Production line for sanitary goods as hygienic absorbent product

Abstract

To provide a production line for a hygienic absorbent product that is aimed for sanitary goods and / or a hygienic absorbent product or a multi-functional hygienic absorbent product, can combine unit types, accordingly, is flexible.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a production line for a hygienic absorbent product. The production line for a hygienic absorbent product is connected to panels which are standard products for supporting work devices and comprises standard work stations respectively connected to one another with a modular system.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Filed by Ing. Mario Emmi, belonging to Turini Patent Office, a limited company, located at Viale Matteotti 25, CAP 50121 Firenze (FI), and listed under number 1298B in the Patent Consultants Register.

[0002] The present invention relates to the technical field related to manufacturing lines for producing sanitary articles, preferably, for example, diapers for men, women, and infants, such as facial tissues, and / or absorbent products for health care.

[0003] In particular, the present invention relates to a manufacturing line that is very flexible in its overall configuration and / or production, and at the same time multifunctional. In addition to this, it guarantees safe access for the operator to the work or management area to which they belong, and further guarantees easy access to the above-mentioned area.

Background Art

[0004] Manufacturing machines (or manufacturing lines, which can also be called) for sanitary articles (such as absorbent products for health care) have been well-known for a long time.

[0005] There are many products that can be manufactured, including sanitary articles that can be worn by users, such as products belonging to the series of disposable napkins, disposable napkins, disposable absorbent products, mattress protection covers for leakage fluids, etc.

[0006] Generally, such a manufacturing line is developed by work sections or work stations (here defined by the term work unit or simply unit) that are continuously interconnected with each other. In this form, sanitary articles can be manufactured from the supply of raw materials to the manufacturing line until the final product that has been completed and packaged is sent out from the manufacturing line.

[0007] For example, in the case of sanitary articles belonging to a series of disposable napkins (or similar products), it starts with the processing of cellulose that forms the absorbent core of the product, which is wrapped between two raw sheets produced by unwinding a base bobbin. The product is manufactured at a plurality of work stations (or units as described above), and is manufactured until the end of the product manufacturing process where it is completed as a final product and packaged.

[0008] On the premise of the above, in the technical field of manufacturing lines for producing sanitary articles, especially health care absorbent products, it is known that these manufacturing lines are made with the above-mentioned units connected to each other continuously. In fact, each unit is equipped with one or a series of operating devices that perform certain work steps. This operating device, for example, comprises one motor for performing certain operations and an operating part driven by this motor. This operating part may, for example, comprise a roller that is rotated to perform certain work steps of the product. In well-known techniques, this unit is composed of a support frame to which an upper panel is fixed. Each panel is formed to accommodate one or more (one or more) operating devices, whereby one or more operating devices are completely integrated with the panel (definable as an operating entity) and stably fixed to the panel.

[0009] In particular, the operating device can comprise one driving part and one operating part, and the operating part is attached to one side of the panel, and the driving part is attached to the other side. The panel with an operating part detachably connected to itself thus becomes an entity (i.e., an operating entity or an operating device) that can be easily removed from and reinstalled or generally attached to the frame of the unit.

[0010] In this form, it has broad multifunctionality and excellent workability. When replacing a single operating device, all the operating bodies (or also called operating devices) composed of the panel and the devices connected to itself can be directly removed and replaced with other operating bodies that have been prepared in advance. This is beneficial not only in case of failure but also, for example, when deciding on machine modification to enable manufacturing of different formats. With this simple form, it is possible to remove the panel equipped with the operating device connected to itself and replace it with another panel of the same dimensions that has been prepared in advance and is equipped with a new operating device (for example, an operating device with different dimensions and / or power).

[0011] Also based on another well-known technique, it is possible to connect the panels in such a way that each panel becomes an independent element, or in other words, so that one panel placed at a lower position does not support the weight of the panel above it compared to other panels, separated by a distance gap in the frame of the unit. This enables the removal of the panels in a completely independent form because none of the panels in this configuration support other panels.

[0012] Assuming all of these, still, the well-known techniques do not have a complete solution for the technical problems related to flexibility in the production / design and operation of the production line.

