WO2015156747A1

WO2015156747A1 - A lateral tape application for sanitary diapers/pads and the production method of said lateral tape

Info

Publication number: WO2015156747A1
Application number: PCT/TR2015/000142
Authority: WO
Inventors: Serhat IPEKLER
Original assignee: Korozo Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2014-04-08
Filing date: 2015-04-07
Publication date: 2015-10-15

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lateral tape used in the connection of sanitary diapers like baby diapers and adult diapers and whose usage lifetime and resistance to ambient conditions are increased, and relates to a method used in these lateral tape embodiments and which is particularly used in placement of male connection pieces, having hook structure, on the main carrier.

Description

A LATERAL TAPE APPLICATION FOR SANITARY DIAPERS/PADS AND THE

PRODUCTION METHOD OF SAID LATERAL TAPE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a lateral tape connected to a main body and used in the connection of sanitary diapers like baby diapers and adult diapers and relates to a method used in placement of male connection pieces used in these lateral tape applications and which is particularly used in placement of male connection pieces, having hook structure, onto the main carrier.

PRIOR ART

Single-use sanitary diapers/pads like baby diapers, sanitary pads and adu!t diapers are among the requirements of our daily lives since they are easy-to-use and substantially needed. Particularly in baby diapers, the diaper shall have substantial absorbance, and besides, the diaper shall not be openable through the connection regions due to reasons like the motions of the baby or small children, body temperature, etc.

This connection can be realized by means of two methods in the present application: In one of these, adhesive is applied on at least one (male and/or female) of the connection regions. By means of joining the surface, having adhesive, to the corresponding surface, the related diaper is closed through the connection regions. However, since adhesive can be easily deteriorated due to temperature, due to storage conditions and particularly due to humidity, the diaper may get loose in a short time.

In order to provide a solution to this problem, hook method is used which is another alternative connection method. In this hook method, the hook piece, used as the connection piece, is fixed onto the main carrier base by means of adhesive comprising at least one of elastomeric-polyolefinic based material groups. The adhesive is applied in a complete and/or intermittent manner so as to directly correspond under the male connection piece (hook) and/or before the main carrier piece arrives at the assembly line. In this method, the adhesion properties of the adhesive may be deteriorated, and partial or complete function loss may be faced due to storage conditions and/or due to waiting. Besides, the adhesive has a high cost, and the application thereof leads to production line speeds to be limited, and this directly affects production efficiency. Another disadvantage of adhesive is that adhesive is a chemical substance which is deteriorated as time passes and as a result of temperature increase. As a result of contact of the deteriorated adhesive to the skin, irritation may occur particularly in babies.

Another application method known in the related art is thermal binding. In other words, said hooks are joined to the main carrier lateral tape by means of thermal processes, in this method, since at least one of the joined materials is polymer-based, the materials are adhered to each other. Since both materials are polymer-based in this application, a substantially good joining can be obtained. However, in practice, carbonization may occur during the thermal process, and black spots may occur on the product. Moreover, deformations may occur on the product surface and on the patterns due to the temperature. Even if the temperature degree increases at a sma!i amount, the materials can be moiten and punctures may occur.

As a result, because of all of the abovementioned problems, an improvement is required in the related technical field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hook positioned on a main carrier in the connection of the sanitary diapers/pads and a method used for placement of these hook embodiments on the main carrier, for eliminating the above mentioned disadvantages and for bringing new advantages to the related technical field.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a lateral tape used in diapers and where the connection force of the male connection piece to the main carrier is increased.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary diaper lateral tape where the cost is reduced in order to realize all of the abovementioned objects and the objects which are to be deducted from the detailed description below, the present invention is a lateral tape made of at least one thermoplastic-based material and/or thermoplastic based nonwoven-film composite structure and comprising a main carrier, and a male connection piece connected to said main carrier and which is used for closing a sanitary diaper/pad having a female connection piece thereon. Accordingly, said lateral tape is characterized by comprising at least one ultrasonic joining region where said male connection piece and the main carrier are ultrasonically joined to each other, and at least one non-joined section positioned in the vicinity of said ultrasonic joining region. Thus, the disadvantages of adhesives used for connecting the main carrier and the male connection piece in the present art are eliminated. in a preferred embodiment of the subject matter invention, the density of said ultrasonic joining region provided on the lateral tape is at least 2.43 mm² and at most 9.13 mm² in 1 cm². Thus, the deformation of the male connection piece, for instance stripping and separation of the male connection piece from the main carrier are prevented.

In another preferred embodiment of the subject matter invention, the male connection piece and the main carrier are in one-piece form on the ultrasonic joining regions.

