Apparatus for making film laminated material
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Corporation
InventorMir I. Alikhan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to a film laminated material wherein a first film layer comprising a thin film of a thermoplastic material and a second fibrous layer comprising a plurality of staple fibers or continuous filaments of two or more thermoplastic or other materials are bonded together in a spaced apart bonding pattern having apertures formed therein to form a film laminate having improved liquid distribution and management properties as well as enhanced comfort and softness when placed in contact with human skin. Also disclosed are a method and apparatus for making such a film laminate.
Claims21
An apparatus for forming a film laminated material comprising:
- means for unwinding a first film layer comprising a thermoplastic polymeric material;
- means for forming a second fibrous layer comprising a plurality of fibers of one or more thermoplastic polymeric materials;
- bonding means for bonding said first and second layers together in a spaced apart bonding pattern comprising a plurality of discrete compacted bonding regions with lightly bonded fiber spans therebetween:
- and
- means for forming apertures within said bonding regions, said apertures being substantially free of fibers through the thickness of each said layer.
An apparatus for forming a film laminated material comprising:
- means for unwinding a first film layer comprising a thermoplastic polymeric material;
- means for forming a second fibrous layer comprising a plurality of fibers of one or more thermoplastic polymeric materials and having a basis weight of from about 24 g/m.sup.2 to about 35 g/m.sup.2 and a density of from about 0.024 g/cc to about 0.045 g/cc;
- thermal bonding means for thermobonding said first and second layers together in a spaced apart bonding pattern comprising a plurality of discrete compacted bonding regions wherein said bonds between said first and second layers within the bonding regions extend through the thickness of each said layer to an interface between said layers, with lightly bonded fiber spans therebetween;
- and
- means for forming apertures within said bonding regions, said apertures being substantially free of fibers through the thickness of each said layer.
An apparatus for forming a film laminated material comprising:
- means for unwinding a first film layer comprising a thermoplastic polymeric material;
- means for forming a second fibrous layer comprising a plurality of fibers of one or more thermoplastic polymeric materials;
- a first thermal bonding roll and a second thermal bonding roll opposedly positioned relative to each other;
- each of said bonding rolls having an outer surface in contact with one of said first and second layers as said first and second layers pass therebetween;
- said first and second bonding rolls having different raised bonding patterns on said outer surfaces thereof;
- said first bonding roll having a spaced apart raised bonding pattern on the outer surface thereof and said second bonding roll having a plurality of raised bonding points on the outer surface thereof;
- said first and second bonding roll thermobonding said first and second layers together in a spaced apart bonding pattern formed by the points of contact between said raised bonding patterns on said outer surfaces thereof:
- said spaced apart bonding pattern comprising a plurality of discrete compacted bonding regions wherein said bonds between said first and second layers within the bonding regions extend through the thickness of each said layer to an interface between said layers, with lightly bonded fiber spans therebetween;
- and
- said first and second bonding rolls forming apertures within said bonding regions, said apertures being formed by the points of contact between said raised bonding patterns on said outer surfaces thereof, said apertures being substantially free of fibers through the thickness of each said layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.