Placement device, placement system and placement method

• US 10,441,475 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zuiko Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zuiko Corporation
• Inventors: Inoue, Daisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Bidwell, James R
• Application Number:
  US16/302,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20190175423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 1984592, 156250, 156252, 156256, 156259, 156263, 156264, 156265
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15 Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body non-absorbent catamenial receptacles A61F5/44; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15756 Applying tabs, strips, tapes, loops; Knotting the ends of pads
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15764 Transferring, feeding or handling devices; Drives
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/32 Applications of transfer devices such devices per se B65G47/74
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/846 Star-shaped wheels or wheels equipped with article-engaging elements

Abstract

A placement device for arranging parts of a disposable worn article on the base material B, wherein: a first unit U1 includes first and third pads P1 and P3 capable of accelerating and decelerating; a second unit U2 includes second and fourth pads P2 and P4 capable of accelerating and decelerating; the first unit U1 includes separate servo motors M for rotating the first pad P1 and the third pad P3 about a common axis and does not include three or more servo motors M; and the second unit U2 includes separate servo motors M for rotating the second pad P2 and the fourth pad about a common axis and does not include three or more servo motors M.

Claims

1. A placement device for placing parts of a disposable worn article on a base material, the placement device comprising:

a base transfer device for carrying the base material;

a part transfer unit for carrying a plurality of parts separated from each other; and

two or more re-pitch units for intermittently picking up the plurality of parts from the part transfer unit and intermittently placing the plurality of parts on the base material, wherein;

each of the two or more re-pitch units includes two pads, each of which picks up one of the plurality of parts, accelerates until placing the one on the base material, and decelerates after the placement;

each of the re-pitch units includes one servo motor for rotating one of the two pads and another servo motor for rotating another one of the two pads, and does not include three or more servo motors; and

the two pads of each of the re-pitch units rotate about a common axis.

2. A placement system comprising a pair of the placement devices according to claim 1, wherein:

a placement device, which is one of the placement devices, and a placement device, which is another one of the placement devices, are arranged so as to be spaced apart from each other in a width direction of the base material perpendicular to a carrying direction thereof so that the plurality of parts are capable of being placed on a first edge portion and a second edge portion, with respect to the width direction, of the base material.

3. A placement device for placing parts of a disposable worn article on a base material, the placement device comprising:

a base transfer device for carrying the base material;

a part transfer unit for carrying a plurality of parts separated from each other;

a first unit for intermittently picking up the plurality of parts from the part transfer unit and intermittently placing the plurality of parts on the base material; and

a second unit for intermittently picking up the plurality of parts from the part transfer unit and intermittently placing the plurality of parts on the base material, wherein;

the first unit includes a first pad and a third pad, each of which picks up one of the plurality of parts, accelerates until placing the one on the base material, and decelerates after the placement of the one;

the second unit includes a second pad and a fourth pad, each of which picks up another one of the plurality of parts, accelerates until placing the other one on the base material, and decelerates after the placement of the other one;

the first unit includes one servo motor for rotating the first pad and another servo motor for rotating the third pad, and does not include three or more servo motors, wherein the first pad and the third pad rotate about a common axis; and

the second unit includes one servo motor for rotating the second pad and another servo motor for rotating the fourth pad, and does not include three or more servo motors, wherein the second pad and the fourth pad rotate about a common axis.

4. A placement method using the placement device according to claim 3, wherein:

each of the first, second, third and fourth pads picks up ones of the plurality of parts and places the ones on the base material with an interval between the ones, the interval accounting for a number of positions where other parts of the plurality of parts are supposed to be placed, and the number of the other parts being one less than the total number of the pads.

5. A placement system comprising a pair of the placement devices according to claim 3, wherein:

a placement device, which is one of the placement devices, and a placement device, which is another one of the placement devices, are arranged so as to be spaced apart from each other in a width direction of the base material perpendicular to a carrying direction thereof so that the plurality of parts are capable of being placed on a first edge portion and a second edge portion, with respect to the width direction, of the base material.

