Apparatus and method of manufacturing an elastic composite structure for an absorbent sanitary product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11925538-B2
Application number	US-201916721414-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2019
Priority date	Jan 7, 2019
Publication date	Mar 12, 2024
Grant date	Mar 12, 2024

Abstract

An apparatus and method for manufacturing an elastic composite structure for an absorbent sanitary product includes a bonding unit configured to bond a first web layer to a second web layer via a bond pattern that includes at least one bond line having at least one pair of adjacent bonds. The bonding unit secures an elastic thread within a passage defined by the at least one pair of adjacent bonds. The passage has a cross-sectional area smaller than a cross-sectional area of the elastic thread in a non-tensioned state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for manufacturing an elastic composite structure, the apparatus comprising:
at least one means for transporting a first web layer and a second web layer in a machine direction;
at least one means for transporting an elastic thread in the machine direction in a tensioned state; and
a bonding unit configured to:
bond the first web layer to the second web layer absent adhesive via a bond pattern comprising at least one bond line having at least one pair of adjacent bonds; and
anchor the elastic thread within a passage defined by the at least one pair of adjacent bonds, the passage having a cross-sectional area smaller than a cross-sectional area of the elastic thread in a non-tensioned state;

wherein the bonding unit comprises an ultrasonic bonding unit having a face with at least one welding line defined thereon, each welding line of the at least one welding line arranged to form the bond pattern;
wherein the at least one welding line comprises a notch positioned between a pair of projections;
wherein the notch has a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the elastic thread in the non-tensioned state, and
wherein the notch has a stepped geometry.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein facing surfaces of the at least one pair of adjacent bonds are spaced apart at a distance greater than a strand diameter of the elastic thread in the non-tensioned state.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the notch is v-shaped.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein facing edges of the at least one pair of adjacent bonds are spaced at a distance greater than a diameter of the at least one elastic thread in the non-tensioned state.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an ultrasonic bond between the first web layer and the second web layer.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one notch has one of a v-shaped geometry and a u-shaped geometry.

Assignees

• Joa Curt G Inc

Inventors

• Andrews Robert Earl
• Schuette David Edward
• Fritz Jeffrey Wayne
• Lafferty Justin Marshall

Classifications

• 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

• A61F13/15658

  Forming continuous, e.g. composite, fibrous webs, e.g. involving the application of pulverulent material on parts thereof · CPC title

• B29C65/08

  using ultrasonic vibrations {(non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645)} · CPC title

• B29C65/7894

  of continuously moving sheets or webs · CPC title

• B32B37/0076

  characterised in that the layers are not bonded on the totality of their surfaces · CPC title