Abstract:
An apparatus for conveying a plurality of parts to a substrate in a configuration which is offset from the centerline of the supply feed of discrete parts is disclosed as well as the related process. Such an apparatus and process are suitable for use in the production of products where one or more components of the product must be spatially shifted from their incoming location relative to the movement of the assembly line to a second position which is offset from its incoming location and orientation.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of the invention relates generally to web treatment apparatus and more specifically to apparatus for conveying a plurality of discrete parts and applying the plurality of discrete parts to a substrate in an offset configuration as well as a method of using the apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Disposable absorbent articles such as diapers, diaper pants, training pants, incontinence garments and pads as well as feminine hygiene products including sanitary napkins, panty liners and the like are in wide use today by a wide variety or users including infants, children and adults. As a result, manufacturers of such products must invest large amounts of capital in the machinery and methods for making such products. This is especially true due to the large number of variations and sizes for each of the products that are required to satisfy the consumer needs. As a result, there is a need for the equipment used to make these products to be as versatile as possible. 
     When making such products, it is not unusual for there to be dozens of components that go into the final product. To make these products, it is common for individual components to be cut from stock material, either on line or off line and then fed into a main forming line to mate with other components of the end product. Mating and indexing these components, especially at the very high speeds at which such machines run, is often a detailed process. In some instances the components being combined are traveling at the same speed while in other instances, one component is moving faster or slower than the others. As a result, one component must be sped up or slowed down to ensure proper indexing and attachment to yield a quality product both as to function and aesthetics. Thus there is a need for equipment and processes that will accommodate such variability in design. 
     One particular problem is encountered when a component being introduced into the production line is not in the proper orientation with respect to how it is to ultimately be fitted to the overall product. As a result, much effort has been put forth in designing equipment and processes that will allow some portion or portions of the product or components to be rotated from a first position or orientation into a second position or orientation to properly align with the finished product. In the context of the main manufacturing line, the travel of the product down the production line is typically referred to as the machine direction (MD) of movement and the direction at right angles to this direction is referred to as the cross-machine direction (CD). In many instances a component must be rotated 90 degrees in the same plane from the machine direction to the cross-machine direction or vice versa to properly align the component with the end product. In other situations in may be necessary to rotate a component or product to a lesser or greater degree such as, for example, 45 degree or 135 degrees to achieve a particular product design. 
     While there are many designs of equipment that accomplish this task, one design employs a series of rotating arms driven by a drive shaft. At the end of each of the arms is what is referred to as a transfer puck. Each of the pucks is designed to pick up a discrete piece of material and hold it with the use of a vacuum or other holding means. If need be, the individual arms can be sped up or slowed down if the substrate onto which the discrete parts are being deposited is not moving at the same speed. Once the piece is picked up by an individual puck it is then rotated to the proper orientation and then deposited onto the substrate. See for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,716,478 and 5,759,340 both to Boothe et al. and 6,139,340 to Couillard et al. 
     When the component being deposited on the substrate is centered on the product and assembly line, this pick up, rotation and deposition process is rather simple. However, if the component must be skewed to a position that is offset from the normal line of travel of the conveying mechanism, problems arise. One solution is to physically shift the transfer equipment off the centerline of the production line and/or attempt to skew the incoming webs of material from the centerline of production. Both of these processes are cumbersome or pose problems such as web breakage and unacceptable downtimes to shift and realign equipment. As a result, there is a need for equipment and processes that will facilitate the application of offset components onto a moving web or substrate. 
     One example of an area where this is a particular problem is with products that are made in the cross-machine direction. Many disposable absorbent articles are made in the machine direction. By this it is meant that the longitudinal centerline of the product is parallel to the direction of movement of the assembly line and aligned with the longitudinal centerline of the assembly line. Thus, for example, if it is desired to shift or skew the position of a particular component of the end product, shifting the product is more a function of the sequential timing as to when the component is picked up, rotated and then laid down onto the assembly line. In some instances, however, the equipment is designed to make product where the longitudinal direction of the product is perpendicular to the direction of the assembly line. When this type of CD equipment is being used, shifting the location of a component can be more difficult. One example would be shifting the location of the absorbent core in a diaper or incontinence product towards the front of the product to accommodate the male anatomy. In such situations, it may be necessary to shift the incoming supply webs or stop the line to physically shift the application equipment off the centerline of the production line. A similar situation can arise when the product is being made in the machine direction but the product employs complimentary components that are equally spaced to either side of the centerline of the production equipment thus necessitating offset of the equipment to either side of the centerline. 
