Brian R Vogt

US Patent:

6513221, Feb 4, 2003

Filed:

May 15, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/858071

Inventors:

Brian Robert Vogt - Oshkosh WI
Jack Lee Couillard - Menasha WI
Jason Gene Csida - Reno TX
Patricia Katherine Eng - Appleton WI
Richard Mark Konetzke - Menasha WI
Michael Lee Lohoff - Oshkosh WI
Charles Robert Tomsovic - Omro WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

A61F 1315

US Classification:

29429, 156200, 156227, 604391, 1988361

Abstract:

A method for positioning side panels during manufacture of a pant includes positioning the side panels on side panel transfer devices. The side panels move perpendicular to a pant transport plane as the pant is transported in the machine direction and the side panels reside on the side panel transfer devices. The side panels can include refastenable fastening components. The method and apparatus can move the fastening components closer together in the cross-machine direction or maintain the fastening components at a constant cross-machine position while the side panels reside on the side panel transfer devices.

US Patent:

6596113, Jul 22, 2003

Filed:

May 15, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/855334

Inventors:

Jason Gene Csida - Reno TX
Lloyd Carl Hietpas - Kimberly WI
Michael Lee Lohoff - Oshkosh WI
Charles Robert Tomsovic - Omro WI
Brian Robert Vogt - Oshkosh WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

B29C 5302

US Classification:

156217, 156204, 156226, 156227, 604385201, 6043853, 60438521, 604390

Abstract:

A panel of a material is transported in operative proximity to an air knife having a nozzle and a curved Coanda surface, such that the panel is folded over the curved Coanda surface as the material is transported in a machine direction. The panel can be folded to a variety of angles and can comprise a refastenable fastening component. Air knives are employed in various methods for folding garment side panels and forming prefastened garments, such as refastenable pants.

US Patent:

6801828, Oct 5, 2004

Filed:

Nov 18, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/299097

Inventors:

Robert L. Popp - Hortonville WI
Kyle S. Allen - Neenah WI
Jamie L. Bell - Brillion WI
Scott G. Chapple - Neenah WI
Tim G. Dollevoet - Kimberly WI
John G. Hein - Appleton WI
Archie Dodds Morgan - Neenah WI
Brian Robert Vogt - Oshkosh WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

G06F 1900

US Classification:

700122, 127131, 162273, 356430, 356431

Abstract:

Systems and methods for guiding one or more web components in connection with a web converting manufacturing process such as that used for manufacturing disposable absorbent garments. Some of the disclosed embodiments include relating inspection data, such as product (or process) attribute data, to data from other manufacturing-related systems. Also disclosed are systems and methods for linking product (or process) attribute data obtained during the manufacturing process with one or more data sources including raw material data, process setting data, product quality data, and/or productivity data. Also disclosed are systems and methods for identifying manufacturing set point changes and automatically implementing such changes and automated web steering changes based on data from one or more inspection systems.

US Patent:

6821370, Nov 23, 2004

Filed:

Nov 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/010110

Inventors:

Charles Robert Tomsovic - Omro WI
Kurt Garrett Krupka - Neenah WI
David Albert Maxton - Menasha WI
Robert Lee Popp - Hortonville WI
Michael William Protheroe - Neenah WI
Timothy Alan Thorson - Appleton WI
Brian Robert Vogt - Oshkosh WI
Michael John Wanner - Appleton WI
Thomas Earl Williamson - Appleton WI

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

A41H 4304

US Classification:

156200, 156202, 156204, 156217, 156226, 156227, 6043853, 604390, 493450

Abstract:

A method for positioning side panels during manufacture of a pant includes positioning the side panels within fluid flow devices. The side panels can move parallel or perpendicular to a pant transport plane as the pant is transported in the machine direction and the side panels reside within the fluid flow devices. The side panels can include refastenable fastening components. The method and apparatus can move the fastening components closer together in the cross-machine direction while the side panels reside within the fluid flow devices.

