Apparatus for producing elasticized undergarment products

In an apparatus for producing an absorbent garment the improvement comprising

• a mechanism for joining together a first elongate web of flexible sheet material, a second elongate web of flexible sheet material, absorbent pad material interposed and encased between said first and second webs, and elastic material extending laterally and longitudinally of the sheet material to form an elongate composite, said composite having sections adapted to be separated therefrom to form discrete products each having opposed ends and opposed sides,
• a plurality of spaced apart engaging members operable to engage and hold the composite adjacent portions thereof which define opposed end regions and opposed side region of a discrete product including at least four members each positioned to engage the product adjacent an intersection between an end region and a side region thereof and said engaging members being spaced apart a distance to maintain the product stretched longitudinally and laterally,
• a conveyor operable to maintain selected spacing between said engaging members to maintain said product stretched both longitudinally and laterally of the product and to carry said engaging members along the path for the product at a selected speed for the product while maintaining said selected spacing therebetween, including a pair of spaced elongate first conveyor elements disposed adjacent and extending along opposite side margins of the path which first conveyor elements carry a first pair of opposed engaging members positioned to engage opposed side edge margins of the product adjacent a leading portion of the product as it is moved along said path, and a second pair of conveyor elements disposed adjacent and extending along opposite side margins of the path which second conveyor elements carry a second pair of opposed engaging members spaced longitudinally of the path from the first pair of engaging members positioned to engage opposed side margins of the product adjacent a trailing portion of the product as it is moved along the path, said conveyor further including means for driving said conveyor elements in the direction of said path,
• a severing mechanism operable to sever a discrete product from the composite formed, said engaging members being positioned to engage the severed product adjacent opposed ends and sides thereof to maintain a stretched condition for the product against the urging of the elastic to contract the product as it is moved along the path,
• said first pair of engaging members being pivotally mounted on said first conveyor elements, and
• a turning mechanism operable to cause said first engaging members to pivot as they are moved along said path to fold a leading portion of the product over a trailing portion thereof.

In an apparatus for producing an absorbent garment the improvement comprising

• a mechanism for joining together a first elongate web of flexible sheet material, a second elongate web of flexible sheet material, absorbent pad material interposed and encased between said first and second webs, and elastic material extending laterally and longitudinally of the sheet material to form an elongate composite, said composite having sections adapted to be separated therefrom to form discrete products each having opposed ends and opposed sides, said elastic material tending to contract the composite laterally and longitudinally,
• at least four spaced apart engaging members operable to engage and hold the composite adjacent portions thereof which define opposed end regions and opposed side regions of a discrete product, each member positioned to engage the product adjacent an intersection between an end region and a side region thereof and said engaging members being spaced apart a distance to maintain the product stretched longitudinally and laterally,
• a conveyor operable to maintain selected spacing between said engaging members to maintain said product stretched both longitudinally and laterally and to carry said engaging members along the path for the product at a selected speed while maintaining said selected spacing therebetween, said conveyor including a pair of spaced elongate first conveyor elements disposed adjacent and extending along opposite side margins of the path which first conveyor elements carry a first pair of opposed engaging members positioned to engage opposed side edge margins of the product adjacent a leading portion of the product as it is moved along said path, and a second pair of conveyor elements disposed adjacent and extending along opposite side margins of the path which second conveyor elements carry a second pair of opposed engaging members spaced longitudinally of the path from the first pair of engaging members positioned to engage opposed side margins of the product adjacent a trailing portion of the product as it is moved along the path, said conveyor further including means for driving said conveyor elements in the direction of said path, and
• a turning mechanism operable to retard movement of the first conveyor elements longitudinally of the path relative to the second conveyor elements to place the leading portion of the product in registry with the trailing portion of the product.

In an apparatus for producing an absorbent garment, the improvement comprising

• a mechanism for joining together a first elongate web of flexible sheet material, a second elongate web of flexible sheet material, absorbent pad material interposed and encased between said first and second webs, and elastic material extending laterally and longitudinally of the sheet material to form an elongate composite, said composite having sections adapted to be separated therefrom to form discrete products each having opposed ends and opposed sides,
• at least four spaced-apart engaging members operable to engage and hold the composite adjacent portions thereof which define opposed end regions and opposed side regions of a discrete product, each member positioned to engage the product adjacent an intersection between an end region and a side region thereof, and said engaging members being spaced apart a distance to maintain the product stretched longitudinally and laterally,
• a conveyor comprising a pair of spaced elongate first conveyor elements disposed adjacent and extending along opposite side margins of the path for the product on which conveyor elements a first pair of opposed engaging members are positioned to engage opposed side edge margins of the product adjacent a leading portion of the product as it is moved along said path and a second pair of conveyor elements disposed adjacent and extending along opposite side margins of the path which carry a second pair of opposed engaging members spaced longitudinally of the path from the first pair of engaging members positioned to engage opposed side margins of the product adjacent a trailing portion of the product as it is moved along the path, said engaging members being mounted to maintain selected spacing between said engaging members to maintain said product stretched both longitudinally and laterally of the product and to carry said engaging members along the path for the product at a selected speed for the product, while maintaining said selected spacing therebetween, said conveyor further comprising means for driving said conveyor elements in the direction of said path, and
• a severing mechanism operable to severe a discrete product from the composite formed and said engaging members are positioned to engage the severed product adjacent opposed ends and sides thereof to maintain a stretched condition for the product against the urging of the elastic to contract the product as it is moved along the path after severing.