[0013] The working units that are each continuously connected are often realized in a unique form for a specific line.

[0014] This necessarily means that a certain unit cannot be connected in different lines.

[0015] Also, the types of panels that a certain unit can accommodate are panels of specific dimensions. Each production line is equipped with units that are specifically made to be interconnected by coated panels with unique operating devices dedicated to that line and not usable on other lines.

[0016] Therefore, since each unit cannot be interchanged with other units, the construction cost of the line increases. Also, for the same line, since the parts used in one line cannot be interchanged with each other, it becomes difficult to apply them to other lines, resulting in a lack of flexibility. In other words, it is difficult to use and incorporate the units of one specific line into another line.

[0017] Similarly, the panel of one set of units associated with a certain line cannot be used for the units of another line.

[0018] Therefore, this is the cause of the low flexibility of the current manufacturing line.

[0019] Also, automatic robots used for performing cleaning operations such as sucking dust generated during the manufacturing process of general goods and products are well-known and widely used.

[0020] Such robots operate, for example, on guides installed on the unit itself.

[0021] Based on the aforementioned well-known technology, it is obvious that applying an automatic robot for cleaning that moves along the operating units of a certain manufacturing line to a unit of another line is difficult because of the low flexibility of the current line as already described. In particular, the insertion of a working unit incorporated into another line may interfere with the continuous operation of the robot.

[0022] Also, the overall layout of the manufacturing line is such that such protective devices applied for the safety of the operator are bulky and become specific to the particular manufacturing line, significantly narrowing the operating space for the operator, making the cleaning operation using a predetermined robot or general machinery even more difficult, and preventing the application of the above protective measures to different lines. At the end of the operating life of the manufacturing line, the protective devices and, in some cases, the robots as well, become as difficult to reuse on other lines as the devices themselves connected to the panel. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0023] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a production line that at least partially solves the above technical obstacles.

[0024] Specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide a unit-type combinable and thus flexible production line for sanitary products (also called sanitary goods), particularly wearable sanitary products and / or health care absorbent products or multi-functional health care absorbent products.

[0025] More specifically, an object is to provide a solution such that the working units of the line are interchangeable with other working units from other lines, and if there is one or more predetermined cleaning robots, they can be continuously used as they are, while ensuring an appropriate operating space and safety and maintaining the above safety protection.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0026] This object and other objects can be achieved, for example, by a production line for a health care absorbent product according to claim 1.

[0027] Such a line comprises the following.

[0028] Two or more working units (mod1, mod2,..modn) that are sequentially and continuously installed, each forming the above production line.

[0029] Each working unit preferably comprises one or more panels (11).

[0030] In particular, each panel (11) can preferably be advantageously provided with one or more operating devices (60) that can be connected to the panel (11) in a removable form for carrying out at least one working step along the above production line.

[0031] The line can perform its working operation in this form.

[0032] Furthermore, each working unit (mod1, mod2,..modn) advantageously comprises a support structure frame (52, 53, 54) to which one or more panels (11) are removably connected.

[0033] More specifically, the whole of one or more actuating devices (60) connected to one panel advantageously forms an actuating combination (11, 60).

[0034] In this form, during use, the whole of the actuating combination (11, 60) is removed and advantageously reconnected to one support structure frame (52, 53, 54), and different actuating combinations are advantageously connected to one support structure frame in place of the previously removed actuating combination.

[0035] Also, each support structure frame can advantageously be provided with a plurality of actuating devices, and / or conversely one actuating device can be provided with a plurality of each support structure frame.

[0036] According to the present invention, the one or more support structure frames (52, 53, 54) of the above two or more working units (mod1, mod2,..modn) are of a standard type, so that each production line can advantageously be configured in a modular manner by combining any number of working units (mod1, mod2,..modn) each having one or more support structure frames (52, 53, 54) standardized according to any combination.

[0037] By this standardized solution of the support structure frame (52, 53, 54), a predetermined object is achieved.

[0038] In particular, since each production line can make any combination as required, it can be configured by combining any number of standard working units.

