Elastic strand coating process
AssigneeParagon Trade Brands, Inc.
InventorEdward P. Erdman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for applying a fluid filament to a strand useful for bonding elastic strands to an absorbent garment is described. The strand is oscillated as it moves along an isolated path past a fixed fluid filament dispenser. The strand captures substantially all of the fluid filament, and at least partially all sides of the strand are coated with the filament. The filament coated strand may then be bonded to one or more substrates in some embodiments.
Claims49
A method for applying a fiberized fluid adhesive to a strand, the method comprising:
- supplying a strand along a machine direction;
- dispensing a substantially continuous fluid adhesive fiber toward the strand in a direction normal to the machine direction;
- oscillating the strand back and forth in a direction orthogonal to the machine direction and in a plane substantially normal to the continuous fluid adhesive fiber across the path of the fluid adhesive fiber as the fluid adhesive fiber is dispensed toward the strand;
- capturing substantially all of the continuous fluid adhesive fiber on the strand;
- and
- coating all sides of the strand at least partially with the fluid adhesive fiber.
A method for applying adhesive to a strand for bonding the strand to a substrate in the production of an absorbent garment, the method comprising:
- supplying a strand along a path separated spatially from the substrate in a machine direction;
- dispensing a substantially continuous fluid adhesive fiber toward the strand in a direction normal to the machine direction;
- oscillating the strand back and forth in a direction orthogonal to the machine direction and in a plane substantially normal to the continuous fluid adhesive fiber across the path of the adhesive fiber as the adhesive fiber is dispensed toward the strand;
- capturing substantially all of the continuous fluid adhesive fiber on the strand when the strand is spatially separated from the substrate;
- and
- contacting the adhesive coated strand with the substrate to bond the adhesive-coated strand to the substrate.
An apparatus for applying fluid filaments to a strand, the apparatus comprising:
- a dispensing nozzle for dispensing fluid filaments to a strand;
- a strand supplying mechanism for supplying a strand in a machine direction that is substantially normal to the path of the fluid filament dispensed from the dispensing nozzle;
- and
- a mechanism for oscillating the strand in a direction orthogonal to the machine direction and in a plane substantially normal to the path of the fluid filament.
A method of making an absorbent garment comprising:
- providing a top sheet material, a back sheet material and an absorbent core;
- applying a fluid filament to a strand including
- supplying a strand along a machine direction;
- dispensing a substantially continuous fluid filament toward the strand in a direction substantially normal to the machine direction;
- oscillating the strand back and forth in a direction orthogonal to the machine direction and in a plane substantially normal to the continuous fluid filament fiber across the path of the fluid filament as the fluid filament is dispensed toward the strand;
- capturing substantially all of the continuous fluid filament on the strand;
- and
- coating all sides of the strand at least partially with the fluid filament;
- and
- disposing the fluid filament-coated strand and the absorbent core between the top sheet material and the back sheet material.
A method of making an absorbent garment comprising:
- providing a top sheet material, back sheet material, and an absorbent core wherein the absorbent core is disposed between the top sheet material and the back sheet material to form an absorbent assembly;
- constructing a laminate including a first substrate, a second substrate and a strand disposed between the first and second substrates wherein the strand is supplied in a machine direction along a path separated spatially from the first and second substrates, a fluid fiber is dispensed toward the strand in a direction normal to the machine direction, the strand is oscillated back and forth in a direction orthogonal to the machine direction and in a plane substantially normal to the fluid fiber across the path of the fluid fiber as the fluid fiber is dispensed toward the strand, capturing substantially all of the fluid fiber on the strand, and coating all sides of the strand at least partially with the fluid fiber and the fluid fiber-coated strand is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate;
- and
- attaching the laminate to the absorbent core assembly.
An apparatus for forming an absorbent garment comprising::
- a top sheet supply mechanism for supplying a top sheet;
- a back sheet supply mechanism for supplying a back sheet;
- an absorbent core supply mechanism for supplying an absorbent core;
- a forming station which receives the top sheet from the top sheet supply mechanism, the back sheet from the back sheet supply mechanism and the absorbent core from the absorbent core supply mechanism;
- an apparatus for applying a fluid filament to a strand including,
- a dispensing nozzle for dispensing a fluid filament to a strand,
- a strand supply mechanism for supplying a strand in a machine direction that is substantially normal to the path of the fluid filament dispensed from the dispensing nozzle, and
- a mechanism for oscillating the strand in a direction normal to the machine direction in a plane substantially normal to the path of the fluid filament and coating at least a portion of the strand with the fluid filament;
- and
- a forming station portion for disposing the absorbent core and fluid filament-coated strand between the top sheet and back sheet material forming an absorbent assembly.
The apparatus for forming an absorbent garment 39, wherein the strand is an elastic strand.
The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the fluid adhesive filament is a hot melt adhesive.
The apparatus for forming an absorbent garment 44, wherein the laminate filament is a fluid adhesive filament.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.