Closure elements, methods, and machines for producing absorbent sanitary articles and related absorbent sanitary articles

Abstract

To provide a closing element for producing reclosable absorbent sanitary articles.SOLUTION: A closing element for producing reclosable absorbent sanitary articles comprises a non-woven web folded according to a general omega-shaped configuration, and includes: a base (14); two intermediate flaps (18) connected to respective ends of the base (14) by respective first folds (20); and two distal flaps (24) connected to respective ends of the respective intermediate flaps (18) by respective second folds (26), where the closing element (10) includes surface fastening elements (30) arranged on respective surfaces of the distal flaps (24) facing respective intermediate flaps (18).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] [Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a closure element intended to be used for producing absorbent hygiene articles.

[0002] In particular, the present invention has been developed for producing re-closable absorbent hygiene articles such as, for example, diapers, diaper pants, absorbent articles for incontinent adults, etc.

[0003] In particular, the present invention can be used in a production process called the "Cross Direction".

[0004] The present invention also relates to absorbent hygiene articles produced using such closure elements.

[0005] According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a machine for producing absorbent hygiene articles.

[0006] [Prior Art] Established techniques for producing re-closable absorbent hygiene articles involve forming a continuous composite web comprising at least one continuous waistband parallel to the machine direction and a plurality of absorbent cores extending orthogonally to the machine direction and attached to the continuous waistband. In certain cases, two continuous waistbands parallel to the machine direction are used, between which the absorbent cores are attached. In some cases, the production process involves the use of a single continuous waistband to which the ends of absorbent cores parallel and extending orthogonally to the machine direction are attached.

[0007] This production technique called the cross direction is different from the production technique called the machine direction, which involves producing absorbent hygiene articles while advancing along a vertical axis parallel to the machine direction.

[0008] Examples of methods for producing absorbent sanitary articles according to the transverse method are described in the same applicant's publications, European Patent Application Publication No. 1013251, Italian Patent No. 1379452, Italian Patent No. 1410464, and Italian Patent No. 1410465.

[0009] To produce a resealable absorbent sanitary article, a resealable closure element is applied to one of a series of longitudinally spaced waistbands.

[0010] EP1523968-A by the same applicant describes a closure element for producing an absorbent sanitary article that can be worn in the form of panties, comprising a nonwoven web folded according to a general omega-shaped configuration, and including a base divided into two sections located on either side of a central face, two intermediate flaps located on either side of the central face and connected to the respective outer ends of the base sections and permanently fixed to the base, and two distal flaps located on either side of the central face and connected to the respective inner ends of the respective intermediate flaps by their respective folding sections and fixed to the respective intermediate flaps in a separable manner. The base of the closure element is fixed to the waistband of the sanitary article. Each surface fastener is fixed to the surface of the respective distal flap opposite the base.

[0011] One of the problems associated with this solution is that the surface fastening element (e.g., a Velcro® type microhook element) is exposed on one surface of the waistband during the manufacturing process.

[0012] This solution is suitable when the absorbent sanitary product is a closed-type panty before packaging. In this case, during the production process, the absorbent sanitary product is folded such that the surface fastening elements of the closing elements come into contact with the corresponding closing elements for closing the absorbent sanitary product in the manner of panties.

[0013] However, when absorbent sanitary articles are packaged in an open configuration and intended to be closed when the article is fitted, exposed surface fasteners on the waistband tend to adhere to any fabric or similar surface, both during the manufacturing and packaging process and when the article is fitted.

[0014] US2003078558A1 describes an absorbent sanitary article having a rear waistband with two closure elements, each comprising a nonwoven fabric substrate having a distal portion on which microhook fasteners are provided and a proximal portion permanently attached to the outer surface of the rear waistband. Each of the closure elements may be folded n times, and the folded portion is held in place by adhesive or by heat or ultrasonic welding. To avoid contact between the microhook material and the wearer's clothing, the microhook fixing portion may be folded inward, so that the microhook surface adheres to the surface of the nonwoven fabric substrate.

[0015] The main drawback of the solution provided by US2003078558A1 is that, in the production process, two separate closure elements must be applied to each absorbent sanitary article, which complicates the equipment and production process. [Overview of the project]

[0016] The objective of the present invention is to provide a closing element that overcomes the problems of the prior art.

[0017] According to the present invention, this objective is achieved by a closing element having the features that form the subject of claim 1.

[0018] In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for producing an absorbent sanitary article having features forming the subject matter of claim 7, and a machine for producing the absorbent sanitary article according to claim 10.

[0019] A preferred embodiment forms the subject matter of a dependent claim.

