A face protection mask, a method for producing face protection masks and an apparatus for producing face protection masks

Abstract

A method and apparatus for producing face protection masks including a non-woven fabric mask body and at least one elastic band parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mask body and including at least one elastic element fixed between two layers of non-woven fabric.

1 . A face protection mask, comprising:
 a mask body having a longitudinal axis and two side edges,   at least one elastic band parallel to said longitudinal axis and having opposite ends fixed to respective side edges of the mask body, wherein said at least one elastic band comprises at least one elastic element trapped between two layers of non-woven fabric,   wherein said at least one elastic band comprises a plurality of elastic threads and wherein said two layers of non-woven fabric are welded together by means of a plurality of anchor welds,   wherein each anchor weld of said plurality of anchor welds comprises a pair of welds placed at sides of each of said plurality of elastic threads and spaced apart by a length less than a diameter of said an elastic thread of the plurality of elastic threads at rest so as to trap the latter between said two layers of non-woven fabric.   
     
     
         2 . The face protection mask according to claim wherein, in a relaxed condition of the mask body, said at least one elastic band is in a tension-free state. 
     
     
         3 . The face protection mask according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one elastic band comprises two elastic bands adjacent to respective longitudinal edges of the mask body and having respective opposite ends fixed to the respective mask body along attachment areas. 
     
     
         4 . The face protection mask according to  claim 3 , wherein an elastic band of the at least one elastic band has a longitudinal extension at rest which is different from that of another elastic band of the at least one elastic band. 
     
     
         5 . The face protection mask according to  claim 4 , wherein the attachment areas of a lower elastic band of the at least one elastic band have an extension in a longitudinal direction greater than the extension in the longitudinal direction of the attachment areas of an upper elastic band of the at least one elastic band. 
     
     
         6 . The face protection mask according to  claim 1 , wherein said layers of non-woven fabric of an elastic band of the at least one elastic band are formed by a single sheet of non-woven fabric folded along a longitudinal line. 
     
     
         7 . A face protection mask, comprising:
 a mask body having a longitudinal axis and two side edges,   at least one elastic band parallel to said longitudinal axis and having opposite ends fixed to respective side edges of the mask body, wherein said at least one elastic band comprises at least one elastic element trapped between two layers of non-woven fabric.   
     
     
         8 . The face protection mask according to  claim 7 , wherein in an extended condition of the mask body, said at least one elastic band is in a tension-free state. 
     
     
         9 . The face protection mask according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one elastic band comprises a plurality of elastic threads. 
     
     
         10 . The face protection mask according to  claim 9 , wherein said at least one elastic band has said two layers of non-woven fabric welded together by means of a plurality of anchor welds, wherein each of said plurality of anchor welds comprises a pair of welds placed on sides of one of said plurality of elastic threads and spaced apart by a length less than a diameter of said elastic thread at rest so as to trap the latter between said two layers of non-woven fabric. 
     
     
         11 . The face protection mask according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one elastic band comprises a laminar elastic element. 
     
     
         12 . The face protection mask according to  claim 11 , wherein said laminar elastic element comprises a plurality of holes through which said two layers of non-woven fabric are welded together. 
     
     
         13 . The face protection mask according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one elastic band comprises two elastic bands adjacent to respective longitudinal edges of the mask bod and having respective opposite ends fixed to the mask body (along respective attachment areas. 
     
     
         14 . The face protection mask according to  claim 13 , wherein an elastic band of the two elastic bands has a longitudinal extension at rest that is different from that of another elastic band of the two elastic bands. 
     
     
         15 . The face protection mask according to  claim 14 , wherein the attachment areas of a lower elastic band of the two elastic bands have an extension in a longitudinal direction greater than the extension in the longitudinal direction of the attachment areas of an upper elastic band of the two elastic bands. 
     
     
         16 . The face protection mask according to  claim 7 , wherein said layers of non-woven fabric of the at least one elastic band are formed by a single sheet of non-woven fabric folded along a longitudinal line. 
     
     
         17 . A face protection mask, comprising:
 a mask body-having a longitudinal axis and two side edges,   at least one elastic band parallel to said longitudinal axis and having opposite ends fixed to respective side edges of the mask body, wherein in an extended condition of the mask body said at least one elastic band is in a tension-free state.   
     
     
         18 . The face protection mask according to  claim 17 , wherein said at least one elastic band comprises at least one elastic element fixed between two layers of non-woven fabric. 
     
