Apparatus for making an absorbent pad for use in absorbent articles

• Main Authors: Borowski, Kenneth Thomas, Kugler, Joseph Michael, Van Himbergen, James George, Brown, Norman Earl, Chambers, Jr., Leon Eugene, Garstka, John Christopher, Musil, David Charles, Werner, Edward Erich
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 29.10.2002

Absorbent articles Such as infant diapers, training pants, adult incontinence products, and the like are well known. Such articles have achieved a wide acceptance due to their ability to receive and absorb body exudates. 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.