Methods and apparatuses for making elastomeric laminates with elastic strands unwound from individual spools

A method for assembling an elastomeric laminate, the method comprising steps of:

• providing first spools, each first spool comprising a single first elastic strand;
• providing second spools, each second spool comprising a single second elastic strand;
• unwinding first elastic strands from first spools and unwinding second elastic strands from second spools;
• stretching the first and second elastic strands in the machine direction, wherein the first elastic strands are stretched more than the second elastic strands by rotating first spools and the second spools at different speeds;
• spacing neighboring first elastic strands at a first distance from each other in a cross direction by advancing the first elastic strands through reeds;
• spacing neighboring second elastic strands at a second distance from each other in the cross direction by advancing the second elastic strands through reeds;
• combining the first and second elastic strands with a first substrate and a second substrate to form an elastomeric laminate;
• and
• accumulating the elastomeric laminate.

A method for assembling an elastomeric laminate, the method comprising steps of:

• providing first spools, each first spool comprising a single first elastic strand, wherein the first elastic strands comprise a first decitex;
• providing second spools, each second spool comprising a single second elastic strand, wherein the second elastic strands comprise a second decitex that is not equal to the first decitex;
• unwinding first elastic strands from first spools and unwinding second elastic strands from second spools by rotating the first and second spools;
• stretching the first and second elastic strands in a machine direction;
• spacing neighboring first elastic strands at a first distance from each other in a cross direction;
• spacing neighboring second elastic strands at a second distance from each other in the cross direction;
• combining the first and second elastic strands with a first substrate and a second substrate to form an elastomeric laminate;
• reducing tension on the elastomeric laminate to allow the stretched first and second elastic strands to contract and form a gathered elastomeric laminate;
• and
• accumulating the gathered elastomeric laminate.

A method for assembling an elastomeric laminate, the method comprising steps of:

• providing a first unwinder;
• positioning a first plurality of first spools on the first unwinder, each first spool comprising a single first elastic strand;
• unwinding the first elastic strands from the first spools by rotating the first spools on the first unwinder;
• spacing neighboring first elastic strands from each other in a cross direction by advancing the first elastic strands in a machine direction through a strand guide;
• stretching the first elastic strands in the machine direction;
• combining the first elastic strands with a first substrate and a second substrate to form an elastomeric laminate;
• and
• maintaining tension on the elastomeric laminate to prevent the stretched first elastic strands from contracting.