     
         19 . The face protection mask according to  claim 18 , wherein in an extended condition of the mask body said two layers of non-woven fabric are pleated. 
     
     
         20 . The face protection mask according to  claim 17 , wherein said at least one elastic band comprises two elastic bands adjacent to respective longitudinal edges of the mask body and having respective opposite ends fixed to the mask body along respective attachment areas adjacent to respective side edges. 
     
     
         21 . A method for producing face protection masks, comprising:
 forming a succession of mask bodies each having a longitudinal axis-EX) and two side edges,   forming a succession of elastic bands, and   attaching opposite ends of each elastic band of said succession of elastic bands to respective side edges of a respective mask body of said succession of mask bodies,   wherein said elastic bands are fixed to respective mask bodies in a tension-free state.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said elastic bands are fixed to respective mask bodies while the elastic bands advance in a machine direction at a speed greater than a feed rate of the mask bodies in the machine direction. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said elastic bands are pleated when they are fixed to the respective mask bodies. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 21 , comprising:
 forming a continuous sheet having a longitudinal axis,   forming at least one continuous elastic band,   overlapping said at least one continuous elastic band and said continuous sheet, with said continuous elastic band in a tension-free state,   attaching said continuous sheet and said at least one continuous elastic band together in a tension-free state, and   cutting said continuous sheet and said at least one continuous elastic band along cutting lines.   
     
     
         25 . An apparatus for producing face protection masks, comprising:
 a first forming unit configured to form a continuous sheet extending along a longitudinal axis,   a second forming unit configured to form at least one continuous elastic band,   an anvil wheel on which, in use, said at least one continuous elastic band and said continuous sheet are superimposed on each other, with said at least one continuous elastic band in a tension-free state,   a fastening device configured to cooperate with said anvil wheel to fasten said continuous sheet and said at least one continuous elastic band together, and   a cutting unit configured for cutting said continuous sheet and said at least one continuous elastic band along cutting lines.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein said anvil wheel is configured to advance said at least one continuous elastic band in a machine direction at a speed greater than a feed rate of the continuous sheet in the machine direction. 
     
     
         27 . A method for producing face protection masks, comprising:
 forming a succession of mask bodies each having a longitudinal axis and two side edges,   forming a succession of elastic bands each comprising at least one elastic element trapped between two layers of non-woven fabric, and   attaching opposite ends of each elastic band of said succession of elastic bands to respective side edges of a respective mask body of the succession of mask bodies.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein said elastic bands are fixed to respective mask bodies in a tension-free state. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein said elastic bands are fixed to respective mask bodies while the elastic bands advance in a machine direction at a speed greater than a feed rate of the mask bodies in the machine direction. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein two elastic bands of the succession of elastic bands parallel to each other are fixed to each mask body. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein lower elastic bands of the two elastic bands are fastened to respective mask bodies on attachment areas having an extension in a longitudinal direction greater than the extension in the longitudinal direction of attachment areas of upper elastic bands of the two elastic bands. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 27 , comprising:
 forming a continuous sheet having the longitudinal axis,   forming at least one continuous elastic band comprising a continuous elastic element trapped between two continuous layers of nonwoven fabric,   overlapping said at least one continuous elastic band and said continuous sheet, with said at least one continuous elastic band parallel to said longitudinal axis,   fixing together said continuous sheet and said at least one continuous elastic band along attachment areas, and   cutting said continuous sheet and said at least one continuous elastic band along cutting lines.   
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the formation of said at least one continuous elastic band involves applying at least one continuous elastic element on a longitudinal portion of a single sheet of non-woven fabric, and folding said single sheet of non-woven fabric along a longitudinal line so as to trap said at least one continuous elastic element between two overlapping longitudinal portions, wherein said two overlapping longitudinal portions correspond to said two continuous layers of non-woven fabric. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein said at least one continuous elastic element is fixed between the two layers of non-woven fabric in a longitudinally tensioned state, wherein the at least one continuous elastic band is slowed down before being fixed to said continuous sheet, and wherein the two layers of non-woven fabric comprise two layers of smooth non-woven fabric. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein said at least one continuous elastic element is fixed between two layers of non-woven fabric is fixed between two layers of wavy non-woven fabric. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 35 , wherein said at least one continuous elastic element is fixed between said layers of wavy non-woven fabric in a tensioned state.