Method and apparatus for making personal hygiene absorbent articles

A method for making personal hygiene absorbent articles, the method comprising the steps of:

• transferring a continuous supply of absorbent cores oriented in a cross-machine direction;
• picking up a first absorbent core and a second absorbent core using a turning plate from the continuous supply of absorbent cores, wherein the turning plate comprises a first sub-plate and a second sub-plate;
• transferring the first absorbent core and the second absorbent core onto the first sub-plate and the second sub-plate, wherein the first sub-plate and the second sub-plate are oriented in the cross-machine direction;
• rotating the first sub-plate and the second sub-plate about an axis of rotation such that the first absorbent core and the second absorbent core are rotated from the cross-machine direction to a machine direction;
• dividing the first sub-plate and the second sub-plate such that the space between the first absorbent core and the second absorbent core increases;
• supplying the first absorbent core oriented in the machine direction to a first absorbent article sub-line for assembly into a first absorbent article;
• and
• supplying the second absorbent core oriented in the machine direction to a second absorbent article sub-line for assembly into a second absorbent article that is independent from the first absorbent article, wherein said first and second absorbent article sublines are parallel to said machine direction.