Matthew Gerstle, Appleton, WI; Russell P. George, Appleton, WI; David J. Krysiak, Menasha, WI; Katie A. Boland, Neenah, WI; Adrienne R. Loyd, Neenah, WI; Ruth A. McVettie, Freedom, WI; Steven J. Shimon, Hilbert, WI; and Brian L. Alberts, Menasha, WI. Assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI.
Filed: 9/7/11
Issued: 8/4/15

Patented is a process for manufacturing a package of folded absorbent garments, the process comprising: manufacturing a plurality of absorbent cores, each core defining a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, each core defining two longitudinally opposed end edges and two side edges that extend between and interconnect the two end edges, each absorbent core defining a longitudinal centerline positioned midway between the two side edges, each core having two transversely opposed absorbent ears, each ear defining a first transverse position; embossing two fold lines into each core, each fold line defining a fold region; sandwiching each core between a topsheet layer and a backsheet layer to define a plurality of absorbent assemblies, each absorbent assembly having a front end and a back end; providing a front panel web that defines a front panel web waist edge and a front panel web leg edge; providing a back panel web that defines a back panel web waist edge and a back panel web leg edge, the back panel web being spaced apart from the front panel web; attaching the front end of each absorbent assembly to the front panel web and attaching the back end of each absorbent assembly to the back panel web; folding each absorbent assembly along a crotch fold line to define a crotch fold and so as to bring the front panel web waist edge into close proximity with the back panel web waist edge; cutting both the front panel web and the back panel web at a series of cuts spaced apart in a direction of web travel to define a series of discrete absorbent garments, each article having a front panel, a back panel, and an absorbent assembly; connecting each front panel to each back panel along a pair of side seams to define a series of pant-like garments, each article defining a waist opening; folding the core of each pant-like garment along the fold region of each fold line to create a plurality of folded absorbent garments, such that each ear assumes a second transverse position, the second transverse position of each ear being closer to the longitudinal centerline than the first transverse position of such ear; and placing the plurality of folded absorbent garments into a container.