Method of constructing absorbent articles comprising graphics
An absorbent article may be constructed by printing on an unstretched web that forms a portion of the side panels. Seams may be formed by attaching the side panels to a chassis. The side panels and the chassis may have different elastic properties. The absorbent article may also comprise first and second waistbands.
1. A method of constructing a pull-on disposable absorbent article having a first waist region, a second waist region, and a crotch region disposed therebetween, the method comprising:
attaching a first side panel to the first waist region such that a first seam is formed;
attaching a second side panel to the first waist region such that a second seam is formed;
attaching a third side panel to the second waist region such that a third seam is formed;
attaching a fourth side panel to the second waist region such that a fourth seam is formed;
attaching the first side panel to the third side panel such that a fifth seam is formed and a first leg opening is formed;
attaching the second side panel to the fourth side panel such that a sixth seam is formed and a second leg opening and a waist opening is formed and such that the disposable absorbent article is in a pull-on configuration;
printing a first graphic object on a web material used to form the first side panel when the web material is in an unstretched state;
printing a second graphic object on the web material used to form the second side panel when the web material is in an unstretched state;
printing a third graphic object on the web material used to form the third side panel when the web material is in an unstretched state;
printing a fourth graphic object on the web material used to form the fourth side panel when the web material is in an unstretched state;
printing a fifth graphic object on a backsheet;
attaching a first waistband to the first waist region;
attaching a second waistband to the second waist region;
wherein the first waistband overlaps a portion of the first and second side panels; and
wherein the second waistband overlaps a portion of the third and fourth side panels.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the printing of the fifth graphic object is on a film layer of the backsheet.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fifth graphic object is disposed opposite of and overlapping with at least a portion of the first waistband.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising printing a sixth graphic object on the backsheet.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the sixth graphic object is disposed opposite of and overlapping with at least a portion of the second waistband.
6. The method of claims 5 , wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth graphic objects cooperate to form the appearance of a waistband.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fifth and sixth seams comprise refastenable fasteners.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth side panels comprise a plane elastomeric material.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plane elastomeric material is an apertured film.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first side panel is overlapped with and attached to the third side panel to form a refastenable fifth seam.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first graphic object is disposed to overlap at least a portion of the refastenable fifth seam.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the third graphic object is disposed to overlap at least a portion of the refastenable fifth seam.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second side panel is overlapped with and attached to the fourth side panel to form a refastenable sixth seam.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the second graphic object is disposed to overlap at least a portion of the refastenable sixth seam.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the fourth graphic object is disposed to overlap at least a portion of the refastenable sixth seam.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein a first printing method is used to print the first, second, third, and fourth graphic objects.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein a second printing method, different than the first printing method, is used to print the fifth graphic object.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first printing method is flexographic printing.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the printing of the fifth graphic object is on a nonwoven layer of the backsheet.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first printing method is a contact method of printing and the second printing method is a non-contact method of printing.