WO2001056522A1

WO2001056522A1 - Machine for the production of multilayer products such as compresses, hygienic protectors or dressings

Info

Publication number: WO2001056522A1
Application number: PCT/ES2001/000019
Authority: WO
Inventors: Josep Pique Nadal
Original assignee: Comercial De Tecnologia Sanitaria, S.A.
Priority date: 2000-02-01
Filing date: 2001-01-30
Publication date: 2001-08-09
Also published as: ES2169648B1; ES2169648A1; AU2001230261A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a machine comprising a plurality of means supplying the continuos laminar materials for each layer, means for cutting (10, 11, 12, 13) said laminar materials, means for superimposing (8, 9, 11, 20) the layers and means for binding (18, 19) the layers. The invention is characterized in that the machine has at least one pair of mechanically synchronized rotational drums (8, 9, 11, 13, 20) in which at least two layers are superimposed so that all layers of the product are superimposed in the main drum (8), said drums comprising means for fixing (14) said layers to the drums. This provides easy and reliable positioning. Due to mechanical synchronization, no servomotors are needed and control means are simplified.

Description

MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MULTILAYER PRODUCTS, SUCH AS PADS, HYGIENIC PROTECTORS OR DRESSINGS.

The present invention relates to a machine for the manufacture of multilayer products, such as sanitary napkins, protectors or dressings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of machines for the manufacture of multilayer products such as compresses, hygienic protectors or dressings is known, comprising a plurality of means supplying the continuous laminar materials of each layer, means for cutting said continuous laminar materials to the appropriate dimensions of the multilayer product, means for overlapping sheets in continuous or cut and joining means between layers.

Traditionally, there are machines that operate according to a production process in a linear chain, through which the laminar materials, which are initially wound on different coils, access transport belts where the different layers of laminar material are placed and cut in a way progressive. That is, the product is made by superimposing different layers of sheet material at different stages of production by conducting said product on linearly arranged conveyor belts. This type of traditional machine has the drawback that the speed of the conveyor belts is limited due to two factors. In the first place, the product presents some instability on said band at high speeds since, as the speed increases, the said product slides on it thus losing the proper position to be cut or glued as well as to receive the material from the next production phase. Secondly, because each material used has different elasticity, it is necessary to maintain a different minimum tension for each one of them; and consequently, as the speed of the conveyor belt increases, the tension of the materials also increases, causing in this way a distortion of these, thus being unsuitable to be cut, glued or to receive the next material from the next productive phase.

Accordingly, the production level is limited to approximately 300 pieces per minute. In addition, in this type of machine the power is transmitted from a single motor to the different axles, with which the inertia of the transmissions also limits the speed.

Currently, machines are used that also operate in a linear chain but have solved the aforementioned drawback by installing servo motors on each of the drive axles. Thanks to these independent electrically controlled electric motors and associated to position detectors, it is possible to control the correct location allowing operations on the material to be carried out properly. Due to the reduced inertia of the transmissions and the high positioning precision, a considerably higher production speed is reached (approximately 800 pieces per minute).

However, these machines have some limitations regarding the positioning and production speed inherent in the linear movement of the product. First, despite the fact that the use of servomotors allows to increase the positioning precision and the production speed, misalignments occur as product displacements appear when vary speed. Therefore, a laborious adjustment of the machine is required for each particular production process, which requires having a team of qualified workers for the correct operation of the machines.

Finally, due to the existence of a large number of servo motors and their electronic control, the acquisition price of these machines as well as their maintenance is high, especially when you want to increase production speed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the machine for the manufacture of multilayer products of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned drawbacks, presenting other advantages that will be described.

The machine for the manufacture of multilayer products such as compresses, sanitary protectors or dressings, object of the invention, is characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one pair of mechanically synchronized rotary drums in which at least two layers of so that all the product layers are superimposed on the main drum, said drums comprising means for attaching the sheets to them.

