Device and method for continuously providing elastomeric laminate to production line

Abstract

A device for continuously providing an elastomeric laminate to a production line, comprising: a first supply unit (100) configured to provide a first elastomeric laminate to a production line (600), and having at least one supply reel, at least one first beam group, a first sizing applicator (105), and a first laminating roll (106); a second supply unit (200) configured to provide a second elastomeric laminate to the production line (600), and having at least one supply reel, at least one second beam group, a second sizing applicator (205), and a second laminating roll (206); and a receiver (300) having a first feed port (300A), a second feed port (300B), and a discharge port (300C). A splicing head capable of continuously splicing the second elastomeric laminate to the first elastomeric laminate is further provided. The device is configured in such a way that the second supply unit (200) is started in response to stopping of the first supply unit (100) and the second elastomeric laminate spliced by the splicing head is continuously supplied to the discharge port (300C). Also provided is a method for continuously providing an elastomeric laminate to a production line.

Description

Apparatus for continuously supplying an elastomeric laminate to a production line and method thereof TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing an absorbent article, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for preparing an elastomeric laminate useful as a component of an absorbent article. BACKGROUND

[0002] Some absorbent articles have components that include elastomeric laminates. Such elastomeric laminates can include an elastic material bonded to one or more nonwovens. The elastic material can include an elastic film and / or an elastic string. In some laminates, a plurality of elastic strings are joined to a substrate, such as a nonwoven, when the plurality of strands are in a stretched condition, such that when the elastic strings relax, the nonwoven gathers between the locations where the nonwoven is bonded to the elastic strings and in turn forms corrugations. The resulting elastomeric laminate can be stretched to the extent that the corrugations allow the elastic strings to elongate.

[0003] It is known that the conventional cabling laminates currently used in mainstream absorbent articles generally comprise elastic elements, such as spandex yarns, of relatively high denier (also referred to herein as "fineness") and relatively large elastic pitch. As an example, commercially available spandex yarns can also be referred to as Lycra, Creora, Roica or Dorlastan. Spandex is often referred to as Elastane fiber or polyurethane fiber. Among them, the spandex yarns herein, for example, have a fineness of 400 to 1200 dtex.

[0004] The device for unwinding such spandex yarns can be seen in the Chinese patent application publication CN101035730A. It involves a device and method for unwinding yarns using an over-end-take-off (OETO) method, which specifically includes: (1) a drive roller with polished metal finish to ensure good fiber / metal contact; (2) a drive roller / detaching roller assembly that can wind multiple layers of yarns on the drive roller; (3) a rotating yarn holding arm for active and standby yarn rolls, which provides easier access to the yarn rolls on the frame; and (4) one or more rotating supports extending from the frame in combination with the rotating yarn holding arm.

[0005] Here, for each spandex yarn, a corresponding set of unwinding devices is needed, which includes 2 supports with elastic reels, 1 magnetic resistance wheel, 1 feeding motor and 1 tension sensor. In use, the rotating yarn holding arm 120 rotates to facilitate access to the active and standby yarn rolls 105. The rotating yarn holding arm 120 holds a common yarn tube core (such as a spun OETO material).

[0006] Recently, there has been a trend to make elastic laminates with deniers of elasticity that are much lower than the state of the art, with spacing between the elastic filaments that is also very low and much lower than the state of the art, which in turn requires much larger numbers of elastic filaments than are known in the state of the art, and also low and much lower than almost all known in the state of the art, elastic pre-strain. The specific set of criteria needed to satisfy all of the aforementioned unmet consumer needs from a single product not only requires a unique elastic body laminate structure but also requires the use of new process beam elastic filaments (multiple elastic filaments formed on and delivered from a beam or spool) for delivering such large numbers of low denier elastic filaments with low pre-strain and low spacing in order to achieve the proper balance of laminate properties.

[0007] In this case, if there are, for example, 210-250 low denier elastic filaments in the elastic laminate, the above-mentioned device for unwinding the yarn using the tail-end lead-off method is not applicable because it is necessary to provide a device for unwinding up to 250 elastic filaments and to jointly control and operate them. Either the manufacturing cost or the size of the device is unacceptable or commercially viable. For this reason, in some configurations, it is proposed that the close lateral direction spacing between the low denier elastic filaments can be achieved by pulling such elastic filaments that have been previously wound on a beam. When assembling the elastic beam, each elastic filament of relatively low denier unwound from the respective spool can be wound on the beam. As it advances from each spool, the elastic filaments are closely spaced from each spool and then wound side-by-side on the beam. In some configurations, the elastic filaments can have a denier value lower than 500, and as a result, a relatively large number of elastic filaments (e.g., hundreds of individual elastic filaments) can be wound on a single beam with a relatively close lateral direction spacing.

[0008] Similar to the beam winding process, unwinding the elastic filaments from the beam can also be a relatively delicate assembly process that can require close monitoring and control to help ensure that the strands do not break when incorporated into the elastic laminate assembly process. As a result, in some configurations, it can be necessary to temporarily stop the entire production line when a beam is exhausted or has a defect. Production lines in the textile industry are typically run at relatively slow speeds, and as a result, these textile production lines can be temporarily stopped to replace a beam that is exhausted or has a defect and can not cause significant disruption to production. However, some production lines, such as disposable absorbent article production lines, can be run at relatively high speeds, which can exacerbate the problems associated with strand breakage, requiring relatively frequent replacement of the elastic filament beams. As a result, frequently stopping and restarting high-speed manufacturing operations to replace beams can be inefficient and / or costly.

[0009] It would therefore be advantageous to provide a method and apparatus for producing an elastomeric laminate having a relatively large number of closely spaced low denier elastic filaments, which can introduce replacement elastic filaments as replacements for original elastic filaments into an assembly operation once the spool of elastic filaments is empty or nearly depleted, without having to stop the assembly operation.

[0010] SUMMARY

[0011] It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a method and apparatus whereby at least some of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art are overcome.

[0012] To accomplish the above-mentioned tasks, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for continuously supplying elastomeric laminates to a production line, comprising: a first supply unit configured to supply a first elastomeric laminate to the production line, comprising: at least one supply spool wound with a nonwoven fabric configured to be unwound to provide a surface layer of nonwoven fabric of the first elastomeric laminate; at least one first beam set wound with elastic filaments configured to be unwound to provide the elastic filaments sandwiched between the surface layers of nonwoven fabric of the first elastomeric laminate; a first applicator downstream of the first beam set configured to apply glue to either the surface layer of nonwoven fabric from the supply spool or the elastic filaments from the first beam set; a first laminating roller downstream of the first applicator configured to laminate the glued surface layer of nonwoven fabric and the elastic filaments into the first elastomeric laminate; a second supply unit configured to supply a second elastomeric laminate to the production line, comprising: at least one supply spool wound with a nonwoven fabric configured to be unwound to provide a surface layer of nonwoven fabric of the second elastomeric laminate; at least one second beam set wound with elastic filaments configured to be unwound to provide the elastic filaments sandwiched between the surface layers of nonwoven fabric of the second elastomeric laminate; a second applicator downstream of the second beam set configured to apply glue to either the surface layer of nonwoven fabric from the second supply spool or the elastic filaments from the second beam set; a second laminating roller downstream of the second applicator configured to laminate the glued surface layer of nonwoven fabric and the elastic filaments into the second elastomeric laminate; a take-off device having a first inlet to receive the first elastomeric laminate, a second inlet to receive the second elastomeric laminate, and an outlet connected to the production line, wherein a take-off head configured to splice the second elastomeric laminate to the first elastomeric laminate is further provided; wherein the apparatus is configured to activate the second supply unit in response to deactivation of the first supply unit and to supply the spliced second elastomeric laminate to the outlet without interruption.