[0039] By standardizing these support structure frames (52, 53, 54), these frames belong to a group of frames with virtually interchangeable characteristics, thereby enabling them to be freely combined.

[0040] In this way, each work unit belongs to a virtual standard group and is naturally interchangeable and combinable with each other.

[0041] As described above, the production of standard work units (and thus especially the production of standard support structure frames) means that each unit constitutes a standard module. In other words, even if the frames of other modules belonging to a predetermined group have different configurations (for example, the geometric shape of the frame), the frame is interchangeable with other modules in the group (for example, the overall shape is different, and / or the parts are longer, and / or higher, and / or present different aspects in some sense).

[0042] In any case, the support structure frames will exhibit interchangeable geometric characteristics at the connection sites to the support structure frames of other units.

[0043] That is, in absolute flexibility, it is possible to realize a line where all the various work units of the line have the same configuration, or a line composed of two or more of the above standard modules that belong to the same standardized group and are also standard modules but have different frame configurations that naturally belong to the standard group.

[0044] Therefore, this is brought about by a standardized design in which the number of standard units in the group is large, and their countless combinations ensure the production of infinitely different lines.

[0045] In a non-limiting example, the unit group is composed of, for example, three working units (unit 1, unit 2, unit 3) that are different from each other (for example, geometrically, each standard frame is geometrically different from each other but interchangeable), and is designed to correspond to possible necessary cases. Exactly following the concept of "LEGO" blocks, numerous combinations of production lines can be realized by combining each of them. For example, in one production line, it can be considered that a certain number of unit 1s are continuously combined respectively, unit 2 is connected thereto, and then another unit 1 follows. The combinations are infinite, and it is also possible to reuse some units instead for some other lines that use the same group of units.

[0046] Therefore, in the design, production is carried out using a certain number that is limited to the repetition of the same units determined for the group and is prepared to be stored in the warehouse and quickly combined for line production.

[0047] Each of these units is configured to be able to accommodate, for example, an automatic cleaning robot, so that this proposed solution is made multifunctional even when one module is transferred to replace the previous modules in other production lines.

[0048] In accordance with a particularly preferred form of the present invention, following tests and experiments, the applicant has advantageously found that the above panels also form part of standard panels each having a predetermined configuration different from other panels of the above group.

[0049] More specifically, the applicant has advantageously found a solution such that the standard panels of this group are interchangeable with the standard panels belonging to the above group of working units during use.

[0050] In this way, for each of the above standard work units, any combination of the standard panels belonging to the above standard panel group can be advantageously applied in a removable form.

[0051] More specifically, with respect to the panels applicable to the above units, there are also conditions that panels having the same configuration can be used respectively, and / or standard panels belonging to the above group but having different configurations from each other among two or more of them can be combined.

[0052] Therefore, it is obvious that such a solution provides great flexibility.

[0053] By this method, it can be confirmed that there are a large number of combinations of panels applicable to different units.

[0054] The standard configuration of the above frame is, advantageously, a geometric configuration.

[0055] Therefore, this means that the standard support structure frames of the above units (standards) can be geometrically different from each other (for example, in dimensions).

[0056] Similarly, the configuration of the above standard panel can advantageously be of a geometric type.

[0057] This means that the standard panels belonging to the group can be geometrically different from each other (for example, in dimensions).

[0058] Therefore, in the design, it is possible to assume "n" types of units with a standard support structure frame, and "m" types of panels each having "n" compatible units, and "m" compatible panels having the above "n" units.

[0059] In terms of design, this method can produce a large number of working units that all have standard (and thus standard frames) of the above units and can combine such groups of units in any order to enable the production of a line.

[0060] In contrast, standard or non-standard panels each equipped with an operating device are applied based on any order.

[0061] With this method, the entire working assembly (panel + operating device) is prepared and stored in advance for use, for example, for replacement purposes, so that replacements, repairs, etc. can be carried out promptly without the machine being shut down for a long time.

[0062] At least electronic and / or hydraulic and / or air-related components can be advantageously arranged at locations corresponding to the above panel (11) and / or on one or more of the above support structure frames (52, 53, 54).

[0063] With this method, a compact construction solution is obtained.

