Method and apparatus for manufacturing a product having elastic means disposed in a direction transverse to product movement

Claim 1

A method of applying stretched elastic segments to a web as for a diaper waist-band or the like comprising: advancing at least one continuous stretched elastic ribbon along a first linear path, gripping said ribbon at two pairs of points spaced longitudinally in said first path, severing said ribbon between said pairs of points to provide a stretched ribbon segment between one pair of points and a portion of said continuous ribbon between the other pair of points, advancing the ribbon segment along a portion of an orbital path while maintaining the length of said segment parallel to said first linear path, and adhesively uniting said segment to a continuous web being advanced in a second linear path generally perpendicular to said first linear path.

Claim 2

A method of applying stretched elastic segments to a web as for a diaper waist-band or the like comprising: advancing at least one continuous stretched elastic ribbon along a first linear path, gripping said ribbon at two pairs of points spaced longitudinally in said first path, severing said ribbon between said pairs of points to provide a stretched ribbon segment between one pair of points and a portion of said continuous ribbon between the other pair of points, advancing the ribbon segment along a portion of an orbital path while maintaining the length of said segment parallel to said first linear path, and adhesively uniting said segment to a continuous web being advanced in a second linear path generally perpendicular to said first linear path.

Claim 5

A method of applying stretched elastic segments transversely aligned to a moving web comprising the steps of: advancing a substrate web in a first horizontal direction, advancing a parallel pair of stretched continuous elastic ribbons in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to said first direction and placing adhesive on one of said web and ribbons, rotating a gripping means about a vertical axis while maintaining orientation of said gripping means parallel to the second direction, gripping said parallel elastic ribbons at the leading and trailing ends of two spaced consecutive portions, severing said ribbon pair in the space between consecutive gripping means to provide a pair of ribbon segments, advancing a parallel pair of segments along a generally arcuate path while maintaining orientation of the same transverse to said first direction, transferring said segments from said gripping means to said substrate at a location approximately 90° from the position of ribbon severing, advancing said substrate web with said transversely placed segments on the peripheral surface of a drum rotating about a horizontal axis, said drum cooperating with belt means to contain said substrate web and segments therebetween, advancing said substrate and adhesively bonded segments beyond said belt containment means and severing said substrate web in the space between adjacent pairs of elastic segments to form a discreet article whereby said elastic segments are adapted to gather predetermined portions of said article in said transverse direction.

Claim 6

A method of applying stretched elastic segments transversely aligned to a moving web comprising the steps of: advancing a substrate web in a first horizontal direction, advancing a parallel pair of stretched continuous elastic ribbons in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to said first direction and placing adhesive on one of said web and ribbons, rotating a gripping means about a vertical axis while maintaining orientation of said gripping means parallel to the second direction, gripping said parallel elastic ribbons at the leading and trailing ends of two spaced consecutive portions, severing said ribbon pair in the space between consecutive gripping means to provide a pair of ribbon segments, advancing a parallel pair of segments along a generally arcuate path while maintaining orientation of the same transverse to said first direction, transferring said segments from said gripping means to said substrate at a location approximately 90° from the position of ribbon severing, advancing said substrate web with said transversely placed segments on the peripheral surface of a drum rotating about a horizontal axis, said drum cooperating with belt means to contain said substrate web and segments therebetween, advancing said substrate and adhesively bonded segments beyond said belt containment means and severing said substrate web in the space between adjacent pairs of elastic segments to form a discreet article whereby said elastic segments are adapted to gather predetermined portions of said article in said transverse direction.