Patent Publication Number: US-10307300-B2

Title: Apparatus and methods for transferring and bonding substrates

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to methods for manufacturing absorbent articles, and more particularly, to apparatuses and methods for bonding two or more partially meltable materials. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Disposable absorbent articles, in particular, disposable diapers, are designed to be worn by people experiencing incontinence, including infants and invalids. Such diapers are worn about the lower torso of the wearer and are intended to absorb and contain urine and other bodily discharges, thus preventing the soiling, wetting, or similar contamination of articles that may come into contact with a diaper during use (e.g., clothing, bedding, other people, etc.). Disposable diapers are available in the form of pull-on diapers, also referred to as training pants, having fixed sides, or taped diapers having unfixed sides. 
     Along an assembly line, various types of articles, such as diapers and other absorbent articles, may be assembled by adding components to and/or otherwise modifying an advancing, continuous web of material. In some processes, advancing webs of material are combined with other advancing webs of material. In other processes, individual components created from advancing webs of material are combined with advancing webs of material, which in turn, are then combined with other advancing webs of material. In some cases, individual components created from advancing web or webs are combined with other individual components created from other advancing web or webs. Webs of material and component parts used to manufacture diapers may include: backsheets, topsheets, leg cuffs, waist bands, absorbent core components, front and/or back ears, fastening components, and various types of elastic webs and components such as leg elastics, barrier leg cuff elastics, stretch side panels, and waist elastics. Once the desired component parts are assembled, the advancing web(s) and component parts are subjected to a final knife cut to separate the web(s) into discrete diapers or other absorbent articles. 
     In some converting configurations, discrete chassis spaced apart from each other are advanced in a machine direction and are arranged with a longitudinal axis parallel with the cross direction. Opposing waist regions of discrete chassis are then connected with continuous lengths of elastically extendable front and back belt webs advancing in the machine direction. While connected with the chassis, the front and back belt webs are maintained in a fully stretched condition along the machine direction, forming a continuous length of absorbent articles. The continuous length of absorbent articles may then be folded in a cross direction. During the folding process in some converting configurations, one of the front and back belt webs is folded into a facing relationship with the opposing belt. The front and back belts may then be bonded together to create the side seams on diapers. 
     Absorbent articles, such as diapers which may be worn by infants and adults, come in a variety of sizes. Thus, one absorbent article may include a larger chassis and a larger belt as compared to another absorbent article which may include a smaller chassis and a smaller belt. The manufacturing process for these absorbent articles is desired to be such that the absorbent article including the larger chassis and the larger belt can be manufactured on the same equipment or similar equipment as the absorbent article including the smaller chassis and the smaller belt. Having to switch out equipment or to make large modifications to the equipment for manufacturing different sized articles is costly and time consuming for manufacturers. 
     Thus, it would be beneficial to provide an apparatus and a method for transferring and bonding absorbent articles of different sizes. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of the present disclosure involve apparatuses and methods for manufacturing absorbent articles, and more particularly, methods for mechanically deforming substrates during the manufacture of disposable absorbent articles. Particular embodiments of methods of manufacture disclosed herein provide for forming side seams in various types of diaper configurations. It is to be appreciated that the methods and apparatuses disclosed herein can also be applied to other mechanical deformation used on diapers as well as other types of absorbent articles. 
     In one embodiment, an apparatus for bonding one or more substrates includes the following. A heat member configured to heat a fluid. A plurality of manifolds may be fluidly connected to the heat member. The plurality of manifolds may be positioned about a central longitudinal axis, and each of the plurality of manifolds includes a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. Each of the plurality of manifolds may include a fluid opening and a control chamber defined by the manifold and extending from the fluid opening to the first end portion of the manifold. Each manifold may also include a fluid chamber fluidly connected to the control chamber. The fluid chamber may extend from the control chamber toward the second end portion of the manifold. A nozzle plate may extend along the fluid chamber, and the nozzle plate may be fluidly connected to the fluid chamber. A support plate may be positioned adjacent the nozzle plate. The support plate may define a first slot configured to substantially encircle a portion of the nozzle plate. The apparatus may also include a plurality of actuators adjacent the plurality of manifolds. Each of the plurality of actuators may be configured to engage an engagement member. The engagement member is slidably engaged with the control chamber. Further, the engagement member includes a proximal end portion and a distal end portion opposite the proximal end portion. The engagement member may be positioned in a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, a portion of the engagement member may be disposed over the fluid opening and the proximal end portion of the engagement member may be positioned adjacent to the fluid chamber such that the engagement member prevents the fluid from entering the fluid chamber. In the second configuration, the proximal end portion of the engagement member may be positioned adjacent the fluid chamber such that the fluid flows from the control chamber into the fluid chamber. 
     In another embodiment, a method for forming a bond, the method includes the steps of: advancing a substrate assembly in a machine direction, wherein the substrate assembly comprises a process product pitch defined by a leading portion and a trailing portion, and a central portion between the leading portion and the trailing portion; rotating a bonder apparatus about an axis of rotation, wherein the bonder apparatus comprises a plurality of manifolds disposed about a central longitudinal axis, and wherein each of the plurality of manifolds comprises a support plate and a nozzle plate adjacent the support plate, wherein the nozzle plate defines a plurality of apertures; receiving the leading portion of the substrate on the support plate of a first manifold; receiving the trailing portion of the substrate on the support plate of a second manifold, wherein the central portion of the substrate is disposed on the support plates of the portion of the plurality of manifolds between each of the first manifold and the second manifold; heating a fluid to form a heated fluid; supplying the heated fluid to the plurality of manifolds; releasing the heated fluid through the plurality of apertures defined by the nozzle plate of the first manifold such that the heated fluid engages the leading portion; releasing the heated fluid through the plurality of apertures defines by the nozzle plate of the second manifold such that the heated fluid engages the trailing portion; and bonding at least a portion of the substrate assembly. 
     In another embodiment, a method for forming a bond, the method comprising the steps of: advancing a substrate assembly in a machine direction at a process product pitch, wherein the substrate assembly comprises a process product pitch defined by a leading portion and a trailing portion, and a central portion between the leading portion and the trailing portion; rotating a bonder apparatus about an axis of rotation, wherein the bonder apparatus comprises a plurality of manifolds disposed about a central longitudinal axis, and wherein each of the plurality of manifolds includes a nozzle plate defining a plurality of apertures; expanding or contracting the substrate assembly such that the substrate assembly is advanced at a second process product pitch, wherein the second process product pitch is greater than or less than the process product pitch; receiving the leading portion of the substrate on a first manifold; receiving the trailing portion of the substrate on a second manifold, wherein the central portion of the substrate is disposed on the portion of the plurality of manifolds between each of the first manifold and the second manifold; heating a fluid to form a heated fluid; supplying the heated fluid to the plurality of manifolds; releasing the heated fluid through the plurality of apertures defined by the nozzle plate of the first manifold such that the heated fluid engages the leading portion; releasing the heated fluid through the plurality of apertures defined by the nozzle plate of the second manifold such that the heated fluid engages the trailing portion; and bonding at least a portion of the substrate assembly. 
     These and additional features provided by the embodiments described herein will be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to limit the subject matter defined by the claims. The following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a diaper pant; 
         FIG. 2  is a partially cut away plan view of the diaper pant shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view of the diaper pant of  FIG. 2  taken along line  3 A- 3 A of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of the diaper pant of  FIG. 2  taken along line  3 B- 3 B of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic representation of a converting apparatus in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5A  is a top view of a chassis assembly taken along line  5 A- 5 A of  FIG. 4  in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
       FIG.  5 B 1  is a top view of a discrete chassis taken along line  5 B 1 - 5 B 1  of  FIG. 4  in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
       FIG.  5 B 2  is a top view of a discrete chassis taken along line  5 B 2 - 5 B 2  of  FIG. 4  in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5C  is a top view of elastic belt substrates taken along line  5 C- 5 C of  FIG. 4  in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5D  is a top view of multiple discrete chassis attached to a first elastic belt substrate and a second elastic belt substrate taken along line  5 D- 5 D of  FIG. 4  in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5E  is a top view of multiple discrete chassis attached to a substrate assembly taken along line  5 E- 5 E of  FIG. 4  in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5F  is a top view of two discrete absorbent articles taken along line  5 F- 5 F of  FIG. 4  in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a bonder apparatus in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a partially cut-away perspective view of a bonder apparatus in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a partially cut-away perspective view of a portion of a bonder apparatus in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9A  is a partially cut-away, detailed side view of a portion of a manifold operatively engaged with an actuator in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9B  is a partially cut-away, detailed side view of a portion of a manifold operatively engaged with an actuator in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  is a partially cut-away perspective view of a manifold in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11A  is a perspective view of a manifold operatively connected to actuators in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11B  is a top view of a portion of two manifolds in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11C  is a top view of a portion of two manifolds in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 12  is an end view of a bonder apparatus in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 13A  is a top view of multiple discrete chassis attached to a first elastic belt substrate and a second elastic belt substrate in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 13B  is a top view of multiple discrete chassis attached to a first elastic belt substrate and a second elastic belt substrate in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 13C  is a top view of a portion of multiple discrete chassis attached to a first elastic belt substrate and a second elastic belt substrate disposed on a portion of the bonder apparatus in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 13D  is a top view of a portion of multiple discrete chassis attached to a first elastic belt substrate and a second elastic belt substrate disposed on a portion of the bonder apparatus in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 14  is an end view of a bonder apparatus in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 15  is an end view of a bonder apparatus in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 16A  is atop view of a substrate assembly including a chassis disposed on a portion of a bonder apparatus in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 16B  is a side view of a substrate assembly disposed on a portion of the bonder apparatus in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 17A  is a schematic representation of the communication of a controller in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 17B  is a schematic representation of the communication of a controller in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 17C  is a schematic representation of the communication of a controller in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The methods and apparatuses described herein relate to transferring and bonding substrates. In general, portions of substrates may be overlapped and a jet of heated fluid is delivered from an aperture to at least partially melt the overlapping substrate portions. More particularly, the jet of heated fluid penetrates the substrate portions and at least partially melts the overlapping substrate portions where the substrate portions interface at an overlap area. The location of the substrate portions relative to the heated fluid may be controlled such that the substrate portions are held a predetermined distance away from the heating operation. Pressure may then be applied at the overlap area thereby joining the substrate portions together. In all the embodiments described herein, the fluid may include ambient air or other gases. 
     The term “machine direction” (MD) is used herein to refer to the direction of material flow through a process. In addition, relative placement and movement of material can be described as flowing in the machine direction through a process from upstream in the process to downstream in the process. 
     The term “cross direction” (CD) is used herein to refer to a direction that is generally perpendicular to the machine direction. 
     As used herein, the term “joining” describes a configuration whereby a first element is directly secured to another element by affixing the first element directly to the other element. 
     As used herein, the term “substrate” is used herein to describe a material which is primarily two-dimensional (i.e. in an XY plane) and whose thickness (in a Z direction) is relatively small (i.e. 1/10 or less) in comparison to its length (in an X direction) and width (in a Y direction). Non-limiting examples of substrates include a substrate, layer or layers or fibrous materials, nonwovens, films and foils such as polymeric films or metallic foils. These materials may be used alone or may comprise two or more layers laminated together. As such, a web is a substrate. 
     The term “elongatable,” “extensible,” or “stretchable” are used interchangeably and refer to a material that, upon application of a biasing force, can stretch to an elongated length of at least 130% of its relaxed, original length (i.e. can stretch to 30% more than its original length), without complete rupture or breakage as measured by EDANA method 20.2-89. In the event such an elongatable material recovers at least 40% of its elongation upon release of the applied force, the elongatable material will be considered to be “elastic” or “elastomeric.” For example, an elastic material that has an initial length of 100 mm can extend to 150 mm, and upon removal of the force retracts to a length of at least 130 mm (i.e., exhibiting a 40% recovery). 
     As used herein, the term “pull-on diaper” refers to a garment that is generally worn by infants and sufferers of incontinence, which is pulled on like pants. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is also applicable to other absorbent articles, such as taped diapers, incontinence briefs, feminine hygiene garments, and the like, including absorbent articles intended for use by infants, children, and adults. 
     As used herein, the term “at least partially melted” refers to materials at least a portion of which have reached at least a softening point temperature, but have not reached a melt point temperature. “Melted” also refers, in its ordinary sense, to materials which have exceeded their melt point temperatures over at least a portion of the material. “Meltable” refers to materials that at least soften when heated or when some other energy is applied or generated. 
