Patent ID: 6604926
Filing Date: 2003-08-12
Classification: A61F,D01G

Abstract:
An apparatus for producing absorbent pads from a flock-air mixture including:a shaping recess carrier carrying recesses for forming the respective absorbent pads; means for displacing the shaping recess carrier in a direction of operation; and a feed conduit for feeding the flock-air mixture to the shaping recess carrier, the feed conduit including a branching affording at least a first conduit, a second conduit, and a third conduit, the first conduit being operable to carry a first partial flow of the flock-air mixture, the second conduit being operable to carry a second partial flow of the flock-air mixture, and the third conduit being operable to carry a third partial flow of the flock-air mixture, the first and second conduits being directed to the shaping depression carrier at locations such that the second partial flow through the second conduit meets the shaping recess carrier substantially downstream of the first partial flow through the first conduit in the direction of operation of the shaping recess carrier; wherein the third conduit is so directed that the third partial flow meets the shaping recess carrier substantially upstream of the first partial flow in the direction of operation of the shaping recess carrier, and further including means for feeding a hydrophilic additive to said first partial flow in a position such that said additive comes to lie substantially in a central layer of the absorbent pad, said branching being such that the first partial flow has a higher volume-specific proportion of flock than the second and third partial flows.