Peter J Krautkramer

57164789, Feb 10, 1998

Oct 17, 1995

8/544370

Judson Lamar Boothe - Appleton WI
Peter James Krautkramer - Appleton WI
Gary Alan Krueger - Neenah WI

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

B32B 3100

156302

An apparatus and method for severing an elastic web traveling at a first speed into discrete parts and applying the parts onto a product web of interconnected disposable absorbent articles traveling at a second speed are disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of transfer segments which are configured to rotate about a common first axis. The apparatus also includes a drive ring which is configured to rotate about a second axis which is offset from the first axis of the transfer segments. A plurality of coupler arms are pivotally connected to the drive ring. As the drive ring is rotated, a cam end of each of the coupler arms is guided along a curvilinear path and a crank end of each of the coupler arms slidably engages a respective transfer segment thereby pivoting the coupler arms about the pivot points and rotating the transfer segments at a variable speed. The offset crank motion of the drive ring and the pivoting of the coupler arms independently varies an effective drive radius of each transfer segment to provide the desired variable speed.

54277230, Jun 27, 1995

Nov 3, 1993

8/148056

Joseph M. Kugler - Greenville WI
Peter J. Krautkramer - Appleton WI
Lyle T. Lamers - Appleton WI
Douglas P. Rammer - Appleton WI

B29D 700
D04H 170

264119

A distinctive method for contouring a fibrous web includes the steps of (a) providing a fibrous web which defines an interconnected series of appointed article segments along a length dimension of said web, and (b) conveying said web at a selected speed along an appointed machine direction. The method also includes the step of (c) removing predetermined quantities of fibers from selected regions of said fibrous web with a moving, outer peripheral scarfing surface, which is movable along a selected movement direction. The scarfing surface is constructed to provide each of the article segments with a selected contoured basis weight which varies along the length dimension of said segment in a selected correspondence with a predetermined scarfing pattern. The scarfing pattern is provided by the outer peripheral scarfing surface and is variably patterned along the movement direction of the scarfing surface. A relative movement between the conveying step (b) and the removing step (c) is regulated to provide the selected correspondence and to thereby form said selected contoured basis weight on substantially each of the appointed article segments.

57593400, Jun 2, 1998

Jan 27, 1997

8/789112

Judson Lamar Boothe - Appleton WI
Peter James Krautkramer - Appleton WI
Gary Alan Krueger - Neenah WI

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

B32B 3500

156519

An apparatus and method for severing an elastic web traveling at a first speed into discrete parts and applying the parts onto a product web of interconnected disposable absorbent articles traveling at a second speed are disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of transfer segments which are configured to rotate about a common first axis. The apparatus also includes a drive ring which is configured to rotate about a second axis which is offset from the first axis of the transfer segments. A plurality of coupler arms are pivotally connected to the drive ring. As the drive ring is rotated, a cam end of each of the coupler arms is guided along a curvilinear path and a crank end of each of the coupler arms slidably engages a respective transfer segment thereby pivoting the coupler arms about the pivot points and rotating the transfer segments at a variable speed. The offset crank motion of the drive ring and the pivoting of the coupler arms independently varies an effective drive radius of each transfer segment to provide the desired variable speed.

52882209, Feb 22, 1994

Oct 2, 1992

7/955587

Joseph M. Kugler - Appleton WI
Peter J. Krautkramer - Appleton WI
Lyle T. Lamers - Appleton WI
Douglas P. Rammer - Appleton WI

Kimberly-Clark Corporation - Neenah WI

B29D 700
D04H 170

425 831

A distinctive apparatus for contouring a fibrous web includes a supplying mechanism for providing a fibrous web which defines an interconnected series of appointed article segments along a length dimension of the web. A conveying mechanism moves the web at a selected speed along an appointed machine direction. A scarfing mechanism removes predetermined quantities of fibers from selected regions of the fibrous web. The scarfing mechanism is constructed to provide each of the article segments with a selected contoured basis weight which varies at least along the length dimension of the segment in a selected correspondence with a predetermined scarfing pattern. The scarfing pattern is provided by an outer peripheral surface of the scarfing mechanism, and the pattern is configured to have a selected variation at least along a movement direction of the scarfing mechanism. A regulating mechanism controls a relative movement between the conveying mechanism and the scarfing mechanism to provide the selected correspondence and to thereby form the selected contoured basis weight on substantially each of the article segments.