     The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for bonding substrates together. Generally, the bonder apparatus is rotated about an axis of rotation and a substrate assembly may be advanced in a machine direction and received on the bonder apparatus. The bonder apparatus may include a plurality of manifolds positioned about the axis of rotation. A fluid may be supplied to one or more manifolds such that a portion of the substrate assembly is heated and the one or more layers of the substrate assembly may be bonded. Further, in some embodiments, the substrate assembly may be compressed. 
     As discussed below, the bonder apparatus may be configured to partially melt and/or compress the substrates while traveling on the bonder apparatus. More specifically, the bonder apparatus may include a plurality of manifolds positioned about the axis of rotation. Further, as previously discussed, absorbent articles may be produced in a number of different sizes. Thus, the belt of the absorbent article may be bonded at any number of positions based on the intended size of the absorbent article. The plurality of manifolds allow for a number of different sized absorbent articles to be processed, such as by joining one or more substrates. For example, a substrate assembly having a first size is advanced onto the bonder apparatus. Based on the desired size, the substrate assembly will need to be joined at a first location and a second location. These locations coincide with certain manifolds. More specifically, the first location of the substrate assembly may be disposed on a first manifold and the second location of the substrate assembly may be disposed on the second manifold. A fluid is heated to a temperature sufficient to at least partially melt the portions of the substrate assembly corresponding to the first and second locations. As the bonder apparatus rotates, the heated fluid is supplied to the first manifold and the second manifold and is released through the apertures defined by the first and second manifolds. The portions of the substrate assembly disposed on the first and second manifolds may be partially melted. It is to be appreciated that the manifolds located between the first and second manifolds may not release heated fluid. Only those manifolds that have portions of the substrate assembly disposed thereon that are intended to be partially melted are activated by releasing fluid. It is also to be appreciated that each manifold may be individually controlled such that any combination of manifolds may be activated, release heated fluid, at any given time. The partially melted area may then be compressed, creating a discrete bond region or seam. The bonder apparatus continues to rotate and the substrate assembly may be removed from the bonder apparatus and advanced to subsequent processes. It is to be appreciated that the partially melted area may be compressed while disposed on the bonder apparatus or after being removed from the bonder apparatus. 
     As described in greater detail below, a seam may be formed between at least two substrate layers, each substrate layer comprising one or more meltable components. A seam may also be formed between portions of the same substrate that is, for example, folded along a fold line formed between two substrate portions. The substrate portions to be bonded may be positioned adjacent one another. 
     It is to be appreciated that although the transfer and bonding methods and apparatuses herein may be configured to bond various types of substrates, the methods and apparatuses herein are discussed below in the context of manufacturing absorbent articles. In particular, the methods and apparatuses are discussed in the context of bonding substrates, such as belts, together to form side seams of advancing, continuous lengths of absorbent articles during production. As discussed below, an advancing continuous length of absorbent articles may include a plurality of chassis connected with a continuous first substrate and a continuous second substrate. 
     Prior to the bonder apparatus, continuous first and second substrates may be separated from each other along a cross direction while advancing along a machine direction MD. Each chassis may extend in the cross direction CD and may include opposing first and second end regions separated by a central region, wherein the first end regions are connected with the first substrate and the second end regions are connected with the second substrate. The chassis may also be spaced from each other along the machine direction MD. A folding apparatus operates to fold the chassis around the folding axis along the central regions and to bring the second substrate and second end region of the chassis into a facing relationship with the first substrate and first end region of the chassis. The first substrate and the second substrate positioned in a facing relationship form a substrate assembly. The substrate assembly and the folded chassis advance in the machine direction onto the bonder apparatus such as described above. 
     The methods and apparatuses discussed herein may be used to bond various types of substrate configurations, some of which may be used in the manufacture of different types of absorbent articles. To help provide additional context to the subsequent discussion of the process embodiments, the following provides a general description of absorbent articles in the form of diapers that include components that may be bonded in accordance with the methods and apparatuses disclosed herein. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show an example of a diaper pant  100  that may be transferred and/or bonded with the apparatuses and methods disclosed herein. In particular,  FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a diaper pant  100  in a pre-fastened configuration, and  FIG. 2  shows a plan view of the diaper pant  100  with the portion of the diaper that faces away from a wearer oriented towards the viewer. The diaper pant  100  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  includes a chassis  102  and a ring-like elastic belt  104 . As discussed below in more detail, a first elastic belt  106  and a second elastic belt  108  are connected together to form the ring-like elastic belt  104 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 2 , the chassis  102  includes a first waist region  116 , a second waist region  118 , and a crotch region  119  disposed intermediate the first and second waist regions. The first waist region  116  may be configured as a front waist region, and the second waist region  118  may be configured as back waist region. In some embodiments, the length of each of the front waist region, back waist region, and crotch region  120  may be ⅓ of the length of the absorbent article  100 . The diaper  100  may also include a laterally extending front waist edge  121  in the front waist region  116  and a longitudinally opposing and laterally extending back waist edge  122  in the back waist region  118 . To provide a frame of reference for the present discussion, the diaper  100  and chassis  102  of  FIG. 2  is shown with a longitudinal axis  124  and a lateral axis  126 . In some embodiments, the longitudinal axis  124  may extend through the front waist edge  121  and through the back waist edge  122 . And the lateral axis  126  may extend through a first longitudinal or right side edge  128  and through a midpoint of a second longitudinal or left side edge  130  of the chassis  102 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the diaper pant  100  may include an inner, body facing surface  132 , and an outer, garment facing surface  134 . The chassis  102  may include a backsheet  136  and a topsheet  138 . The chassis  102  may also include an absorbent assembly  140  including an absorbent core  142  that may be disposed between a portion of the topsheet  138  and the backsheet  136 . As discussed in more detail below, the diaper  100  may also include other features, such as leg elastics and/or leg cuffs to enhance the fit around the legs of the wearer. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the periphery of the chassis  102  may be defined by the first longitudinal side edge  128 , a second longitudinal side edge  130 ; a first laterally extending end edge  144  disposed in the first waist region  116 ; and a second laterally extending end edge  146  disposed in the second waist region  118 . Both side edges  128  and  130  extend longitudinally between the first end edge  144  and the second end edge  146 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the laterally extending end edges  144  and  146  are located longitudinally inward from the laterally extending front waist edge  121  in the front waist region  116  and the laterally extending back waist edge  122  in the back waist region  118 . When the diaper pant  100  is worn on the lower torso of a wearer, the front waist edge  121  and the back waist edge  122  of the chassis  102  may encircle a portion of the waist of the wearer. At the same time, the chassis side edges  128  and  130  may encircle at least a portion of the legs of the wearer. And the crotch region  120  may be generally positioned between the legs of the wearer with the absorbent core  142  extending from the front waist region  116  through the crotch region  120  to the back waist region  118 . 
     It is also to be appreciated that a portion or the whole of the diaper  100  may also be made laterally extensible. The additional extensibility may help allow the diaper  100  to conform to the body of a wearer during movement by the wearer. The additional extensibility may also help, for example, allow the user of the diaper  100  including a chassis  102  having a particular size before extension to extend the front waist region  116 , the back waist region  118 , or both waist regions of the diaper  100  and/or chassis  102  to provide additional body coverage for wearers of differing size, i.e., to tailor the diaper to an individual wearer. Such extension of the waist region or regions may give the absorbent article a generally hourglass shape, so long as the crotch region is extended to a relatively lesser degree than the waist region or regions, and may impart a tailored appearance to the article when it is worn. 
     As previously mentioned, the diaper pant  100  may include a backsheet  136 . The backsheet  136  may also define the outer surface  134  of the chassis  102 . The backsheet  136  may be impervious to fluids (e.g., menses, urine, and/or runny feces) and may be manufactured from a thin plastic film, although other flexible liquid impervious materials may also be used. The backsheet  136  may prevent the exudates absorbed and contained in the absorbent core from wetting articles which contact the diaper  100 , such as bedsheets, pajamas, and undergarments. The backsheet  136  may also comprise a woven or nonwoven material, polymeric films such as thermoplastic films of polyethylene or polypropylene, and/or a multi-layer or composite materials comprising a film and a nonwoven material (e.g., having an inner film layer and an outer nonwoven layer). The backsheet may also comprise an elastomeric film. An example backsheet  136  may be a polyethylene film having a thickness of from about 0.012 mm (0.5 mils) to about 0.051 mm (2.0 mils). Exemplary polyethylene films are manufactured by Clopay Corporation of Cincinnati, Ohio, under the designation BR-120 and BR-121 and by Tredegar Film Products of Terre Haute, Ind., under the designation XP-39385. The backsheet  136  may also be embossed and/or matte finished to provide a more clothlike appearance. Further, the backsheet  136  may permit vapors to escape from the absorbent core (i.e., the backsheet is breathable) while still preventing exudates from passing through the backsheet  136 . The size of the backsheet  136  may be dictated by the size of the absorbent core  142  and/or particular configuration or size of the diaper  100 . 
     Also described above, the diaper pant  100  may include a topsheet  138 . The topsheet  138  may also define all or part of the inner surface  132  of the chassis  102 . The topsheet  138  may be compliant, soft feeling, and non-irritating to the wearer&#39;s skin. It may be elastically stretchable in one or two directions. Further, the topsheet  138  may be liquid pervious, permitting liquids (e.g., menses, urine, and/or runny feces) to penetrate through its thickness. A topsheet  138  may be manufactured from a wide range of materials such as woven and nonwoven materials; apertured or hydroformed thermoplastic films; apertured nonwovens, porous foams; reticulated foams; reticulated thermoplastic films; and thermoplastic scrims. Woven and nonwoven materials may comprise natural fibers such as wood or cotton fibers; synthetic fibers such as polyester, polypropylene, or polyethylene fibers; or combinations thereof. If the topsheet  138  includes fibers, the fibers may be spunbond, carded, wet-laid, meltblown, hydroentangled, or otherwise processed as is known in the art. 
     Topsheets  138  may be selected from high loft nonwoven topsheets, apertured film topsheets and apertured nonwoven topsheets. Apertured film topsheets may be pervious to bodily exudates, yet substantially non-absorbent, and have a reduced tendency to allow fluids to pass back through and rewet the wearer&#39;s skin. Exemplary apertured films may include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,628,097; 5,916,661; 6,545,197; and 6,107,539. 
     As mentioned above, the diaper pant  100  may also include an absorbent assembly  140  that is joined to the chassis  102 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the absorbent assembly  140  may have a laterally extending front edge  148  in the front waist region  116  and may have a longitudinally opposing and laterally extending back edge  150  in the back waist region  118 . The absorbent assembly may have a longitudinally extending right side edge  152  and may have a laterally opposing and longitudinally extending left side edge  154 , both absorbent assembly side edges  152  and  154  may extend longitudinally between the front edge  148  and the back edge  150 . The absorbent assembly  140  may additionally include one or more absorbent cores  142  or absorbent core layers. The absorbent core  142  may be at least partially disposed between the topsheet  138  and the backsheet  136  and may be formed in various sizes and shapes that are compatible with the diaper. Exemplary absorbent structures for use as the absorbent core of the present disclosure are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,610,678; 4,673,402; 4,888,231; and 4,834,735. 
     Some absorbent core embodiments may comprise fluid storage cores that contain reduced amounts of cellulosic airfelt material. For instance, such cores may comprise less than about 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 5%, or even 1% of cellulosic airfelt material. Such a core may comprises primarily absorbent gelling material in amounts of at least about 60%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or even about 100%, where the remainder of the core comprises a microfiber glue (if applicable). Such cores, microfiber glues, and absorbent gelling materials are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,599,335; 5,562,646; 5,669,894; and 6,790,798 as well as U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2004/0158212 and 2004/0097895. 
     As previously mentioned, the diaper  100  may also include elasticized leg cuffs  156 . It is to be appreciated that the leg cuffs  156  can be and are sometimes also referred to as leg bands, side flaps, barrier cuffs, elastic cuffs or gasketing cuffs. The elasticized leg cuffs  156  may be configured in various ways to help reduce the leakage of body exudates in the leg regions. Example leg cuffs  156  may include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,860,003; 4,909,803; 4,695,278; 4,795,454; 4,704,115; 4,909,803; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2009/0312730 A1; and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2013/0255865 A1. 
     As mentioned above, diaper pants may be manufactured with a ring-like elastic belt  104  and provided to consumers in a configuration wherein the front waist region  116  and the back waist region  118  are connected to each other as packaged, prior to being applied to the wearer. As such, diaper pants may have a continuous perimeter waist opening  110  and continuous perimeter leg openings  112  such as shown in  FIG. 1 . As previously mentioned, the ring-like elastic belt  104  is defined by a first elastic belt  106  connected with a second elastic belt  108 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the first elastic belt  106  defines first and second opposing end regions  106   a ,  106   b  and a central region  106   c , and the second elastic  108  belt defines first and second opposing end regions  108   a ,  108   b  and a central region  108   c.    
