Abstract: An apparatus for forming a wrapped absorbent structure feeds a continuous web layer onto a depression of a core-forming drum, with absorbent material deposited onto the continuous web layer and into the depression and another continuous web layer being applied over the continuous web layer and the absorbent material to enclose the absorbent material therebetween. A pleating system forms one or more folds in one or both of the continuous web layers, with each fold being a continuous fold running in the machine direction so as to form a pleated web layer having portions overlapped in a cross-machine direction. An attachment means forms substantially temporary bonds in the overlapped portions of the pleated web layer that have a bond strength great enough to maintain the continuous fold in the wrapped absorbent core during forming of the wrapped absorbent structure and when the absorbent material is in a substantially dry state.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming and applying a pleated core wrap includes a feeding mechanism configured to feed a continuous web of material in a machine direction and a pleating unit configured to form one or more continuous folds in the continuous web of material, so as to form a continuous pleated web of material with a portion of the web of material overlapped in a cross-machine direction. A core-forming drum receives the continuous pleated web of material, the core-forming drum including at least one depression provided on an outer circumferential surface thereof, the depression having a floor having one or more inserts protruding radially outward therefrom. A vacuum system provided a vacuum to the depression that is communicated through the floor to suction the continuous pleated web of material down into the depression, with regions of the continuous pleated web of material separating upon being suctioned down into the depression.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a transfer mechanism that transfers discrete articles to a receiving member. The transfer mechanism includes a plurality of transfer pucks that carry discrete articles thereon. Each of the transfer pucks includes a puck body with an article carrying surface having vacuum holes formed therein to retain the discrete article thereon via a vacuum. The article carrying surface includes a central region and at least one side region adjacent the central region, the side region aligned lengthwise along the puck body. Each of the transfer pucks also includes one or more resilient puck inserts positioned about a portion of a perimeter of the transfer puck, with each puck insert engaged with the puck body in a respective side region. The puck inserts are sized to protrude above the article carrying surface and are depressible inward toward the article carrying surface upon an application of force thereto.

Abstract: A system and method for folding a discrete absorbent sanitary product includes conveying a product in a machine direction along a main conveyor, folding the product at a first folding station, and later folding the absorbent sanitary product at a second folding station. The product is folded at each of the first and second folding stations by engaging the product with a first drum and rotating the absorbent sanitary product in a first rotational direction, contacting the product with one or more folding fingers traveling in the machine direction, engaging the product with a rotating member adjacent to the first drum and downstream therefrom in the machine direction, the rotating member rotating in the first rotational direction, and folding the product over the one or more folding fingers via rotation of the rotating member in the first rotational direction.

Abstract: A roller apparatus (10) for treating at least one web (34) passing through the apparatus (10), the apparatus comprising a pattern roller (12) in the form of a first cylindrical body (14) mounted for rotation around an elongate axis (A) of the first cylindrical body (14), and an anvil roller (16) in the form of a second cylindrical body (18) mounted for rotation around an elongate axis (B) of the second cylindrical body (18). The pattern and anvil rollers (12,16) are located adjacent each other to define a nip (22) between outer cylindrical surfaces (14a,18a) of the first and second cylindrical bodies (14,18). The first and second cylindrical bodies (14,18) are configured to rotate, in use, in opposite directions to each other so as to draw the at least one web (34) through the nip (12) defined between the outer cylindrical surfaces (14a,18a) of the first and second cylindrical bodies (14,18).

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for folding discrete items such as diapers at high speeds. Discrete items are conveyed in a machine direction toward a pair of engaging members rotating in the machine direction and first carrying a top side of a leading edge of the discrete item with a first engaging member away from the conveyor, and then carrying a bottom side of the leading edge with a second engaging member back towards the conveyor. The diaper fold is created at a contact point with a folding finger which travels rotationally and straight in a fixed orientation about a travel path into and out of contact with the diaper.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for folding discrete items such as diapers at high speeds. Discrete items are conveyed in a machine direction toward a pair of vacuum drums rotating in the machine direction and first carrying a top side of a leading edge of the discrete item away from the conveyor, and then carrying a bottom side of the leading edge with a second rotational vacuum drum back towards the conveyor. The diaper fold is created at a contact point with a folding finger which travels rotationally and straight in a fixed orientation about a pair of belts, into and out of contact with the diaper.

Abstract: A system and method for folding a discrete absorbent sanitary product includes conveying a product in a machine direction along a main conveyor, folding the product at a first folding station, and later folding the absorbent sanitary product at a second folding station. The product is folded at each of the first and second folding stations by engaging the product with a first drum and rotating the absorbent sanitary product in a first rotational direction, contacting the product with one or more folding fingers traveling in the machine direction, engaging the product with a rotating member adjacent to the first drum and downstream therefrom in the machine direction, the rotating member rotating in the first rotational direction, and folding the product over the one or more folding fingers via rotation of the rotating member in the first rotational direction.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for folding discrete items such as diapers at high speeds. Discrete items are conveyed in a machine direction toward a pair of engaging members rotating in the machine direction and first carrying a top side of a leading edge of the discrete item with a first engaging member away from the conveyor, and then carrying a bottom side of the leading edge with a second engaging member back towards the conveyor. The diaper fold is created at a contact point with a folding finger which travels rotationally and straight in a fixed orientation about a travel path into and out of contact with the diaper.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for folding discrete items such as diapers at high speeds. Discrete items are conveyed in a machine direction toward a pair of vacuum drums rotating in the machine direction and first carrying a top side of a leading edge of the discrete item away from the conveyor, and then carrying a bottom side of the leading edge with a second rotational vacuum drum back towards the conveyor. The diaper fold is created at a contact point with a folding finger which travels rotationally and straight in a fixed orientation about a pair of belts, into and out of contact with the diaper.