System and method for feedback control of an absorbent core manufacturing process

A system for synchronizing a deposition of particulate matter into a supply of fibrous material during a transition in a line speed of the fibrous material comprising:

• a feed tray having an outlet positioned above the supply of fibrous material;
• a vibrator coupled to the feed tray for vibrating the feed tray, wherein when the vibrator vibrates the feed tray particulate matter in the feed tray is deposited onto the supply of fibrous material at a deposition rate substantially proportional to a vibratory motion of the vibrator and when the vibrator does not vibrate the feed tray substantially no particulate matter in the feed tray is deposited onto the supply of fibrous material;
• a programmable logic controller coupled to the vibrator, wherein the programmable logic controller is adapted to control the vibratory motion of the vibrator to affect a transition in the deposition rate that is substantially proportional to the transition in the line speed.

A system for synchronizing a deposition of particulate matter into a supply of fibrous material during a transition in a line speed of the supply of fibrous material comprising:

• a feed tray having an outlet positioned above the supply of fibrous material;
• a vibrator coupled to the feed tray for vibrating the feed tray, wherein when the vibrator vibrates the feed tray particulate matter in the feed tray is deposited onto the supply of fibrous material at a rate substantially proportional to a vibratory motion of the vibrator and when the vibrator does not vibrate the feed tray substantially no particulate matter in the feed tray is deposited onto the supply of fibrous material;
• a programmable logic controller coupled to the vibrator, wherein the programmable logic controller is adapted to control the vibratory motion of the vibrator using a deposition rate curve, and where the deposition rate curve includes a plurality of vibratory motion values corresponding to a plurality of time intervals during the transition, and where each vibratory motion value of the plurality of vibratory motion values is representative of a corresponding rate of deposition of the particulate matter.

A method for regulating, during a transition in a rate of supply of fibrous material, a rate of deposition of particulate matter into the supply of fibrous material, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining a deposition curve, the deposition curve including a plurality of rates of deposition of particulate matter for each time interval of a plurality of time intervals of the transition, wherein each rate of deposition of the plurality of rates of deposition is substantially proportionate to the rate of the supply of fibrous material during the corresponding time interval;
• and
• providing the deposition curve to a programmable logic controller, wherein the programmable logic controller is adapted to use the deposition curve to control a rate of deposition of particulate matter into the supply of fibrous material by a vibratory dry material feeder

A system for controlling a deposition of particulate matter into a supply of fibrous material comprising:

• a feed unit having an outlet positioned above the supply of fibrous material;
• a vibrator coupled to the feed unit for vibrating the feed unit, wherein when the vibrator vibrates the feed unit particulate matter in the feed unit is deposited onto the supply of fibrous material at a deposition rate substantially proportional to a vibratory motion of the vibrator and when the vibrator does not vibrate the feed unit, substantially no particulate matter in the feed unit is deposited onto the supply of fibrous material;
• a programmable logic controller coupled to the vibrator, the programmable logic controller adapted to control the vibratory motion of the vibrator.