     The central region  106   c  of the first elastic belt is connected with the first waist region  116  of the chassis  102 , and the central region  108   c  of the second elastic belt  108  is connected with the second waist region  118  of the chassis  102 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the first end region  106   a  of the first elastic belt  106  is connected with the first end region  108   a  of the second elastic belt  108  at first side seam  178 , and the second end region  106   b  of the first elastic belt  106  is connected with the second end region  108   b  of the second elastic belt  108  at second side seam  180  to define the ring-like elastic belt  104  as well as the waist opening  110  and leg openings  112 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2, 3A, and 3B , the first elastic belt  106  also defines an outer lateral edge  107   a  and an inner lateral edge  107   b , and the second elastic belt  108  defines an outer lateral edge  109   a  and an inner lateral edge  109   b . The outer lateral edges  107   a ,  109   a  may also define the front waist edge  121  and the laterally extending back waist edge  122 . The first elastic belt and the second elastic belt may also each include an outer, garment facing layer  162  and an inner, wearer facing layer  164 . It is to be appreciated that the first elastic belt  106  and the second elastic belt  108  may comprise the same materials and/or may have the same structure. In some embodiments, the first elastic belt  106  and the second elastic belt may comprise different materials and/or may have different structures. It should also be appreciated that the first elastic belt  106  and the second elastic belt  108  may be constructed from various materials. For example, the first and second belts may be manufactured from materials such as plastic films; apertured plastic films; woven or nonwoven webs of natural materials (e.g., wood or cotton fibers), synthetic fibers (e.g., polyolefins, polyamides, polyester, polyethylene, or polypropylene fibers) or a combination of natural and/or synthetic fibers; or coated woven or nonwoven webs. In some embodiments, the first and second elastic belts may include a nonwoven web of synthetic fibers, and may include a stretchable nonwoven. In other embodiments, the first and second elastic belts may include an inner hydrophobic, non-stretchable nonwoven material and an outer hydrophobic, non-stretchable nonwoven material. 
     The first and second elastic belts  106 ,  108  may also each include belt elastic material interposed between the outer layer  162  and the inner layer  164 . The belt elastic material may include one or more elastic elements such as strands, ribbons, or panels extending along the lengths of the elastic belts. As shown in  FIGS. 2, 3A, and 3B , the belt elastic material may include a plurality of elastic strands  168  that may be referred to herein as outer, waist elastics  170  and inner, waist elastics  172 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the outer, waist elastics  170  extend continuously laterally between the first and second opposing end regions  106   a ,  106   b  and across the central region  106   c  of the first elastic belt  106  and between the first and second opposing end regions  108   a ,  108   b  and across the central region  108   c  of the second elastic belt  108 . In some embodiments, some elastic strands  168  may be configured with discontinuities in areas. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the inner, waist elastics  172  extend intermittently along the first and second elastic belts  106 ,  108 . More particularly, the inner, waist elastics  172  extend along the first and second opposing end regions  106   a ,  106   b  and partially across the central region  106   c  of the first elastic belt  106 . The inner, waist elastics  172  also extend along the first and second opposing end regions  108   a ,  108   b  and partially across the central region  108   c  of the second elastic belt  108 . As such, the inner, waist elastics  172  do not extend across the entirety of the central regions  106   c ,  108   c  of the first and second elastic belts  106 ,  108 . Thus, some elastic strands  168  may not extend continuously through regions of the first and second elastic belts  106 ,  108  where the first and second elastic belts  106 ,  108  overlap the absorbent assembly  140 . In some embodiments, some elastic strands  168  may partially extend into regions of the first and second elastic belts  106 ,  108  where the first and second elastic belts  106 ,  108  overlap the absorbent assembly  140 . In some embodiments, some elastic strands  168  may not extend into any region of the first and second elastic belts  106 ,  108  where the first and second elastic belts  106 ,  108  overlap the absorbent assembly  140 . It is to be appreciated that the first and/or second elastic belts  106 ,  108  may be configured with various configurations of discontinuities in the outer, waist elastics  170  and/or the inner, waist elastic elastics  172 . 
     In some embodiments, the elastic strands  168  may be disposed at a constant interval in the longitudinal direction. In other embodiments, the elastic strands  168  may be disposed at different intervals in the longitudinal direction. As discussed in more detail below, the belt elastic strands  168 , in a stretched condition, may be interposed and joined between the uncontracted outer layer and the uncontracted inner layer. When the belt elastic material is relaxed, the belt elastic material returns to an unstretched condition and contracts the outer layer and the inner layer. The belt elastic material may provide a desired variation of contraction force in the area of the ring-like elastic belt. It is to be appreciated that the chassis  102  and elastic belts  106 ,  108  may be configured in different ways other than as depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
     As previously mentioned, the apparatuses and methods according to the present disclosure may be utilized to transfer and/or bond discrete absorbent articles  100  and/or various components of absorbent articles  100 , such as for example, chassis  102 , elastic belts  106 ,  108 , and/or leg cuffs  156 . Although the following methods may be provided in the context of the diaper  100  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it is to be appreciated that the methods and apparatuses herein may be used with various process configurations and/or absorbent articles, such as for example, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,569,039; U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2005/0107764 A1, 2012/0061016 A1, and 2012/0061015 A1; 2013/0255861 A1; 2013/0255862 A1; 2013/0255863 A1; 2013/0255864 A1; and 2013/0255865 A1. 
     As previously mentioned, the apparatuses and methods according to the present disclosure may be utilized to assemble various components of absorbent articles  100 . For example,  FIG. 4  shows a schematic view of a converting apparatus  300  adapted to manufacture absorbent articles  100 . The method of operation of the converting apparatus  300  may be described with reference to the various components of absorbent articles  100 , such as described above and shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Although the following methods are provided in the context of the absorbent article  100  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it is to be appreciated that various embodiments of diaper pants can be manufactured according to the methods disclosed herein, such as for example, the absorbent articles disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,569,039 and U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2005/0107764 A1; 2012/0061016 A1; and 2012/0061015 A1. 
     As described in more detail below, the converting apparatus  300  shown in  FIG. 4  operates to advance discrete chassis  102  along a machine direction MD such that the lateral axis of each chassis  102  is parallel with the machine direction, and wherein the chassis  102  are spaced apart from each other along the machine direction. Opposing waist regions  116 ,  118  of the spaced apart chassis  102  are then connected with continuous lengths of advancing first and second substrates  406 ,  408 , as illustrated in FIGS.  5 B 1  and  5 C. The chassis  102  are then folded along the lateral axis to bring the first and second substrates  406 ,  408  into a facing relationship, as illustrated in  FIG. 5D , and the first and second substrates are connected together along regions  336  intermittently spaced along the machine direction MD, wherein each region  336  may include one or more discrete bond sites  336   a , as illustrated in  FIG. 5E . And the substrates  406 ,  408  are cut along the regions  336  to form a discrete belt and creating discrete absorbent articles  100 , such as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5A , a continuous length of chassis assemblies  302  are advanced in a machine direction MD to a carrier apparatus  308  and cut into discrete chassis  102  with knife roll  306 . The continuous length of chassis assemblies  302  may include absorbent assemblies  140  sandwiched between topsheet material  138  and backsheet material  136 , leg elastics, barrier leg cuffs and the like. 
     After the discrete absorbent chassis  102  are cut by the knife roll  306 , the carrier apparatus  308  rotates and advances the discrete chassis  102  in the machine direction MD in the orientation shown in FIG.  5 B 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis  124  of the chassis  102  is generally parallel with the machine direction MD. While the chassis  102  shown in FIG.  5 B 1  is shown with the second laterally extending end edge  146  as a leading edge and the first laterally extending end edge  144  as the trailing edge, it is to be appreciated that in other embodiments, the chassis  102  may be advanced in other orientations. For example, the chassis may be oriented such that the second laterally extending end edge  146  is a trailing edge and the first laterally extending end edge  144  is a leading edge. The carrier apparatus  308  also rotates while at the same time changing the orientation of the advancing chassis  102 . The carrier apparatus  308  may also change the speed at which the chassis  102  advances in the machine direction MD. It is to be appreciated that various forms of carrier apparatuses may be used with the methods herein, such as for example, the carrier apparatuses disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,587,966. FIG.  5 B 2  shows the orientation of the chassis  102  on the carrier apparatus  308  while advancing in the machine direction. More particularly, FIG.  5 B 2  shows the chassis  102  with the lateral axis  126  of the chassis  102  generally parallel with the machine direction MD, and wherein the second longitudinal side edge  130  is the leading edge and the first longitudinal side edge  128  is the trailing edge. 
     As discussed below with reference to  FIGS. 3, 5C, 5D, 5E, and 5F , the chassis  102  are transferred from the carrier apparatus  308  and combined with advancing, continuous lengths of substrates  406 ,  408 , which may be referred to herein as belts, belt substrates, or elastic belt substrates. The substrates  406 ,  408  may be elastically extensible or inelastic. These substrates  406 ,  408  may be subsequently cut to form first and second belts  106 ,  108  on diapers  100 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the chassis  102  are transferred from the carrier apparatus  308  to a nip  316  between the carrier apparatus  308  and a roll  318  where the chassis  102  is combined with continuous lengths of advancing first substrate  406  and second substrate  408 . The first substrate material  406  and the second substrate material  408  each define a wearer facing surface  312  and an opposing garment facing surface  314 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5C . The wearer facing surface  312  of the first substrate  406  may be combined with the garment facing surface  134  of the chassis  102  along the first waist region  116 , and the wearer facing surface  312  of the second substrate  408  may be combined with the garment facing surface  134  of the chassis  102  along the second waist region  118 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , adhesive  320  may be intermittently applied to the wearer facing surface  312  of the first and second substrates  406 ,  408  before combining with the discrete chassis  102  at the nip  316  between roll  318  and the carrier apparatus  308 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5D , a continuous length of absorbent articles  400  are defined by multiple discrete chassis  102  spaced from each other along the machine direction MD and connected with each other by the substrate assembly  190  which includes the second substrate  408  and the first substrate  406 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the continuous length of absorbent articles  400  advances from the nip  316  to a folding apparatus  500 . At the folding apparatus  500 , each chassis  102  is folded in the cross direction CD along a lateral axis  126  to place the first waist region  116 , and specifically, the inner, body facing surface  132  into a facing, surface to surface orientation with the inner, body surface  132  of the second waist region  118 . The folding of the chassis also positions the wearer facing surface  312  of the second substrate  408  extending between each chassis  102  in a facing relationship with the wearer facing surface  312  of the first substrate  406  extending between each chassis  102 . As shown in  FIGS. 4, 5D, and 5E , the folded discrete chassis  102  connected with the first and second substrates  406 ,  408  are advanced from the folding apparatus  500  to a bonder apparatus  200 . The bonder apparatus  200  operates to bond, at least a portion of the region  336 , which may include an overlap area  362 , of the substrate assembly  190  thus creating discrete bond sites  336   a . An overlap area  362  includes a portion of the second substrate  408  extending between each chassis  102  and a portion of the first substrate  406  extending between each chassis  102 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5F , a continuous length of absorbent articles are advanced from the bonder apparatus  200  to a knife roll  338  where the regions  336  are cut into along the cross direction to create a first side seam  178  and a second side seam  180  on an absorbent article  100 . It is to be appreciated that the regions  336  may be cut while the first and second substrates  406 ,  408  are disposed on the bonder apparatus  200 . Thus, the first and second substrates  406 ,  408  may be joined and cut while being rotated by the bonder apparatus  200 . 
     Although the absorbent article is described as having a substrate assembly that includes first and second substrates, it is to be appreciated that the absorbent article may have only one substrate or, alternatively, one or more substrates. For example, the substrate assembly may include a first substrate, a second substrate, a third substrate, and a fourth substrate. Further, it is to be appreciated that the chassis and substrate of the absorbent article may be one continuous substrate such that the overlap area is formed from the same substrate. As such, the bonder apparatus may operate to bond a continuous substrate at an overlap area to form one or more discrete bond sites. 
     As previously discussed, the converting apparatus  300  may include a bonder apparatus  200 .  FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a bonder apparatus  200  that may be used with the methods and apparatuses herein. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the bonder apparatus  200  may include a plurality of manifolds  202  rotatable about a central longitudinal axis of rotation  204 . Each of the plurality of manifolds  202  may be disposed about the central longitudinal axis  204 , such that the plurality of manifolds  202  substantially surround the central longitudinal axis  204  and form an outer circumferential surface  201 . The bonder apparatus  200  may include at least 4 manifolds or at least ten manifolds, or at least twenty manifolds, or at least 40 manifolds, or at least 50 manifolds or greater. Each of the plurality of manifolds may be placed about the central longitudinal axis  204  such that adjacent manifolds are in abutting relationship or adjacent one another. Stated another way, there may be a gap between adjacent manifolds or the manifolds may abut one another. 
