Method for corrective action on the operation of a line for the production of absorbent sanitary articles, such as nappies for babies or incontinence pads for adults, sanitary towels or the like

1) A method for corrective action on the operation of a line for the production of absorbent sanitary articles, such as nappies for babies or incontinence pads for adults, sanitary towels or the like, each article comprising a plurality of components which are gradually positioned relative to each other and assembled along the production line;

• the method being characterised in that it comprises the steps of:
• capturing at least one image of each article being fed out of the line;
• using the image to define first parameters indicating the positioning and/or assembly and/or shape of at least one respective component;
• detecting a production defect if at least one of the first parameters is outside a respective acceptability range;
• identifying second, line operating parameters which are used to indicate if the first parameter is outside the respective acceptability range;
• comparing the line operating parameters with respective third, reference parameters indicating optimum line operation;
• deriving from the comparison a map of parameters indicating abnormal operation;
• checking if each combination of abnormal operating parameters indicates a respective cause of line malfunction, the respective cause being included in a case record of causes of malfunction which is preset and predefined;
• defining, for each cause of malfunction encountered, the corrective action to be adopted in order to eliminate the production defect.