[0020] The claims form an essential part of the disclosure provided herein with respect to the present invention. **Brief Description of the Drawings**

[0021] The present invention will be described in detail by reference to the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of non-limiting examples only. [Figure 1] It is a perspective view of a closure element according to the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a schematic front view of the closure element of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a schematic plan view showing stages of a method of producing an absorbent hygiene article. [Figure 4] It is a schematic front view of the portion indicated by arrow IV in FIG. 3 in two consecutive stages of a method of producing an absorbent hygiene article. [Figure 5] It is a schematic front view of the portion indicated by arrow IV in FIG. 3 in two consecutive stages of a method of producing an absorbent hygiene article. [Figure 6] It is a schematic plan view of an absorbent hygiene article with a side closure in a closed position. [Figure 7] It is a schematic plan view of an absorbent hygiene article with a side closure in an open position. [Figure 8] It is a schematic cross-sectional view along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7. [Figure 9] It is a schematic plan view showing an embodiment of a side closure indicated by arrow IX in FIG. 7. [Figure 10] It is a schematic plan view showing an embodiment of a side closure indicated by arrow IX in FIG. 7. [Figure 11] It is a schematic plan view showing an embodiment of a side closure indicated by arrow IX in FIG. 7. [Figure 12] It is a schematic plan view showing an embodiment of a side closure indicated by arrow IX in FIG. 7. [Figure 13] It is a schematic plan view showing an embodiment of a side closure indicated by arrow IX in FIG. 7. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0022] Referring to these figures, reference numeral 10 denotes a closure element for producing a resealable absorbent sanitary article.

[0023] As described in European Patent Application Publication No. 1523968 by the same applicant, the closure element 10 is intended to be fixed at spaced positions on a continuous elastic band in a process for producing absorbent sanitary articles according to a technique called lateral.

[0024] The closure element 10 comprises a web of nonwoven fabric 12 folded according to a general omega shape configuration to form a base 14, two intermediate flaps 18, and two distal flaps 24.

[0025] The base 14 is generally flat and is divided into two sections 16 located on either side of a central plane X perpendicular to the base 14.

[0026] The two intermediate flaps 18 are parallel to the base 14 and are located on either side of the central surface X. The intermediate flaps 18 are connected to the respective ends of the base 14 by their respective first folding portions 20. The intermediate flaps 18 have respective surfaces 40 that face the base 14 and are permanently fixed to the corresponding surfaces 42 of the base 14, for example by their respective adhesive layers 22, or alternatively by thermal or ultrasonic welding.

[0027] The two distal flaps 24 are parallel to their respective intermediate flaps 18 and are located on either side of the central plane X. The distal flaps 24 are connected to their respective ends of the intermediate flaps 18 by their respective second folding portions 26.

[0028] The closing element 10 includes a surface fastening element 30 positioned on the surface 44 of the distal flap 24 facing each intermediate flap 18.

[0029] The surface fastening element 30 may be a microhook fastening element designed to form a Velcro® type surface connection having a corresponding microloop fastening element.

[0030] The surface fastener 30 can be attached to the surface 44 of the distal flap 24 by adhesive, or by heat or ultrasonic welding.

[0031] The surface fastener 30 can be integrally formed on the surface 44 of the distal flap 24 by an ultrasonic device of the type described in, for example, patent application EP4108220 by the same applicant.

[0032] For each distal flap 24, the surface fastening element 30 may be continuous along a direction parallel to the central plane X.

[0033] Alternatively, for each distal flap 24, the surface fastening element 30 may be discontinuous along a direction parallel to the central plane X.

[0034] The surface fastening element 30 can be releasably engaged with the surface 46 of each intermediate flap 18, which is facing away from the base 14. This is particularly useful in cases where the surface fastener 30 is a micro-hook fastener that engages with the surface 46 of the intermediate flap 18, which is made of nonwoven fabric.

[0035] Each of the surface fasteners 30 is contained between the respective first folding portion 20 and the respective second folding portion 26. Therefore, the surface fastening elements 30 do not protrude laterally beyond the respective first folding portion 20, and thus any contact between the surface fastening elements 30 and the external elements of the closing element 10 is avoided.

[0036] The distal flap 24 may have respective ends 48 that project laterally beyond the corresponding outer ends 50 of each surface fastener 30. This facilitates the release of the closure element 10 by grasping the ends 48 with a finger.

[0037] In a possible embodiment, the ends 48 of the distal flap 24 may protrude laterally outward beyond the respective second folds 26 to further facilitate grasping of the ends 48 with the fingers.

[0038] Figure 3 schematically shows the steps involved in the production of absorbent sanitary articles.

[0039] This method involves a step of forming a continuous composite tape 60 that advances in the longitudinal direction A. The continuous composite tape 60 is formed from a continuous array of absorbent sanitary article blanks 66.

