Apparatus and method of manufacturing hygienic disposable pads

Claim 1

Apparatus for automatically and continuously preparing hygienic disposable pads comprising: A. forming mean for fomeing fluff into a definitive shape, said forming means being a continuous belt with recessed mesh portions defining a desired shape at spaced intervals; B. fluffer and metering means associated with said forming means, said fluffer and metering means being capable of grinding paper sheet material into fluff and delivering a metered amount of fluff onto said mesh portions of said forming means; said forming means having an associated vacuum source beneath said mesh portions; C. drive means capable of effecting continuous travel of said forming means in a predetermined path past said fluffer and metering means; D. supply means for supplying three strips of sheet material; E. guide means for guiding the strips from said supply means to define a double layer on the bottom of the fluff and one layer on the top; F. powered means capable of effecting continuous travel of the shaped fluff and strips past a plurality of operation-performing stations; G. folding means cooperating with the movement of said powered means and the fluff and strips carried thereon for folding the sides of the bottom sheet material onto the top layer; H. crimping means for crimping the end portions so as to form a package with said fluff and strips; I. means for simultaneously applying at least three stripes of adhesive material and a protective layer over the folded portion under compression so as to cause one of said adhesive stripes to penetrate the outermost layer and adhere the folded portions and form a closed package; and J. means for severing the end portions so as to form individual package units.

Claim 8

A method for continuously preparing hygienic disposable pads comprising: A. forming fluff having a definitive shape on a recessed meshed forming means comprising an endless belt having spaced mesh portions; B. grinding paper sheet material into fluff and delivering a metered amount of fluff onto said forming means while similtaniously passing the mesh portion over a suction source so as to compact said fluff; C. effecting continuous travel of said forming means in a predetermined path; D. supplying three strips of sheet material wherein at least one of said strips is non-woven; E. guiding the strips to define a double layer on the bottom of the shaped fluff wherein said non-woven strip is the outermost layer and one layer on the top; F. effecting continuous travel of the shaped fluff and strips past a plurality of operation-performing stations; G. folding the sides of the bottom sheet material onto the top layer; H. crimping the end portions so as to form a package with said fluff and strips; I. simultaneously applying at least three stripes of adhesive material and a protective layer over the folded portions under compression so as to cause one of said adhesive stripes to penetrate the outermost layer and adhere the folded portions and form a closed package; J. severing the end portions so as to form individual package units.

Claim 9

A method for continuously preparing hygienic disposable pads comprising: A. forming fluff having a definitive shape on a recessed meshed forming means comprising an endless belt having spaced mesh portions; B. grinding paper sheet material into fluff and delivering a metered amount of fluff onto said forming means while similtaniously passing the mesh portion over a suction source so as to compact said fluff; C. effecting continuous travel of said forming means in a predetermined path; D. supplying three strips of sheet material wherein at least one of said strips is non-woven; E. guiding the strips to define a double layer on the bottom of the shaped fluff wherein said non-woven strip is the outermost layer and one layer on the top; F. effecting continuous travel of the shaped fluff and strips past a plurality of operation-performing stations; G. folding the sides of the bottom sheet material onto the top layer; H. crimping the end portions so as to form a package with said fluff and strips; I. simultaneously applying at least three stripes of adhesive material and a protective layer over the folded portions under compression so as to cause one of said adhesive stripes to penetrate the outermost layer and adhere the folded portions and form a closed package; J. severing the end portions so as to form individual package units.