Method and apparatus for positioning at least one thread, band or the like in a pre-determined pattern on a material web

A method of positioning at least two filaments in a predetermined pattern between two webs, each web carried on a different conveyor, said conveyors positioned to converge and then diverge along a direction of movement of said conveyors, said method comprising the steps of:

• rotating two filament outlets, one filament outlet being positioned in a plane of rotation over one conveyor, the other filament outlet being positioned in a plane of rotation over the other conveyor, each plane of rotation being substantially parallel to a portion of its corresponding conveyor;
• outfeeding a filament through each of said two filament outlets;
• linearly moving both of the conveyors relative to said two filament outlets such that the filament from the one filament outlet wraps around dogging elements disposed on the one conveyor and is positioned in a predetermined pattern on the one conveyor and such that the filament from the other filament outlet wraps around dogging elements on the other conveyor and is positioned in a predetermined pattern on the other conveyor;
• and
• pressing said two webs together at an apex region of said two conveyors, said filaments being positioned between the two webs.

An apparatus for positioning at least two filaments in a predetermined pattern between two webs comprising:

• a first conveyor for carrying a first web;
• a second conveyor for carrying a second web;
• said first and second conveyors positioned to converge toward each other upstream of an apex region, said first and second conveyors positioned to diverge from each other downstream of said apex region;
• a plurality of dogging elements disposed on each conveyor and movable with said web;
• first means for wrapping at least one filament around dogging elements of said first conveyor such that said predetermined pattern is formed over said first conveyor, said first wrapping means including a filament outlet;
• second means for wrapping at least one filament around dogging elements of said second conveyor such that said predetermined pattern is formed over said second conveyor;
• and
• means for pressing the webs together near said apex region, said filaments being positioned between said webs.