[0040] The continuous composite tape 60 includes a continuous waistband 62 parallel to the longitudinal direction A. The continuous waistband 62 is typically elastic and may include a plurality of elastic threads mounted between two nonwoven webs.

[0041] The continuous composite tape 60 includes a plurality of absorbent cores 64, each having an end attached to a continuous waistband 62. The absorbent cores 64 extend perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A and are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction A.

[0042] Each absorbent sanitary article blank 66 includes an absorbent core 64 and a continuous waistband section 62.

[0043] This method involves the step of forming a plurality of fastening elements 10, each having the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2. The fastening elements 10 can be produced in two lateral regions to which continuous or intermittent strips of the microhook material forming the fastening elements 30 are attached or integrally formed, starting from a continuous nonwoven web. An adhesive layer 22 is also applied to the continuous nonwoven web. The continuous nonwoven web is folded into an omega shape to assume the shape shown in Figures 1 and 2. The continuous nonwoven web is then cut transversely to form the fastening elements 10.

[0044] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the bases 14 of the fasteners 10 are attached to the surface of the continuous waistband 62 at positions spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction A. As schematically shown in Figure 4, the attachment of the bases 14 of the fasteners 10 to the continuous waistband 62 can be achieved, for example, by an adhesive layer 68 intermittently applied to the continuous waistband 62.

[0045] The fastening elements 10 are oriented with their respective central faces X perpendicular to the longitudinal direction A. The fastening elements 10 are attached to the continuous waistband 62 such that the central face X of each fastening element 10 aligns with the separation line between each pair of adjacent absorbent sanitary article blanks 66.

[0046] As shown in Figure 3, the continuous waistband 62 may have an inner edge 80 with a smooth shape to fit the wearer's leg. The inner edge 80 may be cut coplanar with the inner edge of the surface fastener 30.

[0047] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, after the fastener 10 is attached, the continuous waistband 62 is cut transversely along a cutting line 70 substantially aligned with the central plane X of the fastener 10. This transverse cut of the continuous waistband 62 along the cutting line 70 forms an absorbent sanitary article 72 having the shape schematically shown in Figure 6. Each cutting line 70 divides the respective closing element 10 into two symmetrical sections, each forming a lateral closure 74 of the absorbent sanitary article 72.

[0048] As shown in Figure 5, after the continuous waistband 62 is cut, the portion of the continuous waistband 62 adjacent to the cutting line 70 elastically contracts relative to each of the lateral closures 74.

[0049] During the formation, fixing, and cutting stages of the fastener 10, the surface fastener 30 is surrounded between the respective distal flaps 24 and intermediate flaps 18, and is releasably engaged with the surface 46 of each intermediate flap 18, which faces away from the base 14.

[0050] This avoids problems that may arise from the adhesion of the surface fastening element 30 to materials or components used in the manufacturing or packaging process of absorbent sanitary articles 72.

[0051] At the end of the manufacturing process, an absorbent sanitary article 72 is obtained, which comprises a waistband 62, an absorbent core 64 having one end fixed to the waistband 62, and two lateral closures 74 attached to opposing ends of the waistband 62, where the lateral closures 74 are formed by the respective sections of the closing element 10.

[0052] At the end of the production process, the absorbent sanitary article 72 is folded and wrapped to create the product package.

[0053] The absorbent sanitary article 72 is packaged with a lateral closure 74 of the absorbent sanitary article 72 in a closed configuration in which the surface fastening element 30 is surrounded between the distal flap 24 and the intermediate flap 18.

[0054] When in use, the surface fastener 30 is hidden and does not adhere to clothing or other fabric articles when the article is attached.

[0055] When in use, the lateral closure 74 is opened as shown in Figures 7 and 8. In this configuration, the surface fastener 30 is coupled with the lateral flap 76 or front panel 78 to close the absorbent sanitary article 72 around the user's waist.

[0056] Referring to Figure 9, the surface fastening element 30 may have a width equal to the width of each distal flap 24.

[0057] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 10, the surface fasteners 30 may have a width smaller than the width of each distal flap 24 and may be surrounded on all four sides by the material of the distal flap 24.

[0058] Referring to Figure 11, the distal flap 24 of each lateral closure 74 may have a shape such that its width is smaller than the width of its respective intermediate flap 18. This shape may be asymmetrical, as shown in Figure 11 (which results in scrap cutting).

[0059] Referring to Figures 12 and 13, the distal flap 24 of each lateral closure 74 may be symmetrically cut to form two lateral closures 74 having complementary shapes, thus avoiding the formation of scrap.

[0060] To realize the embodiments shown in Figures 11, 12, and 13, it may be advantageous for the base 14 to be formed by two or more webs that extend from both sides of the central plane X and are joined together along a joint line parallel to the central plane X.

