Method for Manufacturing Absorbent Articles Including a Discrete Barrier Member

A method for manufacturing an absorbent article, wherein the absorbent article comprises a topsheet, a backsheet, a core, a discrete barrier member, a first cuff, and a second cuff, the method comprising the steps of:

• advancing a first cuff substrate and a second cuff substrate in a machine direction, wherein the first cuff substrate comprises a first inner cuff edge and an opposing first outer cuff edge, and wherein the second cuff substrate comprises a second inner cuff edge and an opposing second outer cuff edge, and wherein each of the first cuff substrate and the second cuff substrate comprise a first cuff surface and a second cuff surface such that each include an inner edge region, an opposing outer edge region, and a central region therebetween;
• folding the first cuff substrate such that the first inner cuff edge is associated with at least one of the first edge region and the central region of the first cuff surface to form a first cuff fold, wherein the first cuff fold comprises a first fold edge;
• folding the second cuff substrate such that the second inner cuff edge is associated with at least one of the first edge region and the central region of the first cuff surface to form a second cuff fold, wherein the second cuff fold comprises a second fold edge, wherein the first fold edge is separated by the second fold edge by a first distance in a cross direction;
• advancing a continuous barrier substrate in the machine direction onto an infeed device, wherein the infeed device advances the continuous barrier substrate at a first velocity;
• advancing the continuous barrier substrate onto an outer circumferential surface of a folding roll, wherein the folding roll is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation at a second velocity, and wherein the second velocity is greater than the first velocity;
• cutting the continuous barrier substrate on the folding roll to form a discrete barrier member, wherein the discrete barrier member comprises a leading edge portion, a trailing edge portion opposite the leading edge portion, and a central portion between the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion;
• folding a portion of the discrete barrier substrate;
• connecting the trailing edge portion of the discrete barrier member with the first cuff substrate and the second cuff substrate;
• advancing a topsheet substrate having a first topsheet edge opposite from the second topsheet edge in the cross direction, wherein the first topsheet edge and the second topsheet edge extend longitudinally in the machine direction;
• and
• connecting the leading edge portion of the discrete barrier member with the topsheet substrate.

A method for manufacturing an absorbent article, wherein the absorbent article comprises a topsheet, a backsheet, a core, a discrete barrier member, a first cuff, and a second cuff, the method comprising the steps of:

• advancing a continuous barrier substrate in a machine direction;
• positioning the continuous barrier substrate on a transfer member of an infeed device, wherein the transfer member is configured to advancing the continuous barrier substrate at a first velocity;
• advancing a portion of the continuous barrier substrate onto an outer circumferential surface of a folding roll, wherein the portion of the continuous barrier substrate slips along the outer circumferential surface of the folding roll;
• rotating the folding roll about an axis of rotation at a second velocity, wherein the second velocity is greater than the first velocity;
• cutting the continuous barrier substrate to form a discrete barrier member;
• advancing the discrete barrier substrate about the axis of rotation of the folding roll and folding a portion of the discrete barrier substrate;
• advancing a cuff substrate onto a bond roll;
• disposing the discrete barrier substrate on at least a portion of the cuff substrate;
• connecting a trailing edge portion of the discrete barrier member with the cuff substrate;
• associating a topsheet substrate with at least a portion of the discrete barrier member and the cuff substrate;
• and
• connecting a leading edge portion of the discrete barrier member with the topsheet substrate.