[0013] Thus, according to the present disclosure, the switching between the first and second supply units is cyclically and repeatedly performed a plurality of times at a low cost and in a flexible manner, without causing an undesirable interruption to the normal assembly operation of the production line. In short, whether or not the first and second supply units are deactivated (for example due to the reel of elastic yarn being empty or almost exhausted or the presence of a break or a defect) does not cause any negative impact on the normal assembly operation of the production line, i.e. the technical purpose of providing the production line with a continuous supply of elastomeric laminate is achieved.

[0014] As a preferred aspect, wherein the first and second supply units each comprise: a first supply reel wound with the upper nonwoven fabric configured to be unwound to provide the upper nonwoven fabric of the elastomeric laminate; a second supply reel wound with the lower nonwoven fabric configured to be unwound to provide the lower nonwoven fabric of the elastomeric laminate; a first drive roller downstream of the first supply reel and a second drive roller downstream of the second supply reel configured to supply the upper and lower nonwoven fabrics, respectively, to the lamination roller.

[0015] As a preferred aspect, wherein the first and second supply units each comprise: a single supply reel wound with the nonwoven fabric configured to be unwound to provide the surface nonwoven fabric for the elastomeric laminate; a drive roller downstream of the supply reel configured to supply the surface nonwoven fabric to the lamination roller; a folding plate positioned between the applicator and the lamination roller configured to fold the surface nonwoven fabric in half to sandwich the elastic yarn therein before supplying the surface nonwoven fabric to the lamination roller.

[0016] As a preferred aspect, further comprising an additional supply reel wound with the nonwoven fabric and an additional distributor downstream of the additional supply reel, wherein the additional distributor has a feed inlet to receive the nonwoven fabric of the additional supply reel, a first feed outlet to supply the first supply unit, and a second feed outlet to supply the second supply unit, wherein the additional distributor is configured to switch the nonwoven fabric from the additional supply reel from the first feed outlet to the second feed outlet to supply the second supply unit in response to the deactivation of the first supply unit.

[0017] As a preferred aspect, wherein the first supply unit comprises a first supply spool wound with nonwoven fabric configured to be unwound to provide a first skin nonwoven fabric for the elastomeric laminate, and the second supply unit comprises a second supply spool wound with nonwoven fabric configured to be unwound to provide a second skin nonwoven fabric for the elastomeric laminate, further comprising a first diverter positioned between the first supply spool and the first lamination roll, wherein the first diverter has a first feed opening to receive the first skin nonwoven fabric, a first supply opening to the first supply unit, and a second supply opening to the second supply unit, wherein the first diverter is configured to switch the first skin nonwoven fabric from the first supply opening to the second supply opening in response to deactivation of the first supply unit, and a second diverter positioned between the second supply spool and the second lamination roll, wherein the second diverter has a first feed opening to receive the second skin nonwoven fabric, a first supply opening to the first supply unit, and a second supply opening to the second supply unit, wherein the second diverter is configured to switch the second skin nonwoven fabric from the first supply opening to the second supply opening in response to deactivation of the first supply unit.

[0018] As a preferred aspect, further comprising a first cradle positioned between the accumulator and the production line, wherein the first cradle comprises a spaced apart upper set of guide rollers and a lower set of guide rollers through which the first elastomeric laminate or the second elastomeric laminate is shuttled to accumulate a length of the first elastomeric laminate or the second elastomeric laminate therebetween, wherein the upper set of guide rollers and the lower set of guide rollers are configured to move toward or away from each other.

[0019] As a preferred aspect, further comprising a cradle positioned downstream of the supply spool, wherein the cradle comprises a spaced apart upper set of guide rollers and a lower set of guide rollers through which the nonwoven fabric is shuttled to accumulate a length of the nonwoven fabric therebetween, wherein the upper set of guide rollers and the lower set of guide rollers are configured to move toward or away from each other.

[0020] As a preferred aspect, wherein the first beam set and / or the second beam set is wound with 200 to 300, preferably 210 to 250, strands of stretch yarn having an average denier of 10 to 300, preferably 40 to 140.

[0021] As a preferred aspect, wherein the first beam set and / or the second beam set comprises at least one beam, preferably 1 to 5 beams, arranged in parallel to each other.

[0022] As another aspect of the present disclosure, it also relates to a method of continuously providing an elastomeric laminate to a production line, characterized by comprising: step 1. providing an apparatus according to the present disclosure; step 2. monitoring the status of the first supply unit to determine whether it has stopped working; step 3. in response to the stoppage of the first supply unit, causing the take-up head to act to splice the second elastomeric laminate from the second supply unit to the first elastomeric laminate from the first supply unit.

[0023] As a preferred aspect, it further comprises step 4, wherein in response to the stoppage of the first supply unit, the upper and lower sets of guide rollers in the first hanger between the take-up head and the production line are caused to move away from each other to accumulate more length of the first or second elastomeric laminate.

[0024] As a preferred aspect, it further comprises step 5, wherein in response to the stoppage of the first supply unit, the additional material distributor downstream of the additional supply roll is caused to act to switch the nonwoven fabric from the first feed port to the second feed port that supplies the second supply unit.

[0025] As a preferred aspect, it further comprises step 6. wherein in response to the stoppage of the first supply unit, the first material distributor between the first supply roll and the first laminating roller is caused to switch the nonwoven fabric from the first feed port to the second feed port and the second material distributor between the second supply roll and the second laminating roller is caused to switch the nonwoven fabric from the first feed port to the second feed port. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment according to the present disclosure;

[0027] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a fourth embodiment according to the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment according to the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment according to the present disclosure.

[0030] Legend 100 - first supply unit; 101, 101A, 101B - supply reel; 102A, 102B, 102C - first beam set; 103, 103A, 103B - drive roller; 104 - hanger; 105 - size press; 106 - lamination roller; 107 - bending plate; 200 - second supply unit; 201, 201A, 201B - supply reel; 202A, 202B, 202C - second beam set; 203, 203A, 203B - drive roller; 204 - hanger; 205 - size press; 206 - lamination roller; 207 - bending plate; 300 - receiver; 300A - first inlet; 300B - second inlet; 300C - outlet; 400 - hanger; 500 - additional supply unit; 500A - first divider; 500B - second divider; 501 - additional supply reel; 503 - additional divider; 503A - inlet; 503B - first outlet; 503C - second outlet; 504 - hanger; 600 - production line; MD - machine direction; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Those skilled in the art understand that the description of the following detailed description is illustrative only of example embodiments and is not intended to be limiting of the broader aspects of the disclosure.

[0032] Terminology

[0033] With respect to absorbent articles, "disposable" means that the absorbent articles are not generally intended to be washed or otherwise reconditioned or reused as absorbent articles (i.e., they are intended to be discarded after a single use, and preferably are recyclable, compostable, or otherwise disposed of in an environmentally compatible manner). Disposable absorbent articles typically include adhesives that are located between layers and / or elements to hold the articles together (e.g., ear panels, side panels, and belts are joined to the chassis via adhesives, and the layers of the ear panels, side panels, belts, and chassis are joined together using adhesives). Alternatively, heat bonding and / or pressure bonding are used with or in place of adhesives. In such cases, portions of the material layers can become partially melted and pressed together so that, once cooled, they are physically bonded together.

