Transfer head, method and apparatus for transferring a pad from a pick-up location to a drop-off location
View Patent ↗The current invention concerns a transfer head ( 24 ) configured for the transfer of a pad ( 6 ) from a pick-up location ( 26 ) to a drop-off location ( 62 ). According to the invention, the transfer head ( 24 ) comprises a support module ( 28 ) comprising a vacuum manifold, and a core module ( 30 ) comprising an elastic mean ( 32 ). The current invention also concerns a method of transferring pad ( 6 ) from a pick-up location ( 26 ) to a drop-off location ( 62 ). The current invention also concerns an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article using said method of transferring pad ( 6 ) from a pick-up location ( 26 ) to a drop-off location ( 62 ). The invention also concerns a method of manufacturing an absorbent articles using said method of transferring pad ( 6 ).
1. A transfer head ( 24 ) configured for the transfer of a pad ( 6 ) from a pick-up location ( 26 ) to a drop-off location ( 62 ), wherein the transfer head ( 24 ) comprises
a support module ( 28 ) comprising a vacuum mean, and
a core module ( 30 ) comprising an elastic mean ( 32 ),
wherein the transfer head ( 24 ) is elongated in a longitudinal direction (X) defining first and second longitudinal surfaces ( 47 a , 47 b ) at first and second longitudinal ends ( 42 a , 42 b ) and has a top surface ( 49 ) and a bottom surface ( 53 ) in a vertical direction (Z) and two transverse sides ( 51 ) in a transverse direction (Y),
the core module ( 30 ) having a first rounded edge ( 46 a ) at the first longitudinal end ( 42 a ) and a second rounded edge ( 46 b ) at the second longitudinal end ( 42 b ),
the support module ( 28 ) having a first rounded edge ( 48 a ) at the first longitudinal end ( 42 a ) and a second rounded edge ( 48 b ) at the second longitudinal end ( 42 b ), such that the first and second longitudinal surfaces ( 47 a , 47 b ) are adjoined to the top surface ( 49 ) and the bottom surface ( 53 ) by a chamfer ( 46 a , 46 b , 48 a , 48 b ).
2. Transfer head ( 24 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic mean ( 32 ) comprises an elastic material.
3. Transfer head ( 24 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the core module ( 30 ) comprises a polyurethane foam and/or polyethylene foam and/or rubber foam and/or polyamide foam.
4. Transfer head ( 24 ) according to claim 1 wherein, the transfer head ( 24 ) further comprises a coating layer ( 34 ), said coating layer comprising an antiadhesive material, the core module ( 30 ) being arranged between the support module ( 28 ) and the coating layer ( 34 ).
5. Transfer head ( 24 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the antiadhesive material contains polytetrafluoroethylene and/or silicone and/or polyurethane.
6. Transfer head ( 24 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the coating layer ( 34 ) comprises vacuum holes ( 40 ).
7. Transfer head ( 24 ) according to claim 1 , wherein, the core module ( 30 ) comprises vacuum holes ( 40 ) and the distribution of vacuum holes is higher at the first rounded edge ( 46 a ) than at the second rounded edge ( 46 b ).
8. A method of transferring a pad ( 6 ) from a pick-up location ( 26 ) to a drop-off location ( 62 ), the method comprising:
providing a transfer device ( 4 ) having a frame ( 20 ) with a center defining a rotation axis ( 66 ), wherein the transfer device ( 4 ) comprises at least one transfer head ( 24 ) according to claim 1 ;
circumnavigating the plurality of transfer heads ( 24 ) about the rotation axis ( 66 ) in an orbit, wherein the orbit passes through the pick-up location ( 26 ) and the drop-off location ( 62 );
providing a feeding line ( 68 , 70 ) to convey one or two web lines ( 8 ) proximate to the drop-off location ( 62 ),
using one of the plurality of transfer heads ( 24 ) to pick up a pad ( 6 ) at the pick-up location ( 26 );
carrying the pad ( 6 ) on the one of the plurality of transfer heads ( 24 ) between the pick-up location ( 26 ) and the drop-off location ( 62 );
and
placing the pad ( 6 ) onto a portion of the web ( 8 ) in the drop-off location ( 62 ).
9. Method according to claim 8 , wherein the transfer head ( 24 ) provides a negative fluid pressure to the pad ( 6 ) at the pick-up location ( 26 ) and/or a positive fluid pressure to the pad ( 6 ) at the drop-off location ( 62 ).
10. An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article comprising
a transfer device ( 4 ) for transferring a pad ( 6 ) from a pick-up location ( 26 ) to a drop-off location ( 62 ), said transfer device ( 4 ) having a frame ( 20 ) with a center defining a rotation axis ( 66 ) and at least one arm ( 22 ), wherein the transfer device ( 4 ) comprises at least one transfer head ( 24 ) according to claim 1 ;
a feeding roll ( 11 ) arranged to feed said transfer device ( 4 ) with a continuous web of pad ( 6 ) at the pick-up location ( 26 ),
a feeding line ( 68 , 70 ) to convey one or two web lines ( 8 ) proximate to the drop-off location ( 62 ).
11. Apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the feeding roll ( 11 ) and the transfer device ( 4 ) are arranged in such way that at the pick-up location ( 26 ) the core module ( 30 ) of transfer head ( 24 ) is deformed by the pad ( 6 ) and/or the feeding roll ( 11 ).
12. A method of manufacturing an absorbent article, the method comprising:
forming a continuous web of pads ( 10 ) by assembling a back sheet layer, a top sheet layer and an absorbent core between said back sheet layer and top sheet layer;
cutting said continuous web of pads ( 10 ) into individual pads ( 6 ) with separation means ( 12 , 14 );
transferring said pad ( 6 ) from a pick up location ( 26 ) to a drop off location ( 62 ) using the method according to claim 10 ; cutting the web ( 8 ) with a separation device to form an absorbent article.
13. Transfer head ( 24 ) according to claim 6 , wherein, the distribution of vacuum holes is higher at the first rounded edge ( 46 a ) than at the second rounded edge ( 46 b ).
14. Transfer head ( 24 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first rounded edge ( 46 a ) is at an angle from 25 to 70 degrees between the top surface ( 49 ) and the first longitudinal surface ( 47 a ).
15. Transfer head ( 24 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first rounded edge ( 46 a ) is at an angle from 35 to 55 degrees between the top surface ( 49 ) and the first longitudinal surface ( 47 a ).
16. Transfer head ( 24 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first rounded edge ( 46 a ) is at an angle from 40 to 50 degrees between the top surface ( 49 ) and the first longitudinal surface ( 47 a ).
17. Transfer head ( 24 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the distribution of vacuum holes ( 40 ) at a middle portion ( 55 ) located between the rounded edges ( 46 a , 46 b ) is lower than at the first rounded edge ( 46 a ), and
wherein the distribution of vacuum holes at the second rounded edge ( 46 b ) is lower than at the middle portion ( 55 ).