In this way, the drawbacks inherent in linear displacement are avoided. With the rotary drum system of the invention, easy and reliable positioning is achieved. On the other hand, thanks to mechanical synchronization, servo motors can be dispensed with and control means are simplified. Which allows the handling of the machine by unskilled operators reducing the maintenance cost. Another advantage of the machine of the invention is that it allows a high production speed of the order of twice that of current linear machines (between 2000 and 3000 pieces per minute), also allowing speed to be varied according to the needs of production.

Advantageously, the means for attaching the sheets to the drums of the machine for the manufacture of multilayer products are pneumatic by means of aspiration. In this way, it is achieved that the material does not move with respect to the drum that drags it and avoids making the correction of possible misalignments of position that until now are corrected through the use of servo motors. Preferably, the multilayer product manufacturing machine comprises means to inhibit aspiration and selectively drive air.

Thanks to this feature, it is possible to deliver and receive the multilayer product between two drums, with one of the drums propelling the air to deliver the product and the other drum sucking air to receive the product.

Advantageously, the machine for the manufacture of multilayer products comprises means for regulating the relative position between two adjacent drums by freely rotating one with respect to the other.

In this way, it is ensured that the sheet material is placed on a drum in the appropriate position so that the material layers of the following stages of the process fit together correctly without lags. Furthermore, the regulation of said relative position between adjoining drums is carried out in a simple way and only once at the beginning of the production process.

According to another aspect of the invention, the machine for the manufacture of multilayer products comprises a plurality of gears for mechanical synchronization of the drums.

Thanks to this plurality of gears that connect the different drums, it is possible to simplify the electro-mechanical system that is currently used in linear machines.

Preferably, the cutting means of the machine for manufacturing multilayer products are rotary drums provided with cutting blades. Thanks to the fact that the drums that make up the cutting means are rotatable, they can be connected to the other drums by means of gears, some of them also carrying out a dragging function of the multilayer product. Advantageously, the means for selectively propelling air from the machine for the manufacture of multilayer products comprise independent ducts and opening and closing devices thereof.

In this way, the suction and delivery ports are the same, changing their dual function as required by the production process.

According to another aspect of the invention, the different rotary drums are mounted on the same body. In this way, this modular configuration allows one set of rotating drums to be replaced in a short time by another to adapt it to another production process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to facilitate the description of what has been previously exposed, some drawings are attached in which, schematically and only by way of non-limiting example, a practical case of embodiment is represented of the machine for the realization of multilayer products of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation view of the module or central part of the machine of the invention for the manufacture of hygienic protectors; Figure 2 is a diagram of the position of the first two sheet materials located on the main drum; Figure 3 is a schematic of the finished product before disposing of waste material left over on the main drum; Figure 4 is an elevation view of another module for the manufacture of sanitary napkins; Figure 5 is a schematic of a pad with wings before folding them; and Figure 6 shows the same pad with the wings folded.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED REALIZATIONS

As can be seen in figure 1, the central part of the machine or module 1, which is used for the manufacture of hygienic protectors, comprises a plurality of coils (not shown) that supply the sheet material: a paper sheet material silicone 2, a polyethylene sheet material 3, an absorbent sheet material 4, a non-woven sheet material 5, a porous polyethylene sheet material (perforated) 6 and other non-ejido protective sheet material 7, which enter through different areas of module 1 from the respective coils and in the corresponding manufacturing order. Also, module 1 comprises a main rotary drum 8, a secondary drum 9, a first rotary cutter 10 for cutting silicone paper, a second cutter 11 for absorbent sheet material, a third cutter 12 for protective non-woven material side and a fourth cutter 13 to trim the final product. The cutters 11 and 13 also have the function of dragging materials.

The main 8 and secondary 9 drums, as well as the drag function cutters 11 and 13 have on their perimeter a plurality of holes 14 through which air is sucked or blown.

Module 1 also comprises a first drag group 15 for the silicone paper, a second drag group 16 for the absorbent sheet material and a third drag group 17 for the side protection non-woven material; a first gluing machine 18 for silicone paper and a second gluing machine 19 for polyethylene; a first press 20 with drag function for the set of materials formed by the porous material and the two non-woven materials, a second press 21 for the finished product; and a welder 22.

