The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 20, 2002
Filed:
Jan. 29, 1999
Paul C. Grover, Wauwatosa, WI (US);
Ato Findley, Inc., Wauwatosa, WI (US);
Abstract
Laminated elastic webs are manufactured in a pre-stretched condition using a laminating machine. A conveyor system located downstream of the laminating machine conveys the laminated elastic webs to packaging machines (e.g. reject splicers and festooners). The conveyor system operates at speeds proportionally less than the line speed of the laminating machine so that the laminated elastic web relaxes from its stretched condition, and becomes fully or almost fully relaxed and gathered before packaging. Sufficient relaxation is important before packaging so that the laminated elastic web does not set in stretched form while packaged, or alternatively relax further while packaged to create dead space within the packaging container. The conveyor system preferably includes an inclined conveyor belt followed by a multi-lane air conveyor. Each lane of the air conveyor gently transports one of several laminated elastic webs from the belt conveyor to the respective packaging machine.