Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Dukane Ias, LLC

Aurizon Ultrasonics, LLC

Kimberly-clark Corporation

Thomas Arthur Bett

Tanakon Ungpiyakul

Thomas David Ehlert

Patrick Sean McNichols

Michael A Snyder

Daniel James Sorensen

Brandon Leo Begrow

Casey John Morin

Shawn Timothy Lemery

Jean Louise Krueger-Justinger

Paul Alois Weber

Wayne Allen Bernhardt

Walter Caswell Reade

Mark John Beitz

Russell Joseph Brumm

Darin Allen Engelhart

Steven Todd Moore

Thomas Michael Killian

Thomas Tanakon Ungpiyakul

Anne Marie Lindeke

Robert Jeffrey Giza

Gerald Bernard Arseneau

Michael Athman

Babe Bedenbaugh

Jeremy Brian Cannady

Michelle Reneé Irwin

An elastic nonwoven material includes a first non-woven fabric including a plurality of rows. Each row has a plurality of adjacent bonds formed therein. The elastic nonwoven material also includes a first elastic strand entrapped between a first pair of adjacent bonds within a first row of the plurality of rows, and a second elastic strand entrapped between a second pair of adjacent bonds within the first row. A third pair of adjacent bonds within the first row is free of elastic material therebetween and is located between the first pair of adjacent bonds and the second pair of adjacent bonds.

Elastic nonwoven material

A method and system for fabricating an article using a first bonding module having a first bonding module face and a second bonding module having a second bonding module face include supplying a first non-woven fabric to at least one of the first bonding module face and the second bonding module face, and supplying a plurality of elastic strands to a surface of the first non-woven fabric. The method and system further include entrapping a first elastic strand between a first pair of adjacent bonds in a first row in the first non-woven fabric, entrapping a second elastic strand between a second pair of adjacent bonds in the first row, and creating a third pair of adjacent bonds in the first row free of elastic bands therebetween. The third pair of adjacent bonds is located between the first pair of adjacent bonds and the second pair of adjacent bonds.

Method and system for fabricating an elastic nonwoven material

An apparatus for fabricating an elastic nonwoven material generally includes a rotary ultrasonic horn and a rotary anvil positionable in close proximity to the ultrasonic horn. The anvil has a face with a width and a circumferential axis. The face has a plurality of ridges each of which defines a plurality of interspaced lands and notches.

Apparatus and system for fabricating an elastic nonwoven material

An apparatus for fabricating an elastic nonwoven material generally includes a first bonding module, a second bonding module positioned in close proximity to the first bonding module, and a pinching device. The first bonding module and the second bonding module are adapted to bond at least one elastic strand of the elastic nonwoven material. The pinching device is adapted to limit a snap-back potential of the at least one elastic strand if the at least one elastic strand becomes severed during bonding.

Apparatus for fabricating an elastic nonwoven material

A method of accumulating a web includes pivoting subsets of rolls to a generally vertical alignment; moving one set of rolls past the other; passing the web between the sets of rolls; moving one set of rolls past the other to engage the web; pivoting the subsets to a generally horizontal alignment; moving the web alternatively between the subsets; and moving the sets apart to accumulate the web and together to discharge the web. A web accumulator includes at least two sets of rolls. Each set of rolls has subsets of rolls. The subsets have two consecutive staggered rolls. The accumulator has a web path defined by alternating between subsets of the first set and subsets of the second set.

Method and apparatus for accumulating a web

Analyzing an event chronology record to permit identification of periods of a production sequence that correspond to a high probability of failure. Systems and methods include receiving an event chronology for a particular machine in the production sequence and for a particular time interval. A reliability analysis system accesses process flow information to determine whether a particular event in the event chronology is related to a subsequent adverse event within a predefined event window.

Generating a reliability analysis by identifying casual relationships between events in an event-based manufacturing system

A system and method for dispensing super absorbent material (SAM) to a machine manufacturing absorbent articles as part of a manufacturing processing operation. A first controller stores process control data relating to the manufacturing processing operation and provides a first control signal that corresponds to the stored process control data. A second controller is responsive to the first control signal provided by the first controller for providing a dispensing signal. A SAM dispenser is responsive to the dispensing signal for dispensing the SAM to the machine at a start-up dispense rate when the machine is in a start-up mode and at an operating dispense rate when the machine is in a operating mode.

System and method for controlling the dispense rate of particulate material

The present invention provides a method and apparatus () for controlling a registration between a target point () on a moving web (), and a production outcome provided by a production operation. A method aspect can include a transporting of the web () along a movement direction () past a reference detector (), and a detecting of at least a first reference point () on the web (). The target point () can be designated by employing at least the first reference point (). The web is transported past a speed-sensor (), and the speed-sensor can measure a web speed of the moving web () to provide an output of web speed data. The web speed data is integrated over time to determine a web-length which has been transported past the speed-sensor (). The production outcome is actuated at a production-device (), and the actuating of the production outcome can be adjusted to occur after a reference-length of the web () has been transported past the speed-sensor ().