     The present invention employs a delivery and application system that allows individual components to be applied to a moving web or conveyor at an offset location from the centerline of the product and/or the production line thereby facilitating the creation of customized products that meet the particular needs of the end user. 
     SUMMARY 
     To overcome the foregoing problems, disclosed herein is an apparatus and process for conveying a plurality of parts and applying the parts to a moving substrate in an offset configuration from the centerline of the incoming supply of parts. In one embodiment, the conveying and transfer apparatus includes a rotation means defining a rotation axis with the rotation means having a first direction of rotation about the rotation axis such that the plurality of parts can be applied to the substrate. The apparatus can be fitted with a plurality of transfer arms each having a longitudinal transfer arm axis, a proximal end and a distal end. The plurality of transfer arms are attached to the rotation means in a radial pattern about the rotation means with each of the proximal ends of the transfer arms being attached to the rotation means in such a manner that the longitudinal transfer arm axis is offset from the rotation axis by a transfer arm offset distance. A plurality of transfer pucks are adapted to convey the parts to the substrate. Each of the transfer pucks has a longitudinal puck axis and a lateral puck axis which intersect at a center point on each of the plurality of transfer pucks. The distal ends of the transfer arms are attached to the transfer pucks at a location which is offset from the center point of the transfer pucks by a transfer puck offset distance. Each of the transfer pucks are configured to pivot about the longitudinal transfer arm axis so that each of the transfer pucks is pivotal between a first position wherein the transfer pucks are oriented to receive the parts and a second position wherein the transfer pucks are oriented to apply the parts to the moving substrate. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus defines a rotation axis and includes a rotation means with a plurality of transfer arms each attached to the rotation means in a radial pattern about the rotation means. Each of the transfer arms has longitudinal transfer arm axis, a proximal end and a distal end with the proximal ends being attached to the rotation means in such a manner that the longitudinal transfer arm axis is offset from the rotation axis by a transfer arm offset distance. A plurality of transfer pucks adapted to convey the parts to the substrate are attached to the distal ends of the transfer arms. Each of the transfer pucks has a longitudinal puck axis and a lateral puck axis which intersect at a center point on each of the plurality of transfer pucks. The distal ends of the transfer arms are attached to the transfer pucks at a location which is offset from the center point of the transfer pucks by a transfer puck offset distance. Each of the transfer pucks are configured to pivot between a first position wherein the transfer pucks are oriented to receive the parts and a second position wherein the transfer pucks are oriented to apply the parts to the substrate at the second position which is offset from the first position. 
     In yet another embodiment, the apparatus includes a plurality of transfer arms each having a longitudinal transfer arm axis, a proximal end and a distal end. The plurality of transfer arms are attached in a radial patter to a rotation means having a rotation axis. Each of the proximal ends of the transfer arms are attached to the rotation means in such a manner that the longitudinal transfer arm axis is offset from the rotation axis by a transfer arm offset distance. The apparatus also includes a plurality of transfer pucks adapted to convey the parts to the substrate. Each of the transfer pucks has a longitudinal puck axis and a lateral puck axis which intersect at a center point on each of the plurality of transfer pucks. The distal ends of the transfer arms are attached to the transfer pucks at a location which is offset from the center point by a transfer puck offset distance. Each of the transfer pucks are configured to pivot between a first position wherein the transfer pucks are oriented to receive the parts and a second position wherein the transfer pucks are oriented to apply the parts to the substrate at the second position which is offset from the first position. 
     Each of the transfer pucks may have a leading edge and a leading radius and a trailing edge and trailing radius with the trailing radius of one transfer puck being substantially equal to the leading radius of an adjacent transfer puck. The transfer arm offset distance may be substantially equal to the transfer puck offset distance. At least a portion of the plurality of transfer arms may be attached to at least a portion of the transfer pucks at a location which is offset from the center point along one of the longitudinal puck axis or the lateral puck axis. 
     In further embodiments of the invention, the apparatus may have at least a portion of the plurality of transfer arms equipped with a transfer arm adjustment means which permits selective adjustment of the transfer arm offset distance. Optionally, at least a portion of the plurality of transfer pucks may have a transfer puck adjustment means which permits selective adjustment of the transfer puck offset distance. 
