Elastic composite for a disposable absorbent garment, and a system and process for making the elastic composite and a garment having the elastic composite

• US 20080176026A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dsg Technology Holding Limited
• Original Assignee: Dsg Technology Holding Limited
• Inventors: Smid, Anne, Wright, Andrew C., Chang, Kuo-Shu Edward, Tsang, Patrick King Yu
• Granted Patent: US 7,740,727 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15593 having elastic ribbons fixed thereto; Devices for applying the ribbons
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15699 Forming webs by bringing together several webs, e.g. by laminating or folding several webs, with or without additional treatment of the webs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49019 the elastic means being placed longitudinally, transversely or diagonally over the article
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4902 characterised by the elastic material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1008 Longitudinal bending
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/101 Prior to or during assembly with additional lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1011 Overedge bending or overedge folding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1015 Folding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1052 with cutting, punching, tearing or severing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/17 Surface bonding means and/or assemblymeans with work feeding or handling means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24132 including grain, strips, or filamentary elements in different layers or components parallel

Abstract

A method is provided for making an elastic composite for incorporation into a disposable absorbent garment. An elastic element applicator is provided that is configured to move a section of a continuous strand of elastic element generally about a plane. A first web of material is conveyed in a first web moving direction such that the first web intersects the plane. Then, the applicator is operated to move the elastic element about the plane, thereby applying the section of elastic element onto the first web along a direction generally transverse to the web moving direction and such that the first web draws the continuous elastic strand from the elastic element applicator as the first web is conveyed away from the plane. The elastic element applicator may be in the form of a spin cylinder or bracket that is operated to spin the elastic element about the moving first web, thereby applying the elastic element on the first web.

Claims

1. A method of making an elastic composite for incorporation into a disposable absorbent garment, said method comprising the steps of:

conveying a first sheet of material on a platform;

spinning a section of a continuous strand of elastic element about the platform and the first sheet on the platform, thereby applying the section of elastic element onto the first sheet along a direction generally transverse to a moving first sheet;

cutting the section of elastic element to sever the section from the continuous strand; and

repeating the spinning and cutting steps such that a plurality of spaced apart elastic elements are applied on the first sheet.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of applying a second sheet of material onto the first sheet having a plurality of elastic elements applied thereon, thereby providing a web of elastic composite having at least two sheets of material and a plurality of elastic elements sandwiched therebetween.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying step includes applying a section of tensioned elastic element onto the moving first sheet such that the section of elastic element is retained thereby and the moving first sheet draws the strand of elastic element from the spinning assembly.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning a spinning assembly relative to the platform for receiving the continuous strand and spinning an end section of the continuous strand about a plane that intersects the platform, wherein the spinning step includes operating the spinning assembly to spin the section of continuous strand about the plane.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

feeding a continuous strand of the elastic element to the spinning assembly from a feed source spaced apart from the spinning assembly, whereby the spinning step draws the continuous elastic strand from the feed source.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the spinning assembly includes a spin head positioned for spinning about the platform, said method further comprising the steps of:

positioning a feed source of the continuous elastic strand in spaced apart relation to the spin head; and

feeding a continuous strand from the feed source to the spin head, whereby the spinning step draws the section of continuous elastic strand from the feed source.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the spinning step applies a plurality of elastic strands strictly on an outward face of the first sheet in mutual generally parallel relation and in transverse relation to the first sheet moving direction.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of conveying a second sheet of material spaced apart from the first sheet, whereby the spinning step applies the section of elastic element onto the first sheet and the second sheet along a direction generally traverse to a moving second sheet and the cutting step includes cutting the section of elastic element at two places to sever two elastic strands from the continuous elastic strand.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein each of the first and second webs are moved by a pair of juxtaposed conveying platforms that intersect a plane of about which the elastic element is spun, said method further comprising the steps of first conveying the first and second sheet on the platforms in an initial sheet moving direction opposite of the first sheet moving direction, whereby the first and second sheets are redirected in the first sheet moving direction upon reaching one end of the platforms.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the spinning step includes spinning an end section of a continuous strand of elastic element generally about a plane, said conveying step including moving the first sheet into and generally past the plane and redirecting the first sheet in the sheet moving direction so that the first sheet returns to intersect the plane whereby the section of elastic element is applied onto the returning first sheet.