The main 8 and secondary 9 drums, the four cutters 10, 11, 12 and 13, and the two pressers 20 and 21 are kinematically linked by gears. Finally, module 1 comprises the final product 23 that will be transported on a conveyor belt 24.

The operation of the module 1 of the invention is as follows: First, the silicone paper sheet material 2 enters, which passes through a drag group 15 that leads it to a gluing machine 18 where the glue is applied to its part. higher. Next, the silicone paper 2 passes to a rotary cutter 10 where it will be cut to a specific measurement. Next, the silicone paper 2, already cut, accesses the rotating main drum 8 to which it is adhered by suction applied through a set of holes 14, which allow the silicone paper 2 to be fixed without losing its proper position. In case the paper silicone 2 is not well positioned on the rotating drum 8, its position can be adjusted by means of the rotary cutter 10 that allows this adjustment function. Furthermore, it is only necessary to adjust the position once in the entire process.

Secondly, the polyethylene sheet material 3 enters, which passes to a gluing machine 19 where a layer of glue is applied to its upper part. When the polyethylene 3 reaches the main drum 8, it is attached to the cut silicone paper 2, thanks to the latter's glue layer, and both adhere to the main drum 8 by sucking the holes 14.

In figure 2, it can be seen how the cut silicone paper 2 and the polyethylene sheet material 3 are adhered to the main drum 8 through the suction holes 14 (reference 3a shows the polyethylene sheet material cut with the shape that it will obtain at the end of process) . The silicone paper 2 is centrally located on two rows of the larger diameter holes 14a, leaving between two pieces thereof a row of the smaller diameter holes 14b. It is important that this position is adequate, according to the production specifications, since it is the reference position for all the following phases of the production process.

Looking again at Figure 1, the absorbent sheet material 4 passes through a drive group 16 that leads it to a rotary cutter 11, which also draws it by means of aspiration. Next, two new sheet materials enter, a non-oven material 5 and a porous polyethylene material (perforated) 6, which are joined in a rotary press 20, but before being compressed by is. There is the possibility of gluing the non-woven material 5 and / or the porous material 6 before their Union.

Next, another non-woven sheet material 7 for lateral protection enters, passing through a drive group 17 that leads it first to a secondary rotary drum 9 where said material 7 is adhered by means of aspiration, then passing through a rotary cutter 12, in which each cut piece of material 7 remains in a specific position of said drum 9 that, in addition, draws it by aspiration. In this case, the cut piece of material 7 is centered in the row of smaller diameter holes 14b, as seen in Figure 2.

Subsequently, the two cut pieces of materials 5 and 6, which are joined, are compressed on the drum 9 by the pressing machine 20, joining with the cut pieces of material 7. Next, the set of materials 5, 6 and 7 that remain adhered by aspiration to the drum 9 they pass through a welder 22 that seals them.

Following the process, the absorbent sheet material 4 from the rotary cutter 11 is coupled to the welded materials 5, 6 and 7. These four materials are adhered to the rotating drum 9 by aspiration. In order to transfer the cut piece of absorbent material 4 to the drum 9, where the materials 5, 6 and 7 are welded, the rotary cutter 11 stops sucking to expel air through the holes that currently hold the cut piece of material. Four.

Next, the coupled materials 4,5,6 and 7, driven by the rotating drum 9, are joined to the set of materials formed by silicone paper 2 and polyethylene 3, coming from the main drum 8. The transfer of the coupled materials 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the drum 9 towards the drum 8 that contains the set of materials 2 and 3, is carried out so that the drum 9 stops sucking to expel air through the holes that, at that moment, hold the set of materials 4,5,6 and 7.

Therefore, the six materials 2,3,4,5,6 and 7 used in the process are coupled and adhered to the main drum 8 which leads them to a rotary press 21 where they are compressed.

