Abstract: A device for forming and applying accessory elements to a continuous band of absorbent material, includes a unit for feeding a continuous strip to a conveyor roller, a unit for cutting the strip in a continuous and alternating succession of first and second pieces, a first and a second roller rotating about respective axes parallel to the first direction, each including a movement device acting along a circumferential direction around the respective axis and configured for imparting to each unit a respective motion between positions for picking up and releasing the pieces. A unit for applying a pair of pieces to the band is equipped with a separating unit equipped with a spacer device for moving first and/or second carriages along a separating direction between closed and far axial positions, wherein the spacer device includes a plurality of linear actuators each associated with a respective first carriage.

Abstract: A device for cutting a web of fibrous material including movement means for moving a web of fibrous material to be cut, defining a feed surface for the web and having at least one first cutting zone, at least one laser source configured to generate a laser beam extending along its operating direction towards the first cutting zone to make, on the web, at least one incision extending along a predetermined cutting line, where a portion of the laser beam passes through the web of fibrous material at the first cutting zone. The device also includes recovery means for recovering the portion of the laser beam and at least partly located along the operating direction, at the first cutting zone, in such a way as to intercept the portion of the laser beam and direct it towards a second cutting zone to make a further incision or cut.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sealing system in a machine for making composite webs in the production of absorbent sanitary articles includes a contact roller having an axis of rotation and including a central portion and a peripheral portion which is supported by the central portion and includes an outer surface forming the outer surface of the contact roller itself. The contact roller includes a sealing pattern on the outer surface of the peripheral portion and also includes springs acting between the central portion and the peripheral portion, which is supported by the peripheral portion by means of the springs.

Abstract: A device for folding a web for producing absorbent sanitary articles along at least one longitudinal fold line parallel to its feed direction includes two diverting elements positioned on opposite sides of the web one after the other, to operate in succession on respective lateral portions of the web and allow transversal folding of one lateral portion on the other and both on the web. Each diverting element has a diverting surface which is used for folding and which is equipped with a plurality of holes to emit jets of air under pressure at a tangent to the diverting surface, directed transversely to the feed direction of the web along the same direction as the direction along which the two lateral portions are transversely folded by the diverting surface and defining between the latter and the web a laminar fluid bed.

Abstract: A unit for making absorbent pads of absorbent articles including a drum for forming the absorbent pads and a hood for feeding a first and a second absorbent material to at least part of the peripheral surface of the drum; the hood has a chamber for mixing the first and the second absorbent materials and an opening for dispensing the first and the second absorbent materials facing at least part of the peripheral surface of the drum; the unit includes at least a first and a second duct for feeding the second absorbent material into the hood and means for distributing the second absorbent material both of the first feed duct and of the second feed duct; the first and the second are connected to the same distribution means.

Abstract: A method for making absorbent sanitary articles which include a permeable inner layer, an impermeable outer layer and an absorbent pad enclosed between them; the absorbent pad includes a first bottom layer and a second top layer between which an absorbent core is enclosed; the method includes a step of forming the absorbent pad; the step of forming the absorbent pad includes a step of feeding a first continuous web, which will define the first bottom layer and a second continuous web, which will define the second top layer, and a step of interposing between the first web and the second web at least a third web which has a plurality of openings and which will define the absorbent core; the method includes a step of feeding a third continuous web along a feed direction and a step of cutting the third continuous web to obtain the openings.

Abstract: A device for cutting a web of material comprises movement means for moving a web of material to be cut, defining a feed path for the web at least partly rotatable about a central axis and equipped with at least one conveyor mounted around the central axis, at least one cutting head equipped with a laser source and an optical system configured to direct the laser beam towards a cutting zone, where the optical system of the cutting head comprises at least one directing member located inside the conveyor to direct the laser beam away from the central axis towards the cutting zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributing particulate material on a conveyor movable along a respective operating direction includes: a tank containing particulate material and equipped with feed means for feeding the particulate material; and distribution means located downstream of the tank to receive the particulate material and the particulate material on the conveyor. The distribution means include a diffuser element and a vibrating device to shake the diffuser element. The diffuser element extends with its sliding plane along its axis between an infeed portion to receive a preset flow quantity “Q” of particulate material, and an outfeed portion. The diffuser element includes a transversal partition at a predetermined distance from the sliding plane to form a neck which acts in combination with a vibration imparted by the vibrating device to distribute the particulate material along a predetermined width of the outfeed portion.

Abstract: A process for forming an absorbent sanitary article of the type including a pad having a direction of main extension, including a step of at least one absorbent core of the absorbent article by layering a corresponding composite web, a step of preparing a succession of hollows in the composite web obtained by removing for each hollow a corresponding portion of the composite web and a step of applying the portions removed on the composite web.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sealing system in a machine for making composite webs in the production of absorbent sanitary articles includes a contact roller having an axis of rotation and including a central portion and a peripheral portion which is supported by the central portion and includes an outer surface forming the outer surface of the contact roller itself. The contact roller includes a sealing pattern on the outer surface of the peripheral portion and also includes springs acting between the central portion and the peripheral portion, which is supported by the peripheral portion by means of the springs.

