US 9,801,763 B2Granted

Method and apparatus for advancing an absorbent article

AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company

InventorsUwe Schneider, Todd Douglas Lenser

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A converting apparatus operates to transfer a folded absorbent article from a first carrier apparatus to a second carrier apparatus. The converting apparatus includes a transfer apparatus and a guide member located adjacent to the transfer apparatus, forming a gap there between. The transfer apparatus includes a frame that is rotatable about a first axis of rotation and a transfer member that is rotatable about a second axis of rotation. The transfer member defines a receiving surface and the guide member defines a guide surface. The guide surface converges toward the receiving surface. The frame advances the absorbent article in a machine direction through the gap. While advancing absorbent article advances through the gap, the transfer member rotates the absorbent article about the second axis of rotation. The guide member includes side seam tuckers that are adapted to tuck the side seams of the absorbent article.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for advancing an absorbent article, the absorbent article having a first waist region and a second waist region separated by a crotch region, wherein the absorbent article is folded such that the first waist region is in a facing relationship with the second waist region, wherein the absorbent article comprises a first elastic belt joined with the first waist region and a second elastic belt joined with the second waist region, wherein the first elastic belt is joined with the second elastic belt to form first and second side seams, the method comprising:

advancing an absorbent article in a machine direction to a transfer apparatus, wherein the transfer apparatus comprises a frame and a transfer member rotatably connected with the frame, wherein the transfer member has a receiving surface;
advancing an absorbent article onto the receiving surface of the transfer member;
rotating the frame about a first axis of rotation to advance the absorbent article between the receiving surface and a guide member, wherein the guide member has a guide surface;
separating the second waist region from the first waist region with centrifugal force;
tucking the first and second side seams of the first and second elastic belts between the separated first and second waist regions;
and
guiding the second waist region into contact with the first waist region.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/582,812Filed 1 May 2017 · continuation
Priority: 23 Oct 2012
Published: US 2017/0231830 A117 Aug 2017
Granted: 31 Oct 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

A61F 13/15764
Apparatus or processes for manufacturing: transferring, feeding or handling devices; Drives
A61F 13/15585
Apparatus or processes for manufacturing: of babies' napkins, e.g. diapers
A61F 13/15772
Apparatus or processes for manufacturing: control
B31F 1/0006
Shaping by bending, folding, twisting, straightening, flattening or rim-rolling; Shaping by bending, folding or rim-rolling combined with…

Family

Application61/717,282Us provisional application · filed 23 Oct 2012
Application14/038,828Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Sep 2013
US 2017/0231830 A1Pre-grant publication · published 17 Aug 2017
US 2014/0113793 A1Published application
US 9,764,905 B2Related patent
US 9,801,763 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.