[0064] As already described above, the standardization of one or more support structure frames (52, 53, 54) is preferably geometric standardization.

[0065] As already described above, all of the above production lines can advantageously comprise combinations of two or more of the above working units (mod1, mod2,..modn) each having the same standard support structure frame (52, 53, 54).

[0066] Alternatively, this line can advantageously comprise two or more different working units (mod1, mod2,..modn) each having one or more support structure frames (52, 53, 54) that are different from each other but of a standard type.

[0067] From what has been described above, a high flexibility of this solution is presumed.

[0068] From what has been described above, at least one of the above panels (11) can select standard or non-standard products.

[0069] This enhances the multifunctionality of the line at its production stage.

[0070] Two or more of the above work units (mod1, mod2,..modn) can be formed to advantageously apply protection barriers (Ps1, Ps2,..Psn) along the longitudinal deployment direction of the above production line.

[0071] By this method, protection is advantageously formed.

[0072] According to one aspect of the present invention, the above protection barriers (Ps1, Ps2,..Psn) can be advantageously arranged at a certain distance from the front surface (54) of the production line so as to form a work passage 100 accessible or passable by an operator and / or another machine.

[0073] By this method, a safe passage accessible even to robots can be created.

[0074] More specifically, by this method, the dual advantage of having an easy-to-use space for the operator and one or more robots to be scheduled can be advantageously obtained.

[0075] The protection barrier can be advantageously fixed to a certain part of the support structure frames (52, 53, 54) of the above work units (mod1, mod2,..modn) or to the ground.

[0076] A barrier separated from the units of the line and adapted to a standardized support frame, which advantageously enables flexible adaptation to any combination of units.

[0077] In all the described configurations, this protective barrier (Ps1, Ps2,.. Psn) can advantageously be formed by a plurality of panels (Ps1, Ps2,.. Psn) that are each slidably and continuously arranged between the position where one or more front panels are superimposed to create this opening and the position where the said opening is at least partially closed.

[0078] By this method, it is possible to advantageously create an opening that may be related to the entire length of the line itself.

[0079] More specifically, thanks to this sliding solution, when the barrier protects the entire length of the line in the longitudinal direction, it is actually possible to slide all the panels to form an opening over the entire longitudinal distance of the line.

[0080] The said panels (Ps1, Ps2,.. Psn) can advantageously be made of plastic and / or transparent material so as to be able to see through.

[0081] Thus, it is possible to advantageously provide an automatic robot (110).

[0082] This robot 110 can advantageously be configured to perform cleaning of one or more of two or more working units (mod1, mod2,.. modn) of the production line.

[0083] This said robot (110) can advantageously be arranged in accordance with, for example, the operation passage 100 delimited by the said protective barrier (Ps1, Ps2,.. Psn).

[0084] By this method, operations can be carried out safely.

[0085] In particular, the working unit can be provided with a track along which it advances when the guide is connected.

[0086] This track forms a guide, and the robot is constrained to move along this guide.

[0087] Therefore, the standardization of the units (especially the frame for the reasons mentioned above) enables the use of the robot advantageously even when the units are exchanged for others, for example, during the upgrade of the line.

[0088] This robot (110) can advantageously move along the laid guide in the vicinity of two or more of the above-mentioned work units (mod1, mod2,.. modn).

[0089] The above manufacturing line can advantageously be provided with one or more electrical control panels (120) and their wiring.

[0090] Such an electrical control panel (120) can be arranged at a certain distance from the back (52) of the above manufacturing line and at a certain distance from two or more of the above-mentioned work units (mod1, mod2,.. modn) along the direction of the deployment of the manufacturing line operations.

[0091] In this way, a second passage (130) whose range is limited by one or more of the above electrical control panels (120) and the back (52) of the manufacturing line is advantageously formed.

[0092] The applicant has found that this configuration advantageously improves the access to and the operability of the electrical control panel for the operator compared to the well-known methods placed on the line.

[0093] The electrical wiring of one or more electrical control panels (120) is advantageously covered by a duct (140) or a floor wiring duct (140).

[0094] This also contributes to safety.