[0034] "Pant" (also referred to as "training pant", "pre-closed diaper", "diaper pant", "pant diaper", and "pull-on diaper") refers herein to disposable absorbent articles designed to be worn by infants or adults about the lower torso, urogenital region, and / or buttocks. The pant can be configured to have a continuous or closed waist opening and at least one continuous closed leg opening prior to being donned on the wearer. The pant can be preformed or prefastened by various techniques including, but not limited to, joining portions of the article together using any refastenable or permanent closure member (e.g., seams, thermal bonds, pressure welds, adhesives, cohesive bonds, mechanical fasteners, and the like). The pant can be preformed in any location around the periphery of the article in the waist region (e.g., side edge fastened or seamed, front waist fastened or seamed, back waist fastened or seamed).

[0035] As used in the present disclosure, the terms "nonwoven" or "nonwovens" generally refer to a web having a structure of individual fibers or threads which are interlaced with one another, but not in an identifiable manner as in a knitted fabric. Examples of suitable nonwoven or web materials include, but are not limited to, meltblown webs, spunbond webs, bonded-carded webs, air-laid webs, coform webs, hydroentangled webs, and the like.

[0036] As used in the present disclosure, the term "meltblown web" generally refers to a nonwoven web that is formed by extruding a molten thermoplastic material through a plurality of fine, usually circular, capillary die holes into a converging high velocity gas (e.g., air) stream. This causes the fibers of the molten thermoplastic material to attenuate to reduce their diameter. Thereafter, the meltblown fibers are carried by the high velocity gas stream and deposited onto a collecting surface to form a web of randomly distributed meltblown fibers. Generally, the meltblown fibers can be continuous or discontinuous microfibers, usually less than 10 microns in diameter, and are generally tacky when deposited on the collecting surface.

[0037] As used in the present disclosure, the term "spunbond web" generally refers to a web that contains substantially continuous fibers. The fibers are formed by extruding a molten thermoplastic material through a plurality of fine, usually circular, capillary die holes, and then rapidly reducing the diameter of the extruded fibers by, for example, a draw-down draft and / or other known spunbond mechanisms. "Proximal" and "distal" refer to the relative position of an element closer to or further from the longitudinal or lateral centerline of a structure (e.g., relative to the same longitudinal axis, the proximal edge of a longitudinally extending element is closer to the longitudinal axis than the distal edge of the same element).

[0038] "Body-facing" and "garment-facing" refer to the relative position of elements or the relative position of surfaces of elements or groups of elements. "Body-facing" means that the element or surface is closer to the wearer during wear than some other element or surface. "Garment-facing" means that the element or surface is further from the wearer during wear than some other element or surface (i.e., the element or surface is closer to the garment that can be worn over the absorbent article).

[0039] As used in the present disclosure, the term "extensible" or "extensibility" generally refers to a material that stretches or elongates in the direction of the applied force by at least about 25%, in some embodiments about 50%, and in some embodiments at least about 75% of its relaxed length or width. An extensible material need not necessarily have recovery properties. For example, an elastomeric material is an extensible material that has recovery properties. A meltblown web can be extensible but not have recovery properties and thus be an extensible inelastic material.

[0040] As used in the present disclosure, the term "elastomeric" or "elastic" generally refers to a material that, upon application of a stretching force, stretches in at least one direction (e.g., the MD direction) and, upon removal of the stretching force, contracts / recoveries to approximately its original dimensions. For example, a stretched material can have a stretched length that is at least about 50% greater than its relaxed, unstretched length, and, upon removal of the stretching force, can recover to a length that is within at least 50% of its stretched length. An assumed example can be a 1 inch sample of material that can be stretched to 1.50 inches and, upon removal of the stretching force, will recover to a length of no more than 1.25 inches. Desirably, the material contracts or recovers at least 50%, and even more desirably, at least 80% of the stretched length.

[0041] As used herein, the term "joined" refers to the joining, adhering, connecting, attaching, or the like, of two elements. Two elements will be considered to be joined together when they are directly or indirectly joined together, such as when joined together through intermediate

[0042] As used herein, the term "elastomeric filament" includes herein an elongated material having elasticity, such as, but not limited to, an elastic rubber. The elastic rubber can be made, for example, in a spooling process from spandex.

[0043] The term "open" means that the opposing waist regions are initially unjoined and do not form continuous waist and leg openings prior to or during donning on a wearer of the article.

[0044] The term "closed" means that the opposing waist regions are joined, either permanently or repeatably fastened, to form continuous waist and leg openings when encased.

[0045] The term "substrate" is used herein to describe a material that is primarily two-dimensional (i.e., in the XY plane) and has a relatively small thickness (in the Z direction) compared to its length (in the X direction) and width (in the Y direction) (i.e., 1 / 10 or less). Non-limiting examples of substrates include a fibrous web, one or more layers of fibrous material, a nonwoven, a film, and a foil such as a polymeric film or a metal foil. These materials can be used alone or can include two or more layers that are laminated together. Thus, a fibrous web is a substrate.

[0046] The term "machine direction" (MD) is used herein to refer to the direction of material flow through a process. In addition, the relative placement and movement of materials can also be described as flowing from upstream to downstream of a process along the machine direction.

[0047] The term "cross direction" (CD) is used herein to refer to a direction that is generally perpendicular to the machine direction.

[0048] First embodiment

[0049] Figure 1 shows an example of an apparatus that can be configured to continuously provide an elastomeric laminate to a production line. Here, the apparatus can include a first supply unit 100 located on the left side in Figure 1, which is configured to provide a first elastomeric laminate to a production line 600 located downstream in the MD direction. Here, the first supply unit 100 includes two supply spools 101A and 101B wound with nonwoven, respectively, where the nonwoven unwound from the first supply spool 101A is used as an upper skin nonwoven of the first elastomeric laminate, and the nonwoven unwound from the second supply spool 101B is used as a lower skin nonwoven of the first elastomeric laminate, as an example. To adjust the amount of nonwoven supplied from the first and second supply spools 101A and 101B and their own tension, a hanger 104A and a hanger 104B that can temporarily store a certain amount of nonwoven are preferably provided downstream of the first supply spool 101A and the second supply spool 101B, respectively.

[0050] As an example, the hangers 104A and 104B can be designed to include spaced apart, upper and lower sets of guide rollers for the nonwoven to shuttle through, to accumulate a certain length of nonwoven therebetween, wherein the upper and lower sets of guide rollers are configured to be movable towards or away from each other. Thereby, by means of the adjustable spacing between the upper and lower sets of guide rollers, the hangers 104A and 104B can be designed to accumulate and temporarily hold a limited length of material. Then, upon a temporary interruption of the processing of the continuous nonwoven, the accumulated material is released or an additional length is accumulated. Such temporary interruption can be, for example, upon splicing the first nonwoven to the second nonwoven upon running out of the two supply spools 101A and 101B or upon a defect.

[0051] Downstream of the hangers 104A and 104B, first and second drive rollers 103A and 103B are arranged for driving the delivery and guiding of the nonwoven from the two supply spools 101A and 101B downstream at a predetermined speed, wherein the first and second drive rollers 103A and 103B are each provided with a feed motor and a corresponding control unit, allowing the supply of the surface nonwoven from the two supply spools 101A and 101B to the downstream lamination roller 106 at a preset speed.

