Ventilated vacuum commutation structures

The present invention relates to a device for carrying articles, e.g. absorbent bodies, in the manufacture of disposable absorbent articles, e.g. diapers, garments for controlling uncontrolled physiological activities or sanitary towels for women when moving along a production line.

[0002] In the production and manufacture of disposable products, for example sanitary nappies or diaper pants, it is often necessary to form a product component in one orientation, and then rotate the component by 90 ° so that it is properly oriented to be used in another step in the production process. To this end, various devices have been developed that are known to those experienced in the industry. Examples of such a device are described in US 4 726 876, 4 880 102 and 5 025 910.

[0003] US 2003/0226862 discloses a method for improving control when folding an absorbent garment.

[0004] As discussed above, a typical product that is to be reoriented by the devices of this invention is an absorbent pad. Because the absorbent pads typically contain several bands, absorbent core and several elastic elements, there is a tendency to shrink and distort these assemblies during transfer operations, which greatly complicates the handling of the insert during further processing. The control of the insert is important.

[0005] Other components of disposable products including ears or lengthening lobes require transport and deposition through a gripping vacuum disc. For example, in US Pat. No. 8,016,972, belonging to the same applicant of the present invention, the earhands are separate into individual lugs, and rotated while being retained by the retractable vacuum roller to be applied to the traveling web, e.g. the body web.

[0006] Ear is a component of a diaper that is grasped and wrapped around a user's waist. Typically, the ears are attached to the diaper at the first end and the other free end is usually provided with fixing means, e.g. a pressure sensitive adhesive, or a hook and loop material. When the user grasps the ear and pulls the ear, the elasticity created around the diaper waist area allows the free end to be pulled around the user's waist, and the connection to the diaper. The ear can be rectangular or can be made of irregular profiles.

[0007] Typical retractable vacuum discs used in the prior art have rows of vacuum openings that are fed through drilled ports, each being exposed to the vacuum source by a commutation motion when the ports are traveling to a vacuum zone in a stationary nozzle. This configuration serves to supply the vacuum sequentially to each subsequent row of openings. At high speeds, it has been found that air entering vacuum ports is pulled through the transferring surface of the retractable disc, and air sucked into ports can adversely affect the control of separate components by causing displacement, corrugation or other loss of full control.

Summary of the Invention [0008] According to the present invention, there is provided a structure for retaining a disposable product or part of a disposable product, as defined in the appended claim 1.

[0009] The device according to the present invention is a ventilated retractable disc for separate elements, for example a disposable diaper part during the manufacturing process.

[0010] The retractable disc receives the product from the first conveyer means, and deposits the article on another conveyor means.

[0011] The retractable disc is vented to provide a minimized destructive air flow. Instead of drawing air from the edge and through the surface of the retaining disc transferring the product, the air can reach vacuum ports from the bottom that transfers the surface of the retaining disc, proximally to the vacuum ports.

Brief description of drawings [0012]

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view, shown in the form of a simplified transferring insert of an assembly comprising an impinging puck from the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective, fragmentary, schematic view showing respective devices in an outline and illustrating the path of movement of separate pieces, e.g. movable inserts according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a non-ventilated retractable disc according to the prior art;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a ventilated retractable disc according to the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of a ventilated retractable disc according to the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view from above of a ventilated retractable disc according to the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view from below of a ventilated receiving disk according to the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a top view of a ventilated retractable disc according to the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a bottom view of a ventilated retractable disc according to the present invention;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a ventilated retractable disc;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view from below of the retractable roller shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of an additional alternative embodiment of a ventilated retractable disc;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view from below of the retractable roller shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a front view of a rotating transmission body of rotatable ventilated retractable rollers;

Fig. 15 is a drum with vacuum ports with ear retention parts of prior art;

Fig. 16 is a side view of the prior art vacuum drum;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the ventilated coating structure of the present invention for mounting to a drum to form a continuous surface of a ventilated drum;

Figs. 18a and 18b are perspective views, with the part distributed, of the assembled ventilated coating structures of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a front view of the assembled ventilated coating structures of Fig. 17 showing the vacuum manifolds adjacent to both sides of the assembled drum, and ventilation provided by the surface of the coating (outside the product contact area (s));

