Method and apparatus for applying elastic parts under tension to an advancing carrier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9737442-B2
Application number	US-201615168655-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2016
Priority date	Jun 2, 2015
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to assembling, advancing, reorienting, and/or transferring stretched elastic parts during the assembly of absorbent articles. As described herein, a transfer assembly reorients a stretched elastic part from a first orientation, wherein the direction of stretch is generally parallel to the machine direction, to a second orientation, wherein the direction of stretch is generally perpendicular to the machine direction. The reoriented elastic part is then transferred to a carrier while maintaining the stretched condition of the elastic part. The orientation and/or configuration of vacuum apertures in a carrier surface relative to the direction of stretch of the elastic part and relative to the machine direction helps to prevent the elastic part from contracting, while at the same time helps to allow the elastic part to slide off the carrier surface without snagging and/or sticking to aperture perimeter edges.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for transporting a discrete elastic part to a carrier, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a frame comprising a first axis of rotation;
providing a transfer member rotatably connected with the frame, the transfer member comprising a carrier surface, a first elongate aperture in the carrier surface, and a second elongate aperture in the carrier surface, the first and second elongate apertures each comprising a side edge and an end edge, wherein the side edge is longer than the end edge;
rotating the transfer member about the first axis of rotation in a machine direction;
rotating the carrier surface about a second axis to a first orientation wherein the side edges of the first and second apertures extend generally perpendicular to the machine direction;
positioning the discrete elastic part in a stretched condition on the carrier surface, wherein the carrier surface is in the first orientation;
forcing a first portion of the discrete elastic part into the first aperture and a second portion of the discrete elastic part into the second aperture to counteract contraction of the discrete elastic part between the side edge of the first aperture and the side edge of the second aperture;
rotating the carrier surface of the transfer member and the discrete elastic part about the second axis of rotation to place the carrier surface in a second orientation wherein the side edges of the first and second apertures extend generally parallel to the machine direction; and
sliding the discrete elastic part over the end edges of the first and second apertures in the carrier surface of the transfer member onto a carrier while the carrier surface is in the second orientation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of positioning the discrete elastic part in a stretched condition on the carrier surface further comprises the step of advancing a continuous elastic substrate onto the carrier surface of the transfer member and cutting the discrete part from the continuous elastic substrate.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of advancing the carrier surface of the transfer member at a first speed and advancing the carrier at a second speed adjacent the carrier surface while sliding the discrete part over the end edges of the first and second apertures.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second speed is greater than the first speed.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of forcing a first portion of the discrete elastic part into the first aperture further comprises the step of applying a vacuum pressure to the first aperture.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the side edge of the first aperture is straight.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the end edge of the first aperture is curved.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the end edge of the first aperture is chamfered.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a length of the side edge to a length of the end edge is equal to or greater than about 6.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carrier comprises an advancing substrate.

11. A method for transporting a discrete part to a carrier, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a transfer member comprising a carrier surface, a first elongate aperture in the carrier surface, and a second elongate aperture in the carrier surface, the first and second elongate apertures each comprising a perimeter defining a maximum width W and a maximum length L, wherein the maximum length L is greater than the maximum width W, and
advancing the transfer member in a machine direction;
positioning a discrete part in a stretched condition on the carrier surface of the transfer member while the carrier surface is in a first orientation wherein the maximum widths W of the first and second elongate apertures extend generally parallel to the machine direction;
forcing a first portion of the discrete part into the first aperture and a second portion of the discrete part into the second aperture to counteract contraction of the discrete part between the first aperture and the second aperture;
rotating the discrete part and the carrier surface about a first axis to place the carrier surface in a second orientation wherein the maximum length L of the elongate aperture extends generally parallel to the machine direction; and
transferring the discrete part from the carrier surface of the transfer member to a carrier while the carrier surface of the transfer member is in the second orientation.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of advancing the transfer member further comprises the step of rotating the transfer member about a second axis.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the perimeter of the first aperture comprises first and second opposing side edges and first and second opposing end edges, wherein the first and second side edges are longer than the first and second end edges.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first and second end edges are curved and the wherein the first and second side edges are straight.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein a ratio of the maximum length L of the first aperture to the maximum width of the first aperture is equal to or greater than about 6.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of positioning the discrete part in a stretched condition on the carrier surface further comprises the step of advancing a continuous substrate onto the carrier surface of the transfer member and cutting the discrete part from the continuous substrate.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of transferring the discrete part from the carrier surface further comprises advancing the carrier surface of the transfer member at a first speed and advancing the carrier at a second speed, wherein the second speed is greater than the first speed.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Findley Daniel Patrick
• Eckstein Joseph Allen

Classifications

• B65G47/848

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

• B65G2201/022

  Flat · CPC title

• A61F13/15764 Primary

  Transferring, feeding or handling devices; Drives · CPC title

• B65G47/244

  by turning them about an axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying plane · CPC title

• B65H2301/332

  Turning, overturning · CPC title