     In variations of the present invention, the apparatus may have a first portion of the plurality of transfer pucks rotate in one direction and a second portion of the plurality of transfer pucks rotate in a second and different direction. Also, a first portion of the plurality of transfer pucks may have a first or starting position which is different from a second portion of the plurality of transfer pucks. Additionally, a first portion of the plurality of transfer pucks may have a second or ending position which is different from a second portion of the plurality of transfer pucks. 
     As to the offset distances, a first portion of the plurality of transfer arms may have a transfer arm offset distance which is different from a second portion of the plurality of transfer arms and a first portion of the plurality of transfer pucks may have a transfer puck offset distance which is different from a second portion of the plurality of transfer pucks. The transfer arm offset distance may from about 1 to about 70 millimeters as may be the transfer puck offset distance. 
     The method of the present invention involves feeding a plurality of parts at a first position into a conveying and transfer process along a supply centerline and then transferring the plurality of parts to a conveying and transfer apparatus. The conveying and transfer apparatus then rotates the plurality of parts to a second position which is offset from the supply centerline. Following this, the plurality of parts are deposited while in their second position onto the moving substrate after which the product being assembled can be subject to further processing. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the accompanying figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a personal care absorbent article, in this case an incontinent pant opened up and laid flat showing the absorbent core skewed to one end of the product. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic top plan view of a process configuration for making a product such as is shown in  FIG. 1  utilizing the process and apparatus of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of an apparatus according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a transfer arm and transfer puck according to the present invention showing the adjustability of the transfer arm offset. 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of a transfer puck according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of an alternate apparatus construction according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to present embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention and not as a limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Additionally, parameters, measurements and elements of one example may be used alone or in combination with other parameters, measurements and elements of other examples of the present invention and may be used independently or in combination to support one or more of the claims appended hereto describing and claiming embodiments of the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers these and other such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     Turning to  FIG. 1  there is shown a personal care absorbent article, in this case an adult care incontinence product  10  having a front waist portion  12 , a back waist portion  14  and an absorbent core assembly  16  straddling and attached to the front waist portion  12  and the back waist portion  14 . The absorbent core assembly  16  includes a backing sheet  18  which is typically liquid impervious and an absorbent core  20  positioned on and attached to the backing sheet  18 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the absorbent core  20  is skewed to one end of the product  10 , in this case towards the front waist portion  12 . As a result, while the absorbent assembly  16  is centered on the product longitudinal centerline  22 , the lateral centerline  21  of the absorbent core is offset from the product lateral centerline  24 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a portion of a production line  30  for forming an absorbent product  10 . The line  30  moves in the direction of the arrow  32 . A supply  34  of attached or interconnected absorbent assemblies  16  is shown having its longitudinal centerline centered on the production line longitudinal centerline  36 . The conveying and transfer apparatus of the present invention is represented by element  50 . 
     With conventional production lines and transfer equipment as with the present invention, the supply of parts or pieces can come into the transfer apparatus  50  in many ways. One way is for the supply  34  to be pre-cut individual pieces traveling on a carrier web, conveyor or other transportation means (not shown) which then are picked up and rotated to an offset position using the apparatus  50 . A second way is for the individual pieces or assemblies  16  (as is shown in  FIG. 2 ) to be continuously connected to one another but to have perforations  38  which are subsequently torn and separated by the action of the later described transfer arms  58  and transfer pucks  70  which form a part of the conveying and transfer apparatus  50 . Yet a third way is for the individual pieces or assemblies  16  not to be separated by perforation lines but, instead, for there to be an in-line cutter mechanism (not shown) which severs the individual assemblies  16 . The in-line cutter can be a part of or separate from the apparatus  50  but its function is to sever the incoming supply into individual pieces or parts just prior to the portion of the process performed by the apparatus  50  where the piece is rotated from its incoming position to its final position. Thus, in the context of the present invention including the claims, when discussing “conveying”, “transferring”, etc. of “pieces” or “parts” from a supply to a substrate, the supply of parts may be inputted into the apparatus in any of the above-described ways and other ways if necessary depending on the nature of the components being combined. 
     Turning again to  FIG. 2 , each of the absorbent assemblies  16  from supply  34  are separated by a perforation line  38 . A supply of substrates  33   a  and  33   b  corresponding respectively to the front waist portion  12  and the back waist portion  14  are also supplied to the production line  30  and move in the direction of arrow  32 . The apparatus  50  of the present invention, as will be described in further detail below, accepts the supply  34  of absorbent core assemblies  16  which are already in the machine direction and then rotates and deposits them in an offset configuration as is shown to the right of the apparatus  50  in  FIG. 2  down onto substrates  33   a  and  33   b . After the absorbent assemblies  16  are attached to the substrates  33   a  and  33   b , the substrates are cut into the front waist portion  12  and back waist portion  14  via a conventional cutter  37  and subsequently folded and joined along their sides to form the completed pants (not shown). 
