A web cutting system is provided for use with a single transfer insert placement mechanism having at least one puck for transferring a discrete web and a continuous web feeding mechanism for feeding a continuous web wherein first and second rollers having substantially parallel axes and being aligned with one another form a nip at their juncture, an anvil is attached to one roller, a die is attached to the other roller, a vacuum source is coupled to one of the rollers, a plurality of vacuum apertures is formed in the same roller. One of the rollers is positioned adjacent to the single transfer insert placement mechanism and to the continuous web feeding mechanism. The continuous web is applied to one roller and at least one discrete web is transferred from the puck to the same roller after which a die cutting process of the webs occurs at the nip.

A lamination system includes a film supply, a non-woven material supply, and a laminator. The laminator causes a film from the film supply to be laminated to a sheet from the non-woven material supply to establish a laminated sheet.

A machine for making absorbent sanitary articles includes a feed conveyor on which a continuous web of material for making the articles is advanced along a feed line in a first direction. A forming and application unit forms and applies by which at least one pair of accessory elements for each article and includes a device for feeding a continuous succession of accessory elements and a conveying unit. The conveying unit includes a conveyor roller for the continuous succession of accessory elements, and a separating device defined by a first and a second spacer roller which are substantially tangent to the conveyor roller at a first and a second pickup station, respectively. The first and the second spacer roller have retaining and alternate movement devices including respective pickup pads which are slidable along a second direction and which are driven by a respective linear electric motor.

A machine for making absorbent sanitary articles includes a feed conveyor on which a continuous web of material for making the articles is advanced along a feed line in a first direction. A forming and application unit forms and applies by which at least one pair of accessory elements for each article and includes a device for feeding a continuous succession of accessory elements and a conveying unit. The conveying unit includes a conveyor roller for the continuous succession of accessory elements, and a separating device defined by a first and a second spacer roller which are substantially tangent to the conveyor roller at a first and a second pickup station, respectively. The first and the second spacer roller have retaining and alternate movement devices including respective pickup pads which are slidable along a second direction and which are driven by a respective linear electric motor.

A method of transporting single-cut sheets cut from a continuous sheet for absorbent articles includes transporting the sheets by bonding an upstream end of each sheet to an outer surface of a first rotating body by adhesive; and transporting the sheets by holding the sheets on an outer surface of a second rotating body rotating faster than the first body, the sheets being transported from the first body in a state in which the upstream end of each sheet is on the first body, a portion of each sheet on the second body sliding relative to the outer surface of the second body such that each sheet is transported at the peripheral speed of the first body, after the adhesive is separated and the upstream end moves to the second body, the second body transporting the sheets at the peripheral speed of the second body.

A method of transporting single-cut sheets cut from a continuous sheet for absorbent articles includes transporting the sheets by bonding an upstream end of each sheet to an outer surface of a first rotating body by adhesive; and transporting the sheets by holding the sheets on an outer surface of a second rotating body rotating faster than the first body, the sheets being transported from the first body in a state in which the upstream end of each sheet is on the first body, a portion of each sheet on the second body sliding relative to the outer surface of the second body such that each sheet is transported at the peripheral speed of the first body, after the adhesive is separated and the upstream end moves to the second body, the second body transporting the sheets at the peripheral speed of the second body.

Methods and apparatuses for moving and/or transferring discrete articles are described. In particular, the methods and apparatuses relate to flexible arrangements to move and/or transfer discrete articles that vary in size and/or shape with minimal to no change in equipment.

Methods and apparatuses for moving and/or transferring discrete articles are described. In particular, the methods and apparatuses relate to flexible arrangements to move and/or transfer discrete articles that vary in size and/or shape with minimal to no change in equipment.

This disclosure relates generally to an assembly and process for preparing affixing tape. The disclosure also relates to an affixing assembly and process using the prepared tape. The tape can be used, for example, to affix plastic items to mailing pieces. The assemblies and processes disclosed herein provide for added throughput, less down time, higher quality of parts and production control.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transporting a discrete element. A preferably rotatably driven vacuum commutation zone (or internal vacuum manifold), preferably internal to a preferably independently driven porous vacuum roll or drum is disclosed. The vacuum manifold applies vacuum through pores in the driven porous vacuum roll or puck in order to hold material against an external surface of the vacuum roll or puck. By independently controlling the vacuum commutation zone and the driven porous surface, unique motion profiles of the vacuum commutation zone relative to the driven porous surface can be provided. Micro vacuum commutation port structures are also disclosed.