Product turner and placer

{
  "publication_number": "US9687390B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Product turner and placer",
  "abstract": "An apparatus is disclosed for severing a continuous web into discrete pieces, and re-orienting the discrete pieces by turning and placing the discrete pieces onto a moving conveyor for further processing as desired.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method of processing a continuous web; the method comprising: providing an incoming continuous web of material comprising a first edge and a second edge, said continuous web of material provided along a first plane of travel defined by said first and said second edges; severing the web into discrete pieces; acquiring a discrete piece with a rotating and pivoting unit; rotating said discrete piece about an axis of rotation of said rotating and pivoting unit; pivoting said discrete piece to a second plane of travel, said second plane of travel intersecting said axis of rotation of said rotating and pivoting unit; said rotating and pivoting steps reorienting said discrete pieces from said first plane of travel to said second plane of travel, said second plane of travel intersecting said first plane of travel; depositing said pieces along said second plane of travel and spacing adjacent pieces by separating a top edge of said first discrete piece from a bottom edge of said second discrete piece.",
    "2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first plane of travel is vertical.",
    "3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first plane of travel is horizontal.",
    "4. A method of claim 1, said pieces deposited onto a conveyor.",
    "5. A method of claim 1, said pieces deposited onto a running web of material.",
    "6. A method of claim 1, said pieces comprising a diaper.",
    "7. A method of processing a continuous web; the method comprising: acquiring a rotating and pivoting unit series of discrete pieces comprising a leading edge, a trailing edge, a top edge and a bottom edge, said pieces traveling at a first orientation relative to horizontal; rotating said discrete pieces about an axis the first orientation; pivoting said discrete nieces about a pivot axis; spacing adjacent pieces by separating a trailing edge of a first discrete piece from leading edge of a second discrete piece; reorienting said discrete pieces from said first orientation relative to horizontal to a second orientation relative to horizontal parallel with said pivot axis; depositing said pieces and spacing adjacent pieces by separating a top edge of said first discrete piece from a bottom edge of said second discrete piece.",
    "8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said first orientation relative to horizontal is vertical.",
    "9. A method according to claim 7, therein said second orientation relative to horizontal is horizontal.",
    "10. A method of claim 7, said pieces deposited onto a conveyor.",
    "11. A method of claim 7, said pieces deposited onto a running web of material."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The invention disclosed herein relates to an apparatus and methods for producing disposable products such as diapers at very high speeds. While the description provided relates to diaper manufacturing, the apparatus and method are easily adaptable to other applications. In particular this invention relates to an apparatus for turning and placing either portions of or discrete disposable products such as diapers. Generally, diapers comprise an absorbent insert or patch and a chassis, which, when the diaper is worn, supports the insert proximate a wearer's body. Additionally, diapers may include other various patches, such as tape tab patches, reusable fasteners and the like. The raw materials used in forming a representative insert are typically cellulose pulp, tissue paper, poly, nonwoven web, acquisition, and elastic, although application specific materials are sometimes utilized. Usually, most of the insert raw materials are provided in roll form, and unwound and applied in continuously fed fashion.\n\nIn the creation of a diaper, multiple roll-fed web processes are typically utilized. To create an absorbent insert, the cellulose pulp is unwound from the provided raw material roll and de-bonded by a pulp mill. Discrete pulp cores are created using a vacuum forming assembly and placed on a continuous tissue web. Optionally, super-absorbent powder may be added to the pulp core. The tissue web is wrapped around the pulp core. The wrapped core is debulked by proceeding through a calendar unit, which at least partially compresses the core, thereby increasing its density and structural integrity.",
  "cpc": [
    "A61F 13/15764",
    "A61F 13/15723",
    "B65G 47/252",
    "B65G 47/843"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A61F 13/15",
    "B65G 47/24",
    "B65G 47/252",
    "B65G 47/84"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "JOA CURT G INC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "DAVIDSON BENJAMIN T",
    "INGOLE SUDEEP"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-01-25",
  "publication_date": "2017-06-27",
  "grant_date": "2017-06-27",
  "priority_date": "2015-01-26",
  "application_number": "US-201615005511-A",
  "family_id": "56433100",
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