Abstract: An absorbent sanitary article that includes a permeable inner layer, an impermeable outer layer, an absorbent pad interposed between the permeable inner layer and the impermeable outer layer; the pad includes a first layer of non-woven fabric, a second layer of non-woven fabric partly joined to the first layer of non-woven fabric, an absorbent core interposed between the first and second layers of non-woven fabric, a plurality of seals between the first layer of non-woven fabric and the second layer of non-woven fabric defining in the absorbent pad a plurality of cells; the absorbent core includes a first absorbent material and a second absorbent material divided in the cells; the cells comprise at least a first cell containing the second absorbent material together with the first absorbent material.

Abstract: A unit for making absorbent pads for nappies including a forming drum by which the absorbent pad is formed and in turn including on its peripheral surface one or more suction recesses; at least one hood for feeding the absorbent material and peripherally facing at least part of the peripheral surface of the drum; and a duct which leads to the hood and which can intermittently feed predetermined charges of a superabsorbent material; the feeding duct is configured in such a way that the flow of superabsorbent material fed into the hood expands until reaching an extent corresponding to the longitudinal extension of the at least one discrete layer of the absorbent pad.

Abstract: A machine for making absorbent sanitary articles includes a device for feeding a continuous strip to a conveyor roller and to a device for cutting the strip into first and second pieces. A unit forms and applies at least a pair of first and second pieces, aligned and spaced by a distance (d), for each absorbent article. A first and a second roller each comprising a plurality of units pick up and successively release of first and the second pieces. A plurality of concentric units rotating, independently of each other, about a shared axis of rotation, each carries at least one unit. A motor defines a respective law of motion for each of the units and a mechanism translates the units, between a position for picking up the pieces, at the conveyor roller, and a position for releasing the pieces, at the forming and applying unit.

Abstract: In a machine for making absorbent sanitary articles, such as nappies for babies or incontinence pads for adults, sanitary towels or the like, a plurality of operating stations are equipped with cutting and/or sealing devices for the materials of which the articles consist; all or some of the operating stations each being equipped with at least one laser unit for performing the cutting and/or sealing operation; the laser units all being connected to the same laser source.

Abstract: The machine according to the invention, for making absorbent sanitary articles, comprises a device for forming inside the absorbent article a pad composed of a plurality of superposed layers of absorbent material, a transfer roller located downstream of the device and having a cylindrical lateral surface, and a wrapping unit which is located downstream of the transfer roller and by which the pad is placed between a first sheet of impermeable or permeable material and a second sheet of permeable material; the transfer roller transfers the internal pad from the forming device to the wrapping unit, the forming device also comprises, for each layer of absorbent material, a respective forming unit for cutting into lengths a continuous web of absorbent material fed into the selfsame unit and for transferring the lengths to the transfer roller; the lengths of material fed by each unit are mutually superposed on the lateral surface of the transfer roller so as to form the layers of the pad and the pad itself.

Abstract: In a method for making absorbent sanitary articles, each absorbent article includes a pair of side tabs fed from a single continuous tape divided by oblique cuts into first and second series of side tabs oriented in opposite directions. The side tabs of the first and second series are then fed along a first path and along a second path, respectively and are first rotated by 180° and then combined and transferred separately along a third, common path along which each tab of the first series has a respective tab of the second series placed alongside it to form a pair of side tabs. At least one of the side tabs of each pair is moved sideways such that each pair of side tabs is applied to a continuous web of material at a predetermined spacing.

Abstract: A machine for making absorbent sanitary articles such as nappies for babies or incontinence pads for adults, sanitary towels and the like, comprises a programmable electronic controller device comprising a shift register and at least one optical inspection system connected to the programmable electronic controller device; the programmable electronic controller device generates a synchronism signal having a train of consecutive pulses defining a machine step, a trigger signal for activating the optical inspection system in a synchronised fashion with the synchronism signal and a shift register shift command within a machine step, the programmable electronic controller device also generates an identifier which is uniquely associated with the article inspected by the optical inspection system and sends that identifier with the trigger signal to the optical inspection system; the optical inspection system receives the identifier and, when a response time has elapsed, associates reject information with the respect

