Method and apparatus for bonding elastic parts under tension to an advancing carrier

A method of assembling absorbent articles, the method comprising steps of:

• advancing a continuous elastic substrate in a machine direction, the continuous elastic substrate comprising a first surface and an opposing second surface, the continuous elastic substrate comprising a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge separated from the first longitudinal edge in a cross direction to define a first width, wherein the continuous elastic substrate is stretchable in the cross direction and comprises corrugations oriented to define corrugation lines extending in the machine direction;
• applying adhesive to corrugations on the first surface of the continuous elastic substrate, wherein the adhesive extends in the cross direction for a second width, wherein the second width is less than the first width;
• cutting an elastic part from the continuous elastic substrate, the elastic part comprising a first end region and a second end region separated from the first end region in the cross direction by a central region, wherein a zone of adhesive is positioned on the central region and not the first and second end regions;
• separating the zone of adhesive into individual stripes of adhesive by stretching the central region of the elastic part in the cross direction;
• and
• adhesively bonding the stretched central region of the elastic part to a carrier substrate with the stripes of adhesive.