The present disclosure relates to apparatuses and methods for making tampons including primary and secondary absorbent members. During assembly, primary absorbent members, a continuous length of secondary absorbent members, and a continuous cord are advanced in a machine direction. Leading edges of the primary absorbent members are separated from each other in the machine direction by a pitch distance. Discrete secondary absorbent members are cut from the continuous length of secondary absorbent members. Leading edges of the discrete secondary absorbent members are also separated from each other in the machine direction by the pitch distance. The continuous cord is positioned on a first surface of the secondary absorbent members. And a second surface of a secondary absorbent member is positioned in contact with and in a facing relationship with a primary absorbent member. A thread is sewn through the continuous cord, the secondary absorbent member, and the primary absorbent member.

A conveying apparatus includes: a conveying unit configured to convey a sheet in a conveyance direction along a conveyance path; a sheet holder arranged upstream in the conveyance direction from the conveying unit to rotate around an axis, the axis extending in a first direction intersecting with the conveyance direction; a tensioner arranged between the sheet holder and the conveying unit in the conveyance path and configured to apply tension to the sheet with the sheet being curved; and a first side guide attached to the tensioner and having a first guide surface, the first guide surface spreading along the conveyance direction and a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The tensioner includes an oblique roller configured to guide the sheet to the first guide surface.

A transfer and dispensing apparatus is disclosed for the conveying and separation of packaging material, cushions or pillows when needed by the operator. When a packer working over a conveyor receives a box that requires void fill, an operating switch such as a foot pedal is depressed to dispense pillows from the apparatus and into the box in a connected strip. When the operating switch is released, the apparatus stops dispensing pillows, separates the continuous strip of pillows along a transverse perforation in the strip, and ejects the end of the separated segment. The packer can then complete packing the box by placing the severed end of the pillows into the box, advance to the next box, and repeat the process. The transfer and dispensing apparatus may be positioned in any convenient location including adjacent to, above or attached to the inflation device.

A transfer and dispensing apparatus is disclosed for the conveying and separation of packaging material, cushions or pillows when needed by the operator. When a packer working over a conveyor receives a box that requires void fill, an operating switch such as a foot pedal is depressed to dispense pillows from the apparatus and into the box in a connected strip. When the operating switch is released, the apparatus stops dispensing pillows, separates the continuous strip of pillows along a transverse perforation in the strip, and ejects the end of the separated segment. The packer can then complete packing the box by placing the severed end of the pillows into the box, advance to the next box, and repeat the process. The transfer and dispensing apparatus may be positioned in any convenient location including adjacent to, above or attached to the inflation device.

A system comprising: a source of a tape comprising a material associated with an adhesive and at least one removable liner; an applicator head; a cutting mechanism; at least one drive feeding mechanism configured to index the tape from the source to the applicator head at a controlled rate; wherein the applicator head is controllable to apply the material on a surface or a substrate; and wherein the applicator head comprises a cutting mechanism configured to sever the material while leaving the at least one removable liner intact.

A printing device includes: a substrate feed-out section; a substrate transport section; a storage which stores the width size of the substrate; a skew correction section including a skew sensor which detects the skew of the substrate, and adapted to correct the skew of the substrate with reference to an output of the skew sensor and the substrate width size stored in the storage; an image recording section which performs an image recording operation on the substrate; a first sensor which detects a width size-changed portion of the substrate upstream of the skew correction section with respect to the transport direction; and a controller. Upon the detection of the width size-changed portion, the controller stops the substrate skew correction while continuously transporting the substrate. After the width size-changed portion of the substrate reaches a reference position downstream of the skew correction section, the controller restarts the skew correction.

A roll-to-roll web processing system including a web supply roller operative for supplying web material, at least one upstream intermediate roller for receiving the web material from the web supply roller and directing the web material along at least a first web pathway portion, a processing subsystem arranged along at least a second web pathway portion, at least one downstream intermediate roller for receiving the web material from the processing subsystem and directing the web material along a third web pathway portion, and a web take up roller operative for taking up the web material, the first, second and third web pathway portions at least partially delimiting an internal volume interior of the at least one upstream intermediate roller, the processing subsystem and the at least one downstream intermediate roller and the web supply roller and the web take up roller being located in the internal volume.

A medium processing device includes: a drum that is rotatably supported, that rotates around a rotation axis, and that winds a medium around a peripheral side surface thereof; a first tape that winds the medium sandwiched between the peripheral side surface and the first tape, accompanying rotation of the drum; a movable guide that is movable following a drum diameter of the drum, which changes depending on a winding amount of the medium, and that guides the medium; and a first static electricity elimination section that is provided at the movable guide, that abuts the first tape, and that performs static electricity elimination of an electric charge of the charged first tape.

A feeding unit to feed a component in an automatic manufacturing machine; has: at least one holding head designed to receive and hold the component; a closed curved guide arranged in a fixed position along an application path; an equipment supporting the holding head and provided with at least one slide coupled to the guide by a plurality of wheels; a linear electric motor, and a movable slider electro-magnetically coupled to the stator and is rigidly connected to the slide. The guide has, on the surface in contact with the wheels, a first transverse profile having a concavity or a convexity; the wheels have, on the surface in contact with the guide, a second transverse profile, which has a convexity or a concavity, and generates, with the first profile, a shape coupling between the guide and the wheels, which forbids a transverse movement of the slide relative to the guide.

A feeding unit to feed a component in an automatic manufacturing machine; has: at least one holding head designed to receive and hold the component; a closed curved guide arranged in a fixed position along an application path; an equipment supporting the holding head and provided with at least one slide coupled to the guide by a plurality of wheels; a linear electric motor, and a movable slider electro-magnetically coupled to the stator and is rigidly connected to the slide. The guide has, on the surface in contact with the wheels, a first transverse profile having a concavity or a convexity; the wheels have, on the surface in contact with the guide, a second transverse profile, which has a convexity or a concavity, and generates, with the first profile, a shape coupling between the guide and the wheels, which forbids a transverse movement of the slide relative to the guide.