Methods and apparatus for applying adhesives in patterns to an advancing substrate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10486184-B2
Application number	US-201815890419-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2018
Priority date	Feb 8, 2017
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses herein provide for the application of viscous fluids, such as adhesives, in pre-determined patterns, to an advancing substrate. The fluid applicator comprises a slot die applicator and a substrate carrier. The slot die applicator comprises a plurality of applicator channels, each applicator channel being controlled by a switching valve, and wherein the switching valves are independently switchable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for applying adhesive in a pattern to an advancing substrate, the apparatus comprising:
a slot die applicator including a slot opening defined by a first lip and a second lip;
a substrate carrier adapted to advance the substrate past the slot die applicator, wherein when a first surface of the substrate is disposed on the substrate carrier, the substrate carrier is adapted to advance a second, opposing, surface of the substrate past the slot opening of the slot die applicator, the substrate carrier comprising:
a base surface; and
a pattern element, wherein the pattern element includes a pattern surface, and wherein the pattern element protrudes outward from the base surface to define a distance, Hp, between the pattern surface and the base surface;

wherein as the substrate carrier advances the second surface of the substrate past the slot opening, the pattern element is advanced such that the pattern surface repeatedly advances past the first lip, the slot opening, and the second lip of the slot die applicator; and
wherein the slot die applicator comprises a plurality of applicator channels, each applicator channel being controlled by a switching valve, and wherein the switching valves are independently switchable;
wherein a distance of each applicator channel between each of the switching valves and each of the corresponding slot openings is substantially equal;
wherein a number of adjacent application channels is at least four;
wherein a width, Dn, of each of the applicator channels of each of the adjacent applicator channels is from about 1 mm to about 10 mm; and
wherein a distance, Dg, between the applicator channels of each of the adjacent application channels is less than about 1 mm.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the width, Dn, of each of the applicator channels of each of the adjacent channels is from about 2 mm to about 5 mm.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate carrier is positioned adjacent the slot die applicator to define a minimum distance, Hg, between the pattern surface of the pattern element and the first lip and the second lip that is less than a unconstrained caliper, Hs, of the substrate; and
wherein a sum of the distance, Hp, and distance, Hg, is greater than the unconstrained caliper, Hs, of the substrate.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble
• The Procter & Gamble Plaza

Inventors

• Jackels Hans Adolf

Classifications

• A61F13/15739

  Sealing, e.g. involving cutting · CPC title

• D21H23/46

  Pouring or allowing the fluid to flow in a continuous stream on to the surface, the entire stream being carried away by the paper (D21H23/66 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61F2013/1591

  via adhesive · CPC title

• B05B12/16

  for controlling the spray area (B05B3/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• D21H19/10

  Coatings without pigments (D21H19/66 takes precedence) · CPC title