[0052] Here, the first supply unit 100 further comprises a plurality of first beam sets wound with elastic filaments, here exemplarily shown with three first beam sets 102A, 102B and 102C (more or less beam sets are possible, and the denier and tension of the elastic filaments wound in these beam sets are independently adjustable), wherein the first beam sets 102A, 102B and 102C are configured to be unwound to provide the elastic filaments sandwiched between the surface nonwovens from the two supply spools 101A and 101B of the first elastomeric laminate. Here, the first beam sets 102A, 102B and 102C are wound with 200 to 300, preferably 210 to 250, elastic filaments having an average denier of 10 to 300, preferably 40 to 140 dtex. As an example, each beam set 102A, 102B and 102C can include a single elastic filament wound onto a mandrel. The mandrel can be cylindrical and can include an outer circumferential surface defined by the elastic filament wound around the mandrel. The mandrel of each beam set 102A, 102B and 102C can also be configured to rotate about an axis of rotation. The mandrel can be cylindrical and the axis of rotation can extend axially through the center of the mandrel. Thereby, the elastic filaments are unwound from the mandrel of the respective beam set 102A, 102B and 102C by rotating the mandrel about the axis of rotation. The elastic filaments advance in the longitudinal direction MD and will be subsequently laminated with the surface nonwovens from the two supply spools 101A and 101B at the lamination roller 106 to form the first elastomeric laminate.

[0053] As a preferred example, the elastic filaments can also be advanced through a strand guide prior to being laminated with the topsheet nonwovens from the two supply spools 101A and 101B at the lamination roller 106. As discussed in greater detail below, the strand guide spaces or separates the adjacent elastic filaments from one another at a desired distance in the cross direction CD when laminated with the topsheet nonwovens from the two supply spools 101A and 101B. In some configurations, the strand guide can be configured as a comb, which can include a plurality of tines or prongs. In turn, the advanced elastic filaments are separated and spaced apart from one another in the cross direction CD by the tines or prongs from one another. In some configurations, the strand guide can include a plurality of rollers that separate the elastic filaments from one another in the cross direction CD and spaced apart.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 1, the first supply unit 100 also includes one or more first size press 105 (e.g., can be 3-5 size presses for sizing operation at different areas with different coating amounts) downstream of the three first beam sets 102A, 102B, and 102C that can apply adhesive to the elastic filaments, at least one of the topsheet nonwovens from the two supply spools 101A and 101B to form a first elastomeric laminate prior to being fed to the lamination roller 106 for lamination. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the topsheet nonwoven from the supply spool 101B (which can be used as the body-facing side topsheet nonwoven here) can be advanced through the hanger 104B and the drive roller 103B in sequence before being advanced through the first size press 105 that applies adhesive to the upper surface of the topsheet nonwoven from the supply spool 101B prior to being advanced to the lamination roller 106. It is also possible that the first size press 105 can also be configured to apply adhesive to the elastic filaments unwound from the respective beam sets 102A, 102B, and 102C prior to and / or simultaneously with the lamination of the topsheet nonwovens from the supply spool 101A and the topsheet nonwoven from the supply spool 101B, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0055] It should be appreciated that the first size press herein is configured in various ways, such as spray nozzles and / or slot coating devices. In some configurations, the first size press can be configured in accordance with U.S. Patent Nos. 8,186,296; 9,265,672; 9,248,054; and 9,295,590 and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014 / 0148773 Al, all of which are incorporated by reference herein.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 1, the first supply unit 100 can include a first lamination roll 106 downstream of the first glue applicator 105 that applies a mechanical bond, such as a bond that can be applied using a heating, pressure, and / or ultrasonic device, to the glued surface layer nonwoven and the layer of elastics yarns to laminate them into a first elastomeric laminate. Examples of such mechanical bonding devices and methods are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,854,984; 6,291,039; 6,248,195; 8,778,127; and 9,005,392; and U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2014 / 0377513 Al; and 2014 / 0377506 Al, all of which are incorporated by reference herein. It will be appreciated that the first lamination roll 106 can preferably apply a mechanical bond to the elastomeric laminate at or downstream of a pair of nip rolls. The lamination roll 106 can apply a bond that laminates together the surface layer nonwoven from the supply roll 101 A, the surface layer nonwoven from the supply roll 101 B, and the layer of elastics yarns unwound from the respective beam sets 102A, 102B, and 102C.

[0057] As a preferred aspect, the elastics yarns can also be stretched in the machine direction MD and laminated with the surface layer nonwovens of both supply rolls 101 A and 101 B at the lamination roll 106 in the stretched state. Thereafter, the tension on the first elastomeric laminate can be reduced to allow the stretched elastics yarns to contract and form a pleated first elastomeric laminate. The pleated first elastomeric laminate can be stored, such as by winding onto a spaced apart, upper and lower set of guide rolls through which the first elastomeric laminate is shuttled, to a first hanger 400. Here, the pleated elastomeric laminate 200 can be stored and / or moved to a location for assembly into an absorbent article assembly process, where the first elastomeric laminate can be converted into an absorbent article component. It will be appreciated that in some constructions, the tension on the elastomeric laminate can not be reduced when the elastomeric laminate is pleated. Thus, the tension on the first elastomeric laminate can be maintained as the unwinding occurs and as the first elastomeric laminate is assembled into an absorbent article assembly process, and such tension can be removed from the first elastomeric laminate during or after completion of the assembly process.

[0058] During the assembly operation, it is possible that the supply of the surface nonwoven fabric from the first supply unit 100, the supply of the surface nonwoven fabric from the supply spool 101B and the supply of the elastic yarn from the respective beam set 102A, 102B and 102C are exhausted and can need to be replaced. As a non-limiting example, the empty or almost exhausted beam sets 102A, 102B and 102C can be replaced with brand new beam sets 102A, 102B and 102C having the elastic yarn already wound thereon. In some configurations, once the beam sets 102A, 102B and 102C of elastic yarn are empty or almost exhausted, it is necessary to reduce or even stop the amount of elastomeric laminate provided by the first supply unit 100 to the production line. Although the first hanger 400 is able to store a considerable amount of elastomeric laminate, there is still the disadvantage of not being able or difficult to continuously provide the elastomeric laminate to the downstream production line 600 without having to stop the assembly operation. At the same time, if it is desired to avoid stopping the assembly operation by means of replacing or splicing the elastic yarn of the beam sets 102A, 102B and 102C, the corresponding technical difficulty and cost are quite high and not acceptable.

[0059] To this end, according to a first embodiment of the apparatus of the present disclosure, the apparatus further comprises a second supply unit 200 located on the side of the first supply unit 100 and also configured for providing a second elastomeric laminate to the production line 600. Here, as shown in Fig. 1, the configuration of the second supply unit 200 can be substantially the same as the first supply unit 100. In particular, the second supply unit 200 also comprises two supply spools 201A and 201B wound with nonwoven fabric, respectively, wherein the nonwoven fabric unwound from the supply spool 201A is used as the upper surface nonwoven fabric of the second elastomeric laminate and the nonwoven fabric unwound from the supply spool 201B is used as the lower surface nonwoven fabric of the second elastomeric laminate. In order to regulate the amount of nonwoven fabric supplied by the supply spools 201A and 201B and its own tension, a hanger 204A and a hanger 204B capable of temporarily storing a certain amount of nonwoven fabric are provided downstream of the supply spools 201A and 201B, respectively.

[0060] Downstream of the hangers 204A and 204B, drive rollers 203A and 203B are arranged for driving the delivery and guidance of the surface nonwoven fabric from the two supply spools 201A and 201B to the downstream at a predetermined speed, wherein the drive rollers 203A and 203B are each provided with a feed motor and a corresponding control unit, thus allowing the supply of the surface nonwoven fabric from the two supply spools 201A and 201B to the downstream laminating roller 206 at a predetermined speed.

