Improved transfer head, method and apparatus for transferring a pad from a pick-up location to a drop-off location

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023329921-A1
Application number	US-202118027448-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 23, 2021
Priority date	Sep 24, 2020
Publication date	Oct 19, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

The current invention concerns a transfer head ( 24 ) configured for the transfer of a pad ( 6 ) from a pick-up location ( 26 ) to a drop-off location ( 62 ). According to the invention, the transfer head ( 24 ) comprises a support module ( 28 ) comprising a vacuum manifold, and a core module ( 30 ) comprising an elastic mean ( 32 ). The current invention also concerns a method of transferring pad ( 6 ) from a pick-up location ( 26 ) to a drop-off location ( 62 ). The current invention also concerns an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article using said method of transferring pad ( 6 ) from a pick-up location ( 26 ) to a drop-off location ( 62 ). The invention also concerns a method of manufacturing an absorbent articles using said method of transferring pad ( 6 ).

First claim

1 . A transfer head ( 24 ) configured for the transfer of a pad ( 6 ) from a pick-up location ( 26 ) to a drop-off location ( 62 ), wherein the transfer head ( 24 ) comprises
a support module ( 28 ) comprising a vacuum mean, and a core module ( 30 ) comprising an elastic mean ( 32 ).

2 . Transfer head ( 24 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic mean ( 32 ) comprises an elastic material.

3 . Transfer head ( 24 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the core module ( 30 ) comprises a polyurethane foam and/or polyethylene foam and/or rubber foam and/or polyamide foam.

4 . Transfer head ( 24 ) according to any of the preceding claims wherein, the transfer head ( 24 ) further comprises a coating layer ( 34 ), said coating layer comprising an antiadhesive material, the core module ( 30 ) being arranged between the support module ( 28 ) and the coating layer ( 34 )

5 . Transfer head ( 24 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the antiadhesive material contains polytetrafluoroethylene and/or silicone and/or polyurethane.

6 . Transfer head ( 24 ) according to any of the preceding claims wherein, the transfer head ( 24 ) is elongated in a longitudinal direction (X) defining a first and second longitudinal ends ( 42 a , 42 b ), the transfer head ( 24 ) having a first rounded edge ( 46 a ) at the first longitudinal end ( 42 a ) and/or a second rounded edge ( 46 b ) at the second longitudinal end ( 42 b ).

7 . Transfer head ( 24 ) according to any of the preceding claims wherein, the core module ( 30 ) comprises vacuum holes ( 40 ).

8 . Transfer head ( 24 ) according to claim 7 dependent of claim 4 or 5 , wherein the coating layer ( 34 ) comprises vacuum holes ( 40 ).

9 . Transfer head ( 24 ) according to claim 7 or 8 dependent of claim 6 , wherein, the distribution of vacuum holes is higher at the first rounded edge ( 46 a ) than at the second rounded edge ( 46 b ).

10 . A method of transferring a pad ( 6 ) from a pick-up location ( 26 ) to a drop-off location ( 62 ), the method comprising:
providing a transfer device ( 4 ) having a frame ( 20 ) with a center defining a rotation axis ( 66 ), wherein the transfer device ( 4 ) comprises at least one transfer head ( 24 ) according to any of the preceding claims; circumnavigating the plurality of transfer heads ( 24 ) about the rotation axis ( 66 ) in an orbit, wherein the orbit passes through the pick-up location ( 26 ) and the drop-off location ( 62 ); providing a feeding line ( 68 , 70 ) to convey one or two web lines ( 8 ) proximate to the drop-off location ( 62 ), using one of the plurality of transfer heads ( 24 ) to pick up a pad ( 6 ) at the pick-up location ( 26 ); carrying the pad ( 6 ) on the one of the plurality of transfer heads ( 24 ) between the pick-up location ( 26 ) and the drop-off location ( 62 ); and placing the pad ( 6 ) onto a portion of the web ( 8 ) in the drop-off location ( 62 ).

11 . Method according to claim 10 , wherein the transfer head ( 24 ) provides a negative fluid pressure to the pad ( 6 ) at the pick-up location ( 26 ) and/or a positive fluid pressure to the pad ( 6 ) at the drop-off location ( 62 ).

12 . An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article comprising
a transfer device ( 4 ) for transferring a pad ( 6 ) from a pick-up location ( 26 ) to a drop-off location ( 62 ), said transfer device ( 4 ) having a frame ( 20 ) with a center defining a rotation axis ( 66 ) and at least one arm ( 22 ), wherein the transfer device ( 4 ) comprises at least one transfer head ( 24 ) according to any of the claims 1 to 9 ; a feeding roll ( 11 ) arranged to feed said transfer device ( 4 ) with a continuous web of pad ( 6 ) at the pick-up location ( 26 ), a feeding line ( 68 , 70 ) to convey one or two web lines ( 8 ) proximate to the drop-off location ( 62 ).

13 . Apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the feeding roll ( 11 ) and the transfer device ( 4 ) are arranged in such way that at the pick-up location ( 26 ) the core module ( 30 ) of transfer head ( 24 ) is be deformed by the pad ( 6 ) and/or the feeding roll ( 11 ).

14 . A method of manufacturing an absorbent articles, the method comprising:
forming a continuous web of pads ( 10 ) by assembling a back sheet layer, a top sheet layer and an absorbent core between said back sheet layer and top sheet layer; cutting said continuous web of pads ( 10 ) into individual pads ( 6 ) with separation means ( 12 , 14 ); transferring said pad ( 6 ) from a pick up location ( 26 ) to a drop off location ( 62 ) using the method according 10 or 11 ; cutting the web ( 8 ) with a separation device to form an absorbent article.

Assignees

• Ontex Bv
• Ontex Group Nv

Inventors

• Adams Christian
• Heege Thomas

Classifications

• A61F13/15764 Primary

  Transferring, feeding or handling devices; Drives · CPC title

• B65G47/848

  the article-engaging elements being suction or magnetic means · CPC title

• B65G47/915

  provided with drive systems with rotary movements only · CPC title

• B65G47/252

  about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction · CPC title