A plate configured to contact a web includes a first region having a first characteristic and a second region having a second characteristic different than the first characteristic. The plate has a substantially arcuate wall with an inner surface and an outer surface. A plurality of vacuum holes extends between the inner and outer surfaces and are configured to be in fluid communication with a vacuum source. A vacuum region is adapted to contact the first region of the web and a reduced-vacuum region is adapted to receive the second region of the web. The plurality of vacuum holes are configured such that, when attached to the vacuum source, a vacuum pressure at the vacuum region is greater than a pressure at the reduced-vacuum region so that the first region of the web is held against the plate with a greater force than the second region.

A folding device for a disposable hygiene article includes: a first conveying portion along a first path; a second conveying portion along a second path extending in a direction intersecting with the first path; a folding mechanism to fold the disposable hygiene article between the first and second conveying portions; a driving mechanism connected to the folding component, to drive the folding component by performing reciprocating linear motion along the direction of the second path between a folding and retracted positions; and a guiding mechanism in an extension direction of the first path or by using the first path as a reference, a front end portion of the article to an opposite side of the second conveying portion. The driving mechanism includes at least one pulley directly connected to a servo motor and a synchronous belt wrapped around the outer circumference of the pulleys in a looping path.

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.

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.

A method for manufacturing a sheet-like member, associated with an absorbent article, using a continuous sheet. The method includes a supplying step, a processing step, and a detecting step. In the supplying step, the continuous sheet is supplied by transferring the continuous sheet to a processing section by transporting the continuous sheet in a direction of transport. The processing step is performed at a predetermined position in the direction of transport, and a portion of the continuous sheet which is to be the absorbent article is processed by the processing section at an interval in the direction of transport. In the detecting step, a trace of the processing left on the continuous sheet is detected. In the supplying step, a direction-of-transport tension value of the continuous sheet at a time of transferring the continuous sheet to the processing section is adjusted based on the detection result.

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.

Methods and apparatus for transporting either an entire web or discrete components of disposable products such as diaper components down the machine using mechanical forces to grip the nonwoven web and transfer it from one belt or roll to another without or reducing added vacuum. There is a carrier nonwoven web that goes down the length of the machine and other substrates are added on top of this layer, and the machine provides sufficient gripping to allow transport of diaper components through the fabrication process. Securing and releasing forces are supplied so that the components can be retained at some points and released at others.

A folding device includes a folding mechanism configured to form a first folding line extending from one widthwise end of a sheet, a second folding line extending obliquely from the other widthwise end of the sheet toward an end of the first folding line and a third folding line configured to reverse one widthwise part of the sheet such that one widthwise part of the sheet folded along the second folding line overlaps with another part. The folding mechanism includes a second folding member having a second folding line forming portion configured to form the second folding line. The second folding member is so attached to a conveying mechanism that the second folding line forming portion is movable with respect to the formation positions of the first folding line and the third folding line.

The machine (1; 100) comprises a winding station (3; 101), adapted to receive secondary winding cores (T) coaxial with, and adjacent to, one another. A cutting device (11; 104) is also provided, with a plurality of blades (13; 105), arranged upstream of the winding station (3; 101) with respect to the feeding direction of the web material (N) and adapted to subdivide the web material into plurality of strips (S1-S5) of web material; The machine has a web material evaluation system and a programmable unit (71) for processing data collected by the web material evaluation system.

A method and apparatus for depositing discrete elements on a support element. The discrete elements may be separated from each other or joined to form a continuous web. The discrete elements are fed into a pick-up station defined at a rotor which includes circumferentially adjacent pick-up members. Each discrete element is associated with a respective pick-up member having a first orientation with respect to a respective second axis of rotation. Each pick-up member is moved along the rotation direction towards a release position downstream with an at least partially accelerated or decelerated motion. Each pick-up member is rotated about the respective second axis of rotation until it takes, at the release position, a second orientation. Each discrete element is released on a support element at the release position. Each pick-up member is subsequently moved towards the pick-up station with an at least partially decelerated or accelerated motion.