Method for obtaining a dual strata distribution of superabsorbent in a fibrous matrix
First Claim
1. A method for forming an article having a plurality of strata which include superabsorbent material and a fibrous matrix, said method comprising:
- a moving of a forming surface in a forming chamber along a forming path length;
a depositing of a first fibrous stratum of fiber material to overlie said forming surface, said first fibrous stratum having a first stratum thickness;
a directing of a first quantity of superabsorbent material to form a selected combination with said first fibrous stratum and provide a first superabsorbent-containing stratum;
a depositing of a second fibrous stratum of fiber material to overlie said first fibrous stratum, said second fibrous stratum having a second stratum thickness; and
a directing of a second quantity of superabsorbent material to form a selected combination with said second fibrous stratum and provide a second superabsorbent-containing stratum;
wherein said first quantity of superabsorbent material is directed onto a portion of said forming surface which substantially corresponds to a first 25% of said forming path length.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for forming an article (94) includes a moving of a forming surface (22) through an operative forming chamber (24) along a forming path length (40). A first fibrous stratum (26) of fiber material (96) can be deposited onto the forming surface (22), and the first fibrous stratum (26) can have a first stratum thickness (28). A first quantity of a first superabsorbent material (30) can be directed to form a selected combination with the first fibrous material to provide a first superabsorbent-containing stratum. A second fibrous stratum (32) of fibrous material can be deposited to overlie the first fibrous stratum (26), and the second fibrous stratum (32) can have a second stratum thickness (34). A second superabsorbent material (36) can be directed to form a selected combination with the second fibrous material to provide a second superabsorbent-containing stratum.
262 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for forming an article having a plurality of strata which include superabsorbent material and a fibrous matrix, said method comprising:
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a moving of a forming surface in a forming chamber along a forming path length;
a depositing of a first fibrous stratum of fiber material to overlie said forming surface, said first fibrous stratum having a first stratum thickness;
a directing of a first quantity of superabsorbent material to form a selected combination with said first fibrous stratum and provide a first superabsorbent-containing stratum;
a depositing of a second fibrous stratum of fiber material to overlie said first fibrous stratum, said second fibrous stratum having a second stratum thickness; and
a directing of a second quantity of superabsorbent material to form a selected combination with said second fibrous stratum and provide a second superabsorbent-containing stratum;
wherein said first quantity of superabsorbent material is directed onto a portion of said forming surface which substantially corresponds to a first 25% of said forming path length. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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2. A method for forming an article having a plurality of strata which include superabsorbent material and a fibrous matrix, said method comprising:
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a moving of a forming surface in a forming chamber along a forming path length;
a depositing of a first fibrous stratum of fiber material to overlie said forming surface, said first fibrous stratum having a first stratum thickness;
a directing of a first quantity of superabsorbent material to form a selected combination with said first fibrous stratum and provide a first superabsorbent-containing stratum;
a depositing of a second fibrous stratum of fiber material to overlie said first fibrous stratum, said second fibrous stratum having a second stratum thickness; and
a directing of a second quantity of superabsorbent material to form a selected combination with said second fibrous stratum and provide a second superabsorbent-containing stratum;
wherein;
said directing of said first quantity of superabsorbent material directs a first quantity of a first superabsorbent material with a first nozzle to form a first superabsorbent-rich stratum within said first stratum thickness of said first fibrous stratum, said first nozzle oriented at a first nozzle angle relative to a first local section of said forming surface;
said directing of said second quantity of superabsorbent material directs a second quantity of a second superabsorbent material with a second nozzle to form a second superabsorbent-rich stratum within said second stratum thickness of said second fibrous stratum, said second nozzle oriented at a second nozzle angle relative to a second local section of said forming surface; and
said first nozzle angle is at least about −
56°
.- View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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3. A method for forming an article having a plurality of strata which include superabsorbent material and a fibrous matrix, said method comprising:
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a moving of a forming surface in a forming chamber along a forming path length;
a depositing of a first fibrous stratum of fiber material to overlie said forming surface, said first fibrous stratum having a first stratum thickness;
a directing of a first quantity of superabsorbent material to form a selected combination with said first fibrous stratum and provide a first superabsorbent-containing stratum;
a depositing of a second fibrous stratum of fiber material to overlie said first fibrous stratum, said second fibrous stratum having a second stratum thickness; and
a directing of a second quantity of superabsorbent material to form a selected combination with said second fibrous stratum and provide a second superabsorbent-containing stratum;
wherein;
said directing of said first quantity of superabsorbent material directs a first quantity of a first superabsorbent material with a first nozzle to form a first superabsorbent-rich stratum within said first stratum thickness of said first fibrous stratum, said first nozzle located at a first nozzle distance from a first local section of said forming surface;
said directing of said second quantity of superabsorbent material directs a second quantity of a second superabsorbent material with a second nozzle to form a second superabsorbent-rich stratum within said second stratum thickness of said second fibrous stratum, said second nozzle located at a second nozzle distance from a second local section of said forming surface;
said first nozzle is positioned away from said forming surface at a first nozzle distance which is at least about 2 cm; and
said second nozzle is positioned away from said forming surface at a second nozzle distance which is at least about 2 cm. - View Dependent Claims (10)
said first nozzle is positioned away from said forming surface at a first nozzle distance which is not more than about 100 cm; - and
said second nozzle is positioned away from said forming surface at a second nozzle distance which is not more than about 100 cm.
