Abstract:
A method for production of absorbent articles having the shape of pants including providing individual absorption cores, securing the absorption cores to an elastic material web which is advanced continuously in a direction of travel, assembling the individual articles to form a pants shape, cutting out individual articles each comprising an absorption core and a piece of the elastic material web, the cutting-out stage and assembling stage giving each article two leg openings and a waist opening. The elastic material web has an elastic extensibility in the direction of travel of at least 80%, and preferably at least 100%, and the elastic material web during production is stretched a maximum of 5% in the direction of travel of the material web.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/357,104, filed in the United States on Feb. 19, 2002, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0002]    The invention relates to a method for production of absorbent articles having the shape of pants.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0003]    In the production of disposable absorbent articles, such as absorbent pants, it is desired to minimize costs. A disposable article is understood as meaning an article which is intended to be discarded after use and which is not washed or otherwise restored for absorption purposes. It is therefore preferred that absorbent articles of this type can be produced as easily and as efficiently as possible, with the least possible material wastage and at the greatest possible production speed, so that the production cost and subsequently the sale price can be kept low.  
           [0004]    A main component in absorbent pants is usually an absorption body which is arranged between two cover sheets, one of which is a liquid barrier sheet, for example, a plastic film, and the other a liquid-permeable cover sheet, for example, a nonwoven sheet. Further components, such as inner barriers, for example, raised edge barriers, arranged in connection with the liquid-permeable cover sheet, or textile-like outer covers arranged outside the liquid barrier sheet can also be present. The absorbent pants are designed with a front portion which, during use, is directed forwards on the user and lies across the latter&#39;s groin area, a rear portion which, during use, is directed rearwards on the user and lies across the latter&#39;s buttocks, and a crotch portion which is arranged between the front portion and the rear portion and is intended to be positioned at the user&#39;s crotch. The front portion, the rear portion and the crotch portion together form absorbent pants with two leg openings and a waist opening. The absorption body is usually arranged substantially centrally between the leg openings and extends at least over the crotch portion. The portions of the absorbent diapers which, during use, are arranged across the user&#39;s hips are generally free from absorption material. These portions can include, for example, parts of one or both of the cover sheets, of a separate outer cover, or of separate material pieces usually called side panels.  
           [0005]    In order to fit the absorbent pants on a user&#39;s body shape and body size like an article of clothing, and in order to form closure seals preventing leakage around the leg openings and the waist openings, the absorbent pants are generally also provided with elastic members in the form of elastic threads or bands. The elastic threads and bands are generally secured, in a continuous process and in the stretched state, to one or more components of the absorbent pants, generally to at least one cover sheet. By means of securing stretched elastic members, for example, to a cover sheet, it is possible also to give a nonelastic material sheet elastic properties. The elastic members are kept stretched during production of the known absorbent pants. When the individual absorbent pants are cut out from a continuous production web, the stretching of the elastic members ceases and they are able to gather together into their unstretched state. In doing so, the components secured to the elastic members are also gathered together. This means that the finished absorbent pants have a creased appearance, at least in the areas around the elastic members.  
           [0006]    Securing elastic members to a running material web in a continuous production process is relatively complicated. The elastic members are generally secured with adhesive, for example hot-melt adhesive, or setting adhesive. To ensure that the elastic members do not come loose from the material web, it is preferable, during the process, to keep the elastic members bearing against the material web until the adhesive has set, dried or hardened. This is something which complicates the production process and adversely affects the production speed. Problems can also arise in synchronizing the tensioning of the different elastic members and in achieving uniform tensioning of the elastic members independently of the speed of the running material web. A further difficulty is that of handling the finished articles when they have been cut loose from the running material web, since the articles assume an irregular three-dimensional shape as soon as the tensioning of the elastic members ceases. Folding and packaging of the finished articles have additionally proven to be very difficult stages because of their creased and three-dimensional shape.  
           [0007]    In order to achieve a good fit of known absorbent pants and to allow the absorbent pants to be used by persons with different body shapes and body sizes, the absorbent pants are often provided with a large number of elastic members which run parallel across the front and rear portions of the absorbent pants. Although such an arrangement functions fairly well from a technical point of view, the many elastic members give the known absorbent pants a particularly creased appearance. This is a negative factor for various reasons. The greatest disadvantage is that it is difficult to conceal absorbent pants of this kind under normal clothes, which can be very embarrassing, especially for adult users of absorbent pants. The creased appearance also strengthens the immediate impression that the absorbent article is in fact a diaper, which is perceived as a negative factor by adult incontinence sufferers. It is therefore desirable to produce absorbent pants which are perceived more as underpants than as a diaper. Another disadvantage of using the creased absorbent pants is that folds and creases can cause discomfort in the form of chafing and irritation of the user&#39;s skin.  
