WO2020183357A1 - Machine for making absorbent sanitary articles and a method for setting the machine. - Google Patents

Machine for making absorbent sanitary articles and a method for setting the machine. Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2020183357A1
WO2020183357A1 PCT/IB2020/052050 IB2020052050W WO2020183357A1 WO 2020183357 A1 WO2020183357 A1 WO 2020183357A1 IB 2020052050 W IB2020052050 W IB 2020052050W WO 2020183357 A1 WO2020183357 A1 WO 2020183357A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
defect
machine
block
electronic
absorbent
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2020/052050
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Massimo Pallavera
Matteo Piantoni
Original Assignee
Gdm S.P.A.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gdm S.P.A. filed Critical Gdm S.P.A.
Publication of WO2020183357A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020183357A1/en

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/15577—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing
    • A61F13/15772—Control

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a machine for making absorbent sanitary articles and to a method for making the absorbent articles.
  • this invention responds to a problem encountered by the Applicant during machine setting operations.
  • Machine setting operations are carried out during one or more machine test periods, before actually putting the machine into production.
  • test periods usually take place before the machine is started up for the first time or after a machine changeover operation, where the machine has not yet been validated for the product size and the respective settings have not yet been stored in the control device.
  • HMI human-machine interface
  • the human-machine interface comprises a programmable electronic controller, or machine controller, and an operator interface connected electronically to the controller.
  • the machine controller is configured to assign information about each absorbent article to a shift register, defined by a plurality of blocks.
  • Each block is associated with a temporal position of an absorbent article being processed.
  • the first position of the shift register corresponds to the temporal position where the absorbent article physically exits the machine.
  • the position of the shift register blocks is incremented by one unit for each discrete absorbent article.
  • One of the machine setting operations consists in validating the absorbent articles rejected by the machine as defective during the test periods.
  • Validating the rejected articles means an operator has to specify the number of absorbent articles rejected, the defect that caused the rejection and the position in the machine where rejection occurred, identified as the shift register block number.
  • the operator manually counts the absorbent articles rejected to identify the position in the machine where the defect of the rejected absorbent article occurs, counting the number of absorbent articles backwards from a reference position, such as, for example, the rejection station of the production line.
  • the rejection station corresponds virtually to the zero block of the shift register and the number of articles counted backwards to the position in the machine where the defect of the rejected absorbent article occurred identifies virtually a corresponding number of the shift register block.
  • the possible defects that may be found in a rejected absorbent article may regard one or more side wings (for example, a missing or badly positioned wing), an elasticized waistband (for example, badly positioned), one or more elasticized gathers (for example, missing elastic element in the gather), an absorbent pad (for example, absence of superabsorbent material in the pad) and other defects, such as, for example, absence of adhesive substance or presence of contamination by materials foreign to the absorbent article.
  • side wings for example, a missing or badly positioned wing
  • an elasticized waistband for example, badly positioned
  • one or more elasticized gathers for example, missing elastic element in the gather
  • an absorbent pad for example, absence of superabsorbent material in the pad
  • other defects such as, for example, absence of adhesive substance or presence of contamination by materials foreign to the absorbent article.
  • the operator After counting, for each type of defect, the operator enters the number of defective articles in the machine controller through the operator interface and also indicates the position in the machine where the defect that caused the absorbent article to be rejected occurred, corresponding to the number of articles counted backwards from the reference position to the machine position where the defect of the rejected absorbent article occurred, identified by the number of the corresponding shift register block.
  • this check is carried out every time the machine is subjected to changeover because the shift register block corresponding to the position in the machine where the defect that caused the absorbent article to be rejected occurred varies with variation of the length of the absorbent article, varying the step of the shift register, and/or with variation of the path followed by the continuous web being processed.
  • the block corresponding to the defective article is thus equal to the number of absorbent articles counted backwards starting from the first absorbent article, which corresponds to the zero block of the shift register.
  • the machine controller associates the rejection information item with one or more machine register blocks corresponding to the type of defect detected, so that each defective absorbent article is rejected when the corresponding flagged block is located virtually at the rejection station.
  • one aspect of this invention is to provide a machine for making absorbent sanitary articles, such as nappies, absorbent pads and the like, each comprising a plurality of components.
  • the machine comprises a production line along which a plurality of operating stations are disposed, and a rejection station for rejecting defective absorbent articles and located downstream of the operating stations in the feed direction of the absorbent articles along the production line.
  • the machine Upstream of the rejection station with reference to the feed direction of the absorbent articles along the production line, the machine comprises an electronic data reading device configured to read an electronic identification element associated with a respective absorbent article.
  • the electronic identification element comprises at least one information item relating to a type of defect of the absorbent article.
  • the machine comprises a programmable electronic controller configured to shift a shift register comprising a plurality of blocks, each containing information about a respective absorbent article.
