Method and apparatus for nonlinear laying of material

An apparatus for laying an elastic member on a continuous web moving in a machine direction, the apparatus comprising:

• a diverter having a groove and an axis of rotation, the groove having a pitch corresponding to an axial length of the groove as it wraps once around an outer surface of the diverter, the groove being configured for receiving the elastic member and for directing the elastic member out of an exit point of the groove, the diverter being configured for oscillating rotation, wherein rotation of the diverter moves the exit point in a cross machine direction;
• a combining roll having an axis of rotation, the combining roll being configured for receiving the elastic member form the diverter and combining the elastic member with the continuous web;
• a first positioning member positioned upstream of the diverter, wherein the first positioning member holds the elastic member in a first orientation;
• a second positioning member positioned between the first positioning member and the diverter, wherein the second positioning member orients the elastic member to correspond generally with orientation of the groove;
• and
• a third positioning member positioned between the diverter and the combining roll, wherein the third positioning member orients the elastic member to generally correspond with orientation of the continuous web;
• wherein the axis of rotation of the diverter is positioned at a generally nonparallel angle relative to the axis of rotation of the combining roll such that an elastic member travels from the exit point of the groove of the diverter to the combining roll on a path that is generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the combining roll;
• and
• wherein the apparatus is configured to vary an elastic profile of the elastic member on the continuous web by oscillating a rotation of the diverter,

An apparatus for laying an elastic member on a continuous web, the apparatus comprising:

• a generally conical diverter having a generally conical outer surface, a groove on the conical outer surface, and an axis of rotation, the groove having a pitch corresponding to an axial length of the groove as it wraps once around an outer surface of the diverter, the groove being configured for receiving the elastic member and for directing the elastic member out of an exit point of the groove, the diverter being configured for oscillating rotation, wherein rotation of the diverter moves the exit point in a cross machine direction;
• a combining roll having an axis of rotation, the combining roll being configured for receiving the elastic member from the diverter and combining the elastic member with the continuous web;
• wherein the axis of rotation of the diverter is positioned at a generally nonparallel angle relative to the axis of rotation of the combining roll such that an elastic member travels from the exit point of the groove of the diverter to the combining roll on a path that is generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the combining roll and wherein an outer surface of the generally conical diverter is generally parallel to an outer surface of the combining roll;
• and
• wherein the apparatus is configured to vary by oscillating a rotation of the diverter.

A method for laying an elastic member on a continuous web moving in a machine direction, the method comprising:

• providing a diverter having a groove and an axis of rotation, the groove having a pitch corresponding to an axial length of the groove as it wraps once around an outer surface of the diverter, the groove being configured for receiving the elastic member and for directing the elastic member out of an exit point of the groove, the diverter being configured for oscillating rotation, wherein rotation of the diverter moves the exit point in a cross machine direction;
• providing a combining roll having an axis of rotation, the combining roll being configured for receiving the elastic member from the diverter and combining the elastic member with the continuous web;
• directing the elastic member into the groove;
• oscillating a rotation of the diverter to move the exit point in a cross machine direction while feeding the elastic member through the groove;
• directing the elastic member from the exit point to the combining roll on a path that is generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the combining roll;
• and
• combining the elastic member with the continuous web using the combining roll.