Method of manufacturing tampons with contact elements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9522087-B2
Application number	US-201213664611-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2012
Priority date	Oct 31, 2012
Publication date	Dec 20, 2016
Grant date	Dec 20, 2016

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a tampon includes transporting a web of material in a machine direction. The web of material has a base web and an absorbent web. The absorbent web has a free end and a bonded end wherein the bonded end is bonded to the base web. The free end of the absorbent web is moved in spaced relationship with the base web. The base web is bonded to a substrate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of manufacturing a tampon comprising:
transporting a web of material in a machine direction, the web of material comprising a base web and an absorbent web, the absorbent web overlying the absorbent web in face-to-face relationship and having a free end and a bonded end wherein the bonded end is bonded to the base web;
pivoting, in a first direction, the free end of the absorbent web in spaced relationship with the base web while the bonded end is bonded to the base web to define a pivoted position of the free end of the absorbent web;
cutting the free end of the absorbent web to form slits while the free end is in the pivoted position and in spaced relationship with the base web; and
pivoting, in a second direction opposite the first direction, the free end of the absorbent web such that the free end including the slits formed therein are placed back into face-to-face relationship with the absorbent web.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein pivoting the absorbent web comprises pivoting the absorbent web to a generally upright position.

3. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein pivoting the free end of the absorbent web in spaced relationship with the base web comprises pivoting the free end of the absorbent web using at least one of vacuum conveyors, air-knifes, rods, skis, folding boards, nip rolls, fold fingers, surface coatings, and side vacuum assist.

4. The method set forth in claim 1 further comprising bonding the web of material to a substrate.

5. The method set forth in claim 4 wherein bonding the web of material to the substrate occurs prior to cutting the free end of the absorbent web to form slits.

6. The method set forth in claim 1 further comprising inspecting the free end of the absorbent web to determine if the slits are properly cut into the absorbent web.

7. The method set forth in claim 4 wherein bonding the web of material to the substrate comprises bonding the base web to the substrate.

8. The method set forth in claim 7 wherein bonding the base web to the substrate comprises bonding the base web to the substrate using at least one of pressure bonding, thermal bonding, ultrasonic bonding, and adhesive bonding.

9. The method set forth in claim 7 wherein the absorbent web is free from direct bonding to the substrate.

10. The method set forth in claim 4 , wherein the slits define a plurality of contact elements, the method further comprising registering the plurality of contact elements with the substrate prior to bonding the web of material to the substrate.

11. The method set forth in claim 1 further comprising transporting a substrate web of material in a machine direction and bonding the base web to the substrate web while the free end of the absorbent web is in spaced relationship with the base web.

12. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein bonding the base web to the substrate web comprises bonding the base web to the substrate web using at least one of pressure bonding, thermal bonding, ultrasonic bonding, and adhesive bonding.

13. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein the absorbent web is free from direct bonding to the substrate web.

14. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein cutting the free end of the absorbent web to form slits comprises cutting the free end of the absorbent web to form linear slits.

15. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein cutting the free end of the absorbent web to form slits comprises cutting the free end of the absorbent web to form slits extending from an edge in a direction towards an interior region of the absorbent web.

16. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein cutting the free end of the absorbent web to form slits comprises cutting the free end of the absorbent web to form slits having different lengths.

17. The method set forth in claim 16 wherein cutting the free end of the absorbent web to form slits having different lengths comprises cutting the free end of the absorbent web to form slits having different lengths arranged in a pattern of alternating lengths.

18. The method set forth in claim 6 wherein inspecting the free end of the absorbent web comprises inspecting the free end of the absorbent web at an inspection station including at least one electronic photo eye.

19. A method of manufacturing a tampon comprising:
transporting a web of material in a machine direction, the web of material comprising a base web and an absorbent web, the absorbent web having a free end and a bonded end wherein the bonded end is bonded to the base web;
pivoting the free end of the absorbent web in spaced relationship with the base web while the bonded end is bonded to the base web to define a pivoted position of the free end of the absorbent web;
holding the absorbent web in a generally perpendicular position with a pair of support rods while the absorbent web is in the pivoted position; and
cutting the free end of the absorbent web to form slits while the free end is in the pivoted position, held by the pair of support rods, and in spaced relationship with the base web.

Assignees

• Kimberly Clark Co

Inventors

• Tomsovic Charles Robert
• Wolter Nicholas Scott
• Beyer Wayne
• Hilt Ronald A
• Fiedorowicz Joshua
• Alberts Brian
• Gottvald Martin
• Gehling Steven Craig

Classifications

• A61F13/206

  Tampons made of rolled-up material · CPC title

• A61F13/2094

  rolling a web material to form a tampon · CPC title

• A61F13/20 Primary

  Tampons, e.g. catamenial tampons; Accessories therefor · CPC title

• A61F13/2071 Primary

  characterised by the material or the structure of the outer layer · CPC title

• A61F13/15

  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