Lloyd Carl Hietpas - Kimberly WI Joseph Daniel Coenen - Kaukauna WI David Arthur Kuen - Neenah WI David Albert Maxton - Menasha WI Robert Lee Popp - Hortonville WI Charles Robert Tomsovic - Omro WI
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI
International Classification:
D05B 3510
US Classification:
11247506, 11247509, 112306, 112153
Abstract:
A panel positioning system can be used to position side panels during manufacture of a pant. As a pant is transported in a machine direction, the panel positioning system moves a pant side panel in a direction generally perpendicular to the machine direction. The panel positioning system can comprise a drive mechanism, a positioning mechanism operatively connected to the drive mechanism, and a head connected to the positioning mechanism. The drive mechanism and the positioning mechanism can cause the head to move in an orbital profile and contact the side panel. The orbital profile can lie in a plane generally perpendicular to a pant transport plane or in a plane oblique to a pant transport plane.
Charles Robert Tomsovic - Omro WI Joseph Daniel Coenen - Kaukauna WI David Albert Maxton - Menasha WI
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI
International Classification:
A61F 1315
US Classification:
156227, 156 731, 156202, 156204, 156444, 60438504
Abstract:
New processes and apparatus for forming lap seams and making prefastened disposable absorbent articles are disclosed. The apparatus can include an interior folding mechanism adapted to position a first panel in an interior position and an exterior folding mechanism adapted to position a second panel in an exterior position relative to the interior position. The interior folding mechanism can include a mandrel defining a curved peripheral surface and an interior forming shoulder in proximity to the mandrel. A fluid pressure device can establish an air flow between the mandrel and the interior forming shoulder. The forming shoulder can modify the direction of the air flow as the first panel travels in a machine direction to increasingly fold the panel over the curved peripheral surface.
Brian Robert Vogt - Oshkosh WI Jack Lee Couillard - Menasha WI Jason Gene Csida - Reno TX Patricia Katherine Eng - Appleton WI Richard Mark Konetzke - Menasha WI Michael Lee Lohoff - Oshkosh WI Charles Robert Tomsovic - Omro WI
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI
International Classification:
A61F 1315
US Classification:
29429, 156200, 156227, 604391, 1988361
Abstract:
A method for positioning side panels during manufacture of a pant includes positioning the side panels on side panel transfer devices. The side panels move perpendicular to a pant transport plane as the pant is transported in the machine direction and the side panels reside on the side panel transfer devices. The side panels can include refastenable fastening components. The method and apparatus can move the fastening components closer together in the cross-machine direction or maintain the fastening components at a constant cross-machine position while the side panels reside on the side panel transfer devices.
Jason Gene Csida - Reno TX Lloyd Carl Hietpas - Kimberly WI Michael Lee Lohoff - Oshkosh WI Charles Robert Tomsovic - Omro WI Brian Robert Vogt - Oshkosh WI
A panel of a material is transported in operative proximity to an air knife having a nozzle and a curved Coanda surface, such that the panel is folded over the curved Coanda surface as the material is transported in a machine direction. The panel can be folded to a variety of angles and can comprise a refastenable fastening component. Air knives are employed in various methods for folding garment side panels and forming prefastened garments, such as refastenable pants.
Presentation Of Fastening Components For Making Prefastened And Refastenable Pants
Debra Hartley Durrance - Appleton WI Scott Gerald Chapple - Neenah WI David Michael Clemens - Menasha WI Jason Gene Csida - Reno TX Kurt Garrett Krupka - Neenah WI Heather Schenck Mortell - Neenah WI Robert Lee Popp - Hortonville WI Marcille Faye Ruman - Oshkosh WI Scott John Andrew Swanson - Neenah WI Charles Robert Tomsovic - Omro WI
A process for making prefastened and refastenable garments includes providing a plurality of discrete articles with mating fastening components disposed in the waist regions. First fastening components are separated from one another by an initial transverse distance. The waist region containing the first fastening components is modified to transversely displace these fastening components to a post displacement distance that is not equal to the initial distance. The process allows for convenient alignment of the fastening components to form refastenable seams.
Charles Robert Tomsovic - Omro WI Kurt Garrett Krupka - Neenah WI David Albert Maxton - Menasha WI Robert Lee Popp - Hortonville WI Michael William Protheroe - Neenah WI Timothy Alan Thorson - Appleton WI Brian Robert Vogt - Oshkosh WI Michael John Wanner - Appleton WI Thomas Earl Williamson - Appleton WI
A method for positioning side panels during manufacture of a pant includes positioning the side panels within fluid flow devices. The side panels can move parallel or perpendicular to a pant transport plane as the pant is transported in the machine direction and the side panels reside within the fluid flow devices. The side panels can include refastenable fastening components. The method and apparatus can move the fastening components closer together in the cross-machine direction while the side panels reside within the fluid flow devices.
Infrared Detection Of Composite Article Components
Brian R. Vogt - Oshkosh WI, US Charles R. Tomsovic - Omro WI, US Jason G. Csida - Reno TX, US Mike L. Lohoff - Oshkosh WI, US Dale H. Damsteegt - Oshkosh WI, US Joseph J. Gimenez - Appleton WI, US
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI
International Classification:
G01N021/84
US Classification:
356431, 356615
Abstract:
A system and process for inspecting an underlying edge of a composite article, such as a disposable absorbent article. The article has first and second panels in at least partially opposed, overlapping engagement with each other. The process and system determine whether the panels of the article are present and/or properly positioned. Also disclosed is a process and system for detecting whether one or more components are present and/or properly positioned in the composite article by use of infrared radiation. Also disclosed is a process and system for defining a window in an image of the article, scanning the defined window to determine a position of the edge and redefining the window in the event that the edge is not located within the defined window during scanning of the defined window.
Apparatus And Method For Securing Engagement Between Fastening Components Of Pre-Fastened Garments
Brian Robert Vogt - Oshkosh WI, US Jason Gene Csida - Reno TX, US Michael Lee Lohoff - Oshkosh WI, US Charles Robert Tomsovic - Omro WI, US Wade L. Behnke - Little Chute WI, US
Assignee:
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI
International Classification:
B23P 11/02 B25B 27/14 D02G 1/12 A61F 13/15
US Classification:
29449, 292815, 28269, 604391
Abstract:
In a method and apparatus for securing engagement between fastening components of a pre-fastened garment the fastening components are aligned in at least partially overlapping relationship with each other and engaged with each other to define an engagement seam. The fastening components are then flexed at the engagement seam to generate a shear stress at the seam to thereby promote increased engagement between the fastening components. In another embodiment, the fastening components are delivered in a predetermined direction to a nip and then drawn into the nip at a speed greater than the speed at which the fastening components are delivered to the nip. The fastening components are passed through the nip generally to squeeze the fastening components together at the engagement seam for promoting enhanced engagement between the fastening components.