SYSTEM AND NOZZLE FOR ELASTIC CORD COATING

专利摘要:
system and nozzle for coating elastic cords a contact nozzle (2) for coating an elastic cord (12) with an adhesive (14). air (18) is discharged into the adhesive (14) in contact with the cord (12), causing the adhesive (14) to spread around the periphery of the cord (12). the air (18) helps with releasing the adhesive (14) from the nozzle (2) and also cleans the nozzle (2) to prevent adhesive build-up in the nozzle (2).
公开号:BR112013026311B1
申请号:R112013026311-3
申请日:2012-04-10
公开日:2021-06-22
发明作者:Joel E. Saine；Charles P. Ganzer
申请人:Nordson Corporation；
IPC主号:

专利说明:

CROSS REFERENCE FOR RELATED ORDER
[001] This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Serial No. US 61/474,129, filed April 11, 2011 (pending), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD
[002] This invention relates generally to fluid delivery systems, nozzles, and methods for applying adhesive to one or more strands of stretched elastic material. FUNDAMENTALS
[003] Liquid adhesive, such as temperature and/or pressure sensitive adhesive, is applied over one or more stretched strands of elastic material or a non-woven substrate during the manufacture of disposable hygiene products such as diapers, incontinence products of adult and feminine hygiene products form several elastic structures that are part of the hygiene product. For example, in a diaper one or more stretchy elastic cords are connected between the backsheet and topsheet around the leg opening so that the diaper fits snugly around the child's leg. This is commonly referred to as the elastic leg application. One or more stretched elastic cords are also attached to different areas of the diaper during construction of the barrier leg cuff and waist band. Two measures that are commonly used when evaluating the effectiveness of the bond between stretched elastic cords and non-woven substrates are creep strength and force shrinkage. Deformation strength is a measure of how well the ends of elastic cords are adhered in position with respect to non-woven substrates. A high level of deformation strength is desirable because deformation will cause a strand to decouple from the non-woven substrate and contract, thus removing the elasticity and sealing capabilities of the sanitary product. Force shrinkage is a measure of how much the bonded elastic cord can retract when tension on the cord is released. A high level of force retraction is also desirable because a low level of force retraction makes the elasticity of the elastic cord and the sanitary product unsuitable for its intended purposes, including product comfort and sealability. The adhesive is applied to one or more stretched elastic strands through a non-contact dispensing system or a contact dispensing system.
[004] In the conventional non-contact distribution system, the adhesive is distributed as a continuous filament and moved in a pattern controlled by the impact of the filament with air. Different types of nozzles are used in conventional contactless dispensing systems that result in different controlled patterns for the adhesive filament. In a non-contact dispensing system utilizing a spiral nozzle the adhesive filament is moved back and forth in a helical or spiral pattern while it is in the air before contacting the stretched elastic cord. The helical or spiral pattern of the adhesive filament has one component in the direction of movement of the stretched elastic strand and another component transverse to the direction of movement of the stretched elastic strand. CF® nozzles (also identified as Controlled Fiber Formation™ nozzles) and Sure Wrap® nozzles, available from Nordson Corporation of Westlake, Ohio, are spiral nozzles used to form such a helical pattern with a filament of adhesive.
[005] In another non-contact dispensing system utilizing a blow-melt nozzle, the adhesive filament is moved back and forth in an oscillating pattern such as a sinusoidal pattern or similar while it is in the air prior to contact the stretched elastic cord. The oscillation pattern of the adhesive filament is situated in a plane perpendicular to the movement of the stretched elastic cord.
[006] In non-contact dispensing systems using melt blown nozzles or spiral nozzles, the adhesive filament must be carefully controlled to ensure that the adhesive filament is distributed to the narrow elastic strand and to ensure that the adhesive filament sufficiently wrap around the elastic cord. In this regard, the plurality of air jets used to spiral the adhesive filament in the Controlled Fiber ™ and Sure Wrap ® nozzles are positioned and angled with a high degree of precision to cause movement of the adhesive filament. If one of the air holes delivering the air jets is blocked by an adhesive material or debris during operation, the overall air pattern is disrupted or unbalanced, which leads to an uncontrolled adhesive filament pattern. The uncontrolled adhesive filament pattern causes undesirable adhesive deposit onto the cord or away from the cord entirely. The adhesive filament in these non-contact dispensing systems must also have a relatively high viscosity to be properly controllable in flight. The Sure Wrap ® nozzles operate using hotmelt adhesives with viscosity in the range of 10,000 centipoises to 15,000 centipoises, and the Controlled Fiber ™ nozzle operates using hotmelt adhesives with viscosity in the range of 4,000 centipoises to 15,000 centipoises.
[007] Yet another type of non-contact dispensing system uses an adhesive nozzle to extrude a grain of adhesive onto a stretched elastic cord that rotates to measure passing through the adhesive nozzle without the use of any air process in the adhesive grain. The stretched elastic cord is rotated about its axis and moved by a pinch roller assembly upstream of the adhesive nozzle. As a result, the continuous filament of adhesive is deposited in a generally spiral pattern along the length of the stretched elastic cord. However, this type of non-contact dispensing system can be impractical because it is difficult to predictably rotate or twist the elastic cord at high production line speeds. Despite the above difficulties, non-contact delivery systems are widely used because the resulting application of the adhesive to the stretched elastic cords results in a high level of both deformation resistance and force shrinkage.
[008] One type of contact dispensing system utilizes a slit coating nozzle including one or more grooves configured to be filled with the extruded adhesive. A stretched elastic cord moving through the grooves will be surrounded with the adhesive extruded in the corresponding groove. Therefore, the stretched elastic cord is coated when the filaments move through the grooves in the slit coating nozzle. Slit coating nozzles do not have the filament control difficulties discussed above because the adhesive is not discharged onto an airborne filament. Contact dispensing systems that utilize these slit coating nozzles tend to have difficulties in properly coating the bottom surface of the stretched elastic cord. If the bottom surface of the cord is not properly coated, there is little bond between the elastic cord and a non-woven substrate, which results in a low level of creep strength. In order to effectively cover the bottom surface of the elastic cord, the rate of adhesive flow into the groove is generally increased to a substantial degree, which results in a relatively thick coating of adhesive. This thick coating of adhesive effectively bonds the elastic cord to the substrate and improves deformation resistance, but because the cord is so heavily coated, its ability to shrink is impeded and results in low force shrinkage. The amount of adhesive distributed to form the thick coating also tends to undesirably run off the elastic cord onto other equipment, particularly when the production line is stopped. However, a contact delivery system utilizing a slit coating nozzle to apply adhesive to stretched elastic cords is highly reproducible and consistent.
[009] There is a need, therefore, for a contact adhesive dispensing system, nozzle, and a method that provides optimal adhesive coating characteristics over an elastic cord, including a high degree of creep strength and a high level of shrinkage force. SUMMARY
[0010] In one embodiment of the invention, a contact nozzle is configured to contact coat at least one stretched elastic cord with an adhesive and then discharge pressurized air for the adhesive onto the cord. For example, a first strand is moving in a machine direction and includes a periphery with a top surface. The contact nozzle includes a nozzle body having a first groove for receiving the first strand. The contact nozzle further includes a first adhesive passage formed in the nozzle body and terminating in a first adhesive hole communicating with the first groove. The first adhesive hole is adapted to be directed into the upper surface of the first strand to deliver the adhesive in contact with the upper surface of the first strand. The contact nozzle also includes a first air passage positioned in proximity to the first adhesive passage and terminating in a first air hole positioned downstream from the first adhesive hole in the machine direction. The first air hole is adapted to be directed on the upper surface of the first bead and is adapted to discharge air into the adhesive in contact with the first bead, thus causing the adhesive to spread around the periphery of the first bead.
[0011] The air discharged from the first air hole is a pressurized air flow. In addition to spreading the adhesive, this airflow also keeps the nozzle body free from adhesive build-up that would eventually char and adversely affect the operation of the contact nozzle. Pressurized airflow can be used with any type of contact and process coating nozzle to achieve these benefits. The combination of a contact coating process with additional discharged air on the adhesive over the bead advantageously provides an adhesive coated bead substantially along its entire periphery. This process is believed to cause the thickness of the adhesive coating to vary along the length of the bead to maintain elasticity of the bead. To this end, when the coated cord is bonded to one or more non-woven substrates, such as in diaper construction, the adhesive forms a bond between the substrates and the cord that exhibits desirable levels of deformation resistance and believed force shrinkage. if it is a result of thickness irregularities in the adhesive coating. Furthermore, the first bead is coated with adhesive around the entire periphery without the risk of an adhesive filament, as in a non-contact dispensing process, being uncontrolled in the event of a collision with the process air. Such uncontrolled filament could lead to adhesive depositing in indeterminate or undesirable places, including outside the elastic cord.
[0012] In an alternative or additional aspect, the first air passage is formed in the nozzle body. The nozzle body has a back surface that intersects the first groove at an adhesive release edge. More specifically, the back surface and the first groove define an interior angle to each other at the adhesive releasing edge in an upstream direction from the back surface, the interior angle being an acute angle. Air from the first air hole is discharged along the rear surface to aid in releasing adhesive from the nozzle body at the adhesive releasing edge. In this regard, the air discharged along the back surface from the first air hole is adapted to hit the adhesive on the first bead at an acute angle to the machine direction.
[0013] In another additional or alternative aspect, the contact nozzle includes a mounting surface on the nozzle body that is adapted to be coupled to a module to support the nozzle body. The mounting surface includes an adhesive inlet configured to receive adhesive from the module. A longitudinal axis defined by the first adhesive hole and at least a portion of the first adhesive pass intersects the mounting surface at an acute angle. Air discharged from the first air hole affects the adhesive on the bead at an acute angle. The acute angle can be in the range of about 50 degrees and about 80 degrees.
[0014] In another additional or alternative aspect, the mouthpiece also includes an air discharge control device operatively coupled to the first air passage. The air discharge control device is operated to intermittently block the air flow through the first air passage and the first air port. In one example, the air discharge control device causes the air flow to be non-continuous. In another example, the air discharge control device causes the air flow to be pulsed periodically. The air discharge control device, for example, can be a mechanical device or an air control solenoid valve selectively blocking the air flow through the first air passage.
[0015] In yet another alternative or additional aspect, the nozzle includes a second groove formed in the nozzle body and spaced from the first groove in a lateral direction transverse to the machine direction. The second slot is configured to receive a second strand moving in the machine direction. The contact nozzle further includes a second adhesive passage formed in the nozzle body and terminating in a second adhesive hole communicating with the second groove. The second adhesive hole is adapted to be directed into an upper surface of the second strand to deliver the adhesive in contact with the upper surface of the second strand. The contact nozzle further includes a second air passage terminating in a second air hole positioned downstream from the second machine direction adhesive hole. The second air passage is adapted to be directed towards the upper surface of the second strand and adapted to discharge air into the adhesive in contact with the second strand to make the adhesive spread around a periphery of the second strand. It should be understood that any one embodiment of the nozzle may include more than two grooves, air passages and adhesive passages in other embodiments when coating more than two strands. In this regard, any embodiment of the mouthpiece may include repeating structural elements enabling similar coating of any number of stretched elastic strands.
[0016] In another alternative or additional aspect, the mouthpiece includes another air passage positioned proximate to the first air passage and also directed on the first cord. Therefore, in this embodiment two air passages can be angled with respect to each other so as to cause spreading of the adhesive around opposite sides of the periphery of the first strand. On the other hand, two air passages per bead provide redundancy in case one of the air passages becomes blocked, or as an air passage is operable to spread adhesive around the first bead. For example, in the embodiment described above, including first and second air passages for corresponding first and second elastic cords, the contact nozzle may also include a third air passage formed in the nozzle body and adapted to direct air to the first cord, and a fourth air passage formed in the nozzle body and adapted to direct air into the second cord. The two air passages per cord can be staggered along the machine direction such that air from each of these air passages reaches the first cord at different locations along the machine direction. Alternatively, these two air passages can be collinear or aligned with each other in a plane perpendicular to the machine direction such that air from each of these air passages reaches the first strand at roughly the same position. along the machine steering.
[0017] In a further or alternative aspect, the contact nozzle further includes an expansion chamber formed in the nozzle body and communicating with the first adhesive hole. The expansion chamber is sized to allow mold swelling of the adhesive exiting the first adhesive hole. In these embodiments, the contact nozzle also includes a cord guide over the nozzle body. The bead guide is adapted to position the first bead relative to the expansion chamber. As described in more detail below, the expansion chamber or bead guide may be fully or partially defined by the first groove in certain embodiments consistent with the present invention. The cord guide may alternatively be detached and coupled to the nozzle body in some embodiments.
[0018] In yet another alternative aspect, the first air passage is located in an air supply line. The air supply line can be coupled to the nozzle body in one way, or in another way it can be detached from the nozzle body and positioned downstream from the nozzle body in the machine direction. Again, the contact nozzle in this aspect includes a rear surface on the nozzle body intersecting the first groove in an adhesive releasing edge, the rear surface and the first groove defining an acute angle in the adhesive releasing edge in such a way that air from the air supply line impacts the adhesive at an acute angle from the machine direction. The acute angle can be in the range of about 50 degrees and about 80 degrees.
[0019] In another embodiment of the invention, a contact nozzle for coating at least one elastic cord includes a nozzle body having a first elongated adhesive chamber for receiving the first cord. The elongated first chamber of adhesive includes a first chamber surface configured to face the bead. The contact nozzle further includes a first adhesive passage formed in the nozzle body and terminating in a first adhesive hole in the first chamber surface. The first adhesive hole is adapted to be directed into the upper surface of the first strand to deliver the adhesive in contact with the upper surface of the first strand. The contact nozzle also includes a first air passage positioned in proximity to the first adhesive passage and terminating in a first air hole positioned downstream from the first adhesive hole in the machine direction. The first air hole is adapted to be directed on the upper surface of the first bead and is adapted to discharge air into the adhesive in contact with the first bead, thus causing the adhesive to spread around the periphery of the first bead. In addition to spreading the adhesive, this airflow also helps with release of adhesive from the nozzle body and keeps the nozzle body free from adhesive build-up that would eventually char and negatively affect the operation of the contact nozzle.
[0020] In one aspect, the contact nozzle further includes a bead guide that may be integral with or coupled to the nozzle body, the bead guide being adapted to position the first bead relative to the first elongated adhesive chamber. To this end, the nozzle body may include a back surface such that the elongated first adhesive chamber extends between the cord guide and the back surface. In one example, the bead guide is positioned relative to the elongated first chamber of adhesive such that a space between the first chamber surface and the upper surface of the bead remains constant in thickness along the length of the first chamber of adhesive. elongated adhesive. In an alternative example, the cord guide is positioned relative to the elongated first adhesive chamber such that the space reduces in thickness along the length of the elongated first adhesive chamber. In each of these examples, the space defines an expansion chamber sized to allow mold swelling of the adhesive exiting the first adhesive hole. This mold swelling causes an initial spread of adhesive around the periphery of the bead as the bead moves through the first elongated adhesive chamber.
[0021] In yet another embodiment of the invention, a contact nozzle for coating at least one elastic cord includes a nozzle body having a front side, a rear side, and a first V-shaped notch for receiving the first cord. The first V-shaped notch extends between the front and back side of the nozzle body. The contact nozzle further includes a first adhesive pass formed in the nozzle body and terminating in a first adhesive hole communicating with the first V-shaped notch. The first adhesive hole is adapted to be directed on the upper surface of the first strand to deliver the adhesive in contact with the top surface of the first bead. The contact nozzle further includes an expansion chamber formed in the nozzle body and communicating with the first adhesive hole. The expansion chamber is sized to allow mold swelling of the adhesive exiting the first adhesive hole. The contact nozzle also includes a first air passage positioned in proximity to the first adhesive passage and terminating in a first air hole positioned downstream from the first adhesive hole in the machine direction. The first air hole is adapted to be directed on the upper surface of the first bead and is adapted to discharge air into the adhesive in contact with the first bead, thus causing the adhesive to spread around the periphery of the first bead. In addition to spreading the adhesive, this airflow also helps with release of adhesive from the nozzle body and keeps the nozzle body free from adhesive build-up that would eventually char and adversely affect the operation of the contact nozzle.
[0022] In one aspect, the adhesive is mechanically spread over the periphery of the cord by the V-shaped notch. To this end, the V-shaped notch may include first and second converging surfaces connected at a top edge and defining a angle between the converging surfaces in the range of 60 degrees to 90 degrees. The V-shaped notch extends both upstream and downstream in the machine direction from the expansion chamber. Furthermore, the V-shaped notch defines a bead guide adapted to position the first bead with respect to the expansion chamber.
[0023] In another aspect, the contact nozzle includes alignment pins coupled to the front side of the nozzle body and located upstream in the machine direction from the V-shaped notch. The alignment pins are adapted to prevent the first bead coming out of the V-shaped notch during adhesive application.
[0024] In another embodiment of the invention, an adhesive delivery system for coating at least one elastic cord moving in a machine direction with an adhesive includes a module configured to receive a supply of the adhesive. The adhesive dispensing system also includes a contact nozzle coupled to the module. The contact nozzle includes a nozzle body with a first groove for receiving a first strand. The contact nozzle further includes a first adhesive passage formed in the nozzle body and terminating in a first adhesive hole communicating with the first groove. The first adhesive hole is adapted to be directed into an upper surface of the first strand to deliver the adhesive in contact with the upper surface of the first strand. The adhesive delivery system also includes a first air passage positioned in proximity to the first adhesive passage and terminating in a first air hole positioned downstream from the first adhesive hole in the machine direction. The first air hole is adapted to be directed into the upper surface of the first bead and adapted to discharge air into the adhesive in contact with the first bead, causing the adhesive to spread around the periphery of the first bead. In addition to spreading the adhesive, this airflow also helps with release of adhesive from the nozzle body and keeps the nozzle body free from adhesive build-up that would eventually char and adversely affect the operation of the contact nozzle.
[0025] In one aspect, the first air passage is formed in the nozzle body. The nozzle body may include an expansion chamber communicating with the first adhesive hole and sized to allow mold swelling of the adhesive exiting the first adhesive hole. The contact nozzle may also include a cord guide that is integral with or coupled to the nozzle body for positioning the first cord with respect to the expansion chamber. In one embodiment, the first slot includes an elongated adhesive chamber adapted to receive the first strand. The elongated adhesive chamber extends from the cord guide to a rear surface of the nozzle body and includes a first chamber surface including the adhesive orifice. The first chamber surface is spaced from the bead to define a space defining an expansion chamber sized to allow mold swelling of the adhesive as the adhesive moves through the elongated adhesive chamber. In another embodiment, the first groove includes a V-shaped notch that defines the cord guide extending between the front and rear sides of the nozzle body. The V-shaped notch is defined by two converging surfaces that are connected to a top edge that intersects the expansion chamber.
[0026] In yet another embodiment of the invention, a method of contact coating at least one elastic bead with an adhesive includes moving a first bead in a machine direction relative to a contact nozzle. The method also includes discharging the adhesive from the contact nozzle onto an upper surface of the first bead. Pressurized air is then discharged onto the adhesive in the first bead, causing the adhesive to spread around the periphery of the bead. Pressurized air also helps with release of adhesive from the contact nozzle and keeps the nozzle body free of adhesive build-up.
[0027] In an additional or alternative aspect, air is discharged from an air hole in the contact nozzle. Air is also discharged at an acute angle to the machine direction as measured between the air discharge direction and the first upstream bead of air in the machine direction. For example, the acute angle from machine direction can be in the range of about 50 degrees and about 80 degrees. Thus, air intersects the first strand at the acute angle. A smaller acute angle can be chosen to make the air flow more parallel to the bead movement, thus allowing higher air pressures to be utilized, such as during the start of the adhesive delivery system.
[0028] In another alternative or additional aspect, multiple air currents are discharged into the adhesive on the bead to make the adhesive spread around opposite sides of the periphery of the bead. The multiple air currents can be staggered in the machine direction such that the multiple currents hit the bead at different locations along the machine direction. Alternatively, the multiple air streams are aligned in a plane perpendicular to the machine direction such that the multiple air streams hit the bead at roughly the same position along the machine direction.
[0029] In another alternative or additional aspect, pressurized air is continuously discharged into the adhesive in contact with the first bead, causing substantially continuous spreading of the adhesive around the first bead. Alternatively, pressurized air is non-continuously discharged into the adhesive in contact with the first bead, causing substantially non-continuous spreading of the adhesive around the first bead. In one example, this non-continuous spread may be caused by periodic pulsation of pressurized air. Regardless of the air discharge method, the adhesive is spread around the periphery of the first bead such that the adhesive defines thickness irregularities along the length of the first bead.
[0030] In one aspect, the method includes moving the first strand through an elongated adhesive chamber in communication with the first adhesive hole and spreading the adhesive in contact with the upper surface of the first strand. The first strand can be moved through the elongated adhesive chamber so as to be generally parallel to a chamber surface including the first adhesive hole. Alternatively, the first strand can be moved through the elongated adhesive chamber so as to move closer to the chamber surface along the length of the elongated adhesive chamber. In another aspect, the method includes moving the first strand through a V-shaped notch formed in the contact nozzle. The V-shaped notch mechanically moves the adhesive over the bead to spread the adhesive around the periphery of the bead.
[0031] The various features of the modalities described above can be combined in any configuration as desired. For example, all lining nozzle embodiments are capable of more than one stretched elastic strand by duplicating the structural elements used to coat the first stretched elastic strand. Several additional features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon review of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] Figure 1 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of a contact nozzle for use with an adhesive dispensing system in accordance with the current invention.
[0033] Figure 2A is a schematic side view of another embodiment of an adhesive delivery system in a non-woven assembly process.
[0034] Figure 2B is a rear side perspective view of the mouthpiece of Figure 2A.
[0035] Figure 2C is a rear side view of the mouthpiece of Figure 2A, showing several air passages in phantom.
[0036] Figure 2D is a detailed rear side view of the mouthpiece of Figure 2A, showing the adhesive chamber and access slot.
[0037] Figure 3A is a side cross-sectional view of the nozzle of Figure 2B along line 3-3, illustrating interior flow passages for adhesive and air.
[0038] Figure 3B is a detailed side cross-sectional view of the nozzle of Figure 3A, further illustrating the adhesive release edge of the nozzle body.
[0039] Figure 3C is a side cross-sectional view of the nozzle similar to Figure 3A, except that the bead is in an angled orientation relative to the nozzle body and the adhesive chamber.
[0040] Figure 3D is a detailed side cross-sectional view of the nozzle of Figure 3C, further illustrating the adhesive release edge of the nozzle body.
[0041] Figure 4 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the nozzle of Figure 2B along line 3-3, illustrating adhesive spreading on the cord.
[0042] Figure 5A is a rear side view of an alternative embodiment of a mouthpiece, showing multiple air passages in phantom.
[0043] Figure 5B is a rear side view of another alternative embodiment of a mouthpiece, showing multiple air passages in phantom.
[0044] Figure 6 is a partially exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a mouthpiece.
[0045] Figure 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the nozzle of Figure 6 along line 7-7, illustrating interior flow paths for adhesive and air.
[0046] Figure 8A is a detailed side cross-sectional view of the air discharge control device of Figure 7 in a first position.
[0047] Figure 8B is a detailed side cross-sectional view of the air discharge control device of Figure 7 in a second position.
[0048] Figure 9 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the nozzle of Figure 6 along line 7-7, illustrating adhesive spreading on the cord with pulsed air.
[0049] Figure 10 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of an adhesive delivery system in a non-woven assembly process.
[0050] Figure 11 is a side cross-sectional view of the adhesive delivery system of Figure 10, illustrating interior flow paths for adhesive and air.
[0051] Figure 12 is a schematic side view of yet another embodiment of an adhesive delivery system in a non-woven assembly process.
[0052] Figure 13 is a schematic side view of another alternative embodiment of an adhesive dispensing system in a non-woven assembly process, the adhesive dispensing system including a V-shaped notch nozzle.
[0053] Figure 14A is a rear side perspective view of the V-shaped notch nozzle of Figure 13.
[0054] Figure 14B is a rear side view of the V-shaped notch nozzle of Figure 13, showing multiple air passages in phantom.
[0055] Figure 14C is a detailed rear side view of the V-shaped notch nozzle of Figure 13, showing the adhesive being applied within one of the notches.
[0056] Figure 15A is a side cross-sectional view of the V-shaped notch nozzle of Figure 14A along line 15-15, illustrating interior flow passages for adhesive and air and one of the notches without adhesive or a bead located inside the notch.
[0057] Figure 15B is a bottom view of the V-shaped notch nozzle of Figure 15A, further illustrating the notch and an adhesive hole communicating with the notch.
[0058] Figure 15C is a side cross-sectional view of the V-shaped notch nozzle similar to that of Figure 15A, with the adhesive material being applied to a bead within the groove.
[0059] Figure 15D is a detailed side cross-sectional view of the V-shaped notch nozzle of Figure 15C, further illustrating the adhesive release edge of the V-shaped notch nozzle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0060] Figure 1 illustrates a contact nozzle 2 configured to be used in an adhesive dispensing system according to the present invention. The contact nozzle 2 receives a stretched elastic cord 12 and applies an adhesive 14 to the elastic cord 12 by contact coating of the elastic cord 12 when the elastic cord 12 moves in a machine direction, as indicated by arrow 16. The contact nozzle 2 is illustrated in this figure as a generalized contact nozzle 2, and it will be appreciated that a contact nozzle having any shape and in any particular shape can be used in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Pressurized air (hereinafter "air") is then discharged into adhesive 14 in elastic cord 12 as shown by arrow 18 downstream (relative to machine direction 16) from application of adhesive 14. represented by an arrow 18 originating from the contact nozzle 2 in Figure 1, it is to be understood that air can be discharged from a separate air supply line or by any other method unrelated to the contact nozzle 2 in other arrangements within the scope of the current invention. The airflow still moves or spreads the adhesive 14 around the bead 12, thus resulting in different thicknesses of adhesive coating along the length of the bead 12. The airflow also assists the adhesive in releasing from the nozzle. of contact nozzle 2 and keeps contact nozzle 2 free from adhesive build-up, which would eventually char and negatively affect the operation of contact nozzle 2. Air is a pressurized air flow such that the effects of air impact and of the adhesive 14 on the cord 12 are in addition to any effects that ambient air may have on the adhesive 14 when the elastic cord 12 moves in the machine direction 16. The combination of a contact coating process with additional discharged air in the adhesive 14 in strand 12 advantageously provides a strand 12 reliably coated with adhesive 14 along substantially its entire periphery. It is believed that this process causes the thickness of the adhesive coating to vary along the length of the cord 12 to maintain elasticity of the cord 12. In this regard, the adhesive 14 forms a coating having a plurality of thicker portions 84a, a plurality of thinner portions 84b, and preferably a plurality of empty portions 84c where no adhesive 14 exists on the cord 12. When the coated cord is bonded to one or more non-woven substrates, such as in diaper construction, the adhesive forms a bond between substrates and filaments that exhibit desirable levels of creep strength and a shrinkage force.
[0061] Figures 2A-15D illustrate various embodiments of the adhesive dispensing system 10, 310, 410, 510 according to the present invention including a module 15 coupled with a contact nozzle 19, 110, 312, 412, 512. Module 15 may be a Universal™ module obtained from Nordson Corporation of Westlake, Ohio. The Universal™ module is further described in US Patent No. 6,676,038 to Gressett Jr. et al. and US Patent No. 7,559,487 to Gressett Jr. et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. In each of these exemplary embodiments and consistent with the generalized embodiment shown in Figure 1, the contact nozzle applies an adhesive to an elastic cord by distributing adhesive from an orifice and contact coating the cord with adhesive adjacent to the hole. After the adhesive has been brought into contact with the elastic cord, air is discharged into the adhesive in the cord. The operation of each mode is described in more detail below.
[0062] Figures 2A-4 further illustrate an embodiment of an adhesive delivery system 10 including a contact nozzle 19 for coating a cord 12 with an adhesive 14. More particularly, the nozzle 19 is coating one or more elastic cords. stretched 12 with a hotmelt adhesive 14 to form an elastic portion of a sanitary product such as a diaper or sanitary napkin. Nozzle 19 applies hotmelt adhesive 14 to elastic cord 12 when elastic cord 12 moves in a machine direction through a groove (not shown in Figure 2A) as indicated by arrows 16. Nozzle 19 then discharges air pressurized in the hotmelt adhesive 14 as shown by arrows 18 to make the hotmelt adhesive 14 spread around a periphery 20 of the elastic cord 12. The nozzle 19 uses hotmelt adhesive 14 of a generally low viscosity because air is discharged into the hotmelt adhesive 14 only when the hotmelt adhesive 14 is in contact with the strand 12. Since the hotmelt adhesive 14 is not distributed in air as a filament and impacted with process air to move in a controlled pattern, there is no risk of uncontrolled and uncontrolled filaments. high viscosity is required to maintain filament integrity. The elastic cord 12 then continues in the machine direction for first and second binding spools 22a, 22b which couple first and second non-woven substrates 24a, 24b, such as top and bottom sheets of a typical elastic cord diaper 12 at a sandwich construction. The hotmelt adhesive thus bonds the non-woven substrates 24a, 24b and the elastic cord 12 to form an elastic portion of a sanitary product. Although Figure 2A illustrates the first and second non-woven substrate 24a, 24b are two different sheets of material, the sandwich construction may alternatively be formed of a sheet of non-woven material folded in on itself around the elastic cord 12 to form two layers of substrate. Furthermore, the first lead spool 22a and second lead spool 22b can be staggered or aligned in the machine direction.
[0063] It should be understood that the use of directional terms such as top, top, bottom, front, back, and side in the following description is for illustrative purposes only and does not limit the structure or methods for any such orientation. Furthermore, the shape and size of various components of the mouthpiece 19 described below can be modified according to the user's needs, without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0064] The nozzle 19 is shown in greater detail in Figures 2B to 3D. The nozzle 19 includes a nozzle body 30 including an upper body portion 32 and a lower body portion 34. The nozzle body 30 also includes a top side 36, a bottom side 38, a front side 40 extending between the top and bottom side 36, 38, and a back side 42 extending between the top and bottom side 36, 38. The top side 36 defines a mounting surface 36 configured to enclose a module 15. The body portion upper 32 is generally longer along the machine direction than lower body portion 34 from front side 40 to rear side 42, thus giving nozzle 19 a tapered appearance from top side 36 to the bottom side 38. Thus, the upper body portion 32 defines the connecting portions 44 along the front side 40 and the rear side 42 to align the nozzle 19 with the module 15. The nozzle 19 is fastened to the module 15 of such that the top side 36 (i.e., the mounting surface) is coupled to the module 15 as well. understood from US Patent Nos. 6,676,038 and 7,559,487. In some embodiments, the nozzle body 30 may have a different shape and dimensions, including, but not limited to, being formed from stacked plates.
The nozzle 19 further includes an adhesive inlet 50 and an air inlet 52 arranged along the mounting surface on the top side 36 of the nozzle body 30. The adhesive inlet 50 is surrounded by a sealing groove 54 which receives a sealing member 56 between the nozzle 19 and the previously described module 15. The adhesive inlet 50 is fluidly coupled to a plurality of adhesive passageways 58 formed in the nozzle body 30 and extending into the lower body portion 34 of the nozzle body 30. Although three passages of adhesive 58 are shown in Figure 2C, more or less passages of adhesive 58 can be coupled to the adhesive inlet 50 in other embodiments of the nozzle 19. Each passage of adhesive 58 is spaced apart from passages of adhesive. adhesives 58 in a lateral direction transverse to the machine direction. Each adhesive passage 58 delivers adhesive 14 from adhesive inlet 50 to an adhesive orifice 60 communicating with a respective slot 62 formed near the bottom side 38 of the nozzle body 30. The slot 62 of the present embodiment includes a chamber of elongated adhesive 62 as described in more detail with reference to Figures 3A and 3B below.
[0066] Similarly, the air inlet 52 is fluidly coupled with a plurality of air passages 64 formed in the nozzle body 30 and extending into the lower body portion 34. Each air passage 64 is positioned in proximity from and directly to the rear of the respective adhesive passage 58 in the nozzle body 30. In this regard, each set of adhesive passages 58 and air passages 64 coats a bead 12 passing through the nozzle 19. In addition, each set of passages of adhesive 58 and air passages 64 in the illustrated embodiment includes only one adhesive passage 58 and only one air passage 64 for the corresponding shaft 12. As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, it should be understood that at least a lower portion of the passage of adhesive 58 and the air passage 64 are fabricated so as to be generally parallel to each other, thus avoiding interference between the passages 58, 64 within the nozzle body 30. Furthermore, it will be understood that the adhesive passage 58 can be machined to include a slight bend at a point between the adhesive inlet 50 and the adhesive hole 60 as shown in Figure 3A or it can be machined to follow a linear path between the adhesive inlet 50 and the hole of adhesive 60 in other embodiments (eg Figure 15A) without departing from the scope of the invention. Each air passage 64 is spaced from adjacent air passages 64 in the lateral direction. Each air passage 64 delivers air from the air inlet 52 to an air hole 66 directed in the adhesive 14 in contact with the cord 12. More particularly, the air hole 66 is positioned adjacent a rear surface 68, which is part of the back side 42 of the nozzle body 30. As such, air is discharged from the air passage 64 and the air port 66 is directed along the back surface 68 to act on the adhesive 14 when the cord 12 exits the chamber of adhesive 62. As shown in Figure 2D and 3B, the air hole 66 is located in an intermediate surface 69 extending from the back surface 68. The thicknesses 69a and 69b of the intermediate surface 69 on opposite sides of the air hole 66 are minimized in order to reduce any eddy currents that tend to form adjacent oblique surfaces around air hole 66. Reducing eddy currents along intermediate surface 69 makes the air delivery to cord 12 more laminant. air.
Nozzle 19 further includes one or more cord guides 70 positioned close to nozzle body 30 to guide respective cords 12 to corresponding adhesive chambers 62. Cord guides used with spiral nozzles are described in the Patent No. US 7,647,885 to Crane et al. and US Patent Publication No. 2010/0024997 to Saine et al., which are assigned to Nordson Corporation and the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. In the illustrated embodiment, each cord guide 70 is coupled to the nozzle body 30 and includes a guide groove 72 in communication with corresponding adhesive chambers 62. The guide groove 72 tapers inwardly in the machine direction so that the cord 12 is accurately positioned in adhesive chamber 62 to travel beneath adhesive hole 60 and air hole 66. Each cord guide 70 also defines a side width as shown in Figure 2C. Thus, adjacent sets of adhesive passages 58 and air passages 64 in the nozzle body 30 are laterally spaced apart by any distance above a minimum spacing defined by the lateral width W1 of the cord guides 70. provision of a single air passage 64 and only one passage of adhesive 58 per strand 12 requires less width in the nozzle body 30 than the lateral width W1 of the strand guides 70. For this reason at least the minimum spacing between multiple strands 12 driving through the nozzle 19 is dependent on the cord guides 70 instead of the adhesive passage 58 and air passage 64.
[0068] In one example, each cord guide 70 is formed and inserted separately into a corresponding guide cavity 74 in the nozzle body 30 as shown in the figures. In this arrangement, the cord guides 70 are replaceable if the moving cord 12 wears the guide groove 72. In addition, the cord guides 70 in this arrangement are formed from stainless steel with a titanium nitride coating to resist wear. by friction, while the nozzle body 30 is manufactured from a different material such as aluminum or brass. Cord guides 70 may only include guide groove 72 as shown or may be modified to include guide groove 72 and adhesive chamber 62 in another embodiment not shown. To this end, the cord guide 70 of the illustrated embodiment is formed separately and located upstream of the adhesive chamber 62. In other embodiments, the cord guides 70 are formed integrally with the nozzle body 30. In this arrangement, the nozzle body nozzle 30 can be machined from steel and a titanium nitride coating can be used in the area of the integrated bead guide 70 to resist friction wear. In yet another arrangement, cord guides 70 are coupled to nozzle body 30 or coupled to another structure adjacent to nozzle body 30, such as a module carrying nozzle 19.
[0069] Figures 2D, 3A and 3B further illustrate one of the elongated adhesive chambers 62 (eg grooves 62) in greater detail. Adhesive chamber 62 includes a chamber surface 76 on nozzle body 30, chamber surface 76 including adhesive orifice 60 communicating with adhesive passage 58. Nozzle body 30 further includes an access slot 77 extending down from the adhesive chamber 62 to the bottom side 38, as shown in Figure 2D. The access slot 77 communicates with the adhesive chamber 62 and the guide slot 72 in the cord guide 70 so that the elastic cord 12 can be inserted upwardly through the access slot 77 in the guide slot 72 and the cord chamber. adhesive 62 rather than being threaded through these elements. Adhesive chamber 62 is shown as a groove in Figures 3A and 3B, but it should be understood that adhesive chamber 62 can define different shapes and sizes in other embodiments, including being tapered. In embodiments with a tapered adhesive chamber 62, the taper is continuous or stepped. Furthermore, while the adhesive chamber 62 and access slot 77 are milled into the nozzle body 30 in the illustrated embodiment, alternative embodiments of the nozzle 19 may include an adhesive chamber 62 formed by one or more apertures drilled through the nozzle body. 30 along the machine steering. An access slot 77 can then be milled between the perforated openings and the bottom side 38 of the nozzle body 30. In one example, an adhesive chamber 62 including two perforated openings defines an 8-shaped cross-sectional shape, and the access slot 77 can be milled at the point of intersection of the two perforated openings.
Thus, the adhesive chamber 62 is in fluid communication with the adhesive passage 58 through the adhesive hole 60. The guide groove 72 of the cord guide 70 positions the cord 12 within the adhesive chamber 62 so as to defining a space 78 between chamber surface 76 and an upper surface 80 of strand 12. Space 78 defines an expansion chamber that is sized to allow for an initial expansion of adhesive 14 to adhesive chamber 62 above strand 12 due to mold swelling effects within adhesive chamber 62. In the exemplary embodiment shown, space 78 is sized within the range of about 0.0127 cm (0.005 inches) to about 0.0381 cm (0.015 inches). As is well understood in the art, mold swelling refers to the phenomenon of a stream of material swelling in volume after being compressed in a mold or narrow passage (such as adhesive passage 58). Adhesive chamber 62 is substantially filled with adhesive 14 in space 78 such that adhesive 14 is applied to elastic cord 12 as cord 12 moves through adhesive chamber 62. Thus, adhesive chamber 62 is configured to stimulate initial expansion and spread of adhesive 14 in the present embodiment. Because the elastic cord 12 passes through the adhesive chamber 62 at a greater rate than the adhesive 14 is supplied to the adhesive chamber 62, the cord 12 extracts the adhesive 14 from the adhesive chamber 62 in a manner that ensures that the cord 12 it is not coated with excess or unnecessary adhesive 14. Furthermore, the space 78 between the chamber surface 76 and the upper surface 80 of the cord 12 in combination with the effects of mold swelling causes the adhesive 14 to begin to spread in around the periphery 20 of the cord 12 as the cord 12 passes through the adhesive chamber 62, as indicated in phantom in Figure 3B.
[0071] As shown in Figure 2D, the rear surface 68 of the nozzle body 30 also intersects a lower rear surface 81 at an elongated edge 82. The adhesive chamber 62 and access slot 77 terminate at the lower rear surface 81. A elongated edge 82 includes an adhesive release edge 82a where chamber surface 76 intersects back surface 68. Chamber surface 76 and back surface 68 define an interior angle α (Figure 3B) between surfaces 76 and 68 in adhesive release edge 82a. The interior angle α is an acute angle so that the adhesive releasing edge 82 promotes strong release of the adhesive 14 onto the cord 12 from the nozzle body 30. The interior α is measured in an upstream direction along the machine direction of adhesive release edge 82a. To this end, the interior angle α is defined by the nozzle body 30 at the adhesive releasing edge 82a. In the illustrated embodiment, the acute angle from machine direction can be in the range of about 50 degrees and about 80 degrees. As the acute angle α is made smaller within this range (for example, the relatively small acute angle α shown in Figure 3B), the air flow from air port 66 becomes more parallel to the movement of cord 12 along the machine direction, which allows higher air pressures to be used for the air flow to spread the adhesive 14 without blowing the adhesive 14 out of the bead 12. The adhesive release edge 82a applies a sweeping effect or spreading on adhesive 14 without contacting bead 12. This spreading effect increases as bead 12 is positioned closer to adhesive release edge 82a.
[0072] The air discharged from the air hole 66 along the back surface 68 as shown by arrows 18 also aids in the release of adhesive 14 from the nozzle body 30 at the adhesive release edge 82a. Air traveling along the back surface 68 strikes the top surface 80 of the strand 12 at a non-perpendicular angle such that the formation of any eddy currents around the adhesive release edge 82a is believed to be discouraged. More specifically, air strikes the upper surface 80 of cord 12 at an acute angle described above. Therefore, the adhesive 14 remains attached to the cord moving 12 downstream of the adhesive chamber 62 rather than accumulating on the nozzle body 30. As a result, the risk of the adhesive 14 accumulating on the nozzle body 30 and blocking the air orifice 66 is substantially reduced or eliminated.
[0073] In the illustrated embodiment, the width of strand 12 in a stretched condition is about 0.02032 cm (0.008 inches) to 0.0508 cm (0.02 inches). Adhesive hole 60 has a diameter of about 0.06096 cm (0.024 inches) so that adhesive 14 applied to strand 12 begins to spread around periphery 20 of strand 12 immediately after application to adhesive chamber 62. Air hole 66 has a diameter of about 0.0508 cm (0.02 inches). in the illustrated mode. The pressure of the air discharged through air port 66 is set so that air port 66 discharges about 4.57 to 15.24 cubic centimeters (0.15 to 0.50 cubic feet) of air per minute. When only one air orifice 66 is used to discharge process air in each bead 12, the overall consumption of process air and the corresponding infrastructure needed to supply process air is reduced.
[0074] In another arrangement shown in Figures 3C and 3D, the nozzle body 30 has been moved downwardly relative to the cord 12 such that the 12 is angled upward on both sides of the guide groove 72 and passes through the adhesive chamber 62 at an angle to the chamber surface 76. To this end, the cord 12 moves within the adhesive chamber 62 so as to be closer to the chamber surface 76 at the exit of the adhesive chamber 62 than in the groove 72. In this orientation, the space 78a between the chamber surface 76 and the upper surface 80 of the strand 12 decreases along the length of the adhesive chamber 62 such that an exit space 78b at the exit of the adhesive chamber 62 is reduced from space 78a. This narrowed outlet space 78b increases the amount of time that adhesive 14 is located in adhesive chamber 62, thus causing an increased spread of adhesive 14 around the periphery 20 of strand 12 within adhesive chamber 62, due to the effects of mold swelling. Again, space 78a is sized within the range of about 0.0127 cm (0.005 inches) to about 0.0381 cm (0.015 inches). The adhesive releasing edge 82a also applies a greater spreading effect on the adhesive 14 as a result of the narrowed exit space 78b at the exit of the adhesive chamber 62. Therefore, the adhesive 14 is forced to start spreading around the periphery 20 of the cord 12 before the cord 12 exits the adhesive chamber 62 and the nozzle body 30. It should be understood that the narrowing of the space 78a along the length of the adhesive chamber 62 can be achieved in other ways while maintaining the cord 12 generally horizontal, including but not limited to taper the adhesive chamber 62.
[0075] The operation of nozzle 19 is shown in Figures 3A-3D and 4. Adhesive passage 58 delivers adhesive 14 through adhesive orifice 60 to fill adhesive chamber 62. Adhesive 14 is applied to upper surface 80 of cord 12 in the illustrated embodiment. The cord 12 then pulls the adhesive 14 through the adhesive chamber 62 until the cord 12 emerges from the rear side 42 of the nozzle body 30. On this rear side 42, a portion of the adhesive 14 releases from the nozzle body. nozzle 30 by virtue of air moving along back surface 68 and adhesive release edge 82a.
[0076] After release from the nozzle body 30, the adhesive 14 in contact with the cord is reached by means of additional air discharged from the air port 66 to the elastic cord 12. The air makes the adhesive 14, which is only partially spread around the periphery 20 of the strand 12, spread further around the periphery 20 of the strand 12 so as to cover the strand 12 with the adhesive 14. The air discharged from the air port 66 does not blow the adhesive 14 away from cord 12, because adhesive 14 is applied to cord 12 and begins to form an adhesive bond with cord 12 before being hit with air. Furthermore, the adhesive 14 substantially covers the entire periphery 20 of the strand 12 as explained below rather than wrapping a filament randomly around portions of the periphery 20.
[0077] Adhesive 14 forms a coating on strand 12 that appears continuous to the naked eye, but it is believed that this coating is not entirely continuous along the length of strand 12. As described above, adhesive 14 is extruded from the adhesive hole 60 in adhesive chamber 62. The stretched elastic cord 12 is received in adhesive chamber 62 as cord 12 moves in the machine direction. Consequently, the adhesive 14 contacts the moving cord 12 and rapidly accelerates to be released from the nozzle 19 at the adhesive release edge 82a. The rapid acceleration of the adhesive 14 causes the adhesive 14 to be applied to the bead 12 in a semi-depleted state, such that the amount of adhesive 14 varies along the length of the bead 12. It is more particularly believed that the adhesive 14 forms localized masses separated by thinner sections that preferably can break when adhesive 14 is accelerated by elastic cord 12. As a result, adhesive 14 forms a coating with a plurality of thicker portions 84a, a plurality of thinner portions 84b, and preferably a plurality of empty portions 84c where no adhesive 14 exists on the strand 12. The localized masses of adhesive 14 are configured to become discrete attachment points by affixing the elastic strand 12 to one or both of the non-woven substrates 24a, 24b. Then, the adhesive 14 is hit with air from the air hole 66, which causes the spread of adhesive 14 which tends to further break the adhesive 14 into localized masses.
[0078] As a result of these operational steps, the resulting coating formed on the cord 12 is believed to include thickness irregularities along the length of the cord 12. In this regard, Figures 3B and 3D schematically illustrate that the adhesive 14 forms a coating with a plurality of thicker portions 84a, a plurality of thinner portions 84b, and preferably a plurality of empty portions 84c where no adhesive 14 exists on the cord 12. These portions 84a, 84b, 84c are shown as an artist's interpretation and will be It is appreciated that the actual appearance and distribution of these portions 84a, 84b, 84c may vary in actual use depending on operating parameters such as air pressure. The continuous, unrepeatable appearance of adhesive 14 on cord 12 is desirable in sanitary products, but coating thickness irregularities believed to be formed by adhesive 14 advantageously result in thicker portions 84a functioning as discrete attachment points formed along the length. of the length of strand 12 when adhered to one or more of the substrates 24a, 24b, as described in detail above. More specifically, when bonded between two non-woven substrates 24a, 24b, the coated elastic strand 12 is coated with sufficient adhesive 14 to exhibit a high level of creep strength and, by virtue of the discrete bonding point effect, also exhibits a high retraction force level.
[0079] In the exemplary coating operation described above in connection with the nozzle 19, the hotmelt adhesive 14 used to coat the elastic cord 12 has a viscosity in the range of about 3,000 to about 12,000 centipoises, and possibly higher, depending on various operating parameters such as air pressure. The lower the viscosity of adhesive 14 leads to better bonding with a non-woven substrate and better penetration into non-woven substrates 24a, 24b. Furthermore, the nozzle 19 of the present invention can operate with a wide range of viscosities because of this wide potential adhesive viscosity range. The lower the viscosity of hotmelt adhesive 14 also allows adhesive 14 to be applied at a higher temperature than bead 12 and also reduces the overall consumption of adhesive material to cover bead 12. For example, the amount of hotmelt adhesive 14 applied to cord 12 is in the range of about 25 mg/m up to about 120 mg/m. The higher application temperatures lead to better adhesive bonds being formed with the non-woven substrate 24, even with less consumption of adhesive 14. Consequently, the nozzle 19 significantly reduces hygiene product assembly costs by reducing the amount of adhesive 14 and process air consumed and running with lower adhesive viscosity.
[0080] In some alternative embodiments, the nozzle 19 includes an adhesive passage 58, multiple air passages 64, and multiple air holes 66 for each strand 12. As shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the nozzle 19 includes a first passage vent 64a and first air port 66a directed to one side of cord 12, and nozzle 19 also includes a second air port 64b and second air port 66b directed to the opposite side of cord 12. In an alternative illustrated in Figure 5A , the first air passage 64a is staggered in the machine direction from the second air passage 64b such that the air flow from each of the air passages 64a, 64b reaches the adhesive 14 on the cord 12 in sequence. In another alternative illustrated in Figure 5B, the first and second air passages 64a, 64b are aligned and collinear within an oriented plane perpendicular to the machine direction such that the air flow from each of the air passages 64a, 64b, 14 hits the adhesive on the cord 12 at approximately the same location. It will be understood that the number and orientation of air passages 64 and air holes 66 can be modified in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, it should be understood that each of the air passages 64a, 64b continues to discharge air at an acute angle relative to the machine direction to possibly discourage the formation of eddy currents. The first and second air passages 64a, 64b provide redundancy in the event that one of the air passages 64a, 64b becomes blocked, just as the air passage 64a, 64b is capable of spreading the adhesive 14 around the cord 12 However, provision of two or more air passages 64 can result in improved adhesive spread.
