The Procter Gamble Company

Rong Deng

Craig Allen Powell

Matthew Joseph Macura

Richard George Coe

Mathias Johannes Hilpert

Kevin Gerard Muhs

Robert Karl Isburgh

Amit Kumar Kaushik

Todd Douglas Lenser

Gregory J Wilson

Steve J Waas

Valerie J Henderson

Donald Carroll Roe

Kelyn Anne Arora

Rachael Eden Walther

Jill Marlene Orr

John Brian Strube

Timothy Ian Mullane

Jennifer Lynn Dusold

Amanda Margaret Bicking

Ann Cecilia Tapp

Aleksey Mikhailovich Pinyayev

Margaret Elizabeth Porter

Jennifer Schutte

Stephanie Niezgoda Moss

Martin Scaife

Steven Joseph Waas

Richard James Wadman

Gregory James Wilson

Steve Waas

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatuses for relofting nonwoven substrates. During the relofting process, a substrate is directed to advance in a first direction such that a length of the substrate is in a facing relationship with a radiation source. The advancing substrate is relofted by irradiating the length of the substrate with infrared radiation from the infrared radiation source. The substrate comprises a first caliper upstream of the radiation source and the substrate comprises a second caliper downstream of the radiation source greater than the first caliper. The substrate may also be redirected around an axis to advance the substrate in a second direction, wherein the second direction is different than the first direction. The axis may be selectively movable between a first position and a second position to selectively subject the substrate to infrared radiation and remove the substrate from the infrared radiation.

Method and apparatus for relofting a nonwoven substrate

A process for deforming a web is disclosed. The steps include forming a plurality of microscopic aberrations in a first layer and/or second layer of a precursor web. The microscopic aberrations comprising sidewalls and an aperture disposed at a distal end of the sidewalls. The first layer extends laterally outboard more than the second layer. The precursor web is advanced to a forming unit. The plurality of macroscopic features is simultaneously formed in the precursor web, including first and second features; the first features are disposed in an area of overlap between the first and second layer; the second features are disposed in an area laterally outboard of the second layer; the microscopic aberrations extend in a first direction from the precursor web; the first and second features extend in a second direction from the precursor web; and wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction.

Method for deforming a web

Methods for deforming a multilayer web are disclosed. Steps of the method include: supplying a first layer of a precursor web; supplying a second layer of the precursor web onto at least the first area of the first layer; forming a plurality of first features and a plurality of second features in the precursor web. The plurality of first features are apertures formed in a first area of the precursor web, and the plurality of second features are formed in a second area of the precursor web in a positive and/or negative Z-direction. The plurality of first features and the plurality of second features are formed simultaneously.

A disposable absorbent article having a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed therebetween is described herein. The topsheet includes a first zone disposed between a second zone and a third zone; a first end area and a second end area; and an array of features which includes one of apertures, tufts, ridges, or grooves disposed in the first zone. A plurality of bond sites are disposed in the second and third zones. The plurality of bond sites are configured in a curvilinear manner in at least the first end area or the second end area and mask a boundary of the first zone.

Patterned apertured webs and methods for making the same

The present invention is directed to methods for deforming a web comprising the steps of supplying a precursor web; weakening the precursor web at a plurality of locations to create a plurality of weakened, melt-stabilized locations in precursor web; and forming a plurality of first features and a plurality of second features throughout the first and second layers of the web in the z-direction, wherein the plurality of first and second features are formed simultaneously.

The present invention is directed to methods for deforming a web comprising the steps of supplying a first layer of a web; weakening the first layer at a plurality of locations to create a plurality of weakened, melt-stabilized locations in the first layer; supplying a second layer of the web onto at least part of the first layer; and forming a plurality of first features in the first layer and a plurality of second features throughout the first and second layers of the web in the z-direction, wherein the plurality of first and second features are formed simultaneously.

An unwind apparatus for obtaining, loading, splicing, and unwinding convolutely wound rolls of web material and forwarding the web material unwound from each of the convolutely wound rolls uninterruptedly to a downstream apparatus is disclosed. The unwind apparatus provides for a multi-axis robot and an end effector operatively connected to the multi-axis robot. The end effector provides for a stationary motor, a rotational coupling mechanically coupled to the stationary motor, and, a mandrel mechanically coupled to the rotational coupling. The mandrel is capable of releasably engaging the convolutley wound rolls of web material.

Web material unwind apparatus

A web unwind stand for obtaining, loading, splicing, and unwinding convolutely wound rolls of web material and forwarding the web material unwound from each of the convolutely wound rolls uninterruptedly to a downstream apparatus is disclosed. The unwind stand comprises splicing means, a first positionable roll grasping apparatus for obtaining and disposing a first of the convolutely wound rolls proximate to, and relative to, the splicing means, and, second positionable roll grasping apparatus for obtaining and disposing a second of the convolutely wound rolls proximate to, and relative to, the splicing means.

Robotic unwind stand

A web unwind stand for obtaining, loading, splicing, and unwinding a web material from a plurality of convolutely wound rolls and forwarding the web material unwound from each of the convolutely wound rolls uninterruptedly to a downstream apparatus is disclosed. The unwind stand has a frame, a positionable roll grasping apparatus having a mandrel connectively engaged thereto and, splicing means. The positionable roll grasping apparatus is capable of obtaining and disposing the convolutely wound rolls proximate to the splicing means relative to the frame.

Web material unwind stand

A mandrel suitable for supporting and unwinding a convolutely wound web material is disclosed. The mandrel has a mandrel shaft with a longitudinal axis, a plurality of mandrel arms extending from the mandrel shaft, and at least one expansion element disposed upon one of the mandrel arms. The mandrel shaft is capable of rotating about the longitudinal axis. Each of the mandrel arms is disposed and rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The at least one expansion element is expandable radially away from the mandrel arm relative to the longitudinal axis. The convolutely wound web material is disposable about each of the mandrel arms. Further, the at least one expansion element is expandable into contacting and releasable engagement with the convolutely wound web material. The convolutely wound web material is fixably and releasably disposed about each of the mandrel arms.

Mandrel

A mandrel suitable for supporting and unwinding a convolutely wound web material is disclosed. The mandrel has a mandrel shaft with a longitudinal axis, a plurality of mandrel arms extending from the mandrel shaft, and at least one expansion element disposed upon a respective each of the mandrel arms. The mandrel shaft is capable of rotating about the longitudinal axis. Each of the mandrel arms is disposed and rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The at least one expansion element is expandable radially away from the respective mandrel arm relative to the longitudinal axis. The convolutely wound web material is disposable about each of the mandrel arms. Further, the at least one expansion element is expandable into contacting and releasable engagement with the convolutely wound web material. The convolutely wound web material is fixably and releasably disposed about each of the mandrel arms.

An absorbent article with topsheet, backsheet and absorbent core having an embossment region on the body facing side thereof and two spaced apart, longitudinally extending depression regions on the garment facing side thereof, including an adhesive pattern applied by a spray method directly onto the backsheet that intersects the depression regions and a release paper operatively attached to the adhesive pattern.

Embossed absorbent article

A method for attaching a release paper to a backsheet having depressed regions.

Method for embossing an absorbent article

A method for embossing an absorbent article using a segmented anvil and attaching a release paper to a backsheet having depressed regions.

Growing community of inventors

Mason, OH, United States of America

Rong Deng