Method of applying adhesive to an edge of moving web

• US 5,932,284 A
• Filed: 09/15/1997
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Reynolds, Gary Mack
• Primary Examiner(s): PIANALTO, BERNARD D
• Application Number:
  US08/932,888
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 427/284, 427/285, 427/207.1, 427/208.2, 427/208.4, 427/208.6, 427/424
• US Class Current: 427/207.1
• 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

Abstract

The invention relates to methods of applying adhesive to a lateral edge of a first web. The method includes transporting the first web along a first path and transporting a second web along a second path generally in surface-to-surface relationship with the first web at the lateral edge, with the second web extending outwardly from the first web. When adhesive is applied such as by spraying to the first web at the lateral edge, at least some adhesive passes outwardly of the lateral edge as overspray and is received by the second web. Thus, adhesive applied to the edge of the first web is received in combination by both of the first and second webs. Both of the first and second webs can be utilized in manufacturing articles. In some embodiments, adhesive is applied at both first and second lateral edges of the first web. In some embodiments, spaced leg cutouts are formed in lateral edges of the web. In this context, second and optionally third webs can receive adhesive overspray directed toward the first web including at locations of the leg cut-outs. The second web can have a width greater than the first web and can thus extend outwardly beyond at least both leg cut-outs of the first web, and preferably beyond the entire lengths of the lateral edges of the first web.

Claims

1. A method of applying adhesive to at least three webs of material, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) transporting a first web of material along a first path, the first web of material comprising a first substrate having first and second opposing surfaces, and first and second opposing lateral edges extending along the first path;

(b) transporting a second web of material along a second path, the second web of material comprising a second substrate having third and fourth opposing surfaces, the third surface facing the first web of material in surface-to-surface relationship with the second surface of the first web of material at the first lateral edge, and extending outwardly beyond the first lateral edge;

(c) transporting a third web of material along a third path, the third web of material comprising a third substrate having fifth and sixth opposing surfaces, the fifth surface facing the first web of material in surface-to-surface relationship with the second surface of the first web of material at the second lateral edge, and extending outwardly beyond the second lateral edge;

(d) applying adhesive to the first web of material at the first lateral edge on the first surface, including applying at least some adhesive outwardly of the first lateral edge, adhesive passing outwardly of the first lateral edge, and thus outwardly of the first web of material, being received on the third surface of the second web of material adjacent the first lateral edge of the first web of material; and

(e) applying adhesive to the first web of material at the second lateral edge on the first surface, including applying at least some adhesive outwardly of the second lateral edge, adhesive passing outwardly of the second lateral edge, and thus outwardly of the first web of material, being received on the fifth surface of the third web of material adjacent the second lateral edge of the first web of material, adhesive being thereby applied over less than the entireties of the respective surfaces of each of the webs of material.

2. A method as in claim 1, including the step of separating the first and second webs of material from each other less than about 3 seconds after adhesive is applied to a respective portion of the first web of material.

3. A method as in claim 1, including transporting the first, second, and third webs without ongoing longitudinal registration of the second web or the third web with respect to the first web.

4. A method as in claim 1, the adhesive comprising a composition which at last partially solidifies after the adhesive is applied to the first web of material, the method including separating the first and second webs of material before significant solidification of the adhesive.

5. A method as in claim 1, the applying of the adhesive comprising spraying the adhesive.

6. A method as in claim 5, the adhesive comprising a hot melt adhesive.

7. A method as in claim 6, use of the second and third webs effecting avoidance of the formation of angel hairs extending from the first and second lateral edges of the first web.

8. A method as in claim 6, including the step of separating the first and second webs of material from each other, the separating of the webs of material including separating the second web of material from the first web of material to form, at the lateral edge of the first web of material, a clean distal edge.

