Thomas Heege, Düngenheim, Germany; Ainas Weber, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany; Christel Mailinger, Elz, Germany; Manfred Breu, Luxem, Germany; Detlef Vollrath, Treis-Karden, Germany; Alissa Idelson, Rheinbach, Germany; and Christoph Wagner, Mayen, Germany.
Assigned to Ontex BV, Buggenhout, Belgium; and Ontex Group NV, Erembodegem, Belgium.

Filed: 3/20/20
Issued: 10/29/24

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 (1) comprising a plurality of molds (2), each mold (2) comprising a non-porous insert (3) therein, wherein the molds (2) are in fluid communication with an under-pressure source except for said insert (3); ii. feeding a first nonwoven web (4) to said first endless moving surface (1) and over one or more said molds (2); iii. depositing an absorbent material, comprising cellulose fibers and/or superabsorbent polymer particles, over at least a portion of said nonwoven web (4); iv. applying a second nonwoven web (5) directly or indirectly over the absorbent material, or folding said first nonwoven web (4), such to sandwich said absorbent material between upper and lower layers of said nonwoven web(s) (4, 5); v. joining said upper and lower layers together at least in the areas of the nonwoven web(s) (4, 5) corresponding to the insert (3) to form an absorbent core having one or more channels substantially free of absorbent material; characterized in that step v. comprises: (a) selectively applying a first pressure onto the absorbent core only in a central portion thereof and (b) upstream or downstream of the first pressure application, selectively applying a second pressure 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 pressure application and second pressure application are separate along a machine direction (MD).