           [0008]    A previously known way of achieving an improved fit and of avoiding the use of a large number of stretched elastic members is to make the side panels of absorbent pants from elastic material, for example elastic nonwoven, or elastic laminate. However, the main problem of the absorbent pants with elastic side panels which have hitherto been proposed is that they are complicated to produce because they necessitate the handling of separate elastic material pieces at high production speeds. Moreover, with elastic side panels, it is possible only to obtain limited size fit and shape fit of the absorbent pants because large parts of the front portion and rear portion of the absorbent pants remain nonelastic.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0009]    A method for producing absorbent pants has been obtained which substantially eliminates the problems of previously known production methods of this kind.  
           [0010]    The production method according to an embodiment of the invention is mainly distinguished by using an elastic material web with an elastic extensibility in the direction of travel of at least 80%, and preferably at least 100%, and the elastic material web during production is stretched a maximum of 5% in the direction of travel of the material web.  
           [0011]    Elastic extensibility here refers to the lengthening in the direction of extension which the material permits without plastically deforming or bursting. If a material is to be considered as being elastically extensible, it is also necessary for the material, when extension ceases, to gather together and seek to recover its original extent in the direction of extension. A fully elastic material returns completely to the unextended state, while a less elastic material remains slightly stretched even when the stretching force ceases. It is expedient that the elastic material web can return to an extent which is at most 150% of the unstretched material web and preferably at most 120% thereof.  
           [0012]    Since the production takes place with the elastic material web in a substantially unstretched state, it is possible to produce more absorbent articles per unit of time than has previously been possible. This is because each article takes up a smaller part of the length of the material web than is the case when the material web comprises a large amount of surplus material which is to be creased together to achieve an elastic effect.  
           [0013]    Because the material web is in a substantially unstretched state, means that the tension in the material web is only so high that the material web is held bearing against rollers and other parts of the production equipment, which is necessary to guide and control the advance of the material web. The material web is preferably stretched a maximum of 3% in the direction of travel of the material web during production.  
           [0014]    According to one embodiment of the invention, the absorption core is enclosed between a liquid-permeable cover sheet and a liquid-tight cover sheet, after which the absorption core is secured with the liquid-tight cover sheet towards the elastic material web. Thus, according to this embodiment, a core pack is produced which is secured on an elastic outer cover which, after cutting and assembling, forms elastic outer pants supporting the core pack. For reasons of comfort, it is expedient that such outer pants have a textile or textile-like character, i.e. are formed of fibre material, or of material with fibre character. The elastic material web is advantageously an elastic nonwoven.  
           [0015]    According to another embodiment of the invention, the elastic material web is an elastic plastic film, and a liquid-permeable material layer is arranged over the second surface of the absorption cores directed away from the plastic film. The production method according to this embodiment results in an absorbent article in which the article&#39;s liquid-blocking cover sheet constitutes the main component of the parts giving the article shape. The articles can also be provided with an elastic liquid-permeable material layer. The liquid-permeable material layer can be arranged over the absorption cores in the form of a running material web. In such an embodiment, both the cover sheets can be used to form elastic pants supporting the absorption core.  
           [0016]    According to a further embodiment of the invention, the absorption core is provided with a liquid-tight cover sheet over the second surface, i.e. the surface which in the finished absorbent pants is intended to be directed away from a user of the absorbent pants. In this case, the elastic material web consists of a liquid-permeable material which is secured to the first surface of the absorption core, being the surface which in the finished absorbent pants is intended to be directed towards a user and which will receive the body fluid emptied into the absorbent pants. Such a production process results in an absorbent article in which the absorption core is arranged on the outside of elastic pants.  
