ONTEX BV

The current invention concerns a transfer head ( 24 ) configured for the transfer of a pad ( 6 ) from a pick-up location ( 26 ) to a drop-off location ( 62 ). According to the invention, the transfer head ( 24 ) comprises a support module ( 28 ) comprising a vacuum manifold, and a core module ( 30 ) comprising an elastic mean ( 32 ). The current invention also concerns a method of transferring pad ( 6 ) from a pick-up location ( 26 ) to a drop-off location ( 62 ). The current invention also concerns an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article using said method of transferring pad ( 6 ) from a pick-up location ( 26 ) to a drop-off location ( 62 ). The invention also concerns a method of manufacturing an absorbent articles using said method of transferring pad ( 6 ).

Method for monitoring wetness events in an absorbent article comprising a substrate adapted for incorporation into the absorbent article comprising a plurality of conductors and a plurality of electrodes arranged to undergo a change in electrical properties upon one or more wetness events. The method, upon a wetness event, comprises the step of determining the number of conductors triggered by said wetness event to cumulatively determine the number of activated electrodes. The cumulative number of activated electrodes is compared to a threshold value and an alarm is triggered when the number of activated electrodes is equal to or greater than the threshold value.

A method for making an absorbent article comprising an absorbent core comprising one or more channels, the method comprising the steps of: i. providing a first endless moving surface comprising a plurality of molds, each mold comprising a non-porous insert therein, typically said insert having the inverse shape of said channel(s), wherein the molds are in fluid communication with an under-pressure source except for said insert; ii. feeding a first nonwoven web to said first endless moving surface and over one or more said molds; iii. depositing an absorbent material, comprising cellulose fibers and/or superabsorbent polymer particles, over at least a portion of said nonwoven web; iv. removing said absorbent material from areas of the nonwoven web corresponding to said insert; v. applying a second nonwoven web directly or indirectly over the absorbent material, or folding said first nonwoven web, such to sandwich said absorbent material between upper and lower layers of said nonwoven web(s); vi. joining said upper and lower layers together at least in the areas of the nonwoven web(s) corresponding to the insert to form an absorbent core having one or more channels substantially free of absorbent material; vii. optionally joining an acquisition distribution layer to said absorbent core, typically a skin facing surface of said upper layer; viii. optionally laminating said absorbent core and acquisition distribution layer between a liquid pervious topsheet and a liquid impervious backsheet; wherein step vi. comprises the step of selectively applying a first pressure onto the absorbent core, preferably only, in a central portion thereof and a second pressure, preferably only, along peripheral longitudinal side edges thereof running opposite and parallel to each other and being outboard of said central portion, said central portion corresponding at least to a region of the core comprising said channel(s), and wherein said first and second pressures are successively applied along a machine direction (MD).

The invention pertains to wrapper ( 22 ) for a tampon ( 10 ), said wrapper comprising a layer consisting essentially of cellulosic fibers ( 33 ), a layer of sealing agent ( 34 ) arranged onto the layer of cellulosic fibers ( 33 ) wherein the layer consisting essentially of cellulosic fibers ( 33 ) comprises a basis weight comprised between 15 gsm and 90 gsm. The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a tampon ( 10 ) and such wrapper ( 22 ).

An absorbent article for personal hygiene comprising: a topsheet; a backsheet, wherein the topsheet is liquid permeable and the backsheet is substantially liquid impermeable; an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and backsheet; a first indicator for indicating the presence of exudates and being positioned on a garment-facing side of said backsheet such that said first indicator is sandwiched between said backsheet and an outer cover of said article; or wherein said first indicator is positioned on a body-facing side of said backsheet such that said backsheet and an outer cover are able to come into contact with one another; and wherein said first indicator comprises an electrically conductive material, wherein the first indicator comprises one or more first input capacitors, one or more first output capacitors and a plurality of conductive tracks forming an electrical connection between the input and output capacitors, preferably such that each first output capacitor is in galvanic contact with each said first input capacitor. Wherein a reusable or single-use second indicator is arranged to be capacitively coupled with at least the first input and output capacitors such that upon a voiding event an amount of exudate may be automatically determined by measuring a dissipation factor or attenuation of an input signal such as a voltage, said second indicator comprising one or more second input capacitors, one or more second output capacitors and a sensing circuitry, and wherein the backsheet is breathable and has a water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) of at least 3000 g/(m 2 ·24 h), according to ASTM E96 A (Desiccant method); and/or wherein the outer cover (OC) is a nonwoven comprising synthetic fibers.

