Defective-workpiece discharging device

A defective-workpiece discharging device for discharging a workpiece having a defect to a discharge path from a conveyance path, along which a plurality of workpieces relating to absorbent articles is conveyed in a conveyance direction at a predetermined conveyance pitch, said defective-workpiece discharging device comprising:

• a first conveyance path and a second conveyance path that are included in the conveyance path, the second conveyance path being located downstream from the first conveyance path,
• a sorting mechanism
• that is disposed between the first conveyance path and the second conveyance path, and
• that sorts the workpieces that have passed the first conveyance path into either one of the second conveyance path and the discharge path;
• a defect detection sensor that detects the defect and outputs a defect detection signal;
• a passage detection sensor
• that is disposed on the first conveyance path, and
• that detects passage of the workpieces at a predetermined position on the first conveyance path and outputs a passage detection signal:
• and
• a controller that controls a sorting operation of the sorting mechanism, based on the defect detection signal and the passage detection signal, wherein
• an end of the first conveyance path on the sorting mechanism side and the predetermined position are separated by a distance greater than or equal to the conveyance pitch, wherein
• a dividing mechanism that generates the workpieces by dividing a continuous sheet member at a predetermined pitch in the conveyance direction is disposed upstream from the first conveyance path, the continuous sheet member being continuous in the conveyance direction,
• processing for providing a space between adjacent workpieces in the conveyance direction is performed between the dividing mechanism and the first conveyance path, such that the workpieces are conveyed at the conveyance pitch on the first conveyance path,
• the defect detection sensor detects that the defect in the continuous sheet member passes a predetermined detection position and outputs the defect detection signal,
• the controller specifies an arrival time when the workpiece having the defect arrives at the predetermined position, by comparing an estimated number of workpieces with a count value, the workpieces being workpieces to be included on the conveyance path from the detection position of the defect detection sensor to the predetermined position of the passage detection sensor, the count value being a number of workpieces that passes the predetermined position of the passage detection sensor, the count value being set to zero at a time when the defect detection signal is output, the count value being incremented by one every time a workpiece passes the predetermined position, and
• the controller actuates the sorting mechanism based on the arrival time and guides the workpiece to the discharge path.