Patent GB-643078-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in a method of cutting pads and rotary apparatus therefor
IPC: A61F13/15
Filed: 1947-07-29
Abstract: 643,078. Cutting-machines. BURGESS, A. F. (International Cellucotton Products Co.). July 29, 1947, No. 20463. [Class 31 (i)] Sanitary napkin or like pads 2, Fig. 3, are cut from a continuously propelled web 1 of absorbent material by forming a series of spaced transverse slits 5 in the central part of the web and notching the edges of the web by cutting portions 6 out of the web so as to separate the pads 2 from the web 1 and also impart a desired shape to the ends of the pads. The web 1 is fed between a pair of rollers 33, 35 by means of a conveyer 8 and by belts 9, 10 which grip the margins of the web between them so that slits can be formed in the web by knives 34 carried by roller 33 and co-operating anvil bars 36 carried by roller 35. As seen in Fig. 5 the anvil bars 36 are pressed radially outwardly by a number of springs 37, stop members 39 engaging with shoulders 38 on the anvil bars. The web is thus partly but preferably not permanently compressed, though permanent compression may be secured by using a shallow knife and sufficiently strong springs 37. Compression may be avoided by channelling the anvil bar in alignment with the knife 34, and by making the latter sharper so as to cut through the web without pinching. From the slitting rollers the web is passed by conveyers 43, 44 between anvil rolls 53 and embossing wheels 56 which form permanently compressed areas 4, Fig. 3, at opposite ends of each pad by means of projections 59 on the wheels 56. The conveyers 43, 44 comprise a number of endless bands 45, 46 respectively (Fig. 7) which grip the central part of the web and pass upwardly from the rolls 53 over a drum 62 carrying a plurality of radially disposed and circumferentially spaced notching units 69. Substantially V-shaped notches are stamped out of the margins of the web by means of punches 78 co-operating with dies 74 and mounted on levers 77 rotatably supported by pivot pins 76 received in upwardly extending ears 75. Each punch 78 is moved downwardly to notch the web margins when a roller 79 journalled on the lever 77 engages a cam bar 80, Figs. 1 and 7, adjustably mounted on a fixed bar 81. As the drum 62 rotates, a second roller 84 carried by each lever 77 enters a box cam 85 at the point 86, Fig. 1, and this cam is so shaped that the lever 77 is rotated about its shaft 76 until it assumes the position shown in Fig. 8 so that the levers 77 do not interfere with the movement of the web into position on the drum and in overlying relation to the fixed die members 74. Further rotation of the drum 62 causes the box cam to return the lever member 77 to a position in which it can be actuated for notching by engagement of the roller 79 with cam 80. When successive notching units reach their lowest position (Fig. 8) an ejecting finger 91 normally received in a recess 94 in the die member 74 is rocked about its pivot 92 to eject the notched-out piece 6 of the web into a hopper 89 communicating with suitable suction apparatus for pneumatic collection of the pieces. The rocking of finger 91 is effected by a cam surface 98 on the lever members 77, this cam engaging with enlarged end projections 95, 99 on the finger 91. The notching of the web margins completes the severance of the pads 2 from the web and the separated pads are delivered to a conveyer 64.