Method and apparatus for discontinuous applications, at a constant pitch, of controlled quantities of absorbent material in granules

A device suitable for transforming a continuous and controlled flow of absorbent material in granules into an intermittent flow for providing the absorbent material to receiving means movable along a direction, comprising:

• a feed manifold, an outlet nozzle and a main body, the main body being positioned between said feed manifold and said outlet nozzle, configured to cause said absorbent material in granules to flow along a crossing direction coinciding with respective axes of symmetry of said feed manifold, said outlet nozzle and said main body;
• wherein said main body houses a movable element capable of moving alternately between a first and a second working position such that when said movable element is located in the first working position, it forms a first accumulation chamber of the absorbent material, and a first discharge duct of said material, and when said movable element is in the second working position, it forms a second accumulation chamber of the absorbent material and a second discharge duct of said material, wherein said movable element has a wedge shape, having a first and a second end and two side faces, symmetrical along said crossing direction of said flow of absorbent material in granules, converging toward said first end and forming with said second end a first side edge and a second side edge, respectively;
• said movable element being connected at said second end to a shaft rotatable about an axis, the shaft being configured to allow the movable element to perform an oscillating movement about said axis between said first and second working positions.

A device suitable for transforming a continuous and controlled flow of absorbent material in granules into an intermittent flow for providing the absorbent material to receiving means movable along a direction, comprising:

• a feed manifold, an outlet nozzle and a main body, the main body being positioned between said feed manifold and said outlet nozzle, configured to cause said absorbent material in granules to flow along a crossing direction coinciding with respective axes of symmetry of said feed manifold, said outlet nozzle and said main body;
• wherein said main body houses a movable element capable of moving alternately between a first and a second working position such that when said movable element is located in the first working position, it forms a first accumulation chamber of the absorbent material, and a first discharge duct of said material, and when said movable element is in the second working position, it forms a second accumulation chamber of the absorbent material and a second discharge duct of said material, and wherein said outlet nozzle is connected to a lower part of the main body by means of an air manifold interposed between said outlet nozzle and said main body, said air manifold being provided with an air reservoir for pressurized air shaped to wrap around an outer perimeter of said air manifold and being in fluid communication with an interior of said air manifold.