Patent ID: 6093276
Filing Date: 2000-07-25
Classification: A61F,Y10T

Abstract:
An in-line method of making adhesive faceplates for two-piece ostomy appliances comprising the steps of intermittently advancing flexible first and second webs through an injection/compression molding station in which discrete mounds of soft, adhesive skin barrier material are deposited on one of said webs and are then successively compressed between said webs to form a series of wafers of skin barrier material of selected size and shape; simultaneously affixing a series of thermoplastic coupling rings with annular attachment flanges to one side of a flexible third web, with said coupling rings being affixed to said third web by said attachment flanges, and advancing said third web with said coupling rings carried thereby, and said first and second webs with said wafers therebetween, to a delaminating/laminating station; stripping said first web and replacing the same with said third web in synchronized relation at said delaminating/laminating station with each of said coupling rings being directly aligned with each of said wafers; providing a cover-applying station and laminating at said cover-applying station a fourth web of flexible covering material to both said third web and said flanges of said coupling rings; said fourth web having a series of uniformly-spaced openings therein with each opening being sized and located to register with one of said coupling rings at said cover-applying station to expose a portion of each coupling ring therethrough while at the same time covering the annular attachment flanges thereof, thereby sealing said attachment flanges of said series of coupling rings between said third and fourth webs; and thereafter advancing said second, third and fourth webs with said wafers and coupling rings carried thereby to a cutting station where said second, third and fourth webs are cut at or just within the periphery of each wafer, thereby detaching a succession of discrete adhesive faceplates from said webs.