[0061] Here, the second supply unit 200 likewise comprises a plurality of second beam groups with elastic filaments wound thereon, here exemplarily shown with three second beam groups 202A, 202B and 202C (more or less beam groups are possible, and the denier and tension of the elastic filaments wound on the beam groups are independently adjustable), wherein the second beam groups 202A, 202B and 202C are configured to unwind to provide the elastic filaments sandwiched between the surface nonwoven from the two supply beams 201A and 201B of the second elastomer laminate. Here, the second beam groups 202A, 202B and 202C have 200 to 300, preferably 210 to 250, elastic filaments wound thereon with an average denier of 10 to 300, preferably 40 to 140 dtex. Thereby, the elastic filaments are unwound from the spindles of the respective beam groups 202A, 202B and 202C by rotating the spindles of the second beam groups 202A, 202B and 202C around an axis of rotation. The elastic filaments are advanced in the longitudinal direction MD and will next be laminated with the surface nonwovens from the two supply beams 201A and 201B at the lamination roller 206 to form the first elastomer laminate.

[0062] As a preferred example, the elastic filaments can also be advanced through a strand guide before being laminated with the surface nonwovens from the two supply beams 201A and 201B at the lamination roller 206. As discussed in more detail below, the strand guide spaces or separates the adjacent elastic filaments from each other in the transverse direction CD by a desired distance when laminated with the surface nonwovens from the two supply beams 201A and 201B.

[0063] As shown in Fig. 1, the second supply unit 200 further comprises one or more second applicators 205 (e.g. 3-5 applicators can be possible for applying the adhesive in different areas with different coating amounts) downstream of the three second beam groups 202A, 202B and 202C, which one or more second applicators can apply adhesive to at least one of the elastic filaments, the surface nonwovens from the two supply beams 201A and 201B to form the first elastomer laminate before the elastic filaments are fed to the lamination roller 206 for lamination. For example, as shown in Fig. 1, the surface nonwoven from the supply beam 201B (which can here serve as the body-facing surface nonwoven) can be advanced after passing the hanger 204B and the drive roller 203B in succession through the second applicator 205, which first applicator applies adhesive to the upper surface of the surface nonwoven from the supply beam 201B before being advanced to the lamination roller 206. It is likewise possible that the second applicator 205 can also be configured to apply adhesive to the elastic filaments unwound from the respective beam groups 202A, 202B and 202C before and / or simultaneously with laminating the surface nonwoven from the supply beam 201A and the surface nonwoven from the supply beam 201B, as shown in Fig. 1.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 1, the second supply unit 100 can include a second lamination roller 206 downstream of the second size press 205 that applies mechanical bonding, such as bonding that can be applied using heat, pressure, and / or ultrasonic devices, to the sized top layer nonwoven fabric and the layer of elastic yarns to laminate them into a second elastomeric laminate. The lamination roller 206 can apply bonding that laminates together the top layer nonwoven fabric from the supply roll 201A, the top layer nonwoven fabric from the supply roll 201B, and the layer of elastic yarns unwound from the respective beam sets 202A, 202B, and 202C.

[0065] As a preferred aspect, the elastic yarns can also be stretched in the machine direction MD and laminated with the top layer nonwovens from both supply rolls 201A and 201B at the lamination roller 206 in the stretched state. Thereafter, the tension on the second elastomeric laminate can be reduced to allow the stretched elastic yarns to contract and form a corrugated second elastomeric laminate. The corrugated second elastomeric laminate can be stored, such as by winding onto the spaced apart upper and lower sets of guide rollers of the first hanger 400 through which the second elastomeric laminate is shuttled.

[0066] In the first embodiment, a take-up device 300 is disposed between the first supply unit 100 and the second supply unit 200, where the take-up device 300 has a first inlet 300A to receive the first elastomeric laminate from the first supply unit 100 and a second inlet 300B to receive the second elastomeric laminate from the second supply unit 200 and an outlet 300C connected to the first hanger 400 and the production line 600, where the take-up device 300 includes both a take-up head and a cut-off head built-in thereto.

[0067] In particular, as a non-limiting example, the take-up head can be designed as a left take-up head and a right take-up head arranged symmetrically to each other, where the left take-up head is adapted to be in communication with the first inlet 300A and the right take-up head is designed to be adapted to be in communication with the second inlet 300B. The left take-up head can be composed of a set of cylinder actuators and a take-up box, where the cylinder actuators are connected to the take-up box by a set of linear bearings and guide rods through a floating joint, which structure can ensure that the cylinder actuators advance and retract smoothly and flexibly, and can improve the service life of the cylinder actuators and the linear bearings. The take-up box is hollow inside and connected to a vacuum generator through an air pipe. The surface of the take-up box is covered with a layer of silica gel, and there are multiple rows of air suction holes on the surface for sucking the elastomeric laminate. The right take-up head can be designed and functioned the same as the left take-up head.

[0068] The material cutting head is composed of a left material cutting head and a right material cutting head which are symmetrically arranged. The left material cutting head is composed of a set of cylinder actuators and a cutter. The cutter is composed of an upper blade and a lower blade. The upper blade is used to press the material, and the lower blade is used to cut the material. The cutter is aligned with the blade of the bottom cutter to the right to cut the material. The right material cutting head has the same structure and function as the left material cutting head. Here, the left material cutting head and the left material cutting head can be installed on the left rocker arm and can be opened to the left. The right side is the same. The entire device is installed by cantilever installation and fixed to the equipment through the mounting plate.

[0069] During the operation of the device according to the present disclosure, sensors for monitoring the state of the first supply unit 100 and the second supply unit 200 are respectively arranged at the supply reels, the corresponding beam groups or the lamination rollers of the first supply unit 100 and the second supply unit 200. The sensors can give a signal to stop the first supply unit 100 or the second supply unit 200 based on the emptying or almost emptying of the supply reels or beam groups (for example, the outer diameter of the supply reels or beam groups can be obtained by means of visual or proximity sensors, and when the outer diameter of the supply reels or beam groups is reduced to a predetermined threshold, a signal can be given to stop the first supply unit 100 and the second supply unit 200 or to stop them after a predetermined period of time.

[0070] For example, first, the first elastic laminated material is provided to the production line 600 by the first supply unit 100 located on the left side in FIG. 1 in a normal working state (at this time, the second supply unit 200 is in a stopped state), and the laminated first elastic laminated material is supplied to the first inlet 300A of the material receiving machine 300 and transported from the outlet 300C to the first hanger 400 and the production line 600 for assembly work. As the surface non-woven fabric and the elastic wire are continuously consumed, for example, the outer diameter of the beam groups 102A, 102B and 102C gradually decreases to a predetermined threshold, which change will be known by the sensor and the change signal will be transmitted to the control unit of the device.

[0071] In response to the change signal, first, the upper guide roller group and the lower guide roller group through which the first elastic body laminated material shuttles in the first hanger 400 are moved away from each other to increase the amount of material stored by the first hanger 400. Here, the amount of material stored by the first hanger 400 can be set to ensure that the normal operation of the production line 600 will not be affected within the longest period of time required for the operation of the first supply unit 100 to stop and transfer to the second supply unit 200 to supply material to the production line 600.

[0072] After the first hanger 400 has stored a sufficient amount of material, the apparatus sends a signal to the first supply unit 100 to slow down and stop for a predetermined short period of time and sends a signal to the second supply unit 200 to start. At this time, the first elastomer laminate from the lamination roller 106 of the first supply unit 100 can still supply a certain length of the first elastomer laminate to the first inlet 300A of the material receiver 300 and the second supply unit 200 also supplies a certain length of the second elastomer laminate to the second inlet 300B of the material receiver 300. Then, the second elastomer laminate from the second inlet 300B and the prepared splicing tape are sent into the material receiving box of the right material receiver head and are reliably adsorbed in the material receiving box of the right material receiver head in the form of negative pressure by means of the vacuum generator therein.

