Abstract: A rotary welding device which includes a rotary part rotating about its axis of rotation, one or more supporting elements for supporting a continuous strip, specifically a strip of nappies, supported by the rotary part, and a plurality of welding units, mounted on the rotary part, for welding the continuous strip; each welding unit is configured to pass from a non-operating position to an operating position and vice versa; each welding unit includes a respective welding tip and a respective anvil element which is movable relative to the welding tip; each welding unit includes respective first movement means configured to drive the anvil element in rotation relative to the welding tip from an initial position, where the anvil element is angularly spaced from the welding tip, to a final position, where the surface of the welding tip and the surface of the anvil element are parallel and aligned with each other along the same axis, and vice versa.

Abstract: An apparatus for mutually welding at least two elements of an absorbent sanitary item, including a supporting structure, a first welding member including a first welding surface, and a second welding member including a second welding surface. The second welding member is movable with respect to the first welding member between a non-operating position, in which the second welding surface is spaced apart from the first welding surface to allow at least two elements of the absorbent sanitary item to be positioned above the first welding surface, and a welding position, in which the second welding surface is in contact with the first welding surface to allow welding the at least two elements. One of the welding members includes a yielding coupling element configured to allow a relative displacement between the first and second welding surfaces as a result of the mutual contact between the second and first welding members.

Abstract: A production line of absorbent sanitary articles and method of predictive detection of defects of absorbent sanitary articles, wherein it is provided to: detect current values of operating parameters which are indicative of the current operation of at least one production device adapted to perform respective production operations on the absorbent sanitary articles being processed along the production line; perform a comparison between the current values of the detected operating parameters and respective predetermined reference values; in the presence of at least one anomalous operating parameter that does not comply with the respective predetermined reference values, identify, among a plurality of possible malfunctioning causes of the line, at least one current malfunctioning cause responsible for the at least one anomalous operating parameter; and make a prediction of any defects in the absorbent sanitary articles being processed along the line starting from the at least one current malfunctioning cause ide

Abstract: A production line of absorbent sanitary articles and production control method. The line includes production devices configured to perform production operations on the absorbent sanitary articles; sensors adapted to detect current values of operating parameters indicative of the current operation of the production devices; and a control unit including a memory and a processor configured to perform a comparison between the current values of the operating parameters and respective predetermined reference values stored in the memory and, in the presence of an anomalous operating parameter, to identify, among a plurality of possible malfunctioning causes, a current malfunctioning cause responsible for the anomalous operating parameter.

Abstract: An ultrasonic welding system and method for making welds on a strip made of polymeric material. The system includes a supporting structure, N welding equipment mounted thereon, and a processor. Each N welding equipment includes a pair of welding heads made of a sonotrode, including a sonotrode welding surface, and an anvil, including an anvil welding surface. One of the two welding heads is movable with respect to the other between a non-operating position and a welding position. A control member is operatively associated with the sonotrode and configured to vibrate the sonotrode at a nominal ultrasonic vibration frequency and to detect a current value of the vibration frequency. A vibration sensor is mounted on the movable welding head. The processor monitors the alignment condition between the sonotrode welding surface and the anvil welding surface by cooperating with the control member and with the vibration sensor.

Abstract: A method for forming an absorbent pad including a first layer, a second layer and an absorbent material interposed between the first and the second layer and arranged according to a spreading pattern M1 having at least one channel which is free of absorbent material, includes a step of feeding a first web, intended to form the first layer of the pad; a step of feeding a second web, intended to form the second layer of the pad; a step of spreading the absorbent material on the first web according to the spreading pattern M1; a step of spreading an adhesive on the first web according to a gluing pattern; a step of welding the first web and the second web according to a welding pattern M3 including at least one welding zone at the channel on the pad.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an absorbent pad for an absorbent sanitary article having a zone free of absorbent material to define a channel of the pad includes a forming drum, a first feed system for feeding a first web, a second feed system for feeding a second web, a spreader for spreading the absorbent material on the drum; a joining system for joining the first and second webs to define the channels. A first dispenser forms on the first web a layer of first adhesive substance according to a spreading pattern having zones free of the first adhesive substance corresponding to the channels. A second dispenser dispenses a second adhesive substance, whose adhesive force is greater than an adhesive force of the first adhesive substance, on the second web according to a pattern having a layer placed at a zone free of the first adhesive substance.

Abstract: A machine for making absorbent sanitary articles, includes at least one cutting unit configured to divide a continuous web into segments intended for manufacturing an absorbent sanitary article; the anvil member see includes a drum, rotating about a respective axis of rotation, for retaining the continuous web and the segments obtained therefrom; the cutting member includes a first cutting roller and a second cutting roller, both acting in conjunction with the drum of the anvil member and each rotating about a respective axis of rotation.

Abstract: A device for applying pieces to absorbent articles includes a supporting shaft rotating an axis; anvils rotating about the axis; a cutting unit operating with an anvil contact surface defining a cutting station for cutting a web into pieces; pads, each having a retaining surface for a piece, are moved about the axis for conveying a piece from the cutting station to a releasing station for release onto a substrate. Each pad rotates for varying the orientation from the cutting station, where the larger side of the pad is parallel to a feed of the web, to the releasing station, where the larger side of the pad is transversal to the feed of the receiving substrate, and vice versa. Each pad translates parallel to the pad axis, away from and towards the shaft axis. Each pad has an oscillating movement about its own axis.