11. A method of making an elastic composite for incorporation into a disposable absorbent garment, said method comprising the steps of:

spinning an end section of a continuous strand of elastic element generally about a plane; and

conveying a first web of material, including moving the first web of material into and generally past the plane and redirecting the first web in a web moving direction such that the first web returns to intersect the plane, whereby the section of elastic element is applied onto the returning first web along a direction generally transverse to the web moving direction.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the conveying step includes conveying the first web on a platform supported by a continuous belt moveable about a looped path, whereby the looped path intersecting the plane at two places.

13. A system for making an elastic composite for incorporation into a disposable garment, said system comprising:

a conveyor platform for moving a first sheet of material thereon; and

a spinning assembly including a spin head positioned about the platform for spinning an end section of a continuous elastic strand about the platform to apply the end section onto a first sheet moving with the platform.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a feed source of continuous elastic strand spaced apart from the spin head, the feed source being configured to feed a continuous elastic strand to the spin head and the spin head being positioned to receive the continuous elastic strand from the feed source.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the platform is adapted for movement along a looped path such that the first web is initially moved in a first direction then moved in a second direction generally opposite of the first direction;

and

wherein the spin head is positioned such that a first web being conveyed on the platform is moved into the path of elastic strand being spun by the spin head.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the spin head is positioned to spin about a plane and the platform is positioned substantially on a first side of the plane and the feed source is positioned on a second side of the plane.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the spin head and the feed source are positioned to direct the continuous elastic strand from the feed source directly along a linear path extending from the feed source, to the spin head, and about a moving first sheet on the platform.

18. A method of making an elastic composite for incorporation into a disposable absorbent garment, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a web moving platform for moving a sheet of material;

positioning a spinning assembly in space apart relation to the web moving platform, the spinning assembly being configured to spin a section of a continuous strand of elastic element generally about a plane intersecting the platform;

positioning a feed source of elastic strand at a location spaced from the spinning assembly;

feeding the spinning head assembly a continuous elastic strand from the feed source;

conveying a first web of material in a web moving direction such that the first web intersects the plane; and

operating the spinning assembly to spin the end section of continuous elastic strand about the plane, thereby applying the end section of elastic strand onto the first sheet along a direction generally transverse to the web moving direction.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the spinning step draws a continuous elastic strand from the feed source.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the applying step includes retaining the end section on the moving first web, whereby the moving first sheet draws the end section from the plane.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the web moving platform is supported about a continuous belt and moveable with the belt about a looped path, and wherein the spinning step includes spinning the end section about the belt and about the looped path.

22. An elastic composite for incorporation into a disposable absorbent garment, said elastic composite comprising:

a base layer;

a top layer; and

an elastic construction disposed therebetween, said elastic construction including a plurality of spaced apart elastic elements aligned in generally mutual parallel relation;

wherein at least one said top and base layers defines a first side edge and a second side edge and a longitudinal centerline spaced inwardly of said side edges, said elastic construction being spaced laterally from said side edges and disposed between said top and base layers; and

wherein each said elastic element is oriented along a direction in transverse relation to the longitudinal centerline, and wherein at least a plurality of successive elastic elements in said elastic construction are a discrete severed section of one elastic strand.

23. The elastic composite of claim 22, further comprising:

an elasticized region spaced inwardly from the side edges, said elastic construction being disposed in the elasticized region;

a first non-elasticized region disposed between the first side edge and the elasticized region; and

a second non-elasticized region disposed between the second side edge and the elasticized region.

24. The elastic composite of claim 23, wherein the elastic elements are directed generally perpendicular to a machine direction of the elastic composite.

25. The elastic composite of claim 23, wherein each said elastic element is spaced longitudinally from other said elastic elements and directed laterally such that the elastic elements impart tension directed in the lateral direction relative to the longitudinal centerline.