Fig. 20 is a perspective rear view of an alternative embodiment of a ventilated shell structure with an embedded ventilation and pressure commutation design;

Fig. 21 is a perspective view from above of the ventilated shell structure of Fig. 20;

Figs. 22a and 22b are perspective views, with the part distributed, of the assembled ventilated shell structures of Fig. 20;

Fig. 23 is a front view of the assembled ventilated shell structures of Fig. 20 showing the vacuum manifolds adjacent to both sides of the assembled drum, and ventilation provided by the surface of the coating (outside the product contact area (s));

Fig. 24 is a top perspective view of a second alternative ventilated shell structure according to the present invention;

Fig. 25 is a perspective view from below of the ventilated shell structure of Fig. 24;

Fig. 26 is a plan view of the ventilated shell structure of Fig. 24;

Fig. 27 is a top perspective view of a third alternative ventilated shell structure according to the present invention showing a configuration of vacuum ports in a pattern arrangement;

Fig. 28 is a perspective view from below of the ventilated shell structure of Fig. 27;

Fig. 29 is a top view of the ventilated shell structure of Fig. 27.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment [0013] Although the disclosure herein is detailed and accurate to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments disclosed in this document only illustrate an invention that can be embodied in other specific designs. Although a preferred embodiment has been described, details can be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.

[0014] Referring in more detail to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a device 10 that carries retractable disks or transfer heads 16 from the prior art. The apparatus 10 is adapted to receive a plurality of products 14 from a feed conveyor or a vacuum drum (not shown) to an insert rotating device 12 that includes a plurality of radially extending transfer heads 16.

[0015] The place where the products 14 are received from a point at the entrance to the retracting discs 16 is known from the picking point. The place where the articles 14 are deposited from the retractable discs 16 into the drum or conveyor 20 at the outlet is known as the laying point.

[0016] The insert rotation device 12 may be, for example, a rotatable insert rotation member of the type more fully described in US 5,025,910. The devices 14 may be of any type, but are typically absorbent, ear or extension panels. During manufacture, each of them requires transport and embedding through the gripping disc a vacuum, and sometimes the rotation or reorientation of the separate element is also desirable before being deposited on another part of the absorbent article. Such rotating insert devices 12 are particularly needed and are adapted for use in connection with the manufacture and packaging of sanitary napkins and absorbent insoles that are used in the folding of disposable garments, for example, clothing to prevent uncontrolled physiological activities for adults or training pants for children. Figure 1 shows products 14 that are successively and individually picked up by the transfer heads 16 of the transfer device 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the articles 14 are taken from the vacuum drum (not shown). Various standard conveyor and direction changing devices, e.g. rollers, can be used when feeding a web and do not form part of this invention.

[0017] After rotation of the articles 14 by 90 degrees, they are deposited at a point of arrangement on a second vacuum source, for example a drum 20. A conveyor 28 or similar device transports products 14 for further processing or to a packaging device according to the specific application. Alternatively, the seating point can be, for example, a connecting point for the ear or an extension piece to the body web, e.g. shown and described in US Pat. No. 8,016,972.

[0018] Referring to Fig. 2, a schematic description of the path of movement of the web 22 and the resultant inserts 14 that are formed therefrom is shown. In this description, various devices have been removed, but are partly outlined.

[0019] As shown, the product is rotated 90 ° from the picking point to the pivot point, and is also stretched when it stays on the retractable disk 16. In some circumstances, however, it is not necessary to turn the product between picking up and laying, depending on the pattern the manufactured product or the manufacturing technique used.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 3, a perspective view of the prior art embodiment of the retractable roll disk 16 of the prior art is shown. At high speeds, it is found that the air entering the vacuum ports 32 is pulled through the productive surface 36 of the retracting disc 16, and the air sucked into the ports 32 can adversely affect the control of the separate components by causing displacement, folding or other loss of total control.

