Method and apparatus for making a wrapped absorbent core
First Claim
1. A method for making an absorbent structure comprised of an absorbent core having a first face, a second face opposite said first face, and laterally opposite side edges, and a wrapsheet having opposite first and second faces, the wrapsheet being wrapped about said first face of the absorbent core, said lateral side edges of the absorbent core and at least a portion of said second face of the absorbent core, said method comprising:
- arranging the absorbent core and wrapsheet in an unwrapped configuration with the first face of the absorbent core facing the first face of the wrapsheet and the absorbent core disposed laterally between laterally opposite side margins of the wrapsheet such that the side margins of the wrapsheet extend laterally outward beyond the side edges of the absorbent core; and
directing a gas flow over the first and second faces of the wrapsheet at the lateral side margins thereof in a direction which moves the lateral side margins of the wrapsheet from the unwrapped configuration around the side edges of the absorbent core and over at least a portion of the second face of the absorbent core to define a wrapped configuration of the wrapsheet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a method and apparatus for making an absorbent structure, an absorbent core and a wrapsheet are arranged in an unwrapped configuration with a first face of the absorbent core facing a first face of the wrapsheet, and with the absorbent core disposed laterally between laterally opposite side margins of the wrapsheet such that the side margins of the wrapsheet extend laterally outward beyond the side edges of the absorbent core. Gas is directed to flow over the first and second faces of the wrapsheet at the lateral side margins thereof in a direction which moves the lateral side margins of the wrapsheet from the unwrapped configuration around the side edges of the absorbent core and over at least a portion of the second face of the absorbent core to define a wrapped configuration of the wrapsheet.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for making an absorbent structure comprised of an absorbent core having a first face, a second face opposite said first face, and laterally opposite side edges, and a wrapsheet having opposite first and second faces, the wrapsheet being wrapped about said first face of the absorbent core, said lateral side edges of the absorbent core and at least a portion of said second face of the absorbent core, said method comprising:
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arranging the absorbent core and wrapsheet in an unwrapped configuration with the first face of the absorbent core facing the first face of the wrapsheet and the absorbent core disposed laterally between laterally opposite side margins of the wrapsheet such that the side margins of the wrapsheet extend laterally outward beyond the side edges of the absorbent core; and directing a gas flow over the first and second faces of the wrapsheet at the lateral side margins thereof in a direction which moves the lateral side margins of the wrapsheet from the unwrapped configuration around the side edges of the absorbent core and over at least a portion of the second face of the absorbent core to define a wrapped configuration of the wrapsheet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for making an absorbent structure comprised of an absorbent core material having a first face, a second face opposite said first face, and laterally opposite side edges, and a wrapsheet having opposite first and second faces, the wrapsheet being wrapped about said first face of the absorbent core material, said lateral side edges of the absorbent core material and at least a portion of said second face of the absorbent core material, said method comprising:
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feeding absorbent core material and a web of wrapsheet material in a machine direction with the wrapsheet in an unwrapped configuration relative to the absorbent core material; arranging the absorbent core material and wrapsheet web in overlaid relationship with each other during movement of said webs in the machine direction such that a first face of the absorbent core material faces a first face of the wrapsheet web and the absorbent core material is disposed laterally between laterally opposite side margins of the wrapsheet such that the side margins of the wrapsheet web extend laterally outward beyond laterally opposite side edges of the absorbent core material; directing a gas flow over the first and second faces of the wrapsheet web at the lateral side margins thereof in a direction which moves the lateral side margins of the wrapsheet from the unwrapped configuration around the side edges of the absorbent core material and over at least a portion of the second face of the absorbent core material to define a wrapped configuration of the wrapsheet web, said wrapsheet web and absorbent core material being moved in the machine direction during directing of said gas flow over the first and second faces of the wrapsheet web; securing the wrapsheet web in its wrapped configuration about the absorbent core material to form an absorbent structure web; and cutting the absorbent structure web transverse to the machine direction to form discrete absorbent structures. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification