Patent ID: 9492328
Filing Date: 2016-11-15
CPC Classification: A61F,B31F,D21F,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus for making an absorbent structure for an absorbent article, the absorbent structure comprising a supporting sheet and an absorbent layer on the supporting sheet, the absorbent layer comprising absorbent material and a channel that is substantially free of absorbent material, the apparatus comprising: a first moving endless surface having an absorbent layer-forming reservoir defining a void volume for receiving absorbent material therein, the reservoir comprising a substantially longitudinally extending raised strip; a feeder for feeding absorbent material to the first moving endless surface; a second moving endless surface having an outer shell including an air permeable receptacle for receiving a supporting sheet, the receptacle having a substantially longitudinally extending mating strip a vacuum system connected to the outer shell, the vacuum system adapted to facilitate retention of the supporting sheet and the absorbent material on the outer shell; and wherein, in a meeting point, the first moving endless surface and the second moving endless surface are adjacent and in close proximity of one another during transfer of absorbent material from the first moving endless surface to the second moving endless surface; wherein the mating strip is arranged to mate with the raised strip during transfer of the absorbent material; and a downstream pressure roll with a raised pressure pattern substantially corresponding to the mating strip, for contacting the supporting sheet in an area thereof corresponding to a channel.