Adam Schoultz, Neenah, WI; and Brian Rhodes, Larsen, WI.
Assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI.

Filed: 5/18/12
Issued: 6/6/17

Apparatus for attaching discrete segments together to form a continuous web, the apparatus comprising: a first segment transfer device adapted to receive a first continuous web at a first pick-up location and to release a plurality of first discrete segments cut from the first web at an application location, the first segment transfer device having a first speed profile, the first segment transfer device having a plurality of transfer elements, each transfer element having a first leading edge and a first trailing edge; and a second segment transfer device adapted to receive a second continuous web at a second pick-up location and to release a plurality of second discrete segments cut from the second web at the application location such that each of the second discrete segments is attached to and interconnects two of the first discrete segments, the second segment transfer device having a second speed profile that is different than the first speed profile, the second segment transfer device having a plurality of transfer elements, each transfer element of the second segment transfer device having a second leading edge and a second trailing edge, wherein each first leading edge of the transfer elements of the first segment transfer device aligns with one of the second trailing edges of the transfer elements of the second segment transfer device at the application location.