Method and apparatus for depositing discrete elements on a support element

A method for depositing discrete elements on a support element, said discrete elements being separated from each other or joined to each other to form a continuous web having a perforation line between each pair of adjacent discrete elements, comprising:

• feeding said discrete elements one after the other into a pick-up station defined at an apparatus comprising a stator and a rotor rotatable about a first axis of rotation along a rotation direction, the rotor comprising a plurality of circumferentially adjacent pick-up elements, wherein the stator comprises a base, a front body and a rear body, the rear body being axially interposed between the rotor and the base, the rotor being axially interposed between the front body and the rear body;
• feeding said support element at a release position defined downstream of the pick-up station with reference to said rotation direction;
• stably associating each discrete element with a respective pick-up member having in said pick-up station a first orientation with respect to a respective second axis of rotation orthogonal to the first axis of rotation;
• moving each pick-up member along said rotation direction from the pick-up station towards the release position with an at least partially accelerated or decelerated motion;
• during a movement of each pick-up member along said rotation direction, rotating said pick-up member about the respective second axis of rotation until it takes, at the release position, a second orientation different from said first orientation;
• releasing each discrete element from the respective pick-up member on said support element at said release position;
• and
• moving each pick-up member along said rotation direction from the release position towards the pick-up station with an at least partially decelerated or accelerated motion;
• wherein the movement of each pick-up member about the respective second axis of rotation is obtained by a movement of a second cam follower in a cylindrical or spheroconic cam formed on a radially outer surface of a rear body of the stator, said second cam follower being kinematically coupled to the pick-up member;
• wherein the movement of each pick-up member along said rotation direction is obtained by sliding on a pair of annular guides a respective support slide associated with each pick-up member, wherein the rear body is arranged in an axially outer position with respect to the annular guides;
• and
• wherein said cylindrical or spheroconic cam is arranged in an axially outer position with respect to said pair of annular guides.