[0081] Another embodiment of a contact nozzle 110 is illustrated in Figures 6-9. The mouthpiece 110 of the present embodiment includes substantially all of the elements previously described with reference to the embodiment of Figures 2A-4, and these elements are repeated in Figures 6-9 with the same reference numerals as in the previous embodiment. These elements and the advantageous operation of the nozzle 110 are not repeated in detail, as the following discussion focuses on the differences in the present embodiment.
[0082] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the nozzle 110 of this mode further includes an air discharge control device 190 operatively coupled to the air passage 64 in the nozzle body 30. The air discharge control device 190 intermittently blocks pressurized air discharged from air port 66. More particularly, the air discharge control device 190 of the illustrated embodiment includes an elongate rotatable member 192 positioned in a side opening of the body 194 through the nozzle 30. The rotatable member 192 intermittently blocks the flow of air through the air passage 64. To this end, the rotating member 192 includes a plurality of fins 196 which are rotated to intermittently block the flow of air through the air passage 64. As shown in Figure 7 by arrows 198, the rotating member 192 rotates the fins 196 of the air passage 64 to effectively divide a continuous flow of air in the air inlet 52 into pulses of air flow in the air. air hole 66. Therefore, second liner nozzle 110 can be operated to discharge pulses of air in adhesive 14 onto elastic cord 12. It should be understood that rotatable member 192 can be removed from side opening 194 to allow continuous flow of air through the air passage 64 in other operations. Alternatively, the air discharge control device 190 includes an air control solenoid valve that selectively blocks the air flow through the air passage 64 to form a continuous flow or a pulsed air flow.
[0083] Rotating member 192 includes side ends 200 engaged with end bearings 202 inserted into opposite sides of side opening 194. End bearings 202 are held in position by locking pins 204 inserted through vertical openings 206 in the body of nozzle 30. More specifically, the locking pins 204 engage reduced diameter portions 208 of the end bearings 202 to prevent movement of the end bearings 202 and the rotatable member 192 in the lateral direction out of the lateral opening 194. It should be understood that rotatable member 192 alternatively includes flow passages that intermittently communicate with air passage 64 rather than fins 196 in some embodiments. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the rotating member 192 is replaced with an alternative structure operable to control the flow of air through the air passage 64.
[0084] Figures 8A and 8B illustrate the operation of the rotating member 192 of the illustrated embodiment. The side opening 194 divides the air passage 64 into an upper passage portion 64x leading to the air inlet 52 and a lower passage portion 64y leading to the air orifice 66. Each of the fins 196 defines an outer surface or region 222 which it intermittently rotates in engagement with a wall portion 224 of the side opening 194 extending between the upper and lower passageway portion 64x, 64y. In the position shown in Figure 8A, the region 222 of one of the fins 196 engages the wall portion 224 to effectively block the passage of air from the upper passage portion 64x to the lower passage portion 64y. When the rotatable member 192 moves to the position shown in Figure 8B, none of the regions 222 of the fins 196 is engaged with the wall portion 224 such that air can flow from the upper passage portion 64x to the passage portion. lower 64y. Thus, when the rotating member 192 rotates, the flow of air through the air passage 64 and the air port 66 is pulsed.
[0085] The rotating member 192 is driven automatically by the pressure of the air flow or is driven separately, for example, by an external motor (not shown). In this way, the frequency and duration of the air pulses are controlled to any desired setting. For example, the number and shape of fins 196 can be modified on rotating member 192 to change the pattern of airflow pulses. The air discharge control device 190 is operable to produce any particular type of pulsed air discharge to satisfy the user's requirements. The pulsation of the air flow can be between any two or more flow rates, one of which can be zero as when the fins 196 completely block the air flow through the air passage 64. When the discharged air is pulsated in at regular intervals by the discharge control device 190, the adhesive 14 is spread at regular intervals, as shown in Figure 9. In this regard, the cord 12 includes first portions 212 downstream from the nozzle 110 where the adhesive 14 is completely spread around the periphery 20 of the strand 12 and second portions 214 downstream from the nozzle 110 where the adhesive 14 remains only partially spread around the periphery 20 of the strand 12. In such an operation, thicker amounts of adhesive 14 remain on the upper surface 80 of strand 12 in second portions 214 form a discrete tie stitch effect when strand 12 is coupled to non-woven substrate 24 on tie spool 22. This effect of Discrete bonding is also enhanced by any irregularity in the thickness of the adhesive layer 14 along the length of strand 12 previously described with reference to the prior embodiment of Figures 2A-4. Also described above, this discrete bonding point effect is advantageous because the elastic cord 12, when bonded between two non-woven substrates 24a, 24b, exhibits a high level of force shrinkage as well as a high level of deformation resistance. Although second portions 214 of strand 12 are shown with a spacing in particular in Figure 6-9, it will be appreciated that the spacing between these second portions 214 can be increased or decreased in other embodiments. It will also be understood that although the acute angle α is shown as a larger angle in this embodiment than in the embodiment shown in Figures 2A-4, the acute angle α still remains within the desired range of about 50 degrees and about 80 degrees for the reasons described in detail above.
[0086] As in the previously described embodiment, the nozzle 110 significantly reduces the costs of assembling hygiene products, reducing the amount of adhesive 14 consumed and operating with low adhesive viscosity. In this way, the nozzle 10 allows a more reliable and economical coating of elastic cords 12.
[0087] An alternative embodiment of an adhesive dispensing system 310 for use in a sanitary product assembly process is shown in Figures 10 and 11. The adhesive dispensing system 310 includes a contact nozzle 312 including many of the same. elements than the previously described nozzles 19, 110. For this purpose, the same elements from the previous embodiments are numbered with the same reference numerals in this embodiment. The nozzle 312 again includes an adhesive passage 58 and an adhesive hole 60 adapted to direct adhesive 14 to fill an adhesive chamber 62 (e.g. a groove 62) and be delivered to an elastic cord moving 12 in the adhesive chamber 62 The nozzle 312 of this embodiment does not include air passages or air holes formed in the nozzle 312.
[0088] Instead, the adhesive delivery system 310 further includes an air supply line 314. The air supply line 314 includes an air passage (not shown) and terminates in an air hole 316 directed at the upper surface 80 of cord 12. In this way, air supply line 314 and air port 316 operate to discharge pressurized air into cord 12, causing adhesive 14 to spread over cord 12, as previously described in other embodiments. As shown in Figure 11, air supply line 314 is coupled to a slot 318 in nozzle 312 so that air supply line 314 is positioned proximate to nozzle 312. In other embodiments, air supply line 314 is maintained close to the nozzle 312 by other known mounting devices and methods, such as by module 15. In the embodiment of Figures 10 and 11, the air port 316 discharges air along a rear surface 68 of the nozzle 312 in order to aid in the releasing adhesive 14 from nozzle 312 at an adhesive releasing edge 82a.
[0089] Therefore, the adhesive dispensing system 310 of the present embodiment operates similarly as the nozzles 19, 110 previously described. More specifically, adhesive delivery system 310 spreads adhesive 14 over elastic cord 12 in a substantially continuous or pulsed fashion. Adhesive delivery system 310 can advantageously coat a strand 12 with adhesive 14 with low adhesive 14 consumption and a low adhesive viscosity, if desired. Adhesive delivery system 310 is positioned to coat strand 12 before strand 12 moves to the previously described bonding spools 22a, 22b downstream of air supply line 314 for coupling one or more non-woven substrates 24a, 24b to coated cord 12. Therefore, adhesive delivery system 310 improves the sanitary product assembly process.
[0090] Yet another alternative embodiment of an adhesive delivery system 410 for use in a hygiene products assembly process is shown in Figure 12. Similar to the previously described adhesive delivery system 310, this embodiment of the delivery system of adhesive 410 includes a contact nozzle 412 and an air supply line 414 positioned downstream from, but close to, the nozzle 412 in the machine direction. More particularly, the air supply line 414 is positioned to be spaced from the nozzles 412 so that the adhesive 14 is partially spread around the periphery 20 of the cord 12, before being hit by pressurized air from the line. air supply 414. In all other respects, adhesive delivery system 410 operates in the same manner as the previously described nozzles 19, 110 and system 310. Therefore, adhesive delivery system 410 is positioned to coat the cord. elastic 12 before the strand 12 shifts to the previously described connecting spools 22a, 22b downstream of the air supply line 414 for coupling one or more non-woven substrates 24a, 24b to the coated strand 12. For all the same reasons as described. in detail above, the adhesive dispensing system 410 improves the sanitary product assembly process.
[0091] An alternative embodiment of an adhesive dispensing system 510 for use in a hygiene products assembly process is shown in Figures 13-15D. Adhesive delivery system 510 includes a contact nozzle 512 having a different configuration than the previously described nozzles 19, 110, 312, 412. For example, the contact nozzle 512 of the present embodiment does not include an elongated adhesive chamber or guide. of separate cord, as previously shown in the other embodiments. These differences are highlighted in more detail below.
[0092] With particular reference to Figure 13, the nozzle 512 is coating one or more stretched elastic cords 12 with a hotmelt adhesive 14 to form an elastic portion of a sanitary product such as a diaper or sanitary napkin. Nozzle 512 applies hotmelt adhesive 14 to elastic cord 12 when elastic cord 12 moves in a machine direction, as indicated by arrows 16 in Figure 13. Nozzle 512 then discharges pressurized air into hotmelt adhesive 14, as shown by arrows 18 to make the hotmelt adhesive 14 spread around a periphery 20 of the elastic cord 12. The elastic cord 12 then continues in the machine direction to the first and second bonding spools 22a, 22b which couple first and second substrates do not fabric 24a, 24b, such as the top and bottom sheet of a typical diaper for elastic cord 12 in a sandwich construction. In this regard, the basic operation of adhesive delivery system 510 is similar to the general operation of the embodiments described above.
[0093] The nozzle 512 is shown in greater detail in Figures 14A to 15D. Nozzle 512 is a V-shaped notch nozzle 512 including a nozzle body 514 having an upper body portion 516 and a lower body portion 518. Nozzle body 514 also includes a top side 520, a side of bottom 522, a front side 524 extending between the top and bottom side 520, 522, and a back side 526 extending between the top and bottom side 520, 522. The top side 520 defines a shaped mounting surface 520 to confine a module 15 when the nozzle 512 is coupled to the module 15. The upper body portion 516 is generally longer along the machine direction than the lower body portion 518 from the front side 524 to the rear side 526 , thus giving the nozzle 512 a tapered appearance from the top side 520 to the bottom side 522. Thus, the upper body portion 516 defines connecting portions 528 along the front side 524 and the back side 526 to align the nozzle. 512 with module 15. Nozzle 512 is fastened to module 15 such that top side 520 is coupled to module 15 as is well understood from US Patent Nos. 6,676,038 and 7,559,487. In some embodiments, the nozzle body 514 may have a different shape and size, including, but not limited to, being formed from stacked plates.
[0094] Referring to Figure 14A, the nozzle 512 further includes an adhesive inlet 530 and an air inlet 532 disposed along the mounting surface on the top side 520 of the nozzle body 514. The adhesive inlet 530 is surrounded by a sealing groove 534 which receives a sealing member 536 between the nozzle 512 and the previously described module 15. The adhesive inlet 530 is fluidly coupled to a plurality of adhesive passages 538 formed in the nozzle body 514 and extending into the lower body portion 518 of nozzle body 514. Although two passages of adhesive 538 are shown in Figure 14B, more or less passages of adhesive 538 may be coupled to adhesive inlet 530 in other embodiments of nozzle 512. Each passage of adhesive 538 is offset from adjacent adhesive passages 538 in a lateral direction transverse to the machine direction. Each adhesive passage 538 delivers adhesive 14 from adhesive inlet 530 to an adhesive hole 540 communicating with a respective groove in the form of a V-shaped notch 542 (hereinafter V-shaped notch 542) formed near the the bottom side 522 of the nozzle body 514. The V-shaped notch 542 inherently operates as a cord guide for the nozzle 512 and replaces the cord guide and elongated adhesive chamber of the previous embodiments, yet a separate expansion chamber is described in more detail below. These and other features of the V-shaped notch 542 are described in more detail with reference to Figures 14C, 15A, and 15B below.
