Apparatus and method for inspecting pre-fastened articles

A method for inspecting an engagement seam of pre-fastened disposable pants comprising an absorbent chassis having a front waist region, a back waist region and a crotch region extending longitudinally therebetween, a front side panel extending laterally out from the front waist region, a back side panel extending laterally out from the back waist region, a portion of the front side panel being connected to a portion of the back side panel in overlapping relationship therewith to define an engagement seam, and an interior space bounded in part by the front and back side panels at the engagement seam, said method comprising the steps of:

• irradiating the front and back side panels at the engagement seam from generally within the interior space of the pants;
• and
• capturing an image of the irradiated engagement seam.

A method for inspecting an engagement seam of pre-fastened disposable pants comprising an absorbent chassis having a front waist region, a back waist region and a crotch region extending longitudinally therebetween, a front side panel extending laterally out from the front waist region, a back side panel extending laterally out from the back waist region, a portion of the front side panel being connected to a portion of the back side panel in overlapping relationship therewith to define an engagement seam, and an interior space bounded in part by the front and back side panels at the engagement seam, said method comprising the steps of:

• irradiating the front and back side panels at the engagement seam;
• and
• capturing an image of the irradiated engagement seam from generally within the interior space of the pants.

Apparatus for making a pre-fastened article, said article comprising two generally flexible elements capable of connection with each other to assemble said article, said apparatus comprising:

• a seaming section adapted to connect the elements in overlapping relationship with each other to define an engagement seam and to configure the article so as to define an interior space thereof whereby the interior space is bounded in part by the engagement seam;
• and
• an inspect ion system for inspecting the engagement seam, said inspection system comprising a source of radiation operable to emit radiation generally within the interior space of said article toward the engagement seam for irradiating said elements at the engagement seam, and an image capturing device adapted to capture an image of the irradiated engagement seam.

Apparatus for making a pre-fastened article, said article comprising two generally flexible elements capable of connection with each other to assemble said article, said apparatus comprising:

• a seaming section adapted to correct the flexible elements in overlapping relationship with each other to define an engagement seam and to configure the article so as to define an interior space thereof whereby the interior space is bounded in part by the engagement seam;
• and
• an inspection system for inspecting the engagement seam, said inspection system comprising a source of radiation adapted to irradiate the engagement seam, and an image capturing device operable to capture an image of the irradiated engagement seam generally from within the interior space of the article.

Apparatus for making pre-fastened disposable pants comprising an absorbent chassis having a front waist region, a back waist region and a crotch region extending longitudinally therebetween, a front side panel extending laterally out from the front waist region, a back side panel extending laterally out from the back waist region, a portion of the front side panel being adapted for connection with a corresponding portion of the back side panel whereby the pre-fastened pants are at least partially formed by connecting said panel portions together, the apparatus being adapted for conveying the article in a machine direction therethrough, said apparatus comprising:

• a seaming section adapted to connect the side panels in overlapping relationship with each other upon movement of the pants in the machine direction to define an engagement seam and to configure the pants so as to define an interior space thereof whereby the interior space is bounded in part by the engagement seam;
• and
• an inspection system for inspecting the engagement seam, said inspection system comprising a source of radiation operable to emit radiation generally within the interior space of said pants toward the engagement seam for irradiating said engagement seam, a support member and an image capturing device adapted to capture an image of the irradiated engagement seam.

Apparatus for making pre-fastened disposable pants comprising an absorbent chassis having a front waist region, a back waist region and a crotch region extending longitudinally therebetween, a front side panel extending laterally out from the front waist region, a back side panel extending laterally out from the back waist region, a portion of the front side panel being adapted for connection with a corresponding portion of the back side panel whereby the pre-fastened pants are at least partially formed by connecting said panel portions together, the pre-fastened pants being conveyed in a machine direction through the apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

• a seaming section adapted to connect the side panels in overlapping relationship with each ocher upon movement of the pants in the machine direction to define an engagement seam and to configure the pants so as to define an interior space thereof whereby the interior space is bounded in part by the engagement seam;
• and
• an inspection system for inspecting the engagement seam, the inspection system comprising a support member for supporting the side panels at the engagement seam generally within the interior of the pants, a source of radiation operable to irradiate said side panels at the engagement seam and an image capturing device operable to capture an image of the irradiated engagement seam.

An inspection system for inspecting an engagement seam of pre-fastened pants, said pants being of the type comprising an absorbent chassis having a front waist regions a back waist region and a crotch region extending longitudinally therebetween, a front side panel extending laterally out from the front waist region, a back side panel extending laterally out from the back waist region, a portion of the front side panel being adapted for connection with a corresponding portion of the back side panel to define an engagement seam whereby the pre-fastened pants are at least partially formed by connecting said panel portions together, said inspection system comprising:

• a support member adapted for configuring the pants to define an interior space thereof bounded in part by the front and back side panels at the engagement seam, the support member being further configured to generally expand the pants to tension the side panels at the engagement seam, a source of radiation for irradiating the side panels at the engagement seam, and an image capturing device for capturing an image of the irradiated engagement seam.

Apparatus for making a pre-fastened article, said article comprising two generally flexible element, capable of connection with each other to assemble said article, said apparatus comprising:

• a seaming section adapted to connect the elements in overlapping relationship with each other to define an engagement seam and to configure the article so as to define an interior space thereof whereby the interior space is bounded in part by the engagement seam;
• and
• an inspection system for inspecting the engagement seam, said inspection system comprising a source of radiation operable to emit radiation toward the engagement seam for irradiating said elements at the engagement seam, a fluid delivery device for directing pressurized fluid to impact at least one of said elements generally at the engagement seam whereby said pressurized fluid urges the engagement seam to lay generally flat over the radiation source, and an image capturing device adapted to capture an image of the irradiated engagement seam.