Method of making an undergarment having overlapping or butt-type side seams and apparatus for carrying out said method

• Main Author: CHRISTOPH JOHANN SCHMITZ
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 20.08.1999
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: BABY LINEN; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF,TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, E.G. STENTS; FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; FIRST-AID KITS; FOMENTATION; HANDKERCHIEFS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; PROSTHESES; SHIRTS; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; UNDERWEAR; WEARING APPAREL

A method for forming an undergarment (1) from a two-dimensional web (58) comprises the steps of transporting the web (58) in a substantially flattened position on a transport (73,105,107,112) means along a transport trajectory, cutting the web (58) along a transverse edge to form a two-dimensional pre-form (17), the pre-form comprising a first and the second transverse edge and two longitudinal edges, each longitudinal edge having two waist sections and a crotch section located intermediate the waist sections, a sealing area being located adjacent and inboard of each waist section gripping the pre-form adjacent each waist section with gripping means (60-63) in four gripping areas (51,53,55,57), the gripping areas being located near each sealing area, jointly rotating at least the gripping means which hold the gripping areas in the region of the first transverse edge around a first axis of rotation extending substantially parallel to the transverse edges of the preform to place the first transverse edge generally parallel and opposite to the second transverse edge, rotating each gripping means around a respective axis of rotation extending generally parallel to the longitudinal sides of the pre-form (17) to place the sealing areas which are located along the same longitudinal side in a contacting relationship, joining the superimposed sealing areas (43,49,45,47) in a sealing unit, thus forming the absorbent article, and releasing the absorbent article from the gripping means. The seams may be butt-type seams or overlapping side seams. The method gives accurate process control and allows production of undergarments having side seams with relatively little process variation. The apparatus for carrying out the method comprises an umbrella-type mechanism.