6. A placement device for placing parts of a disposable worn article on a base material, the placement device comprising:

a base transfer device for carrying the base material;

a part transfer unit for carrying a plurality of parts separated from each other;

a first unit for intermittently picking up some of the plurality of parts from the part transfer unit and intermittently placing the some of the plurality of parts on the base material; and

a second unit for intermittently picking up, at a position on the part transfer unit downstream of the first unit, remaining parts that have not been picked up by the first unit from the part transfer unit and intermittently placing the remaining parts on the base material at a position on the base transfer device upstream of the first unit, wherein;

the first unit includes a first pad for picking up an (i+1)^th one (i is 0 or a multiple of

     4) of the plurality of parts, accelerates until placing the (i+1)^th one on the base material, and decelerates after the placement of the (i+1)^th one;

the second unit includes a second pad for picking up a (j+2)^th one (j is 0 or a multiple of

     4) of the plurality of parts, accelerates until placing the (j+2)^th one on the base material, and decelerates after the placement of the (j+2)^th one;

the first unit includes a third pad n for picking up an (i+3)^th one of the plurality of parts, accelerates until placing the (i+3)^th one on the base material, and decelerates after the placement of the (i+3)^th one;

the second unit includes a fourth pad for picking up a (j+4)^th one of the plurality of parts, accelerates until placing the (j+4)^th one on the base material, and decelerates after the placement of the (j+4)^th one;

the first, second, third and fourth pads are placed at the same position in a width direction perpendicular to a carrying direction of the plurality of parts;

the first unit includes one servo motor for rotating the first pad and another servo motor for rotating the third pad, and does not include three or more servo motors, wherein the first pad and the third pad rotate about a common axis; and

the second unit includes one servo motor for rotating the second pad and another servo motor for rotating the fourth pad, and does not include three or more servo motors, wherein the second pad and the fourth pad rotate about a common axis.

7. A placement method using the placement device according to claim 6 for placing the plurality of parts on the base material, wherein:

the base transfer device performs a step of transferring the base material;

the part transfer unit performs a step of transferring the plurality of parts;

the first pad repeats a step of picking up the (i+1)^th part (i is 0 or a multiple of

     4), accelerating until placing the (i+1)^th part on the base material, and decelerating after the placement of the (i+1)^th part;

the second pad repeats a step of picking up the (j+2)^th part (j is 0 or a multiple of

     4), accelerating until placing the (j+2)^th part on the base material, and decelerating after the placement of the (j+2)^th part;

the third pad repeats a step of picking up the (i+3)^th part, accelerating until placing the (i+3)^th part on the base material, and decelerating after the placement of the (i+3)^th part;

the fourth pad repeats a step of picking up the (j+4)^th part, accelerating until placing the (j+4)^th part on the base material, and decelerating after the placement of the (j+4)^th part; and

as a result of the first, second, third and fourth pads repeating their steps, the first, second, third and fourth pads repeatedly place the (i+1)^th, (j+2)^th, (i+3)^th and (j+4)^th parts on the base material in the order of the (i+1)^th, (j+2)^th, (i+3)^th and (j+4)^th parts, so that each product has one of the (i+1)^th, (j+2)^th, (i+3)^th and (j+4)^th parts placed thereon.

8. A placement system comprising a pair of the placement devices according to claim 6, wherein:

a placement device, which is one of the placement devices, and a placement device, which is another one of the placement devices, are arranged so as to be spaced apart from each other in a width direction of the base material perpendicular to a carrying direction thereof so that the plurality of parts are capable of being placed on a first edge portion and a second edge portion, with respect to the width direction, of the base material.

9. A placement method using the placement device according to claim 6, wherein:

each of the first, second, third and fourth pads picks up ones of the plurality of parts and places the ones on the base material with an interval between the ones, the interval accounting for a number of positions where other parts of the plurality of parts are supposed to be placed, and the number of the other parts being one less than the total number of the pads.