Methods and apparatuses for making elastomeric laminates with elastic strands unwound from beams

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10973699-B2
Application number	US-201715831448-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 5, 2017
Priority date	Dec 20, 2016
Publication date	Apr 13, 2021
Grant date	Apr 13, 2021

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to methods for assembling elastomeric laminates, wherein elastic material may be stretched and joined with either or both first and second substrates. A first beam is rotated to unwind a first plurality of elastic strands from the first beam in the machine direction. The first plurality of elastic strands are positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate to form the elastomeric laminate. Before the first plurality of elastic strands are completely unwound from the first beam, a second beam is rotated to unwind the second plurality of elastic strands from the second beam. Subsequently, the advancement of the first plurality of elastic strands from the first beam is discontinued. Thus, the elastomeric laminate assembly process may continue uninterrupted while switching from an initially utilized elastic material drawn from the first beam to a subsequently utilized elastic material drawn from the second beam.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for making an elastomeric laminate, the method comprising steps of:
providing a first plurality of elastic strands wound onto a first beam;
providing a second plurality of elastic strands wound onto a second beam;
rotating a first roller about a first axis of rotation extending in a cross direction, the first roller comprising an outer circumferential surface comprising a surface speed V 1 ;
rotating a second roller about a second axis of rotation extending in the cross direction, the second roller comprising an outer circumferential surface comprising a surface speed V 1 , wherein the first roller and the second roller rotate in opposite directions, and wherein the first roller is adjacent the second roller to define a nip between the first roller and the second roller;
advancing a first substrate and a second substrate through the nip;
rotating the first beam to unwind the first plurality of elastic strands from the first beam in a machine direction at a speed V 2 , wherein the first plurality of elastic strands are separated from each other in the cross direction, and wherein V 2 is less than V 1 ;
stretching the first plurality of elastic strands in the machine direction by advancing the first plurality of elastic strands from the first beam through the nip and between the first substrate and the second substrate;
connecting the second plurality of elastic strands with a splicer member;
rotating the second beam to unwind the second plurality of elastic strands from the second beam in the machine direction, wherein the second plurality of elastic strands are separated from each other in the cross direction;
advancing the splicer member and the second plurality of elastic strands through the nip;
connecting the splicer member with the first substrate subsequent to the step of connecting the second plurality of elastic strands with the splicer member and prior to the step of advancing the splicer member through the nip; and
discontinuing advancement of the first plurality of elastic strands through the nip subsequent to advancing the splicer member through the nip.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the splicer member comprises a tacky surface and wherein the step of connecting the second plurality of elastic strands with the splicer member further comprises adhering the tacky surface with the second plurality of elastic strands.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of bonding the first substrate together with the second substrate.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of: applying adhesive to the first substrate.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of applying adhesive to the first plurality of elastic strands.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of stretching the second plurality of elastic strands in the machine direction by advancing the second plurality of elastic strands from the second beam through the nip between the first substrate and the second substrate.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of elastic strands comprises at least 50 elastic strands.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of elastic strands comprises a decitex of less than 1000.

9. A method for making an elastomeric laminate, the method comprising steps of:
providing a first plurality of elastic strands wound onto a first beam;
providing a second plurality of elastic strands wound onto a second beam;
rotating a first roller about a first axis of rotation extending in a cross direction, the first roller comprising an outer circumferential surface comprising a surface speed V 1 ;
providing a first substrate comprising a first surface and an opposing second surface;
advancing the first surface of the first substrate onto the outer circumferential surface of the first roller;
rotating the first beam to unwind the first plurality of elastic strands from the first beam in a machine direction at a speed V 2 , wherein the first plurality of elastic strands are separated from each other in the cross direction, and wherein V 2 is less than V 1 ;
stretching the first plurality of elastic strands in the machine direction by advancing the first plurality of elastic strands from the first beam onto second surface of the first substrate;
advancing the combined first substrate and the first plurality of elastic strands in the machine direction from the first roller;
connecting the second plurality of elastic strands with a splicer member;
rotating the second beam to unwind the second plurality of elastic strands from the second beam in the machine direction, wherein the second plurality of elastic strands are separated from each other in the cross direction;
combining the splicer member and the second plurality of elastic strands with the first plurality of elastic strands on the second surface of the first substrate;
connecting the splicer member with the first substrate subsequent to the step of connecting the second plurality of elastic strands with the splicer member; and
subsequently discontinuing advancement of the first plurality of elastic strands onto the second surface of the first substrate.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising steps of:
providing a second substrate comprising a first surface and an opposing second surface; and
positioning the first surface of the second substrate in a facing relationship with the second surface of the first substrate with the first plurality of elastic strands between the first substrate and the second substrate.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising steps of:
rotating a second roller about a second axis of rotation extending in the cross direction, the second roller comprising an outer circumferential surface comprising a surface speed V 1 ; and
advancing the first surface of the second substrate onto the outer circumferential surface of the second roller.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the splicer member comprises a tacky surface and wherein the step of connecting the second plurality of elastic strands with the splicer member further comprises adhering the tacky surface with the second plurality of elastic strands.

13. A method for making an elastomeric laminate, the method comprising steps of:
providing a first plurality of elastic strands wound onto a first beam;
providing a second plurality of elastic strands wound onto a second beam;
rotating a roller about a first axis of rotation extending in a cross direction, the roller comprising an outer circumferential surface;
providing a first substrate and a second substrate, each comprising a first surface and an opposing second surface;
advancing the first surface of the first substrate onto the outer circumferential surface of the roller;
rotating the first beam to unwind the first plurality of elastic strands from the first beam in a machine direction, wherein the first plurality of elastic strands are separated from each other in the cross direction;
stretching the first plurality of elastic strands in the machine direction while advancing the first plurality of elastic strands from the first beam onto the second surface of the first substrate;
advancing the first surface of the second substrate onto the second surface of the first substrate such that the first plurality of elastic strands and the first substrate are positioned between the second substrate and the outer circumferential surface of the roller;
advancing the combined first substrate, second substrate, and the first plurality of elastic strands in the machine direction from the roller;
rotating the second beam to unwind the second

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Schneider Uwe
• Eckstein Joseph Allen

Classifications

• A61F13/5622

  specially adapted for diapers or the like · CPC title

• A61F13/53

  characterised by the absorbing medium (A61F13/20 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61F13/4902

  characterised by the elastic material · CPC title

• A61F13/15739

  Sealing, e.g. involving cutting · CPC title

• A61F13/15 Primary

  Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators · CPC title