     Thus as to the process, it can be seen that the supply  34  of parts or pieces has its own supply centerline  36  to the left of apparatus  50  which in this case aligns with centerline of the production line  36  after the apparatus  50 . It is important to note, however, that due to the operation of the apparatus  50 , the lateral centerline  21  of the absorbent assembly  16  is not in alignment with the centerline  36  as would be the case with a normal rotation and transfer process that was not designed to offset the absorbent assembly  16  from the centerline  36 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 3 through 6  there is shown schematics of a conveying and transfer apparatus  50  for conveying a plurality of parts, in this case, absorbent assemblies  16 , and applying these parts  16  to substrate, which in this case is an adult care incontinence product  10 . The general construction and operation of such apparatus are well known as exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,716,478 and 5,759,340 both to Boothe et al. and 6,139,340 to Couillard et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety to the extent not inconsistent herewith. 
     As there are many ways and configurations for driving the apparatus  50  for transferring discrete parts to a substrate, for purposes of illustration, the apparatus  50  has rotation means  52  which in the figures is represented by a rotation shaft  52  defining a rotation axis  54 . The rotation means  52  may be directly or indirectly driven by a drive motor or other suitable means (not shown) as is conventionally used for such transfer equipment. Thus, the rotation shaft  52  and rotation axis  54  are meant to represent the various means and methods used to propel the below-described transfer arms  58  and transfer pucks  70  in conventional equipment to which the present invention may be applied. The rotation means  52  rotates about its axis  54  in a first direction as shown by arrow  56  such that a plurality of discrete parts can be conveyed and applied to the substrate or substrates which, in this case is the front waist portion  12  and rear waste portion  14 . Note too, however, that due to the variability of conventional conveying equipment designs with which the present invention may be used, it is also possible that the rotation axis  54  may not coincide with the rotation means  52  as there may be intermediate drive equipment used which thus indirectly causes the below-describes transfer arms  58  and transfer pucks  70  to have a separate rotation axis  54  from the main drive axis of the equipment. 
     Connected to the rotation means  52  are a plurality of transfer arms  58  which are attached to the rotation means  52  in a radial pattern. Each of the transfer arms  58  has a proximal end  60  attached directly or indirectly to the rotation means  52  and a distal end  62  attached to a transfer puck  70 . Each of the transfer arms  58  has a longitudinal transfer arm axis  64  which is offset from and perpendicular to the rotation axis  54  of the rotation means  52 . The longitudinal transfer arm axis  64  runs through the point at which the distal end  62  of the transfer arm  58  is attached to the transfer puck  70  and is generally perpendicular to the plane in which the transfer puck  70  resides. Each transfer arm  58  has a transfer arm offset distance  66 , the distance “x” of which is the distance between the rotation axis  54  and the longitudinal transfer arm axis  64 . See  FIG. 4 . When the apparatus  50  according to the present invention is being used to form personal care absorbent articles, it has been found that it is desirable for the transfer arm offset distance  66  to be from about 1 to about 70 millimeters, more desirably between about 1 and about 50 millimeters and most desirably between about 1 and about 30 millimeters. 
     As mentioned above, each of the plurality of transfer arms  58  has a transfer puck  70  attached to the distal ends  62  of the respective transfer arms  58 . Each of the transfer pucks  70  is equipped with conventional vacuum assist or other means (not shown) to allow the transfer puck  70  to pick up discrete pieces of material as is the case with conventional non-offset transfer equipment. Turning to  FIG. 5 , each of the plurality of transfer pucks  70  can have a longitudinal transfer puck axis  72  and a lateral transfer puck axis  74  which intersect at a center point  76 . The center point  76  would be the normal point of attachment of the transfer arm  58  to the transfer puck  70  in conventional non-offset equipment. To facilitate the ability of the apparatus  50  to convey discrete pieces to a substrate at an offset from the normal centerline of the conveyor system and the products or substrates traveling down it, the distal ends  62  of the transfer arms  58  are attached to the transfer pucks  70  at a point which is offset from the center point  76  of the transfer pucks  70 . See  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     Generally, it is desirable that the distal ends  62  of the transfer arms  58  be connected to and offset from the center points  76  of the transfer pucks  70  by a transfer puck offset distance  78 . The transfer puck offset distance  78 , the distance “y”, is the distance between the longitudinal transfer arm axis  64  of the transfer arm  58  and the center point  76  of the transfer puck  70 . When the apparatus  50  according to the present invention is being used to form personal care absorbent articles, desirably the transfer puck offset distance  78  is from about 1 to about 70 millimeters, more desirably between about 1 and about 50 millimeters and most desirably between about 1 and about 30 millimeters. 