Abstract: A machine for making absorbent sanitary articles including an absorbent pad with at least one discrete layer of superabsorbent polymer material includes a unit for forming and applying a succession of absorbent pads, which includes a drum for forming the pad, a duct for feeding a charge of superabsorbent polymer material to the drum and intermittent valve mounted along a stretch of the duct and driven by an actuator. A device detects the superabsorbent polymer material and sends a signal to a control and drive unit connected to the device indicating that the superabsorbent polymer material has been detected. The control and drive unit is configured to drive the actuator to bring the valve into phase with the rotation of the drum when the deviation of the signal from a reference signal exceeds a defined threshold value.

Abstract: An absorbent sanitary article having a main direction of extension comprises a permeable inner layer, an impermeable outer layer, an absorbent pad interposed between the inner layer and the outer layer and comprising a first layer of non-woven fabric, a second layer of non-woven fabric partly joined to the first layer of non-woven fabric, and an absorbent core interposed between the first and second layers of non-woven fabric; the absorbent core comprises a spread of absorbent polymer material and a third layer of non-woven fabric interposed between the first and second layers of non-woven fabric.

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: Cigarette cartons are boxed by a case packer comprising a frame mounted on a base, a feed unit supplying collapsed box blanks, a station at which the boxes are packed, a feed unit by which the cartons are directed along a path running perpendicular to a feed path followed by the blanks, also first and second folding and closing assemblies by which the top end face and the bottom end face of the erected box are formed. The machine base affords a plurality of mounting points arranged symmetrically on either side of a vertical median plane, passing longitudinally through the base, so that the position of the feed unit can be reversed in mirror image relative to the median plane, as also can the positions of the first folding and closing assembly and the second folding and closing assembly.

Abstract: In a manufacturing system utilizing a cigarette maker linked to a packer, cigarettes temporarily surplus to requirements are stored in containers, each provided with an opening by way of which it can be filled and emptied. A full container is picked up by a first pivoting arm from a magazine and overturned above a bearing surface advancing along a feed direction parallel to this same surface, so as to direct the opening downwards and allow the cigarettes to drop onto the surface. During the step of unloading the cigarettes, the container rests on a hopper and is traversed from a first station toward a second station along a direction parallel and opposite to the feed direction of the bearing surface, so that the cigarettes can be released more quickly from the container. After being emptied, the container is picked up from the second station by a second pivoting arm and put into a magazine with other empty containers.

Abstract: Cigarette cartons are boxed by a case packer comprising a frame mounted on a base, a feed unit supplying collapsed box blanks, a station at which the boxes are packed, a feed unit by which the cartons are directed along a path running perpendicular to a feed path followed by the blanks, also first and second folding and closing assemblies by which the top end face and the bottom end face of the erected box are formed. The machine base affords a plurality of mounting points arranged symmetrically on either side of a vertical median plane, passing longitudinally through the base, so that the position of the feed unit can be reversed in mirror image relative to the median plane, as also can the positions of the first folding and closing assembly and the second folding and closing assembly.

Abstract: Cigarettes are transferred in batches adopting a procedure that includes the steps of feeding loose cigarettes en masse into a hopper with a back wall and two side walls delimiting a top inlet and a bottom outlet, also a shutter by which the bottom outlet is opened or closed, and actively varying the geometry of the side walls so that the internal volume of the hopper is adapted to accommodate the quantity of cigarettes admitted through the inlet, by means of an actuator mechanism connected to the side walls. Thus, it becomes possible to monitor and control both the rate at which the cigarettes flow into the hopper, and the pressure to which the single cigarettes are subjected while occupying the hopper and during the process of filling a tray.

Abstract: In a manufacturing system utilizing a cigarette maker linked to a packer, cigarettes temporarily surplus to requirements are stored in containers, each provided with an opening by way of which it can be filled and emptied. A full container is picked up by a first pivoting arm from a magazine and overturned above a bearing surface advancing along a feed direction parallel to this same surface, so as to direct the opening downwards and allow the cigarettes to drop onto the surface. During the step of unloading the cigarettes, the container rests on a hopper and is traversed from a first station toward a second station along a direction parallel and opposite to the feed direction of the bearing surface, so that the cigarettes can be released more quickly from the container. After being emptied, the container is picked up from the second station by a second pivoting arm and put into a magazine with other empty containers.

Abstract: In a manufacturing system utilizing a cigarette maker linked to a packer, cigarettes temporarily surplus to requirements are stored in containers, each provided with an opening by way of which it can be filled and emptied. An empty container is picked up from a first magazine stocked with a supply of the empty containers, filled with cigarettes at a loading hopper, and placed in a second magazine lying alongside the first magazine and holding full containers; the transfer movement from the hopper to the second magazine is brought about along a circular path centered on a vertical axis between the magazines, utilizing a rotary mechanism equipped with plates on which the single containers are taken up, filled and carried through the circular trajectory.