Patent ID: 8245384
Filing Date: 2012-08-21
Classification: A61F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for fabricating disposable absorbent articles, the apparatus comprising: a first converting module, a second converting module, and a third converting module, each converting module including a first wall and a second wall separated by a base and a top and defining an interior space, and wherein the each converting module defines a MD (machine direction) length, a CD (cross direction) width, and a height, and wherein each converting module is adapted to be arranged inside a shipping container, wherein the MD length of the converting module extending along an interior width of the shipping container, wherein the interior width of the shipping container is about 2350 mm; a plurality of converting module couplers, the converting module couplers releasably connecting first converting module with the second converting module and releasably connecting the second converting module with the third converting module; a first accessory service module, a second accessory service module, and a third accessory service module, each accessory service module comprising at least one utility duct selected from the group consisting of: a compressed air header duct, a vacuum air header duct, and an electrical power distribution bus duct, and wherein each accessory service module defines a MD length equal to or less than the MD length of each of the converting modules; a plurality of accessory service module couplers comprising at least one quick-disconnect coupler selected from the group consisting of: bus-splice joint plate, flange pull ring locking collars, push-lock couplers, sliding sleeve couplers, cam and groove locking couplers, and flexible pipe hose clamps, the accessory service module couplers releasably connecting the first accessory service module with second accessory service module and connecting the second accessory service module with the third accessory service module; wherein the first accessory module is supported by the first converting module such that the combination of the first accessory module and the first converting module defines a MD length equal to the MD length of the first converting module, wherein the second accessory module is supported by the second converting module such that the combination of the second accessory module and the second converting module defines a MD length equal to the MD length of the second converting module, and the third accessory module is supported by the third converting module such that the combination of the third accessory module and the third converting module defines a MD length equal to the MD length of the third converting module; wherein the second converting module can be removed without removing the first and third converting modules and without removing the first, second, and third accessory modules such that the second accessory module is supported by the accessory module couplers when the second converting module is removed; and wherein the second accessory module can be removed without removing the first and third accessory modules and without removing the first, second, and third converting modules.