[0095] The use of a manufacturing line based on one or more of the previous characteristics for the manufacture of healthcare absorbent products is a further object of the present invention.

[0096] Furthermore, a method for manufacturing a production line suitable for manufacturing health care absorbent products is an object of the present invention.

[0097] According to the present invention, this method successively assembles two or more of the above-described work units (mod1, mod2,.. modn) according to a predetermined combination, and has one or more operating devices (60) for performing one or more steps of work along the production line. The method includes a step of manufacturing the production line with two or more of the above-described work units (mod1, mod2,.. modn) provided with one or more panels (11).

[0098] According to the present invention, the above-described manufacturing step includes a sub-step of advantageously installing one or more standard-type support structure frames (52, 53, 54) on two or more of the above-described work units (mod1, mod2,.. modn).

[0099] By this method, each production line can be advantageously manufactured by combining two or more of the above-described work units (mod1, mod2,.. modn), each having a standardized support structure frame (52, 53, 54), in any combination and in any number in a modular manner.

[0100] Therefore, excellent multifunctionality is achieved.

[0101] When it becomes necessary to modify the production line, a step of removing one or more of the two or more work units (mod1, mod2,.. modn) and a replacement step of using one or more work units (mod1, mod2,.. modn) each having one or more standardized support structure frames (52, 53, 54) are advantageously planned.

[0102] Further features and advantages of the present production line according to the present invention will become more apparent from the description of several embodiments, which are made by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0103]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8A

Figure 8B

Figure 8C

Figure 8D

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0104] The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0105] Figure 1 shows a modular standard work unit device (also called a work station).

[0106] Modularity means that one modularized thing and another modularized thing are interchangeable, that is, they can be connected to each other and / or continuously combined to form a manufacturing line.

[0107] These are also standard products, which means that a certain number of modular devices (i.e., units) with a predetermined configuration that are generally different from other modules in the same group are assumed to be in the modular device, and this enables free and continuous combination with each other.

[0108] Due to the modular system for the above reasons, they can be interchanged and combined in any order.

[0109] In a non-limiting example of FIG. 1, three types of examples (which can of course be replicated in any quantity), i.e., three unit models, are shown as examples. As is clear, this device can be composed of any quantity of unit types.

[0110] Each unit may be different from others in the same group in terms of dimensions and / or general configuration and / or materials, etc., and thus may be different, for example, only in terms of actual geometric type (i.e., general dimensions and / or shape).

[0111] As an example, FIG. 1 actually shows three different shapes with different dimensions. Therefore, this device is composed of three geometrically different models. Each module is a standard product in terms of design, and any quantity of each module can be manufactured. In this way, any combination can be combined with each other, so by manufacturing the above device, these units can be combined with each other to manufacture production lines that are standardized but very different from each other.

[0112] As an example, FIG. 2 shows a single production line composed of a sixth module unit continuously connected to each other. These units are, for example, part of the modules of the standard device illustrated in FIG. 1 and are presented continuously therein.

[0113] Module unit 1 is followed by module unit 2, then module unit 1 again, and then two module units 3. And this figure schematically shows the work input to the line and the output of the final sanitary product.

[0114] As already mentioned, the modular unit is defined as a standard product, that is, a certain model type that makes up a group, and the line is made by combining only the same type of models in the group as needed. Each unit is therefore interchangeable with all other units in the group to ensure connection and continuity.

[0115] As shown in FIG. 2, as an example, an example of a production line of modular type 2 composed of only three units of type 2 is shown.

[0116] Therefore, based on this solution, since all of these are standard products and are interchangeable with each other, it is very easy to add or remove modular units. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, if necessary, unit 1 of the first line can be inserted into the position of unit 2 of the second line, and similarly, the new unit 3 can replace unit 1 or unit 2 of the first line and the second line respectively.

[0117] Therefore, in particular, since the modular units are all interchangeable with each other, units can be added and / or excluded and / or exchanged from / to one line as needed.

[0118] For example, regarding FIG. 2, if it is necessary to change the working format of the production line of modular type 2, then, for example, as long as it belongs to the defined standard group, unit 2 can be exchanged with the new unit 3.