In order to realize all of the abovementioned objects and the objects which are to be deducted from the detailed description below, the present invention is the production method for a lateral tape made of at least one thermoplastic-based material and/or thermoplastic based nonwoven-film composite structure and comprising a main carrier, and a male connection piece connected to said main carrier and which is used for closing a sanitary diaper/pad having a female connection piece thereon. Accordingly, said production method is characterized by comprising the steps of:

Superimposing the main carrier and the male connection piece, having protrusions thereon in the hook structure, in a laminated manner, ii) Passing the main carrier and the male connection piece between a pattern drum and the joining element,

iii) Applying pressure towards the joining element by the pattern drum.

iv) Contacting of the joining end to the main carrier, and sending ultrasonic vibration waves of 20.000 MHz,

v) Forming at least one ultrasonic joining region between the main carrier and the male connection piece by means of the mechanical pressure applied by the pattern drum and by means of the ultrasonic vibration waves sent by the joining end onto the main carrier.

In another preferred embodiment of the subject matter invention, in step (v), the male connection piece and the main carrier create a one-piece form by forming a binding structure in the ultrasonic joining regions. Thus, even if the lateral tape is created by laminating two separate layers, the lateral tape and the binding structure embodied between the main carrier and the male connection piece are integrated thanks to ultrasonic joining, and thus, mechanical resistance is increased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In Figure 1 , a representative view of the open form of the sanitary diaper/pad is given. In Figure 2, a detailed representative view of the lateral tape is given. In Figure 3, a representative view of the joining regions and the pattern is given.

In Figure 4, another representative view of the joining regions and the pattern is given. In Figure 5, a representative view of the closed form of sanitary diaper/pad is given.

In Figure 6, a representative view of the ultrasonic joining line is given.

In Figure 7, a representative view of the sliding resistance test mechanism is given. REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 Sanitary diaper/pad

20 Main body

21 Front section

22 Rear section

23 Female connection piece

30 Lateral tape

31 Main carrier

32 Male connection piece

321 Ultrasonic joining region

322 Non-joined section

33 Connection section

40 Ultrasonic unit

41 Pattern drum

42 Joining element

421 Joining end

50 Sliding resistance/separation resistance test mechanism 51 Steel plate

52 Adhesive region

53 Weight

54 Cylinder

CD direction:

MD direction:

THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION in this detailed description, the subject matter lateral tape (30) application is explained with references to examples without forming any restrictive effect only in order to make the subject more understandable.

With reference to Figure 1 ; in order to form a sanitary diaper/pad, there is main body (20), and there is a lateral tape (30) connected to said main body (20). Said main body (20) comprises a front section (21) and a rear section (22). Onto the surface of the front section (21 ) facing outwardly, at ieast one female connection piece (23) is connected in textured surface structure and/or in piled woven structure made of textile. With reference to Figure 2, the lateral tape (30) made of thermoplastic based nonwoven-film composite structure and/or at ieast one thermoplastic based material generally comprises a main carrier (31); and a male connection piece (32) connected onto said main carrier (31). There is at Ieast one ultrasonic joining region (321 ) defined in the joining regions of the male connection piece (32) and the main carrier (31), and there is at least one non-joined region (322) provided in the vicinity of the ultrasonic joining regions (321). The main carrier (31) is connected to the sanitary diaper/pad (10) through a connection section (33). In the preferred application, adhesive is used for the connection between the sanitary diaper/pad (10) and the main carrier (31) in the connection section (33). In alternative applications, adhesive joining, thermal joining, seaming, etc. can be used, and the lateral tape (30) can be embodied in extension form outwardly from the rear section (22).

In Figure 6, an ultrasonic unit (40) is illustrated which is used during production of the lateral tape (30). Said ultrasonic unit (40) comprises at Ieast one pattern drum (41), and at least one joining element (42) positioned so as to correspond to said pattern drum (41). There is at least one joining end (421) on the side of the said joining element (42) facing the pattern drum. When the sanitary diaper/pad (10) is in open position, the direction extending from the lateral tape (30) towards the main body (20) is named as CD direction

and the direction extending from the lateral tape (30) towards the length of the sanitary diaper/pad (10) is named as the MD direction

In practice, in order to form said lateral tape (30), the main carrier (31), made of polymer and/or thermoplastic material, and the male connection piece (32), having protrusions thereon and which is in hook form, are positioned one above the other in a laminated manner, and they arrive at the ultrasonic unit (40). While the main carrier (31) and the male connection piece (32), positioned in said ultrasonic unit (40) one above the other, pass through said pattern drum (41) and said joining element (42), the pattern drum (41) applies pressure towards the joining element (42). Meanwhile, the joining end (421) contacts the main carrier (31), and the connection surfaces, defined as joining region (321 ), are created between the main carrier (31) and the male connection piece (32) by means of the mechanical pressure applied by the pattern drum (41) and by means of the ultrasonic vibration waves sent by the joining end (421 ) onto the main carrier (31). in said ultrasonic joining regions (321 ), a binding structure is formed as a result of the applied pressure and the ultrasonic vibration wave sent from the joining end (421) between the male connection piece (32) and the main carrier (31). Thus, the main carrier (31) and the male connection piece (32) in ultrasonic joining regions (321) take a one-piece form.

