Continuous process for the manufacture of an absorbent core

• US 5,882,464 A
• Filed: 12/19/1996
• Issued: 03/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Schmitt, John Christian, Theisgen, Mario Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, James J.
• Application Number:
  US08/765,847
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 428/74, 428/78, 428/189, 428/190, 604/378, 604/385.1, 156/467, 156/552, 156/301, 156/302, 156/269
• US Class Current: 156/269
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/535 inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad, e.g. core absorbent layers being of different sizes A61F13/5323, A61F13/537 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/539 characterised by the connection of the absorbent layers with each other or with the outer layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1084 of continuous or running length bonded web
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1095 Opposed laminae are running length webs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1097 Lamina is running length web

Abstract

Absorbent articles having absorbent cores comprising multiple absorbent layers which are joined to each other. In particular, absorbent structures which have one of the absorbent layers being shorter in the manufacturing direction than at least one of the other layers and which are joined to one of the other layers by crimping and a process of crimping of a central patch of a fibrous web to a tissue.

Claims

1. An absorbent core extending along a first axis and perpendicular thereto along a second axis, said absorbent being produced in the direction of said first axis, said core comprising:

(a) a first absorbent structure having the same first and second axis as said absorbent core;

(b) a tissue having a first and second surface and substantially the same length as said first absorbent structure along said first axis;

(c) a second absorbent structure having the same first and second axis as said absorbent core, being fibrous and being shorter than said tissue along said first axis,

said second absorbent structure not extending beyond the periphery of said tissue in direction of said first axis;

said first absorbent structure being contiguous with said first surface of said tissue and co-extensive along said first axis with said tissue;

wherein

said absorbent core is constructed in a continuous process comprising the steps of

(i) placing said tissue on a conveyor belt wherein said tissue is continuous on said conveyor belt;

(ii) forming and depositing in discrete sequence said second fibrous absorbent structures on said second side of said continuous tissue;

(iii) joining said tissue and said second structures by crimping;

(iv) forming said first absorbent structure as a continuous band and placing it on said first side of said tissue;

(v) severing the continuous band of tissue and first absorbent structure between one and the following of said second absorbent structure.

2. A continuous process according to claim 1 wherein said crimping is continuous between one and the following of said second fibrous absorbent structures.