[0119] In this method, the produced modules (or what can be called units) are always the same for the device, and by combining the modules among them, it is possible to produce lines of any length for any need due to the great flexibility and versatility of the line.

[0120] Therefore, for example, if it is decided to manufacture a device composed of a standard third model, such units of the device can be combined with each other, and for the purpose of manufacturing the required lines, a large number of such models of the device can be manufactured and stored.

[0121] More specifically, as can also be inferred from FIGS. 1 and 2, what is standardized in the module to enable such free combination is the support structure frames (52, 53, 54) of each module.

[0122] Therefore, each module has a support structure frame belonging to a standardized group so that the above-described flexibility and compatibility can be realized.

[0123] And each frame may have different geometric characteristics for each module, even if each has a mutually interchangeable connection part that ensures a continuous arrangement of a plurality of modules in a free form as required.

[0124] Regarding FIG. 3, based on yet another configuration of the invention, as it is described as it is, the same concept can be advantageously applied to the panel as well.

[0125] More specifically, as is well known in the current state of the art, the units described here include a support structure frame (simply called a support frame or a frame for short), which is a standard product as described above.

[0126] In this regard, FIG. 4 shows a modular working unit 50 including a base 51 to which support structure frames (52, 53, 54) are attached. The above support frames can preferably assume one or more front vertical bars 52 and one or more rear vertical bars 54 arranged substantially parallel to each other as much as possible.

[0127] In this way, the front surface 54 and the rear surface 52 of the unit will be formed.

[0128] The bar is vertically attached from the base 51.

[0129] Finally, it is also possible to assume an upper closing device (55) of a single beam or a combination of a beam and / or a panel.

[0130] As described above, the geometry of this frame (listing non-limiting examples above) may vary from module to module, but is still included in a standardized group.

[0131] Regarding FIGS. 6 and 7, the front face 54 of the unit corresponds to the front face of the line, and the rear face 52 of the unit (related to the beam 52) corresponds to the rear face of the line.

[0132] Regarding FIG. 4, on the front face (beam 54), a panel 11 is advantageously attached to which an operating device 60 forming a so-called operating assembly (11, 60) is integrally attached.

[0133] The operating assembly is thus an assembly of panels 11 to which a plurality of operating devices 60 are removably attached.

[0134] Regarding FIG. 4, an operating device 60 composed of an operating part (61, 62) and a driving part (63, 64) is connected to one panel 11.

[0135] Regarding FIG. 4, the driving parts are indicated by numbers 63 and 64, are arranged within the structure of the unit, and on the outside there are operating parts indicated by numbers 61 and 62 in FIG. 4. And on each panel, the above-mentioned operating device is connected in such a way that there is an operating part (61, 62) extending from one face of the panel in a removable form and a driving part extending from the other face on the opposite side.

[0136] The panel is arranged, for example, as schematized in FIG. 3 to fix the operating device thereto, and is provided with predetermined through holes 10 having different shapes according to the operating device to be connected. The connection can be carried out by predetermined means such as screws and bolts.

[0137] And this panel itself can be easily removably connected to the frame by means of connection means such as screws and bolts.

[0138] In another aspect of the present invention, as schematized in FIG. 3, the panel is also a standard product and, advantageously, forms part of a standard panel group that can be combined with and is interchangeable with all the modular units described above.

[0139] Such panels also have different shapes within the group and are pre - determined models.

[0140] In the example of FIG. 3, three panels (three models that make up a pre - determined group), each geometrically different in a non - limiting way, are shown.

[0141] In this way, it is possible to arrange a large number of operating assemblies (i.e., standard panels with operating devices) that are all compatible with the units and can be interconnected in various combinations.

[0142] In this way, the functionality is improved because the operating assembly of one modular unit related to one production line can be transferred, for example, to other units on other lines.

[0143] Similarly, within the same unit, the operating assembly can be replaced, for example, with an equivalent one already prepared in case of failure, or, when upgrading the line, such an operating assembly can be replaced, for example, with one that already has a different motor or / and device and is interchangeable but has a different configuration.

[0144] In this way, excellent functionality can be obtained during production.