9. A method of applying adhesive to cut-outs of a web of material, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) transporting a first web of material along a first paths the first web of material having first and second opposing surfaces, and periodic spaced cut-outs at a first lateral edge and a second opposing lateral edge along a length thereof;

(b) transporting a second web of material along a second path, the second web of material having third and fourth opposing surfaces, the third surface facing the first web of material in surface-to-surface relationship with the second surface of the first web of material at the first lateral edge; and

(c) applying adhesive to the first web of material at the first lateral edge on the first surface, at least some adhesive passing outwardly of the first lateral edge at spaced locations corresponding to the first spaced cut-outs, adhesive passing outwardly of the first lateral edge, and thus outwardly of the first web of material being received on the third surface of the second web of material adjacent the first lateral edge of the first web of material, adhesive being thereby applied over less than the entireties of the respective surfaces of each of the webs of material.

10. A method as in claim 9, the applying of the adhesive comprising spraying a hot melt adhesive.

11. A method as in claim 9, the adhesive comprising a composition which at last partially solidifies after the adhesive is applied to the first web of material, the method including separating the first and second webs of material before significant solidification of the adhesive.

12. A method as in claim 9, including the step of separating the first and second webs of material from each others the separating of the webs of material including separating the second web of material from the first web of material to form, at the lateral edge of the first web of material, a clean distal edge.

13. A method as in claim 9, the first and second webs having respective first and second widths, the second width being greater than the first width at the first and second spaced cut-outs, the step of applying adhesive to the first web at the second edge including at least some adhesive passing outwardly of the second lateral edge at spaced locations corresponding to the second spaced cut-outs, adhesive passing outwardly of the second lateral edge, and thus outwardly of the first web being received on the third web adjacent the second lateral edge of the first web.

14. A method as in claim 9, including utilizing the second web elsewhere in a related manufacturing process after the adhesive is received on the second web.

15. A method as in claim 9, including manufacturing an article utilizing elements from the first web having adhesive thereon, and elements from the second web having adhesive thereon.

16. A method as in claim 9, the first web comprising a first substrate, the second web comprising a second substrate, and a third web of material comprising a third substrate, the third web facing the first web in surface-to-surface relationship with the first web at the second lateral edge, and extending outwardly from the second lateral edge at the second spaced cut-outs.

17. A method as in claim 16, adhesive passing outwardly of the second lateral edge, and thus outwardly of the first web, being received on the third web adjacent the second lateral edge.

18. A method as in claim 9, including transporting the first and second webs through the step of applying adhesive, without ongoing longitudinal registration of the second web with respect to the first web.

19. A method of forming a product substrate, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) transporting a first web of material along a first path;

(b) periodically cutting leg cut-outs at spaced locations along opposing first and second lateral edges of the first web;

(c) transporting a second web of material along a second path, the second web facing the first web in surface-to-surface relationship with the first web at least at one of the first and second lateral edges;

(d) applying adhesive to the first web, at least some of the adhesive passing outwardly of at least one of the first and second lateral edges, adhesive passing outwardly of a respective lateral edge of the first web being received on the second web adjacent the respective one of the first and second lateral edges;

(e) separating the first and second webs; and

(f) securing the first web to a product forming web to form the product substrate.

20. A method as in claim 19, the applying of the adhesive comprising spraying a hot melt adhesive.

21. A method as in claim 19 wherein said product substrate comprises an absorbent article chassis.

22. A method as in claim 19, including manufacturing an article utilizing the product substrate and elements from the second web having adhesive thereon.

23. A method as in claim 19, the adhesive comprising a composition which at least partially solidifies after the adhesive is applied to the first web, the separating step occurring before significant solidification of the adhesive.

24. A method as in claim 19, the separating step occurring less than about 3 seconds after adhesive is applied to a respective portion of the first web.

25. A method as in claim 19, the separating of the webs including separating the second web from the first web to form, at the lateral edge of the first web, a clean distal edge.

26. A method as in claim 19, including transporting the first and second webs through the step of applying adhesive without ongoing longitudinal registration of the second web with respect to the first web.