     In most instances it is desirable that the transfer arm offset distance  66  and the transfer puck offset distance  78  be equal. However, in some instances they may be different and in other instances it is acceptable that distances “x” and “y” be substantially the same, “substantially” meaning that the values of x and y vary by no more than twenty (20) percent of one another. 
     The point at which the distal ends  62  of the transfer arms  58  are attached to the transfer pucks  70  can be at any point on the transfer pucks  70  to create the desired degree of offset distance. Normally, however, the point of attachment will likely lie along either the longitudinal transfer puck axis  72  or the lateral transfer puck axis  74  depending on the size and shape of the part being transferred and the beginning and ending orientation/rotation of the part. 
     Each of the transfer pucks  70  are configured using conventional means to pivot about the longitudinal transfer arm axes  64  so that each of the transfer pucks  70  are pivotal between a first position  80  wherein the transfer pucks  70  are oriented to receive the parts and a second position  82  wherein the transfer pucks  70  are oriented to apply the parts to the substrate. See  FIG. 3 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , relative to the direction of rotation  56 , each of the transfer pucks  70  has a leading edge  84  and a leading radius  86  and each of the transfer pucks  70  has a trailing edge  88  and a trailing radius  90 . The leading radius  84  is the distance between the rotation axis  54  and the point at which the radial line  86  intersects the outermost portion of the leading edge  84  of the transfer puck  70 . Similarly, the trailing radius  90  is the distance between the rotation axis  54  and the point at which the radial line  90  intersects the outermost portion of the trailing edge  88  of the transfer puck  70 . If there is too great a disparity in the radial distances between the trailing edge  88  of one transfer puck  70  and the leading edge  84  of an adjacent transfer puck  70  relative to the rotation axis  54 , problems can arise in maintaining consistent feeding of the discrete parts into the assembly line, especially when they are attached to one another and require the breaking of a perforation line  38  of the supply  34  as is shown in  FIG. 2 . The disparity of radial distances of the adjacent leading  84  and trailing  88  edges can cause the perforations  38  to prematurely tear thereby disrupting the operation of the production line and necessitating stopping the apparatus to rethread the supply  34  of absorbent assemblies  16 . As a result, it is desirable that the leading radius  86  and the trailing radius  90  of adjacent transfer pucks  70  be substantially equal, “substantial” meaning that the values vary by no more than twenty (20) percent of one another. Maintaining this tolerance can be the result of adjusting either or both of the transfer arm offset distance  66  and the transfer puck offset distance  78 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , the transfer arms  58  are shown formed to have a constant transfer offset distance “x”. In order to create the proper amount of offset of the apparatus  50  to cause proper transfer of the discrete parts to the substrate and to create greater flexibility in the operation of the apparatus  50 , one or all of the transfer arms  58  can be equipped with an optional transfer arm adjustment means  92  which permits selective adjustment of the transfer arm offset distance “x”. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the transfer arm adjustment means  92  comprises a plurality of shims which may be added or deleted to increase or decrease the transfer arm offset distance “x”. The shims can be as simple as a plurality of sized washers fitted onto a bolt or other securement means  94  which can be used to adjustably secure the transfer arm  58  to the rotation means  52 . 
     In the same fashion, one or all of the transfer pucks  70  can be equipped with an optional transfer puck adjustment means  96  which permits selective adjustment of the transfer puck offset distance “y”. As shown in  FIG. 5 , to create the transfer puck adjustment means  96 , the transfer pucks  70  may be provided with a plurality of attachment points which may or may not be designed to selectively match increases or decreases in the transfer arm offset distance “x”. 