  • the electronic data reading device is associated with a respective block of the shift register.
  • the programmable electronic controller is configured to receive from the electronic data reading device the information item relating to a type of defect and associated with a respective electronic identification element and is also configured to associate that information item with a respective block of the shift register.
  • an electronic identification element applied on a corresponding defective absorbent article, and of an electronic data reading device allows identifying the exact block of the shift register corresponding to the position in the machine where the defect that causes rejection occurs, drastically reduces machine setting times, hence machine down times.
  • identifying the exact block of the shift register corresponding to the defective article improves machine setting and subsequent performance in rejecting the exact number of defective articles during production.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a making machine according to this invention.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram representing a section for controlling the machine of Figure 1.
  • the reference numeral 1 denotes a machine for making absorbent sanitary articles such as nappies, absorbent pads and the like.
  • Each absorbent article 2 comprises a plurality of components 3 which are positioned and/or assembled relative to each other to define the absorbent article 2.
  • the components 3 of an absorbent article 2 are front wings, rear wings, absorbent pad, elastic gathers, tape for fastening the rear wings, etc.
  • the making machine 1 comprises a production line 4 along which the components 3 are fed and assembled to make up the finished absorbent articles 2.
  • the production line 4 defines a feed path P of the absorbent articles 2 being made as they move in a feed direction, indicated by the arrow F in the drawing.
  • Advancing along the production line 4 is a continuous web 17 on which the components 3 are progressively assembled to make the absorbent articles 2.
  • the continuous web 17 is divided into individual absorbent articles 2.
  • a plurality of operating stations 5, disposed along the production line 4 are configured to gradually make up the absorbent articles 2.
  • Each operating unit 5 is configured to make and/or feed one or more components 3 of the absorbent articles 2 to the continuous web 17 along the production line 4.
  • the cutting station 18 is located upstream of the rejection station 8.
  • a plurality of sensors 20 are provided along the production line 4, each configured to detect a defect on the absorbent article 2 being made or to detect a malfunction in an operating station 5.
  • Each sensor 20 is configured to emit a respective warning signal 21 when the defect is detected on the absorbent article 2 or when a malfunction is detected in an operating station 5.
  • the malfunctioning of an operating station 5 leads to the generating of a defect of the absorbent article 2.
  • the warning signal 21 is emitted by a respective sensor 20 when it detects the presence of a splice between two continuous webs as a result of changing from one roll of material to another, or when it detects an excessive amount of glue or, on the contrary, when no glue is detected.
  • the production line comprises an inspection station 23 for inspecting the continuous web 17 and located upstream of the cutting station 18.
  • the inspection station 23 is configured to detect any defects in the absorbent articles 2 that will be obtained by cutting the continuous web 17 in order to reject them at the rejection station 8.
  • the sensors 30 and the inspection station 22 are distinct entities.
  • the machine 1 can be divided into a succession of contiguous sectors which are mapped by at least one shift register 13, as illustrated in Figure 2.
  • the shift register 13 (also called“chain”) is represented graphically as a succession of consecutive rectangular blocks 14. Each block 14 of the register 13 is defined as a step of the“chain” and represents a segment of the production line 4.
  • Each step 14 of the shift register 13 corresponds to a temporal position of the article 2 being made up as it passes through the operating stations 5 of the machine 1.
  • the first position of the shift register 13, called zero block corresponds to the temporal position where the absorbent article 2 physically exits the machine 1 at the rejection station 8.
  • the position of the shift register blocks 14 is incremented by one unit for each discrete absorbent article 2.
  • the information relating to the state of the article 2 (or of the respective components 3) being processed along the production line 4 is stored in the shift register 13.
  • the making machine 1 is provided with a programmable electronic controller 12 or machine controller 12.
  • the electronic controller 12 applies a shift command 14 to the shift register 13 which shifts the information content of each block one step forward.
  • the electronic controller 12 is configured to shift a position pointer of the block 14 of the shift register 13.
  • each block 14 is shifted until it reaches the last block 14 of the“chain”.
  • the electronic controller 12 is configured to associate a rejection information item 15 with a block 14 of the shift register 13: that is to say, the electronic controller 12“flags” a block 14 with the rejection information item 15.
  • the electronic controller 12 applies a rejection command to the finished absorbent article 2 to reject the defective absorbent article 2a at the rejection station 8.
  • the inspection station 23 corresponds temporally to a respective block 14 of the shift register.
  • the block 14 will be flagged by the electronic controller 12 if the inspection station 22 detects a defect in the continuous web 17 inspected.
  • the machine 1 upstream of the rejection station 8 with reference to the feed direction of the absorbent articles 2 along the production line 4, the machine 1 comprises an electronic data reading device 9 configured to receive one or more information items contained in a respective electronic identification element 11.
  • the electronic identification element 1 1 is configured to be associated with a respective absorbent article 2 or with a component 3 thereof.
  • the electronic identification element 11 comprises at least one information item 19 relating to a type of defect of the absorbent article 2, causing the defective absorbent article 2a to be rejected.
  • Each type of defect is associated with a respective warning signal 21 of a respective sensor 20.
  • the electronic data reading device 9 is disposed along the production line 4.
  • the electronic data reading device 9 is configured to receive information from the electronic identification element 1 1.
  • the electronic data reading device 9 does not receive any information item 19.
  • the position of the electronic data reading device 9 along the production line 4 corresponds to a respective block 14 of the shift register 13.
  • the programmable electronic controller 12 is connected to the programmable electronic data reading device 9.
  • the programmable electronic controller 12 comprises a counting module 10 configured to count the absorbent articles 2 which are scanned by the electronic data reading device 9.
  • the programmable electronic controller 12 is configured to receive from the electronic data reading device 9 the information item 19 associated with the electronic identification element 1 1.
  • the programmable electronic controller 12 is configured to associate the information item 19 associated with the electronic identification element 1 1 with a block 14 of the shift register 13.
  • the programmable electronic controller 12 is configured to associate the information item 19 relating to the type of defect of the absorbent article 2 with a respective block 14 of the shift register 13 corresponding to the position in the machine 1 where the defect associated with the information item 19 read by the electronic data reading device 9 is generated.
  • the programmable electronic controller 12 is configured to determine the block 14 of the shift register 13 of the machine 1 where the defect associated with the information item 19 read by the electronic data reading device 9 is generated, by summing the position of the block 14 corresponding to the electronic data reading device 9 with the count of the absorbent articles 2 scanned by the electronic data reading device 9.
  • the programmable electronic controller 12 is configured to save to a memory unit 22 the block 14 identified by summing the position of the block 14 corresponding to the electronic data reading device 9 with the count of the absorbent articles 2 scanned by the electronic data reading device 9.
  • the programmable electronic controller 12 is configured to associate the type of defect corresponding to the warning signal 21 with a corresponding block 14 identified and saved to the memory unit 22.
  • the electronic identification element 1 1 is a radio-frequency element, also called“tag” or“transponder”, and the electronic data reading device 9 is a radio-frequency reading device, also called RFID reader.
  • the electronic identification element 1 1 is in the form of an adhesive label.
  • the electronic identification element 1 1 is configured to be programmed by the programmable electronic controller 12.
  • the programmable electronic controller 12 is configured to associate an information item 19 relating to a type of defect of the absorbent article 2 with a respective electronic identification element 1 1.
  • a printer 16 is configured to receive the electronic identification elements 11 in blank form - that is to say, not containing any information 19 - and to print the electronic identification elements 1 1 programmed by the programmable electronic controller 12 - that is, each containing information relating to a respective type of defect.
  • the printer 16 is electronically connected to the programmable electronic controller 12.
  • the programmable electronic controller 12 is configured to associate a plurality of electronic identification elements 11 for each type of defect detected.
  • an electronic identification element 1 1 has a single information item 19 relating to the type of defect.
  • the absorbent articles 2 are scanned by the electronic data reading device 9 as they move along the production line 4.
  • the electronic data reading device 9 receives from it the information item 19 relating to the type of defect.
  • This information item 19 is received by the programmable electronic controller 12.
  • the programmable electronic controller 12 when it receives the count of the absorbent articles 2 scanned by the electronic data reading device 9, is able to associate the information item 19 relating to the type of defect with a respective block 14 of the shift register 13 whose position in the shift register 13 is equal to the sum of absorbent articles 2 scanned plus the position of the electronic data reading device 9 in the shift register 13.
  • This invention relates to a method for making absorbent sanitary articles. The method comprises a step of setting the machine 1 , followed by a step of making absorbent articles.
  • the step of setting comprises a first step of starting the machine 1 during which the defective absorbent articles 2a are conveyed to the rejection station 8.
  • This step is preferably carried out by programming the electronic identification elements 1 1 by means of the programmable electronic controller 12 and printing the programmed electronic identification elements 1 1 as adhesive labels, preferably with the printer 16.
  • Each electronic identification element 11 is programmed to contain a respective information item 19 relating to a type of defect of the absorbent article 2.
  • the programmable electronic controller 12 is configured to increment its count by one unit for each absorbent article 2 scanned by the electronic data reading device 9.
  • the programmable electronic controller 12 determines, for each type of defect, the block 14 of the shift register 13 to be associated with the information item 19 relating to a type of defect associated with a respective electronic identification element 1 1 by summing the position of the block 14 corresponding to the electronic data reading device 9 with the count of the absorbent articles 2 scanned.
  • the method comprises a step of saving the identified block 14 corresponding to a respective type of defect.
  • the method comprises a step of making the absorbent articles comprising a step of detecting a type of defect or of detecting a malfunction in an operating station 5 and, following the step of detecting, a step of associating the information item 19 relating to a type of defect detected with a respective block 14 identified and saved.
  • the information item 19 read from a respective electronic identification element 1 1 is associated with a respective block 14 of the shift register 13 whose position from the zero block 14 in the shift register 13 corresponds to the sum of the articles 2 scanned until the electronic identification element 11 is read.
  • each block 14 which is flagged by the programmable electronic controller 12 and with which the information item 19 of the type of defect is associated reaches a position of the shift register 13 corresponding to the rejection station 8, the programmable electronic controller 12 issues the command to reject the absorbent article 2 that has the respective electronic identification element 1 1.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Vascular Medicine (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Absorbent Articles And Supports Therefor (AREA)

Abstract

A machine for making absorbent sanitary articles such as nappies, absorbent pads and the like comprises a production line (4), along which a plurality of operating stations (5) are disposed, and a rejection station (8) for rejecting defective absorbent articles (2a) and located downstream of the operating stations (5) in the feed direction of the absorbent articles (2) along the production line (4); upstream of the rejection station (8) with reference to the feed direction of the absorbent articles (2) along the production line (4), the machine (1) comprises an electronic data reading device (9) configured to read an electronic identification element (11) associated with a respective absorbent article (2); the electronic identification element (11) comprises at least one information item (19) relating to a type of defect of the absorbent article (2); the machine (1) comprises a programmable electronic controller (12) configured to receive from the electronic data reading device (9) the information item (19) relating to a type of defect and associated with a respective electronic identification element (11) and also being configured to associate that information item (19) with a respective block (14) of a shift register (13).

Description

DESCRIPTION
MACHINE FOR MAKING ABSORBENT SANITARY ARTICLES AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE ABSORBENT ARTICLES
Technical field
This invention relates to a machine for making absorbent sanitary articles and to a method for making the absorbent articles.
More specifically, this invention responds to a problem encountered by the Applicant during machine setting operations.
Background art
Machine setting operations are carried out during one or more machine test periods, before actually putting the machine into production.
These test periods usually take place before the machine is started up for the first time or after a machine changeover operation, where the machine has not yet been validated for the product size and the respective settings have not yet been stored in the control device.
During machine setting operations, the operator enters and sets a plurality of parameters and data in a human-machine interface, usually referred to by the acronym HMI.
The human-machine interface comprises a programmable electronic controller, or machine controller, and an operator interface connected electronically to the controller.
The machine controller is configured to assign information about each absorbent article to a shift register, defined by a plurality of blocks.
Each block is associated with a temporal position of an absorbent article being processed.
Normally, the first position of the shift register, called zero block, corresponds to the temporal position where the absorbent article physically exits the machine. Working backwards, with reference to the feed direction of the absorbent article in the machine, the position of the shift register blocks is incremented by one unit for each discrete absorbent article.
One of the machine setting operations consists in validating the absorbent articles rejected by the machine as defective during the test periods.
Validating the rejected articles means an operator has to specify the number of absorbent articles rejected, the defect that caused the rejection and the position in the machine where rejection occurred, identified as the shift register block number.
To validate the rejected articles, the operator manually counts the absorbent articles rejected to identify the position in the machine where the defect of the rejected absorbent article occurs, counting the number of absorbent articles backwards from a reference position, such as, for example, the rejection station of the production line.
The rejection station corresponds virtually to the zero block of the shift register and the number of articles counted backwards to the position in the machine where the defect of the rejected absorbent article occurred identifies virtually a corresponding number of the shift register block.
By way of example, the possible defects that may be found in a rejected absorbent article may regard one or more side wings (for example, a missing or badly positioned wing), an elasticized waistband (for example, badly positioned), one or more elasticized gathers (for example, missing elastic element in the gather), an absorbent pad (for example, absence of superabsorbent material in the pad) and other defects, such as, for example, absence of adhesive substance or presence of contamination by materials foreign to the absorbent article.
After counting, for each type of defect, the operator enters the number of defective articles in the machine controller through the operator interface and also indicates the position in the machine where the defect that caused the absorbent article to be rejected occurred, corresponding to the number of articles counted backwards from the reference position to the machine position where the defect of the rejected absorbent article occurred, identified by the number of the corresponding shift register block.
In effect, this check is carried out every time the machine is subjected to changeover because the shift register block corresponding to the position in the machine where the defect that caused the absorbent article to be rejected occurred varies with variation of the length of the absorbent article, varying the step of the shift register, and/or with variation of the path followed by the continuous web being processed.
For the operator, indicating the number of the shift register block corresponding to the position in the machine where the defect that caused the absorbent article to be rejected occurred is a problematic and time consuming task. In effect, in some cases, the operator has to manually pull out the succession of absorbent articles exiting the machine and count the position of the defective absorbent article starting from the first article in the succession.
The block corresponding to the defective article is thus equal to the number of absorbent articles counted backwards starting from the first absorbent article, which corresponds to the zero block of the shift register.
If the operator is unable to identify with certainty the exact position in the machine where the defect of the article occurs, there is no choice but to estimate an interval of blocks, corresponding to an approximate position of the machine.
Entering an approximate number of blocks corresponding to a portion of the machine in which the defect occurs during setting means that the number of articles rejected during production is equal the number of blocks indicated which in turn means that a certain number of non defective articles are rejected together with the defective one.
That is because the machine controller associates the rejection information item with one or more machine register blocks corresponding to the type of defect detected, so that each defective absorbent article is rejected when the corresponding flagged block is located virtually at the rejection station.
In this context, the need was felt to be able to identify the exact block of the shift register corresponding to the position in the machine where the defect resulting in rejection occurs, so that only defective absorbent articles are rejected.
Disclosure of the invention
In this context, one aspect of this invention is to provide a machine for making absorbent sanitary articles, such as nappies, absorbent pads and the like, each comprising a plurality of components.
The machine comprises a production line along which a plurality of operating stations are disposed, and a rejection station for rejecting defective absorbent articles and located downstream of the operating stations in the feed direction of the absorbent articles along the production line.
Upstream of the rejection station with reference to the feed direction of the absorbent articles along the production line, the machine comprises an electronic data reading device configured to read an electronic identification element associated with a respective absorbent article.
The electronic identification element comprises at least one information item relating to a type of defect of the absorbent article.
The machine comprises a programmable electronic controller configured to shift a shift register comprising a plurality of blocks, each containing information about a respective absorbent article.
The electronic data reading device is associated with a respective block of the shift register.
The programmable electronic controller is configured to receive from the electronic data reading device the information item relating to a type of defect and associated with a respective electronic identification element and is also configured to associate that information item with a respective block of the shift register.
Advantageously, the use of an electronic identification element, applied on a corresponding defective absorbent article, and of an electronic data reading device allows identifying the exact block of the shift register corresponding to the position in the machine where the defect that causes rejection occurs, drastically reduces machine setting times, hence machine down times.
Advantageously, identifying the exact block of the shift register corresponding to the defective article, instead of identifying it approximately, improves machine setting and subsequent performance in rejecting the exact number of defective articles during production.
Brief description of the drawings
Further features of the invention and its advantages are more apparent in the non-limiting description which follows of preferred embodiments of a machine for making absorbent sanitary articles and of a method for setting the machine, as schematically illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a making machine according to this invention;
- Figure 2 is a block diagram representing a section for controlling the machine of Figure 1.
Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention
The reference numeral 1 denotes a machine for making absorbent sanitary articles such as nappies, absorbent pads and the like.
Each absorbent article 2 comprises a plurality of components 3 which are positioned and/or assembled relative to each other to define the absorbent article 2. The components 3 of an absorbent article 2 are front wings, rear wings, absorbent pad, elastic gathers, tape for fastening the rear wings, etc.
The making machine 1 comprises a production line 4 along which the components 3 are fed and assembled to make up the finished absorbent articles 2.
The production line 4 defines a feed path P of the absorbent articles 2 being made as they move in a feed direction, indicated by the arrow F in the drawing.
Advancing along the production line 4 is a continuous web 17 on which the components 3 are progressively assembled to make the absorbent articles 2.
At a cutting station 18, the continuous web 17 is divided into individual absorbent articles 2.
A plurality of operating stations 5, disposed along the production line 4 are configured to gradually make up the absorbent articles 2.
Each operating unit 5 is configured to make and/or feed one or more components 3 of the absorbent articles 2 to the continuous web 17 along the production line 4.
Downstream of the operating units 5, in the feed direction of the absorbent articles 2 being made, there is at least one rejection station 8 for rejecting defective absorbent articles 2a.
The cutting station 18 is located upstream of the rejection station 8.
A plurality of sensors 20 are provided along the production line 4, each configured to detect a defect on the absorbent article 2 being made or to detect a malfunction in an operating station 5.
Each sensor 20 is configured to emit a respective warning signal 21 when the defect is detected on the absorbent article 2 or when a malfunction is detected in an operating station 5.
The malfunctioning of an operating station 5 leads to the generating of a defect of the absorbent article 2. For example, the warning signal 21 is emitted by a respective sensor 20 when it detects the presence of a splice between two continuous webs as a result of changing from one roll of material to another, or when it detects an excessive amount of glue or, on the contrary, when no glue is detected. The production line comprises an inspection station 23 for inspecting the continuous web 17 and located upstream of the cutting station 18.
The inspection station 23 is configured to detect any defects in the absorbent articles 2 that will be obtained by cutting the continuous web 17 in order to reject them at the rejection station 8.
The sensors 30 and the inspection station 22 are distinct entities.
In terms of logical representation, the machine 1 can be divided into a succession of contiguous sectors which are mapped by at least one shift register 13, as illustrated in Figure 2.
The shift register 13 (also called“chain”) is represented graphically as a succession of consecutive rectangular blocks 14. Each block 14 of the register 13 is defined as a step of the“chain” and represents a segment of the production line 4.
Each step 14 of the shift register 13 corresponds to a temporal position of the article 2 being made up as it passes through the operating stations 5 of the machine 1.
In this embodiment, it is assumed that the first position of the shift register 13, called zero block, corresponds to the temporal position where the absorbent article 2 physically exits the machine 1 at the rejection station 8. Working backwards, with reference to the feed direction of the absorbent article 2 in the machine 1 , the position of the shift register blocks 14 is incremented by one unit for each discrete absorbent article 2.
More specifically, the information relating to the state of the article 2 (or of the respective components 3) being processed along the production line 4 is stored in the shift register 13.
The making machine 1 is provided with a programmable electronic controller 12 or machine controller 12.
The electronic controller 12 applies a shift command 14 to the shift register 13 which shifts the information content of each block one step forward. Alternatively, the electronic controller 12 is configured to shift a position pointer of the block 14 of the shift register 13.
The information content of each block 14 is shifted until it reaches the last block 14 of the“chain”.
The electronic controller 12 is configured to associate a rejection information item 15 with a block 14 of the shift register 13: that is to say, the electronic controller 12“flags” a block 14 with the rejection information item 15.
Thus, when the content of the block 14 with which the rejection information item 15 is associated reaches the last block 14 of the register 13 after being shifted forward step by step, the electronic controller 12 applies a rejection command to the finished absorbent article 2 to reject the defective absorbent article 2a at the rejection station 8.
The inspection station 23 corresponds temporally to a respective block 14 of the shift register.
The block 14 will be flagged by the electronic controller 12 if the inspection station 22 detects a defect in the continuous web 17 inspected.
That way, the defective absorbent article 2a which corresponds to the virtually flagged block 14 and which has advanced to the position of the rejection station 8 will be rejected at the rejection station 8.
According to this invention, upstream of the rejection station 8 with reference to the feed direction of the absorbent articles 2 along the production line 4, the machine 1 comprises an electronic data reading device 9 configured to receive one or more information items contained in a respective electronic identification element 11.
The electronic identification element 1 1 is configured to be associated with a respective absorbent article 2 or with a component 3 thereof. According to this invention, the electronic identification element 11 comprises at least one information item 19 relating to a type of defect of the absorbent article 2, causing the defective absorbent article 2a to be rejected.
Each type of defect is associated with a respective warning signal 21 of a respective sensor 20.
The electronic data reading device 9 is disposed along the production line 4.
The electronic data reading device 9 is configured to receive information from the electronic identification element 1 1.
If the absorbent article 2, or a component 3 thereof, is not provided with an electronic identification element 1 1 , the electronic data reading device 9 does not receive any information item 19.
Whatever the case, all the absorbent articles 2 being made up along the production line 4 are scanned by the electronic data reading device 9.
The position of the electronic data reading device 9 along the production line 4 corresponds to a respective block 14 of the shift register 13.
More specifically, between the block 14 corresponding to the electronic data reading device 9 and the zero block 14 of the shift register 13, there is a finite number of blocks 14.
The programmable electronic controller 12 is connected to the programmable electronic data reading device 9.
The programmable electronic controller 12 comprises a counting module 10 configured to count the absorbent articles 2 which are scanned by the electronic data reading device 9.
The programmable electronic controller 12 is configured to receive from the electronic data reading device 9 the information item 19 associated with the electronic identification element 1 1.
The programmable electronic controller 12 is configured to associate the information item 19 associated with the electronic identification element 1 1 with a block 14 of the shift register 13.
The programmable electronic controller 12 is configured to associate the information item 19 relating to the type of defect of the absorbent article 2 with a respective block 14 of the shift register 13 corresponding to the position in the machine 1 where the defect associated with the information item 19 read by the electronic data reading device 9 is generated.
The programmable electronic controller 12 is configured to determine the block 14 of the shift register 13 of the machine 1 where the defect associated with the information item 19 read by the electronic data reading device 9 is generated, by summing the position of the block 14 corresponding to the electronic data reading device 9 with the count of the absorbent articles 2 scanned by the electronic data reading device 9.
The programmable electronic controller 12 is configured to save to a memory unit 22 the block 14 identified by summing the position of the block 14 corresponding to the electronic data reading device 9 with the count of the absorbent articles 2 scanned by the electronic data reading device 9.
That way, on receiving a warning signal 21 from a respective sensor 20, the programmable electronic controller 12 is configured to associate the type of defect corresponding to the warning signal 21 with a corresponding block 14 identified and saved to the memory unit 22. In a preferred embodiment, the electronic identification element 1 1 is a radio-frequency element, also called“tag” or“transponder”, and the electronic data reading device 9 is a radio-frequency reading device, also called RFID reader. The electronic identification element 1 1 is in the form of an adhesive label. The electronic identification element 1 1 is configured to be programmed by the programmable electronic controller 12.
In this sense, the programmable electronic controller 12 is configured to associate an information item 19 relating to a type of defect of the absorbent article 2 with a respective electronic identification element 1 1. A printer 16 is configured to receive the electronic identification elements 11 in blank form - that is to say, not containing any information 19 - and to print the electronic identification elements 1 1 programmed by the programmable electronic controller 12 - that is, each containing information relating to a respective type of defect.
The printer 16 is electronically connected to the programmable electronic controller 12.
Preferably, the programmable electronic controller 12 is configured to associate a plurality of electronic identification elements 11 for each type of defect detected.
That way, an electronic identification element 1 1 has a single information item 19 relating to the type of defect.
In use, during operation of the machine 1 , the absorbent articles 2 are scanned by the electronic data reading device 9 as they move along the production line 4.
If the absorbent article 2, or a component 3 thereof, is provided with an electronic identification element 1 1 , the electronic data reading device 9 receives from it the information item 19 relating to the type of defect.
This information item 19 is received by the programmable electronic controller 12.
The programmable electronic controller 12, when it receives the count of the absorbent articles 2 scanned by the electronic data reading device 9, is able to associate the information item 19 relating to the type of defect with a respective block 14 of the shift register 13 whose position in the shift register 13 is equal to the sum of absorbent articles 2 scanned plus the position of the electronic data reading device 9 in the shift register 13. This invention relates to a method for making absorbent sanitary articles. The method comprises a step of setting the machine 1 , followed by a step of making absorbent articles.
The step of setting comprises a first step of starting the machine 1 during which the defective absorbent articles 2a are conveyed to the rejection station 8.
A step of detecting the type of defect of the rejected absorbent articles 2.
A step of associating one or more electronic identification elements 1 1 for each type of defect.
This step is preferably carried out by programming the electronic identification elements 1 1 by means of the programmable electronic controller 12 and printing the programmed electronic identification elements 1 1 as adhesive labels, preferably with the printer 16.
Each electronic identification element 11 is programmed to contain a respective information item 19 relating to a type of defect of the absorbent article 2.
A step of applying each electronic identification element 1 1 on a respective absorbent article 2, or component 3 thereof, located along the production line 4.
A second step of starting the machine 1 during which the electronic data reading device 9 reads the information items associated with respective electronic identification elements 1 1.
During the second step of starting the machine 1 , the programmable electronic controller 12 is configured to increment its count by one unit for each absorbent article 2 scanned by the electronic data reading device 9. During the second step of starting the machine 1 , the programmable electronic controller 12 determines, for each type of defect, the block 14 of the shift register 13 to be associated with the information item 19 relating to a type of defect associated with a respective electronic identification element 1 1 by summing the position of the block 14 corresponding to the electronic data reading device 9 with the count of the absorbent articles 2 scanned.
The method comprises a step of saving the identified block 14 corresponding to a respective type of defect. After the step of setting, the method comprises a step of making the absorbent articles comprising a step of detecting a type of defect or of detecting a malfunction in an operating station 5 and, following the step of detecting, a step of associating the information item 19 relating to a type of defect detected with a respective block 14 identified and saved.
That way, during the step of making the absorbent articles, the information item 19 read from a respective electronic identification element 1 1 is associated with a respective block 14 of the shift register 13 whose position from the zero block 14 in the shift register 13 corresponds to the sum of the articles 2 scanned until the electronic identification element 11 is read.
Once each block 14 which is flagged by the programmable electronic controller 12 and with which the information item 19 of the type of defect is associated reaches a position of the shift register 13 corresponding to the rejection station 8, the programmable electronic controller 12 issues the command to reject the absorbent article 2 that has the respective electronic identification element 1 1.

Claims

1 . A machine for making absorbent sanitary articles such as nappies, absorbent pads and the like, each comprising a plurality of components (3);
the machine (1 ) comprising a production line (4), along which a plurality of operating stations (5) are disposed, and a rejection station (8) for rejecting defective absorbent articles (2a) and located downstream of the operating stations (5) in the feed direction of the absorbent articles (2) along the production line (4);
a plurality of sensors (20) being provided along the production line (4), each configured to detect a defect on the absorbent article (2) being made or to detect a malfunction in an operating station (5);
each sensor (20) being configured to emit a respective warning signal (21 ) when the defect is detected on the absorbent article (2) or when a malfunction is detected in an operating station (5);
upstream of the rejection station (8) with reference to the feed direction of the absorbent articles (2) along the production line (4), the machine (1 ) comprising an electronic data reading device (9) configured to read an electronic identification element (1 1 ) associated with a respective absorbent article (2);
the electronic identification element (1 1 ) comprising at least one information item (19) relating to a type of defect associated with a respective warning signal (21 ) from a respective sensor (20);
the machine (1 ) comprising a programmable electronic controller (12) configured to shift a shift register (13) comprising a plurality of blocks (14), each containing information about a respective absorbent article (2);
the electronic data reading device (9) being associated with a respective block (14) of the shift register (13);
the programmable electronic controller (12) being configured to receive from the electronic data reading device (9) the information item (19) relating to a type of defect and associated with a respective electronic identification element (1 1 ) and also being configured to associate that information item (19) with a respective block (14) of the shift register (13); the programmable electronic controller (12) comprises a counting module (10) configured to count the absorbent articles (2) which are scanned by the electronic data reading device (9); the programmable electronic controller (12) is configured to determine the block (14) of the shift register (13) to be associated with the information item (19) relating to a type of defect associated with a respective electronic identification element (1 1 ) by summing the position of the block (14) corresponding to the electronic data reading device (9) with the count of the absorbent articles (2) scanned;
the programmable electronic controller (12) is configured to save to a memory unit (22) the block (14) identified; on receiving a warning signal (21 ) from a respective sensor (20), the programmable electronic controller
(12) is configured to associate the type of defect corresponding to the warning signal (21 ) with a corresponding block (14) identified and saved to the memory unit (22).
2. The machine according to claim 1 , characterized in that the electronic identification element (1 1 ) is a radio-frequency element, in the form of an adhesive label, and the electronic data reading device (9) is a radio-frequency reading device.
3. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a printer (16) is configured to receive the electronic identification elements (1 1 ) in blank form - that is to say, not containing any information (19) - and to print the electronic identification elements (1 1 ) programmed by the programmable electronic controller (12), each containing information relating to a respective type of defect; the printer (16) being electronically connected to the programmable electronic controller (12). 4. A method for making absorbent sanitary articles according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a step of setting the machine (1 ) comprising:
a first step of starting the machine (1 ) during which the defective absorbent articles (2a) are rejected at the rejection station (8);
a step of detecting the type of defect of the absorbent articles (2a) rejected;
a step of making one or more electronic identification elements (1 1 ) for each type of defect;
this step being carried out by programming the electronic identification elements (1 1 ) by means of the programmable electronic controller (12) and printing the programmed electronic identification elements (1 1 ) as adhesive labels, preferably by means of a printer (16);
each programmed electronic identification element (1 1 ) being in the form of an adhesive label containing a respective information item (19) relating to a type of defect of the absorbent article (2) and associated with a respective warning signal (21 ) from a respective sensor (20);
a step of applying each electronic identification element (1 1 ) on a respective absorbent article (2), or component (3) thereof, located along the production line (4);
a second step of starting the machine (1 ) during which the electronic data reading device (9) reads the information items associated with respective electronic identification elements (1 1 );
during the second step of starting the machine (1 ), the programmable electronic controller (12) determines, for each type of defect detected by the electronic data reading device (9), the block (14) of the shift register (13) to be associated with the information item (19) relating to a type of defect associated with a respective electronic identification element (1 1 ) by summing the position of the block (14) corresponding to the electronic data reading device (9) with the count of the absorbent articles (2) scanned;
a step of saving the identified block (14) corresponding to a respective defect;
the programmable electronic controller (12) is configured to save to a memory unit the block 14 identified;
after the step of setting, the method comprising a step of making the absorbent articles in turn comprising a step of detecting a defect or a malfunction in an operating station (5) and, following the step of detecting, a step of associating the information item (19) relating to a type of defect detected with a respective block (14) of the shift register (13) saved.
PCT/IB2020/052050 2019-03-14 2020-03-10 Machine for making absorbent sanitary articles and a method for setting the machine. WO2020183357A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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IT102019000003757A IT201900003757A1 (en) 2019-03-14 2019-03-14 A packaging machine for sanitary absorbent articles and a setting method of the machine itself
IT102019000003757 2019-03-14

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Citations (3)

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US20150230994A1 (en) * 2012-02-16 2015-08-20 Gdm S.P.A. Machine for making absorbent sanitary articles
US20180042781A1 (en) * 2011-09-21 2018-02-15 Gdm S.P.A. Machine for making absorbent sanitary articles

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US7851666B2 (en) * 2002-06-07 2010-12-14 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Components of articles including contrasting printed blocks

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US20130062263A1 (en) * 2010-03-26 2013-03-14 Uni-Charm Corporation Defective-workpiece discharging device
US20180042781A1 (en) * 2011-09-21 2018-02-15 Gdm S.P.A. Machine for making absorbent sanitary articles
US20150230994A1 (en) * 2012-02-16 2015-08-20 Gdm S.P.A. Machine for making absorbent sanitary articles

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