Loading patent…
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsWilliam Willhite, Jr., Gerald M. Weber, Godfrey Retier
Estimating the term…
Method and apparatus for ultrasonically bonding continuously moving webs to one another using a stationary vibrating horn and a relatively slick, non-thermally softenable moving slip layer interposed between the webs to be bonded and the horn to prevent web damage. Interposing the slip layer between the webs to be bonded and the ultrasonic horn improves both the quality and efficiency of web bonding. It reduces friction between the travelling webs and the substantially stationary ultrasonic horn not only due to its relatively slick surface, but also due to the compressive force which the slip layer exerts upon the webs to be bonded. This in turn minimizes jamming and hangups in the very limited clearance existing between the rotating anvil roll and the substantially stationary vibrating ultrasonic horn. In addition, the slip layer maximizes retention of heat either generated in the laminate web by the ultrasonic horn or transferred to the laminate web structure by preheating one or more of the webs. If desired, the slip layer may be comprised of a continuous belt which rotates about the ultrasonic horn. In addition, a secondary slip layer may be provided intermediate the webs to be bonded and the rotating anvil roll to minimize heat transfer from the webs to the anvil roll and to prevent sticking of the webs to the anvil roll. In a particularly preferred embodiment the peripheral edges of the raised anvil bosses are relieved slightly to minimize web tearing and to enhance bond strength. In still another preferred embodiment the anvil roll is heated to a temperature approximating the maximum temperature achieved by the webs being bonded to minimize heat transfer from the webs to the anvil roll during the boding operation. Novel laminate products bonded on-the-fly without the use of an ancillary adhesive may also be produced.
A continuous method of bonding moving webs to one another on-the-fly, said method comprising the steps of:
A continuous method of bonding at least two moving webs to one another on-the-fly, said method comprising the steps of:
A continuous method of forming a resilient laminate structure by bonding at least three moving webs to one another on-the-fly, said method comprising the steps of:
In an on-the-fly ultrasonic web bonding system comprising a vibrating ultrasonic horn, a rotating anvil roll mounted opposite said vibrating ultrasonic horn and means for continuously feeding at least two moving webs to be bonded to one another between said vibrating ultrasonic horn and said rotating anvil roll, the improvement comprising means for preheating said anvil roll to a temperature approximating the maximum temperature achieved by said webs being bonded to one another during said bonding operation to minimize the transfer of heat from said webs to said anvil roll during said bonding operation.
In an on-the-fly ultrasonic web bonding system comprising a vibrating ultrasonic horn, a rotating anvil roll mounted opposite said vibrating ultrasonic horn and means for continuously feeding at least two moving webs to be bonded to one another between said vibrating ultrasonic horn and said rotating anvil roll, the improvement wherein means are provided for continuously feeding a layer of material which is not softenable by the input of mechanical energy thereto and which exhibits a low coefficient of friction between said webs to be bonded to one another and said vibrating ultrasonic horn without bonding said layer of material to said webs and wherein said anvil roll exhibits a pattern of raised bosses corresponding to the bond area in said webs, said raised bosses extending radially outwardly from a first peripheral surface having a constant radius about the axis of rotation of said anvil roll, the outermost surface of said raised bosses being located in a second peripheral surface which is remote from, but concentric with said first peripheral surface of said anvil roll, the peripheral edges of said bosses located in said second peripheral surface being relieved to minimize web damage and to enhance the strength of the bond formed between said webs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.