Process and apparatus for making channeled absorbent articles

An apparatus (6) for making an absorbent article comprising an absorbent core comprising one or more channels and sandwiching an absorbent material between a first nonwoven web (4) and a second nonwoven web (5), said apparatus comprising:

• a first endless moving surface (1) in the form of a rotating drum, said drum comprising a plurality of molds (2) in the form of pockets successively positioned along a circumference of said drum, wherein each mold (2) comprises a non-porous insert (3) therein, wherein the molds (2) are in fluid communication with an under-pressure source except for said insert (3) such to form one or more non-suction zones corresponding to said non-porous insert (3) and a suction zone surrounding said non-porous insert (3);
• a first adhesive application unit (8) for applying an adhesive pattern over a skin-facing surface of said first nonwoven web (4);
• an absorbent material deposition unit (9) for depositing an absorbent material over at least a portion of said first nonwoven web (4);
• a first auxiliary moving surface (12) for applying a first pressure to the upper and lower layers of said nonwoven web(s) (4, 5);
• characterized in that the apparatus (6) further comprises a second and third auxiliary moving surfaces (13, 14) for applying a second pressure to the upper and lower layers of said nonwoven web(s) (4, 5), wherein said first endless moving surface (1), said first auxiliary moving surface (12), said second auxiliary moving surface (13) and said third auxiliary moving surface (14) each have an axis of rotation being substantially parallel to each other, and wherein the first endless moving surface (1) and the auxiliary moving surfaces (12, 13, 14) act upon each other by applying pressure to the upper and lower layers of said nonwoven web(s) (4, 5), and in that said first auxiliary moving surface (12) is arranged to selectively apply said first pressure onto the first endless moving surface (1) only in a central portion thereof and said second and third auxiliary moving surfaces (13, 14) are arranged to selectively apply said second pressure onto the first endless moving surface (1) only along peripheral longitudinal side edges thereof running opposite and parallel to each other and being outboard of said central portion.