Method and apparatus for making pads

Apparatus for making laminated pads, each pad comprising a body laminated with at least a first cover layer, said apparatus comprising:

• a first cutting roll at a first cutting station for cutting a fiber web as it is fed through a first cutting nip to form individual bodies in the web arranged in predetermined positions relative to one another;
• a sealing roll at a sealing station defining a sealing nip, wherein the sealing roll receives said at least first cover layer from a cover web feed apparatus for lamination with said bodies to form a laminated web adapted to pass through said sealing nip for sealing of the laminated web by said sealing roll;
• said first cutting roll and said sealing roll having axes of rotation lying in a first plane and having outer surfaces spaced from one another a distance in said first plane;
• a first vacuum transfer cylinder rotatable for conveying the bodies from the first cutting station toward the sealing station while maintaining the bodies in their predetermined positions relative to one another, said first vacuum transfer cylinder having an axis of rotation spaced from said first plane and having a diameter greater than said distance between said first cutting roll and said sealing roll;
• said first vacuum transfer cylinder and said first cutting roll being spaced apart to define a first transfer nip for transfer of the bodies from the first cutting roll to the first vacuum transfer cylinder, and said first vacuum transfer cylinder and said sealing roll being spaced apart to define a second transfer nip for transfer of the bodies from the first vacuum transfer cylinder to the sealing roll;
• and
• an adjustment mechanism for varying the spacing between the axis of rotation of the first vacuum transfer cylinder and said first plane thereby to adjust the spacing at the first and second transfer nips.