Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

James Grant Lee

James Dell Milner

David A Palzewicz

Robert Herrick Collins

A method and apparatus are provided for separating a discrete element from a first substrate web, moving at a first speed, and placing the discrete element on a second substrate web, moving at a second speed. The apparatus includes a first station, wherein perforations are made in the first substrate web, and a second station, wherein the discrete element is separated from the first substrate web at a line of perforations and the discrete element is transferred to a positioned on the second substrate web. The first station includes a perforation cutter assembly and conveyer assembly. The perforation cutter assembly includes first and second rollers with a cutting blade, with a discontinuous edge, and an anvil surface, respectively, to make perforations in the first substrate web. The second station includes a separation and transfer mechanism having separation and transfer segments for separating and transferring the discrete element from the first substrate web to the second substrate web. The method includes the steps of: making perforations across a width, at least partially through a thickness, and at predetermined spaced apart intervals along a length of the first substrate web; separating the discrete element from the first substrate web along a first line of the perforations; and placing the discrete element on the second substrate web.

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Aiken, SC, United States of America

James Grant Lee