[0145] It should be understood that in any case, this line has high flexibility even in the application and / or use of non-standardized panels.

[0146] In yet another aspect of the present invention, each modular unit is manufactured so as to ensure continuity as described above and to be combinable even if it has a different configuration from other units in the group.

[0147] As shown in FIG. 6, this enables the use of one or more cleaning robots 110 that are composed of units combined with each other and move continuously along the track, and this guide track is continuously maintained even when one unit is exchanged for another with a different configuration. All of this is because these units are standard products as described above and thus belong to a group of models that are mutually interchangeable.

[0148] This robot 110 may be equipped with a monitoring camera, can be remotely controlled if necessary, and is also programmable to operate autonomously and automatically.

[0149] This robot is provided with a cleaning tip that operates by sucking and / or spraying an appropriate substance.

[0150] The robot 110 moves inside the passage 100 from the front part 54 which is a part whose range is limited by the protection parts (Ps1....Psn).

[0151] This protection part is also, based on yet another aspect of the present invention, composed of a panel shape or a general panel made of plastic and / or a transparent material in order to enable viewing inside.

[0152] The protection panels are attached in a slidable manner so that they can be overlapped with each other in the present invention.

[0153] Figure 5, which shows a front view of the entire line, indicates how these panels extend to form a protective barrier along the entire longitudinal length of the line operation and how they are spaced apart from the front part 54 of the line in a manner that forms an easily accessible passage for the operator, as inferred from Figure 6.

[0154] As shown in a series of figures from Figure 8A to Figure 8D, these panels are all slidable relative to each other along the longitudinal deployment direction of the production line and can be overlapped with each other.

[0155] Therefore, this enables the panels to be continuously overlapped to actively provide protection or to open an access space that can even target the entire length of the line, as schematically shown in Figure 8A, until an access opening can be opened, thus enabling the partial opening of the access opening. Therefore, this solution, unlike a double - leaf door, enables access of any dimension that can target the entire distance or almost the entire distance of the line itself.

[0156] Also, since the sliding mechanism creates an opening located within the barrier in this way, it is possible to slide only the panel of Ps2, for example, onto PS3, without even having to start opening from the panel of Ps1.

[0157] The predetermined frame shown in the figure surrounded by dashed lines supports the panel and enables the panel to slide, for example, as described for the same support structure frame of that module.

[0158] Based on another aspect of the present invention, Figure 7 shows the production line as viewed from above.

[0159] In this solution, the electrical control panel is arranged on the rear floor surface 52 of the current production line (i.e., in FIG. 4, for example, the part in the direction following motors 63 and 64), and a duct or step 140 covering the electrical cables is shown. In this way, another passage 130 defined by the electrical control panel 120 and the rear surface 52 will be formed.

[0160] This solution is different from the techniques well-known in the art, especially without the risk of getting stuck with many cables, ensuring easy passage for the operator, and facilitating the operation of the electrical control panel.

[0161] A production line of healthcare absorbent products is used, in which units belonging to a specific group are combined with each other, and thus the standard units designed and manufactured can be combined with each other for production.

[0162] In this way, all lines can be easily modified by adding or removing units belonging to such a group.

[0163] Also, the panels, if necessary (not necessarily), are standard products and belong to a predetermined standard group, and thus are advantageously recognized as compatible with the above-mentioned standard units.

[0164] Therefore, it is sufficient to produce a large quantity of such units and / or panels, for example, place them in a warehouse, and then combine them as needed to produce the line.

[0165] The barriers and the electrical control panel are, as described above, compatible with such a modular system.

Claims

1. 1. A health care absorbent product manufacturing line, comprising: two or more operational units (mod1, mod2, ... modn), each arranged in series to form said production line, each operational unit (mod1, mod2, ... modn) comprising one or more panels (11), each panel (11) comprising one or more actuators (60) removably connectable to said panel (11) for performing one or more work steps along said production line, each operational unit (mod1, mod2, ... modn) comprising one or more supporting structural frames (52, 53, 54) to which one or more panels (11) are removably connected; 1. A production line for absorbent health products, characterized in that one or more of said support structural frames (52, 53, 54) of two or more of said working units (mod1, mod2, ..modn) are of a standard type, so that each production line can be produced with any number of working units (mod1, mod2, ..modn) equipped with said standardized one or more support structural frames (52, 53, 54), which can be modularly combined with one another according to any combination.

