The transport method includes a speed varying step of varying speed of a first holding portion between a receiving position and a predetermined relay position by means of a speed change mechanism; a control step of controlling speed of a servo motor for driving rotation of second holding portions, such that speed of the second holding portions becomes a receiving speed at which the second holding portions is able to receive the absorbent body from the first holding portion at the relay position and becomes a predetermined transfer speed at a transfer position, and such that the second holding portions arrive at the relay position and at the transfer position at a predetermined cycle; and a speed changing step of changing the transfer speed while the cycle is maintained.

Systems and methods for folding and stacking fanfold corrugated board material. A system may include a rotatable member (e.g., a wheel) having a number of head pieces disposed thereon. Each head piece has a vacuum setting that can be used to pick up a portion of a length of fanfold and hold it while the rotatable member rotates around its axis and a second blower setting that blows the portion of the length of fanfold that was picked up and rotated around the rotatable member down onto a stack of fan fold. Such a system is capable of forming regular and consistent stacks of fanfold material efficiently and cost effectively without the need for significant human intervention.

Maker machine to manufacture hygiene absorbent articles and having: a feeding line which feeds a continuous strip of impermeable material, which is intended to define a succession of sheets of impermeable material; and at least one operating unit which feeds a corresponding component of the hygiene absorbent articles to the sheets of impermeable material carried by the feeding line by way of an application device; the application device has at least one sucking pick-up head and a conveyor provided with an annular guide which is arranged in fixed position along an application path, a slide which supports the sucking pick-up head and is coupled to the guide so as to freely slide along the guide, and a linear electric motor, which has a stator that is arranged in a fixed position along the guide and a mobile slider which is electro-magnetically coupled to the stator so as to receive, from the stator a driving force and is rigidly connected to the slide.

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.

Systems and methods utilizing stationary and/or moveable cutting components provide limited interference with web processing operations, such as pad spin and pitch alteration. Heat, laser, fluid, or mechanical cutting operations may be used, including respectively, a heated element (e.g., wire, ribbon, bar, or embossing or perforating element) that may be triggered inductively, water or steam jets, or improved knife/anvil cooperation.

Maker machine to manufacture hygiene absorbent articles and having: a feeding line which feeds a continuous strip of impermeable material, which is intended to define a succession of sheets of impermeable material; and at least one operating unit which feeds a corresponding component of the hygiene absorbent articles to the sheets of impermeable material carried by the feeding line by way of an application device; the application device has at least one sucking pick-up head and a conveyor provided with an annular guide which is arranged in fixed position along an application path, a slide which supports the sucking pick-up head and is coupled to the guide so as to freely slide along the guide, and a linear electric motor, which has a stator that is arranged in a fixed position along the guide and a mobile slider which is electro-magnetically coupled to the stator so as to receive, from the stator a driving force and is rigidly connected to the slide.

A method for processing a discrete segment of material for absorbent articles comprises picking up the segment from a first succession of segments disposed at a first spacing from each other; releasing the segment to define a second succession of segments disposed at a second spacing from each other; rotating the segment carried out between the step of picking up and the step of releasing and which involves disposing the segment from a first configuration, corresponding to the configuration of the segment of the first succession, to a second configuration, rotated relative to the first configuration and corresponding to the configuration of the segment of the second succession; between the step of picking up and the step of releasing, accelerating the segment and decelerating the segment; the rotating the segment being carried out simultaneously with at least one between the accelerating and the decelerating.

Systems and methods utilizing stationary and/or moveable cutting components provide limited interference with web processing operations, such as pad spin and pitch alteration. Heat, laser, fluid, or mechanical cutting operations may be used, including respectively, a heated element (e.g., wire, ribbon, bar, or embossing or perforating element) that may be triggered inductively, water or steam jets, or improved knife/anvil cooperation.