[0073] At the same time, the first elastomer laminate from the first inlet 300A is sent into the material receiving box of the left material receiver head and is also reliably adsorbed in the material receiving box of the left material receiver head in the form of negative pressure. Subsequently, the left material receiver head (and the left material cutting head) and / or the right material receiver head are forced to abut against each other under the action of the rocker arm so as to reliably splice the first elastomer laminate from the left material receiver head with the second elastomer laminate and the splicing tape from the right material receiver head. Immediately after that, within a very short time (for example, 0.1 seconds), the left material cutting head starts to act, in which the upper blade first contacts the material and pushes it to the right, and the lower blade cuts the material in the middle, completing the cutting operation of the first elastomer laminate. As a result, the first elastomer laminate will no longer be supplied to the outside from the outlet 300C, but the second elastomer laminate which is spliced thereto will be supplied. After the material receiving and cutting operations are completed, the material receiver head and the material cutting head are simultaneously retracted back and the vacuum generator is turned off, at which time the material receiver 300 returns to its standby state ready for the next material receiving operation. As pointed out above, since the first hanger 400 stores a sufficient length of elastomer laminate, the material receiver 300 does not affect the normal operation of the production line 600 when switching between the first elastomer laminate and the second elastomer laminate.

[0074] After the switching from the first supply unit 100 to the second supply unit 200 is completed, on one hand, the upper and lower guide roller sets in the first hanger 400 can be restored to their initial interval to reduce their storage amount or length. At this time, since the first supply unit 100 has been deactivated, the operator can replace the empty or almost depleted supply roll or beam set to make the first supply unit 100 again in a ready-to-activate state. Since the receiver 300 has also returned to a ready-to-activate state. When the second supply unit 200 also detects a signal in a deactivated state, the first elastomer laminate of the replaced first supply unit 100 can be spliced to the second elastomer laminate of the second supply unit 200 in the manner described above. Thus, the switching between the first supply unit 100 and the second supply unit 200 can be repeated multiple times without causing an undesirable interruption to the normal assembly operation of the production line 600. In short, whether the first supply unit 100 and the second supply unit 200 are deactivated or not will not have any adverse impact on the normal assembly operation of the production line 600, i.e., the technical purpose of continuously providing the elastomer laminate to the production line is achieved.

[0075] It should be noted that although the receiver 300 in the above is used to splice the elastomer laminate, it can be understood that the splicing operation can also be performed by heat sealing or ultrasonic welding, etc. These methods are all within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

[0076] Second embodiment

[0077] Fig. 3 shows another possible embodiment of the device that can be configured to continuously provide the elastomer laminate to the production line. Here, the device can include a first supply unit 100 located on the left side in Fig. 3, wherein the first supply unit 100 is configured to provide the first elastomer laminate to the production line 600 located downstream in the MD direction. Unlike the first supply unit 100 in the first embodiment in Fig. 1, the first supply unit 100 in Fig. 3 only needs to be provided with a single supply roll 101 for unwinding to provide the surface non-woven fabric of the first elastomer laminate. In order to adjust the amount of non-woven fabric supplied by the supply roll 101 and its own tension, a hanger 104 capable of temporarily storing a certain amount of non-woven fabric is preferably provided downstream of the supply roll 101.

[0078] As an example, the hanger 104 can be designed to comprise a spaced-apart upper and lower set of guide rollers for the nonwoven to shuttle through, to accumulate a certain length of nonwoven therebetween, wherein the upper and lower set of guide rollers are configured to be movable towards or away from each other. Thereby, by means of the adjustable spacing between the upper and lower set of guide rollers, the hanger can be designed to accumulate and temporarily hold a limited length of material. Then, upon temporary interruption of the processing of the continuous nonwoven, the accumulated material is released or an additional length is accumulated.

[0079] Downstream of the hanger 104, a drive roller 103 is arranged for driving the delivery and guiding of the nonwoven from the supply roll 101 downstream at a predetermined speed, wherein the drive roller 103 is equipped with a feed motor and a corresponding control unit, allowing the supply of the surface nonwoven from the supply roll 101 to the lamination roller 106 downstream at a predetermined speed.

[0080] Here, the first supply unit 100 further comprises a plurality of first beam sets wound with elastic filaments, here exemplarily shown with three first beam sets 102A, 102B and 102C (more or less beam sets are possible, and the denier and tension of the elastic filaments wound in these beam sets are independently adjustable), wherein these first beam sets 102A, 102B and 102C are configured to be unwound to provide the elastic filaments sandwiched between the surface nonwovens from the two supply rolls 101 A and 101 B of the first elastomeric laminate. Here, the first beam sets 102A, 102B and 102C are wound with 200 to 300, preferably 210 to 250, elastic filaments having an average denier of 10 to 300, preferably 40 to 140 dtex. As an example, each beam set 102A, 102B and 102C can comprise a single elastic filament wound onto a core shaft. The elastic filaments are advanced in the longitudinal direction MD and will be subsequently laminated with the surface nonwovens from the supply rolls 101 at the lamination roller 106 to form the first elastomeric laminate.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 3, the first supply unit 100 further comprises one or more first sizing applicators 105 (e.g. 3-5 sizing applicators can be used for sizing operation at different areas with different coating amount) located downstream of the three first beam sets 102A, 102B and 102C, which can apply adhesive to at least one of the elastic filaments and the surface nonwoven fabric from the supply roll 101 to form a first elastomeric laminate before the elastic filaments are fed to the lamination roller 106 for lamination. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the surface nonwoven fabric from the supply roll 101 can be advanced through the hanger 104 and the drive roller 103 in sequence and then through the first sizing applicator 105, which applies adhesive to the surface of the surface nonwoven fabric from the supply roll 101 before it is advanced to the lamination roller 106. It is also possible that the first sizing applicator 105 can be configured to apply adhesive to the elastic filaments unwound from the respective beam sets 102A, 102B and 102C, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 3, the first supply unit 100 can comprise a first lamination roller 106 located downstream of the first sizing applicator 105, which applies mechanical bonding, such as bonding that can be applied using a heating, pressure and / or ultrasonic device, to the sized surface nonwoven fabric and the elastic filament layer to laminate them into a first elastomeric laminate.

[0083] Unlike in FIG. 1, since the first supply unit 100 in FIG. 3 is provided with only a single supply roll 101, in order to sandwich the elastic filaments from the three first beam sets 102A, 102B and 102C to form the elastomeric laminate, there is also a folding plate 107 positioned between the sizing applicator 105 and the lamination roller 106, wherein the folding plate 107 is designed to fold the continuously fed surface nonwoven fabric from the single supply roll 101, preferably at a substantially central position thereof, before it is fed to the lamination roller 106 to sandwich the elastic filaments therein. As a result, the set of supply rolls 101B and the hanger 104B and the second drive roller 103B in the first supply unit 100 in FIG. 1 can be dispensed with, which is undoubtedly advantageous in terms of reducing the floor space of the equipment, investment cost, etc.

[0084] Correspondingly, the device according to the technical solution in Fig. 3 also comprises a second supply unit 200 located at the side of the first supply unit 100 and also configured to supply the production line 600 with a second elastomer laminate. Here, as shown in Fig. 3, the configuration of the second supply unit 200 can be substantially the same as that of the first supply unit 100, i.e. also only with a single supply reel 101 and a corresponding arrangement of a folding plate 107 positioned between the applicator 105 and the laminating roller 106, wherein the folding plate 107 is designed to fold the continuously conveyed surface non-woven fabric from the single supply reel 101 in half at a substantially central position thereof before it is supplied to the laminating roller 106 to sandwich the elastic thread therein.

