Method and Apparatus for Rotating an Absorbent Article

A method of transferring and rotating discrete substrates, the method comprising:

• advancing a discrete substrate in a machine direction;
• providing a rotation apparatus comprising slot portion defined by a mounting surface, the slot portion comprising a first slot surface, a second slot surface opposite the first slot surface, and an inner slot surface extending between the first slot surface and the second slot surface, wherein the slot portion defines a longitudinal slot axis of rotation;
• rotating a head assembly about the longitudinal slot axis, wherein the head assembly is adjacent the slot portion, and wherein the head assembly comprises a transfer member defining a longitudinal transfer axis of rotation and a support member associated with a distal end portion of the transfer member;
• rotating the transfer member about a longitudinal transfer axis;
• rotating a support member about the longitudinal transfer axis, wherein the support member extends from the transfer member toward the slot portion;
• associating a first follower and a second follower with the slot portion, wherein the first follower and the second follower are operatively engaged with a distal end portion of the support member, wherein the first follower comprises a first follower outer surface and the second follower comprises a second follower outer surface, and wherein the first follower outer surface and the second follower outer surface are positioned to define a first longitudinal follower axis and a second longitudinal follower axis, respectively, and wherein the first longitudinal follower axis and the second longitudinal follower axis intersect the longitudinal slot axis;
• receiving the discrete substrate in a first position on at least a portion of the head assembly;
• and
• rotating the discrete substrate to a second position, wherein the first position is different than the second position.

A rotation apparatus for rotating a discrete article, the rotation apparatus comprising:

• a slot portion defined by a mounting surface, the slot portion comprising a first slot surface, a second slot surface opposite the first slot surface, and an inner slot surface extending between the first slot surface and the second slot surface, wherein the slot portion includes a motion zone and a dwell zone, wherein the slot portion defines a longitudinal slot axis of rotation;
• a transfer member positioned adjacent to the slot portion, wherein the transfer member defines a longitudinal transfer axis of rotation, and wherein the transfer member comprises a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;
• a support member extending from the distal end portion of the transfer member toward the slot portion, the support member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion opposite the proximal end portion;
• a first follower and a second follower operatively engaged with the distal end portion of the support member, wherein the first follower comprises a first follower outer surface and the second follower comprises a second follower outer surface, and wherein the first follower outer surface defines a first longitudinal follower axis and the second follower outer surface define a second longitudinal follower axis, and wherein the first and second longitudinal follower axes intersects the longitudinal slot axis at the same point;
• and
• wherein the transfer member and the support member are configured to rotate about the longitudinal slot axis.