Method of manufacturing absorbent articles, apparatus for manufacturing absorbent articles and disposable pant

Abstract

A method of manufacturing absorbent articles includes feeding a longitudinal web of web material having openings such that spaced apart, opposing margins of web material are formed between the respective opening and opposing longitudinal edges of the web material; carrying out a folding action of folding the web about itself along its longitudinal direction; carrying out a second folding action of folding at least a portion of the web along its longitudinal direction; after the second folding action, forming a joint in the web, the joint being formed at least in a part of the region in which the opposing margins have been brought together by the second folding action; finally separating the web through the joint to separate an individual absorbent article from the end of the web.

1 . An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article, the apparatus comprising:
 a feeder for feeding a longitudinal web of web material along a machine direction, the web having two opposing longitudinal edges, a first side and a second side, the web furthermore having openings situated between the two opposing longitudinal edges, the openings being spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the web such that spaced apart, opposing margins of web material are formed between the respective opening and the opposing longitudinal edges of the web material;   a first folder for carrying out a first folding action of folding the web about itself along its longitudinal direction such that portions of the first side of the web face each other;   a second folder for carrying out a second folding action of folding at least a portion of the web along its longitudinal direction to bring together the opposing margins of web material such that they face each other on the second side of the web;   a joiner for forming a joint in the web, the joint being formed at least in a part of the region in which the opposing margins have been brought together by the second folding action, the joint extending between the longitudinal edges and the opening in the web, the joining means being situated downstream of the first and second folding means; and   a separator for separating the web at the joint to separate an individual absorbent article from the end of the web, the cutting means being situated downstream of the third folding means.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pre-separator for pre-separating the web in the region where the joint is formed while leaving at least a portion of the margins unaffected to maintain the web integrity along its longitudinal direction, the pre-separating means being situated downstream of the joining means, the unaffected portion of the margins preferably extending towards the longitudinal edges. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a third folder for carrying out a third folding action of at least partially reversing the second folding action such that at least portions of the web folded in the second folding action face each other on the first side of the web, the third folding means being situated upstream of the separating means. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first folder is provided by a first guide which extends in the machine direction, the first guide being preferably provided in the form of a first guide bar. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second folder is provided by a second guide which extends in the machine direction, second guide being preferably provided by two parallel second guide bars which are spaced apart from one another. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the third folder is provided in the form of a third guide which extends in the machine direction, the third guide being preferably provided in the form of a guide bar. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the third guide is provided integral with the first guide, and is preferably provided in the form of the first guide bar extending from an upstream position to carry out the first folding action, towards a downstream position, for carrying out the third folding action. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further including a holder for holding the web when carrying out the third folding action, the holding means being arranged in the vicinity of the third folding means. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the holder is arranged to hold the web at two portions corresponding to two consecutive joints of the web when carrying out the third folding action. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the holder is provided by polygonal wheel, the corners of the polygonal wheel being synchronised with the joiner such that the edges of the polygonal wheel contact the web substantially at the joints. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the holder is provided in the form of an engaging mechanism, the engaging action of which is arranged to be synchronised with the joiner such that the engaging action takes place at the joints, the engaging mechanism being preferably provided in the form of clamps, fingers, paddles or of a belt pressing against fingers, paddles, or corners of a polygonal wheel. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the surfaces between the corners of the polygonal wheel are concave. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the holder is provided with a vacuum that is intended to hold at least a part of the web at the holder. 
     
     
         14 . Disposable pants, manufactured with the apparatus according to  claim 1 , the disposable pants including a longitudinal web of web material, the web having two opposing longitudinal edges, a first side and a second side, the web furthermore having openings situated between the two opposing longitudinal edges, the openings being spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the web such that spaced apart and two opposing margins of web material are formed between the respective opening and the opposing longitudinal edges of the web material, the two opposing margins being joined to one another at least in a part of the region of the opposing margins and the resulting seam being at least partially directed towards the inside of the disposable pants,
 wherein the largest lateral dimension of the opening being larger than two times the smallest lateral dimension of the smallest margin.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent articles are disposable diaper pants or disposable incontinence pants.