Abstract: Absorbent pads for personal sanitary items are made by a device that comprises a set of pick-up heads (2) moving along a feed path (P), a first application unit (5) and a second application unit (6) by which a respective first portion (4a) and second portion (4b) of an absorbent pad are placed on the pick-up head (2), and a motion-inducing mechanism, coupled to the pick-up head (2), which is designed to bring about a relative displacement between the first portion (4a) and the second portion (4b), so that when the second portion (4b) is placed over the first portion (4a), the one will be covered by the other only in part. A method of making absorbent pads using the device in question includes the steps of preparing a first portion (4a) and a second portion (4b) of an absorbent pad, then placing the second portion (4b) over the first portion (4a) in such a way that the first portion (4a) is covered only in part by the second portion (4b).

Abstract: A device for processing a web of material for making nappies includes a rotary shaft having a first axis, a plurality of pads for receiving and holding the web. The pads are rotatable about the first axis and are movable relative to the first axis during operation. A plurality of anvils, each interposed between two consecutive pads, are connected with the rotary shaft and are rotatable with it about the first axis. A unit acting in conjunction with the anvils cuts the web into lengths. A first motor is mounted inside the device and connected to the pads to translate the pads along a radial direction at right angles to the first axis and a second motor is mounted inside the device and connected to the pads to rotate the pads about a second axis coinciding with the radial direction.

Abstract: A machine for making absorbent sanitary articles includes a feed conveyor on which a continuous web of material for making the articles is advanced along a feed line in a first direction. A forming and application unit forms and applies by which at least one pair of accessory elements for each article and includes a device for feeding a continuous succession of accessory elements and a conveying unit. The conveying unit includes a conveyor roller for the continuous succession of accessory elements, and a separating device defined by a first and a second spacer roller which are substantially tangent to the conveyor roller at a first and a second pickup station, respectively. The first and the second spacer roller have retaining and alternate movement devices including respective pickup pads which are slidable along a second direction and which are driven by a respective linear electric motor.

Abstract: Described is a machine for making absorbent sanitary articles, such as nappies, sanitary pads and the like, where each article (2) comprises a plurality of components (8,9) progressively positioned relative to each other and assembled along a production line (3) through a plurality of operating stations (24,25,26,27,28,29,32,35) equipped with devices for cutting and/or sealing the materials the articles (2) are made up of and at least one rejection station (39) downstream of the operating stations; the machine (1) comprises a programmable electronic controller device (42) having a shift register (40), at least one optical inspection system (36) connected to the programmable electronic controller device (42), and an operator interface (51) connected to the electronic controller (42); the programmable electronic controller device (42) generates a machine (1) sync signal (43), a trigger signal (46) for activating the optical inspection system (36) in phase with the sync signal (43) and a shift register (40) shif

Abstract: A machine for making absorbent items comprises a conveyor (9) for feeding a continuous strip (7) of absorbent items in a predetermined direction L, a cutting element (11) for cutting the strip into single absorbent items (2), a unit for feeding and applying to each stretch of the strip which will constitute a single absorbent item (2) a pair of fastening and closure elements (6) for the items; the unit (13) comprising a roller (18) for conveying a succession of pieces (15), intended to form the fastening elements (6), a separating device (22) consisting of a pair of rollers (20, 21) which are at a tangent to the conveyor roller (18) and equipped with suction seats (29, 30), able to slide parallel with their axes, for forming respective successions (32, 33) of pieces (15), which are spaced out in a direction T transversal to the direction L, by a stretch having a predetermined length, a roller (23) for forming pairs of pieces (15), which is at a tangent to both of the rollers (20, 21) and equipped with a first

Abstract: Absorbent sanitary articles (2), such as nappies or incontinence pads with an elongated central body (2a) and at least one pair of closure tabs (5), are manufactured on a machine (1) by which the tabs (5) are directed in pairs from a feed unit (13) onto a transport line (6) carrying the articles (2) toward a sealing station. The feed unit (13) operates by making skew cross-cuts (16) in a continuous strip (15) of material, so as to generate a succession of tab elements (5) appearing trapezoidal in outline; the tab elements (5) are then distanced one from another in alternation along a direction (D3) transverse to their feed direction (D2) through the machine, so as to obtain two single columns (23) which are taken up by a roller (27) and aligned one with another so that the single tab elements (5) are ordered into a succession of transversely aligned pairs. The alignment roller (27) rotates tangentially to the transport line (6) and is timed to place one pair of tab elements (5) on each advancing article (2).