           [0017]    According to yet another embodiment of the invention, elongate elastic members in the form of bands or threads with a principal direction of extension are secured to the elastic material web before the cutting-out stage. The elastic members can in this case be secured, for example by gluing or by ultrasound welding, to the elastic material web in such a way that, after cutting-out and assembling of the material web, they are arranged along the leg openings of the absorbent articles. Thus, the absorbent articles can in this way be provided with leg elastic. Correspondingly, the elastic members can be secured to the elastic material web in such a way that, after cutting-out and assembling of the material web, they are arranged along the waist opening of the absorbent articles. Such an arrangement of course results in the articles being equipped with waist elastic. Since it is desirable to minimize the degree of creasing-together of the absorbent articles after the cutting-out stage, it is expedient if the elastic members during the production process are stretched a maximum of 10% and preferably a maximum of 5% in the direction of extension of the elastic members. In order to achieve good sealing around the waist opening and around the leg openings of the finished articles, it is generally expedient if the stretching of the elastic members during production is greater than the stretching of the elastic material web. On application of elastic members with low prestressing, or no prestressing, it is preferred that the elastic members are secured in such a way that the elasticity in the elastic members is not inhibited. This can be done, for example, by using an elastic adhesive, by gluing in a stretchable pattern along the elastic members, or by intermittent welding. Examples of stretchable adhesive patterns are spot gluing, spray gluing, and adhesive applied in the form of adhesive strands arranged across the elastic members.  
           [0018]    The ratio between the extensibility of the elastic members and those parts of the finished article which are formed by the elastic material web can also be controlled by choosing a less extensible material for the elastic members than for the elastic material web. Thus, the extensibility of the elastic members can advantageously be at least 10% lower than the extensibility of the elastic material web.  
           [0019]    In another embodiment of the invention, a method for producing pant-shaped absorbent articles includes steps of advancing a web of elastic material in a direction of travel, securing at least one absorption core comprising absorbent material to the web of elastic material with the web of elastic material being in a substantially unstretched state, and cutting an individual absorbent article from the web of elastic material and the secured absorption core in a shape such that the individual absorbent article has two leg openings and a waist opening, the individual absorbent article having one of the absorption cores and a piece of the web of elastic material.  
           [0020]    In another embodiment, the method includes advancing a web of elastic material in a direction of travel, providing at least one core pack having at least one absorption core arranged between a liquid barrier sheet and a liquid-permeable sheet, securing the at least one core pack to the web of elastic material with the web of elastic material being in a substantially unstretched state, and cutting an individual absorbent article from the web of elastic material and the secured core pack in a shape such that the individual absorbent article has two leg openings and a waist opening, the individual absorbent article having one of the core packs and a piece of the web of elastic material.  
           [0021]    In another embodiment, the method includes advancing a first web of elastic material and a second web of elastic material in a direction of travel, securing elongated elastic members between the first web and the second web, with the first web and the second web being in substantially unstretched states, securing at least one absorption core having absorbent material to the second web with the first web and the second web being substantially unstretched, and cutting an individual absorbent article from the secured first web and second web and the secured absorption core in a shape such that the individual absorbent article has two leg openings and a waist opening, the individual absorbent article having one of the absorption cores and a piece of the first web and the second web.  
           [0022]    In another embodiment, the method includes, advancing a first web of elastic material and a second web of elastic material in a direction of travel, securing elongated elastic members between the first web and the second web, with the first web and the second web being in substantially unstretched states, securing at least core pack comprising an absorption core disposed between a liquid barrier sheet and a liquid-permeable sheet to the second web with the first web and the second web being substantially unstretched, and cutting an individual absorbent article from the secured first web and second web and the secured core pack in a shape such that the individual absorbent article has two leg openings and a waist opening, the individual absorbent article having one of the core packs and a piece of the first web and the second web. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0023]    Embodiments of the invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to the figures in the attached drawings, in which:  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 shows the production of absorbent pants according to a first embodiment of the invention and comprising a core pack,  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 shows the core pack in FIG. 1,  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 shows absorbent pants produced according to the method shown in FIG. 1,  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 shows the production of absorbent pants according to a second embodiment of the invention,  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5 shows absorbent pants produced according to the method shown in FIG. 3,  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 6 shows the production of absorbent pants according to a third embodiment of the invention, and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 7 shows absorbent pants produced according to the method shown in FIG. 6. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]    [0031]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a process for production of absorbent pants in which the materials of the pants are substantially unstretched during production.  
