Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Kimberly-clark Corporation

Thomas George Olsen

John Wallace De Vos

Lorry F Sallee

David W Heyn

Richard Francis Keller

Randy Keith Burr

Leon Robert Flesburg

Robert Lee Popp

David Martin Jackson

Michael Barth Venturino

Joseph Andrew Mlinar

James George Van Himbergen

Mark Gordon Heath

Thomas M Killian

Ryan Joseph Roth

James Joseph Wiltzius

Eric T Hsu

Johnathan E Frost

John T Hahn

Brian Keith Costelic

A method and apparatus for forming an article ( ) includes a moving of a forming surface ( ) through an operative forming chamber ( ) along a forming path length ( ). A first fibrous stratum ( ) of fiber material ( ) can be deposited onto the forming surface ( ), and the first fibrous stratum ( ) can have a first stratum thickness ( ). A first quantity of a first superabsorbent material ( ) can be directed to form a selected combination with the first fibrous material to provide a first superabsorbent-containing stratum. A second fibrous stratum ( ) of fibrous material can be deposited to overlie the first fibrous stratum ( ), and the second fibrous stratum ( ) can have a second stratum thickness ( ). A second superabsorbent material ( ) can be directed to form a selected combination with the second fibrous material to provide a second superabsorbent-containing stratum.

Method for obtaining a dual strata distribution of superabsorbent in a fibrous matrix

A method and apparatus for depositing particulate material (,) in an airlaid fibrous web (,) includes a moving of a forming surface (,) through a forming chamber (,), and a laying of a fibrous material (,) onto the forming surface to form the fibrous web. The particulate material is delivered into the forming chamber with an arcuate curved nozzle (,) which is positioned within the forming chamber at a location spaced from the forming surface.

Method and apparatus for depositing particulate material in a fibrous web

A distinctive method and apparatus (20) for forming a composite fibrous web (22) includes a web supply (24, 25), which provides at least two appointed fiber layer sections (26, 28) of desired fiber material. Each of the layer sections (26, 28) has a selected composition. A fiberizer (30) disintegrates each of the fiber layer sections (26, 28) into individual, laterally adjacent fiber streams (32, 33) while substantially maintaining a lateral separation of the fiber streams while the fiber streams (32, 33) are moving through the fiberizer (30). A directing channel (34) delivers the fiber streams (32, 33) from the fiberizer (30) to a forming chamber (40). The forming chamber (40) is configured to substantially maintain the separation of the fiber streams. A foraminous forming surface (48) is disposed within the forming chamber (40), and is configured to receive each of the fiber streams (32, 33) to produce individual, fibrous web sections (76a, 76b) substantially corresponding to the individual fiber streams (32, 33). A transporter (60) removes the fibrous web sections (76a, 76b) from the forming surface (48), and an integrator (62) laterally displaces and superposes one of the fibrous sections (32, 33) onto another of the fibrous web sections to provide the composite fibrous web (22).

Side-by-side absorbent pad forming

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for forming a composite web having selected discrete pocket regions which are distributed on a carrier layer and contain high-absorbency material. The invention includes a pattern chamber having opposed side walls, an entrance end wall and an exit end wall. A particulate supplying mechanism provides particles of high-absorbency material into the pattern chamber, and a web supplying mechanism provides a gas permeable carrier layer. A foraminous forming mechanism moves the carrier layer through the pattern chamber, and the forming mechanism includes a pattern of openings which are formed therethrough and are arranged to provide for a selected pattern of the discrete pocket regions. A vacuum supplying mechanism provides a selected level of relatively low gas pressure at an underside region of the forming mechanism to produce a selected gas-flow through the carrier layer and the foraminous forming mechanism to form the pocket regions. A covering mechanism provides a layer of liquid-permeable covering material to sandwich said pocket regions of high-absorbency material between said carrier layer and said covering layer.

Apparatus and method for the zoned placement of superabsorbent material

A method for attaching a composite elastic material to a gatherable article including the steps of stretching a composite elastic material; compressing said stretched composite elastic material to temporarily inhibit recovery of the composite elastic material; and attaching said temporarily inhibited composite elastic material to a gatherable article at least at two locations. Additionally, the temperature of the temporarily inhibited composite elastic material may be increased to facilitate recovery of the composite elastic material to within about 80 percent of its pre-stretched dimensions.

Method of attaching a composite elastic material to an article

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Neenah, WI, United States of America

Thomas George Olsen