[0085] As the same in Fig. 1, in Fig. 3, a receiving device 300 is arranged between the first supply unit 100 and the second supply unit 200, wherein the receiving device 300 has a first inlet 300A for receiving the first elastomer laminate from the first supply unit 100, a second inlet 300B for receiving the second elastomer laminate from the second supply unit 200, and an outlet 300C connected to the first hanger 400 and the production line 600, and wherein the receiving device 300 comprises a receiving head and a cutting head built therein.

[0086] During the operation of the device according to the present disclosure, sensors are arranged at the supply reels, the corresponding beam groups or the laminating rollers of the first supply unit 100 and the second supply unit 200 respectively for monitoring the status of the first supply unit 100 and the second supply unit 200, wherein the sensors can give a signal to the device to stop the first supply unit 100 or the second supply unit 200 based on the emptying or almost depletion of the supply reel or the beam group, for example, the outer diameter size of the supply reel or the beam group can be acquired by means of a visual or proximity sensor, when the outer diameter of the supply reel or the beam group is reduced to a predetermined threshold value, a signal can be given to stop the first supply unit 100 and the second supply unit 200.

[0087] Here, the switching process from the first supply unit 100 to the second supply unit 200 in Fig. 3 is the same as that in Fig. 1, which will not be described again here. Therefore, those skilled in the art can understand that whether the first supply unit 100 and the second supply unit 200 in Fig. 3 are stopped or not will not cause any adverse impact on the normal assembly operation of the production line 600, i.e. the technical purpose of continuously supplying the production line with elastomer laminates is achieved.

[0088] Third embodiment

[0089] Figure 4 shows yet another possible embodiment of the apparatus that can be configured to continuously provide the elastomeric laminate to the production line. Different from the embodiment in Figure 3, in Figure 4, in addition to the first supply unit 100 and the second supply unit 200, an additional supply roll 501 wound with the nonwoven fabric and an additional material distributor 503 downstream of the additional supply roll 501 are added, wherein the additional material distributor 503 has a material inlet 503A receiving the nonwoven fabric from the additional supply roll, a first material outlet 503B supplying to the first supply unit 100, and a second material outlet 503C supplying to the second supply unit 200, and wherein the additional material distributor 503 is capable of switching the nonwoven fabric from the additional supply roll 501 from the first material outlet 503B to the second material outlet 503C supplying to the second supply unit 200 in response to the deactivation of the first supply unit 100. Since the structure of the material distributor 503 is known per se, it can be, for example, a common material changer or an automatic roll changer known per se, which can be seen, for example, from the designs of CN207209514U or CN209048447U applied for by Quanzhou Hanwei Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd. before the filing date of the present application, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0090] Compared with the embodiment in Figure 3, the embodiment in Figure 4 has more advantages in applicability. The reason is that, although the embodiment in Figure 3 has advantages in terms of floor space, investment cost, etc., since the upper and lower surface layers of the elastomeric laminate are folded, i.e., the body-facing side and the garment-facing side of the elastomeric laminate are both nonwoven materials of the same material and basis weight, it is not suitable for all occasions. For example, in the wearable absorbent articles or open diapers for infants and young children, it is desirable that the nonwoven fabric on the body-facing side and the nonwoven fabric on the garment-facing side have different physical properties to meet the actual needs.

[0091] To this end, in the embodiment of Fig. 4, an additional supply reel 501 is provided, which is wound with a nonwoven fabric (for example, a nonwoven fabric that can be a garment-facing side) that can be continuously operated for a long time, while the supply reel 101 of the first supply unit 100 and the supply reel 201 of the second supply unit 200 are wound with nonwoven fabrics for body-facing sides. In short, the embodiment of Fig. 4 integrates the functions of the second supply reel 101B in the first supply unit 100 and the second supply reel 201B in the second supply unit 200 and their associated devices in Fig. 1 into a single additional supply reel 501 and its associated devices. At the same time, to adapt to the switching operation between the first supply unit 100 and the second supply unit 200, an additional distributor 503 is added to switch the nonwoven fabric from the additional supply reel 501 from the first supply port 503B of the first supply unit 100 to the second supply port 503C of the second supply unit 200 in response to the deactivation of the first supply unit 100. Due to such a design, on the one hand, the advantages of the embodiment of Fig. 3 in terms of floor space, investment cost, etc. are largely retained; on the other hand, it allows the production of an elastomeric laminate with different properties on the body-facing side and the garment-facing side, thereby providing good applicability.

[0092] In the embodiment of Fig. 4, the first supply unit 100 is switched to the operation of the second supply unit 200 by means of the take-off machine 300 in response to the change signal emitted by the sensor detecting the state of, for example, the supply reel, the corresponding beam set, or the lamination roller, which is the same as in Fig. 1. In Fig. 4, an additional step 5 is also included, in which the additional distributor 503 located downstream of the additional supply reel 501 is actuated to switch the nonwoven fabric from the additional supply reel 501 from the first supply port 503B to the second supply port 503C of the second supply unit 200 to achieve the switching of the additional supply reel 501 from the first supply unit 100 to the second supply unit 200, which is basically synchronized with the deactivation of the first supply unit 100 and the activation of the second supply unit 200.

[0093] Fourth embodiment

[0094] Fig. 2 shows a further possible embodiment of the apparatus which can be configured to continuously provide the elastic body laminate to a production line. In contrast to the embodiment in Fig. 4, in Fig. 2 the additional supply spool 501 and the additional distribution machine 503 downstream of the additional supply spool 501 shown in Fig. 4 are further dispensed with. Instead, the supply spools 101 and 201 in both the first supply unit 100 and the second supply unit 200 always serve as the upper and lower surface nonwoven fabric providing surface nonwoven fabric of the first supply unit 100 or the second supply unit 200 in the working state. Thereby, the floor space can be further reduced while allowing the production of an elastic body laminate having different properties on the body-facing side and the garment-facing side, thereby providing good applicability.

[0095] In particular, in order to achieve that both the first supply unit 100 and the second supply unit 200 can always share the supply spools 101 and 201 with each other, in the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 further comprises a first distribution machine 500A between the first supply spool 101 and the first laminating roller 106, wherein the first distribution machine 500A has a feed inlet receiving the first surface nonwoven fabric from the first supply spool 100, a first feed outlet feeding to the first supply unit 100 and a second feed outlet feeding to the second supply unit 200, wherein the first distribution machine 500A can switch the first surface nonwoven fabric from the first feed outlet to the second feed outlet in response to the deactivation of the first supply unit 100; and a second distribution machine 500B between the second supply spool 200 and the second laminating roller 206, wherein the second distribution machine 500B has a feed inlet receiving the second surface nonwoven fabric from the second supply spool 200, a first feed outlet feeding to the first supply unit 100 and a second feed outlet feeding to the second supply unit, wherein the second distribution machine 500B can switch the second surface nonwoven fabric from the first feed outlet to the second feed outlet in response to the deactivation of the first supply unit 100. Since the structure of the distribution machines 500A and 500B is known per se, they can be, for example, a common roll changer or an automatic roll changer known per se, which can be seen, for example, from the design of CN207209514U or CN209048447U applied for by Quanzhou Hanwei Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd. before the filing date of the present application, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0096] In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the first supply unit 100 is switched over to the operation of the second supply unit 200 in succession or seamlessly upon occurrence of the shutdown by means of the take-off machine 300 in response to a change signal emitted by a sensor detecting the status of, for example, the supply roll, the corresponding beam set or the lamination roll, as in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2, there is further included a step 6 in which, in response to the shutdown of the first supply unit 100, the first distribution machine 500A located between the first supply roll 101 and the first lamination roll 106 switches the nonwoven fabric from the first supply roll 100 from the first supply opening to the second supply opening and the second distribution machine 500B located between the second supply roll 201 and the second lamination roll 206 switches the nonwoven fabric from the second supply roll 201 from the first supply opening to the second supply opening, thereby enabling the supply of the upper and lower surface layer nonwovens of the elastomeric laminate to be adaptively switched between the first supply unit 100 and the second supply unit 200 according to the working state (shutdown or activation) of both, which switching process is substantially synchronized with the shutdown of the first supply unit 100 and the activation of the second supply unit 200.

