# US 10,307,300 B2 · Apparatus and methods for transferring and bonding substrates

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- Number: US 10,307,300 B2
- Document ID: US10307300B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/373,634
- Filed: 2016-12-09
- Published: 2017-06-15
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2015-12-10
- Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Applicants: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Inventors: Eric Shawn Goudy; Jason Lee DeBruler; Michael Devin Long
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307300B2

## CPC

- A61F 13/15739: {Sealing, e.g. involving cutting}
- B29C 65/02: by heating, with or without pressure
- B29C 65/48: using adhesives {, i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding}
- B29C 66/00: {General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts (means for handling the parts to be joined B29C65/78; testing the joint B29C65/82)}
- B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)}
- B29C 66/21: {said joint lines being formed by a single dot or dash or by several dots or dashes, i.e. spot joining or spot welding}
- B29C 66/431: {Joining the articles to themselves (B29C66/4322 and B29C66/4332 take precedence)}
- B29C 66/7294: {Non woven mats, e.g. felt}
- B29C 66/83413: {cooperating rollers, cylinders or drums}
- B29C 66/8412: {of different length, width or height}
- A61F 2013/15829: {using pressure liquid jet}
- A61F 2013/15878: {by thermal bonding}
- B29C 65/10: using hot gases {(e.g. combustion gases) or flames coming in contact with at least one of the parts to be joined}
- B29C 66/83411: {Roller, cylinder or drum types (B29C66/83431 takes precedence; rollers, cylinders or drums moving relative to and tangentially to the parts to be joined B29C66/8362)}
- B29C 66/83511: {jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders or drums}
- B29K 2105/256: {Sheets, plates, blanks or films}
- B29L 2031/4871: {Underwear}
- B29L 2031/4878: {Diapers, napkins}
- B32B 2555/02: Diapers or napkins
- Y10T 156/1054: and simultaneously bonding [e.g., cut-seaming]
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A substrate assembly is mechanically deformed to form various products. In part, the substrate assembly may advance toward a bonder apparatus. The bonder apparatus rotates about a longitudinal axis and includes a plurality of manifolds. The plurality of manifolds allow for substrate assemblies including different process product pitches to be processed on a single bonder apparatus.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for forming a bond, the method comprising the steps of:
advancing a substrate assembly in a machine direction, wherein the substrate assembly comprises a process product pitch defined by a leading portion and a trailing portion, and a central portion between the leading portion and the trailing portion;
rotating a bonder apparatus about an axis of rotation, wherein the bonder apparatus comprises a plurality of manifolds disposed about a central longitudinal axis, wherein the plurality of manifolds comprise a first manifold, as second manifold, and one or more manifolds disposed between the first manifold and the second manifold, and wherein each of the plurality of manifolds comprises a support plate and a nozzle plate adjacent the support plate, wherein the nozzle plate defines a plurality of apertures;
receiving the leading portion of the substrate on the support plate of the first manifold;
receiving the trailing portion of the substrate on the support plate of the second manifold,
wherein the central portion of the substrate is disposed on the support plates of the one or more manifolds disposed between the first manifold and the second manifold;
heating a fluid to form a heated fluid;
supplying the heated fluid to the plurality of manifolds;
releasing the heated fluid through the plurality of apertures defined by the nozzle plate of the first manifold such that the heated fluid engages the leading portion;
releasing the heated fluid through the plurality of apertures defines by the nozzle plate of the second manifold such that the heated fluid engages the trailing portion; and
bonding at least a portion of the substrate assembly.

### Claim 2

A method for forming a bond, the method comprising the steps of:
advancing a substrate assembly in a machine direction at a process product pitch, wherein the substrate assembly comprises a process product pitch defined by a leading portion and a trailing portion, and a central portion between the leading portion and the trailing portion;
rotating a bonder apparatus about an axis of rotation, wherein the bonder apparatus comprises a plurality of manifolds disposed about a central longitudinal axis, wherein the plurality of manifolds comprises a first manifold, as second manifold, and one or more manifolds disposed between the first manifold and the second manifold, and wherein each of the plurality of manifolds includes a nozzle plate defining a plurality of apertures;
expanding or contracting the substrate assembly such that the substrate assembly is advanced at a second process product pitch, wherein the second process product pitch is greater than or less than the process product pitch;
receiving the leading portion of the substrate on the first manifold;
receiving the trailing portion of the substrate on the second manifold, wherein the central portion of the substrate is disposed on the one or more manifolds disposed between the first manifold and the second manifold;
heating a fluid to form a heated fluid;
supplying the heated fluid to the plurality of manifolds;
releasing the heated fluid through the plurality of apertures defined by the nozzle plate of the first manifold such that the heated fluid engages the leading portion;
releasing the heated fluid through the plurality of apertures defined by the nozzle plate of the second manifold such that the heated fluid engages the trailing portion; and
bonding at least a portion of the substrate assembly.