Abstract: Absorbent nappy/diaper pads composed of a first absorbent base material, and a second absorbent material consisting of superabsorbent polymer powders, are made by a unit (3) that comprises a conveyor (11) carrying the first absorbent material along a predetermined feed path (P), and a feed system (24) by which the superabsorbent polymer powders are released onto the feed path (P); the feed system (24) comprises a fixed duct (27) with an outlet (45) directed at the feed path (P), and a valve (34), positioned along an intermediate segment of the duct (27), by which the superabsorbent polymer powders are dispensed intermittently and controllably.

Abstract: Personal sanitary items are manufactured by a machine comprising a first feed system (2) directing a first continuous web (3) of material along a given feed path (P), a device (9) serving to make a succession of absorbent pads and apply the single pads to the first web (3) of material, and a second feed system (19) supplying a second continuous web (20) of material that is bonded ultimately to the first web (3), with the pads sandwiched between, to produce a continuous succession of sanitary items. The pad-making device (9) comprises at least one cutter (12) by which a continuous band (11) of absorbent material is divided up to produce the succession of pads, and the feed path (P) follows a convoluted trajectory substantially of “S” configuration.

Abstract: In a unit for making sections of padding for absorbent sanitary articles comprising a first rotary conveyor for feeding and forming a continuous succession of outer pads, comprising at least one layer, a second rotary conveyor for feeding and forming a continuous succession of inner pads comprising two layers, a third rotary conveyor for the pads defining a position for superposing the outer pads and the inner pads, there are compressing means for the two-layer inner pads upstream of the superposing position and second compressing means for the superposed pads downstream of the superposing position.

Abstract: A method for corrective action on the operation of a line for the production of absorbent sanitary articles, comprises capturing at least one image of each article being fed out of the line; using the image to define first parameters indicating the positioning and/or assembly and/or shape of at least one respective component; detecting a production defect if at least one of the first parameters is outside a respective acceptability range; identifying second, line operating parameters which are used to indicate if the first parameter is outside the respective acceptability range; comparing the line operating parameters with respective third, reference parameters indicating optimum line operation; using the comparison to derive a map of abnormal operating parameters; checking if each combination of abnormal operating parameters indicates a respective cause of malfunction of the line; defining a respective corrective action.

Abstract: In a machine for making absorbent sanitary articles, such as nappies for babies or incontinence pads for adults, sanitary towels or the like, a plurality of operating stations are equipped with cutting and/or sealing devices for the materials of which the articles (2) consist; all or some of the operating stations each being equipped with at least one laser unit for performing the cutting and/or sealing operation; the laser units all being connected to the same laser source (60).

Abstract: A method and unit for folding light incontinence pads having a substantially rectangular shape elongate according to a longitudinal axis and comprising a central absorbent pad and an outer edge, according to which a first end portion of the incontinence pad is folded on a central portion of the incontinence pad about a first fold line transversal to the longitudinal axis, a second end portion of the incontinence pad is folded on the first end portion about a second fold line transversal to the longitudinal axis, and elasticated segments of the edge located between the first and second fold lines are folded on the central portion; the step of folding the elasticated segments of the edge being between a first sub-step of partly folding the first end portion and a second sub-step of completely folding the first end portion on the central portion.

Abstract: A method including folding incontinence pads which have a substantially rectangular shape, elongate according to a longitudinal axis, and including a central absorbent pad and a perimetric edge. The method includes folding parts of the edge onto a central portion of the absorbent pad, folding a first end portion of the incontinence pad about a first fold line onto the central portion and a subsequent step of folding, about a second fold line a second end portion onto the first portion. The fold lines which are transversal to the longitudinal axis and define the central portion are spaced by a stretch which is greater than or equal to the longitudinal dimension of the first end portion. The folding step is preceded by a step of folding down inwards onto the central portion segments of the edge which lie between the first and second fold lines, and a step of retaining said segments of the edge on the central portion.