         [0032]    The various components of the absorbent pants are joined together on a continuous conveyor belt, a first material web  101  in the form of an elastic, unstretched nonwoven material being placed on the conveyor belt. Adhesive  102  is then applied, for example by spraying or coating of the first material web  101 , after which elastic members  103  in the form of continuous elastic bands or threads are secured in a curved pattern across the first material web  101 . The elastic members  103  form leg elastic in the finished absorbent pants. Instead of, or as a complement to, arranging adhesive on the first material web  101 , the adhesive can be applied directly to the elastic members. This form of adhesive application too can be effected, for example, by means of spraying, patterned surfacing or coating. As has already been discussed, for complete coating of elastic members which have been applied in a substantially unstretched state the adhesive used should be elastic.  
         [0033]    A second elastic material web  105 , which can be substantially unstretched elastic nonwoven, is thereafter applied over the first material web  101  and the elastic members  103 . Before the two material webs are joined together, the second material web  105  too can be coated with adhesive on the surface directed towards the first material web  101 . Adhesive can be thereafter applied, for example in the form of a spray coating, a complete or broken film, or in a pattern such as in the form of stripes or spots. Since the elastic members, as has previously been described, are arranged substantially without prestressing, it is preferable to ensure that the adhesive does not inhibit the elasticity of the elastic members on that surface of the second material web  105  directed away from the first material web  101 . The adhesive can be applied intermittently within areas  106  of the second material web  105  where a core pack  107  is then secured.  
         [0034]    The core pack  107  is shown in FIG. 2 and comprises a liquid barrier sheet  108 , an absorption core  109 , and a liquid-permeable inner sheet  110 . The core pack  107  is secured with the liquid barrier sheet  108  towards the second material web  105 . FIGS. 1 and 2 show an absorption core  109  consisting of two absorption sheets  111 ,  112  laid one upon the other, the lower absorption sheet  111  located nearest to the liquid barrier sheet  108  being slightly larger than the upper absorption sheet  112  located nearest to the inner sheet  110 . In the example shown, the core pack  107  has a rectangular plane shape which is defined by the shape of the liquid barrier sheet  108  and the liquid-permeable inner sheet  110 , which together enclose the absorption core  109 . It is of course possible to use the core pack  107  with another plane shape, for example the liquid barrier sheet  108  and the inner sheet  110  can have substantially the same shape as the absorption core  109 .  
         [0035]    The liquid-permeable inner sheet  110  can be any material known for the purpose, such as a layer of nonwoven material, a perforated plastic film, net material, tow, or the like. The inner sheet  110  can of course also be a laminate of two or more sheets of the same or different material.  
         [0036]    The liquid barrier sheet  108  can include of a liquid-tight plastic film, a nonwoven sheet which has been coated with a liquid barrier material, or some other flexible material sheet which has the ability to withstand liquid penetration. However, it can be advantageous if the liquid barrier sheet  108  has a certain breathability, i.e. permits the passage of water vapour through the sheet  108 .  
         [0037]    The absorption core can be made up of absorbent material, such as cellulose fluff pulp, tissue, absorbent foam, etc. It is also possible for the absorption core to contain superabsorbents, i.e. polymer materials which are able to absorb body fluid corresponding to many times their own weight and form a hydrogel. Such superabsorbents are usually in the form of particles, but fibres, flakes, granules and films are also available. Moreover, the absorption core  109  can comprise nonabsorbent components such as stiffening elements, shaping elements, binders, etc. Various types of liquid-receiving porous structures such as fibre wads, open-cell foam or the like can also be included in the core pack  107 .  
         [0038]    The core pack  107  is produced in a separate process using conventional production technology. The production of the core pack  107  is not shown in the drawings. The various components included in the core pack  107  can be connected to one another in a conventional manner, for example by adhesive bonding, or by welding with heat or ultrasound. The core pack  107  can of course contain further components in addition to those described here, for example the core pack can comprise a liquid transport sheet, elastic members, shape-stabilizing members, shaping elements or the like. Although the absorption core has been shown with two absorption sheets  111 ,  112 , alternative configurations can be used. For example, a single absorption sheet may be sufficient for certain applications, while other applications may require more than two absorption sheets.  