The regions, remaining outside of the ultrasonic joining regions (321), are defined as the non- joined section (322) in the non-joined sections (322), there is a gap between the main carrier (31 ) and the maie connection piece (32).

During application, the ultrasonic vibration wave frequency, applied from the joining element (42), is 20.000 MHz. Moreover, the pressure applied by the pattern drum (41) changes depending on the surface area of the product and the thickness of the product to be processed. The amount of ultrasonic joining region (321 ) provided on the laminated lateral tape (30) is at least 2.43 mm² and at most 9.13 mm² per each cm². Thus, the main carrier (31 ) and the male connection piece (32). forming the laminated structure of the lateral tape (30), are prevented from being separated from each other like stripping and breaking from each other, etc . and the mechanical resistance is increased. Two separate tests, which are simulated by making the usage conditions more difficult in order to measure the mechanical resistance, are applied to a lateral tape (30) having joining region (321) density/frequency which are within the mentioned ranges. Stripping Resistance Test: This test is applied in order to assess the separation force of said main carrier piece from the female connection piece (23) after closing of the main carrier (31 ), comprising the male connection piece (32) thereon, so as to correspond onto the female connection piece (23). Here, the opening of the lateral tape (30) is simulated in order for the sanitary diaper/pad (10) to be separated from the user. For instance, the mother opens the lateral tape (30) for providing removal of the diaper from the baby. By means of said simulation, during the separation of the lateral tape (30) from the front textile product (23), the stripping resistance of the main carrier (31), having male connection piece (32) consisting of hook elements, from the female connection piece (23). which consists of textile materials, is measured on a plane of 180 degrees. The test application comprises the following steps respectively: a) Superimposing the male connection piece (32), provided on the lateral tape (30), onto the female connection piece (23), positioned on the front section (21), so as to correspond in a parallel manner with respect to the CD direction,

b) Applying cylinders, having predetermined weight, onto the lateral tape (30) and onto the front section (21), which are fixed to each other, in a forward and backward manner for predetermined number of times,

c) Drawing the lateral tape (30) from the female connection piece (23) by using a tension-meter at a speed of 305 mm / minute and at an angle of 180 degrees (in CD direction).

In step (c), while the tensioning process is realized, the value taken from the tension-meter shall be Fmax≥ 4N. When the main carrier (31 ). comprising male connection piece (32) thereon, is tried to be separated at the mentioned tension-meter test speed and in the mentioned direction from the femaie connection piece (23), they shall remain in a non- separated manner until a force of at least 4 N is applied. This value can be obtained in the range of application density of said ultrasonic joining region (321). in the preferred application, the cylinders used in step (b) have weight of 2 kg, and the application is realized twice.

Hook-Main Carrier Sliding Resistance/Separation Resistance Test: This test is applied for controlling separation of the male connection piece (32) from the main carrier (31). Here, holding of the lateral tape (30) onto the femaie connection piece (23) is simulated as if the sanitary diaper/pad (10) is on the user, during the movements of the user. For instance, the connection function loss, which occurs as a result of opening of the lateral tape (30) during movement of the baby having the diaper thereon, is simulated. By means of said simulation, the sliding/separation resistance of the male connection piece (32), which has hook thereon, from the main carrier (31) during the separation of the lateral tape (30) from the female connection element (23) is measured. The sliding resistance/separation resistance test mechanism (50) essentially comprises a steel plate (51), and an adhesive region (52) provided by applying adhesive onto said steel plate (51). In the test mechanism, there is at least one weight (53) which is suspended onto one end of the lateral tape (30) whose resistance is to be measured during test application. After the lateral tape (30) is placed onto the female connection piece (23) fixed to the adhesive region (52), there is at least one cylinder (54) passed through the lateral tape (30) provided at the top, in order to provide firm holding of the female connection piece (23) and the lateral tape (30) to each other. The test application comprises the following steps:

I) The female connection piece (23) is adhered to the adhesive region (52) provided on a steel plate (51 ),