[0021] Referring now to Fig. 4, a perspective view of one embodiment of a ventilated retractable disc 40 according to the present invention is shown. The air is sucked into ports 32 for commutation via commutation wires 38. The conduits 38 preferably support a radially shaped ventilated structure conveying the product 36, although flat retractable disks can also be used. A plurality of air inlets 34 are arranged around ports 32 for underpressure commutation. The air vents 34 receive the air drawn in through the sides 43 of the ventilated retractable disc 40, and drawn in through the air surrounding the commutation conduits 38. The ventilated retaining disc 40 preferably has no solid side walls 30, as shown in the retractable disks in the prior art, such as in Fig. 3, allowing air to pass through the unshielded sides 42 into the intrinsic disc 40 and through the air vents 34 not covered by a separate piece of material. The air enters the internal vacuum ports 44 from the bottom of the structure carrying the product 36, and the air is sucked into the nearby negative pressure ports 32.

[0022] Commutation wires 38 are sufficiently rigid to support the ventilated article transfer structure and rigid enough to withstand refraction under the applied vacuum. Although the commutation wires 38 are depicted as narrow square-shaped tubes leading to small and circular ports 32 for underpressure commutation, commutation tubing 38, air-vents 34, and ports 32 for underpressure commutation can take different cross-sectional shapes, for example, star shape, circular, oval, rectangular, etc.

[0023] On the surface of the structure 36 carrying the article there is arranged a pattern of port patterns 32 of the negative pressure through which the internal vacuum acts by pulling the inserts 14 towards the surface. It is obvious that this technology can be used in the industry for carrying and placing many different types of disposable products as well as in other industries.

[0024] Laser sintering of a metal is a good way to make products according to the present invention.

Referring now to Figure 5, the vacuum is supplied through internal vacuum ports 44 of the commutation conduits 38 in a manner as e.g. shown in US 7 770 712. Commutation wires 38 extend between and are connected to a vacuum port plate 46. and a structure transferring the product. Together, the commutation conduits 38, the negative pressure port 46 and the structure 36 carrying the product of the retracting roller 16 are rotated and subjected to underpressure as previously described.

[0026] Referring now to Fig. 6, a perspective top view of the structure 36 carrying the retracting disc product 16 is shown. The product transfer structure as described above has a plurality of circular vacuum commutation ports 32 and air vent holes 34, both of which are they can have different shapes, sizes, or distributions. A plurality of clearance holes 52 are shown for mounting the retaining disc 16. As shown in Fig. 7, respective clearance holes 52 on the vacuum port plate 46 for receiving a coupling means (e.g. a screw) through both sets of clearance holes 52, and are used to couple the retractable disc 16 with a receiving surface / device (not shown). Side walls 50 of the vacuum port plate 46, together with a vacuum collector (not shown),

[0027] In the embodiment shown in Figs. 6-9, a plurality of ventilated disks 16 ventilated from the side and top can be connected to one another on a rotatable device (e.g., Fig. 14) in such a way that the product constructions 36 of the retractable discs 16 have a radius around the rotary device. In a preferred embodiment, the product-transferring structures 36 of the inserting rollers 16 are trapezoidal in a top view, and if a flat vacuum port plate 46 is used, the commutation wires 38 will have different lengths to adjust the variable distance between the flat plate 46 of the port and the curved conveying structure. product 36. Since the product-transfer structures 36 are curved, a portion of the commutation wires 38 that come into contact with the product conveyor structures 36 are also curved.

[0028] Referring now to Figs. 10-13, an alternative embodiment of a ventilated retractable disc 234 is shown. As seen from Fig. 14, two types of retractable discs are used, non-rotating retractable discs 234A and rotating retractable discs 234B. Non-rotating retractable discs 234A carry ears (not shown) that do not require rotation, and rotating retractable discs 234B carry ears that need to be turned. When the rotating ear devices 200R and 200L perform their rotation, the ears 12 are withdrawn from the die / cutter station 230/232 of the ear and rotate about the rotation member 200, while each rotating retracting roller 234B also rotates radially as the rotation element is rotated. 200. The ears are then deposited on the body webbing and bonded to it,

Again, in this embodiment, the commutation wires 38 extend between and are connected to the vacuum port plate 130 and the construction transferring the product 36. Together, the commutation wires, the vacuum port plate 46 and the structure transferring the product 36 of the insertion disk 16 are rotated and subjected to underpressure as described earlier. The coupling construction 120 of the rotary body was used to attach to the rotating unit 200.

[0030] Rotation and handling of non-rotating retractable discs 234A and rotating retractable discs 234B are described in application US 12 / 925,033, and in US 8 172 977, 8 106 972, and 7 780 052.

