Bonding and slitting device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016199233-A1
Application number	US-201615076780-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 22, 2016
Priority date	Nov 27, 2013
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A bonding and slitting device is adapted to form fin seams in absorbent articles having a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending between the front waist region and the back waist region. The device includes a first bonding member and a second bonding member having a contact element configured to cooperate with the first bonding member to bond the front region of the chassis to the back region to define the fin seams. A slitter is configured to simultaneously act on material outboard of the bonds from both the front and back regions of the chassis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A bonding and slitting device adapted to form fin seams in absorbent articles having a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region extending between the front waist region and the back waist region, the device comprising:
a first bonding member; and a second bonding member having a contact element configured to cooperate with the first bonding member to bond the front region of the chassis to the back region to define the fin seams, and a slitter configured to simultaneously act on material outboard of the bonds from both the front and back regions of the chassis.

2 . The bonding and slitting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the contact element includes a plurality of bonding elements adapted to point bond the front region and the back region of the chassis.

3 . The bonding and slitting device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the contact element has a circumference and the bonding elements extend continuously about the circumference of the contact element.

4 . The bonding and slitting device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the bonding elements are aligned in at least two circumferentially extending columns, each column being offset relative to an adjacent column.

5 . The bonding and slitting device as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of the columns of bonding elements define a circumferentially extending centerline, each centerline being spaced from an adjacent centerline by a distance between 0.5 mm and 2 mm.

6 . The bonding and slitting device as set forth in claim 2 wherein at least some of the bonding elements are frustum nubs.

7 . The bonding and slitting device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the slitter is spaced from the bonding elements by a distance between 0.5 mm and 5 mm.

8 . The bonding and slitting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the contact element has a circumference and the slitter extends continuously about a circumference of the contact element.

9 . The bonding and slitting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first bonding member is a rotary ultrasonic horn and the second bonding member is a rotary anvil, the ultrasonic horn and the anvil being configured to counter-rotate with respect to each other.

Assignees

• Kimberly Clark Co

Inventors

• Schoultz Adam
• Sina Joseph J
• Ruman Marcille Faye
• Bennett Kathy Irene
• Coenen Joseph Daniel
• Nussbaum Daniel Marvin
• Roocks Lori

Classifications

• B29C65/7435

  the tool being a roller · CPC title

• A61F13/15747 Primary

  Folding; Pleating; Coiling; Stacking; Packaging · CPC title

• B29C66/71

  characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined (welding bar compositions B29C65/125) · CPC title

• B29C66/81433

  being toothed, i.e. comprising several teeth or pins (comprising a single tooth B29C66/81429), or being patterned · CPC title

• B29C66/431

  Joining the articles to themselves (B29C66/4322 and B29C66/4332 take precedence) · CPC title