Abstract: A method for making a composite web comprises the steps of melt blowing a first flow of thermoplastic material including said first thermoplastic material towards at least one collecting suction surface moving in a feed direction; dispensing a flow of particulate material including a particulate material towards the collecting suction surface in such a way as to intercept the first flow of thermoplastic material in an intercept zone; the first flow of thermoplastic material and the flow of particulate material intercept each other in the intercept zone at an intercept angle of between 1 and 90 sexagesimal degrees, preferably between 15 and 40 sexagesimal degrees.

Abstract: A method for forming and folding an absorbent sanitary article includes the steps of preparing a continuous, multilayer web and feeding it in a feed direction, applying a succession of absorbent pads, spaced from each other, on the continuous, multilayer web, folding the absorbent pads on the continuous multilayer web, temporarily fastening the folded absorbent pads to the continuous, multilayer web, making a succession of lines of weakness in the continuous, multilayer web between consecutive absorbent articles, folding a first flap of each absorbent article towards the corresponding absorbent pad, folding a second flap of each absorbent article towards the corresponding absorbent pad; folding the first flap or the second flap includes tearing the continuous, multilayer web at the lines of weakness, thereby separating the absorbent articles.

Abstract: A composite web includes a mass of meltblown fibres including an elastomer and a hydrophilic additive, melted and blown together, and a particulate material dispersed among the fibres and at least partly adherent thereto.

Abstract: A composite web including a first continuous web having a first face and a second face; the first web includes a molded portion having at least one protrusion, at least partly delimited by a base portion, on the first face; the composite web includes a segment of a second continuous web joined to the second face of the first web at least at the base portion.

Abstract: A composite web including: a first continuous web; at least one molded segment having at least one protrusion and a base portion at least partly delimiting the protrusion, the molded segment being obtained from a second continuous web; the molded segment being joined to the first continuous web by the base portion, the first continuous web and the molded segment delimiting at least one cavity at the protrusion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing discrete elements on a support element. The discrete elements may be separated from each other or joined to form a continuous web. The discrete elements are fed into a pick-up station defined at a rotor which includes circumferentially adjacent pick-up members. Each discrete element is associated with a respective pick-up member having a first orientation with respect to a respective second axis of rotation. Each pick-up member is moved along the rotation direction towards a release position downstream with an at least partially accelerated or decelerated motion. Each pick-up member is rotated about the respective second axis of rotation until it takes, at the release position, a second orientation. Each discrete element is released on a support element at the release position. Each pick-up member is subsequently moved towards the pick-up station with an at least partially decelerated or accelerated motion.

Abstract: A line for the production of diaper pants including at least one absorbent pad and a plurality of elastic bands, forming a pants-like structure; the production line includes a first forming unit for forming a composite web from which said absorbent pads are obtained, a second unit for forming elastic bands for forming said elastic bands and an assembly line for assembling the pads and the elastic bands to construct the diaper pants; the assembly line includes a plurality of processing units, each including a computerized command and control unit and a computerized high level control unit in communication with the computerized command and control units in the assembly line; the high level control unit is configured to impart to each computerized command and control unit at least one control signal for the respective processing unit as a function of the size of the diaper pants being produced in the production line.

Abstract: A rotary device for welding a continuous web comprises a rotary unit rotating about a respective axis and welding units for welding the web mounted, angularly spaced, on the rotary unit. A movement device varies a radial position of the welding units. First and second supporting elements supporting the web are disposed, respectively, upstream and downstream of respective ones of the welding units, to keep the web tensioned when the respective welding unit is at an operating position. The first and second supporting elements are supported by a load-bearing structure connected to the welding units in such a way that a radial movement of the welding units corresponds to a movement of the first and second supporting elements towards and away from the axis.

Abstract: A folding apparatus for a continuous web being fed in a plant for the production of hygienic absorbent articles and intended to be folded into a “V” or “U” shape in a first and in a second longitudinal portion according to a longitudinal folding line parallel to a feeding line of the continuous web comprises a folding section including a first and a second power-driven, movable suction belt and an adjusting system for adjusting a relative position of the longitudinal edges of the continuous web once it has been folded; the adjusting system is configured to adjust the position of the first belt and/or of the second belt depending on at least a first information sent by the first sensor to the computerised control unit.

Abstract: A rotary device for welding a continuous web includes a rotary element, support elements for supporting the web, supported by the rotary element, and a plurality of welding units for welding the web. Each welding unit passes from a non-operating position to an operating position and vice versa, and includes a first movement device for commanding a relative rotation of an anvil element relative to a welding tip and a second movement device for moving the anvil element relative to the welding tip such that a contact surface of the anvil element and a contact surface of the welding tip make contact with a portion of the web in a zone between them, and vice versa. First and second drive mechanisms drive the first and second movement devices. The first and second drive mechanisms are configured to vary a positioning of the welding tip relative to the axis.

Abstract: A device for applying segments of absorbent articles includes a cutting station for cutting a continuous web into segments and an applicator station for applying each segment on a respective absorbent article. A plurality of carrier units, each includes a pad for retaining and transferring a segment from the cutting station to the applicator station. The pad fully rotates about a main axis to transfer the segment from the cutting station to the applicator station and return to the cutting station and, from the cutting station to the applicator station, rotates at least 90° about its axis of rotation to orient the segment transverse to the feed direction of the absorbent article. A first movement member moves one or more first carrier units about the main axis and a second movement member moves one or more second carrier units separately from the first carrier units about the main axis.