# US 10,482,202 B2 · Method for modeling a manufacturing process for a product > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,482,202 B2 - Document ID: US10482202B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/593,512 - Filed: 2017-05-12 - Published: 2018-01-04 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-30 - Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company - Applicants: The Procter & Gamble Company - Inventors: Stephen Joseph Lange; John Ferney McKibben; Jeremy Peter Carrle; Richard William Hamm - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10482202B2 ## CPC - G06F 30/23: using finite element methods [FEM] or finite difference methods [FDM] - G06F 2111/10: Numerical modelling - G06F 2113/12: Cloth - G06F 2119/18: Manufacturability analysis or optimisation for manufacturability - Y02P 90/02: Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A method for modeling a manufacturing process for an absorbent article. The method may be used in the creation of absorbent articles. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for making a product comprising one or more webs, comprising: creating a computer based three dimensional simulation model of a product comprising one or more webs; defining an initial order of assembly; extracting one or more roller positions and a web path and importing the one or more roller positions and web path to a web converting model; determining the virtual measures and model properties of the product comprising one or more webs; importing web property data into the web converting model; evaluating the manufacturing process capability and creating one or more manufacturing performance indicators; iterating the web converting model to optimize values for one or more chosen variables while satisfying the product requirements; building a manufacturing line based on the web converting model with optimized values for chosen variables and producing a product comprising one or more webs based on the simulation model. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein creating a computer based three dimensional simulation model of a product comprising one or more webs comprises creating a three dimensional simulation model of an absorbent article. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the simulation model of an absorbent article comprises one or more layers that comprise one or more components parts selected from the group consisting of adhesive patterns, curvilinear components, topsheets, mechanical fasteners, loop panels, absorbent cores, backsheets, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of defining an initial order of assembly comprises showing where each component enters the production flow and how the product is built. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of extracting one or more roller positions, a web path, and importing the one or more roller positions and web path to the web converting model comprises determining the required number and order of one or more rollers, one or more idlers, one or more driven rollers, one or more turn bars, one or more unwind mandrels, one or more folding boards, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the virtual measures and model properties of the product comprises creating a three dimensional digital representation of an individual partial product comprising one or more webs at each step in the order of assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the web comprises a plurality of individual partial products, wherein the simulation model of the product allows for joint component webs between adjacent individual partial products. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of evaluating the manufacturing process capability and creating one or more manufacturing performance indicators comprises adjusting one or more inputs, adjusting one or more process flows, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of iterating the web converting model to optimize values for one or more chosen variables while satisfying absorbent article requirements comprises allowing the web converting model to automatically change inputs against an objective function. ### Claim 10 A method for modeling a manufacturing line using a computer for making a product comprising one or more webs, the method comprising: creating a computer based three dimensional simulation model of an absorbent article; defining an initial order of assembly; extracting one or more roller positions and a web path and importing the one or more roller positions and web path to a web converting model; determining the virtual measures and model properties of the absorbent article product web; importing web property data into the web converting model; evaluating the manufacturing process capability and creating one or more manufacturing performance indicators; using iterative of the web converting model to optimize values for one or more chosen variables while satisfying absorbent article requirements; and building a manufacturing line based on the web converting model with optimized values for chosen variables and producing a product comprising one or more webs based on the simulation model. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein creating a computer based three dimensional simulation model of an absorbent article includes creating a simulation model of a product comprising multiple layers. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the layers comprise one or more component parts selected from the group consisting of adhesive patterns, curvilinear components, topsheets, mechanical fasteners, loop panels, absorbent cores, and backsheets. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein one or more layers are simulated using Gaussian random fields. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein simulating using Gaussian random fields further comprises creating a scan of a web, analyzing the scan to determine the appropriate scale and orientation for mass variation in the web, and linking the physical and virtual responses for the optically scanned web and the simulated layer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the step of extracting one or more roller positions, a web path, and importing the one or more roller positions and web path to the simulation comprises determining the required number and order of one or more rollers, one or more idlers, one or more driven rollers, one or more turn bars, one or more unwind mandrels, one or more folding boards, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining the virtual measures and model properties of the absorbent article product web comprises creating a three dimensional digital representation of an individual partial product comprising one or more webs at each step in the initial order of assembly. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the step of evaluating the manufacturing process capability and creating one or more manufacturing performance indicators comprises adjusting one or more inputs, adjusting one or more process flows, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the step of using iterative logic to optimize values for one or more chosen variables while satisfying absorbent article requirements comprises allowing the web converting model to automatically change inputs against an objective function.