Patent ID: 6565686
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: A61F,B29C,B29L,B65H,Y02P,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of sensing assembly quality characteristics of a web of personal care article products or personal care article product precursors being fabricated on a fabrication line by processing apparatus, each personal care article product or personal care article product precursor having, as an element thereof, a bodyside liner, an outer cover, and at least one element of the personal care article product or personal care article product precursor disposed between the bodyside liner and the outer cover, the method comprising:(a) sensing infrared properties of product or product precursors being fabricated on the web using infrared sensing apparatus; (b) outputting signals indicative of infrared properties of the product or product precursors being fabricated on the web to visual image processing apparatus; (c) creating a database representative of infrared properties of product standards within selected control tolerance; (d) comparing the sensed infrared properties of product being fabricated with the database, using the image processing apparatus, the image processing apparatus comprising a programmable logic controller capable of comparing image data from the infrared sensing apparatus with preselected stored images of the database, and thereby developing an image comparison result; and (e) outputting processing adjustment signals from the programmable logic controller to processing apparatus of the fabrication line to effect adjustment of absorbent article processing in accord with the image comparison result.