Next, the already pressed product formed by the six mentioned materials is led by the main drum 8 by means of suction towards a rotary cutter 13 that will apply the cut with the final specified shape. Likewise, said rotary cutter 13 collects the trimmed final product 23. For this, the main drum 8 stops sucking to expel air through the holes that hold the final product 23, the cutter 13 receiving said product by suction. Next, the cutter 13 drags the final cut product 23 onto a conveyor belt 24 that leads it to another section where, later, it will be packaged. In order to transfer the final product 23 to the conveyor belt 24, the cutter 13 stops sucking to expel air.

Finally, in the main drum 8 the residues 25 of the unused materials remain, which are carried by said drum 8 by aspiration towards a section where they will be discarded. To detach the debris 25, the drum 8 stops sucking to expel air through the holes that held said debris.

Figure 3 shows a view of the final product 23 cut with the final shape and the residues of excess material 25, both on the main drum 8.

In figure 4, another module 26 can be seen that serves for the manufacture of compresses with wings, and that comprises the same elements as those of the module of the previous embodiment, and also a new sheet material 27 for the seal of the wings 28 of the compress and following items: a rotating drum 29; a drive group 30 and a rotary cutter 31 to cut the material for the wing seal.

Rotary drum 29 is attached to main drum 8 and cutter 31 by gears. Finally, the module 26 comprises of the final product 32 that is transported by a conveyor belt 33.

In this figure 4 the same references have been used to designate the common elements with the previously described embodiment.

The operation of the module 26 of the invention is as follows:

Once the product, formed by the union of the six materials 2,3,4,5,6 and 7, is cut by the cutter 13 with the final specified shape, in this case with wings, the drum 8 drives it by aspiration.

Next, a new sheet material 27 enters, which serves to seal the wings 28 once folded. Said material 27 passes through a drive group 30 which leads it towards a rotating drum 29, which draws said material 27 by means of suction towards a rotary cutter 31 where it is cut to a specific measure. There is the possibility of gluing the sheet material 27 before being cut. Then, the drum 8 expels air through the holes that hold the wings to be able to bend them. Next, each of the cut pieces of material 27, coming from the drum 29, are sealed to each product formed by the six aforementioned materials that already have the wings folded, thus forming the final product 32. For this, the drum 8 stops sucking to expel air and the drum 29 receives the trimmed final product 32 by suction along with the residual material residues 34. Finally, the drum 29 stops sucking air to expel the waste 34 to be discarded, and then suction conducts the final product 32 towards a conveyor belt 33 where it will deposit it, said drum 29 sucking air to dislodge it.

In Figure 5, the final product 32 representing a compress with wings is observed, before said wings 28 are folded. In figure 6, the same final product 32 is seen with the wings 28 folded and with the piece of material 27 that seals them.

Claims

1. Machine for the manufacture of multilayer products such as compresses, hygienic protectors or dressings, comprising a plurality of means for supplying the continuous sheet materials of each layer, cutting means (10,11,12,13) of said sheet materials continuous to the appropriate dimensions of the multilayer product, overlapping means (8,9,11,20) of the continuous or cut sheets and joining means (18,19) between the layers, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least a pair of rotary drums (8,9,11,13,20) mechanically synchronized in which at least two layers are superimposed so that in the main drum (8) all the layers of the product are superimposed comprising said middle drums for securing (14) of the sheets to them.

2. Machine for the manufacture of multilayer products, according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening means (14) of the sheets to the drums are pneumatic by aspiration.

3. Machine for the manufacture of multilayer products, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for inhibiting aspiration and driving air selectively.

4. Machine for the manufacture of multilayer products, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for regulating the relative position between two adjacent drums by free rotation of one another.

5. Machine for manufacturing products multilayer, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of gears for the mechanical synchronization of the drums (8,9,11,13,20).

6. Machine for manufacturing multilayer products according to claim 1, characterized in that the cutting means are rotating drums (11,13) provided with cutting blades.

7. Machine for the manufacture of multilayer products, according to claim 3, characterized in that the means for driving the air selectively comprise independent ducts and opening and closing devices thereof.

8. Machine for manufacturing multilayer products, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the different rotary drums (8,9,11,13,20) are mounted on the same body (1).