Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for forming a non-woven pad of fibrous material is provided in which highly moisture-absorbent particles and fibers of thermoplastic material are intermixed with the fibrous material throughout one or more predetermined portions of the thickness of the non-woven pad while maintaining other portions of the thickness of the pad substantially free of highly moisture-absorbent particles and/or thermoplastic fiber material. The non-woven pad is formed on one side of a conveyor moving through a forming chamber which has a duct connected to a source of vacuum operable to draw fibrous material injected into the chamber onto the conveyor. One dispenser discharges the highly moisture-absorbent material at a predetermined location relative to the fibrous material being drawn onto the conveyor, and at least one other dispenser discharges the thermoplastic fiber material into the chamber at a location to intermix the thermoplastic fiber material with the fibrous material and highly moisture-absorbent material being drawn onto the conveyor at the predetermined location, and/or to intermix the thermoplastic fiber materials with the fibrous material in areas of the thickness of the non-woven pad on one or both sides of the highly moisture-absorbent material.

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First Claim