US 11,925,538 B2
Apparatus and method of manufacturing an elastic composite structure for an absorbent sanitary product
Robert Earl Andrews, Sheboygan, WI (US); David Edward Schuette, Kiel, WI (US); Jeffrey Wayne Fritz, Plymouth, WI (US); and Justin Marshall Lafferty, Sheboygan, WI (US)
Assigned to Curt G. Joa, Inc., Sheboygan Falls, WI (US)
Filed by Curt G. Joa, Inc., Sheboygan Falls, WI (US)
Filed on Dec. 19, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/721,414.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/789,058, filed on Jan. 7, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0214901 A1, Jul. 9, 2020
Int. Cl. A61F 13/15 (2006.01); B29C 65/08 (2006.01); B29C 65/78 (2006.01); B29L 31/48 (2006.01); B32B 37/00 (2006.01); B32B 37/20 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 13/15699 (2013.01) [A61F 13/15658 (2013.01); B29C 65/08 (2013.01); B29C 65/7894 (2013.01); B32B 37/0076 (2013.01); B32B 37/20 (2013.01); A61F 2013/15869 (2013.01); A61F 2013/15991 (2013.01); B29L 2031/4878 (2013.01); B32B 2307/51 (2013.01); B32B 2555/02 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for manufacturing an elastic composite structure, the apparatus comprising:
at least one means for transporting a first web layer and a second web layer in a machine direction;
at least one means for transporting an elastic thread in the machine direction in a tensioned state; and
a bonding unit configured to:
bond the first web layer to the second web layer absent adhesive via a bond pattern comprising at least one bond line having at least one pair of adjacent bonds; and
anchor the elastic thread within a passage defined by the at least one pair of adjacent bonds, the passage having a cross-sectional area smaller than a cross-sectional area of the elastic thread in a non-tensioned state;
wherein the bonding unit comprises an ultrasonic bonding unit having a face with at least one welding line defined thereon, each welding line of the at least one welding line arranged to form the bond pattern;
wherein the at least one welding line comprises a notch positioned between a pair of projections;
wherein the notch has a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the elastic thread in the non-tensioned state, and
wherein the notch has a stepped geometry.