System and method for forming and applying a multizone sticker for use in manufacturing of absorbent articles

Abstract

A method is presented for making a multizone sticker for manufacturing an absorbent article. The method includes unwinding a sticker laminate. The method also includes separating the laminate into a first layer and a second layer, with the first layer including a surface with adhesive and the second layer including a non-stick backing layer. The method also includes treating the first layer with adhesive neutralizing agent to form a first zone with untreated adhesive and a second zone with treated adhesive. The method also includes recombining the first layer and the second layer, with at least a portion of the first zone configured to extend across a leading edge of a roll of material comprising a roll winding direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for making a sticker for manufacturing an absorbent article, the method comprising:
 unwinding a sticker laminate;   separating the sticker laminate into a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer comprises a surface with adhesive and the second layer comprises a non-stick backing layer;   treating the first layer with adhesive neutralizing agent to form a first zone comprising untreated adhesive and a second zone comprising treated adhesive; and   recombining the first layer and the second layer;   wherein at least a portion of the first zone is configured to extend across a leading edge of a roll of material comprising a roll winding direction.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising die cutting a perimeter defining individual multizone stickers. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first layer further comprises a third zone without adhesive, and wherein the perimeter surrounds a portion of the third zone, and wherein the third zone is adjacent to the first zone and is configured to extend away from the first zone opposite the roll winding direction. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second zone is adjacent to the first zone and is configured to extend away from the first zone in the roll winding direction. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising treating the first zone with an adhesive neutralizing agent to form a first portion and a second portion of the first zone, wherein the first portion is configured to adhere to the roll of material with a first level of force and the second portion is configured to adhere to the roll of material with a second level of force, wherein the second level of force is less than the first level of force. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising die cutting a perimeter defining individual multizone stickers. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first layer further comprises a third zone without adhesive, and wherein the perimeter surrounds a portion of the third zone, wherein the third zone is adjacent to the first zone and is configured to extend away from the first zone opposite the roll winding direction. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the second portion of the first zone is adjacent to the second zone and is configured to extend away from the second zone opposite the roll winding direction. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying additional adhesive to the first zone to form a first portion and a second portion of the first zone, wherein the first portion is configured to adhere to the roll of material with a first level of force and the second portion is configured to adhere to the roll of material with a second level of force, wherein the second level of force is less than the first level of force. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying a substrate to the first zone to form a third zone, wherein an exposed side of the substrate is an adhesive that is weaker than the adhesive of the first zone. 
     
     
         11 . A method of preparing material for automated pick up used for manufacturing an absorbent article, the method comprising:
 providing a roll of material comprising a leading edge, a first side, and a second side axially separated from the first side, the roll of material further comprising an roll winding direction;   advancing the multizone sticker in a label making direction across the roll of material, the multizone sticker comprising a first zone and a second zone; and   placing the multizone sticker on the roll of material; wherein the first zone of the multizone sticker is placed across the leading edge of the roll of material, and wherein the second zone of the multizone sticker extends from the first zone in the roll winding direction.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising aligning the multizone sticker to be about centered between the first side and the second side of the roll. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising attaching the first zone to the roll with an adhesive. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising separating at least a portion of a carrier web from the rest of the multizone sticker. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the multizone sticker further comprises first edge and a second edge separated from the first edge in the label making direction, the method further comprising aligning the first edge of the multizone sticker to be about parallel with the first side or the second side of the roll of material. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising inspecting the multizone sticker on the roll to confirm that the multizone sticker is correctly applied. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising placing the multizone sticker on the roll of material with a robot. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising moving the roll of material to align the roll of material with multizone sticker. 
     
     
         19 . A multizone sticker for manufacturing an absorbent article, the multizone sticker comprising:
 a first layer comprising a first zone and a second zone, wherein the first zone is configured to adhere to an outer layer of a roll of material, and wherein the second zone is configured to not adhere to the outer layer of the roll of material;   a second layer comprising a third zone configured to adhere to the roll of material; and   a fourth zone that is not adhered to the roll of material;   wherein the third zone is at least partially radially inward from the first zone or the second zone when the multizone sticker positioned on the roll of material.   
     
     
         20 . The multizone sticker of  claim 19 , wherein the fourth zone is sandwiched between the first zone and the third zone. 
     
     
         21 . The multizone sticker of  claim 19 , wherein the first zone comprises a first adhesive coating and wherein the third zone comprises a second adhesive coating. 
     
     
         22 . The multizone sticker of  claim 21 , wherein the third zone is configured to stay adhered to the roll of material if the second zone is moved radially away from the fourth zone. 
     
     
         23 . The multizone sticker of  claim 22 , wherein the third zone is configured to be positioned into a splice box. 
     
     
         24 . The multizone sticker of  claim 23 , wherein the fourth zone is configured to be removed from the third zone. 
     
     
         25 . The multizone sticker of  claim 24 , wherein the fourth zone is radially inward from the second zone, and wherein there is no adhesive directly between the fourth zone and the second zone. 
     
     
         26 . The multizone sticker of  claim 19 , wherein the second zone is configured to be moved by a robot device. 
     
     
         27 . The multizone sticker of  claim 26 , wherein the robot device comprises a vacuum device. 
     
     
         28 . The multizone sticker of  claim 26 , wherein the robot device comprises a gripper, and the robot device is configured to wind the third zone about the gripper. 
     
     
         29 . The multizone sticker of  claim 19 , wherein the fourth zone is configured to be moved by a gripper of a robot. 
     
     
         30 . The multizone sticker of  claim 29 , wherein the robot is configured to pull the roll of material in order to align the third zone of the sticker within the splice box. 
     
     
         31 . The multizone sticker of  claim 19 , wherein a first portion of the first zone is configured to adhere to the roll of material with a first level of force and a second portion of the first zone is configured to adhere to the roll of material with a second level of force, wherein the second level of force is less than the first level of force.