[0097] The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the exact value and a functional equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm." Every document cited herein, including any cross-referenced or related patent or application and any patent application or patent to which this application claims priority or benefit, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any disclosure device disclosed herein or that it alone, or along with any other

[0098] While particular embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. An apparatus for continuously providing an elastomeric laminate to a production line, characterized by comprising: a first supply unit configured to supply a first elastomeric laminate to a production line, comprising: at least one supply spool of nonwoven fabric configured to be unwound to provide a surface layer of nonwoven fabric of the first elastomeric laminate; at least one first beam of spandex yarn configured to be unwound to provide spandex yarn sandwiched between the surface layers of nonwoven fabric of the first elastomeric laminate; a first applicator downstream of the first beam of spandex yarn configured to apply glue to either the surface layer of nonwoven fabric from the supply spool or the spandex yarn from the first beam; a first laminating roll downstream of the first applicator configured to laminate the glued surface layer of nonwoven fabric and the spandex yarn into the first elastomeric laminate; a second supply unit configured to supply a second elastomeric laminate to the production line, comprising: at least one supply spool of nonwoven fabric configured to be unwound to provide a surface layer of nonwoven fabric of the second elastomeric laminate; at least one second beam of spandex yarn configured to be unwound to provide spandex yarn sandwiched between the surface layers of nonwoven fabric of the second elastomeric laminate; a second applicator downstream of the second beam of spandex yarn configured to apply glue to either the surface layer of nonwoven fabric from the second supply spool or the spandex yarn from the second beam; a second laminating roll downstream of the second applicator configured to laminate the glued surface layer of nonwoven fabric and the spandex yarn into the second elastomeric laminate; a receiver having a first inlet to receive the first elastomeric laminate, a second inlet to receive the second elastomeric laminate, and an outlet connected to the production line, wherein there is further provided a splice head configured to splice the second elastomeric laminate to the first elastomeric laminate; wherein the apparatus is configured to activate the second supply unit in response to deactivation of the first supply unit and to supply the spliced second elastomeric laminate to the outlet without interruption. wherein the first supply unit and the second supply unit each comprise:

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, a first supply spool of upper nonwoven fabric configured to be unwound to provide an upper layer of nonwoven fabric of the elastomeric laminate; a second supply spool of lower nonwoven fabric configured to be unwound to provide a lower layer of nonwoven fabric of the elastomeric laminate; a first drive roll downstream of the first supply spool and a second drive roll downstream of the second supply spool configured to supply the upper layer of nonwoven fabric and the lower layer of nonwoven fabric, respectively, to the laminating roll. wherein the first supply unit and the second supply unit each comprise:

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, a single supply spool of nonwoven fabric configured to be unwound to provide a surface layer of nonwoven fabric for the elastomeric laminate; a drive roll downstream of the supply spool configured to supply the surface layer of nonwoven fabric to the laminating roll; a folding plate positioned between the applicator and the laminating roll configured to fold the surface layer of nonwoven fabric in half to sandwich the spandex yarn therein before supplying the surface layer of nonwoven fabric to the laminating roll. ​ 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, Also included is an additional supply spool wound with nonwoven fabric and an additional distributor downstream of the additional supply spool, wherein the additional distributor has a feed inlet to receive the nonwoven fabric from the additional supply spool, a first feed outlet to supply the first supply unit, and a second feed outlet to supply the second supply unit, wherein the additional distributor is capable of switching the nonwoven fabric from the additional supply spool from the first feed outlet to the second feed outlet to supply the second supply unit in response to deactivation of the first supply unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, wherein The first supply unit includes: a first supply spool wound with nonwoven fabric configured to be unwound to provide a first skin nonwoven fabric for the elastomeric laminate; and The second supply unit includes: a second supply spool wound with nonwoven fabric configured to be unwound to provide a second skin nonwoven fabric for the elastomeric laminate; wherein also included is a first distributor between the first supply spool and the first lamination roller, wherein the first distributor has a feed inlet to receive the first skin nonwoven fabric, a first feed outlet to supply the first supply unit, and a second feed outlet to supply the second supply unit, wherein the first distributor is capable of switching the first skin nonwoven fabric from the first feed outlet to the second feed outlet to supply the second supply unit in response to deactivation of the first supply unit; and a second distributor between the second supply spool and the second lamination roller, wherein the second distributor has a feed inlet to receive the second skin nonwoven fabric, a first feed outlet to supply the first supply unit, and a second feed outlet to supply the second supply unit, wherein the second distributor is capable of switching the second skin nonwoven fabric from the first feed outlet to the second feed outlet to supply the second supply unit in response to deactivation of the first supply unit.

6. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein also included is a first cradle between the receiver and the production line, wherein the first cradle includes spaced apart upper and lower sets of guide rollers through which the first or second elastomeric laminate shuttles to accumulate a length of the first or second elastomeric laminate therebetween, wherein the upper and lower sets of guide rollers are configured to move toward or away from each other.

7. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein also included is a cradle downstream of the supply spool, wherein the cradle includes spaced apart upper and lower sets of guide rollers through which the nonwoven fabric shuttles to accumulate a length of the nonwoven fabric therebetween, wherein the upper and lower sets of guide rollers are configured to move toward or away from each other.

8. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first beam set and / or the second beam set is wound with 200 to 300, preferably 210 to 250, strands of stretch yarn having an average denier of 10 to 300, preferably 40 to 140.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first beam set and / or the second beam set includes at least one beam, preferably 1 to 5 beams, arranged in parallel to each other. including:

10. A method of continuously supplying an elastomeric laminate to a production line, characterized in that Step 1. Providing the apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 9; Step 2. Monitoring the status of the first supply unit to determine whether it is deactivated; ​ Step 3. Responsive to the deactivation of the first supply unit, causing the take- off head to actuate to splice the second elastomeric laminate from the second supply unit to the first elastomeric laminate from the first supply unit.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, Also included is Step 4. wherein responsive to the deactivation of the first supply unit, causing the upper and lower sets of guide rollers in the first hanger positioned between the take-off and the production line to move away from each other to accumulate more length of the first or second elastomeric laminate.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, Also included is Step 5. wherein responsive to the deactivation of the first supply unit, causing the additional dispensing machine positioned downstream of the additional supply roll to actuate to switch the nonwoven web from the first feed port to the second feed port supplying the second supply unit.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein, Also included is Step 6. wherein responsive to the deactivation of the first supply unit, causing the first dispensing machine positioned between the first supply roll and the first laminating roller to switch the nonwoven web from the first feed port to the second feed port and the second dispensing machine positioned between the second supply roll and the second laminating roller to switch the nonwoven web from the first feed port to the second feed port.

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