Methods and apparatuses for manufacturing a joined resealable absorbent article
A method including: forming a first fold line; forming a second fold line to define a first segment of a first outer region extending between a first cut edge and the second fold line and to define a second segment extending between the first fold line and the second fold line; positioning a first surface of the first segment into a facing relationship with a first surface of the second segment; unfolding the first outer region to position the second surface of the first segment into a facing relationship with a first surface of an adjacent second outer region; and refastenably connecting the second surface of the first segment of the first outer region with the first surface of the second outer region.
1 . A method of assembling absorbent articles, the method comprising steps of:
advancing a substrate in a machine direction, the substrate comprising a first surface and an opposing second surface, the substrate further comprising a first outer region separated from a second outer region in a cross direction by a central region, wherein the first outer region and the second outer region are continuous in the machine direction, wherein the central region is discontinuous in the machine direction, wherein the first outer region comprises a first portion of the first surface, and wherein the second outer region comprises a second portion of the first surface;
folding the central region around a folding axis by about 180 degrees to position the second portion of the first surface into a facing relationship with the first portion of the first surface;
cutting the first outer region and the second outer region in the cross direction to define a first cut edge of the first outer region and a second cut edge of the second outer region;
forming a first fold line in the first outer region, wherein the first fold line extends in the cross direction;
forming a second fold line in the first outer region, wherein the second fold line extends in the cross direction to define a first segment of the first outer region extending between the first cut edge and the second fold line and to define a second segment extending between the first fold line and the second fold line, wherein the first segment of the first outer region comprises a third portion of the first surface and a first portion of the second surface, and wherein the second segment comprises a fourth portion of the first surface;
positioning the third portion of the first surface into a facing relationship with the fourth portion of the first surface;
unfolding the first outer region along the first fold line to position the first portion of the second surface into a facing relationship with the second portion of the first surface adjacent the second cut edge; and
refastenably connecting the first portion of the second surface with the second portion of the first surface adjacent the second cut edge.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of forming the first fold line is performed before the step of forming the second fold line.
3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising a step of bonding a first fastening component onto a second portion of the second surface, wherein the first outer region comprises the second portion of the second surface.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of forming the first fold line and the step of forming the second fold line are performed simultaneously.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of bonding a first fastening component onto a second portion of the second surface, wherein the first outer region comprises the second portion of the second surface.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the first fastening component is positioned on the first segment.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the first fastening component comprises hooks or loops.
8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the first fastening component comprises contact adhesive.
9 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the first fastening component comprises co-adhesive coatings.
10 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the first fastening component comprises interlocking mechanical fasteners.
11 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the first fastening component comprises magnetic closures.
12 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the first fastening component comprises snaps.
13 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of cutting further comprises cutting the first fastening component into an upstream fastening component and a downstream fastening component.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first outer region and the second outer region are elastically contractible in the machine direction.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising a step of elastically contracting a portion of the second outer region in the machine direction adjacent the second cut edge.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the central region comprises a chassis comprising a topsheet and a backsheet and an absorbent assembly positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet.
17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of advancing the first outer region and the second outer region onto a rotating drum subsequent to the step of folding the central region, such that the first outer region is positioned between the second outer region and the drum.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising a step of applying a vacuum pressure to a portion of the first outer region with a holding surface of a folding member that is pivotally connected with the drum.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the steps of forming the first fold line and the second fold line further comprise pivoting the folding member in a first direction to move the holding surface and the portion of the first outer region away from the second outer region.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of positioning the third portion of the first surface into a facing relationship with the fourth portion of the first surface further comprises applying positive air pressure against the first portion of the second surface.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the step of unfolding the first outer region along the first fold line further comprises pivoting the folding member in a second direction opposite the first direction.