[0061] Naturally, without impairing the principles of the present invention, the details of the structure and embodiments may be modified in various ways from those described and illustrated, and this will not deviate from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. (Other possible items) (Item 1) A closure element for producing a resealable absorbent sanitary article, comprising a nonwoven web (12), wherein the nonwoven web (12) A base (14) divided into two sections (16), the two sections (16) being located on either side of a central plane (X) perpendicular to the base (14), Two intermediate flaps (18) are parallel to the base (14) and located on both sides of the central surface (X), wherein the intermediate flaps (18) are connected to the respective ends of the base (14) by their respective first folding portions (20) and each has a surface permanently fixed to the base (14). Two distal flaps (24) are parallel to each of the intermediate flaps (18) and located on both sides of the central surface (X), wherein the distal flaps (24) are connected to each end of the intermediate flaps (18) by their respective second folding portions (26). It is folded according to a typical Omega configuration in order to form, Here, the closing element (10) comprises surface fastening elements (30) disposed on each surface (44) of the distal flap (24) facing each intermediate flap (18). A closed element. (Item 2) The aforementioned surface fastening element (30) is a micro-hook surface fastener, the closing element described in item 1. (Item 3) The closing element according to item 1 or 2, wherein the surface fastening element (30) engages with the retractable surface (46) of each intermediate flap (18) facing away from the base (14). (Item 4) A closing element according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein each of the surface fastening elements (30) is contained between the respective first folding portion (20) and the respective second folding portion (26). (Item 5) The closure element according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the distal flap (24) includes each end (48) that protrudes in the short direction beyond the corresponding outer end (50) of each surface fastening element (30). (Item 6) The closure element according to item 5, wherein the end portion (48) of the distal flap (24) protrudes outward in the short direction beyond each of the first folded portions (20). (Item 7) An absorbent sanitary article comprising a waistband (62), an absorbent core (64) having one end attached to the waistband (62), and two lateral closures (74) attached to opposing ends of the waistband (62), wherein the lateral closures (74) are formed by the respective sections of the closure element (10) described in any one of items 1 to 6. (Item 8) The step of forming a continuous composite tape (60) that advances in the longitudinal direction (A) formed by a continuous array of absorbent sanitary article blanks (66), wherein the continuous composite tape (60) includes a continuous waistband (62) parallel to the longitudinal direction (A), and a plurality of absorbent cores (64), each having an end fixed to the continuous waistband (62). The step of forming multiple closing elements (10) as described in any one of items 1 to 6, The steps include attaching the base (14) of the closing element (10) to the surface of the continuous waistband (62) at positions spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction (A), and The step of cutting the continuous waistband (62) transversely along a cutting line (70) substantially aligned with the central surface (X) of the closing element (10). A method for producing absorbent sanitary articles, comprising the following: (Item 9) The method according to item 8, wherein during the steps of forming the closing element (10), fixing it, and cutting the surface fastening element (30) is surrounded between the respective distal flap (24) and intermediate flap (18). (Item 10) A machine for producing absorbent sanitary articles configured to implement the method described in item 8 or item 9.

Claims

1. A closure element for producing a resealable absorbent sanitary article, comprising a nonwoven web, the nonwoven web being, A base divided into two sections, the two sections being located on either side of a central plane perpendicular to the base, Two intermediate flaps are parallel to the base and located on both sides of the central surface, wherein the intermediate flaps are connected to the respective ends of the base by their respective first folding portions and each surface is permanently fixed to the base. Two distal flaps are provided, parallel to each of the intermediate flaps and located on both sides of the central surface, wherein the distal flaps are connected to each end of the intermediate flaps by their respective second folding portions. It is folded according to a typical Omega configuration in order to form, Here, the closing element comprises surface fastening elements disposed on each surface of the distal flap facing each intermediate flap, The aforementioned surface fastening element is a closing element, which is a micro-hook surface fastener.

2. The closing element according to claim 1, wherein the surface fastening element engages with the releasable surface of each intermediate flap facing away from the base.

3. The closing element according to claim 1, wherein each of the surface fastening elements is contained between its respective first folded portion and its respective second folded portion.

4. The closing element according to claim 1, wherein the distal flap includes each end that protrudes in the short direction beyond the corresponding outer end of each surface fastening element.

5. The closing element according to claim 4, wherein the ends of the distal flaps protrude outward in the short direction beyond their respective first folded portions.

6. An absorbent sanitary article comprising a waistband, an absorbent core having one end attached to the waistband, and two lateral closures attached to opposing ends of the waistband, wherein the lateral closures are formed by the closing elements described in any one of claims 1 to 5 of each section.

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