Method and apparatus for controlling the cutting and placement of components on a moving substrate, and article made therewith

• US 5,286,543 A
• Filed: 05/06/1993
• Issued: 02/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
• Inventors: Vander Heiden, Daniel J., Gregory, Gene M., Sheleski, Christopher J., Hayes, Terry G., Morgan, Arch D., Ungpiyakul, Tanakon
• Primary Examiner(s): CANNON, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US08/059,945
• Time in Patent Office: 285 Days
• Field of Search: 428/74, 428/78, 428/79, 428/195, 428/206, 428/286, 604/385.1
• US Class Current: 428/32.24
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15772 Control
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/34 scanning being effected by a photosensitive device
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/185 combined with the cutting of one or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1075 of plural laminae from single stock and assembling to each other or to additional lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1097 Lamina is running length web
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1339 Delivering cut part in sequence to serially conveyed articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24893 including particulate material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/148 Including means to correct the sensed operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/169 Indeterminate length, web or strand
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/543 Sensing means responsive to work indicium or irregularity

Abstract

A distinctive apparatus and method for selectively providing predetermined segments of web material comprises a supplying mechanism for providing the web material. A first sensing mechanism detects a reference marker on the web material to generate at least one reference marker datum which is associated with a selected web segment. A separating mechanism includes a sensor mechanism for providing at least one separation datum, and divides the web material along a separation region during a production of the web segment. A phase regulating mechanism controls a relative phasing between the reference marker detected by the first sensing mechanism and the dividing by the separating mechanism. The phasing is conducted with respect to a set reference value. An assembling mechanism places the web segment onto a substrate, and a second sensing mechanism separately detects a location of the separation region relative to the reference marker to generate at least one location datum which is in correspondence with the separation datum. A location correlating mechanism generates at least one comparison datum associated with a web segment, and a data processing mechanism evaluates the comparison datum to generate an updated set reference value. A reference regulating mechanism selectively adjusts the phase regulating mechanism to incorporate the updated set reference value.

Claims

1. An article, comprising:

a backsheet layer;

a substantially liquid permeable topsheet layer disposed in an adjacent facing relation with said backsheet layer;

an absorbent pad sandwiched between said topsheet and backsheet layers; and

a relatively smaller patch of web material secured to an inward or outward facing surface of said backsheet layer, said patch having thereon at least one reference marker portion and a predetermined set of graphics which is congruously entire, said reference marker portion constructed to provide for a selected separating of said predetermined set of graphics from an interconnected plurality of graphic sets.