     Each of the plurality of manifolds  202  includes a first end portion  206  and a second end portion  208 , opposite the first end portion  206 . Each of the plurality of manifolds may also include a support plate  394  that extends from the first end portion  206  to the second end portion  208  of the manifold  202 , in a direction substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis  204 . The support plate  394  may include an external support surface  395  and an internal support surface  397 , opposite the external support surface  395 . The external support surface  395  of each of the support plates  394  forms at least a portion of the outer circumferential surface  201 . The external support surface  395  of the support plate  394  may be configured to receive a portion of the substrate assembly  190 . Further, the support plate  394  may define one or more slots  396  that extend vertically from the external support surface  395  to the internal support surface  397 , as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . The one or more slots  396  may extend horizontally in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis  204 . The internal support surface  397  of the support plate  394  may be in facing relationship with a nozzle plate  210 , as will be discussed with reference to  FIG. 10 . 
     The nozzle plate  210  may define a plurality of apertures  212 . The plurality of apertures  212  may extend in a direction substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis  204  along the nozzle plate  210 . In some embodiments, the plurality of apertures  212  may extend from the first end portion  206  to the second end portion  208  of the nozzle plate  210 . However, it is to be appreciated that the plurality of apertures  212  may be any length and positioned in any configuration that is sufficient to heat the portion of the substrate assembly to be joined. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , for example, the nozzle plate  210  may defines a first group of apertures  214  and a second group of apertures  216 . The first group of apertures  214  may be adjacent the second group of apertures  216 . The plurality of apertures  212  may be substantially surrounded by the one or more slots  396  defined by the support plate  394 . 
     The bonder apparatus  200  may also include a plurality of support arms  231 . Each support arm  231  may be joined to the first end portion  206  or the second end portion  208  of the manifold  202 . The support arm  231  may be removably attached to the manifold  202 , such as by screws, bots, or clamps. The support arm  231  may be used to extend the length of the outer circumferential surface  201  such that larger articles may be processed on a single bonder apparatus  200 . The support arm  231  may be a substantially rigid member. The support arm  231  may also be used to protect the absorbent article from interfering with additional components of the bonder apparatus  200 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 6 , a heat member  304  may be positioned adjacent the plurality of manifolds  202 . The heat member may be any device which increases in temperature by use of energy or radiation, such as an electric heater, an induction heater, which heats a thermally conductible object by electromagnetic induction, laser heating, ultrasonically heating. The heat member  304  may be used to heat the fluid. The fluid is heated to a temperature sufficient to at least partially melt at least a portion of the region  336  of the substrate assembly  190 . The heated fluid is then passed to specific manifolds to be released through the plurality of apertures  212 . It is to be appreciated that the fluid is heated to a temperature which accounts for any loss in temperature from being transferred from the heat member  304  to the manifold  202  and through the plurality of apertures  212 . 
     The heated fluid may include ambient air or other gases. It is to be appreciated that the fluid may be heated to various temperatures and pressurized to various pressures. For example, in some embodiments, the fluid may be heated up to an exit temperature, or, stated another way, the temperature at which the fluid is released through the plurality of apertures, ranging from the lower melting point of first and second substrates minus 30° C. to the lower melting point of the first and second substrates plus 100° C. In some embodiments, the fluid pressure may range from 0.1×10 5  Newtons per square meter to 1×10 6  Newtons per square meter. In some embodiments, the heated fluid may be directed toward at least one of the first and second substrates for a time interval ranging from about 10 to about 1000 milliseconds or greater. Shorter or greater time intervals may be used. 
     The fluid may be sufficiently heated to enable at least a partial melting of at least a portion of the substrate assembly  190 . A jet of the heated fluid may be directed toward the substrate assembly  190 . The fluid may be allowed to penetrate the substrate assembly  190  such that at least a portion of each of the substrate layers is melted in the region, which may be an overlap area  362 . The heated fluid, at a controlled temperature and pressure, may pass from the apertures, leading to the formation of controlled and concentrated jets of heated fluid, which are directed toward the region  336  of the substrate assembly  190  to be joined. 
     By controlled, it is meant that the temperature and pressure of the fluid are maintained within a specified range once the nominal set points are selected. For example, a set point may be selected and the temperature may then be maintained in a fixed range around the nominal set point, such as ±30° C., and the pressure may be maintained in a fixed range around the nominal set point, such as ±1 bar. The acceptable range will depend on the properties, such as softening point and/or melting temperature, of the materials to be joined and the nominal set point selected. 
     For example, a nominal set point above the melting temperature of one or more of the materials to be joined may require a tighter control range than a nominal set point well below the melting temperature of one or more materials to be joined. The control range may be asymmetrical about the nominal set point. By sufficiently heating, it is meant that the fluid is heated to a temperature that will enable at least partial melting, or at least softening, of the substrate or substrates. Sufficient heating may vary with the materials and equipment used. For example, if the heated fluid is applied to the substrate or substrates almost immediately, with little or no time to cool, the fluid may be heated to approximately the softening point or approximately the melting point of the substrate or substrates. If the heated fluid is directed to the substrate or substrates over some gap in time or distance, such that the heated fluid may cool somewhat before interacting with the substrate or substrates, it may be necessary to heat the fluid above, possibly significantly above, the softening point or melting point of the substrate or substrates. 
     The fluid may also be delivered with a pulsed application. The impact of the jet of heated fluid may be adjusted such that both the energy introduced by the jet plus the energy introduced by other means such as a heated anvil (if the anvil is heated), deformation of the substrate, and the internal friction of substrate layers are sufficient to at least partially melt the meltable components in the region  336  to create a certain tackiness, which will form a strong bond in the region  336 , which may include an overlap area  362 , upon compression. The melting of the meltable components may occur in a non-uniform manner throughout substrates in the region  336 . 
     The duration of energy transfer in the process described herein may be a dynamic process, and may create a temperature gradient across the cross sections of the meltable components. That is, the core of the meltable components may remain solid while the exterior surface of the meltable components melt or come close to melting. Even below the melting temperature, the exterior surface may reach a softening point, such that plastic deformation of the material may occur at a much lower load than for the same material at ambient temperature. Thus, if one or more of the materials to be bonded have a softening point, the process may be adjusted to achieve a temperature in at least a portion of substrates between the softening point and the melting point. The use of a temperature at or above the softening point but below the melting point of one or more of the meltable components may allow for the creation of a strong bond between the substrate layers with reduced disruption to the structure of the meltable components e.g., attenuating or otherwise weakening the meltable components. 
     The release of the fluid may be controlled by a plurality of actuators  230  operatively engaged with a plurality of valves. Each of the plurality of manifolds  202  may be operatively engaged with at least one valve  224  and actuator  456 . More specifically, in some embodiments, a single valve  224  may control the release of fluid to both the first group of apertures  214  and the second group of apertures  214  of a single manifold  202 . In some embodiments, a first valve  224  may control the release of fluid through the first group of apertures  214  and a second valve  224  may control the release of fluid through the second group of apertures  216  of a single manifold  202 . 
     A controller, not illustrated, may be operatively connected to each of the plurality of actuators  230 . The controller is configured to pass instructions to the plurality of actuators, such that certain valves  224  change from a closed position, which prevents the flow of fluid, to an open configuration, which allows for the flow of fluid, or vice versa. 
     The bonder apparatus  200  may be driven by a drive member  432 , such as a motor  434 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The motor  434  may be any device that transmits rotational energy to the bonder apparatus. The motor  434  may be operatively linked or operatively engaged with the bonder apparatus using any technique known to those skilled in the art such as, for example, a gear to gear connection, transmission belting  436 , and pulleys, gearboxes, direct couplings, and the like or any combination thereof. 
     The drive member  432  may be operatively engaged with a rotatable central shaft  438 . The drive member  432  causes the rotatable central shaft  438  to rotate about the central longitudinal axis  204 . The rotatable central shaft  438  includes a distal end portion  442  and a proximal end portion  444 , opposite the distal end portion  442 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The drive member  432  may be operatively engaged with the distal end portion  442  of the rotatable central shaft  438 . 
     The rotatable central shaft  438  may be rotatably connected to a stationary central shaft  440 . The stationary central shaft  440  may substantially surround the rotatable central shaft  438 . Stated another way, the rotatable central shaft  438  may extend through the stationary central shaft  440 . In some embodiments, bearings, bushings, or other moveable connection may rotatably connect the rotatable central shaft  438  to the stationary central shaft  440 , such that the rotatable central shaft  438  may rotate about the central longitudinal axis  204  as the stationary central shaft  440  remains fixed. 
     The proximal end portion  444  of the rotatable central shaft  438  may be connected to a support drum  232 . The support drum  232  may extend about the central longitudinal axis  204  and be configured to rotate with the rotatable central shaft  438 . The plurality of manifolds  202  may be disposed on the support drum  232 . The plurality of manifolds  202  extend about the support drum  232  such that an outer circumferential surface  201  is formed. Thus, the support drum  232  and the plurality of manifolds rotate about the central longitudinal axis  204 . 
     As previously discussed, the heat member  304  is configured to heat a fluid to a temperature sufficient to at least partially melt the substrate assembly. The heated fluid may then be transferred to the manifold  202 . In some embodiments, the heated fluid may be transferred through tubing  446 . The tubing  446  may be insulated to minimize heat loss as the fluid is being transferred. The tubing  446  may connect the heat member  304  to a cap member  448 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The cap member  448  extends about the central longitudinal axis  204 . The cap member  448  is operatively connected to the stationary central shaft  440 . The cap member  448  defines an internal reservoir  450  that extends about a portion of the cap member  448 . The internal reservoir allows fluid to pass from the tubing  446  to a fluid block  452 . 
     It is to be appreciated that the bonder apparatus  200  may include more than one heat member  304 . Each heat member  304  may be connected to tubing  446  which supplies the heated fluid to the cap member  448 . The cap member  448  may include more than one internal reservoir  450 . Thus, a single heat member may be fluidly connected, such as by tubing, to multiple internal reservoirs defined by the cap member  448 . For example, the heat member may be fluidly connected to a first internal reservoir and a second internal reservoir, each defined by the cap member. Further, multiple heat members may be fluidly connected, such as by tubing, to each of the multiple internal reservoirs defined by the cap member  448 . For example, a first heat member may be fluidly connected to a first internal reservoir defined by the cap member, and a second heat member may be fluidly connected to a second internal reservoir defined by the cap member. 
     The cap member  448  may be fluidly connected to a fluid block  452  as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The fluid block  452  may be configured to rotate about the central longitudinal axis  204 . The fluid block  452  may define a plurality of fluid inlets  218 . Thus, as the fluid block rotates about the central longitudinal axis  204 , the plurality of fluid inlets  218  move such that they are in fluid connection with the internal reservoir  450  of the cap member  448 . Fluid may be transferred from the internal reservoir  450  to a portion of the plurality of fluid inlets  218  as the portion of the plurality of fluid inlets  218  rotates by the one or more internal reservoirs  450 . The fluid inlets  218  may be any shape, such as circular, oval, rectangular, that allows fluid to move from the internal reservoir through the fluid inlet  218 . It is also to be appreciated that the fluid inlet  218  may be an inlet groove that extends about the fluid block  452 . Thus, the inlet groove may extend about the central longitudinal axis  204  or a portion thereof. 
     The fluid inlets  218  allow the fluid to transfer into a fluid pathway  388 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The fluid may travel through the fluid pathway  388  and exit through a fluid outlet  454 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The fluid may be transferred from the fluid outlet  454  to a fluid opening  458  defined by the manifold  202 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 8, 9A, and 9B . The fluid opening  458  may be any shape that allows fluid to move from the fluid outlet  454  to the manifold  202 . For example, the fluid opening  458  may be circular, oval, square, or rectangular in cross section. The fluid opening  458  may be fluidly connected to a control chamber  460  defined by the manifold  202 . The control chamber  460  extends from the fluid opening  458  to the second end portion  208  of the manifold  202 . The control chamber  460  may extend through the end portion  462  of the manifold  202  forming a first control chamber opening  464 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 9A and 9B . The control chamber opening  464  may be configured to receive an engagement member  470 . Opposite the control chamber opening  464  is a second control chamber opening  466 . The second control chamber opening  466  may be fluidly connected to a fluid chamber  468  defined by the manifold  202 . 
