Personal Products Company

John D Spano

Michael J Menard

A method and apparatus for producing fibrous web pieces by die cutting the pieces from a continuous web. In the method, a fibrous web is provided having adjacent corrugations usually filled with a powder, and the powder-filled web is passed through a matched cutting die set intermittently which cuts and punches out the individual web pieces. Following the web cut out step, the web pieces are transferred downwardly onto a shuttle conveyor, and the pieces moved forward and simultaneously spread apart to permit subsequent convenient placement of the pieces. The cutting die apparatus includes matched punch and body die units which closely interfit with less than about 0.001 inch total clearance, so as to cut and punch out the fibrous web pieces from the continuous web.

Method and apparatus for producing fibrous web pieces

A method for cutting flexible formed shell product from a flexible plastic foam sheet. In the method, a foam shell formed in the sheet is drawn into and positioned in a die unit lower cavity and the die assembly is clamped together. A cutting die unit having dual curved serrated knife elements then descends and severs the formed shell from the sheet at all locations except for two short segments located at opposite ends of the formed shell. Then as a separate step, the partly severed formed shell is punched out from the flexible foam sheet, so as to provide multiple formed products. The products are usually formed as multiple units oriented in an end-to-end relationship in the foam sheet and which are simultaneously severed from the sheet. Cutting die apparatus adapted for cutting the formed products from the foam sheet is also disclosed.

Cutting flexible formed products from foam retaining sheet

A method and apparatus for placing multiple crimped flexible pieces into concave formed shells. In the method, a plurality of flat fibrous web pieces are provided on a shuttle device and are picked up and crimped longitudinally by gripper fingers, and each piece is transferred laterally to a location over a formed shell then lowered and inserted into the shell. While the pieces are on the shuttle device they are moved apart from each other. Also, during lateral transfer the crimped pieces are moved longitudinally and are also bowed longitudinally while being placed into the concave formed shells. Suitable apparatus is also disclosed for picking up and crimping the flexible pieces and laterally transferring the pieces and placing them in the concave formed shells.

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Bordentown Twsp., Burlington County, NJ, United States of America

John D Spano