Apparatus and method for applying discrete parts to a moving web
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsAdam Schoultz, Chadwick I. Romzek, Brian Rhodes, Jesse Sorenson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for separately conveying a plurality of discrete parts from a web and applying each of the discrete parts to a substrate includes a plurality of transfer pucks and a drive assembly. The drive assembly is configured to rotate each of the transfer pucks such that a plurality of pairs of discrete parts is applied to the web. Each applied pair of discrete parts includes a first discrete part and a second discrete part spaced a first distance from the first discrete part, wherein adjacent pairs of discrete pairs are spaced a second distance that is different from the first distance.
Claims13
Apparatus for conveying a plurality of discrete parts and applying each discrete part to a substrate moving along a placement axis of the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of transfer pucks adapted to convey the discrete parts to the substrate, the plurality of transfer pucks comprising a first transfer puck and a second transfer puck;
- and
- a drive assembly configured to rotate the first transfer puck in a first rotational direction and to rotate the second transfer puck in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction such that a plurality of pairs of discrete parts is applied to the substrate and perpendicular to the placement axis, wherein each applied pair of discrete parts includes a first discrete part and a second discrete part spaced a first distance along the placement axis from the first discrete part, adjacent pairs of discrete parts being spaced a second distance along the placement axis that is different from the first distance.
A method of applying a plurality of discrete parts to a substrate moving along a placement axis comprising:
- directing a web including the plurality of discrete parts toward an apparatus for conveying each discrete part from the web and applying each discrete part to the substrate, the apparatus including a plurality of transfer pucks rotatably coupled to a drive assembly;
- rotating a first transfer puck of the plurality of transfer pucks in a first direction;
- rotating a second transfer puck of the plurality of transfer pucks in a second direction that is different than the first direction such that each discrete part from the web is conveyed to the substrate,
- applying a plurality of pairs of discrete parts including a first discrete part and a second discrete part to the substrate and perpendicular to the placement axis such that the applied second discrete part is spaced a first distance along the placement axis from the applied first discrete part, and adjacent applied pairs of discrete parts being spaced a second distance along the placement axis that is different from the first distance;
- selectively adjusting a rotational speed of each transfer puck as the transfer pucks are rotated between a pick-up location located adjacent the web and an application location located adjacent the substrate;
- and
- rotating a pair of transfer pucks including the first transfer puck and the second transfer puck such that the second transfer puck is spaced a first circumferential distance from the first transfer puck at the application location, and adjacent transfer puck pairs being spaced a second circumferential distance at the application location that is less than the first circumferential distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.