Disposable absorbent pants with advantageous stretch and manufacturability features, and methods for manufacturing the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10517771-B2
Application number	US-201816151688-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 4, 2018
Priority date	May 15, 2012
Publication date	Dec 31, 2019
Grant date	Dec 31, 2019

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a disposable absorbent pant includes forming an elasticized multilayer web and joining a third nonwoven web to it and optionally sandwiching leg and waist elastic members between one or more layers of the elasticized multilayer web and/or the third nonwoven web to form disposable absorbent pants.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for manufacturing a disposable absorbent pant, comprising the steps of:
conveying first and second nonwoven webs along a machine direction;
sandwiching an elastomeric web between the first and second nonwoven webs to form an elasticized multilayer web;
severing the elasticized multilayer web to form front and rear sections of the elasticized multilayer web;
applying a plurality of pre-strained leg elastic members along a leg elastic path generally extending along the machine direction but comprising curvilinear portions, onto the elasticized multilayer web;
conveying and laminating a third nonwoven web to the elasticized multilayer web such that the pre-strained leg elastic members are sandwiched between the elasticized multilayer web and the third nonwoven web;
as the elasticized multilayer web is conveyed along the machine direction, cutting the elasticized multilayer web along a first cutting path and along a second cutting path;
affixing central chassis structures to overlap the elasticized multilayer web; and
cutting the elasticized multilayer web along separation lines disposed between the affixed central chassis structures, and thereby severing away separate pant structures.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of applying pre-strained waist elastic members onto the front and rear sections, as the front and rear sections are conveyed along the machine direction.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step sandwiching the waist elastic members between a folded over portion of the elasticized multilayer web.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second cutting paths include curvilinear cutting path portions defining leg opening cutouts.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of folding the central chassis along a machine direction line, and thereby bringing the front and rear sections together, prior to cutting the elasticized multilayer web along the separation lines.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising the step of forming seams between the front and rear sections along the separation lines, either prior to or simultaneously with the step of cutting the elasticized multilayer web along the separation lines.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein end edges of the first and second nonwoven webs are coterminous.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pre-strained leg elastic members terminate adjacent to the side edges of the central chassis structures.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein an end edge of the third nonwoven web is not coterminous with an end edge the first or second nonwoven webs.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising affixing leg cuff elastic members to opposing sides edges of the chassis.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the leg cuff elastic members are disposed to cooperate with the leg elastic members to encircle leg openings.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein side edges of the separate pant structures are permanently seamed to form a waist and leg openings.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the central chassis structures are affixed to the elasticized multilayer web.

14. A method for manufacturing a disposable absorbent pant, comprising the steps of:
conveying first and second nonwoven webs along a machine direction;
sandwiching an elastomeric web between first and second nonwoven webs to form an elasticized multilayer web;

applying a plurality of pre-strained leg elastic members along a leg elastic path comprising curvilinear portions, onto the elasticized multilayer web;
applying a plurality of prestrained waist elastic members along a waist elastic path generally extending along the machine direction;
conveying and laminating a third nonwoven web to the elasticized multilayer web such that the pre-strained leg elastic members are sandwiched between the elasticized multilayer web and the third nonwoven web;
sandwiching the waist elastic members between a folded over portion of the elasticized multilayer web;
severing at least one leg elastic member at repeated intervals;
affixing central chassis structures to overlap the elasticized multilayer web; and
cutting the elasticized multilayer web along separation lines disposed between the affixed central chassis structures, and thereby severing away separate pant structures.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the pre-strained leg elastic members are strands.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the pre-strained waist elastic members are strands.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of sandwiching the waist elastic members between a folded over portion of the elasticized multilayer web at each of front and rear sections of the first elasticized web.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step severing the elasticized multilayer web to form the front and rear sections of the elasticized multilayer web.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the elastomeric web is a film.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein each of the first and second cutting paths include curvilinear cutting path portions defining leg opening cutouts.

21. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of folding the central chassis along a machine direction line, and thereby bringing the front and rear sections together, prior to cutting the elasticized multilayer web along the separation lines.

22. The method of claim 14 , further comprising cutting the third nonwoven web along the first cutting path and along the second cutting path, and removing at least a portion of a middle section of the third nonwoven web between the cutting paths.

23. A method for manufacturing a disposable absorbent pant, comprising the steps of:
conveying first and second nonwoven webs along a machine direction;
sandwiching an elastomeric web between first and second nonwoven webs to form an elasticized multilayer web;

applying a plurality of pre-strained leg elastic members along a leg elastic path comprising curvilinear portions, onto the elasticized multilayer web;
severing the elasticized multilayer web into front section that is discrete from a back section;
conveying and laminating a third nonwoven web to front and back sections, indirectly connecting the front and back sections together, such that the pre-strained leg elastic members are sandwiched between the elasticized multilayer web and the third nonwoven web;
affixing central chassis structures to overlap at least a portion of the front section, the back section, and the third nonwoven web;
directly joining the front and rear sections; and
cutting the elasticized multilayer web along separation lines disposed between the affixed central chassis structures, and thereby severing away separate pant structures.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising the step of applying pre-strained waist elastic members onto the elasticized multilayer web at each of the front and rear sections, as the elasticized multilayer web is conveyed along the machine direction.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the waist elastic members and the leg elastic members are on different surfaces of the elasticized multilayer web.

26. The method of claim 23 , wherein first and second cutting paths include curvilinear cutting path portions defining leg opening cutouts.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Wade Sarah Marie
• Lavon Gary Dean
• Robles Miguel Alvaro

Classifications

• A61F13/15609

  the ribbons being applied in an irregular path · CPC title

• A61F13/15699 Primary

  Forming webs by bringing together several webs, e.g. by laminating or folding several webs, with or without additional treatment of the webs · CPC title

• A61F13/4906 Primary

  the diaper having an outer chassis forming the diaper and an independent absorbent structure attached to the chassis · CPC title

• B32B38/0004

  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 title

• A61F13/15601

  the ribbons being applied transversely to the direction of the movement of the webs the diapers are being made of · CPC title