2. 2. The manufacturing line according to claim 1, wherein electronic and / or hydraulic and / or pneumatic components are arranged at locations corresponding to said panels (11) and / or on one or more of said supporting structural frames (52, 53, 54).

3. 3. A manufacturing line according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the standardization of one or more of the support structure frames (52, 53, 54) is a geometric standardization.

4. 4. A manufacturing line according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a combination of two or more working units (mod1, mod2, ... modn) all the same and each equipped with a standard support structure frame (52, 53, 54), or else comprising two or more working units (mod1, mod2, ... modn) different from each other, each having one or more said support structure frames (52, 53, 54) which are different but still of the standard type.

5. A production line according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of said panels (11) are standard and / or non-standard.

6. 6. The manufacturing line according to claim 1, wherein two or more of the working units (mod1, mod2, ... modn) are configured to allow the use of protective barriers along the longitudinal development direction of the manufacturing line, the protective barriers (Ps1, Ps2, ... Psn) being arranged at a distance from the front face (54) of the manufacturing line so as to form an operating passage (100) accessible and / or passable by one operator and / or one machine; the protective barriers (Ps1, Ps2, ... Psn) being preferably fixed to a part of the supporting structural frame (52, 53, 54) of the working units (mod1, mod2, ... modn) and / or to the ground.

7. 7. The manufacturing line according to claim 6, wherein the protective barrier (Ps1, Ps2, ..Psn) is constituted by a plurality of panels (Ps1, Ps2, Psn) arranged in succession and slidable between a folded position in which one or more front and / or rear panels overlap to open the opening, and an unfolded position in which the opening is at least partially closed.

8. 8. A manufacturing line according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the panels (Ps1, Ps2, ..Psn) are made of plastic and / or transparent material to allow a see-through.

9. 9. The manufacturing line according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an automatic robot (110) configured to perform cleaning of one or more of two or more of said operational units (mod1, mod2, ..modn) of said manufacturing line.

10. 10. The manufacturing line according to claim 9, wherein the automated robot (110) is located in a location corresponding to an operating aisle (100) delimited by protective barriers (Ps1, Ps2, ..Psn).

11. 11. The manufacturing line according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the robot (110) moves along a guide fabricated in the vicinity of two or more of the operational units (mod1, mod2, ..modn).

12. 12. The production line according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising one or more electric control panels (120) and associated electric wiring, the electric control panels (120) being positioned along the direction of development of the production line at a distance from the one or more electric control panels (120) and two or more of the operational units (mod1, mod2, ... modn) and at a distance from a rear face (52) of the production line so as to form a second passage (130) delimited by a rear face (52) of the production line; preferably the electric wiring of the one or more electric control panels (120) is covered by a duct (140) or a floor raceway (140).

13. Use of a production line according to any one of claims 1 to 12 for the production of absorbent health products.

14. A method for producing a production line for making absorbent health products, comprising the steps of: producing said production line by successively assembling two or more operating units (mod1, mod2, ... modn) according to a predetermined combination, each of said operating units (mod1, mod2, ... modn) with one or more panels (11) provided with one or more actuators (60) for the execution of one or more operation steps along said production line, said production step being carried out by the front of two or more A method for producing a production line for making absorbent products for health care, wherein the above-mentioned working units (mod1, mod2, ... modn) have sub-stages equipped with one or more standard type support structure frames (52, 53, 54), and each production line can be produced by modularly combining any number of two or more of the above-mentioned working units (mod1, mod2, ... modn), each equipped with one or more of the above-mentioned standardized support structure frames (52, 53, 54) according to any combination.

15. 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein if a modification of the production line is required, it is provided for removing one or more of the two or more operational units (mod1, mod2, ..modn) and replacing them with one or more operational units (mod1, mod2, ..modn), each of which is provided with one or more standardized support structure frames (52, 53, 54).

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