Patent ID: 8876279

Claim:
A method for producing customized absorbent articles, each absorbent article comprising a chassis including a first surface and an opposing second surface, the chassis having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, a first end region longitudinally opposed to a second end region, and a central region longitudinally intermediate of the first and second end regions, the method comprising the steps of: providing a carrier including an endless belt and a hook member, the hook member including a base member connected with a support member, the support member including a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the base member is connected with the endless belt and wherein the support member defines a distal end portion; placing the chassis of an absorbent article on the hook member such that the first surface of the first end region is in a facing relationship with the first surface of the support member, the distal end portion of the support member is adjacent the central region, and the second end region is positioned between the second surface of the support member and the endless belt; advancing the hook member and the absorbent article in a machine direction; pressing the advancing absorbent article against the first surface of the support member; increasing the surface energy of the second surface of the chassis; printing a graphic on the second surface of the advancing absorbent article; and removing the absorbent article from the hook member.