     The control chamber  460  may be configured to receive an engagement member  470 , and the engagement member  470  may be slidably engaged with the control chamber  460 . The control chamber  460  and the engagement member  470  form a valve  224 . The engagement member  470  may be an elongated member having substantially the same shape as the control chamber  460 . For example, the engagement member  470  may have a circular or oval cross-section. The engagement member  470  may have a proximal end portion  472  adjacent the fluid chamber  468  and a distal end portion  474 , opposite the proximal end portion  472  and adjacent the second end portion  208  of the manifold  202 . The engagement member  470  may be slidably engaged with the control chamber  460 . More specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 9B , the engagement member  470  may slide into a first configuration. In the first configuration, a portion of the engagement member  470  may be positioned over the fluid inlet and/or the proximal end portion  472  may abut the area of the control chamber  460  adjacent the second control chamber opening  466  such that fluid is prevented from entering the fluid chamber  468 . Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 9A , the engagement member  470  may slide into a second configuration. In the second configuration, the engagement member  470  may be positioned adjacent the fluid opening  458  and/or the proximal end portion  472  of the engagement member  470  may be spaced from the second control chamber opening  466  such that fluid may flow into the fluid chamber  468 . In the second configuration, fluid may be transferred through the fluid opening  458  into the control chamber  460  and through the second control chamber opening  466  of the control chamber  460  into the fluid chamber  468 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the distal end portion  474  of the engagement member  470  may be operatively connected to an actuator  456 . More specifically, the actuator  456  may include a plunger member  476 . The plunger member  476  may extend through the first control chamber opening  464  defined by the end portion  462  of the manifold  202 . A portion of the plunger member  476  may engage the distal end portion  474  of the engagement member  470 . The plunger member  476  of the actuator  456  may be driven by mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, or some other energy source, such that the plunger member  476  causes the engagement member  470  to slide from the first configuration to the second configuration. The plunger member  476  is connected to the engagement member  470  such that the plunger member  476  and the engagement member  470  move together. For example, when the plunger member  476  is caused to move in a direction toward the second control chamber opening  466 , the engagement member  470  moves in the same direction. 
     As previously stated, when the engagement member  470  slides to a second position such that the engagement member  470  may be spaced from the second control member opening  466  and/or adjacent the fluid opening  458 , fluid may transfer through the fluid opening  458  into the control chamber  460  and through the second control chamber opening  466  into the fluid chamber  468 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the fluid chamber  468  may be separated into a first fluid chamber  478  and a second fluid chamber  480 . The first fluid chamber  478  may be separated from the second fluid chamber  480  by a notched plate  482  defining one or more notched openings  484 . The notched plate  482  aids in the distribution of fluid throughout the manifold  202 . More specifically, the notched plate  482  includes notched opening  484 . The notched openings  484  may be a various sizes. The notched openings  484  control the flow of fluid by regulating the amount of fluid that passes through the notched openings  484  as the fluid is transferred through the fluid chamber  468  toward the first end portion  206  of the manifold  202 . 
     It is to be appreciated that the fluid chamber  468  may be separated into any number of sections. It is also to be appreciated that the fluid chamber  468  may be a single chamber that is not separated. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 10 , a nozzle plate  210  may be postponed adjacent the fluid chamber  468 . For example, the nozzle plate  210  may extend along the length of the fluid chamber  468 . Stated another way, the nozzle plate  210  may extend from the first end portion  206  of the manifold  202  to the second end portion  208  of the manifold  202 . The nozzle plate  210  includes a first nozzle plate surface  256  and second nozzle plate surface  257 . The second nozzle plate surface  257  may be in facing relationship with the fluid chamber  468 . The nozzle plate  210  may define a plurality of apertures  212  that extend through the nozzle plate from the first nozzle plate surface  256  to the second nozzle plate surface  257 . The fluid may be transferred from the fluid chamber  468  through the plurality of apertures  212 . The plurality of apertures  212  may be arranged into a first group of apertures  214  and a second group of apertures  216 . The groups of apertures may be arranged with respect to one another in any configuration that at least partially melts the substrate assembly in the desired area. The apertures  212  may be any shape sufficient to transfer fluid to the desired area of the substrate assembly. For example, each apertures may have a circular cross-section, an oval cross-section, a rectangular cross-section, or the like. 
     The manifold  202  may also include a support plate  394 , as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . The support plate  394  may be disposed on the first, external nozzle plate surface  256 . The support plate  394  may cover a portion of the nozzle plate  210 . The support plate  394  may include one or more slots  396 . Each of the slots  396  may substantially surround the plurality of apertures  212  or a portion of the plurality of apertures  212 . Each slot may include one or more slot walls  398  that extend from the first nozzle plate surface  256  to the external surface of the support plate or the outer circumferential surface  201  and substantially surround a portion of one or more apertures  212 . The support plate  394  may include a thickness Y of from about 0.5 millimeters to about 20 millimeters, including all 0.1 increments therebetween. The support plate  394  may be any thickness Y such that the substrate assembly  190  is a desired distance from the external, first nozzle plate surface  256  and, thus, the plurality of apertures  212 . For example, the thickness Y may be such that the such that the distance from the layer of the substrate assembly positioned closest to the apertures and the first nozzle plate surface  256  may range from 0.5 millimeters to about 20 millimeters, or between about 0.5 millimeters and about 5 millimeters, or between about 0.5 millimeters and about 3 millimeters, including all 0.1 millimeter increments between the recited ranges. Control of the distance between the substrate assembly  190  and the apertures  212  may also result in a relatively more predictable fluid spray and melt pattern during the fluid application and heating/melting process. It is also to be appreciated that the manifold  202  may not include a support plate  394  and the substrate assembly  190  may be disposed on the first nozzle plate surface  256 . Thus, the substrate assembly  190  may abut the external surface of the nozzle plate and the apertures of the nozzle plate. Thus, the distance between the substrate assembly  190  and the external surface  256  may be about zero millimeters. 
     It is to be appreciated that the manifold may include temperature sensors such that the temperature of the fluid chamber  386 , the fluid supplied to the plurality of apertures, and the fluid released through the plurality of apertures can be monitored. The temperature of the heat member  304  may be changed based on the output from the temperature sensors. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 11A-11C , the one or more slots  396  may be separated by a radial slot distance RSD. The radial slot distance RSD is the distance measured along the outer circumferential surface  201  in the machine direction MD between a first plane taken parallel to the central longitudinal axis  204  and intersecting the point or portion of the first slot that is nearest to the adjacent slot in the machine direction and a second plane taken parallel to the central longitudinal axis  204  and intersecting the point or portion of the adjacent slot that is nearest to the first slot in the machine direction. The RSD may be from about 5 millimeters to about 80 millimeters and/or from about 15 millimeters to about 40 millimeters, including all 0.1 millimeters therebetween, such as 8.5 millimeters. The one or more slots  396  may also be separated by a cross direction slot distance CSD, as illustrated in  FIG. 11C . The cross direction slot distance CSD is the distance measured along the outer circumferential surface  201  in the cross direction CD, which is parallel to the central longitudinal axis  204 , between a first plane taken perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis  204  and intersecting the point or portion of the first slot that is nearest to the adjacent slot in the cross direction CD and a second plane taken perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis  204  and intersecting the point or portion of the adjacent slot that is nearest to the first slot in the cross direction. The cross direction slot distance CSD may be from about 3 mm to about 10 mm and/or from about 5 mm to about 25 mm and/or from about 30 mm to about 100 mm and/or from about 50 mm to about 500 mm, including all 0.1 mm therebetween. 
     As previously discussed, the nozzle plate  210  may include a plurality of apertures  212 . The plurality of apertures  212  may be arranged into a first group of apertures  214  and a second group of apertures  216 . The first and second group of apertures  214 ,  216  may extend from the first end portion  206  to the second end portion  208  of a first manifold  202 . In some embodiments, the plurality of apertures  212  may also include a third group of apertures  244  and a fourth group of apertures  246 , as illustrated in  FIG. 11B . The third and fourth group of apertures  244 ,  246  may also extend from the first end portion  206  to the second end portion  208  of the first manifold  202 ,  266 . Further each of the groups of apertures may be substantially parallel to one another. It is to be appreciated that the plurality of apertures may be arranged in any configuration which corresponds to the area of the substrate assembly to be at least partially melted. For example, one or more rows of apertures may be used or a random arrangement of apertures may be used. 
     The first group of apertures  214  and the second group of apertures  216  may be separated by a first aperture distance 1AD. The first aperture distance 1AD may be from about 1 mm to about 15 mm and/or from about 2 mm to about 8 mm and/or from about 2.5 mm to about 5 mm, including all 0.1 mm between the recited ranges. Similarly, the third group of apertures  244  and the fourth group of apertures  246  may be separated by a second aperture distance 2AD. The second aperture distance 2AD may be greater than, less than, or equal to the first aperture distance 1AD. The second aperture distance 2AD may be from about 1 mm to about 20 mm, including all 0.1 mm between the recited range. Further, the second group of apertures  216  may be separated from the third group of apertures  244  by an intermediate aperture distance IAD. The intermediate aperture distance IAD may be long enough such that additional processes may be performed on the substrate, such as cutting or scoring. The intermediate aperture distance IAD may be from about 5 mm to about 20 mm and/or from about 4 mm to about 40 mm, including all 0.1 mm between the recited ranges. 
     Further still, the fourth group of apertures  246 , as illustrated in  FIG. 11B , or the group of apertures closest to the adjacent manifold may be separated by the first group of apertures  214   a  disposed on an adjacent or a second manifold  202 ,  268  by an adjacent aperture distance AAD. The adjacent aperture distance AAD may be from about 5 mm to about 40 mm and/or from about 15 mm to about 80 mm and/or from about 20 mm to about 200 mm, including all 0.1 mm between the recited ranges. The aforementioned distances between each of the groups of apertures may be measured along the outer circumferential surface  201  in a direction parallel to the machine direction MD of the bonder apparatus  200 . Further, the distances are measured from the center of the aperture. It is to be appreciated that each manifold may be configured to have the same pattern of apertures. Thus, the distance between groups of apertures on a given manifold may be about the same as the distance between the groups of apertures on another manifold. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11C , the bonder apparatus  200  may include a plurality of support plates  394 . A support plate  394  may be disposed on each of the plurality of nozzle plates  210  and may be used to separate the substrate assembly from the nozzle plate by a predetermined distance. Each of the support plates  294  may define one or more slots  396 . The slots  396  may be positioned to substantially surround the plurality of apertures  212 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 11C , the support plate  294  includes four slots  396 . A first slot  396  surrounds the first group of apertures  214  and a second slot  396  surrounds the second group of apertures  216 . It is to be appreciated that a single slot may surround more than one group of apertures. Similar to the above, the first group of apertures  214  may be separated from the second group of apertures  216  by an intermediate aperture distance IAD. Further, the second group of apertures  216  of the first manifold  202 ,  266  may be separated from a first group of apertures  214   a  on the adjacent or second manifold  202 ,  268  by an adjacent aperture distance AAD. Further still, as previously discussed, the slots  396  defined by the support plate  394  disposed on the first manifold  202 ,  266  may be separated by a radial slot distance RSD and a cross direction slot distance CSD. It is to be appreciated that the support plate  294  may define more than one slot  396 . These slots  396  may be separated from adjacent slots in both the machine direction MD and the cross direction CD, as illustrated in  FIG. 11C . It is to be appreciated that the slots may be any shape and any size such that a group of apertures is substantially surrounded and the substrate assembly is adequately supported. 
     As previously discussed, fluid may be released through the plurality of apertures  212 . The release of fluid through the plurality of apertures  212  may be controlled by the valves  224 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 9A and 9B . More specifically, one or more of the plurality of valves may be controlled such that any combination of the groups of apertures may release the fluid. For example, one or more values may configured to be positioned in an open position, which positions the engagement member in the second configuration, such that fluid is released through the first group of apertures  214  and the third group of apertures  244  and no fluid is released through the second group of apertures  216  and the fourth group of apertures  246 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 11B and 11C . In another example, the first and second group of apertures  214 ,  216  may be configured to release fluid and the third and fourth group of apertures  244 ,  246  may not release fluid. In yet another example, the second group of apertures  216  and the fourth group of apertures  246  may be configured to release fluid and the first and third group of apertures  214 ,  244  may not release fluid. In yet another example, the first, second, third, and fourth groups of apertures  214 ,  216 ,  244 , and  246  may be configured to release the fluid. The dimensions and characteristics of the substrate assembly to be at least partially melted may be used to determine which one of the groups of the plurality of apertures releases fluid. Thus, the configuration of which of the plurality of apertures release fluid may change as the bonder apparatus  200  traverses about the central longitudinal axis  204 . As illustrated in  FIG. 11A , the manifold may be configured to operatively connect to one or more actuators  456 . The number of actuators  456  operatively connected to a single manifold may be determined based on how the apertures are intended to be controlled. The actuator  456  may be any device that can be configured to be in a first position or a second position based on input from a controller. The actuator  456  operatively engages the valve  230 , which may be configured to control one control chamber or more than one control chamber. 
