Patent ID: 6217690
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A method of placing and securing elastics between first and second layers of a continuous web in producing a series of garment assemblies, wherein said garment assemblies are disposed transverse to the longitudinal direction of advance of the garment subassemblies, each garment assembly having two leg openings, each leg opening having a front edge and a back edge, and a crotch portion between the two leg openings, the method comprising:(a) feeding a first web comprising a first layer of the garment assembly into a nip;(b) feeding a second web comprising a second layer of the garment assembly into the nip;(c) applying adhesive on the second web ahead of the nip;(d) supplying at least two elastics for use at the nip and in contact with the adhesive;(e) feeding the at least two elastics to a lateral guide, disposed in a lateral position with respect to the second web within two inches of the nip and adjacent the second web, and thus receiving the at least two elastics, and feeding the at least two elastics to the nip between the first and second webs, and controlling the lateral position of the at least two elastics as the at least two elastics enter the nip; and(f) maintaining the lateral guide within two inches of the nip, and driving the lateral guide in a transverse direction across the width of the second web and thereby changing the lateral position of the lateral guide with respect to the web adjacent the nip, and thus causing the at least two elastics to follow two non-crossing elastic paths, a first elastic path corresponding to a front edge of the first leg opening to be formed, across a crotch portion, and the front edge of the second leg opening to be formed and a second elastic path corresponding to a back edge of the first leg opening to be formed, across a crotch portion, and the back edge of the second leg opening to be formed in registration with advance of the respective ones of the series of garment assemblies, wherein the elastics in the first and second elastic paths across the crotch portion are applied in a substantially relaxed state and the elastic in the first elastic path at the first leg opening front edge and at the second leg opening front edge is elongated less than the elastic in the second elastic path at the first leg opening back edge and at the second leg opening back edge.