System and method for feeding elastic strands
AssigneeFirst Quality Baby Products, LLC
InventorPierluigi Cappellini
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An elastic strand conveyance system that includes stack plates disposed on linear actuators. The stack plates include a base plate that supports entry and exit yarn guides. Wheels and pitch plates are disposed between the entry and exit yarn guides. Elastic strands are conveyed through the entry and exit yarn guides and over the wheels at a pitch determined by the pitch plates. The stack plates are capable of being disengaged from the linear actuators to allow for manual movement of the stack plates along rails of the linear actuators so that elastic strands may be replaced in the case of breakage.
Claims12
A stack plate for directing elastic strands to a lamination station of an absorbent article manufacturing line, comprising:
- a base block;
- two or more entry yarn guides disposed on the base block and each configured to receive a corresponding elastic strand of two or more elastic strands;
- two or more wheels disposed on the base block and each corresponding to one of the two or more entry yarn guides and over which the corresponding elastic strand is guided as the two or more wheels rotate;
- two or more exit yarn guides disposed on the base block and each corresponding to one of the two or more entry yarn guides and to one of the two or more wheels, each of the two or more exit yarn guides configured to guide the corresponding elastic strand away from the stack plate;
- and
- two or more pitch plates disposed on the base block and each corresponding to one of the two more entry yarn guides, one of the two or more wheels and one of the two or more exit yarn guides, each of the two or more pitch plates extending between the corresponding one of the two or more wheels and the corresponding one of the two or more exit yarn guides, each of the two or more pitch plates having lengths that differ from one another so as to determine a distance between the two or more elastic strands.
An elastic strand conveyance system comprising:
- (A) one or more alignment and lowering systems for directing elastic strands to one or more stack plates of a lamination station of an absorbent article manufacturing line, each of the one or more stack plates comprising:
- (i) a base block;
- (ii) two or more entry yarn guides disposed on the base block and each configured to receive a corresponding elastic strand of two or more elastic strands;
- (iii) two or more wheels disposed on the base block and each corresponding to one of the two or more entry yarn guides and over which the corresponding elastic strand is guided as the two or more wheels rotate;
- (iv) two or more exit yarn guides disposed on the base block and each corresponding to one of the two or more entry yarn guides and to one of the two or more wheels, each of the two or more exit yarn guides configured to guide the corresponding elastic strand away from the stack plate;
- and
- (v) two or more pitch plates disposed on the base block and each corresponding to one of the two more entry yarn guides, one of the two or more wheels and one of the two or more exit yarn guides, each of the two or more pitch plates extending between the corresponding one of the two or more wheels and the corresponding one of the two or more exit yarn guides, each of the two or more pitch plates having lengths that differ from one another so as to determine a distance between the two or more elastic strands;
- (B) one or more linear actuators to which the one or more stack plates are operatively attached to allow for linear movement of the one or more stack plates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.