         [0039]    After the core pack has been applied, leg openings  114  are cut out from the web between each core pack  107 . The production web  113  is then folded double in the production direction so that a fold edge  115  and an open edge  116  are formed. The folded production web  113  is then welded intermittently transverse to the production direction, the welds  117  extending from the open edge  116  to the edge  118  on each of the leg openings  114 . The welds are formed in a manner known in the technical field and are expediently openable. This means that the weld will break before the surrounding material when the parts which have been welded together are pulled apart. However, it is of course necessary to ensure that the welds are sufficiently strong to hold the finished absorbent pants together during use. It is of course alternatively possible, within the scope of the invention, to instead glue the production web halves together.  
         [0040]    The welded production web  113  is then divided by being cut at each weld  117  so that individual absorbent pants  104  are separated from the production web  113 . The finished absorbent pants  104  can then go through further process stages such as folding and packaging.  
         [0041]    The finished absorbent pants  104  shown in FIG. 3 comprise elastically extensible outer pants  120  which are formed by the first elastic material web  101  and the second elastic material web  105 . The outer pants  120  also include the elastic members  103  which are arranged around the leg openings  114  and are secured between the first elastic material web  101  and the second elastic material web  105 . As has already been mentioned, the elastic material webs  101 ,  105  can be an elastic nonwoven material. The elastic nonwoven material is elastically extensible at least in the direction of travel of the production web and preferably also in the transverse direction of the production web, i.e. at right angles to the direction of travel.  
         [0042]    The outer pants  120  are designed with a front portion  121 , a rear portion  122  and a narrower crotch portion  123  lying between these, and they have two leg openings  114  and a waist opening  124 . The outer pants  120  also have two side seams  125  which connect the front portion  121  to the rear portion  122  between the waist opening  124  and the leg openings  114  and which, during use of the absorbent pants  104 , are intended to be arranged across the user&#39;s hips. The side seams  125  can be expediently designed in such a way that they can withstand the tensile forces which arise when the absorbent pants are being put on and are being used, but such that they can be torn apart when the absorbent pants are being taken off. An openable side seam  125  in this case does not have a greater holding ability than that the seam bursts at a lower force than is required to draw apart the surrounding material of the absorbent pants.  
         [0043]    The above-described core pack  107  is secured inside the elastically extensible outer pants  120 . In connection with the cutting-out of the leg openings, parts of the cover sheets in the core pack are also cut so that the core pack  107  in the finished absorbent pants is given a shape like an hourglass.  
         [0044]    The core pack  107  can be secured to the outer pants  120  across the whole of the common surface, or only over parts thereof. For example, the core pack  107  can be secured only along a line or a band-shaped area extending centrally across the absorbent pants  104  from the front portion  121  to the rear portion  122 . It is also possible to secure the core pack  107  via a number of attachment points or attachment areas. The core pack  107  should be sufficiently well secured inside the outer pants  120  to ensure that it does not come loose or move out of position during use. However, it is advantageous if the core pack  107  has a certain mobility in relation to the outer pants  120 , since this means that the elastic extensibility of the outer pants  120  can be better used if the extension is limited as little as possible by the core pack  107 .  
         [0045]    In the process shown in FIG. 4, a first elastic material web  401  in the form of a substantially unstretched elastic nonwoven material is placed on a conveyor belt (not shown in the figure). Adhesive  402 ′ is then applied, in the same way as in the process in FIG. 1, and elastic members  403  are secured in a curved pattern across the first material web  401 .  
         [0046]    A second elastic material web  408 , of substantially unstretched elastic liquid barrier material, such as plastic film, is thereafter applied over the first elastic material web  401  and the elastic members  403 . Before the two material webs are joined together, the second elastic material web  408  too can be coated with adhesive on the surface directed towards the first elastic material web  401 . Adhesive is thereafter applied as a continuous coating  402 ″ on the surface of the second elastic material web  408  directed away from the first elastic material web  401 , after which absorption cores  409  comprising a first absorption sheet  411  and a second absorption sheet  412  are placed intermittently on the second elastic material web  408 .  
         [0047]    A third elastic material web  410  is placed over the first and second elastic material webs  401 ,  408  and secured over the absorption cores  409 . Before the third elastic material web  410  is applied on the second elastic material web  408 , the third elastic material web  410  is expediently coated with adhesive on the surface directed towards the second elastic material web  408 . It is alternatively possible to use a nonelastic material instead of the elastic material web  410 . However, in such an embodiment, the nonelastic material can be arranged in the form of discrete pieces across the absorption cores  409 . Otherwise, the nonelastic material can inhibit the function of the elastic members  403 .  
