Paragon Trade Brands, Inc.

Thomas R Herrmann

Donald J Teodoro

Apparatus and method for producing a product, such as a disposable absorbent garment, from flexible material having elasticized portions tending to contract the product as it moves along a path. The apparatus includes a plurality of spaced apart engaging members which grip opposed edge and end margins of the product and a conveyor on which the engaging members are mounted to carry the engaging member and products stretched therebetween along a production path. At various stations along the production path apparatus is provided for retarding forward movement of one of the sets of engaging members to fold a leading edge portion thereof back into a position overlying a trailing end portion thereof, joining, or sealing, apparatus for sealing side edge margins together, and severing mechanism for severing the article from the engaging members. A holding rod extends longitudinally and is received within the garment as it is folded over to hold it in a laterally stretched condition after it is released from the engaging members. A tucking member downstream from the severing mechanisms is operable to tuck in side edge margins to produce a properly folded garment ready for packaging.

Apparatus for producing elasticized products

A machine for applying elastic to material is provided that includes a conveyor for carrying material. The conveyor moves the material in one direction along a flow path. An elastic band storage with a plurality of elongate elastic bands is provided for application to the material. An elastic feeder has a feeder head that feeds the plurality of elastic bands directly onto the material while the feeder head moves laterally across the flow path. The lateral movement of the feeder head across the moving conveyor applies the elastic bands to the material in a curved contour. The feeder head is operable to feed the elastic bands onto the material while maintaining a selected spacing between individual elastic bands throughout the curved contour.

Method of applying leg elastic

Apparatus for producing elasticized undergarment products

An apparatus in which material to have elastic applied thereto is carried by a first conveyor in one direction along a flow path. An elastic conveyor extending transversely of the material flow path is operable to continuously draw elastic from storage, tension it and carry it to a feeder head that reciprocates transversely of the flow path. A transverse elastic applicator receives elastic substantially continuously from the feeder head in a square-wave pattern and moves it toward the flow path. The elastic applicator has spaced guide members mounted adjacent opposite sides of the flow path to hold tensioned elastic therebetween extending transversely of the flow path as the elastic applicator moves the elastic to the flow path and applies the elastic to the material on the first conveyor. Cutters positioned inboard of the guide members sever the elastic after it has been applied to the material.

Apparatus and method for applying transverse tensioned elastic

Leg elastic applicator which maintains the spacing between the elastics

A system for fabrication of absorbent articles includes a linear array of frame modules each having an open interior. Panels are mounted to one face of the modules. Article fabrication mechanisms are mounted to project from the panels. Operating means are disposed within the modules and are operatively engaged through the panels with the fabrication mechanisms. An operating and control system is provided for a machine in which disposable absorbent articles are fabricated. Continuously operating mechanisms are driven by electric motors for continuously operating on moving webs and other components of the article. A main drive shaft is rotated for transferring power through direction phasing mechanical power transfer devices to mechanisms which intermittently effect unity operations with respect to an associated moving web. The direction phasing mechanical power transfer devices are controlled relative to a sensed portion of an article component so as to temporarily vary the speed of the unity operation and effect registration of the operation in a preselected relationship with the associated moving web.

Modular apparatus for fabricating an absorbent article

Apparatus for applying tensioned elastic to material including a first conveyor for carrying material in one direction along a flow path, a second conveyor operable to draw elastic from a storage container, tension the elastic, and move the elastic longitudinally in a tensioned state along a region extending transversely of and spaced from the first conveyor flow path, and a pair of transfer grippers. The transfer grippers are movable along a path in the direction of the flow path and are positioned to grasp spaced regions of elastic held by the second conveyor. Cutters are positioned laterally outwardly of the grippers to sever elastic from the second conveyor after being grasped by the grippers. The grippers maintain the elastic in a tensioned condition and deposit on the material. Also disclosed is a method for applying tensioned elastic to material, generally as described above in relation to the apparatus.

Growing community of inventors

Federal Way, WA, United States of America

Thomas R Herrmann