     A controller, not illustrated, may be operatively connected to each of the plurality of actuators  230 . The controller is configured to pass instructions to the plurality of actuators, such that certain valves  224  change from an open position to a closed position or vice versa. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 12, 13A, and 13B , the substrate assembly  190 , which may include the folded chassis  102 , may advance in the machine direction MD to the bonder apparatus  200 . As previously discussed, a substrate assembly  190  may include a first substrate and a second substrate in a facing relationship. It is to be appreciated that a substrate assembly  190  may include any number of substrates in any partially overlapping configuration. For example, the substrate assembly  190  may include a single folded substrate. As previously described, the first substrate and the second substrate may be used to form a first belt and a second belt of the absorbent article. The first substrate and the second substrate may be elastically extensible in at least one of the machine direction MD and the cross direction CD. The first and second substrates may include regions  336  intermittently spaced along the machine direction MD, wherein each region  336  may include a leading portion  332  and a trailing portion  334 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 13A , a first region  352  may include a first leading portion  342  and a subsequent or adjacent region in the machine direction MD, such as a second region  354 , may include a first trailing portion  344  and a second leading portion  346  and yet another subsequent or adjacent region in the machine direction MD, such as a third region  356 , may include a second trailing portion  348 . 
     Each leading portion and trailing portion may define a process product pitch  340 ,  340   a . More specifically, for example, a process product pitch  340 ,  340   a  refers to the distance measured parallel to the machine direction MD between the area at which a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion meet in a first region to the area at which a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion in a subsequent, adjacent region meet, as illustrated in  FIGS. 13A and 13B . The length of the process product pitch may change based on the size of the absorbent article, the amount of elasticity of the substrate assembly, and the process tension placed on the substrate assembly as the substrate assembly is advanced in the machine direction MD. It is to be appreciated that the process product pitch includes the process tension placed on the substrate during processing. 
     As previously stated, absorbent articles come in a variety of sizes. For example, one absorbent article may include a larger chassis and a larger belt as compared to another absorbent article that may include a smaller chassis and a smaller belt, as illustrated in  FIGS. 13B and 13A , respectively. Thus, the plurality of manifolds  202  may be used such that the absorbent article including the larger chassis and the larger belt can be manufactured on the same equipment as the absorbent article including the smaller chassis and the smaller belt. This prevents manufacturers from having to switch out equipment or to make large modifications to the equipment for manufacturing different sized articles, which is both costly and time consuming. 
     For example, the same bonder apparatus  200  may be used to process the substrate assembly illustrated in  13 A and the substrate assembly illustrated in  FIG. 13B . As shown, the substrate assembly of  FIG. 13A  has a shorter process product pitch  340  than the process product pitch  340   a  of the substrate assembly of  FIG. 13B . Due to the number of manifolds and the spacing of the groups of apertures, a number of different sized absorbent articles may be manufactured on a single bonder apparatus  200 . However, the bonder apparatus  200  may be designed for a minimum product pitch based on the diameter of the bonder apparatus  200 , the number of manifolds  202 , and the distance between apertures  212 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the substrate assembly  190  may advance in the machine direction MD toward the bonder apparatus  200  at a first velocity V 1 . Further, the substrate assembly  190  may be held at a process tension as the substrate assembly is advanced toward the bonder apparatus  200 . A guide roll  248  configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation  250  and including a first outer circumferential surface  252  may be used to transfer the substrate assembly  190  onto the bonder apparatus  200 . The substrate assembly  190  may be disposed on a portion of the outer circumferential surface  252  of the guide roll  232  as the substrate assembly is transferred to the bonder apparatus  200 . 
     The bonder apparatus  200  includes a plurality of manifolds  202  that may be configured to rotate about an axis of rotation  204  in a direction indicated by arrow  254 . Each of the plurality of manifolds  202  includes a nozzle plate  210 . The nozzle plate  210  may include a first, external surface  256 . The first, external surface  256  of the nozzle plate  210  may be configured to receive the substrate assembly  190  and/or the folded chassis  102 . More specifically, as the substrate assembly  190  advances onto the bonder apparatus  200 , the substrate assembly  190  is received by the nozzle plate  210  of each manifold  202 , which forms the outer circumferential surface  201  of the bonder apparatus  200 . It is also to be appreciated that, in some embodiments, a support plate  394  may be disposed on the nozzle plate  210 , and the support plate  394  may be configured to receive the substrate assembly and form the outer circumferential surface  201 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 13C and 13D , the substrate assembly  190  may be positioned on the first nozzle plate surface  256  such that the areas of the substrate assembly to be bonded are disposed on a portion of the group of apertures  214 ,  216 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 13C , the second region  354  of the substrate assembly  190  may be disposed on a first nozzle plate  258 . More specifically, the first trialing portion  344  may be disposed on a portion of a first group of apertures  214  defined by the first nozzle plate  258  and the second leading portion  346  may be disposed on a portion of a second group of apertures  216  defined by the first nozzle plate  258 . The central portion  330  of the substrate assembly  190  between the second leading portion  346  and the subsequent second trailing portion  348 , extending in a direction parallel to the machine direction MD, may extend across intermediate manifolds  260  or portions thereof. The chassis  102  may also be disposed on the intermediate manifolds  260 . Following the central portion  330  of the substrate assembly  190  disposed on the intermediate manifolds  260 , the second trailing portion  348  may be disposed on a portion of a second nozzle plate  262  and the third leading portion  250  may be disposed on a third nozzle plate  264 . More specifically, the second trailing portion  348  may be disposed on a second group of apertures  216  of the second nozzle plate  262  and a third leading portion  350  may be disposed on a portion of a first group of apertures  214  of the third nozzle plate  264 . The substrate assembly  190  may be positioned such that the leading portion and the trailing portion are each disposed on an adjacent group of apertures. It is to be appreciated that adjacent groups of apertures do not have to be defined by the same nozzle plate. As will be discussed in more detail herein, fluid is released through the groups of apertures on which the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion of the substrate assembly are disposed. 
     In another example, as illustrated in  FIG. 13D , when the substrate assembly  190  is disposed on the outer circumferential surface  201  of the bonder apparatus, the second region  354  of the substrate assembly  190  may be disposed on a first nozzle plate  258 . More specifically, the first trailing portion  344  may be disposed on a portion of a first group of apertures  214  of the first nozzle plate  258  and the second leading portion  346  may be disposed on a portion of a second group of apertures  216  of the first nozzle plate  258 . The central portion  330  of the substrate assembly  190  between the second leading portion  346  and the subsequent second trailing portion  346 , extending in a direction parallel to the machine direction MD, may extend across intermediate manifolds  260  or portions thereof. The chassis  102  may also be disposed one or more of the intermediate manifolds  260 . Following the central portion  330  of the substrate assembly  190  disposed on the intermediate manifolds  260 , a region  336  of the substrate assembly  190  may be disposed on a second nozzle plate  262 . The second trailing portion  348  may be disposed on a portion of a first group of apertures  214  defined by the second nozzle plate  262  and a third leading portion  350  may be disposed on a portion of a second group of apertures  216  defined by the second nozzle plate  262 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 13C and 13D , the process tension, the process product pitch  340 ,  340   a , and the distance between the groups of apertures are all factors in aligning the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion of the substrate assembly with the apertures defined by the nozzle plates. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the substrate assembly  190  rotates with the plurality of manifolds  202  about the central longitudinal axis  204  of rotation. The substrate assembly  190  may have the same process product pitch or different process product pitches along the length of the substrate assembly  190 , which is parallel with the machine direction MD. As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , for example, the substrate assembly  190  may include a portion such that a first process product pitch  340  is adjacent a second process product pitch  340   a . The first process product pitch  340  may be greater than or less than the second process product pitch  340   a . In another example, the substrate assembly  190  may include a process product pitch  340  that is the same along the length of the substrate assembly. State another way, a first portion of the substrate assembly  190  having a first product pitch  340  may be adjacent to a second portion of the substrate assembly  190  having a second product pitch  340 , and the first product pitch is substantially the same as the second product pitch. 
     As the substrate assembly  190  traverses about the central longitudinal axis  204 , heated fluid may be released through the apertures defined by the nozzle plate. As previously discussed, the heated fluid is released through those apertures in the nozzle plate on which a leading edge portion or a tailing edge portion is disposed. For example, a heated fluid may be supplied to a first manifold  266  on which a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion of the substrate assembly is disposed. Further, a heated fluid may be supplied to a second manifold  268  on which an adjacent, subsequent leading edge portion and trailing edge portion is disposed. However, the heated fluid may not be supplied to the intermediate manifolds  260 , which are those manifolds that are located between the first manifold  266  and the second manifold  268 . The first and second manifolds  266 ,  268  may be controlled such that the release of heated fluid occurs when the manifold reaches some radial position about the central longitudinal axis  204 . The release of heated fluid may also be timed based on other processes such as in relation to the process of compressing the substrate assembly  190 . 
     For example, the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion of the substrate assembly  190  may be at least partially melted while traversing about the central longitudinal axis  204 . The substrate assembly  190  may then be advanced to an anvil roll  368 . The anvil roll  368  may operatively engage at least a portion of the substrate assembly  190 . Thus, the anvil roll  368  may be positioned adjacent the nozzle plate  210 . The anvil roll  368  includes an anvil roll outer circumferential surface  370  and may be adapted to rotate about an anvil roll axis of rotation  372 . The operative engagement of the anvil roll  368  and the external surface  256  of the nozzle plate  210  joins the at least partially melted portion of the one or more overlapping substrates of the substrate assembly  190  forming one or more bonds, as illustrated in  FIG. 5E . 
     It is also to be appreciated that the outer circumferential surface  370  of the anvil roll  368  may rotate at a circumferential velocity. The circumferential velocity may be constant or may be varied as the anvil roll  368  rotates about its axis of rotation  372 . The circumferential velocity may be changed according to the size of the substrate assembly so that the anvil roll  368  engages that substrate assembly at the desired location, which may correspond to the intended size of the finished absorbent article or other consumer product. Further, during each rotation of the anvil roll  368 , the circumferential velocity may vary. For example, in a single rotation, the rotational velocity may increase and decrease one or more times to position the anvil roll  368  in the desired location to bond the substrate assembly. The anvil roll  368  may be operatively connected to a servo motor (not shown). The servo motor may operate to change the circumferential velocity of the anvil roll  368 . 
     It is to be appreciated that the anvil roll may alternatively be an anvil block, which traverses linearly to compress at least a portion of the region  336 , which includes the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion, of the substrate assembly  190 . 
     The bonder apparatus  200  may continue to rotate about the central longitudinal axis  204  such that the substrate assembly  190  is advanced to a second guide roll  270 . The second guide roll  270  may include a second outer circumferential surface  272  and may be configured to rotate about a second axis of rotation  274 . As the second guide roll  270  rotates about the second axis of rotation  274  the substrate assembly  190 , which may include a chassis  102 , may be transferred from the bonder apparatus  200  to the second outer circumferential surface  272  of the second guide roll  270 . The substrate assembly  190  may then be advanced to additional downstream processes. 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , as the substrate assembly  190  traverses about the central longitudinal axis  204 , a position control apparatus  410  may be used to maintain the position of the substrate assembly  190  and/or the chassis  102 . In some embodiments, the position control apparatus  410  may include a belt  412 , such as a conveyor belt, and two or more rollers  414 . The belt  412  may be positioned about a portion of the rollers such that the belt may move in a direction indicated by arrow  416 . The position control apparatus  410  may be positioned adjacent the bonder apparatus  200  and may take the shape of at least a portion of the outer circumferential surface  201  of the bonder apparatus  200 . The position control apparatus may hold the substrate assembly  190  and/or the chassis  102  in the range of 0 millimeters to about 10 millimeters from the outer circumferential surface  201 , or between about 0.5 millimeters to about 5 millimeters from the outer circumferential surface  201 . It is to be appreciated that the position control apparatus may be a mechanical apparatus such as clamps or another type of fastener that holds the region  336  of the substrate assembly  190  and/or the chassis  102  in place during the bonding process. Further, a vacuum force, generated by the movement of fluid toward the central longitudinal axis  204 , may be used in addition to the mechanical device, or each of the vacuum force and the mechanical device may be applied independently to secure the substrate assembly  109  and/or the chassis  201  against the outer circumferential surface  201  of the bonder apparatus  200 . The vacuum force may be generated by pulling air through the plurality of apertures  212  in a direction from the outer circumferential surface  201  toward the central longitudinal axis  204 . Alternatively or in addition to the vacuum force generated by the plurality of apertures  212  an external device may direct air toward the outer circumferential surface  201  and/or against the substrate assembly disposed on the outer circumferential surface  201  of the bonder apparatus  200 . 
