Apparatus for Producing Elastomeric Nonwoven Laminates

A method for making an elastomeric nonwoven laminate from a plurality of elastomeric strands and a nonwoven layer, the method comprising:

• a. providing an apparatus comprising
• i. a drum having a cooled surface rotating about an axis and having a surface speed V1, the drum having an upper half and a lower half;
• ii. an extruder extruding a plurality of molten streams of polymer onto the cooled surface of the upper half of the drum at a point of extrusion to form a plurality of elastomeric strands;
• iii. a transferring device positioned proximate to the cooled surface of the drum, the transferring device having a surface speed V2 which is greater than the surface speed V1 of the drum, whereby the drum transfers the plurality of elastomeric strands to the transferring device wherein the span of unsupported strands between the cooled surface of the drum and the transferring device is less about 200 mm to provide a controlled distribution of elastomeric strands entering the transferring device;
• iv. a first nonwoven source supplying a first nonwoven web to the transferring device;
• v. an adhesive source for applying adhesive in advance of the transferring device;
• and
• b. joining the plurality of elastomeric strands to the first nonwoven web at a point of lamination thereby forming a nonwoven elastomeric laminate wherein at least two adjacent strands of the elastomeric laminate are separated by a distance of less than about 3 mm.