Abstract: In a defective-workpiece discharging device, a defective workpiece is discharged to a discharge path from a conveyance path that conveys a plurality of workpieces related to absorbent articles at a predetermined conveyance pitch. The conveyance path has a first path and a second path downstream of the first path. A sorting mechanism between the first and second paths sorts workpieces into either the second path or the discharge path. A defect detection sensor detects a defect and outputs a defect detection signal. A passage detection sensor detects passage of the workpieces at a predetermined position on the first path and outputs a passage detection signal. A controller controls the sorting mechanism based on the defect and passage detection signals. An end of the first path on the sorting mechanism side and the predetermined position are separated by a distance greater than or equal to the conveyance pitch.

Abstract: An absorbent-body manufacturing apparatus manufactures an absorbent body by depositing absorbent-body material in a plurality of recess sections spaced at an arrangement pitch on an outer circumferential face of a drum. The apparatus has a driving source that drives the drum in synchronization with another apparatus based on a synchronization signal. First and second signal-generating sections repeatedly generate first and second rotational-angle signals based on a rotation of the drum with a rotational angle of the drum as a unit, the rotational angle of the drum corresponding to first and second pitches, respectively. Depending on whether the arrangement pitch is set to the first or second pitch, a controller controls rotational driving operation of the driving source based on the first or second rotational-angle signal and on the synchronization signal.

Abstract: A cutter apparatus includes a cutter roller with a cutter blade, and an anvil roller that receives the cutter blade. An annular protruding section is provided to an outer circumferential face of one of the cutter roller and the anvil roller, and comes into contact with the other roller. First and second motors drive the cutter roller and the anvil roller. A first motor control unit controls the first motor by position control or speed control. A second motor control unit controls the second motor. The anvil roller rotates to follow the cutter roller by a torque transmitted from the cutter roller via the annular protruding section, and a supplementary torque is imparted from the second motor to the anvil roller, based on a control by the second motor control unit, so as to assist a rotation of the anvil roller following the cutter roller.

Abstract: A fluid discharging device that discharges fluid from a plurality of discharge openings towards a continuous sheet member which is continuously transported in a transporting direction. The fluid discharging device includes: a plurality of valves that correspond to the discharge openings and intermittently discharge the fluid from the discharge openings by opening and closing operations; and a controller that controls the opening and closing operations of each of the valves individually depending on a transportation amount of the continuous sheet member. The controller calculates a shared compensation value that is represented by a value indicating the transportation amount, based on a transport velocity of the continuous sheet member. The controller shifts an open-close timing of at least several valves of the plurality of valves from a previously-determined open-close timing, based on the shared compensation value.

Abstract: A fluid discharging device that discharges fluid from a plurality of discharge openings towards a continuous sheet member which is continuously transported in a transporting direction. The fluid discharging device includes: a plurality of valves that correspond to the discharge openings and intermittently discharge the fluid from the discharge openings by opening and closing operations; and a controller that controls the opening and closing operations of each of the valves individually depending on a transportation amount of the continuous sheet member. The controller has a shared adjustment value that is represented by a value indicating the transportation amount. the controller shifts open-close timing of at least several valves of the a plurality of valves from a previously-determined open-close timing that the several valves are subject to, based on the shared adjustment value.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article includes: first and second reference-signal outputting sections for outputting first and second reference signals indicating a conveyance amount of a workpiece, a processing device for processing the workpiece based on a drive signal, an adhesive discharging device for discharging adhesive toward the workpiece based on a discharge signal, and a controller. While manufacturing the absorbent article, the controller generates both the drive signal and the discharge signal based on the first reference signal. While inspecting a discharge amount of the adhesive, the controller generates the discharge signal based on the second reference signal, without outputting the drive signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body includes: a sheet supplying mechanism for supplying a sheet from a sheet roll; a crusher for crushing the sheet into a fibrous matter by scraping a reeling-out tip end of the reeled out sheet; and a fiber stacking device for forming the absorbent body in a predetermined shape by laminating the fibrous matter to be sent out from the crusher. When switching a supply of the sheet to the crusher from one to another sheet supplying mechanism, at least two sheet supplying mechanisms supply the sheet to the crusher over a predetermined period including a period in which the one sheet supplying mechanism decreases a sheet reeling-out speed, in correspondence with the period in which the one sheet supplying mechanism decreases the sheet reeling-out speed, the other sheet supplying mechanism increases a sheet reeling-out speed.