The Procter Gamble Company

The Procter & Gamble Plaza

Thomas Luebcke

Andre Josephine Karel De Saert

Clifford Theodore Papsdorf

Zulema Dorronsoro Martin

Hiroshi Nakahata

Hilde Cloostermans

Michael Jan Dowiasch

Takaie Iba

Apparatus for producing arrays of absorbent articles with varying orientations, and a methods for forming alternating arrays of absorbent articles, suitable to be operated at a high speed, are provided.

Apparatus and process for providing arrays of absorbent articles in varying orientations for packaging

An apparatus for providing low count packages of absorbent articles during a high speed manufacturing process. The apparatus including a conveyor configured to serially convey a plurality of absorbent articles; a continuously rotating stacker that includes an infeed, an outfeed and a plurality of cassettes; an extraction station that includes an extractor configured to remove at least one absorbent article from at least one absorbent article containing cassette. At least a portion of the extractor is positioned at an angle to compensate for the continuous rotation of the stacker.

Apparatus for packaging low count packages of absorbent articles

A method for providing low count packages of absorbent articles in a high speed manufacturing process in which a plurality of absorbent articles are conveyed in series to the infeed of a continuously rotating stacker. The articles are sequentially inserted into cassettes disposed on the stacker such that a plurality of absorbent article containing cassettes is provided. The articles are extracted from the continuously rotating stacker by an angled extractor and packaged into low count packages.

Method for packaging low count packages of absorbent articles

A disposable pull-on garment to be contained in a package is disclosed. The pull-on garment has a waist opening and leg openings, and has a longitudinal centerline and a transverse centerline. The pull-on garment comprises a main portion and side portions extending transversely outwardly from the main portion. The pull-on garment has longitudinal side contour lines to define a transverse width of the pull-on garment. The pull-on garment has a first transverse width between the longitudinal side contour lines at the waist opening and a second transverse width between the longitudinal side contour lines at the side portions. The second transverse width is greater than the first transverse width and is the greatest transverse width at the side portions in a flat contracted and unfolded condition of the pull-on garment. The side portions are folded along a folding line toward the longitudinal centerline when the pull-on garment is contained in a package such that the second transverse width decreases and the difference between the first transverse width and the second transverse width decreases when the side portions are folded compared with when the side portions are unfolded.

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Euskirchen, Germany

Thomas Luebcke