[0095] Similarly, the air inlet 532 is fluidly coupled with a plurality of air passages 544 formed in the nozzle body 514 and extending into the lower body portion 518. Each air passage 544 is positioned in proximity from and directly to the rear of the respective adhesive passage 538 within the nozzle body 514. In this regard, each assembly of an adhesive passage 538 and an air passage 544 covers a bead 12 passing through the nozzle 512. As shown in Figure 15A, it should be understood that at least a lower portion of the adhesive passage 538 and the air passage 544 are fabricated so as to be generally parallel to each other, thus avoiding interference between passages 538, 544 within the nozzle body 514. Each air passage 544 delivers air from the air inlet 532 to an air hole 546 directed in the adhesive 14 in contact with the cord 12. More particularly, the air hole 546 is positioned adjacent to a rear surface 548, which forms part of the rear side 526 of the nozzle body 514. As such, air is discharged from the air passage 544 and the air port 546 is directed along the rear surface 548 to act on the adhesive 14 when cord 12 exits V-shaped notch 542. As shown most clearly in Figure 14C and 15D, air hole 546 is formed by an intermediate surface 550 extending from rear surface 548. Thicknesses 550a and 550b of intermediate surface 550 on opposite sides of air hole 546 are minimized in order to reduce any eddy currents that tend to form adjacent oblique surfaces around air hole 546. Reducing eddy currents along intermediate surface 550 delivers air to the 12 plus laminar cord.
[0096] Referring to Figures 14B and 14C, the V notches 542 (eg grooves 542) of the nozzle body 514 are shown in greater detail. In this regard, each V-shaped notch 542 is defined by two elongated converging surfaces 552a, 552b extending from an access slot 554 defined in the bottom side 522 of the nozzle body 514 with a top edge 556, where the converging surfaces 552a, 552b intersect. Each of the converging surfaces 552a, 552b is generally planar such that the V-shaped notch 542 defines a notch angle β between the converging surfaces 552a, 552b. The notch angle β is illustrated in this exemplary embodiment as about 90 degrees, although it should be understood that the notch angle β may alternatively be in a space of about 60 degrees to about 90 degrees in other embodiments consistent with the current invention. Access slot 554 communicates with V-shaped notch 542 so that an elastic cord 12 can be inserted upwardly from below nozzle body 514 into position within V-shaped notch 542. elastic cord 12 is moved from access slot 554 into engagement with both converging surfaces 552a, 552b adjacent top edge 556. Top edge 556 is preferably formed to be very sharp between converging surfaces 552a, 552b, but it should be understood that top edge 556 can define a radius of curvature of 0.0254 cm (0.01 inches) even without departing from the scope of the invention. As a result of the convergence of surfaces 552a, 552b and the sharp sizing of the top edge 556, the V-shaped notch 542 defines a cord guide and no additional cord guide elements are needed to accurately position the elastic cord 12 adjacent to top edge 556 when elastic cord 12 is positioned within V-shaped notch 542.
[0097] Although no additional cord guide elements are needed with the nozzle body 514 to position the elastic cord 12 in the V-shaped notch 542, the nozzle 512 still includes a series of alignment pins 558 that extend downwardly from the front side 524 of the nozzle body 514. The alignment pins 558 are therefore located a short distance upstream from the V-shaped notches 542 in the machine direction, as described above. More specifically, each V-shaped notch 542 includes an inlet end 560 (Figure 15A) bounded in opposite lateral directions by two of the alignment pins 558. When elastic cord 12 is moved upwardly through access opening 554, elastic cord 12 is therefore also positioned between these two alignment pins 558. Alignment pins 558 function to prevent "bouncing" or unintended movement of elastic cord 12 from one V-shaped notch 542 to another V-shaped notch 542. For example, an elastic cord 12 may include a knot made between the free ends of the two supply spools of the elastic cord 12 to allow continuous operation of the elastic cord 12 through the mouthpiece 512. such a knot meets the entry end 560 of the V-shaped notch 542, the larger size of the knot may cause the elastic cord 12 to "jump" temporarily away from the top edge 556 of the shaped notch. of V 542 in the direction of access slot 554. This jump from V-shaped notch 542 may be significant enough to move cord 12 below access slot 554, which could hypothetically lead to re-entry of that cord 12 into a different adjacent access slot 554 and V-shaped notch 542. However, the alignment pins 558 prevent such a jump into an adjacent access slot 554 and V-shaped notch 542 when such an event occurs. Although alignment pins 558 define a generally cylindrical shape in the illustrated embodiment to reduce any potential frictional contact with elastic strands 12, it should be understood that differently shaped and sized alignment pins 558 may be used in other embodiments. It will also be understood that the alignment pins 558 can be used to keep each elastic strand 12 in line with the respective V-shaped notch 542 when a conventional lift bar (not shown) is used to temporarily lift each of the elastic strands 12 outside the V-shaped notches 542, such as during pauses in the operation of the nozzle 512.
[0098] Other features of the V-shaped notch 542 and the nozzle body 514 are shown in Figures 15A and 15B, in which the elastic cord 12 and adhesive 14 are not shown to reveal the additional elements. To this end, the V-shaped notch 542 extends from the inlet end 560 located on the front side 524 of the nozzle body 514 adjacent to the alignment pins 558 and an outlet end 562 located on the rear side 526 of the nozzle body 514 As described in more detail below, the intersection of the V-shaped notch 542 with this backside 526 and the corresponding airflow in the backside 526 stimulates release of adhesive material from the nozzle 512. Adjacent to the inlet end 560 , the converging surfaces 552a, 552b include chamfered opening portions 564 that enlarge the size of the opening in the V-shaped notch 542, thus reducing the likelihood of the elastic cord 12 passing a sharp edge of the nozzle body 514. More than halfway to along the length of the V-shaped notch 542 (e.g., at a location closer to the output end 562 than the input end 560), the V-shaped notch 542 is at a distance. fluidic communication with the passage of adhesive 538 through the adhesive hole 540. As shown more clearly in the bottom view of Figure 15B, an expansion chamber 566 is formed by means of a ball-nose mill to expand the size of the intersection between the V-shaped notch 542 and the adhesive hole 540. The expansion chamber 566 includes a rounded profile and extends a small distance above the top edge 556 of the V-shaped notch 542 such that the hole of adhesive 540 defines a substantially flat outlet for adhesive material that flows into expansion chamber 566. As a result of the effects of mold swelling within larger diameter expansion chamber 566, adhesive 14 will initially expand within the expansion chamber 566. expansion 566 and will be discharged from expansion chamber 566 in contact with elastic cord 12 and into V-shaped notch 542. The addition of expansion chamber 566 allows the use of an orifice that of smaller diameter adhesive 540, such as 0.0508 cm (0.02 inches) in the exemplary embodiment, which reduces the likelihood that the adhesive material will drip out of the adhesive hole 540 between dispensing cycles. In one example, when a ball-nose mill is used to form the expansion chamber 566, the adhesive hole 540 may define a diameter of about 0.0508 cm (0.02 inches), while the expansion chamber 566 is used. expansion 566 defines a diameter from about 0.0635 cm (0.025 inches) to about 0.0889 (0.035 inches). It should be understood that expansion chamber 566 can be formed by other known cutting, drilling and machining methods such as cutting shell-shaped cutouts in the converging surfaces 552a, 552b in other embodiments to modify the shape or size of the chamber. expansion 566 without departing from the scope of the current invention. It will also be appreciated that the diameter of adhesive hole 540 may be modified to adjust the speed or flow of adhesive 14 exiting expansion chamber 566 and spreading around elastic cord 12 in other embodiments consistent with the present invention.
[0099] Referring to Figures 15C and 15D, the elastic cord 12 and adhesive 14 are shown during the operation of the nozzle 512. As briefly described above, the adhesive 14 is discharged from the adhesive passage 538 through the adhesive orifice 540 and into expansion chamber 566 adjacent to top edge 556 of V-shaped notch 542. Expansion chamber 566 is substantially filled with adhesive 14 so that adhesive 14 flows out of expansion chamber 566 and into contact. with elastic cord 12 passing from expansion chamber 566. More specifically, adhesive 14 is applied to an upper surface 80 of elastic cord 12 in expansion chamber 566, and cord 12 effectively divides at least a portion of adhesive 14 flowing into out of expansion chamber 566 to force the adhesive 14 to move along the converging surfaces 552a, 552b of the V-shaped notch 542 and begin to spread across the strand 12. The exemplary acute sizing of the top edge 556 described in detail above ensures that the cord 12 remains generally centered with respect to the expansion chamber 566, thus ensuring the splitting and spreading of the adhesive 14 which flows out of the expansion chamber 566. Because the elastic cord 12 passes the expansion chamber 566 at a speed greater than adhesive 14 is supplied to expansion chamber 566, cord 12 effectively extracts adhesive 14 from expansion chamber 566 in a semi-depleted state and adhesive 14 has no opportunity to fly out of elastic cord 12. Immediately upon exit from expansion chamber 566, adhesive 14 along upper surface 80 of elastic cord 12 is mechanically moved by squeezing adhesive 14 between the converging surfaces 552a, 552b of the V-shaped notch 542 downstream of the chamber. expansion 566. This mechanical movement causes spreading or sweeping of the adhesive 14 around the periphery 20 of the strand 12 (see, for example, Figure 14C) when the strand 12 m ove to the exit end 562 of the V-shaped notch 542. The amount of initial spreading or sweeping of the adhesive 14 around the periphery 20 can be adjusted by adjusting the notch angle β within the desired range of about 60 degrees up to about 90 degrees. Consequently, when the elastic cord 12 reaches the exit end 562 of the V-shaped notch 542, the adhesive 14 is already starting to spread and move around the periphery 20 of the cord 12.
[00100] As shown in Figure 15D (and also Figure 14C), the rear surface 548 of the nozzle body 514 also intersects a lower rear surface 570 to an elongated edge 572. The output end 562 of the V-shaped notch 542 intersects this lower back surface 570 such that top edge 556 intersects elongated edge 572 at an adhesive releasing edge 572a. Top edge 556 and back surface 548 define an inward angle α to adhesive release edge 572a. The interior angle α is an acute angle such that the adhesive releasing edge 572a promotes the sharp release of the adhesive 14 onto the cord 12 from the nozzle body 514. The interior angle α is measured in an upstream direction along from machine direction from adhesive release edge 572a. To this end, the interior angle α is defined by the nozzle body 514 at the adhesive release edge 572a. In the illustrated embodiment, the acute angle from the machine direction can be in the range of about 50 degrees and about 80 degrees. As the acute angle α is made smaller within this range, the air flow from air port 546 becomes more parallel to the movement of cord 12 along the machine direction, which allows for greater air pressures to be used for airflow to further spread adhesive 14 without blowing adhesive 14 off bead 12. Adhesive release edge 572a therefore applies a spreading or sweeping effect on adhesive 14 as the converging surfaces 552a, 552b of the V-shaped notch 542. Likewise, the acute angle α is also defined between the mounting surface on the top side 520 of the nozzle body 514 and a longitudinal axis 574 defined through the air hole 546 and through at least a portion of the air passage 544 as shown in Figure 15A.
[00101] Air discharged from air hole 546 along back surface 548 as indicated by arrows 18 also aids in releasing adhesive 14 from nozzle body 514 at adhesive release edge 572a. Air traveling along back surface 548 strikes top surface 80 of strand 12 at a non-perpendicular angle such that the formation of any eddy currents around adhesive release edge 572a is believed to be discouraged. More specifically, air strikes the upper surface 80 of cord 12 at an acute angle described above. Therefore, the adhesive 14 remains attached to the cord moving 12 downstream of the adhesive release edge 572a rather than accumulating on the nozzle body 514. As a result, the risk of the adhesive 14 accumulating on the nozzle body 30, becoming charred and blocking the air hole 546 is substantially reduced or eliminated. Air discharged from air port 546 also continues to spread adhesive 14 around the periphery 20 of strand 12 to thereby form different thicknesses of adhesive 14 along the length of strand 12, as described in more detail below. .
[00102] After release from the nozzle body 514, the adhesive 14 in contact with the cord 12 is reached by means of additional air discharged from the air hole 546 towards the elastic cord 12. The air makes the adhesive 14, which is only partially spread around the periphery 20 of the strand 12, spread further around the periphery 20 of the strand 12 in order to coat the strand 12 with the adhesive 14. The mechanical movement of the adhesive 14 is believed with the surfaces converging 552a, 552b immediately before this air impact further enhances the propagation effects caused by the air. Air discharged from air port 546 does not blow adhesive 14 out of cord 12, because adhesive 14 is applied to cord 12 and begins to form an adhesive bond with cord 12 within V-shaped notch 542 before being hit with air. As a result, adhesive 14 over substantially the entire periphery 20 of strand 12, as explained below.
