Uwe Schneider, Cincinnati, OH; Farihah Ibrahim, Cincinnati, OH; Kyle James Raabe, Harrison, OH; Jan Michael Trinkaus, Euskirchen, Germany; Hans Adolf Jackels, Mechernich, Germany; and Gueltekin Erdem, Beijing, China.
Assigned to The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH.

Filed: 10/26/23
Issued: 9/24/24

A method of making a three-dimensional laminate on an absorbent article manufacturing line, the method comprising: conveying a first nonwoven substrate in a machine direction on the absorbent article manufacturing line; conveying a second nonwoven substrate in the machine direction on the absorbent article manufacturing line, wherein the second nonwoven substrate has a central longitudinal axis extending in the machine direction; at least partially overlapping the first nonwoven substrate with the second nonwoven substrate such that the first nonwoven substrate overlaps the central longitudinal axis to form an area of overlap between the first nonwoven substrate and the second nonwoven substrate; providing a first roll having a first rotational axis; and providing a second roll having a second rotational axis, wherein the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis are positioned generally parallel to each other to form a first nip between the first and second rolls; providing a third roll having a third rotational axis, wherein the third rotational axis and the first rotational axis are positioned generally parallel to each other to form a second nip between the first and third rolls; providing a plurality of weld anvils on the third roll; providing a welding unit proximate to the third roll; forming welds in the first and second nonwoven substrates in the area of overlap to join the first and second nonwoven substrates; and creating the three-dimensional laminate of the first and second nonwoven substrates in the first nip by: forming three-dimensional elements in the first and second nonwoven substrates in the area of overlap between the first nonwoven substrate and the second nonwoven substrate; and forming apertures in the first and second nonwoven substrates in the area of overlap in portions free of the three-dimensional elements.