A substantially cuboid reclosable flexible package ( 8 ) for transporting multiple personal hygiene absorbent articles “on-the-go” is disclosed. It has a front wall ( 81 ), a rear wall ( 82 ), two opposed side walls ( 83,83 ′) and two opposed end walls ( 84,84 ′). It includes a stack of at least two personal hygiene absorbent articles ( 1,100 ) comprising a garment attachment adhesive covered by a removable release paper ( 2 ), and which are folded inwardly with the removable release paper ( 2 ) exposed. The folded absorbent articles are free of an individual wrapping pouch and comprise closure means ( 7 ) for securing said folding. The package ( 8 ) is made of a plastic or paper wrap sealed at one position on either the front ( 81 ), the rear ( 82 ), or one of the two side walls ( 83,83 ′), and on the two end walls ( 84,84 ′). It comprises, on at least one wall, a tear-open flap ( 86 ) limited by at least one tearing line ( 87 ).

A method for making an absorbent article comprising an absorbent core comprising one or more channels, the method comprising the steps of: i. providing a first endless moving surface comprising a plurality of molds typically in the form of pockets, each mold comprising an insert therein, wherein the molds are in fluid communication with an under-pressure source except for said insert such that a suction zone is formed in areas neighboring said insert; ii. feeding a first nonwoven web to said first endless moving surface and over one or more said molds; iii. depositing an absorbent material, comprising cellulose fibers and/or superabsorbent polymer particles, over at least a portion of said nonwoven web; iv. optionally further selectively removing said absorbent material from areas of the nonwoven web corresponding to said insert; v. applying a second nonwoven web directly or indirectly over the absorbent material, or folding said first nonwoven web, such to sandwich said absorbent material between upper and lower layers of said nonwoven web(s); vi. joining said upper and lower layers together at least in the areas of the nonwoven web(s) corresponding to the insert to form an absorbent core having one or more channels substantially free of absorbent material; vii. optionally joining an acquisition distribution layer to said absorbent core, typically a skin facing surface of said upper layer; viii. optionally laminating said absorbent core and acquisition distribution layer between a liquid pervious topsheet and a liquid impervious backsheet; wherein at least a portion of said insert is porous and is in fluid communication with a positive pressure source such that air is blown out of said insert to form an air cushion or air film around at least an uppermost surface of said insert and in that said absorbent material is thereby forced away from areas of the nonwoven web corresponding to said insert.

An absorbent core for use in an absorbent articles, wherein the absorbent core extends in a transversal direction and a longitudinal direction, and comprises: a fluid-permeable top layer; a bottom layer; one or more central layers sandwiched between the top layer and the bottom layer, each central layer having a front edge, a back edge and two longitudinally extending side edges, wherein the central layer is a high loft fibrous nonwoven layer which is free of cellulose fibers; wherein the high loft fibrous nonwoven layer comprises, preferably consisting of, a carded air-through bonded nonwoven or drylaid thermobonded nonwoven; and wherein the central layer is impregnated with superabsorbent particles such that said particles are comprised through a thickness of said central layer, said thickness extending perpendicular to both the transversal direction and a longitudinal direction, and wherein the high loft fibrous nonwoven layer is substantially free of hotmelt adhesive for immobilizing said superabsorbent particles.

A method for the manufacture of an absorbent core and/or article comprising the steps of: (i) providing a first, preferably substantially continuous, nonwoven web having a first void volume; (ii) selectively applying heat to said first nonwoven web such that a deposition area of said first nonwoven web increases its void volume to a second void volume that is greater than said first void volume; (iii) depositing absorbent material comprising, preferably consisting of, superabsorbent particles onto the deposition area of said first nonwoven web; (iv) passively or actively cooling the deposition area of said first nonwoven web so that the void volume reduces to substantially the first void volume; (v) optionally combining the first nonwoven web with second and third nonwoven webs such that said first nonwoven web is interposed between said second and third nonwoven webs preferably by joining said webs by mechanical bonding selected from hot pressing and/or ultrasonic bonding; wherein the first nonwoven web consists of a high loft fibrous nonwoven layer that is free of cellulose fibers; said high loft fibrous nonwoven layer comprising, preferably consisting of, a carded air-through bonded nonwoven or drylaid thermobonded nonwoven.