Device for applying segments of absorbent articles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020229986-A1
Application number	US-201816645257-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 18, 2018
Priority date	Sep 20, 2017
Publication date	Jul 23, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device for applying segments of absorbent articles includes a cutting station for cutting a continuous web into segments and an applicator station for applying each segment on a respective absorbent article. A plurality of carrier units, each includes a pad for retaining and transferring a segment from the cutting station to the applicator station. The pad fully rotates about a main axis to transfer the segment from the cutting station to the applicator station and return to the cutting station and, from the cutting station to the applicator station, rotates at least 90° about its axis of rotation to orient the segment transverse to the feed direction of the absorbent article. A first movement member moves one or more first carrier units about the main axis and a second movement member moves one or more second carrier units separately from the first carrier units about the main axis.

First claim

1 . A device for applying segments of absorbent articles, comprising a cutting station for cutting a continuous web into individual segments and an applicator station for applying each individual segment on a respective absorbent article;
the device comprising a plurality of carrier units ( 7 a , 7 b ), each of which comprises a respective pad for retaining and transferring an individual segment from the cutting station to the applicator station; the transfer pad of each carrier unit performs a full rotation about a main axis of rotation to transfer the respective segment from the cutting station to the applicator station and return to the cutting station; the transfer pad of each carrier unit performs a rotation of at least 90° about its own axis of rotation from the cutting station to the applicator station to orient the segment in a direction transverse to the feed direction of the absorbent article; during the rotation of the carrier unit about the main axis of rotation each pad is movable radially towards and away from the main axis of rotation; the device wherein it comprises a first movement member for moving one or more carrier units about the main axis of rotation and a second movement member for moving one or more carrier units, separately from the carrier units moved by the first movement member, about the main axis of rotation.

2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises a first drive unit for driving the first movement member about the main axis of rotation and a second drive unit for driving the second movement member about the main axis of rotation separately from the first drive unit.

3 . The device according to claim 2 , wherein it comprises a control unit configured to control and coordinate the movement of the first and second drive units in such a way that the pad of the respective carrier unit of the first and the second movement member have a first speed of rotation about the main axis of rotation at the cutting station and, at the applicator station, a second speed of rotation about the main axis of rotation preferably different from the first speed of rotation.

4 . The device according to claim 3 , wherein the control unit is configured to be programmed with the law of motion of the first and second drive units.

5 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first movement member comprises a respective drum, which rotates about the main axis of rotation, and the second movement member comprises a respective drum, which rotates about the main axis of rotation and which is housed at least partly in the drum of the first movement member.

6 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first movement member comprises a plurality of spokes, each supporting a respective carrier unit and driven in rotation by the drum.

7 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the second movement member comprises a plurality of spokes, each supporting a respective carrier unit and driven in rotation by the drum.

8 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier units of the first movement member and of the second movement member are mounted in such a way as to be disposed alternately to each other; at the cutting station and at the applicator station, the transit of a carrier unit supported by a spoke of the drum of the first movement member is alternated with the transit of a carrier unit supported by a spoke of the drum of the second movement member.

9 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second movement members each comprise three respective spokes; the spokes of the respective first and second movement members are disposed relative to each other in such a way that two consecutive spokes make an angle of 120°.

10 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein each carrier unit comprises a respective anvil member for cutting the continuous web; with reference to rotation about the main axis, the anvil member is driven as one with the carrier unit.

11 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein, with reference to each carrier unit, the anvil member for cutting the continuous web keeps its position relative to the movement of the respective pad towards and away from the main axis of rotation.

Assignees

• Gdm Spa

Inventors

• Tordini Federico
• Piantoni Matteo

Classifications

• B65H35/08

  from or with revolving, e.g. cylinder, cutters or perforators · CPC title

• B65H2406/331

  arranged for rotating while moving along material to be handled, e.g. rolling on material · CPC title

• A61F13/15764 Primary

  Transferring, feeding or handling devices; Drives · CPC title

• A61F13/15699

  Forming webs by bringing together several webs, e.g. by laminating or folding several webs, with or without additional treatment of the webs · CPC title

• B65H2801/57

  Diaper manufacture · CPC title