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11. A method for forming an article having a plurality of strata which include superabsorbent material and a fibrous matrix, said method comprising:
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a moving of a forming surface in a forming chamber along a forming path length;
a depositing of a first fibrous stratum of fiber material to overlie said forming surface, said first fibrous stratum having a first stratum thickness;
a directing of a first quantity of superabsorbent material to form a selected combination with said first fibrous stratum and provide a first superabsorbent-containing stratum;
a depositing of a second fibrous stratum of fiber material to overlie said first fibrous stratum, said second fibrous stratum having a second stratum thickness; and
a directing of a second quantity of superabsorbent material to form a selected combination with said second fibrous stratum and provide a second superabsorbent-containing stratum;
wherein said directing of said first quantity of superabsorbent material delivers said superabsorbent material into said forming chamber at a first superabsorbent speed;
said directing of said second quantity of superabsorbent material delivers said superabsorbent material into said forming chamber at a second superabsorbent speed; and
said first superabsorbent speed is at least 15 m/sec.- View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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23. An apparatus for forming an article having a plurality of strata which include superabsorbent material and a fibrous matrix, said apparatus comprising:
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a forming chamber;
a forming surface which can move through said forming chamber along a forming path length;
a mechanism which can deposit a first fibrous stratum of fiber material to overlie said forming surface, said first fibrous stratum having a first stratum thickness;
a first nozzle which can direct a first quantity of superabsorbent material to form a selected combination with said first fibrous stratum and provide a first superabsorbent-containing stratum;
a mechanism which can deposit a second fibrous stratum of fiber material to overlie said first fibrous stratum, said second fibrous stratum having a second stratum thickness; and
a second nozzle which can direct a second quantity of superabsorbent material to form a selected combination with said second fibrous stratum and provide a second superabsorbent-containing stratum;
wherein said first nozzle is located to direct said first quantity of superabsorbent material onto a portion of said forming surface which substantially corresponds to a first 25% of said forming path length; and
said second nozzle is located to direct said second quantity of superabsorbent material onto a portion of said forming surface which substantially corresponds to a second 25% of said forming path length.- View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
said first nozzle is located at a first nozzle distance from a first local section of said forming surface; said second nozzle is located at a second nozzle distance from a second local section of said forming surface;
said first nozzle distance is at least about 2 cm;
said second nozzle distance is at least about 2 cm; and
said first nozzle delivers said superabsorbent material into said forming chamber at a first superabsorbent speed which is at least about 15 m/sec and not more than about 70 m/sec.
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25. An apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein
said first nozzle is oriented at a first nozzle angle relative to the first local section of said forming surface; -
said second nozzle is oriented at a second nozzle angle relative to the second local section of said forming surface;
said first nozzle angle is at least about −
56° and
not more than about +70°
; and
said second nozzle angle is at least about −
35° and
not more than about +55°
.
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26. A method for forming an article having a plurality of strata which include superabsorbent material and a fibrous matrix, said method comprising:
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a moving of a forming surface in a forming chamber along a forming path length;
a depositing of a first fibrous stratum of fiber material to overlie said forming surface, said first fibrous stratum having a first stratum thickness;
a directing of a first quantity of superabsorbent material to form a selected combination with said first fibrous stratum and provide a first superabsorbent-containing stratum;
a depositing of a second fibrous stratum of fiber material to overlie said first fibrous stratum, said second fibrous stratum having a second stratum thickness; and
a directing of a second quantity of superabsorbent material to form a selected combination with said second fibrous stratum and provide a second superabsorbent-containing stratum;
whereinsaid directing of said first quantity of superabsorbent material directs a first quantity of a first superabsorbent material with a first nozzle, said first nozzle located at a first nozzle distance from a first local section of said forming surface;
said directing of said second quantity of superabsorbent material directs a second quantity of a second superabsorbent material with a second nozzle, said second nozzle located at a second nozzle distance from a second local section of said forming surface;
said first nozzle distance is at least about 2 cm;
said second nozzle distance is at least about 2 cm;
said first nozzle is located to direct said first quantity of superabsorbent material onto a portion of said forming surface which substantially corresponds to a first 25% of said forming path length;
said second nozzle is located to direct said second quantity of superabsorbent material onto a portion of said forming surface which substantially corresponds to a second 25% of said forming path length; and
said superabsorbent material is delivered into said forming chamber at a first superabsorbent speed which is at least about 15 m/sec and not more than about 70 m/sec. - View Dependent Claims (27)
an orienting of said first nozzle at a first nozzle angle relative to the first local section of said forming surface; - and
an orienting of said second nozzle at a second nozzle angle relative to the second local section of said forming surface;
whereinsaid first nozzle angle is at least about −
56° and
not more than about +70°
; and
said second nozzle angle is at least about −
35° and
not more than about +55°
.
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28. A method for forming an article having a plurality of strata which include superabsorbent material and a fibrous matrix, said method comprising:
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a moving of a forming surface in a forming chamber along a forming path length;
a depositing of a first fibrous stratum of fiber material to overlie said forming surface, said first fibrous stratum having a first stratum thickness;
a directing of a first quantity of superabsorbent material to form a selected combination with said first fibrous stratum and provide a first superabsorbent-containing stratum;
a depositing of a second fibrous stratum of fiber material to overlie said first fibrous stratum, said second fibrous stratum having a second stratum thickness; and
a directing of a second quantity of superabsorbent material to form a selected combination with said second fibrous stratum and provide a second superabsorbent-containing stratum;
whereinsaid directing of said first quantity of superabsorbent material directs a first quantity of a first superabsorbent material with a first nozzle;
said directing of said second quantity of superabsorbent material directs a second quantity of a second superabsorbent material with a second nozzle;
at least one of said first and second nozzles is a curved nozzle which is configured with an arcuate, curved bend having a radius of curvature of at least about 2.54 cm; and
said curved nozzle includes a radial outboard wall having an array of outlet apertures formed therein. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification