WO2015079368A1

WO2015079368A1 - Machine for making a composite web

Info

Publication number: WO2015079368A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/066232
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matteo Piantoni; Valerio Soli
Original assignee: Gdm S.P.A.
Priority date: 2013-11-27
Filing date: 2014-11-21
Publication date: 2015-06-04
Also published as: CN104670971B; CN104670971A; ITBO20130655A1

Abstract

A machine (1) for making a composite web (W) comprises a drum (21) for supporting a first web (W1) along a feed direction (D1), a station (2) for picking up an elastic thread (T) to be associated with the first web (W1) and a system for feeding the elastic thread (T); the machine (1) comprises a system for arranging the elastic thread (T) according to a predetermined pattern and a station (3) for applying the elastic thread (T) to the first web (W1) according to that pattern; the thread arranging system comprises first hooks (6, 13) and second hooks (7, 15) positioned on opposite sides of the feed direction (D2) of the elastic thread (T) and movable between a close-together position and a spaced-apart position along a direction (D3) transversal to the feed direction (D2) so as to engage the elastic thread (T) alternately and in sequence in such a way as to define the above mentioned pattern during feed from the pickup station (2) to the application station (3); the drum (21) for supporting the web (W1) on which the elastic thread (T) is released defines a system for unhooking the elastic thread (T) from the first hooks (6, 13) and from the second hooks (7, 15).

Description

DESCRIPTION

MACHINE FOR MAKING A COMPOSITE WEB.

Technical field

This invention relates to a machine for making a composite web and, in particular, a machine for making an elasticized web comprising at least a substrate and an elastic thread applied to the substrate.

A machine of known type for applying an elastic thread to a substrate, in particular in the form of a web, is described in document EP0955978B1 .

Background art

The machine lays the elastic thread transversely on the web and comprises a pair of wheels inclined towards each other and each provided on its respective outer cylindrical surface with thread retaining fingers which engage the elastic thread unwound from a spool.

The axes of rotation of the wheels are transversal to each other and the wheels are close together at the point where the thread is picked up by the respective fingers and are further apart where the thread is applied to the web 1 advancing in line.

The machine described comprises a system for unhooking the thread from the fingers: for example, a roller positioned transversely across the web to release the thread from the wheels and let it adhere to the underlying web, for example, by means of adhesive.

The machine described has some disadvantages.

Applying the thread to a web that is moving along a plane line makes it difficult for the thread to be unhooked from the wheels.

The adoption of thread unhooking systems makes prior art machines complex and, hence, relatively very expensive.

The particular arrangement of the thread, which also includes longitudinal stretches, that is, stretches which are parallel to the main direction of extension of the web means that its unhooking from the fingers must occur at 180° from the pickup point.

Moreover, the peripheral speed of the wheels is necessarily lower than or equal to the feed speed of the web to enable the thread to be unhooked from the fingers.

Changing the arrangement or pattern of the thread on the substrate is laborious because it requires changing the arrangement of the fingers on the wheels.

Aim of the invention

In this context, the main purpose of this invention is to propose a machine for making a composite web to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages.

One aim of this invention is to provide a machine for making a composite web which is simpler than machines known in the prior art.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a machine for making a composite web where the system for arranging the thread on the web and the systems for releasing the thread from the arranging system are simpler than in the prior art.

The technical purpose and aims specified are substantially achieved by a machine for making a composite web comprising the technical features set out in claim 1 .

Brief description of the drawings

Further features and advantages of this invention are more apparent in the description below, with reference to a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of a machine for making a composite web as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view, with some parts cut away for better clarity, illustrating a first embodiment of a machine for making a composite web according to this invention;

- Figure 2 illustrates the machine of Figure 1 in a schematic front view, with some parts cut away for better clarity;

- Figure 3 illustrates the machine of Figures 1 and 2 in a schematic top plan view, with some parts cut away for better clarity;

- Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view, with some parts cut away for better clarity, illustrating a second embodiment of a machine for making a composite web according to this invention;

- Figure 5 illustrates the machine of Figure 4 in a schematic front view, with some parts cut away for better clarity;

- Figure 6 illustrates the machine of Figures 4 and 5 in a schematic top plan view, with some parts cut away for better clarity;

- Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view, with some parts cut away for better clarity, illustrating a third embodiment of a machine for making a composite web according to this invention;

- Figure 8 illustrates a detail of the machine of Figure 7 in a schematic perspective view and with some parts cut away for better clarity.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a machine according to this invention for making a composite web W.

The web W has a main direction of extension D and comprises a first web W1 , an elastic thread T positioned transversely to the direction D according to a predetermined arrangement or pattern, for example in a zigzag configuration, glued to the web W1 , and a second web W2 attached to the first web W1 and to the thread T.

In practice and preferably, the web W is an elastic tape preferably stretchable in its main direction of extension D.

The machine 1 comprises feed means by which the first web W1 is advanced in a feed direction D1 along a feed path P1 .

The machine 1 comprises means for feeding the elastic thread T in a feed direction D2 along a feed path P2.

The means for feeding the thread T comprise means for arranging the thread T according to the aforementioned pattern to obtain, for example, the zigzag arrangement of the thread T on the first web W1 .

The machine 1 comprises a thread pickup station 2 where the arranging means receive the thread T and from which they feed the thread T to the web W1.

In particular, the machine 1 comprises a station 3 for applying the elastic thread T to the first web W1 , where the means for arranging the thread T release the thread T on the web W1 according to the predetermined pattern.

The means for arranging the thread T, besides creating the pattern in which the thread T is applied to the web W1 , in practice feed the thread T up to the application station 3 along the path P2.

With reference to Figures 1 to 3, in a first embodiment, the means for arranging the thread T comprise a first wheel 4 having an axis of rotation R1 and a second wheel 5 having an axis of rotation R2.

The wheels 4, 5 are positioned between the pickup station 2 and the application station 3 and, in the example illustrated, looking at Figure 2, the wheels 4 and 5 rotate anticlockwise to feed the thread T from the pickup station 2 to the application station 3.

As may be observed in particular in Figure 3, the wheels 4 and 5 are positioned on opposite sides of the path P2 of the elastic thread T and their axes of rotation R1 and R2 are transversal to each other.

The wheels 4, 5 are positioned relative to each other in such a way that their outer profiles are substantially tangent at the station 2 for picking up the thread and moves away from each other at the application station 3.

More specifically, the wheel 4 comprises, on its outer periphery, a plurality of hooks 6 and the wheel 5 comprises, on its outside surface, a plurality of hooks 7.

The hooks 6 are located on the side of the feed path P2 opposite to the hooks 7 in order to engage the elastic thread T.

More specifically, the hooks 6 and 7 each have a respective concavity 6a, 7 a for receiving the elastic thread T.

The hooks 6 and 7 are movable in a direction D3 transversal to the feed direction D2 of the thread T between a position where they are close together, at the pickup station 2, and a position where they are far apart, at the application station 3.

More specifically, the hooks 6, 7 are substantially aligned along the feed direction D2 at the pickup station 2 and spaced apart at the application station 3.

The hooks 6, 7 stretch the elastic thread T during feeding thereof from the pickup station 2 to the application station 3 as a result of the rotation of the wheels 4, 5.

As illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, the hooks 6 are alternated with the hooks 7 along the feed direction D2.

In practice, the thread T fed in the station 2 is engaged in sequence by a hook 6 of the wheel 4 and then by a hook 7 of the wheel 5.

That way, the hooks 6 and 7, which define the path P2 for the thread T, stretch the thread T as they hold it and make the aforementioned zigzag pattern which is then applied to the web W1 .

Looking at Figure 3, for example, consecutive hooks 6 and consecutive hooks 7 are spaced by a first spacing B1 along the circumference of the respective wheel 4 or 5.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the wheel 4 comprises a plurality of arms 8, preferably radial, each carrying at a free end of it 8a a respective hook 6.

The wheel 5 comprises a plurality of arms 9, preferably radial, each carrying at a free end of it 9a a respective hook 7.

The arms 8 and 9 are also alternated along the path P2 and act in conjunction to feed the thread T and form the pattern applied to the web W1.

In the embodiment illustrated, with reference in particular to Figures 4 to 6, the means for arranging the thread T, for example according to the zigzag pattern, comprise a first and a second roller 10, 1 1 having an axis of rotation R3 and R4, respectively.

With reference in particular to Figures 5, 6, it may be observed that the rollers 10, 1 1 are positioned on opposite sides of the direction D2 and are coaxial with each other.

The rollers 10, 1 1 are positioned between the pickup station 2 and the application station 3 and, as will become clearer as this description continues, they feed the thread T from the station 2 to the station 3.

The axes R3 and R4 are preferably at right angles to the feed direction D2 of the thread T and the feed motion is imparted by the rotation of the rollers 10, 1 1 which, looking at Figure 5, rotate anticlockwise.

The roller 10 comprises a plurality of movable carriers 12, each mounting a respective hook 13 designed to engage the thread T.

Each carrier 12 is constrained to the outside surface of the roller 10 and is movable as one with the respective hook 13 along a direction parallel to the axis R3 between a position close to the path P2 and a position away from it.

Each carrier 12 is slidable relative to the roller 10 in the direction parallel to the axis R3 and is, for example, constrained to an axial guide 12a which is rotatable with the roller 10.

The roller 1 1 comprises a plurality of movable carriers 14, each mounting a respective hook 15 designed to engage the thread T.

Each carrier 14 is constrained to the outside surface of the roller 1 1 and is movable as one with the respective hook 15 along a direction parallel to the axis R4 between a position close to the direction D2 and a position away from it.

Each carrier 14 is slidable relative to the roller 1 1 in the direction parallel to the axis R4 and is, for example, constrained to an axial guide 14a which is rotatable with the roller 1 1 .

In the embodiment illustrated by way of example, with reference in particular to Figures 4 and 6, it may be observed that the carriers 12 and 14 are positioned on opposite sides of the path P2.

The carriers 12 and 14 are preferably alternated along the direction D2. Thus, the thread T is hooked in sequence in the station 2 first by a hook 13 and then by a hook 15 which, as the respective rollers 10, 1 1 rotate, 5 move away from the direction D2 and arrange the thread T according to the required pattern on the web W1 , for example the aforementioned zigzag pattern.

Consecutive hooks 13 and consecutive hooks 15 are spaced, for example, by the first spacing B1 along the circumference of the respective roller 10, i o 1 1 .

More specifically, the hooks 13 and 15 each have a respective concavity 13a, 15a for receiving the elastic thread T.

In the embodiment of Figures 4 to 6, the means for arranging the thread T comprise movement means for moving the carriers 12, 14 on the rollers 10 15 and 1 1 .

The movement means operate between the rollers 10, 1 1 and the respective carriers 12, 14 to translate the carriers 12, 14, during the rotation of the rollers 10, 1 1 , between the positions close to and away from the direction D2.

20 In the embodiment illustrated by way of example, the movement means comprise, for each carrier 12, 14, a cam and follower mechanism 16 for example of the type described in patent application BO2007A000431 . Schematically, in one embodiment, the mechanism 16 comprises, for the roller 10, a pair of fixed guides 17, that is, guides which do not rotate.

25 Each carrier 12 comprises at least one cam follower element 18, in particular integral with the respective hook 13 and engaged with a respective guide 17.

Thus, as the roller 10 rotates, the movement of the cam follower element 18 along the respective guide 17 causes the carrier 12 to move along the

30 axis R3.

The mechanism 16 comprises, for the roller 12, a pair of fixed guides 19, that is, guides which do not rotate.

Each carrier 14 comprises at least one cam follower element 20, in particular integral with the respective hook 15 and engaged with a respective guide 19.

Thus, as the roller 1 1 rotates, the movement of the cam follower element 20 along the respective guide 19 causes the carrier 14 to move along the axis R4.

In an alternative embodiment, not illustrated, the movement means by which the carriers 12, 14 are moved parallel to the axes of rotation R3, R4 comprise an electric motor for each carrier.

Each linear electric motor comprises a stator, which is integral with the roller and which extends along the axis of rotation of the roller, and a mover, which is integral with the carrier element.

In an alternative embodiment, not illustrated, the rollers 10, 1 1 are in the form of a single roller whose axis of rotation is at right angles to the feed direction D2 of the thread T.

With reference to Figures 7 to 8, the means for arranging the thread T comprise a first wheel 30 having an axis of rotation R30 and a second wheel 31 having an axis of rotation R31 .

The wheels 30, 31 are positioned between the pickup station 2 and the application station 3 and, in the example illustrated, looking at Figure 2, the wheels 4 and 5 rotate to feed the thread T from the pickup station 2 to the application station 3.

As may be observed in particular in Figure 7, the wheels 30 and 31 are positioned on opposite sides of the path P2 of the elastic thread T and their axes of rotation R30 and R31 are transversal to each other.

The wheels 30, 31 are positioned relative to each other in such a way that their outer profiles are substantially tangent at the station 2 for picking up the thread.

The wheels 30, 31 are positioned relative to each other in such a way that their outer profiles move away from each other at the application station 3. The wheel 30 comprises, on its outer periphery, a plurality of hooks 32, preferably in the form of fingers, and the wheel 5 comprises, on its outside surface, a plurality of hooks 33, preferably in the form of fingers.

For simplicity, reference is hereinafter made to fingers 32, 33, without thereby limiting the scope of the invention.

The fingers 32 are located on the side of the feed path P2 opposite to the fingers 33 in order to engage the elastic thread T.

The fingers 32 and the fingers 33 are movable in a direction D3 transversal to the feed direction D2 of the thread T between a position where they are close together, at the pickup station 2, and a position where they are far apart, at the application station 3.

More specifically, the fingers 32, 33 are substantially aligned along the feed direction D2 at the pickup station 2 and spaced apart at the application station 3.

The fingers 32, 33 stretch the elastic thread T during feeding thereof from the pickup station 2 to the application station 3 as a result of the rotation of the wheels 30, 31.

As illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, the fingers 32 are alternated with the fingers 33 along the feed direction D2.

In practice, the thread T fed in the station 2 is engaged in sequence by a finger 32 of the wheel 30 and then by a finger 33 of the wheel 31 .

That way, the fingers 32 and 33, which define the path P2 for the thread T, stretch the thread T as they hold it and make the aforementioned zigzag pattern which is then applied to the web W1 .

Looking in more detail at the embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, with reference to Figure 8, in particular, it may be observed that each finger 32, 33 forms part of a respective carrier 34, 35 comprising the finger 32, 33 itself.

The carriers 34, 35 are distributed round the circular periphery of the wheels 30, 31 and are preferably spaced from each other by equal angular intervals at the centre, at the axes R30, R31 . Each carrier 34, 35 comprises, for each finger 32, 33, a closing element 36, 37, which is movable relative to the corresponding finger 32, 33 between a close-together position, in contact with the finger 32, 33, and a spaced-apart position, away from the finger 32, 33.

At the close-together position, the closing elements 36, 37 prevent the thread T engaged by the corresponding fingers to become unthreaded therefrom.

The machine 1 comprises a movement system, schematically represented as block 38, for moving the closing elements 36, 37 between the close- together and spaced-apart positions.

The movement system 38 comprises, for example, cam mechanisms built into the wheels 30 and 31 not described and not illustrated in detail.

The movement system 38 is configured in such a way that the closing elements are at the spaced-apart position at least in the pickup station 2, where the thread T is picked up, and in the application station 3, where the thread T is applied, so as to allow the fingers 32, 33 to engage and release the thread T.

Advantageously, at least between the station 2 and the station 3, the closing elements 36, 37 are at the close-together position in contact with the respective fingers 32, 33 in order to prevent the thread T from becoming unthreaded from the fingers 32, 33.

Looking at Figure 8, for example, consecutive fingers 32 and consecutive fingers 33, that is, consecutive carriers 34 and consecutive carriers 35, are spaced by a first spacing B1 along the circumference of the respective wheel 30 or 31.

Generally speaking, the machine 1 according to the invention then comprises means for arranging the thread T according to a predetermined pattern.

The arranging means comprise hooks 6, 7 or 13, 15 or 32, 33 located on opposite sides of the feed path P2 of the thread T to engage the thread T.

The hooks 6, 7 or 13, 15 or 32, 33 are movable between a close-together position and a spaced-apart position along the direction D3 transversal to, in particular perpendicular to, the feed direction D2.

The hooks 6, 7 or 13, 15 or 32, 33 are substantially aligned along the feed direction D2 at the pickup station 2 and spaced apart at the application station 3.

The hooks 6, 7 or 13, 15 or 32, 33 stretch the elastic thread T during feeding of the thread from the pickup station 2 to the application station 3 defining the above mentioned arrangement or pattern.

Preferably, the hooks 6, 7 or 13, 15 are shaped in such a way that the elastic thread T does not slide relative to the hooks 6, 7 or 13, 15 during rotation of the wheels 4, 5 or of the rollers 10, 1 1 .

Alternatively, as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the hooks or fingers 32, 33 are each associated with a respective closing element 36, 37 which, at the close-together position, prevents the thread T from becoming unthreaded from the corresponding finger 32, 33.

Looking in more detail at the feed means by which the web W1 is advanced, it may be observed that these feed means comprise a drum 21 whose function is also that of supporting the web W1 .

The drum 21 has an axis of rotation R5 which, in the embodiment of Figures 4 to 6 is parallel to the axes R3, R4, and is rotatable, in particular looking at Figures 3 and 5, in anticlockwise direction.

The application station 3 comprises the drum 21 whose outside cylindrical surface, in practice and preferably, defines the application station 3 itself. The thread T is released by the hooks 6, 7, 13, 15 substantially at the drum 21 .

With reference in particular to Figures 3 and 6, the drum 21 has a cylindrical surface portion 21 a which defines a zone for releasing the thread T from the hooks 6, 7, 13, 15.

In practice, the thread T is fed by each hook 6, 7, 13, 15, 32, 33 up to the drum 21 , in particular up to the portion 21 a thereof.

The means which define the pattern, in particular the wheels 4, 5 and/or the rollers 10, 1 1 and/or the wheels 30, 31 act in conjunction with the drum 21 in such a way that the thread T is released onto a portion of the web W1 in transit on the portion 21 a of the drum 21 .

The drum 21 for feeding and supporting the web W1 defines a system for unhooking the thread T from the hooks 6, 7, 13, 15, 32, 33.

Advantageously, the machine 1 allows the thread T to be unhooked by means of the drum 21 in a relatively simple and effective manner.

Preferably, the hooks 6, 7, 13, 15 are shaped in such a way as to release the thread T onto the web W1 at the drum 21 .

In a preferred embodiment not illustrated, the hooks 6, 7, 13, 15 are mounted on the respective wheel 4, 5 in such a way that when they are in the application station 3 they are positioned with their respective concavities 6a, 7a, 13a, 15a oriented radially with respect to the axis of rotation R5 of the drum 21 in order to make it easier to disengage the hooks 6, 7, 13, 15 from the thread T and to place the latter on the drum 21 and, more specifically, on the web W1 .

In a preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the fingers 32, 33 are mounted on the respective wheel 30, 31 in such a way that when they are in the application station 3 they are positioned along a substantially radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation R5 of the drum 21 in order to make it easier to disengage the fingers 32, 33 from the thread T and to place the latter on the drum 21 and, more specifically, on the web W1.

More precisely, the fingers 32, 33 are preferably radial at the position where the thread T is released.

With reference to Figures 3, 6 and 7, consecutive hooks 6, 7 or 13, 15 or 32, 33, considering the direction of rotation of the wheels 4, 5 or of the rollers 10, 1 1 or of the wheels 30, 31 , define a stretch T1 which is released onto the web W1 during the rotation of the drum 21 and of the wheels 4, 5 or of the rollers 10, 1 1 or of the wheels 30, 31 .

The opposing force applied by the web W1 through the drum 21 on the thread T moved by the consecutive hooks 6, 7 or 13, 15 or 32, 33 causes the thread T to be released from the hooks 6, 7 or 13, 15 or 32, 33 at the application station 3.

Thus, a sequence of stretches T1 of elastic thread T is laid on the web W1.

The ends of the consecutive stretches T1 released by the same wheel 4 or 5 or by the same roller 10 or 1 1 or by the same wheel 30, 31 are spaced from each other by a second spacing B2 measured along the main direction of extension D of the web W. For convenience, the spacing B2 is also referred to as spacing between consecutive stretches T1 .

Once the thread T has been released, the hooks 6, 7 or 13, 15 or 32, 33 continue rotating, each suitably moved also in the direction D3, until they receive the thread T again at the pickup station 2.

The drum 21 applies an opposing force to the elastic thread T being advanced by the hooks 6, 7, 13, 15, 32, 33 and causes the thread to be released therefrom.

Preferably, the wheels 4, 5 and/or the rollers 10, 1 1 and/or the wheels 30, 31 are positioned relative to each other in such a way that the thread T reaches the application station 3 from the pickup station 2 after a rotation of approximately 90°, in anticlockwise direction in the drawings, of the wheels 4, 5 and/or of the rollers 10, 1 1 and/or of the wheels 30, 31 .

It should be noted that the spacing B1 between consecutive hooks 6, 7 or 13, 15 or 32, 33 contributes to tensioning, or stretching, the thread T released onto the web W1 .

Preferably, the spacing B1 , that is, the distance between two consecutive hooks, is determined as a function of the extent to which the elastic thread T is required to be stretched on the web W1 , which in turn depends on the type of elastic web W to be obtained.

The machine 1 comprises a control and drive unit, schematically represented as a block 27, in communication with the means for arranging the thread according to the above mentioned pattern and with the feed means by which the web W1 is advanced, in particular the drum 21 .

The unit 27 is configured to drive the thread arranging means, in particular the wheels 4, 5 or the rollers 10, 1 1 or the wheels 30, 31 at a first peripheral speed of rotation V1 and the feed means for advancing the web W1 , in particular the drum 21 , at a second peripheral speed of rotation V2. Advantageously, the pattern of the thread T on the web W1 can be modified by acting on the unit 27 to change the speeds V1 and V2, that is, the speeds of the thread T and of the web W1 relative to each other.

In a preferred embodiment, the speed V2 is lower than the speed V1 . It is thus possible to obtain on the web W1 a spacing B2 between the consecutive stretches T1 which is smaller than the spacing B1 between consecutive hooks 6, 7 or 13, 15 or 32, 33.

Preferably, with reference in particular to Figures 2 and 5, the machine 1 comprises a system for applying adhesive to the web W1 on the face which receives the thread T.

The adhesive application system, schematically represented as a block

22, is of substantially known type, and thanks to the adhesive dispensed by it, contributes to fixing the thread T to the web W1 .

As mentioned above, the web W preferably comprises a second web W2 attached to the first web W1 and to the thread T.

The machine 1 comprises a unit 23 for applying the second web W2 to the web W1.

The unit 23 operates at the application station 3, downstream of the thread releasing zone with reference to the direction of rotation of the drum 21 . The unit 23 comprises an applicator roller 24, having an axis of rotation R6 and substantially tangent to the drum 21.

The axis of rotation R6 is preferably parallel to the axis of rotation R5 of the drum 21 . The roller 24 feeds the web W2 and presses it against the web W1 and the thread T on the web W1 to join them together.

Advantageously, the web W2 is glued to the web W1 by the adhesive applied to the web W1 by the system 22. In one embodiment, the system for releasing the thread T from the hooks 6, 7 or 13, 15 comprises thread T cutting means operating at the application station 3.

The cutting means are adapted to cut the thread T at the hooks 6, 7 or 13, 15 substantially at the moment the thread T is released onto the web W1 , thus facilitating the releasing of the thread T itself.

In one embodiment, the cutting means comprise a first and a second knife located on opposite sides of the drum 21 along the axis R5, substantially at the release zone. The knives in the station 3 are schematically represented as a block 25 in Figures 2 and 5.

In an alternative embodiment, shown by a dashed line in the accompanying drawings, the cutting means comprise a plurality of knives, each schematically represented as a block 26 shown by a dashed line and associated with a corresponding hook 6, 7 or 13, 14.

In a further embodiment, the cutting means comprise what is known as a "hot wire system".

A heated wire is located in such a way as to intercept the thread T at the application station 3, preferably at the ends of the stretch that is to be released.

The elastic thread T is cut on contact with the hot wire.

Advantageously, the knives 25 or 26 by cutting the thread T at the hooks 6, 7 or 13, 15 the moment the thread T itself is released onto the web W1 facilitate the unhooking of the thread T from the respective hook 6, 7 or 13, 15.

In embodiments where the elastic thread T is cut, the thread T adopts on the web W1 , a discontinuous zigzag configuration, for example, that is to say, it has a break in it at every change of direction.

In effect, each change of direction of the thread T on the web W1 corresponds to the portion of thread T released by the respective hook 6, 7, or 13, 15 or 32, 33, that is, the cut portion in the event of operation of the knives 25 or 26.

Claims

1 . A machine for making a composite web (W), the composite web (W) comprising a first web (W1 ) and at least one elastic thread (T) arranged on the web (W1 ) transversely to the first web (W1 ) according to a predetermined pattern, the machine comprising

feed means (21 , 21 a) by which the first web (W1 ) is advanced along a feed direction (D1 ),

feed means (4, 5, 10, 1 1 , 30, 31 ) by which the elastic thread (T) is fed along a feed direction (D2),

the feed means (4, 5, 10, 1 1 , 30, 31 ) comprising means (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 13, 15, 30, 31 , 32, 33) for arranging the elastic thread (T) according to the predetermined pattern and a station (2) for picking up the elastic thread (T), the machine comprising

a station (3) for applying the elastic thread (T) to the first web (W1 ) according to that pattern,

the arranging means (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 13, 15, 30, 31 , 32, 33) comprising first hooks (6, 13, 32) and second hooks (7, 15, 33) positioned on opposite sides of the feed direction (D2) to engage the elastic thread (T) at the pickup station (2), the first hooks (6, 13, 32) and the second hooks (7, 15, 33) being movable between a close-together position and a spaced-apart position along a direction (D3) transversal to the feed direction (D2),

the first hooks (6, 13, 32) and the second hooks (7, 15, 33) being substantially aligned along the feed direction (D2) at the pickup station (2) and spaced apart at the application station (3), the first hooks (6, 13, 32) and the second hooks (7, 15, 33) stretching the elastic thread (T) while feeding it from the pickup station (2) to the application station (3), the machine being characterized in that

the feed means (21 , 21 a) comprise a drum (21 ) for supporting the first web (W1 ), the application station (3) comprising the supporting drum (21 ), the elastic thread (T) being released by the first hooks (6, 13, 32) and the second hooks (7, 15, 33) onto the first web (W1 ) at the drum (21 ), the first web (W1 ) transiting on the supporting drum (21 ), the supporting drum (21 ) defining a system for unhooking the elastic thread (T) from the arranging means (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 13, 15, 30, 31 , 32, 33).

2. The machine according to claim 1 , comprising a unit (23) for applying a second web (W2) to the first web (W1 ), the application unit (23) operating at the application station (3), the application unit (23) comprising an applicator roller (24) substantially tangent to the drum (21 ) and having an axis of rotation (R6) parallel to the axis of rotation (R5) of the supporting drum (21 ) to attach the second web (W2) to the first web (W1 ) and the thread (T) arranged on the first web (W1 ).

3. The machine according to claim 1 or 2, comprising cutting means (25, 26) operating at the application station (3), the cutting means (25, 26) cutting the elastic thread (T) in order to release the hooks (6, 7, 13, 15) from the elastic thread (T).

4. The machine according to claim 3, wherein the cutting means (25, 26) comprise at least one knife (25) located at the application station (3) and operating on the elastic thread (T) at the supporting drum (21 ).

5. The machine according to claim 4, wherein the cutting means comprise a pair of knives (25) located on opposite sides of the supporting drum (21 ) along the axis of rotation (R5) of the supporting drum (21 ) and operating on the elastic thread (T) at the supporting drum (21 ).

6. The machine according to claim 3, wherein the cutting means (25, 26) comprise a plurality of knives (26), each associated with a corresponding first and/or second hook (6, 7, 13, 15) and operating on the elastic thread

(T) at the respective first and/or second hook (6, 7, 13, 15) at the application station (3).

7. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the arranging means (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 13, 15, 30, 31 , 32, 33) comprise a first and a second wheel (4, 5) having axes of rotation (R1 , R2) which are transversal to each other, the first wheel (4) bearing first hooks (6) on its outer periphery, and the second wheel (5) bearing second hooks (7) on its outer periphery.

8. The machine according to claim 7, wherein the first wheel (4) comprises a plurality of radial arms (8), each carrying at a free end of it (8a) a respective first hook (6) and wherein the second wheel (5) comprises a plurality of second radial arms (9), each carrying at a free end of it (9a) a respective second hook (7).

9. The machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the arranging means (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 13, 15, 30, 31 , 32, 33) comprise at least one roller (10, 1 1 ) whose axis of rotation (R3, R4) is parallel to the axis of rotation (R5) of the supporting drum (21 ),

first movable carriers (12), mounting the first hooks (13), the movable carriers (12) being constrained to the outside surface of the roller (10, 1 1 ) and being movable along a direction (D3) parallel to the axis of rotation (R3, R4) of the roller (10, 1 1 ),

the arranging means (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 13, 15, 30, 31 , 32, 33) comprising second movable carriers (14) mounting the second hooks (15), the second movable carriers (14) being constrained to the outside surface of the roller (10, 1 1 ) and being movable along the direction (D3) parallel to the axis of rotation (R3, R4) of the roller (10, 1 1 ), the first and second movable carriers (12, 14) moving the first and second hooks (13, 15), respectively, between the close-together position and the spaced-apart position, the arranging means (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 13, 15, 30, 31 , 32, 33) comprising means (16, 17, 18, 19, 20) for moving the first and second movable carriers (12, 14) operating between the roller (10, 1 1 ) and the first and second movable carriers (12, 14) in such a way as to move the first and second hooks (13, 15) between the close-together position and the spaced-apart position by means of the first and second movable carriers (12, 14).

10. The machine according to claim 9, wherein the movement means (16,

17, 18, 19, 20) comprise cam means (17, 18, 19, 20).

1 1 . The machine according to claim 9, wherein the movement means (16, 17, 18, 19, 20) comprise linear electric motors operating between the first and second movable carriers (12, 14) and the roller (10, 1 1 ).

12. The machine according to any one of claims 9 to 1 1 , wherein the arranging means (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 13, 15, 30, 31 , 32, 33) comprise a first roller (10) mounting the first movable carriers (12) and a second roller (1 1 ) mounting the second movable carriers (14), the first and the second roller (10, 1 1 ) being coaxial with each other and located on opposite sides of the feed direction (D2) of the elastic thread (T).

13. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first hooks (6, 13) are alternated with the second hooks (7, 15) along the feed direction (D2), in particular at the pickup station (2).

14. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second hooks (6, 7, 13, 15) are mounted on the respective first or second wheel (4, 5) in such a way that when they are in the application station (3) they are positioned with their respective concavities (6a, 7a, 13a, 15a) oriented radially with respect to the axis of rotation (R5) of the drum (21 ) in order to make it easier to disengage the hooks (6, 7,

13. 15) from the thread (T).

15. The machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the arranging means (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 13, 15, 30, 31 , 32, 33) comprise a first and a second wheel (30, 31 ) whose axes of rotation (R30, R31 ) are transversal to each other, the first wheel (30) bearing on its outer periphery first carriers (34) comprising the first hooks (32) and the second wheel (31 ) bearing on its outer periphery second carriers (34) comprising the second hooks (33), the first and second hooks (32, 33) being in the form of fingers, each carrier (34, 35) comprising, for each first and second hook (32, 33), a closing element (36, 37), which is movable relative to the corresponding first or second hook (32, 33) between a close-together position, in contact with the first or second hook (32, 33), and a spaced- apart position, away from the first or second hook (32, 33), the closing element (36, 37) keeping the thread (T) engaged with the corresponding first or second hook (32, 33).

16. The machine according to claim 15, wherein the machine comprises a movement system (38), for moving the closing elements (36, 37) between the close-together and spaced-apart positions and configured in such a way that the closing elements (36, 37) are at the spaced-apart position at least in the pickup station (2), where the thread (T) is picked up, and in the application station (3) and at the close-together position at least between the pickup station (2) and the application station (3).

17. The machine according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the first and second fingers (32, 33) are mounted on the first wheel (30) and on the second wheel (31 ), respectively, in such a way as to be positioned in the application station (3) along a substantially radial direction relative to the supporting drum (21 ) in order to make it easier to disengage the first and second fingers (32, 33) from the thread (T) and to place the latter on the drum (21 ) and, more specifically, on the first web (W1 ).

18. A method for making a composite web in a machine (1 ) for making a composite web (W) according to any one of the preceding claims, the method being characterized in that it comprises a step of driving the arranging means (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 13, 15, 30, 31 , 32, 33) at a first peripheral speed of rotation (V1 ) and a step of driving the drum (21 ) at a second peripheral speed of rotation (V2), the first and the second peripheral speed of rotation (V1 , V2) determining a relative speed between the elastic thread (T) and the first web (W1 ), the first and the second peripheral speed of rotation (V1 , V2) being selected as a function of the predetermined pattern.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the second peripheral speed of rotation (V2) is lower than the first peripheral speed of rotation (V1 ).