Web velocity-based registration control system

Control processes control cross direction alignment of elements being assembled as work pieces on a manufacturing line fabricating preferably absorbent article products on a continuous substrate web. The method defines a manufacturing line path traversed by the work pieces, defines a reference path along the manufacturing path, and establishes the elements on the work pieces. A camera is mounted along the manufacturing line. An image window of the camera is referenced to the reference path. The camera captures full digitized visual images of work pieces. The camera is part of a vision imaging inspection and control system which inspects and evaluates images of the work pieces, including the cross-direction positions of the elements on the work pieces, against established acceptable positions relative to the reference path. When an element is out of alignment, the control system can display visual cues identifying the elements that are inconsistent with acceptable ranges. The full digitized images can be selectively stored in permanent memory, retrieved from permanent memory, and analyzed off-line. The machines are adjusted to adjust positioning of such elements, thereby directing the elements toward target positions. The invention includes step-wise computer-assisted image analysis methodology in an image analysis system linked to a computer program containing system logic, to identify problem areas of the work pieces, and to provide step-wise implementation methodology which can be implemented automatically but is sometimes implemented through human intervention, for making appropriate adjustments to the process. The invention further comprehends apparatus for implementing the above methods, including machines arrayed in a manufacturing line, control apparatus effective to control cross-direction positioning of work pieces, an image collecting system, a memory system, and an image analysis system.

Method of controlling cross-direction alignment in manufacturing process

A system and method for controlling the strain of a web material supplied to a machine by adjusting a tension force applied to the web material. An operator defines a target web strain via an input device. A speed sensor senses the speed of the web material supplied to the machine at a first position and a second position and generates a speed signal representative of the difference. A tension sensor senses a tension force applied to the web prior to the first position and after the first position and generates a tension signal representative of the difference. A control system calculates web strain as a function of the tension signal and speed signal, and compares the calculated strain with the target web strain and generates a speed control signal as a function of the comparison. The feed device is responsive to the speed control signal for adjusting a speed differential of the web to adjust tension force applied to the web.

System and method for controlling the strain of web material

This invention pertains to fabricating composite personal care article products on a fabrication line, and sensing assembly quality characteristics of such personal care article products so fabricated, using infrared image sensing apparatus, and signal processing apparatus for processing the infrared energy so sensed, to fabricate visual displays of the composite images sensed by the infrared sensing apparatus. By using infrared imagery, and sensing the various temperatures of elements being placed and worked on the fabrication line, elements of the personal care articles which are hidden from visual observation can be sensed by sensing the infrared radiation emitted from such articles. Elements which are available for visual observation can likewise be sensed where temperature of such elements is suitable for detection, by infrared-sensitive receptors. Typically, a suitable infrared signature can be obtained without adding, to the elements whose quality is being assessed, any increment of heat for purposes of enhancing detection of such element or elements.

Infrared imaging to detect components on personal care articles

Apparatus and method using vision imaging for combined short-term and long-term monitoring and control of a manufacturing operation which produces absorbent articles for absorbing body fluids. The system collects discrete real-time visual images at a rate of at least 50-400 images per minute, up to at least 1200 images per minute, provides an ongoing display of a pattern of such images, and upon occurrence of a triggering event, continues the visual display of the images while sending information representing a limited number set of real-time images to a memory storage system which receives and permanently stores the information, for future retrieval. The data is preferably received in a temporary memory device, and written from there to a second permanent memory device. While the visual images are being sent to the memory storage system, process control logic preferably analyzes the visual images in real time, and sends results signals to manufacturing control, which modifies the manufacturing operation, for example, modifying timing of a process step, shutting the process down, or culling work pieces. A second set of a second limited number of such visual images can be sent to the memory system in response to a second, optionally subsequent, triggering event and/or from a second location. After sending any set of real-time visual images to memory storage, and prior to occurrence of a next triggering event, preferably images are continually collected, received, but few or none of such images are sent to the memory storage device. Image collection is preferably synchronized with advancement of the work pieces or product, or process steps, along the manufacturing process line.

Making absorbent articles using vision imaging system

Controlling processes comprising detecting and measuring a parameter, for example presence and location of an element of a good, with at least two determinations as representations of the target parameter, transmitting signals to the computer, and processing the signals to compare the parameter to acceptable conditions. The detection can include three or more replications, optionally each for at least two parameters, optionally using at least two different methods to analyze the signals. The invention contemplates detecting and analyzing the target parameters using two or more analytical tools within the respective image to detect a given component of the product, namely two or more measurements of the parameter on a single visual image. Analytical methods can include averaging the signals, determining the number of signals of common signal duration and/or signal characteristics, computing standard deviation, modifying the signal combination to compensate for an inappropriate signal, and/or comparing the signals to a database of signal combinations. The method can automatically compute probable cause of some anomalies in the signals, develop corresponding responses, and transmit responses to process control, and thence to control devices. The methods can automatically recalibrate determinors, or automatically adjust analysis to a basis of one less determinor, and/or automatically implement back-up inspection of goods, optionally saving images for further analysis, or culling units of product. Digitized visual images represent pixels and pixel combinations. The method contemplates analyzing the pixel representations with at least two determinations of the parameter in respective at least two areas of the image, optionally for at least two parameters at respective replication sites, using software interpretation of selected areas of the visual image.

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Oshkosh, WI, United States of America

Thomas Arthur Bett