A method for inspecting absorbent articles is provided. The inspection is performed using an inspection algorithm generated with a convolutional neural network having convolutional neural network parameters. The convolutional neural network parameters are generated by a training algorithm. Based on the inspection, characteristics of the absorbent articles, such as defects, can be identified. Absorbent articles having identified characteristics can be rejected, or other actions can be taken.

Disclosed herein are apparatus, systems and methods of measuring the weight and distribution of the fluff pulp and super absorbent polymer (SAP) or absorbent gelling material (AGM) of absorbent articles. The apparatus may be located at a position after the absorbent cores are formed. Each absorbent article is passed between the light emitter and the camera as well as between the radio transmitter and the radio detector. The camera and radio detector receive the signal transmitted by the light emitter and the radio transmitter respectively through the absorbent articles. The encoder synchronizes the transmission of data by the camera and the radio receiver to the movement of the web. The computer receives the signal data from radio detector and the image data from the camera from each absorbent article and uses the data to determine at least the weight of the fluff pulp and SAP/AGM in the absorbent core.

The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for monitoring substrates advancing along a converting apparatus in a machine direction. The apparatus may include an analyzer connected with a line scan camera through a communication network. The analyzer may be configured as a field programmable gate array, an application specific integrated circuit, or a graphical processing unit. In addition, the line scan camera may include a linear array of pixel data and define a linear field of view, wherein the line scan camera is arranged such that the linear field of view extends in the machine direction. The apparatus may further include an illumination source that illuminates the linear field of view. In operation, the substrate is advanced in the machine direction such that a portion of the substrate advances through the linear field of view. In turn, the apparatus may be configured to perform various monitoring and/or control functions.

The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for rejecting defective absorbent articles from a converting line. At a downstream portion of a converting process, a continuous length of absorbent articles may be subjected to a final knife and cut to create discrete absorbent articles advancing on a first carrier. From the first carrier, the discrete absorbent articles may be transferred to a transfer apparatus, which in turn, transfers the discrete absorbent articles to a second carrier. The transfer apparatus may include carrier members that orbit around an axis of rotation and may be adapted to receive the absorbent articles from the first carrier and transfer the absorbent articles to the second carrier. Defective absorbent articles may be detected by an inspection system, which may be operably connected with the transfer apparatus and/or the first carrier to remove the defective absorbent articles from the converting process.

The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for rejecting defective absorbent articles from a converting line. At a downstream portion of a converting process, a continuous length of absorbent articles may be subjected to a final knife and cut to create discrete absorbent articles advancing on a first carrier. From the first carrier, the discrete absorbent articles may be transferred to a transfer apparatus, which in turn, transfers the discrete absorbent articles to a second carrier. The transfer apparatus may include carrier members that orbit around an axis of rotation and may be adapted to receive the absorbent articles from the first carrier and transfer the absorbent articles to the second carrier. Defective absorbent articles may be detected by an inspection system, which may be operably connected with the transfer apparatus and/or the first carrier to remove the defective absorbent articles from the converting process.

A production for absorbent sanitary articles and related control method. In relation to a determined time period of operation of the production line, discard event data is obtained and processed in order to classify discard events according to their incidence on the total number of absorbent sanitary articles discarded during said determined time period and a limited number of discard events is selected. Stop event data is obtained in order to classify stop events according to their incidence on a total stop time of the production line during said determined time period and a limited number of stop events is identified. Discard root causes for the selected limited number of discard events and stop root causes for the selected limited number of stop events are identified. An action is defined to be implemented with reference to at least one of the stop root causes and the discard root causes.

An assembly and method is provided for scarfing a fibrous material with an assembly that provides automated control of a scarf gap. The assembly includes a moveable mount, a driven scarfing roll coupled to the moveable mount, and a scarfing roll lifting assembly coupled to the moveable mount. A first sensor senses contact between the scarfing roll and an external surface and a second sensor senses position of the scarfing roll when information is received from the first sensor that contact of the scarfing roll with the external surface has occurred. A control unit operates the scarfing roll lifting assembly to position the scarfing roll at a desired scarf gap measured from the contact position. The scarfing roll is positioned based on an identified high point of the external surface, such as the external forming surface of a forming drum.

An assembly and method is provided for scarfing a fibrous material with an assembly that provides automated control of a scarf gap. The assembly includes a moveable mount, a driven scarfing roll coupled to the moveable mount, and a scarfing roll lifting assembly coupled to the moveable mount. A first sensor senses contact between the scarfing roll and an external surface and a second sensor senses position of the scarfing roll when information is received from the first sensor that contact of the scarfing roll with the external surface has occurred. A control unit operates the scarfing roll lifting assembly to position the scarfing roll at a desired scarf gap measured from the contact position. The scarfing roll is positioned based on an identified high point of the external surface, such as the external forming surface of a forming drum.