Absorbent Article Machine Conveyor Roller Picking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for producing absorbent sanitary articles face challenges in operational flexibility and structural complexity when changing formats, requiring additional devices that increase costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A machine design that includes a conveyor system with transfer rollers and a cutting mechanism for producing alternating pieces of elastomeric material, which are then spaced and applied to a continuous band of absorbent material, allowing for flexible format changes with reduced device count and simplified structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional devices are added to the machine to handle format changes, then the adaptability for different article formats is improved, but the device complexity and structural incompatibility increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor roller is designed with a universal picking mechanism that can handle different types of pieces (first pieces and second pieces) alternately from a single continuous strip. The spacer rollers and forming unit are configured to work with multiple format configurations without requiring dedicated devices for each format,从而实现 one device performing multiple functions across different article formats
Solution Approach 2:
The machine employs dynamic speed variation in the conveyor roller and spacer rollers to adapt to different format requirements. By adjusting the rotational speeds and timing of these rollers, the system can accommodate various piece sizes and spacing requirements without physical reconfiguration, allowing the same hardware to dynamically adapt to different production formats
2Ease of manufacture
If the machine structure is simplified to reduce device count, then the ease of manufacture and operational flexibility are improved, but the capability to handle alternating piece formation may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The picking mechanism is segmented into distinct functional zones on the conveyor roller: a picking zone that engages with alternating pieces from the continuous strip, and a release zone that transfers pieces to spacer rollers. This segmentation allows the single conveyor roller to effectively perform the work of multiple picking devices while maintaining the capability to handle alternating first and second pieces
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer rollers serve as intermediary elements between the conveyor roller and the forming unit. These rollers receive alternating pieces from the conveyor, provide the necessary spacing and timing, and transfer pieces to the forming unit. This intermediary mechanism enables the simplified structure to maintain the complex alternating piece formation capability through coordinated roller interactions
Data Source
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AI summary
Described is a machine for making absorbent sanitary articles, according to this invention, comprising a device (10) for feeding a continuous strip (9) to a conveyor roller (1 1 ) and to a device (12) for cutting the strip (9) into a continuous and alternating succession (13) of first (14) and second (15) pieces, a unit (20) for forming and applying on a continuous band (22) of absorbent material at least a pair of first (14) and second (15) pieces, aligned and spaced by a distance (d), for each absorbent article (2); a device (23) for cutting the continuous band (22) into pieces (24) of absorbent material designed to constitute single absorbent articles (2); a first (16) and a second (17) roller each comprising a plurality of units (18,19) for the picking up and the successive release of the first (14) and the second (15) pieces, and a plurality of concentric units (28a, 28b, 28c) rotating, independently of each other, about a shared axis (B, C) of rotation, each of which carrying at least one unit (18, 19); motor means (30) for defining a respective law of motion for each of the units (28a, 28b, 28c) and means (39) for translating the units (18, 19), between a position for picking up the pieces (14, 15), at the conveyor roller (1 1 ), and a position for releasing the pieces (14, 15), at the forming and applying unit (20).