     While it is generally desirable that the transfer arms  58  and transfer pucks  70  operate in the same way, it is also possible to vary the operation of one portion of the apparatus  50  from a second portion of the apparatus  50 . For example, while the apparatus  50  according to the present invention has been described in conjunction with the formation of an incontinence product, the apparatus  50  can be used for the production of any type of personal care absorbent article including, but not limited to, infant and adult diapers, training pants, diaper pants and incontinence devices such as male guards and liners. In the context of feminine hygiene products, the apparatus  50  according to the present invention can be used to produce sanitary napkins, sanitary pants, panty liners and tampons. Furthermore, the apparatus  50  and method of operation according to the present invention can be used in any assembly process where it is desired to create offsets in the placements of one work piece in connection with another. For example, it may be desirable to have the apparatus  50  apply discrete pieces with offsets in one direction for one portion of the production cycle and offsets in one or more other directions for other portions of the production cycle. As a result, it is possible for there to be a first portion of the transfer pucks  70  which rotate in one direction and a second portion of the transfer pucks  70  which rotate in a second and different direction. 
     Normally, the apparatus  50  is designed to rotate pieces from a first position to a second position which is 90 degrees different from the first position. However, in other embodiments, it is within the scope of the present invention to have a first portion of the plurality of transfer pucks  70  have a first or starting position  80  which is different from a second portion of the plurality of transfer pucks  70 . Alternatively, it is within the scope of the present invention to have a first portion of the plurality of transfer pucks  70  have a second or finishing position  82  which is different from a second portion of the plurality of transfer pucks  70 . It is still a further possibility, consistent with the scope of the present invention, to have still further combinations of first and second positions ( 80  and  82 ) for individual transfer pucks  70  on the same apparatus  50 . 
     The same is also true with respect to the offsets of both the transfer arms  58  and the transfer pucks  70 . A first portion of the plurality of transfer arms  58  may have a transfer arm offset distance  66  which is different from a second portion of the plurality of transfer arms  58 . A first portion of the plurality of transfer pucks  70  may have a transfer puck offset distance  78  which is different from a second portion of the plurality of transfer pucks  70 . It is still a further possibility consistent with the scope of the present invention to have still further combinations of first and second positions for individual transfer arms  58  and transfer pucks  70  on the same apparatus  50 . 
     As stated previously, there are many designs of equipment and processes with which the present invention can be employed. In many designs there are physical transfer arms  58  such as depicted with respect to the apparatus  50  shown in  FIG. 3 . Thus, in the context of the present invention, the transfer arms  58  are meant to represent any means (both as to equipment and process) used to convey and rotate the transfer pucks  70 . 
     Illustrating this point is another embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 6 . In this embodiment, like elements are numbered in a like manner the exception being that the apparatus  50  is supplied with a transfer disk  98  which is in lieu of the transfer arms  58 . As can be seen from the figure, the equivalent of the transfer arm axis  64  is still present as is the offset  66  of this axis  64  from rotation axis  54  and the offset  78  of the transfer puck  70 . In this design as with the other design, the pivot point of the transfer puck  70  is offset from what would be the normal pivot point if the center point  76  of the transfer puck  70  was in line with the rotation axis  54 . 
     Thus, having described the conveying and transfer apparatus  50 , it can be seen that the conveying and transfer process  30  shown in  FIG. 2  of the drawings provides a method for applying a plurality of parts to a moving substrate. The parts, which in this case are the absorbent assemblies  16 , are fed into the apparatus  50  as a supply  34  which has a supply centerline  36 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the absorbent assemblies  16  are in a first position. As the supply  34  of assemblies enter the apparatus  50 , the individual transfer pucks  70  are spaced to pick up the assemblies  16  at a first position which corresponds to transfer puck first position  80 . As the transfer pucks  70  are sped up (using conventional technology), the perforation lines  38  separate so that each transfer puck  70  is carrying its own discrete part. The transfer puck  70  then rotates from its first position  80  to its second position  82  (which is this case is orthogonal to the incoming position) and thus causes the parts (absorbent assemblies  16 ) to move to a second position. The transfer pucks  70  then deposit the individual parts (absorbent assemblies  16 ) in their second position which is offset from the supply centerline  36  down onto the moving substrates  33   a  and  33   b  (respectively front waist portion  12  and rear waist portion  14 ). Once the absorbent assemblies  16  are attached to the front and rear waist portions ( 12  and  14 ), a conventional cutter  37  is used to cut the combined components into individual products  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The products  10  in subsequent conventional processing steps not shown are folded and the front and back waist portions ( 12  and  14 ) are joined to one another to form a finish product. 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is capable of many modifications and variations without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, the detailed description and examples set forth above are meant to be illustrative only and are not intended to limit, in any manner, the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.