Unit and a method for forming absorbent pads used in nappies/diapers

A method of forming multilayer absorbent pads for diapers, including the steps of:

• feeding absorbent material to a first drum and a second drum, the drums located one beside the other and contrarotating about respectively parallel axes,
• forming a respective first layer and second layer of the absorbent material with the drums,
• joining the first layer of absorbent material in a superposed manner to the second layer of absorbent material, and
• compressing the first layer and the second layer of absorbent material simultaneously so as to compact the absorbent pad, the step of joining the first layer of absorbent material in a superposed manner to the second layer of absorbent material including transferring the first layer onto the second layer while the second layer is retained by the second drum,
• wherein the compressing step comprises compressing the first layer and the second layer of absorbent material at a compression station positioned downstream of the second drum, providing the compression station with a transport roller contrarotating tangentially to the second drum at a release station and at least one compression element positioned along a peripheral portion of the transport roller and operating in conjunction with the transport roller to therebetween simultaneously compact the first layer and the second layer of absorbent material together to form a one-piece core.