         [0048]    After the various components have been applied, leg openings  414  are cut out from the production web  413 . The production web  413  is then folded double in the production direction so that a fold edge  415  and an open edge  416  are formed. The folded production web  413  is then welded intermittently transverse to the production direction, the welds  417  extending from the open edge  416  to the edge  418  on each of the leg openings  414 . The welded production web  413  is then divided by being cut at each weld  417  so that individual absorbent pants  404  are separated from the production web  413 . The finished absorbent pants  404  can then go through further process stages such as folding and packaging.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 5 shows finished absorbent pants  404  produced by the method shown in FIG. 4. The finished absorbent pants  404  shown in FIG. 5 include, like the absorbent pants in FIG. 3, elastically extensible outer pants  420  which are formed by the first elastic material web  401  and the second elastic material web  408 . The first elastic material web  401  in this case constitutes a textile outer sheet of the diaper pants, and the second elastic material web  408  constitutes a liquid barrier sheet in the absorbent pants  404  and prevents liquid from leaking out from the absorbent pants  404  during use. The outer pants  420  also include the elastic members  403  which are arranged around the leg openings  414  and are secured between the textile outer sheet  401  of the outer pants  420  and the liquid barrier sheet  408 . As has already been mentioned, the textile outer sheet  401  consists of elastic nonwoven material.  
         [0050]    The liquid barrier sheet  408  consists of an elastic liquid-tight plastic film, an elastic liquid-impeding nonwoven material, or similar. A liquid-tight material is considered to be a material which prevents liquid penetration. However, the liquid-tight material can be breathable and permit passage of gases and water vapour. A liquid barrier material counteracts liquid penetration but is not necessarily completely liquid-tight and is generally breathable.  
         [0051]    In the same way as the absorbent pants  104  shown in FIG. 3, the outer pants  420  are designed with a front portion  421 , a rear portion  422  and a narrower crotch portion  423  lying between these, and they have two leg openings  414  and a waist opening  424 . The outer pants  420  also have two side seams  425  which connect the front portion  421  to the rear portion  422  between the waist opening  424  and the leg openings  414  and which, during use of the absorbent pants  404 , are intended to be arranged across the user&#39;s hips.  
         [0052]    An absorption body  409  is secured inside the elastically extensible outer pants  420 . The absorption body  409  is secured to the liquid barrier sheet  408  of the outer pants  420 , for example by adhesive bonding. The absorption body  409  comprises a first liquid collection sheet  411  arranged nearest to the liquid barrier sheet, and a second liquid-receiving sheet  412  arranged between the liquid collection sheet  411  and a liquid-permeable inner sheet  410  which is formed by the third material web  410 . Although the absorption body  409  has been shown as a two-sheet structure, it is possible to use other types of absorption bodies. Absorption bodies in absorbent articles for taking up body fluids usually consist of fibre sheets, for example of cellulose fluff pulp. It is also possible to use fibre sheets which have been bonded together with a binder, for example thermofibres. It is also customary to use polymeric gel-forming absorption materials, called superabsorbents, which can be mixed with fibres or arranged on separate carrier sheets. The design of the absorption body  409 , like the choice of material, is of course dictated by the intended application and by the amount of liquid which the absorption body is expected to be able to absorb. The liquid-permeable inner sheet  410  can be a liquid-permeable nonwoven material, a perforated plastic film, a net material, or similar. The liquid-permeable inner sheet  410  can be elastic or nonelastic. In the latter case, the inner sheet  410  is arranged as discrete material pieces which do not cover the elastic members  403  arranged around the leg openings  414 .  
         [0053]    The production method shown in FIG. 6 differs from the previously described production methods in that the finished absorbent pants have, in addition to conventional leg elastic, a portion which during use is intended to surround the lower part of the user&#39;s trunk and which is elastically extensible.  
         [0054]    The absorbent pants  604  in FIG. 6 are formed by a first material web  601 ′ in the form of an unstretched nonelastic nonwoven material being placed on a conveyor belt (not shown). Adhesive  602  is then applied, for example by spraying, pressing or coating of the first material web  601 ′, and elastic members  603  in the form of continuous elastic bands or threads are secured, in a conventional manner, in a prestressed state and in a curved pattern across the first material web  601 ′. A second material web  608  of liquid-tight material, for example plastic film, is secured over the first material web  601 ′ and the elastic members  603 . Before the two material webs are joined together, the second material web  608  can also be coated with adhesive on the surface directed towards the first material web  601 ′. Adhesive is then applied as a coating  602 ′ on the surface of the second material web  608  directed away from the first material web  601 ′, after which absorption cores  609  are applied intermittently on the second material web  608 .  