     A process member  276  may also be placed adjacent the bonder apparatus  200 . The process member  276  may be a device that is used to mechanically deform the substrate assembly  190  and/or the chassis  102  in some manner. For example, the process member  276  may be a device that bonds, cuts, scores, or performs some other mechanical deformation on the substrate assembly  190  and/or the chassis  102 . Thus, as the substrate assembly  190  and/or the chassis  102  rotate about the central longitudinal axis  254 , one or more additional processes may be performed by one or more process members  276 . It is to be appreciated that more than one process member  276  may be positioned adjacent to the bonder apparatus  200 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 14 , as previously discussed, the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion of the substrate assembly  190  may be at least partially melted by heated fluid that is released by the groups of apertures corresponding to the position of the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion of the substrate assembly  190 . After the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion of the substrate assembly  190  have undergone at least a partial melting, the substrate assembly  190  may be transferred from or removed from the outer circumferential surface  201  of the bonder apparatus  200 . The substrate assembly  190  may traverse onto an anvil roll  368 . The anvil roll  368  may include an outer circumferential surface  370  and be configured to rotate about an axis of rotation  372 . The substrate assembly  190  may advance onto the outer circumferential surface  370  of the anvil roll  368 . The anvil roll  368  may be positioned adjacent a bond roll  376  forming a nip  374  therebetween. The anvil roll  368  may be configured to operatively engage at least a portion of the bond roll  376 . The bond roll  376  may be configured to rotate about an axis of rotation  380  and may include an outer circumferential surface  378 . The bond roll  376  may be configured to rotate such that the outer circumferential surface of the bond roll rotates at a variable speed to account for changes in the substrate assembly  190 . Further, one or more pressure applying members  382  may extend radially outward from the outer circumferential surface  378  of the bond roll  376 . The substrate assembly  190  may advance through the nip  374  between the bond roll  376  and the anvil roll  368 . The pressure applying members  382  of the bond roll  376  may engage the outer circumferential surface  370  of the anvil roll  368  causing a portion of the substrate assembly  190  to compress and forming a bond between one or more layers of the substrate assembly  190 . The bond roll  376  may be configured such that the pressure applying members  382  are appropriately spaced to engage the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion that have been at least partially melted by the heated fluid. 
     More specifically, the outer circumferential surface  378  of the bond roll  376  may rotate at a circumferential velocity. The circumferential velocity may be constant or may be varied as the bond roll  376  rotates about its axis of rotation  380 . The circumferential velocity may be changed according to the size of the substrate assembly so that the bond roll  376  engages that substrate assembly at the desired location, which may correspond to the intended size of the finished absorbent article or other consumer product. Further, during each rotation of the bond roll  376 , the circumferential velocity may vary. For example, in a single rotation, the rotational velocity may increase and decrease one or more times to position the bond roll  376  in the desired location to bond the substrate assembly. The bond roll  376  may be operatively connected to a servo motor (not shown). The servo motor may operate to change the circumferential velocity of the bond roll  376 . The anvil roll  368  may rotate at a constant circumferential velocity and may be configured to operatively engage the bond roll  376 . 
     It is to be appreciated that the substrate assembly is compressed by the one or more pressure applying member while the meltable components of the substrate assembly are at least partially melted, and/or in a tacky state. The temperature of the pressure applying members may be at least below the melting point of the region  336 . However, the pressure applying member may be heated. The tackiness property of the meltable components permits the joining of substrate layers, which may include a first substrate  406  and a second substrate  408  or an overlap portion of a single substrate. The pressure applying members may be designed according to aesthetic criteria, for example, to provide discrete, shaped bonds where substrate layers are joined, as illustrated in  FIG. 5E . Discrete bonds may also make the seam easier to open, if desired. The discrete bonds may generally take the shape and spacing of the pressure applying surfaces. As one example, the pressure applying members may be generally oval, or may have any other geometric or decorative shape consistent with the desired removal force. The pressure applying members may be regularly or irregularly spaced, and may be oriented in various directions. After being compressed, the substrate assembly  190  may exit the nip  374 , as illustrated in  FIG. 14 , and continue to additional downstream processes. 
     As previously discussed, the substrate assembly  190  may be positioned such that the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion are disposed on one or more groups of apertures. The leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion are to be disposed on one or more groups of apertures such that these portions of the substrate assembly may be at least partially melted and joined. However, it is to be appreciated that the aforementioned bonder apparatus  200  may be constrained as to the sizes of substrate assemblies that can be processed on the bonder apparatus  200 . More specifically, the bonder apparatus  200  may comprise a certain number of manifolds and each of these manifolds may be configured with groups of apertures, these groups of apertures are spaced from one another at a certain distance. Thus, only substrate assemblies having a certain process product pitch may be acted upon using the bonder apparatus  200 . Thus, to accommodate a larger range of substrate assemblies, the substrate assembly  190  may be condensed or expended prior to being disposed on the outer circumferential surface  201  of the bonder apparatus  200 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 15 , various metering assemblies may be used to change the speed of the substrate assembly and, thus, condense or expand the substrate assembly. For example, a first metering assembly  278  may be positioned adjacent the outer circumferential surface  201  of the bonder apparatus  200 . The first metering assembly  278  may include a first metering roll  280  and a second metering roll  282 . The first metering assembly  278  may be configured to receive the substrate assembly  190 , which may or may not include the chassis  102 . The substrate assembly  190  advances in the machine direction MD toward the bonder apparatus  200  at a first velocity V 1 . The first metering assembly  278  accepts the substrate assembly at a first velocity V 1 . More specifically, the first metering roll  280  and the second metering roll  282  are configured to rotate about a first metering axis of rotation  284  and a second metering axis of rotation  286 , respectively. The first metering roll  280  and the second metering roll  282  rotate about their respective axes of rotation at a first velocity V 1 , or the velocity at which the substrate assembly  190  is advanced toward the metering assembly  256 . However, the bonder apparatus  200  may rotate about the axis of rotation  206  at a slower velocity. The bonder apparatus  200  may rotate about the axis of rotation  206  at a second velocity V 2 . The second velocity V 2  may be less than the first velocity V 1 . Consequently, the substrate assembly  190  may contract as the substrate assembly  190  exits the first metering assembly  256  and is disposed on the outer circumferential surface  201  of the bonder apparatus  200 . 
     As the substrate assembly  190  advances onto to bonder apparatus  200 , the substrate assembly  190  may be relaxed such that the process tension is decreased to a relaxed tension. It is to be appreciated that the substrate assembly may include one or more elastic strands or a substrate which is elastically extensible. Thus, when tension is applied to the substrate assembly, the substrate assembly may extend in the direction in which the tension is applied; further, when the tension is reduced or removed the substrate assembly may relax and contract from the extended state. It is also to be appreciated that a substrate assembly may not include elastic stands and/or an elastic substrate. An inelastic substrate assembly may still be relaxed such that the nonwoven or other inelastic material may gather on the outer circumferential surface  201 . 
     When the bonder apparatus  200  rotates about the central longitudinal axis  204  at a velocity which is different than the velocity of the substrate assembly  190  as the substrate assembly  190  advances to the first metering assembly  278 , the substrate assembly  190  may expand or contract. Thus, when the substrate assembly  190  advances onto the bonder apparatus  200 , the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion separated from the leading edge portion by the central portion  330  may be separated by a product arc length  360 . The product arc length  360  is the distance between the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion measured along the outer circumferential surface  201  and across the central portion  330 . The product arc length  360  may be less than the process product pitch  340 ,  340   a  when the bonder apparatus  200  rotates at a velocity less than the velocity of the substrate assembly  190  as the substrate assembly advances to the first metering assembly  278 . The product arc length  360  may be greater than the process product pitch  340 ,  340   a  when the bonder apparatus  200  rotates at a velocity greater than the velocity of the substrate assembly  190  as the substrate assembly advances to the first metering assembly  278 . 
     The expanded or contracted substrate assembly  190  may be at least partially melted as previously described. Further, additional processes may be performed on the substrate assembly  190  and/or the chassis as the expanded or contracted substrate assembly  190  is transferred by the bonder apparatus  200 . 
     However, some processes are best preformed wherein the portion of the substrate assembly  190  to be processed is maintained at the process tension or the process product pitch. Thus, the central portion  330  of the substrate assembly  190 , which is the portion of the substrate assembly between each of the adjacent regions  336 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 13A-13D , may be disposed on the intermediate manifolds  260  or portions thereof. As the substrate assembly  190  is transferred onto the plurality of manifolds  202 , which rotate about the axis of rotation  204 , the substrate assembly  190  may maintain the same process tension while disposed on the bonder apparatus  200  as the process tension of the substrate assembly  190  while being advanced toward the bonder apparatus  200 , or the tension of central portion of the substrate assembly, which is the portion between adjacent regions, may be decreased to a relaxed tension, which is less than the process tension. However, while the tension of the central portion may be decreased to a relaxed tension, the tension on each region may be maintained at the process tension. Further, as the substrate assembly  190  rotates about the axis of rotation  206 , the product arc length  360  may be substantially the same as the process product pitch, or the product arc length  240  may be less than or greater than the process product pitch  340 ,  340   a.    
     For example, bonding may be best preformed when the portion of the substrate assembly to be bonded is maintained at the process tension or, stated another way, the portion of the substrate assembly to be bonded is under sufficient tension to prevent puckering of the substrate assembly. When the tension of the substrate assembly  190  is reduced from a process tension to a relaxed tension, the elastics in the substrate assembly  190  contract and/or the substrate assembly gathers. This allows the substrates to form one or more puckers  364 , as illustrated in  FIG. 16B . Processing a substrate assembly having a configuration including one or more puckers  364  may lead to the production of a poor quality absorbent article. For example, the gathered configuration including one or more puckers may result in the bond being placed in the wrong position on the substrate assembly or the bond including more layers of substrate than intended, which may result in a weak bond. Similarly, the gathered configuration may result in inaccurate cutting or scoring of the substrate assembly  190 . 
     To maintain the process tension of the region  336 , various position control devices may be used. For example, the plurality of apertures  212  may be configured to transfer fluid, such as air, through the apertures  212  in a direction toward the axis of rotation  204  causing the substrate assembly  190  to be secured to the outer circumferential surface  201  with a vacuum force. In another example, a mechanical device may be used to apply a mechanical force to secure the substrate assembly  190  to the outer circumferential surface  201 . For example, the bonder apparatus  200  may include a clamping device  384 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 16A and 16B . The clamping device  384  may be configured to engage a portion of the substrate assembly  190  adjacent to or within the region  336 . Further, a position control apparatus, such as that illustrated in  FIG. 14 , oriented adjacent to the bonder apparatus may be used to secure the substrate assembly  190  to the bonder apparatus  200 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the substrate assembly  190  may be rotated at a second velocity V 2 , which may be greater than or less than the first velocity V 1 . During rotation of the substrate assembly  190  one or more process may mechanically deform one or more portions of the substrate assembly  190 , as previously discussed. 
     Upon completion of the one or more processes, the substrate assembly  190  may be removed from the outer circumferential surface  201  of the bonder apparatus  200 . The substrate assembly  190  may advance to a compression assembly  288 . The compression assembly  288  may include an anvil roll  368  and a bond roll  376 . The anvil roll  368  may include an outer circumferential surface  370  and may be configured to rotate about an axis of rotation  372 . The bond roll  376  may include an outer circumferential surface  378  and may be configured to rotate about an axis of rotation  380 . The anvil roll  368  and the bond roll  376  operatively engage to bond at least a portion of the substrate assembly  190 . It is to be appreciated that the substrate assembly  190  may be compressed while disposed on the bonder apparatus  200 , as previously discussed. 
     The substrate assembly  190  may advance through a second metering assembly  290 . The second metering assembly  290  may include a third metering roll  292  and a fourth metering roll  294 . The third metering roll  292  may rotate about a third metering axis of rotation  296  and the fourth metering roll  294  may rotate about a fourth metering axis of rotation  298 . The third metering roll  292  and the fourth metering roll  294  rotate at the second velocity V 2 . The substrate assembly  190  advances toward the second metering assembly  290  at a second velocity V 2 . The second metering assembly  290  may ensure that the substrate assembly  190  continues to advance at the second velocity V 2  as the substrate assembly  190  passes through the compression assembly  288 . 
