# US 2013/0156536 A1 · Apparatus And Process For Providing Arrays Of Absorbent Articles In Varying Orientations For Packaging > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0156536 A1 - Document ID: US20130156536A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/713,118 - Filed: 2012-12-13 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-14 - Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company - Inventors: Michael Jan Dowiasch; Thomas Luebcke; Andre Josephine Karel De Saert; Hilde Cloostermams - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156536A1 ## CPC - B65G 57/00: Stacking of articles (B65G60/00 takes precedence; feeding, piling or stacking sheets B65H) - A61F 13/15747: {Folding; Pleating; Coiling; Stacking; Packaging} - A61F 13/55115: {characterized by the features before use, e.g. how are the diapers folded or arranged in a package} - B65B 27/08: Bundling paper sheets, envelopes, bags, newspapers, or other thin flat articles - B65H 29/66: Advancing articles in overlapping streams - B65H 2301/33224: 180° - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract Apparatus for producing arrays of absorbent articles with varying orientations, and a methods for forming alternating arrays of absorbent articles, suitable to be operated at a high speed, are provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process of forming arrays of absorbent articles with varying orientations comprising the steps of: (a) advancing absorbent articles along a predetermined path; (b) diverting a first plurality of absorbent articles to a first path and diverting a second plurality of absorbent articles to a second path, wherein the first path and the second path have a different direction from each other; (c) providing the first plurality of absorbent articles and the second plurality of absorbent articles to a stacker adapted to receive absorbent articles from the first path and the second path; (d) forming an array of absorbent articles from the first plurality of absorbent articles and the second plurality of absorbent articles in the stacker, wherein at least one of the absorbent articles has a first orientation and at least one of the absorbent articles has a second orientation within the array, the first orientation and the second orientation being different from each other; (e) advancing the array of absorbent articles along a third path, wherein the third path has a direction different from the direction of the first path and the second path. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of absorbent articles is provided to the stacker from a first direction, and the second plurality of absorbent articles is provided to the stacker from a second direction, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The process of claim 2, wherein the first plurality of absorbent articles has the first orientation and the second plurality of absorbent articles has the second orientation in the array of absorbent articles. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The process of claim 3, wherein the first plurality of absorbent articles is oriented about 180 degrees relative to the second plurality of absorbent articles in the array. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the step d) further comprises: (a) providing two paddles and bending at least one of the paddles, (b) introducing one of the absorbent articles delivered by the first or second path between the two paddles, (c) stopping the one absorbent article with an infeed plate, wherein the infeed plate is: i) pivoting, or ii) comprising a first part and a second part, the first and second part sliding up and down, or back and forth, (d) straightening the at least one paddle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein an absorbent article is introduced between two paddles such that main surfaces of the absorbent articles are substantially parallel to the paddles and at an angle from about 10 degrees to about 40 degrees to an infeed plate, wherein the absorbent article is slowed down due to friction forces created between a main surface of the infeed plate and one of the main surfaces of the absorbent article and stopped by a protrusion of the infeed plate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process claim 1, wherein an infeeding roll is directing the absorbent articles to the diverter along a predetermined path, that allows one or more absorbent articles of the first plurality of absorbent articles to be routed in the first path while the second path is closed and alternately closes the first path to allow one or more absorbent articles of the second plurality of absorbent articles to be routed in the second path. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the first path and the second path each have a guide roll to facilitate a change of direction within the first path and the second path. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The process of claim 8, wherein the first path and the second path define substantially diverging directions along a first distance onto the guide roll, and wherein from the guide roll, the first path and the second path define substantially convergent directions along a second distance. ### Claim 10 A process of diverting absorbent articles comprising the steps of: (a) advancing the absorbent articles along a predetermined path; (b) diverting the absorbent articles, wherein a first plurality of absorbent articles is routed to a first path and a second plurality of absorbent articles is routed to a second path, wherein the first path and the second path have a direction different from each other, wherein the first path and the second path define substantially diverging directions along a first distance onto a guide roll, and wherein from the guide roll, the first path and the second path define substantially convergent directions along a second distance. ### Claim 11 A process of forming arrays of absorbent articles with varying orientations comprising the steps of: (a) providing a stacker, the stacker comprising a plurality of paddles placed at equal distances for receiving the absorbent articles; (b) opening up two neighboring paddles by bending outwardly at least one of the paddle; (c) introducing the absorbent articles delivered from two substantially opposite directions onto the stacker; d) stopping the absorbent article by an infeed plate, wherein the infeed plate is: i) pivoting, or ii) comprising a first and second part, the first and second part sliding up and down, or back and forth, (e) closing the neighboring paddles by straightening at least one paddle relative of its neighbor; and (f) forming an array of absorbent articles by repeating steps (b) through (e). ### Claim 12 An apparatus for forming arrays of absorbent articles comprising: a conveyor for advancing the absorbent articles; a diverter for diverting the absorbent articles to route a first plurality of absorbent articles to a first path and a second plurality of absorbent articles to a second path, wherein the first path and the second path have a direction different from each other; a stacker for receiving the first plurality of absorbent articles and the second plurality of absorbent articles delivered from the first and second path, wherein the stacker is adapted to form an array of absorbent articles from the first plurality of absorbent articles and the second plurality of absorbent articles, such that one or more than one of the absorbent articles has a first orientation and one or more than one of the absorbent articles has a second orientation within the array, the first and second orientations being different from each other, a conveyor for advancing the array of absorbent articles along a third path, wherein the third path has a direction different from the direction of the first and second paths. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12 wherein in the stacker, a plurality of paddles are placed for receiving the absorbent articles, wherein an infeed plate is placed above the paddles without any contact with the paddles when pivoting or sliding and the infeed plate is: i) pivoting, or ii) comprising a first and second part, the first and second part sliding up and down, or back and forth. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the stacker further comprises a support, wherein the paddles are secured to the support, the support adapted to advance along the third path. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the absorbent articles are folded articles.