Cutting Device With Variable Suction Holding For Elastic Gather Contraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cutting apparatuses for disposable worn articles, such as diapers, result in uneven intervals and asymmetric shapes due to the contraction of elastic gathers, leading to manufacturing inefficiencies and aesthetic issues during packaging.
Innovation Solution
A cutting apparatus with a holding conveying mechanism featuring a rotation drum and holding pad units with varying suction power and surface textures, which maintains even cutting intervals by preventing gather contraction and ensuring equal lengths on both sides of the disposable worn articles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a blade arranged on a rotating cutter roller cuts the web conveyed while being held onto the absorbent pad, then the web is cut into units of disposable worn article, but the gather is released and contracted toward the other end, causing unequal intervals at the center position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by introducing a gathering prevention mechanism that acts on the elastic gather before the cutting operation. The gathering prevention blades are positioned to engage and restrain the elastic gather prior to the cut, preventing the gather from contracting and causing displacement during the cutting process. This ensures that the cutting intervals remain equal and the disposable worn articles are conveyed at consistent positions.
2Ease of manufacture
If one end of the width direction is cut while the web is expanded, then the disposable worn article is deviated by gather contraction, but the length on the one end side becomes short, resulting in asymmetric appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by positioning gathering prevention blades that exert a counteracting force on the elastic gather before the cutting operation completes. These blades are arranged to prevent the gather from contracting toward the unc cut end, thereby counteracting the displacement force that would otherwise cause asymmetric shaping. This ensures both ends of the disposable worn article maintain equal lengths and symmetric appearance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus ensures consistent cutting intervals and prevents the contraction of elastic gathers, maintaining the quality and appearance of disposable worn articles, facilitating stable conveyance and packaging.
Implementation Method 1
holding pad units (32) having different suction powers
Data Source
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AI summary
A cutting apparatus 1 includes a holding conveying mechanism 30 configured to convey a web W using a holding surface 32A, and a cutting mechanism 20 configured to perform first cutting to cut the web W conveyed while being held by the holding conveying mechanism 30 along a crossing direction CD crossing a conveyance direction MD of the web W and performing second cutting to cut the web along the crossing direction CD with a predetermined distance from the first cutting. The holding surface 32A includes a main holding area 301 configured to hold the web along the crossing direction CD between the first cutting and the second cutting, and an auxiliary holding area 302 configured to hold the web W by a holding power weaker than the holding power in the main holding area, at least in either upstream or downstream of the conveyance direction MD of the main holding area.