II) The lateral tape (30), whereon the male connection piece (32) is positioned, is fixed in CD direction so as to superimpose with the female connection piece (23) position on the front section (21 ) of the diaper/pad,

III) The cylinders (54). having predetermined weight, are applied through the lateral tape (30) and through the female connection piece (21). which are fixed to each other, in a forward and backward manner for predetermined number of times, and thanks to this, the lateral tape (30) is connected in a tighter manner onto the female connection piece (23),

IV) in a test medium preferably comprising 38 C and 65 % humidity; a weight (53) of 1 kg is suspended in the vertical plane on the other end (free end) of the lateral tape (30) applied as described in step (Ill). in step (IV), the test is ended as the male connection piece (32) is suspended on the female connection piece (23) by means of partial or complete separation of the male connection piece (32) from the main carrier (31) after loading, and as the connection of the lateral tape (30) to the female connection piece (23) is broken. in step (IV), in order for the lateral tape (30) to successfully pass the test after suspension of the weight (53), the male connection piece (32) shall stay on the main carrier (31 ) for minimum 5 hours without separation, and by means of this, continuous contact to the female connection element (23) shall be provided. This result can be obtained within the application density range of the ultrasonic joining region (321). in the preferred application, the cylinders (54) used in step (Ill) have weight of 2 kg. and the application is realized twice (two forward and two backward movements are realized).

The structure, created as a result of connection of the male connection piece (32) and the main carrier (31) to each other, and the multi-piece male connection piece (32) positioned in a distanced manner with respect to each other, can be in the form of beds, or they can be provided in pluralities of patterns. By means of using connection with ultrasonic joining in sanitary diapers/pads (10), there is no cost for adhesive used for connecting the male connection piece (32) and the main carrier (31) to each other, and the material can be produced in a more economical manner, and there is no functional loss like deteriorating/weakening as in adhesive aging, and the production speed is increased. Moreover, adhesives can be deteriorated when compared with heat and humidity. However, in ultrasonic joining, said problems do not occur. In addition to this, since adhesive is a chemical substance and thus since the skins of old persons and skins of babies are very sensitive, the chemical effect and the irritation, occurring as a result of adhesive, is prevented. In a similar manner, moreover, the carbonization problems, which are faced in the thermal source, are also eliminated.

The protection scope of the present invention is set forth in the annexed Claims and cannot be restricted to the illustrative disclosures given above, under the detailed description, it is because a person skilled in the relevant art can obviously produce similar embodiments under the light of the foregoing disclosures, without departing from the main principles of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A lateral tape (30) made of at least one thermoplastic-based material and/or thermoplastic based nonwoven-film composite structure and comprising a main carrier (31 ), and a male connection piece (32) connected to said main carrier (31) and which is used for closing a sanitary diaper/pad (10) having a female connection piece (23) thereon, characterized by comprising at least one ultrasonic joining region (321 ) where said male connection piece (32) and the main carrier (31) are ultrasonically joined to each other, and at least one non-joined section (322) positioned in the vicinity of said ultrasonic joining region (321).

2. A lateral tape (30) according to Claim 1 characterized in that the density of said ultrasonic joining region (321 ) provided on the lateral tape (30) is at least 2.43 mm² and at most 9.13 mm² in 1 cm².

3. A lateral tape (30) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the male connection piece (32) and the main carrier (31) are in one-piece form on the ultrasonic joining regions (321).

4. The production method for a lateral tape (30) made of at least one thermoplastic- based material and/or thermoplastic based nonwoven-film composite structure and comprising a main carrier (31), and a male connection piece (32) connected to said main carrier (31) and which is used for closing a sanitary diaper/pad (10) having a female connection piece (23) thereon, characterized by comprising the steps of: i) Superimposing the main carrier (31 ) and the male connection piece (32), having protrusions thereon in the hook structure, in a laminated manner, ii) Passing the main carrier (31) and the male connection piece (32) between a pattern drum (41) and the joining element (42),

iii) Applying pressure towards the joining element (42) by the pattern drum (41 ), iv) Contacting of the joining end (421 ) to the main carrier (31), and sending ultrasonic vibration waves by the joining end (421),

v) Forming at least one ultrasonic joining region (321 ) between the main carrier (31 ) and the male connection piece (32) by means of the mechanical pressure applied by the pattern drum (41) and by means of the ultrasonic vibration waves sent by the joining end (421 ) onto the main carrier (31).

5. A lateral tape (30) production method according to Claim 4, characterized in that in step (v). the male connection piece (32) and the main carrier (31) create a one-piece form by forming a binding structure in the ultrasonic joining regions (321).