[00103] Adhesive 14 forms a coating on strand 12 that appears continuous to the naked eye, but it is believed that this coating is not entirely continuous along the length of strand 12. As described above, adhesive 14 is extruded from the adhesive hole 540 into expansion chamber 566 and then to cord 12. Therefore, adhesive 14 contacts the moving cord 12 and rapidly accelerates, which causes adhesive 14 to be applied to cord 12 in a semi-depleted state such that the amount of adhesive 14 varies along the length of the cord 12. More particularly, the adhesive 14 is believed to form localized masses or thicker sections separated by thinner sections when the adhesive 14 is accelerated by the elastic cord. 12. These localized masses of adhesive 14 are configured to become discrete attachment points when attaching elastic cord 12 to non-woven substrates. Then, the adhesive 14 is hit with air from the air hole 546, which causes further spreading of the adhesive 14 which tends to further spread the adhesive 14 in localized masses.
[00104] As a result of these operational steps, the resulting coating formed on the cord 12 is believed to include irregularities in thickness along the length of the cord 12. In this regard, Figures 15C and 15D schematically illustrate that the adhesive 14 forms a coating with a plurality of thicker portions 84a, a plurality of thinner portions 84b, and preferably a plurality of empty portions 84c where no adhesive 14 exists on the cord 12. These portions 84a, 84b, 84c are shown as an artist's interpretation and will be It is appreciated that the actual appearance and distribution of these portions 84a, 84b, 84c may vary in actual use depending on operating parameters such as air pressure. The continuous, unrepeatable appearance of the adhesive 14 on the cord 12 is desirable in sanitary products, but thickness irregularities of the coating believed to be formed by the adhesive 14 advantageously result in thicker portions 84a functioning as discrete attachment points formed along the length. length of strand 12 when adhered to one or more of substrates 24a, 24b, as described in detail above. More specifically, when bonded between two non-woven substrates 24a, 24b, the coated elastic cord 12 is coated with sufficient adhesive 14 to exhibit a high level of creep strength and, by virtue of the discrete bonding point effect, also exhibits a high force retraction level.
[00105] As a result, the adhesive delivery system 510 of the present embodiment generally operates in the same manner as the nozzles 19, 110, 312, 412 previously described. More specifically, adhesive delivery system 510 applies adhesive 14 by contact coating adhesive 14 onto an elastic cord moving 12 and then spreads adhesive 14 using air flow after adhesive 14 is in contact with cord 12 Adhesive delivery system 510 can advantageously cover a strand 12 with adhesive 14 with low adhesive 14 consumption and a low adhesive viscosity, if desired. It will be appreciated that the adhesive delivery system 510 of this embodiment is operable for coating stretched elastic strands 12 moving faster and more closely spaced than with conventional non-contact nozzle designs because the adhesive 14 is placed in direct contact with the strands 12 and because the pressurized airflow does not need significant spacing to avoid airflow interference from one strand 12 to another strand 12. Therefore, the adhesive distribution system 510 improves the hygiene product assembly process. .
[00106] The present invention also includes a method of contact coating an elastic cord stretched with an adhesive, wherein the cord includes a periphery with a top surface. The method includes moving the bead in the machine direction relative to a contact nozzle, discharging the adhesive from the contact nozzle on the upper surface of the bead as the bead moves, and discharging pressurized air in the adhesive over the moving bead. Air causes the adhesive to spread around the periphery of the cord to thereby coat the cord with the adhesive. The air also assists with releasing adhesive from the contact nozzle and cleans the contact nozzle from collecting adhesive buildup that would eventually char and negatively affect the operation of the contact nozzle. Thus, the strand coating method allows coating of a strand without the need to produce a spiral pattern or any other pattern with process air impacting an adhesive filament distributed during flight.
[00107] The air discharge is controlled to have various air flow characteristics depending on the type of coating desired on the cord. In one example, air is continuously discharged into the adhesive in contact with the bead when the bead moves to generally cause continuous spreading of the adhesive around the bead. In another example, air is discharged in a non-continuous manner, such as in periodic pulses with the adhesive in contact with the bead when the bead moves to cause a non-continuous (e.g., pulsed) spreading of adhesive around the bead. Air is discharged at an acute angle to the machine direction as measured between the air discharge direction and the elastic cord upstream of the air. This acute angle can also be measured between the longitudinal axis through an adhesive hole and a contact nozzle mounting surface, the mounting surface configured to be coupled to a module and including an adhesive inlet for receiving adhesive from of the module. In the illustrated embodiment, the acute angle from machine direction can be in the range of about 50 degrees and about 80 degrees, which is believed to discourage the formation of any eddy currents in the air that could cause the adhesive to blow away. of the cord.
[00108] In an alternative, multiple air currents are discharged into the adhesive in the bead to cause the adhesive to spread around opposite sides of the bead's periphery. The multiple air currents are staggered in the machine direction such that the multiple currents hit the bead at different locations along the machine direction. Alternatively, the multiple air streams are aligned in a plane perpendicular to the machine direction such that the multiple air streams hit the bead at roughly the same position along the machine direction. It will be understood that each of the multiple air streams in these modes continues to be discharged at an acute angle from the machine direction.
[00109] In some embodiments, moving the cord includes moving the cord through a cord guide and through an elongated adhesive chamber. In these embodiments, distributing the adhesive over the top surface of the bead further includes filling the adhesive chamber of the contact nozzle with adhesive as the bead moves through the adhesive chamber. The bead is positioned inside the adhesive chamber to force the initial spread of the adhesive around the periphery of the bead within the adhesive chamber. Furthermore, the movement of the bead draws the adhesive out of the adhesive chamber. The bead is moved at a speed greater than the speed at which the adhesive enters the adhesive chamber so that a minimal amount of adhesive is applied to the bead. In some arrangements, the bead is angled relative to the adhesive chamber or the adhesive chamber is tapered such that the adhesive is located in the adhesive chamber for a long period of time, thereby causing greater spread of adhesive around of the cord. In these arrangements, the bead is effectively moved laterally within the adhesive chamber as the bead travels along the length of the adhesive chamber, which further encourages increased adhesive spread around the bead. In other embodiments, adhesive is distributed over the top surface of the cord from an adhesive hole communicating with a V-shaped notch through which the cord is moving. In these embodiments, the surfaces defining the V-shaped notch mechanically move the adhesive and begin to spread the adhesive around the periphery of the bead. As a result of the spreading of the adhesive substance either inside the adhesive chamber or V-shaped notch and caused by the air flow directed at an acute angle to the elastic cord (eg at an angle of about 50 degrees and about 80 degrees) outside the adhesive chamber or V-shaped notch, the adhesive coating on the bead is believed to include random thickness irregularities that function as discrete bonding points formed along the length of the bead.
[00110] In one example, the method of coating a cord is used during an assembly process of a hygiene product. In these embodiments, the method further includes connecting the stretched elastic cord between two layers of non-woven substrate after the hotmelt adhesive has been spread around the periphery of the cord to form at least a portion of the sanitary product. Depending on the user's needs, the hotmelt adhesive is spread using an air flow in a continuous manner or in a pulsed manner. The method, therefore, advantageously covers a bead with adhesive with low adhesive consumption and a low adhesive viscosity. As a result, the method of the present invention improves the sanitary product assembly process.
[00111] In another example, the one strand coating method is used to coat several stretched elastic strands simultaneously. To this end, the contact nozzle may include a duplicated structure that allows for discharge of adhesive and pressurized air to each of a plurality of strands. The coated elastic cords can then be used to assemble one or more toiletries. It will be understood that the method according to any of the above-described embodiments can be used to coat multiple strands.
[00112] Although the present invention has been illustrated by a description of specific embodiments thereof, and although the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, they are not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the claims appended to such details. The various features discussed here can be used singly or in any combination. Additional advantages and modifications readily appear to those skilled in the art. For example, the grooves shown in the nozzle bodies of the various embodiments can be modified in shape, size and configuration without departing from the scope of the invention. The invention in its broadest aspects, therefore, is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Thus departures can be made from such details without departing from the scope or spirit of the general inventive concept.

权利要求:
Claims (33)
[0001]
1. Contact nozzle (2) for coating at least one elastic cord (12) with an adhesive (14), the contact nozzle (2) characterized in that it comprises: - a nozzle body (30) including a first groove ( 77) for receiving the insert upwardly from a first elastic cord (12) having a periphery (20) with an upper surface (80) and moving in a machine direction, the first groove encompassing at least a portion of the periphery of the first cord; - a first adhesive passage (58) formed in said nozzle body (30) and ending in a first adhesive hole (60) communicating with said first groove (77) and adapted to be directed on the upper surface (80) of the first elastic strand (12) for delivering the adhesive (14) in contact with the upper surface (80) of the first elastic strand (12); and - a first air passage (64) positioned in proximity to said first adhesive passage (58) and ending in a first air orifice (66) positioned downstream from said first adhesive orifice (60) in the direction of machine, said first air hole being positioned above said first adhesive hole in said nozzle body, said first air hole (66) adapted to be directed to the upper surface (80) of the first elastic cord (12), and adapted to discharge air in the adhesive (14) in contact with the first elastic cord (12) to make the adhesive (14) spread around the periphery (20) of the first elastic cord (12) without blowing the adhesive from the first elastic cord.
[0002]
A contact nozzle (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that said first air passage (64) is formed in said nozzle body (30).
[0003]
A contact nozzle (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises: - a rear surface (42) on said nozzle body (30); and - an adhesive releasing edge (82a) on said nozzle body (30) at the intersection of said first groove (77) and said back surface (42), said back surface (42) and said first groove (77) defining an interior angle (α) to each other at said adhesive release edge (82a), wherein said interior angle (α) is an acute angle measured in an upstream direction along the machine direction from said edge of adhesive release (82a).
[0004]
A contact nozzle (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises: - a rear surface (42) on said nozzle body (30); and - an adhesive releasing edge (82a) on said nozzle body (30) at the intersection of said first groove (77) and said back surface (42), said back surface (42) and said first groove (77) defining an interior angle (α) to each other at said adhesive release edge (82a), wherein said interior angle (α) is an acute angle measured in an upstream direction along the machine direction from said edge of adhesive release (82a), wherein said first air hole (66) is positioned along said back surface (42) so that air discharged from said first air hole (66) is adapted to assist in releasing adhesive (14) from said nozzle body (30) at said adhesive releasing edge (82a).
[0005]
5. Contact nozzle (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that air discharged from said first air hole (66) is adapted to reach the adhesive (14) on the first elastic cord (12) at an acute angle (α) with respect to the machine direction.
[0006]
6. Contact nozzle (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that air discharged from said first air orifice (66) is adapted to clean the adhesive (14) from said nozzle body (30 ) to discourage adhesive build-up on said nozzle body (30).
[0007]
Contact nozzle (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises: - a mounting surface (36) on said nozzle body (30) adapted to be coupled to a module (15) for supporting the said nozzle body (30), the mounting surface (36) including an adhesive inlet (50) configured to receive the adhesive (14) from the module (15), wherein a longitudinal axis through said first orifice adhesive (60) and said first passage of adhesive (58) is inclined in the machine direction and intersects said mounting surface (36) of said nozzle body (30) at an acute angle.
[0008]
Contact nozzle (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises: - a second groove (77) formed in said nozzle body (30) for receiving a second elastic cord (12) having a periphery ( 20) with an upper surface (80) and moving in the machine direction, said second groove (77) away from said first groove (77) in a lateral direction transverse to the machine direction; - a second adhesive passage (58) formed in said nozzle body (30) and terminating in the second adhesive hole (60) communicating with said second groove (77) and adapted to be directed on the upper surface (80) of the second elastic cord (12) for supplying the adhesive (14) in contact with the upper surface (80) of the second elastic cord (12), and - a second air passage (64) formed in said nozzle body (30) and terminating in a second air hole (66) positioned downstream from said second adhesive hole (60) in the machine direction, said second air hole (66) adapted to be directed to the upper surface (80) of the second elastic cord (12) and adapted to discharge air into the adhesive (14) in contact with the second elastic cord (12) to make the adhesive (14) spread around a periphery (20) of the second elastic cord (12).
[0009]
9. Contact nozzle (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that said first groove (77) and said first air hole (66) are configured to spread the adhesive (14) along and around the first elastic strand (12) such that the adhesive (14) defines thickness irregularities (84a, 84b, 84c) along the first elastic strand (12), the thickness irregularities (84a, 84b, 84c) including thicker adhesive portions (84a) and thinner adhesive portions (84b).
