The Procter Gamble Company

The Procter & Gambel Company

James Michael Fleming

Robert H Siegfried

John P Janson

Michael Francis Vonderhaar

Michael J Stalford

Mark David Whaley

Myron Lee Stuebe

The present invention provides an apparatus for applying discrete particles of absorbent material to a predetermined location on a fibrous web. The apparatus comprises a continuously rotating mask, and a means for directing a supply stream of absorbent particles to form an acute included angle with a diverting surface on the rotating mask. The mask diverting surface splits the supply stream of absorbent particles into a first intermittent stream passing through the mask and a second intermittent stream deflected by the diverting surface. The absorbent particles in one of the first and second intermittent streams is directed to the fibrous web.

Apparatus for forming an intermittent stream of particles for

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for applying discrete particles of absorbent material to a predetermined location on a fibrous web. The apparatus comprises a continuously rotating mask, and a means for directing a supply stream of absorbent particles to form an acute included angle with a diverting surface on the rotating mask. The mask diverting surface splits the supply stream of absorbent particles into a first intermittent stream passing through the mask and a second intermittent stream deflected by the diverting surface. The absorbent particles in one of the first and second intermittent streams is directed to the fibrous web.

Method for forming an intermittent stream of particles for application

The automatic registration control system of the present invention is a closed loop system including a driving mechanism for feeding a continuous web of disposable absorbent articles, such as diaper pads, toward a cutter. The cutter may separate completed pads from the web. A sensor is positioned along the manufacturing line, and preferably preceding the cutter, for detecting at least one preselected feature of each diaper pad and producing a detection signal when the feature passes by the sensor. A position resolver determines the angular position of the cutter at the moment when the preselected diaper feature is detected, and the average angular position is calculated from a predetermined number of cutter positions. The average cutter position is compared to and subtracted from a target cutter position to produce an error signal. The error signal is then converted into a control signal and supplied to a phase variator which adjusts the position of the cutter in response to the control signal.

Diaper registration control system

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for forming a pulsed stream of discrete particles of absorbent material. The apparatus comprises a particle metering apparatus for providing a stream of particles having a predetermined mass flow rate, an ejector having an acceleration air nozzle for accelerating the stream of particles, at least one deceleration air nozzle; and valving for alternately directing air through the acceleration and deceleration nozzles. The apparatus can be used to form a fibrous web having a predetermined variation in basis weight of absorbent material along the length of the web.

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Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

James Michael Fleming