Method of manufacturing a body adhering absorbent article orientated in the machine direction with reduced curl

• US 8,764,922 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2011
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Popp, Robert Lee, Gottleib, Jay David, Coenen, Joseph Daniel, Turchan, Gary Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): SELLS, JAMES D
• Application Number:
  US13/022,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20120199267A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 156/73.1, 156/160, 156/163, 156/164, 156/183, 156/229, 156/324, 156/494, 156/495, 156/496, 156/553, 156/555, 156/580.1, 156/580.2, 156/582, 156/583.1, 156/250, 156/267, 156/269
• US Class Current: 156/73.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15707 Mechanical treatment, e.g. notching, twisting, compressing, shaping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15723 Partitioning batts; Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15739 Sealing, e.g. involving cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15764 Transferring, feeding or handling devices; Drives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15804 Plant, e.g. involving several steps
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/82 with means for attaching to the body
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2309/02 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2309/04 Time
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2310/028 using vibration, e.g. sonic or ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2555/02 Diapers or napkins
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/12 characterised by using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/144 using layers with different mechanical or chemical conditions or properties, e.g. layers with different thermal shrinkage, layers under tension during bonding constructional features for tensioning B32B38/1825
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/0004 Cutting, tearing or severing, e.g. bursting; Cutter details cutting in general B26D; laminating combined with punching or perforating B32B38/04; removing all or part of the layers B32B38/10; cutting in combination with laying up and registration B32B38/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/0008 Electrical discharge treatment, e.g. corona, plasma treatment; wave energy or particle radiation heat treatment B32B38/0036
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/06 Embossing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/1858 using vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1052 with cutting, punching, tearing or severing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/108 Flash, trim or excess removal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1084 of continuous or running length bonded web

Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods of manufacturing a body adhering absorbent article oriented in the machine direction wherein the body adhering absorbent articles have reduced or eliminated curl. The articles are manufactured with reduced curl by selectively reducing or eliminating the shell elastic tension in regions where components of the body adhering absorbent article are to be attached to form the composite absorbent article web. In certain aspects the body adhering absorbent articles are manufactured by supplying an elastic web of shell material having a longitudinal and transverse direction, stretching the web of shell material in the longitudinal direction, deadening at least one region of the stretched web of shell material, attaching at least one absorbent article component to at least a portion of the longitudinal deadened zone to form a composite web material, and cutting the composite web material to form a body adhering absorbent article.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a body adhering absorbent article oriented in the machine direction comprising:

a. supplying an elastic web of shell material having a longitudinal and transverse direction;

b. stretching the web of shell material in the longitudinal direction;

c. deadening at least one region of the stretched web of shell material in the longitudinal direction to form a longitudinal deadened zone;

d. attaching at least one component to at least a portion of the longitudinal deadened zone to form a composite web material; and

e. cutting the composite web material to form an absorbent article having a predetermined size and shape.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the components are selected from the group consisting of an adhesive transfer layer, an absorbent article, a banter layer, a body adhering adhesive, an absorbent and containment flaps.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of deadening comprises bonding the stretched shell material in the transverse and/or longitudinal directions.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein bonding takes place by ultrasonic bonding, adhesive bonding, pressure bonding or thermal bonding.

3. The method of claim wherein the step of attaching comprises laminating, adhesive attachment, thermal bonding, pressure bonding or ultrasonic bonding.

6. A method of manufacturing body adhering absorbent article comprising:

a. supplying a web of shell material

b. attaching an adhesive transfer layer to the web of shell material to form a first composite web;

c. cutting the first composite web to form discrete panels;

d, attaching an absorbent component to the discrete panels to form a second composite web; and

e. cutting the second composite we material to form an absorbent article having a predetermined size and shape.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the web of shell material is unwound onto a vacuum conveyor, maintaining the web of shell material substantially without tension.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of rotating the adhesive transfer layer about 90°

before attaching the adhesive transfer layer to the web of shell material.