| US 7,524,449 B2 | ||
| Method and apparatus for forming a batt of particulate material for use as a component in an absorbent core assembly | ||
| Bradley Edward Walsh, Cincinnati, Ohio (US); Horst Blessing, Cincinnati, Ohio (US); Darrell Ian Brown, Mason, Ohio (US); John Glasgow Burns, Jr., Springfield Township, Ohio (US); Joseph Allen Eckstein, Sunman, Ind. (US); and Volker Maier, Euskirchen (Germany) | ||
| Assigned to The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio (US) | ||
| Filed on Aug. 17, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/206,004. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0039690 A1, Feb. 22, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. B27N 3/04 (2006.01); A61F 13/15 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 264—511 [264/517; 264/112; 425/80.1; 156/62.2; 156/62.8] | 12 Claims |
| 1. A method of forming an absorbent core assembly containing a discrete batt of particulate material comprising the steps
of:
providing a laydown drum, said laydown drum comprising a plurality of vacuum zones, said vacuum zones being substantially
permeable to permit air to pass through and into said laydown drum, a plurality of fence zones, said fence zones being substantially
impermeable to inhibit air from passing through, said fence zones being positioned laterally adjacent to said vacuum zones,
and a plurality of blow-off zones, said blow-off zones being substantially permeable to permit air to pass out of and through
said laydown drum, said blow-off zones being positioned between said vacuum zones;
providing a continuous first web of material;
positioning said continuous first web of material substantially adjacent to said laydown drum;
generating a vacuum through said laydown drum and said continuous first web of material such that air is passed through said
vacuum zones;
depositing a dispersion of air and particulate material onto said continuous first web of material such that the air being
pulled through the vacuum zones directs said dispersion to said vacuum zones whereupon the particulate material is positioned
to form said batt;
blowing air through said blow-off zones so as to substantially displace said particulate material from a position located
above said blow-off zones;
providing a continuous second web of material;
positioning said continuous second web of material adjacent to said particulate material;
combining a portion of said continuous second web of material to said continuous first web of material; and
severing said continuous webs to separate said absorbent core assembly.
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