US 5,779,831 AGranted

Method and apparatus for making an undergarment having overlapping or butt-type side seams

AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company

InventorChristoph Johann Schmitz

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Abstract

A method for forming an undergarment comprises the steps of transporting a two-dimensional web in a substantially flattened position on a transport device, cutting the web along a transverse edge to form a two-dimensional pre-form, gripping the pre-form adjacent each waist section with a gripping device in four gripping areas, jointly rotating at least the gripping means which hold the gripping areas in the region of the first transverse edge of the pre-form around a first axis of rotation extending substantially parallel to the transverse edges of the pre-form, rotating each gripping device around a respective axis of rotation extending generally parallel to the longitudinal sides of the pre-form to place the sealing areas located along the same longitudinal side in a contacting relationship, joining the superimposed sealing areas in a sealing unit, and releasing the undergarment from the gripping device. The apparatus comprises an umbrella-type mechanism.

Claims27

Dependent claims

Method of making an undergarment (1) having side seams (7, 9, 16, 18) from a substantially two-dimensional web (58), the web having two longitudinal sides (28, 30) and a first transverse edge (24, 31) extending transversely to the longitudinal sides, the method comprising the steps of:

transporting the web (58) in a substantially flattened position on a transport means (73, 105, 107, 112) along a transport trajectory,
cutting the web (58) along a second transverse edge (26, 33) to form a two-dimensional pre-form (17), the pre-form (17) comprising the first and the second transverse edge (24, 31;
26, 33) and two longitudinal edges (27, 29), each longitudinal edge having two waist sections (39, 39';
41, 41') and a crotch section (40, 40') located intermediate the waist sections, a sealing area (43, 45;
47, 49) being located adjacent and inboard of each waist section, and wherein the longitudinal edges of the pre-form (17) are formed by the transverse edges (24, 31;
26, 33) of the web (58), the transverse edges of the pre-form (17) corresponding to sections of the longitudinal sides (28, 30) of the web (58),
gripping the pre-form adjacent each waist section with gripping means (60, 61, 62, 63) in four gripping areas (51, 53, 55, 57), each gripping area being located near a respective sealing area,
jointly rotating at least the gripping means which hold the gripping areas in the region of one of the transverse edges around at least one hinging axis (75, 77) extending substantially parallel to the transverse edges (24, 31;
26, 33) of the pre-form (17) to place the transverse edge (24, 31) generally parallel and opposite to the second transverse edge (26, 33),
superimposing the sealing areas (43, 49;
45, 47) in a contacting relationship,
joining the superimposed sealing areas in a sealing means (78, 79), thus forming the undergarment, and
releasing the undergarment from the gripping means.

10 more elements

An apparatus for making an undergarment (1) having side seams (7, 9, 16, 18) from a substantially two-dimensional web (58), the web laving two longitudinal sides (28, 30) and a first transverse edge (24, 31) extending transversely to the longitudinal sides, the web being transported along a transport trajectory and cut along a second transverse edge (26, 33) to form a two-dimensional pre-form (17), the pre-form comprising the first and second transverse edge (24, 31;

26, 33) and two longitudinal edges (27, 29), each longitudinal edge having two waist sections (39, 39';
41, 41') and a crotch section (40, 40') located intermediate the waist sections, a sealing area (43, 45;
47, 49) being located adjacent and inboard of each waist section, the apparatus comprising at least one folding-and-sealing unit (59), each folding-and-sealing unit (59) having a frame (72) and comprising:
a) at least a first and second carrier arm (64, 65, 66, 67), each carrier arm being connected to the frame (72) and mounted on a hinging axis (75, 77) extending generally transversely to the carrier arms and substantially parallel to the transverse edges (24, 31;
26, 33) of the pre-form (17),
b) gripping means (60, 61, 62, 63) attached to each carrier arm for gripping the pre-form (17) in four gripping areas (51, 53, 55, 57), each gripping area being located near a respective sealing area,
c) carrier arm-actuating means (70, 74, 84, 86, 88) for rotating at least the carrier arm with the gripping means holding the gripping areas in the region of one of the transverse edges around its hinging axis to a sealing position, said carrier arm-actuating means having a lower member (84), and
d) sealing means (78, 79) for contacting the pre-form in the sealing areas when the carrier arms and gripping means are in the sealing position.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/849,938Filed 20 Jun 1997
Priority: EP 9412063824 Dec 1994
Granted: 14 Jul 1998
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification32 codes

A61F 13/15747
Mechanical treatment, e.g. notching, twisting, compressing, shaping: folding; Pleating; Coiling; Stacking; Packaging
A61F 13/15707
Apparatus or processes for manufacturing: mechanical treatment, e.g. notching, twisting, compressing, shaping
B29C 65/02
Joining or sealing of preformed parts , e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor: by heating, with or without pressure
B29C 65/08
By heating, with or without pressure: using ultrasonic vibrations