Apparatuses and Methods for Making Absorbent Articles with Low Intensity Inner Belt Edge and Leg Opening Edge Regions

摘要

The present disclosure relates to absorbent articles and methods for assembling absorbent articles with substrates and/or components that include graphics with zones of relatively high print densities and zones of relatively low print densities. In turn, the zones of relatively low print densities may be positioned in regions that are subject to various manufacturing transformations during the assembly process. As such, the graphics may be positioned and/or printed in such a manner so as to reduce noticeable visible results of imprecise and/or inconsistent manufacturing operations performed in areas where the graphics are located.

主权项

1. A method for assembling disposable diaper pants, each diaper pant comprising a chassis having a first end region and an opposing second end region separated from each other by a central region, and having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the chassis comprising: a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, the method comprising the steps of:
advancing a continuous elastic laminate in a machine direction, the elastic laminate comprising a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge defining a width, W, in a cross direction, the elastic laminate further comprising a graphic, the graphic extending in the machine direction and the cross direction and comprising a central zone positioned between laterally opposing first and second zones, wherein each zone comprises a maximum print density, wherein the maximum print density of the central zone is less than or equal to about 30% of the maximum print densities of the first and second zones, and wherein the central zone defines a width, Wz, in the cross direction of less than or equal to about 10% of the width, W, of the elastic laminate; cutting the elastic laminate along the machine direction and through the central zone to form a first continuous elastic laminate and a second continuous elastic laminate, wherein the first and second continuous elastic laminates each include an inner longitudinal edge and an outer longitudinal edge, and wherein a first portion of the central zone extends along inner longitudinal edge of the first continuous elastic laminate and a second portion of the central zone extends along the inner longitudinal edge of the second continuous elastic laminate; separating the first continuous elastic laminate in the cross direction from the second continuous elastic laminate to define a gap between the inner longitudinal edge of the first continuous elastic laminate and the inner longitudinal edge of the second continuous elastic laminate; depositing a plurality of chassis spaced apart from each other along the machine direction across the gap and onto the first continuous elastic laminate and the second continuous elastic laminate; folding each chassis along the lateral axis to position the first continuous elastic laminate into a facing relationship with the second continuous elastic laminate; and cutting the first and second continuous elastic laminates in the cross direction to form discrete diaper pants.