Kent William Abel

Michael Lee Lohoff

Dan James Sorensen

Jon M Verbruggen

David William Koenig

Marcille Faye Ruman

Charles Robert Tomsovic

Daniel Hoo

Chinmay Suresh Betrabet

Jesse Paul Sorenson

Devertt DeWayne Woolwine

Cynthia Helen Nordness

Chris Lee Heikkinen

Jerome James Workman, Jr

Thomas Earl Williamson

Faith Eileen Cochrane

Paul Gordon Klemp

Jeffrey Joseph Samida

James Melvin Gaestel

Thomas Mathias Kolb

Sherry Ann Van Dyke

Brian Thomas Anderson

Daryl Steven Meyer

Scott Beck

Valerie V Finch

An elongate elastic member is secured to a substrate to form an elastic composite. The elastic member extends along an elastic axis between a first location on the substrate and a second location on the substrate spaced longitudinally from the first location. At least a portion of the elastic axis is generally non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the substrate. The elastic member crosses its elastic axis at least twice as it extends along the elastic axis, with the elastic member crossing itself at least once as it extends along the elastic axis. In another embodiment, the elastic member generally forms a wave pattern which defines a width of the securement path and has at least two different periods along the securement path. In yet another embodiment, the elastic member defines a continuous series of loops wherein each loop defines a closed portion having a generally tear-drop shape.

Elastic composites for garments

In a method and apparatus for mechanically fastening an absorbent undergarment during the initial manufacturing thereof, the undergarment is transported in a transport direction and folded longitudinally by a folding device such that first and second end regions of the undergarment are in generally opposed relationship with each other while transporting the partially assembled garment in the transport direction to fastenably engaged first and second fastening portions of the undergarment. A central region of the absorbent undergarment is held by a holding device, separate from the folding device, against bunching between the end regions of the undergarment during longitudinal folding of the undergarment. In another embodiment, the transverse position of the second fastening portion is adjusted relative to the first fastening portion to facilitate fastening engagement therebetween upon folding the absorbent garment longitudinally.

Apparatus for making pre-fastened absorbent undergarments

An elastic composite is formed by securing an elastic member to a substrate along a securement path extending longitudinally of the substrate. The position of the elastic member on the substrate varies laterally along the longitudinally extending securement path in a generally periodic wave pattern having at least one period within the securement path. The periodic wave pattern is such that the elastic composite is more stretchable in the direction of the securement path than transverse to the securement path. In another embodiment, the securement path varies laterally as it extends longitudinally along the securement path. The position of the elastic member varies transversely within the securement path to at least partially define a width of the securement path.

This invention pertains to apparatus and methods for creating ultrasonic bonds in sequentially advancing absorbent article workpiece segments, in a bonding nip. The ultrasonic bonding apparatus comprises a frame, anvil support apparatus, horn support apparatus, closure apparatus, a load cell support member, and a load cell. The ultrasonic horn and the anvil roll collectively are mounted and configured such that the ultrasonic horn and the anvil roll can be brought together, via the closure apparatus, to define the nip therebetween. The load cell is mounted to the load cell support member such that force representative of force exerted on the anvil roll at the nip is detected by the load cell. In preferred embodiments, the invention includes outputting information from the load cell and adjusting force in the nip in response to the information received from the load cell.

Rotary ultrasonic bonding apparatus and methods using load cell

This invention pertains to apparatus and methods for intermittently creating ultrasonic bonds in sequentially advancing work piece segments, in a nip. The work piece segments are up to about 0.25 inch thick. The apparatus comprises a frame, anvil support apparatus supporting an anvil, and horn support apparatus supporting an ultrasonic horn. The ultrasonic horn and anvil are collectively mounted and configured such that the ultrasonic horn and anvil can be brought together to define the nip. The frame, anvil support apparatus, and horn support apparatus collectively are sufficiently rigid that the horn and anvil can be brought together with interference levels of about 0.000 to about 0.008 inch at a raised bonding portion in combination with defining sufficient nip pressure to develop ultrasonic bonds in work piece segments passing through the nip. The method comprehends bringing a back-up roll, mounted above the ultrasonic horn, into engagement with the ultrasonic horn, to directly support the horn. First and second support rolls can be used to releasably support opposing sides of the outer surface of the ultrasonic horn, preferably below the axis of the horn, whereby the support rolls can be used to lift the horn into engagement with the back-up roll.

Ultrasonic bonding apparatus and methods

Bonding apparatus and methods for creating up to full-width ultrasonic bonds in an advancing web. The bonding apparatus comprises a first nip, defined by, in combination, a first set of bonding elements comprising a first rotary ultrasonic horn and a first rotary anvil, and first engagement apparatus bringing the first horn and first anvil into effective bonding engagement with each other. The first horn and anvil being supported from support structure and rotating in common with each other thereby to convey the web through the first nip. The bonding apparatus also comprises a second nip, defined by a second set of bonding elements comprising second separate and distinct horn and anvil, and second engagement apparatus bringing the second horn and second anvil into effective bonding engagement with each other. The first and second sets of bonding elements are cooperatively disposed at first and second separate and distinct work stations spaced along the length of the operations path, and are preferably disposed at respective first and second different locations across the width of the operations path.

Method and apparatus for up to full width ultrasonic bonding

A quantitative method of evaluating swimwear for underwater leakage using a mechanical test mannequin, a water tank, a fluorescent bowel movement simulant, and a fluorescence meter. More particularly, a swimwear garment is applied to the mannequin, the fluorescent bowel movement simulant is inserted into the swimwear garment, the mannequin and the swimwear garment are submersed into water within the water tank, and a motion mechanism attached to the mannequin moves the mannequin up and down, thereby simulating typical water play movements. The fluorescence meter can be used to quantitatively determine the amount of leakage of the fluorescent bowel movement simulant from the swimwear garment.

Method and apparatus for evaluating swimwear for underwater leakage

High speed, continuous processing of product pieces with desirably extended durations of application of bonding or bonding energy.

Multiple path bonding

This invention relates to apparatus and methods for intermittently bonding a substrate web in fabricating a blank subassembly for an absorbent article. The invention comprises ultrasonic bonding apparatus including an anvil roll, a substrate web thereon, and at least one rotary ultrasonic horn. The substrate web can comprise at least first and second layers of material. The rotary ultrasonic horn, in combination with the anvil roll, ultrasonically bonds intermittent segments of the first and second layers of the substrate web to each other. Such intermittent bonds can comprise end seals for the absorbent articles. The ultrasonic horn and anvil roll are periodically separated from each other to provide the intermittent bonding of the substrate web. An actuator apparatus periodically moves the anvil roll and ultrasonic horn from engaging contact with each other preventing bond formation. The actuator apparatus can include a cam mechanism moving one of the anvil roll and ultrasonic horn from engaging contact with the other during rotation of the rotary ultrasonic horn. The cam mechanism can create a physical gap between the ultrasonic horn and the anvil roll. The cam mechanism moves either the ultrasonic horn and the anvil roll toward the other of the ultrasonic horn and anvil roll at a velocity of no more than about 80 millimeters/second to prevent bounce or impact loading when the horn and anvil roll are in engaging contact. The anvil roll comprises a substrate-receiving surface generally moving the substrate web through the nip at a surface speed of at least 300 meters per minute. The ultrasonic system generally creates bonds between the first and second layers of the substrate web at least about 600 times per minute.

Methods and apparatus for intermittent rotary ultrasonic bonding system

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Oshkosh, WI, United States of America

Robin Kurt Nason