Method and apparatus for manufacturing elasticated webs comprising discontinuous elastic threads

A method for manufacturing an elasticated web having discontinuous elastic threads, said method comprising the steps of;

• a. providing a first web, said first web having a primary extension in the machine direction, first and second faces and a first edge and a second edge, said first and second edges extending in the machine direction;
• b. providing a second web, said second web also having a primary extension in the machine direction, first and second faces and a first edge and a second edge, said first and second edges extending in the machine direction;
• c. providing a third web said third web having a primary extension in the machine direction, first and second faces and a first edge and a second edge, said first and second edges extending in the machine direction;
• d. arranging said third web to lie adjacent and substantially parallel with said first web, in a spaced arrangement with the first faces of said webs facing the same direction, such that the first edges of respective first and third webs are adjacent;
• e. applying a first adhesive to at least a portion of the first face of said first web or to at least a portion of the first face of the second web;
• f. applying a second adhesive to at least a portion of the first face of said third web or to at least a portion of the first face of the second web;
• g. applying at least one first elastic thread on at least the portion of said first face of said first web or on at least the portion of said first face of said second web which comprises said first adhesive;
• wherein said at least one first thread is applied in a first pattern, said first pattern oscillating in the cross-direction and extending in the machine direction,
• h. applying at least one second elastic thread on at least the portion of said first face of said third web or to at least the portion of said first face of said second web which comprises said second adhesive;
• wherein said at least one second elastic thread is applied in a second pattern, said second pattern oscillating in the cross-direction and extending in the machine direction,
• i. applying a portion of the first face of said second web on the first face of said first web, and fixing said first and second webs together such that said at least one first elastic thread is partly sandwiched between the first faces of respective first and second webs;
• such that the first pattern extends over the first edge of the first web to form first loops in said first elastic thread which project in the cross-direction from said first edge of said first web;
• j. applying a portion of the first face of said second web on the first face of said third web, and fixing said third and second webs together such that said at least one second elastic thread is partly sandwiched between the first faces of respective second and third webs;
• such that the second pattern extends over the first edge of the third web to form second loops in said second elastic thread which project in the cross-direction from said first edge of said third web;
• and such that said first and second patterns are synchronised such that the point in the machine direction at which the first elastic threads are located furthest from the first edge of the first web corresponds substantially to the point in the machine direction at which the second elastic threads are located furthest from the first edge of the third web;
• k. securing the first loops of said first elastic threads in a first loop retaining element comprising at least one resilient belt and at least one anvil, said loop retaining element being located adjacent the first edge of said first web;
• l. securing the second loops of said second elastic threads in a second loop retaining element comprising at least one resilient belt and at least one anvil, said second loop retaining element being located adjacent the first edge of said third web;
• m. cutting all the first elastic threads substantially at the point at which each first elastic thread crosses the first edge of said first web such that the loops become detached from the first web;
• n. cutting all the second elastic threads substantially at the point at which each second elastic thread crosses the first edge of said third web such that the loops become detached from the third web;
• wherein step d. can take place at any point in the process before step i. so as to provide an elasticated web having discontinuous elastic threads.