Method and device for producing disposable worn article

• US 9,265,670 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2013
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zuiko Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zuiko Corporation
• Inventors: Shimada, Takahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Michalski, Sean
• Application Number:
  US14/374,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20150024919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 83/42, 83/50, 83/37
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15756 Applying tabs, strips, tapes, loops; Knotting the ends of pads
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49 Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49058 characterised by the modular concept of constructing the diaper
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5622 specially adapted for diapers or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5633 open type diaper
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/32 Applications of transfer devices such devices per se B65G47/74
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/84 Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/01 indicating an entity as a function of which control, adjustment or change is performed, i.e. input
• 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 2220/09 indicating that several of an entity are present
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/44512 forming parallel streams of separated articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/44522 Varying space between separated articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/44552 by alternatively directing articles following each other to appropriate part stream
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/4472 Suction grippers, e.g. moved in paths enclosing an area
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2406/345 Rotary suction grippers
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2801/57 Diaper manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 35/08 from or with revolving, e.g. cylinder, cutters or perforators

Abstract

A method includes: a severing step of successively producing a plurality of panels from a continuous web; an interval-increasing step of increasing an interval in width direction between a pair of panels, adjacent to each other in flow direction; a receiving step of receiving the panels by first and second rollers at first and second receiving positions, which are separated from each other in flow direction, wherein the first and second rollers for receiving the panels are placed so that axial lines of the first and second rollers are placed offset from each other in flow direction of the panels; and a placement step for placing the panels, from the rollers at first and second hand-over positions which are separated from each other in flow direction, onto opposite side portions of a body portion at the same position in the longitudinal direction of the body portion.

Claims

1. A method for producing a disposable worn article, in which a pair of panels are fastened to a body portion at the same position in a longitudinal direction thereof and in left and right opposite side portions in a girth direction thereof, the method comprising:

a severing step of successively severing tip portions of a continuous web in a flow direction, the continuous web being continuous in the flow direction, along a virtual severing line extending in a width direction perpendicular to the flow direction, thereby successively producing a plurality of panels;

an interval-increasing step of increasing an interval in the width direction between a pair of panels, adjacent to each other in the flow direction, of the plurality of panels;

a receiving step of receiving the panels by first and second rollers at first and second receiving positions, which are separated from each other in the flow direction, wherein the first and second rollers are placed so that a first axial line of the first roller for receiving and holding one of the pair of panels separated from each other in the width direction and a second axial line of the second roller for receiving and holding the other one of the pair of panel'"'"'s are placed offset from each other in the flow direction of the panels; and

a placement step of placing the panels, from the first and second rollers at first and second hand-over positions which are separated from each other in the flow direction, onto the opposite side portions of the body portion at the same position in the longitudinal direction of the body portion.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a re-pitching step of increasing an interval in the flow direction between a pair of panels, adjacent to each other in the flow direction, of the plurality of panels.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a speed varying step of periodically varying a rotation speed of a plurality of pads of the rollers holding the panels between the receiving step and the placement step a number of times equal to the number of pads for one rotation according to a size of the worn article.

4. A device for producing a disposable worn article, in which a pair of panels are fastened to a body portion at the same position in a longitudinal direction thereof and in left and right opposite side portions in a girth direction thereof, the device comprising:

a cutter for successively severing tip portions of a continuous web in a flow direction, the continuous web being continuous in the flow direction, along a virtual severing line extending in a width direction perpendicular to the flow direction, thereby successively producing a plurality of panels;

an interval-increasing drum for increasing an interval in the width direction between a pair of panels, adjacent to each other in the flow direction, of the plurality of panels; and

a phase wheel for receiving the panels by first and second rollers at first and second receiving positions, which are separated from each other in the flow direction, wherein the first and second rollers are placed so that a first axial line of the first roller for receiving and holding one of the pair of panels separated from each other in the width direction and a second axial line of the second roller for receiving and holding the other one of the pair of panels are placed offset from each other in the flow direction of the panels, and for placing the panels, from the first and second rollers at first and second hand-over positions which are separated from each other in the flow direction, onto the opposite side portions of the body portion at the same position in the longitudinal direction of the body portion.

5. A production device according to claim 4, wherein:

the first roller includes a plurality of first pads rotating about the first axial line while holding the panels;

the second roller includes a plurality of second pads rotating about the second axial line while holding the panels;

the plurality of first pads and the plurality of second pads are placed separated from each other in the width direction; and

the first axial line and the second axial line are separated from each other in the flow direction.

6. A production device according to claim 5, wherein radii of rotation of the first pads and the second pads are equal to each other.

7. A device according to claim 6, further comprising a re-pitching drum placed between the cutter and the interval-increasing drum for increasing an interval in the flow direction between a pair of panels, adjacent to each other in the flow direction, of the plurality of panels.

8. A production device according to claim 6, further comprising a variable-speed control device for periodically varying a rotation speed of a plurality of pads of the rollers holding the panels, from the receiving until the placement, a number of times equal to the number of pads for one rotation according to a size of the worn article.

9. A method for producing a disposable worn article, in which a pair of panels are fastened to a body portion in left and right opposite side portions in a girth direction thereof, the method comprising:

a severing step of successively severing tip portions of a continuous web in a flow direction, the continuous web being continuous in the flow direction, along a virtual severing line extending in a width direction perpendicular to the flow direction, thereby successively producing a plurality of panels;

a first re-pitching step of increasing an interval in the flow direction between the plurality of panels;

an interval-increasing step of, after the first re-pitching step, increasing an interval in the width direction between a pair of panels, adjacent to each other, of the plurality of panels; and

a placement step of, after the interval-increasing step, placing the pair of panels in the opposite side portions of the body portion.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the virtual severing line is non-parallel to the width direction, and the tip portions of the continuous web are successively severed in the severing step along the non-parallel severing line, thereby producing the panels.

11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising a second re-pitching step of increasing a pair interval between a pair of panels, which have been separated from each other in the flow direction in the first re-pitching step, and another pair of panels adjacent to the pair of panels.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

a receiving step of successively receiving a plurality of pairs of panels, the pair interval therebetween having been increased after the second re-pitching step, from an upstream device to a downstream device; and

a third re-pitching step for further increasing the pair interval after the receiving step.

13. A device for producing a disposable worn article, in which a pair of panels are fastened to a body portion in left and right opposite side portions in a girth direction thereof, the device comprising:

a cutter for successively severing tip portions of a continuous web in a flow direction, the continuous web being continuous in the flow direction, along a virtual severing line extending in a width direction perpendicular to the flow direction, thereby successively producing a plurality of panels;

a first re-pitching drum for increasing an interval in the flow direction between the plurality of panels;

an interval-increasing drum, placed downstream of the first re-pitching drum, for increasing an interval in the width direction between a pair of panels, adjacent to each other, of the plurality of panels; and

a phase wheel, placed downstream of the interval-increasing drum, for placing the pair of panels in the opposite side portions of the body portion.

14. A production device according to claim 13, wherein the virtual severing line is non-parallel to the width direction, and the tip portions of the continuous web are successively severed by the cutter along the non-parallel severing line, thereby producing the panels.

15. A production device according to claim 14, further comprising a second re-pitching drum, placed downstream of the first re-pitching drum, for increasing a pair interval between a pair of panels, which have been separated from each other in the flow direction, and another pair of panels adjacent to the pair of panels.

16. A production device according to claim 15, wherein the phase wheel, placed downstream of the second re-pitching drum, successively receives a plurality of pairs of panels, the pair interval therebetween having been increased, and further increases the pair interval after the receiving.