     The substrate assembly  190  may continue to advance at the second velocity V 2  or the speed of the substrate assembly  190  may be changed by a third metering assembly  320 . Downstream of the second metering assembly  242  may be a third metering assembly  320 , as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . The substrate assembly  190  may advance at the second velocity V 2  between the second metering assembly  242  and the third metering assembly  290 . The third metering assembly  290  may include a fifth metering roll  322  and a sixth metering roll  324  that are each configured to rotate about a fifth metering axis of rotation  326  and a sixth metering axis of rotation  328 , respectively. The third metering assembly  320  may be configured to return the substrate assembly  190  to the first velocity V 1 . Thus, the fifth metering roll  322  and the sixth metering roll  324  may each rotate about their respective axes of rotation  326 ,  328  at the first velocity V 1 . The substrate assembly  190  may advance away from the third metering assembly  320  at the first velocity V 1 . Further, the third metering assembly  320  may expand the substrate assembly  190  to the process tension, which is the process tension of the substrate assembly  190  prior to advancing through the first metering assembly  278 . It is to be appreciated that the velocity may be changed such that the process tension is different when the substrate assembly  190  advances through the third metering assembly. 
     It is also to be appreciated that the metering assembly may be any configuration of rolls and/or conveyors that allows the tension on the substrate assembly to be isolated on either side of the metering assembly. Examples of metering assemblies may include a vacuum conveyor, one or more rollers positioned to s-wrap the substrate assembly, one or more driven rolls, and/or a vacuum roll. 
     Further, the compression assembly  288  may be positioned downstream of the second metering assembly  290  and the third metering assembly  320 . Thus, the substrate assembly  190  may undergo a change in velocity prior to being compressed by the compression assembly  288  forming one or more bonds between the layers of the substrate assembly  190 . 
     It is to be appreciated that the metering devices may also be configured to expand the substrate assembly  190  prior to the substrate assembly being disposed on the bonder apparatus  200 . The amount of expansion of the substrate assembly  190  may depend on the elastic or inelastic properties of the substrate material and/or the elastic components of the substrate assembly. 
     The expansion and contraction of the substrate assembly  190  allows for a greater number of sizes to be processed on the same bonder apparatus  200 . The properties of the web in combination with the number of manifolds disposed at the central longitudinal axis allow manufacturers to produce a wide range of sizes of absorbent articles on a single bonder apparatus  200 . 
     As previously discussed, a fluid is heated to a temperature sufficient to at least partially melt at least a portion of the region  336 , which includes the leading edge portion and trailing edge portion, of the substrate assembly  190 . The apertures  212  defined by the nozzle plate  210  direct a jet of the heated fluid onto at least a portion of the region  336  of the substrate assembly  190 , which may include a first substrate  406  and a second substrate  408 . The heated fluid partially melts at least a portion of the region  336 . As the bonder apparatus  200  continues to rotate about the axis of rotation  204 , an anvil roll may compress the partially melted overlap portion against the outer circumferential surface  201  of the bonder apparatus. Alternatively, the substrate assembly  190  may be transferred from the bonder apparatus  190  and advance through a compression assembly. The anvil roll and bond roll, which may include one or more press members, then compresses the partially melted overlap area creating one or more discrete bond sites  336   a  in the overlap area  362 , as shown in  FIG. 5E , between the first and second substrates. 
     It is to be appreciated that by applying different amounts of force in different locations, it may be possible to bond through different numbers of substrate layers or materials along the region. By selectively compressing portions with more or less force, portions of the substrates with fewer layers or different materials will not be over compressed and portions of the substrates with more layers or different materials will not be under compressed. In some embodiments, the compression assembly may include different shaped projections, or may have different configurations of projections. 
     In some embodiments, the press member may compress the partially melted overlap area against the anvil roll outer circumferential surface at a pressure in the range of about 1×10 5  Newtons per square meter to about 1×10 8  Newtons per square meter. In some embodiments, the press member  366  may compress the first and second belt substrates for a time period ranging from about 1 millisecond to about 3 milliseconds or from about 3 milliseconds to about 10 milliseconds or from about 10 milliseconds to about 1000 milliseconds or greater. Shorter or longer time intervals may be used. 
     Each first control chamber opening  464  defined by the end portion  462  of the manifold  202  may be operatively connected to an actuator  456 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 6, 8, and 10 . The actuator  456  engages the valve  224 . The valve  224  may be positioned in an open configuration, which causes the engagement member  470  to be positioned in a second configuration such that fluid flows through the fluid opening  458 , into the control chamber  460 , and into the fluid chamber  468 , or a closed configuration, which causes the engagement member  470  to be positioned in a first configuration, which prevents fluid from being supplied to the fluid opening  458  and/or the fluid chamber  468 . A controller  430  may be any device that passes a signal to the actuator that is used to control the position of the valve. An example of a controller  430  may include a programmable logic controller (PLC) or other control computer that may be a stand-alone system or part of an overall control system. Generally, the valve is controlled by providing an on signal to the actuator to place the valve in an open position or an off signal to place the valve in a closed position. The controller may pass an on or off signal at an exact predetermined time. This allows for precise and accurate control of the valve. The controller may also account for performance speed of the valve, by varying the on and off signal timing to account for the activation time of the valve. The controller  430  may control one or more valves  224 . The controller  430  may communicate either an open position or a close position to the valve  224 , as illustrated in  FIG. 17A , for example. The open or closed configuration may depend on the placement of the substrate assembly  190  on the bonder apparatus  200 , as previously discussed. The valve  224  may then be connected to a single, engagement member  470  which slidably engages the control chamber  460  of a manifold  202 . If the valve  224  is positioned in the open position, the fluid will ultimately pass through the plurality of apertures defined by the nozzle plate. If the valve is positioned in the closed position, no fluid will pass through the plurality of apertures. 
     In another example, the controller  430  may control a valve operatively connected to a first group of apertures  214  and a second group of apertures  216 , as illustrated in  FIG. 17B . Because a single valve controls both groups of apertures, when the valve is positioned in an open position, fluid may be supplied to both the first group of apertures  214  and the second group of apertures  216 . Similar to the above, when the valve  224  is in a closed configuration, no fluid will pass through the control chamber and, thus, no fluid is supplied to the first group of apertures  214  and a second group of apertures  216 . 
     In yet another example, as illustrated in  FIG. 17C , the controller  430  may communicate with more than one actuator, and each actuator may engage a valve. The controller  430  may configure the first valve  226  to be in either an open position, such that fluid passes to a first group of apertures  214 , or a closed position, such that no fluid passes to first group of apertures  214 . Further, independent of the first valve  226 , the controller  430  may configure the second valve  228  to be in an open position, such that fluid passes to the second group of apertures  216 , or a close position, such that no fluid passes to the second group of apertures  216 . Thus, a single manifold may include a first group of apertures fluidly connected to a first control chamber and a second group of apertures fluidly connected to a second control chamber. Depending on the control of the first valve and the second valve, fluid may exit through only the first group of apertures and not through the second group of apertures, or vice versa. It is also to be appreciated that the first and second valves may simultaneously be positioned in the open position such that fluid passes to both the first group of apertures and the second group of apertures. Similarly, both the first and the second valves may simultaneously be positioned in the closed position. It is to be appreciated that the manifold may include any number of groups of apertures and each of the groups of apertures may be operatively connected to a valve that is controlled by the controller. For example, the manifold may include a third and fourth groups of apertures that are fluidly connected to a third and fourth valve, respectively. 
     It is also to be appreciated that the valve  224  and actuator  456  may be placed prior to the fluid entering the manifold  202 , as previously discussed, or after the fluid has been released within the manifold  202 . 
     In some embodiments, a method for forming a bond in a substrate assembly  190  may include the steps of rotating the bonder apparatus  200  about an axis of rotation  204 . The bonder apparatus  200  includes a plurality of manifolds  202  disposed about a central longitudinal axis  204  and configured to rotate about the central longitudinal axis  204 . The first substrate assembly  190  may be advanced in a machine direction. The first substrate assembly  190  may include a first process product pitch, wherein the first product pitch is defined by a first leading portion and a first trailing portion, and a first central portion between the first leading portion and the first trailing portion. Further, the first substrate assembly includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The substrate assembly  190  may be advanced onto the bonder apparatus such that the first surface of the first substrate assembly is in facing relationship with the plurality of manifolds  202 . More specifically, the first leading portion of the first substrate assembly may be received on a first manifold of the plurality of manifolds. Further, the first trailing portion of the first substrate assembly may be received on a second manifold of the plurality of manifolds. The first manifold and the second manifold may be separated by a first product arc length. The first central portion of the first substrate assembly may be disposed on one or more manifolds between the first manifold and the second manifold. A fluid may be passed to or directed toward the first manifold and the second manifold. The fluid may be heated by a heat source, which is external to the plurality of manifolds. The fluid may be heated to a temperate sufficient to at least partially melt the substrate assembly. Further, the temperature of the heated may also take into account any heat loss that may occur as the heat fluid is transferred to the manifolds. The heated fluid may be released through a first plurality of apertures of the first manifold such that the heated fluid engages the first leading portion. The heated fluid may also be released through a second plurality of apertures of the second manifold such that the heated fluid engages the first trailing portion. At least a portion of the first leading portion and the first trailing portion of the first substrate assembly may be bonded while rotating on the bonder apparatus  200  or after being removed from the bonder apparatus  200 . 
     It is to be appreciated that the heated fluid may be release through one or more slots defined by the support plate of the first manifold such that the heated fluid engages the leading portion. Similarly, the heated fluid may be release through one or more slots defined by the support plate of the second manifold such that the heated fluid engages the trailing portion. 
     In some embodiments, a method for forming a bond in a substrate assembly  190  may include the steps of rotating the bonder apparatus  200  about an axis of rotation  204 . The bonder apparatus  200  includes a plurality of manifolds  202  disposed about a central longitudinal axis  204  and configured to rotate about the central longitudinal axis  204 . The first substrate assembly  190  may be advanced in a machine direction. The first substrate assembly  190  may include a first process product pitch, wherein the first product pitch is defined by a first leading portion and a first trailing portion, and a first central portion between the first leading portion and the first trailing portion. Further, the first substrate assembly includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The substrate assembly may be expanded or contracted such that the substrate assembly is advanced at a second process product pitch, wherein the second process product pitch is greater than or less than the process product pitch. The substrate assembly may be expended or contracted so that the leading portion and the trailing portion are received on the manifold such that the leading portion and the trailing portion are disposed on the groups of apertures. After expanding or contracting the substrate assembly, the substrate assembly  190  may be advanced onto the bonder apparatus such that the first surface of the first substrate assembly is in facing relationship with the plurality of manifolds  202 . More specifically, the first leading portion of the first substrate assembly may be received on a first manifold of the plurality of manifolds. Further, the first trailing portion of the first substrate assembly may be received on a second manifold of the plurality of manifolds. The first manifold and the second manifold may be separated by a first product arc length. The first central portion of the first substrate assembly may be disposed on one or more manifolds between the first manifold and the second manifold. A fluid may be passed to or directed toward the first manifold and the second manifold. The fluid may be heated by a heat source, which is external to the plurality of manifolds. The fluid may be heated to a temperate sufficient to at least partially melt the substrate assembly. Further, the temperature of the heated may also take into account any heat loss that may occur as the heat fluid is transferred to the manifolds. The heated fluid may be released through a first group of apertures, which may be substantially surrounded by a first slot, of the first manifold such that the heated fluid engages the leading portion. Further, the heat fluid may be released through a first group of apertures, which may be substantially surrounded by a second slot, of the second manifold such that the heated fluid engages the trailing portion. After the portions of the substrate assembly are at least partially melted by the heat fluid, the substrate assembly may bonded in those portions. The bonding may be performed while the substrate assembly is disposed on the plurality of manifolds, or after the substrate assembly has been transferred from or removed from the bonder apparatus. 
     The substrate assembly  190  may undergo one or more processes while being transferred by the bonder apparatus  200 . For example, the substrate assembly  190  may undergo cutting, such as with a cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism may be a laser, a knife, or an ultrasonic cutting device, such as an ultrasonic processes system as disclosed in European Patent Application No. 2796271A1. In some embodiments, the process assembly  220  may include a seaming station  548 , such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,778,127 and U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2014/0110053; 2014/0305593; and 2013/0218116. 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/265,443 filed on Dec. 10, 2015 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/300,114 filed on Feb. 26, 2016, the entirety of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm”. 
     Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern. 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.