[0010]
10. Contact mouthpiece (2) according to claim 9, characterized in that the thickness irregularities (84a, 84b, 84c) include hollow portions (84c) that do not contain adhesive (14) in the first elastic cord ( 12).
[0011]
Contact nozzle (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises: - an expansion chamber (62) formed in said nozzle body (30) and communicating with said first adhesive hole (60) , said expansion chamber (62) sized to allow mold swelling of adhesive (14) exiting said first adhesive hole (60).
[0012]
12. Contact nozzle (512) for coating at least one elastic cord (12) with an adhesive (14), the contact nozzle (512) characterized in that it comprises: - a nozzle body (514) including a front side ( 524), a back side (526), and a first V-shaped notch (542) for receiving a first elastic cord (12) having a periphery (20) with an upper surface (80) and moving in a machine direction. said first V-shaped notch (542) extending between said front and rear sides (524, 526); - a first adhesive passage (538) formed in said nozzle body (514) and terminating in a first adhesive hole (540) communicating with said first V-shaped notch (542) and adapted to be directed on the upper surface. (80) of the first elastic strand (12) for providing the adhesive (14) in contact with the upper surface (80) of the first elastic strand (12); - a first expansion chamber (566) formed in said nozzle body (514) and communicating with said first adhesive hole (540), said first expansion chamber (566) sized to allow mold swelling of the adhesive (14 ) exiting said first adhesive hole (540); and - a first air passage (544) positioned proximate to said first adhesive passage (538) and ending in a first air orifice (546) positioned downstream of said first adhesive orifice (540) in the machine direction, the said first air hole (546) being positioned above the first adhesive hole in the mouthpiece body and the first air hole adapted to be directed on the upper surface (80) of the first elastic cord (12) and adapted to discharge air into the adhesive (14) in contact with the first elastic strand (12) to make the adhesive (14) spread around the periphery (20) of the first elastic strand (12).
[0013]
A contact nozzle (512) according to claim 12, characterized in that said first air passage (544) is formed in said nozzle body (514).
[0014]
14. Contact nozzle (512) according to claim 13, characterized in that said V-shaped notch (542) extends both upstream and downstream in the machine direction from said first expansion chamber (566), and said V-shaped notch (542) includes first and second converging surfaces (552a, 552b) connected to a top edge (556) and defining an angle (β) between said first and second converging surface ( 552a, 552b) in the range of 60 degrees to 90 degrees.
[0015]
A contact nozzle (512) according to claim 13, characterized in that it further comprises: - alignment pins (558) coupled to said front side (524) of said nozzle body (514) and located upstream in the direction from said V-shaped notch (542), said alignment pins (558) adapted to prevent the first elastic cord (12) from exiting said V-shaped notch (542) during application of adhesive (14).
[0016]
A contact nozzle (512) according to claim 13, characterized in that it further comprises: - a rear surface (526) on said nozzle body (514) and intersecting said first V-shaped notch (542) at an adhesive releasing edge (572a) on said nozzle body (514) at the intersection of said first V-shaped notch (542) and said back surface (526), said back surface (526) and said first shaped notch of V (542) defining an interior angle (α) to each other at said adhesive releasing edge (572a), wherein said interior angle (α) is an acute angle measured in the upward direction along a machine direction a from said adhesive release edge (572a).
[0017]
17. Contact nozzle (512) according to claim 16, characterized in that said first air orifice (546) is positioned along said rear surface (526) so that the air is discharged from of said first air port (546) is adapted to assist in the release of adhesive (14) from said nozzle body (514) at said adhesive release edge (572a).
[0018]
A contact nozzle (512) according to claim 13, characterized in that air discharged from said first air orifice (546) is adapted to strike the adhesive (14) on the first elastic cord (12) at an acute angle ( α) in relation to the machine direction.
[0019]
A contact nozzle (512) as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that air discharged from said first air port (546) is adapted to clear adhesive (14) from said nozzle body (514) to discourage the accumulation of adhesive on said nozzle body (514).
[0020]
A contact nozzle (512) according to claim 13, characterized in that it further comprises: - a second V-shaped notch (542) formed in said nozzle body (514) for receiving a second elastic cord (12) having a periphery (20) with an upper surface (80) and moving in the machine direction, said second V-shaped notch (542) spaced from said first V-shaped notch (542) in a lateral direction transverse to the machine direction, said second V-shaped notch (542) extending between said front and rear side (524, 526); - a second adhesive passage (538) formed in said nozzle body (514) and terminating in the second adhesive hole (540) communicating with said second V-shaped notch (542) and adapted to be directed on the upper surface ( 80) of the second elastic cord (12) for providing the adhesive (14) in contact with the upper surface (80) of the second elastic cord (12); - a second expansion chamber (566) formed in said nozzle body (514) and communicating with said second adhesive hole (540), said second expansion chamber (566) sized to allow mold swelling of the adhesive (14 ) exiting said second adhesive orifice (540), and - a second air passage (544) formed in said nozzle body (514) and ending in a second air orifice (546) positioned downstream of said second orifice of adhesive (540) in the machine direction, said second air hole (546) adapted to be directed towards the upper surface (80) of the second elastic cord (12) and adapted to discharge air in the adhesive (14) in contact with the second elastic cord (12) to make the adhesive (14) spread around a periphery (20) of the second elastic cord (12).
[0021]
21. Contact nozzle (512) according to claim 13, characterized in that said first V-shaped notch (542) and said first air hole (546) are configured to spread the adhesive (14 ) along and around the first elastic strand (12) such that the adhesive (14) defines thickness irregularities (84a, 84b, 84c) along the first elastic strand (12), the thickness irregularities (84a, 84b, 84c) including thicker adhesive portions (84a) and thinner adhesive portions (84b).
[0022]
22. Contact nozzle (512) according to claim 21, characterized in that the thickness irregularities (84a, 84b, 84c) include hollow portions (84c) that do not contain adhesive (14) in the first elastic cord ( 12).
[0023]
23. Adhesive distribution system (10) for coating at least one elastic cord (12) with an adhesive (14), the adhesive distribution system (10) characterized in that it comprises: - a module (15) configured to receive a supply of the adhesive (14); - a contact nozzle (2) coupled to said module (15), said contact nozzle (2) comprising: - a nozzle body (30) including a first groove (77) for receiving the insert upwards from a first elastic cord (12) having a periphery (20) with an upper surface (80) and moving in a machine direction, the first groove encompassing at least a portion of the periphery of the first cord; - a first adhesive passage (58) formed in said nozzle body (30) and ending in a first adhesive hole (60) communicating with said first groove (77) and adapted to be directed on the upper surface (80) of the first elastic strand (12) for delivering the adhesive (14) in contact with the upper surface (80) of the first elastic strand (12); and - a first air passage (64) positioned proximate to said first adhesive passage (58) and ending in a first air orifice (66) positioned downstream from said first adhesive orifice (60) in the machine direction. , said first air orifice being positioned above said first adhesive orifice in said nozzle body, said first air orifice (66) adapted to be directed to the upper surface (80) of the first elastic cord (12) and adapted to discharge air into the adhesive (14) in contact with the first elastic cord (12) to make the adhesive (14) spread around the periphery (20) of the first elastic cord (12) without blowing the adhesive from the first elastic cord.
[0024]
The adhesive delivery system (10) of claim 23, characterized in that said first air passage (66) is formed in said nozzle body (30).
[0025]
The adhesive delivery system (10) according to claim 24, characterized in that it further comprises: - a rear surface (42) on said nozzle body (30); and - an adhesive releasing edge (82a) on said nozzle body (30) at the intersection of said first groove (77) and said back surface (42), said back surface (42) and said first groove (77) defining an interior angle (α) to each other at said adhesive release edge (82a), wherein said interior angle (α) is an acute angle measured in an upstream direction along the machine direction from said edge of adhesive release (82a).
[0026]
The adhesive delivery system (10) according to claim 23, characterized in that it further comprises: - a rear surface (42) on said nozzle body (30); and - an adhesive releasing edge (82a) on said nozzle body (30) at the intersection of said first groove (77) and said back surface (42), said back surface (42) and said first groove (77) defining an interior angle (α) to each other at said adhesive release edge (82a), wherein said interior angle (α) is an acute angle measured in an upstream direction along the machine direction from said edge of adhesive release (82a), wherein said first air hole (66) is positioned along said back surface (42), so that air discharged from said first air hole (66) is adapted to assist in releasing adhesive (14) from said nozzle body (30) at said adhesive releasing edge (82a).
[0027]
27. Adhesive delivery system (10) according to claim 24, characterized in that air discharged from said first air orifice (66) is adapted to reach the adhesive (14) in the first elastic cord ( 12) at an acute angle (α) from the machine direction.
[0028]
28. Adhesive delivery system (10) according to claim 24, characterized in that air discharged from said first air orifice (66) is adapted to clean the adhesive (14) from said body of nozzle (30) to discourage the build-up of adhesive on said nozzle body (30).
[0029]
29. Adhesive delivery system (10) according to claim 23, characterized in that the first air passage (64) is formed in said nozzle body (30) and further comprises; - a second groove (77) formed in said nozzle body (30) for receiving a second elastic cord (12) having a periphery (20) with an upper surface (80) and moving in the machine direction, said second groove ( 77) spaced apart from said first groove (77) in a lateral direction transverse to the machine direction, said second groove encompassing at least a portion of the periphery of said second strand; - a second adhesive passage (58) formed in said nozzle body (30) and terminating in the second adhesive hole (60) communicating with said second groove (77) and adapted to be directed on the upper surface (80) of the second elastic cord (12) for supplying the adhesive (14) in contact with the upper surface (80) of the second elastic cord (12), and - a second air passage (64) formed in said nozzle body (30) and terminating in a second air orifice (66) positioned downstream of said second adhesive orifice (60) in the machine direction, said second air orifice being positioned above said second adhesive orifice in said nozzle body, said second orifice air (66) adapted to be directed to the upper surface (80) of the second elastic cord (12) and adapted to discharge air into the adhesive (14) in contact with the second elastic cord (12) to make the adhesive (14) spread around a periphery (20) sec. undo elastic cord (12).
[0030]
30. Adhesive delivery system (10) according to claim 24, characterized in that said first slot (77) and said first air orifice (66) are configured to spread the adhesive (14) to the along and around the first elastic strand (12) such that the adhesive (14) defines thickness irregularities (84a, 84b, 84c) along the first elastic strand (12), the thickness irregularities (84a, 84b, 84c) including thicker adhesive portions (84a) and thinner adhesive portions (84b).
[0031]
31. Adhesive delivery system (10) according to claim 30, characterized in that the thickness irregularities (84a, 84b, 84c) include empty portions (84c) that do not contain adhesives (14) in the first strand elastic (12).
[0032]
32. Adhesive delivery system (10) according to claim 24, characterized in that said mouthpiece of the body (30) includes a front side (524), a rear side (526), and a chamber of expansion (566) communicating with said first adhesive hole (60) and sized to allow mold swelling of the adhesive (14) exiting said first adhesive hole (60), said groove (77) further comprising a shaped notch. of V (542) extending between said front and rear sides (524, 526), said V-shaped notch (542) extends both upstream and downstream in the machine direction of said expansion chamber (566), and said V-shaped notch (542) includes first and second converging surface (552a, 552b) connected to a top edge (556) and defining an angle (β) between said first and second converging surface (552a, 552b) in the strip from 60 degrees to 90 degrees.
[0033]
The adhesive delivery system (10) of claim 32 further comprising: alignment pins (558) coupled to said front side (524) of said nozzle body (30) and located upstream in the machine direction from said V-shaped notch (542), said alignment pins (558) adapted to prevent the first elastic cord (12) from exiting said V-shaped notch (542) during application of adhesive (14).

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法律状态:
2020-08-25| B06U| Preliminary requirement: requests with searches performed by other patent offices: procedure suspended [chapter 6.21 patent gazette]|

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2021-04-13| B09A| Decision: intention to grant [chapter 9.1 patent gazette]|

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2021-05-11| B09W| Decision of grant: rectification|Free format text: RETIFICACAO DO DEFERIMENTO NOTIFICADO NA RPI 2623 DE 13/04/2021. |

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2021-06-22| B16A| Patent or certificate of addition of invention granted|Free format text: PRAZO DE VALIDADE: 20 (VINTE) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 10/04/2012, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS. |

优先权:

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申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题

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US201161474129P| true| 2011-04-11|2011-04-11|

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US61/474,129|2011-04-11|

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PCT/US2012/032893|WO2012142028A1|2011-04-11|2012-04-10|System, nozzle, and method for coating elastic strands|

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