US Patent:

6854624, Feb 15, 2005

Filed:

Jun 6, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/164360

Inventors:

Brian R. Vogt - Oshkosh WI, US
Robert Lee Popp - Hortonville WI, US
Larry D. Primeau - DePere WI, US
Jack L. Couillard - Menasha WI, US
John P. Hillmer - Neenah WI, US
David A. Maxton - Menasha WI, US
Kurt G. Krupka - Hortonville WI, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

A41H033/00

US Classification:

223 37

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for folding garments is suitable for use with garments having discrete mechanical fastening components and suitable for the manufacture of prefastened and refastenable garments. The garments or other discrete articles define leading and trailing halves with opposed side panels. A chassis portion and side panels of the garments can be controlled during folding by providing a three piece vacuum puck design and/or a channeled transfer plate as well as a layer of air under the leading side panels.

US Patent:

6885451, Apr 26, 2005

Filed:

Jul 31, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/210675

Inventors:

Brian R. Vogt - Oshkosh WI, US
Charles R. Tomsovic - Omro WI, US
Jason G. Csida - Reno TX, US
Mike L. Lohoff - Oshkosh WI, US
Dale H. Damsteegt - Oshkosh WI, US
Joseph J. Gimenez - Appleton WI, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

G01N021/84

US Classification:

356431, 356615

Abstract:

A system and process for inspecting an underlying edge of a composite article, such as a disposable absorbent article. The article has first and second panels in at least partially opposed, overlapping engagement with each other. The process and system determine whether the panels of the article are present and/or properly positioned. Also disclosed is a process and system for detecting whether one or more components are present and/or properly positioned in the composite article by use of infrared radiation. Also disclosed is a process and system for defining a window in an image of the article, scanning the defined window to determine a position of the edge and redefining the window in the event that the edge is not located within the defined window during scanning of the defined window.

US Patent:

6888143, May 3, 2005

Filed:

Jul 31, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/209751

Inventors:

Brian R. Vogt - Oshkosh WI, US
Clinton D. Clark - Menasha WI, US
Jack Couillard - Menasha WI, US
Tim G. Dollevoet - Kimberly WI, US
Joseph J. Gimenez - Appleton WI, US
Matthew L. Koele - Chilton WI, US
Kurt G. Krupka - Hortonville WI, US
Bradley M. Marohl - Neenah WI, US
David A. Maxton - Appleton WI, US
Archie D. Morgan - Neenah WI, US
Robert L. Popp - Hortonville WI, US
Michael W. Protheroe - Neenah WI, US
Steven L. Schnasse - Neenah WI, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

G01J005/02

US Classification:

2503411, 2503416, 2503418

Abstract:

In a method and apparatus for making and inspecting pre-fastened articles, such as disposable training pants, having at least two generally flexible elements capable of connection with each other during initial assembly of the article, the elements are arranged in overlapping relationship with each other and connected together to define an engagement seam of the article. The article is arranged to define an interior space thereof whereby the interior space is bounded in part by the engagement seam. The elements are irradiated at the engagement seam by a radiation source within the interior space of the article and an image of the irradiated engagement seam is captured by an image capturing device. In one embodiment, the image capturing device is positioned within the interior space of the article and the radiation source is either within the interior space or exterior of the article.

US Patent:

6900450, May 31, 2005

Filed:

Jul 31, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/210338

Inventors:

Joseph J. Gimenez - Appleton WI, US
Tim G. Dollevoet - Kimberly WI, US
Brian R. Vogt - Oshkosh WI, US
Clinton D. Clark - Reno TX, US

Assignee:

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah WI

International Classification:

G01N021/86

US Classification:

25055929, 2505594

Abstract:

A method and apparatus which determine the location of one component on an article relative to a datum position on the article at a first location in the manufacturing process and then subsequently locating the datum position on the article at a second location in the manufacturing process and determining if the distance from another component to the datum position. The location of two components relative to one another can be determined by comparing their positions relative to the datum position. In a manufacturing process for producing articles such as children's training pants, cameras and a radiation source can be utilized to determine the positions of fastening components on the training pants when they are hidden within the pants.