Vacuum communication apparatus and methods

• US 10,494,216 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2018
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Curt G. Joa, Inc.
• Inventors: Pelland, Jon Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford, Gene O
• Assistant Examiner(s): Campbell, Keith R
• Application Number:
  US16/234,109
• Publication Number:
  US 20190135567A1
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 29/02 for inclined or vertical transit
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 39/02 Adaptations of individual rollers and supports therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/848 the article-engaging elements being suction or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/915 provided with drive systems with rotary movements only
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 20/12 by suction roller
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/02 indicating an entity which is controlled, adjusted or changed by a control process, i.e. output
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/4473 Belts, endless moving elements on which the material is in surface contact
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/1362 vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/1363 air supply or suction
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2406/332 Details on suction openings
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2406/361 distributing vacuum from stationary element to movable element
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 27/00 Special constructions, e.g. surface features, of feed or guide rollers for webs rollers in general F16C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2801/57 Diaper manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/243 Suction rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 39/14 Associating sheets with webs
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 5/226 by suction rollers

Abstract

A method and apparatus for transporting a discrete element is disclosed. 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.

Claims

1. An article carrying surface comprising a plurality of voids, said voids individually comprising a surface area of between about 7×

10-6 square inches and 1.77×

10-4 square inches, said voids coupled to a source of vacuum;

wherein said voids comprise between 5% and 50% of a surface area of said article carrying surface.

2. An article carrying surface according to claim 1, said article carrying surface carried by a rotating support structure.

3. An article carrying surface according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of voids are evenly spaced and distributed across said surface area of said article carrying surface.

4. An apparatus for carrying discrete articles comprising:

a puck structure,

said puck structure comprising a plurality of voids, said voids individually comprising a surface area of between about 7×

10-6 square inches and 1.77×

10-4 square inches, said voids coupled to a source of vacuum;

wherein said voids are evenly spaced and distributed across a surface of said puck structure.

5. An apparatus for carrying discrete articles according to claim 4, wherein said voids comprise between 5% and 50% of a surface area of said puck structure.

6. An apparatus for carrying discrete articles according to claim 4, wherein at least a portion of said voids are covered by individual fibers of said discrete article carried by the puck structure, such that each of said voids of said portion of voids is partially or completely sealed off by a respective fiber of said individual fibers.

7. A system for processing a web, the system comprising:

a driven vacuum commutation structure;

a driven article carrying surface, said driven article carrying surface driven independently of said driven vacuum commutation structure;

said driven vacuum commutation structure communicatively coupled to at least a portion of said driven article carrying surface, said driven article carrying surface comprising a plurality of voids, said voids individually comprising a surface area of between about 7×

10-6 square inches and 1.77×

10-4 square inches, said voids coupled to a source of vacuum;

wherein said plurality of voids comprise between 5% and 50% of a surface area of said driven article carrying surface.

8. A system for processing a web according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of voids are evenly distributed across said surface area of said driven article carrying surface.

9. A system for processing a web according to claim 7, wherein at least a portion of said voids are covered by individual fibers of a nonwoven material web carried by the driven article carrying surface, such that each of said voids of said portion of voids is partially or completely sealed off by a respective fiber of said individual fibers.

10. A system for processing a web according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of voids, and coupling thereof to said source of vacuum, holds said nonwoven material web to said driven article carrying surface based on a static pressure differential on opposing sides of the nonwoven material web.