Method of making an absorbent pad

US6060115A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Kenneth Thomas Borowski · Neenah, US
• Joseph Michael Kugler · Greenville, US
• James George Van Himbergen · Kimberly, US
• Norman Brown · Roswell, US
• Leon E. Chambers, Jr. · Cumming, US
• John Christopher Garstka · Appleton, US
• David Charles Musil · Appleton, US
• Edward E. Werner · Oshkosh, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 13, 1997
• Grant date: May 9, 2000
• Expiry date: Jun 13, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T156/1343
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Methods and systems for making an absorbent pad for use in an absorbent article utilize a forming device for forming material into an absorbent core, a supply device for supplying a containment layer against the first surface of the absorbent core and spray apparatus for spraying fibers of molten resin onto the second surface of the absorbent core. The fibers form a stabilization layer on the absorbent core that increases the integrity of the absorbent core. The spray apparatus includes a nozzle having a resin aperture for exhausting resin therefrom and multiple gas apertures for exhausting gas therefrom to provide a random pattern to the fibers of molten resin as the fibers are sprayed onto the second surface. Resin can also be sprayed onto first and second portions of the containment layer extending outwardly from edges of the absorbent core so the containment layer and the stabilization layer encompass the absorbent core. In another embodiment, a second containment layer can be placed on the second surface of the absorbent core and first and second stabilization layers can be spaced outwardly therefrom and deposited on the absorbent core.