         [0055]    A band  601 ″ of elastic material, for example elastic nonwoven, is additionally arranged along each side edge  630 ,  631  of the first material web  601 ′. The elastic bands  601 ″ are applied and secured to the first material web  601 ′ and the second material web  608  in a substantially unstretched state and form a band-shaped, elastically extensible portion or girdle-like waist belt nearest the waist opening of the finished absorbent pants  604 . It should be noted that, in the embodiment in FIG. 6, the absorption cores  609  are secured directly to the second material web  608  and only indirectly secured to the elastic bands  601 ″.  
         [0056]    A third material web  610  is placed over the first and second material webs  601 ,  608  and secured over the absorption cores  609 . Before the third material web  610  is applied on the second material web  608 , the third material web  610  is expediently coated with adhesive on the surface directed towards the second material web  608 .  
         [0057]    As in the previously described production methods, leg openings  614  are cut out from the material web  613 , after which the material is folded, welded, and cut into individual absorbent pants  604 , as has previously been described.  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 7 shows absorbent pants  604  produced according to the method described in connection with FIG. 6. The absorbent pants shown in FIG. 7 comprise a substantially nonelastic part  632  which substantially coincides with the crotch portion  623  of the absorbent pants. The nonelastic part comprises an absorption body  609  arranged between a liquid-tight laminate and a liquid-permeable inner sheet  610 . The liquid-tight laminate in this case comprises a barrier sheet  608  formed by the second material web and an outer nonwoven sheet  601 ′ formed by the first material web. The nonelastic part  632  comprises elastic members  603  which are secured with prestressing to the nonelastic part and which form leg elastic around the leg openings  614  of the absorbent pants  604 .  
         [0059]    The absorbent pants  604  further comprise an elastic part  633  formed by the elastic bands  601 ″ and constituting a wide elastically extensible belt which surrounds the trunk and which is held together by two side seams  625 . The side seams  625  connect the front portion  621  of the absorbent pants to the rear portion  622  between the waist opening  624  and the leg openings  614  and are intended to be arranged across the user&#39;s hips during use.  
         [0060]    All the absorbent pants which have been described are such that they are made from material joined together in a substantially unstretched state, i.e. with only a slight degree of elastic tensioning. As has previously been mentioned, this means that the elastic components are stretched only a maximum of 5% from their original extent in the direction of extension. A certain slight extensibility is generally necessary to maintain control of the materials during the production process. The fact that the absorbent pants are made from substantially unstretched material means that the number of absorbent pants per unit of length of the production web, compared with conventional production processes, is considerably greater and can even be as much as twice as great.  
         [0061]    In addition, after they have been separated from the production web, the finished absorbent pants are substantially smooth and have a substantially plane shape. This means that the absorbent pants have an aesthetically pleasing appearance, are comfortable to wear, and are considerably easier to fold and package than previously known absorbent pants with creased and three-dimensionally curved portions.  
         [0062]    The elastic parts of absorbent pants produced according to the methods described above are activated when the absorbent pants are put on. The elastic portions are stretched so that the absorbent pants can fit onto the user&#39;s body. The size of the absorbent pants is such that the elastic portions are kept stretched during use and thus seek to draw together to their unstressed state, by which means the absorbent pants are maintained on the user&#39;s body.  
         [0063]    The invention is not to be regarded as being limited by the illustrative embodiments described above, and further variants and modifications are possible within the scope of the attached patent claims. For example, it is not necessary to join the various material webs and components together by means of adhesive, and instead other methods of joining such as ultrasound, hot welding, calendering, stitching, etc., can be used if expedient.  
         [0064]    In the illustrative embodiments of absorbent pants which have been described, the absorption body has been shown positioned over the front portion, rear portion and crotch portion of the absorbent pants. For certain purposes, for example for use in cases of mild incontinence and menstruation, the absorption body can be placed mainly in the crotch portion of the absorbent pants, i.e. in the portion which is arranged at the user&#39;s crotch during use.  
         [0065]    Although only preferred embodiments are specifically illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated that many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.