Apparatus and method for the zoned placement of superabsorbent material
First Claim
1. An apparatus for forming a composite web having a selected plurality of discrete pocket regions which are distributed on a carrier layer and contain high-absorbency material, said apparatus comprising:
- a pattern chamber;
particulate supplying means for providing particles of high-absorbency material into said pattern chamber;
web supplying means for providing a gas permeable carrier layer;
foraminous forming means for moving said carrier layer through said pattern chamber, said forming means including a pattern of openings which are formed therethrough and are arranged to provide for a selected pattern of said discrete pocket regions;
vacuum supplying means for providing a selected level of relatively low gas pressure at an underside region of said forming means to produce a selected gas-flow through said carrier layer and said foraminous forming means to form said pocket regions;
covering means for providing a layer of liquid-permeable covering material to sandwich said pocket regions of high-absorbency material between said carrier layer and said covering layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
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.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for forming a composite web having a selected plurality of discrete pocket regions which are distributed on a carrier layer and contain high-absorbency material, said apparatus comprising:
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a pattern chamber; particulate supplying means for providing particles of high-absorbency material into said pattern chamber; web supplying means for providing a gas permeable carrier layer;
foraminous forming means for moving said carrier layer through said pattern chamber, said forming means including a pattern of openings which are formed therethrough and are arranged to provide for a selected pattern of said discrete pocket regions;vacuum supplying means for providing a selected level of relatively low gas pressure at an underside region of said forming means to produce a selected gas-flow through said carrier layer and said foraminous forming means to form said pocket regions; covering means for providing a layer of liquid-permeable covering material to sandwich said pocket regions of high-absorbency material between said carrier layer and said covering layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for forming a composite web having selected discrete pocket regions which are distributed on a carrier layer and contain high-absorbency material, said apparatus comprising:
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a pattern chamber having opposed side walls, an entrance end wall and an exit end wall; particulate supplying means for providing particles of high-absorbency material into said pattern chamber; web supplying means for providing a gas permeable carrier layer; foraminous forming means for moving said carrier layer through said pattern chamber, said forming means including a pattern of openings which are formed therethrough and are arranged to provide for a selected pattern of said discrete pocket regions; vacuum supplying means for providing a selected level of relatively low gas pressure at an underside region of said forming means to produce a selected gas-flow through said carrier layer and said foraminous forming means which directs said high-absorbency material to said pocket regions; and regulating means for controlling a tension applied to said carrier layer to control a porosity of said carrier layer within said pattern chamber.
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12. A method for forming a composite web having a selected plurality of discrete pocket regions which are distributed on a carrier layer and contain high-absorbency material, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing particles of high-absorbency material into a pattern chamber; (b) providing a gas permeable carrier layer; (c) moving said carrier layer through said pattern chamber with a foraminous forming means having a pattern of openings which are formed therethrough and are arranged to provide for a selected pattern of said discrete pocket regions; (d) supplying a selected level of relatively low gas pressure at an underside region of said forming means to produce a selected airflow through said carrier layer and said foraminous forming means to form said pocket regions; (e) providing a layer of covering material which sandwiches said regions of high-absorbency material between said carrier layer and said covering layer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for forming a composite web having selected discrete pocket regions which are distributed on a carrier layer and contain high-absorbency material, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing particles of high-absorbency material into a pattern chamber; (b) providing a gas permeable carrier layer; (c) moving said carrier layer through said pattern chamber with a foraminous forming means having a pattern of openings which are formed therethrough and are arranged to provide for a selected pattern of said discrete pocket regions of high-absorbency material; (d) supplying a selected level of relatively low gas pressure at an underside region of said forming means to produce a selected airflow through said carrier layer and said foraminous forming means which directs said high-absorbency material to said pocket regions; and (e) regulating a tension applied to said carrier layer to control a porosity of said carrier layer within said pattern chamber.
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Specification