27. A method as in claim 19, including transporting a third web of material along a third path, the third web facing the first web in surface-to-surface relationship with the first web at the second lateral edge, and extending outwardly beyond the second lateral edge of the first web.

28. A method as in claim 19, the second web extending outwardly beyond the first and second lateral edges of the first web.

29. A method as in claim 19, the applying of the adhesive comprising spraying the adhesive.

30. A method of manufacturing and thereby assembling an absorbent article chassis, including applying adhesive to an edge of a web of material, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) transporting a first web of material along the first path, the first web of material comprising a first substrate having a first lateral edge and a second opposing lateral edge extending along the first path;

(b) transporting a second web of material along a second path, the second web of material comprising a second substrate facing the first web of material in surface-to-surface relationship with the first web of material at the first lateral edge, and extending outwardly beyond the first lateral edge;

(c) transporting a third web of material along a third path, the third web of material comprising a third substrate facing the first web of material in surface-to-surface relationship with the first web of material at the second lateral edge, and extending outwardly beyond the second lateral edge;

(d) applying adhesive to the first web of material at the first lateral edge, including applying a t least some adhesive outwardly of the first lateral edge, adhesive passing outwardly of the first lateral edge, and thus outwardly of the first web of material, being received on the second web of material adjacent the first lateral edge of the first web of material;

(e) applying adhesive to the first web of material at the second lateral edge, including applying at least some adhesive outwardly of the second lateral edge, adhesive passing outwardly of the second lateral edge, and thus outwardly of the first web of material, being received on the third web of material adjacent the second lateral edge of the first web of material; and

(f) manufacturing the absorbent article chassis utilizing elements from each of the webs of material having adhesive thereon.

31. A method as in claim 30, the adhesive comprising a composition which at last partially solidifies after the adhesive is applied to the first web of material, the method including separating first and second webs of material before significant solidification of the adhesive.

32. A method as in claim 30, including the step of separating the first and second webs of material from each other less than about 3 seconds after adhesive is applied to a respective portion of the first web of material.

33. A method as in claim 30, including transporting the first and second webs of material without ongoing longitudinal registration of the second web of material with respect to the first web of material.

34. A method of applying adhesive to an edge of a web of material in the process of manufacturing an article, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) transporting a first web of material along a first path, the first web of material comprising a first substrate having a first lateral edge and a second opposing lateral edge extending along the first path;

(b) transporting a second web of material along a second path, the second web of material comprising a second substrate facing the first web of material in surface-to-surface relationship with the first web of material at the first lateral edge, and extending outwardly beyond the first lateral edge;

(c) transporting a third web of material along a third path, the third web of material comprising a third substrate facing the first web of material in surface-to-surface relationship with the first web of material at the second lateral edge, and extending outwardly beyond the second lateral edge;

(d) applying adhesive to the first web of material at the first lateral edge, including applying at least some adhesive outwardly of the first lateral edge, adhesive passing outwardly of the first lateral edge, and thus outwardly of the first web of material, being received on the second web of material adjacent the first lateral edge of the first web of material;

(e) applying adhesive to the first web of material at the second lateral edge, including applying at least some adhesive outwardly of the second lateral edge, adhesive passing outwardly of the second lateral edge, and thus outwardly of the first web of material, being received on the third web of material adjacent the second lateral edge of the first web of material, the adhesive thereby being applied over less than the entirety of a surface of the first web of material; and

(f) assembling an article, utilizing each of the coated first, second, and third webs of material in the process of manufacturing the article.

35. A method as in claim 34, the adhesive comprising a composition which at last partially solidifies after the adhesive is applied to the first web of material, the method including separating the first and second webs of material before significant solidification of the adhesive.

36. A method as in claim 34, including the step of separating the first and second webs of material from each other less than about 3 seconds after adhesive is applied to a respective portion of the first web of material.

37. A method as in claim 34, including transporting the first and second webs of material without ongoing longitudinal registration of the second web of material with respect to the first web of material.

38. A method as in claim 34 wherein said article comprises an absorbent article chassis.