[0031] Referring now to Fig. 15, a vacuum drum with ports (or support shaft) is shown with ear-retained prior art parts. Shown is a support shaft 114 carrying ear-forming material 7 (and then, after separation into individual lugs 8), in outline. The support roller 114 is provided with two negative pressure parts 116 separated by a portion 118 of the central groove. The negative pressure portions 116 are preferably mirror images thereof. The support roller 114 is symmetrical about the central plane through its circumference. Each vacuum portion 116 includes several peripheral rows of circular vacuum openings 24. Each vacuum portion 116 may also include a peripheral groove 120 with an additional circumferential row of vacuum openings 24 located in the circumferential groove 120. [0032] Referring now to Figure 16, the side view of the support device 114 according to the prior art is shown. The vacuum depression 128 includes a plurality of vacuum openings 24 that allow commutation of the negative pressure to the pattern arrangement 126 of vacuum openings of the entire ear, allowing the pattern 126 to be activated at once, as opposed to each row that includes vacuum negative pressure openings 24 ON at once. The negative pressure pattern system 126 is activated using drilled ports 28 that provide negative pressure from the gap 128 to individual openings 24 of pattern layout 126. It should be noted that pattern layout 126 may also be provided with a configuration of compressed openings so that it is also actuated simultaneously with vacuum relief.

[0033] Improvements to the drums in the prior art for carrying either continuous webs or separate pieces such as the lugs 8 of Figs. 15 and 16 are described in Figures 17-29.

[0034] Referring now to Figs. 17-19, a top-ventilated coating 300 of a conveying roll is disclosed from above. Coating 300 is mounted to the rotatable body (not shown) to form a continuous surface of the vented drum. In cases where there are vacuum manifolds 320 adjacent to both sides of the drum (see, e.g., FIG. 19), lateral ventilation is not possible, and thus ventilation is provided by the coating surface 36 outside the product contact area (s). In this embodiment, ventilation ducts 302 are used, preferably on the outer edges from the top of the ventilated sheathing roll 300. The air passes under the surface transferring the product 36 from the ventilation ducts 302 under the surface 36 both to the first zone of air supply vents 34 and ports 32 for commutation, and to a region exclusively for supplying air vents 34. A vacuum is applied from the vacuum collector 320 at the undercoat surface 300, and through the commutation ports 32, as shown in the cross-section in Figure 18B. The arrangement of the air-supply vents 34 and commutation ports 32 may be variable and may have a pattern depending on the configuration of the elements to be conveyed. The ventilated shell 300 includes an embedded ventilation and commutation structure of the vacuum through the product transfer surface. [0035] As shown in Fig. 18A, a plurality of top-coated 300 transfer rollers may be provided to form a vacuum roll or drum. In the embodiment described, four top-ventilated coatings 300 of the transfer roller have been used,

[0036] Figs. 20-23 disclose a top-vented vacuum ring 400 for use in locations where the vacuum manifold 320 adjacent to the sides of the drum formed by the rings 400 excludes side ventilation (see FIG. 23). In this embodiment, a vacuum provided from the sides of the ring 400 through the vacuum commutation channels 402 allows vacuum to be drawn through the commutation ports 32 from the surface of the commutation ports exposed to the inside of the ring 400, and through the ports 32 to the outer surface of the ring 400. air vents 40 are provided on the surface of the ring 400 so that the ring surface includes both ventilation openings 40 and commutation ports 32.

[0037] Figs. 24-26 disclose top and laterally vented plate 500 with a vacuum pattern arrangement similar in design to the retractable discs described earlier. The commutation ports 32 are placed on the article transfer surface 35 coupled to the commutation wires 38. The secondary zone of intensely directed and interconnected ports 37 is also coupled to commutation wires 38 between the article transfer surface 36 and the vacuum port plate 46.

[0038] Figs. 27-29 show a similar vented plate 600 from above and sideways with a vacuum pattern arrangement depicting the configuration of port 32 for negative pressure commutation in the pattern circuit.

[0039] The above description is considered to be merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. In addition, due to the fact that numerous modifications and changes will be apparent to those skilled in the art, it is not desirable to limit the invention to the detailed structure and operation depicted and described. Although a preferred embodiment has been described, details can be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.