Patent Publication Number: US-7587966-B2

Title: Web processing device and web processing method

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a web processing device and a web processing method, in which a continuous web is cut into pieces and the cut-off webs are carried while the attitude thereof is changed. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     The first patent document, identified below, discloses a processing system, in which an elastic material is carried by pads, and the elastic material is cut between the pads while being stretched, after which the pads are rotated to change the attitude of the material. 
     The device of the first patent document does not have an anvil. The elastic material can be cut without using an anvil. 
     [First Patent Document] Japanese National Phase PCT Laid-Open Publication No. 10-513086 (WO96/23475) (FIG. 47) 
     The second and third patent documents, identified below, each disclose a device for cutting a continuous web while carrying the continuous web by pads to produce cut-off webs, and for widening the interval between the cut-off webs. 
     However, the second and third patent documents fail to disclose changing the attitude of the cut-off webs. 
     [Second Patent Document] Japanese National Phase PCT Laid-Open Publication No. 11-513647 (WO97/14387) (Abstract) 
     [Third Patent Document] Japanese National Phase PCT Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-508243 (WO01/017473) (Abstract) 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     In a conventional device, where a continuous web is cut and carried while the attitude thereof is changed by means of a single rotating unit, the cutter is received by a pad or an anvil integrated with a pad when cutting the web. With such a configuration, however, the web-cutting load acts upon the pad, thus shortening the lifetime of the pad. If an anvil for receiving the cutter is provided separately from the pad so as to prevent the web-cutting load from acting upon the pad, the anvil may hinder the change of the attitude of the pad when the pad rotates. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a web processing device and a web processing method, in which a web can be cut by a cutter and an anvil and the attitude of the web can be changed by means of a single rotating unit. 
     A web processing device of the present invention is a web processing device, including a plurality of pads revolving (rotating) around an axis, a cutter for cutting a continuous web, and a plurality of anvils for receiving the cutter. In this processing device, the pads receive the continuous web, and the cutter cuts the continuous web into a cut-off web together with the anvil positioned at a first relative level with respect to a surface of the pad adjacent to the anvil such that the anvil can be brought into contact with the cutter. The pad revolves around the first axis while changing an attitude (orientation) of the pad by turning along the surface of the pad, thereby carrying the cut-off web while changing an attitude of the cut-off web. When the pad changes its attitude, the anvil moves to a second relative level with respect to the surface of the pad adjacent to the anvil so as not to hinder the pad changing its attitude. 
     Another web processing device of the present invention is a web processing device for receiving a tip portion of a continuous web at a receiving position, for carrying a cut-off web cut out from the tip portion to a hand-over position downstream of the receiving position while changing an attitude of the cut-off web, and for handing over the cut-off web to a downstream transfer device at the hand-over position, the web processing device including a rotating unit and a cutter. The rotating unit includes a plurality of pads and a plurality of anvils, which are arranged alternately around the rotating unit and which revolve (rotate) generally in a circumferential direction of the rotating unit. The cutter is capable of cutting off a tip portion of the continuous web, together with the anvil, at a cutting position downstream of the receiving position. A level of a surface of the anvil between two adjacent pads is set to be a first relative level close to a level of surfaces of the two adjacent pads at the cutting position so that the cutter, together with the anvil, can cut out a cut-off web of a predetermined length from the tip portion of the continuous web being held by the two adjacent pads. Each pad can be turned about a line extending generally in a radial direction of the rotating unit. The level of the surface of the anvil adjacent to the turning pad is set to be at a second relative level more retracted inward of the rotating unit than the first relative level with respect to the surface of the pad while the pad moves from the cutting position to the hand-over position downstream of the cutting position, so as to allow the attitude of the cut-off web to be changed by turning of the pad. 
     In the present invention, when cutting the web, the level of the surface of the anvil is set to the first relative level close to the level of the surface of the pad. Thus, the cutter, together with the anvil, can cut the web. The “relative level” refers to a relative level of one member or a relative position of one member along the radial direction of the rotating unit, with respect to another member. The first and second relative levels are each a relative level or a relative position along the radial direction of the rotating unit, with respect to the surface of the pad. 
     When the pad turns, the level of the surface of the anvil is set to the second relative level more retracted inward of the rotating unit than the level of the surface of the pad. Thus, the turn of the pad is allowed, and the attitude of the web can be changed by the turn of the pad. 
     Thus, while the pads rotate around a single rotating unit, to carry the web, it is possible both to cut the web and to change the attitude thereof. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost and the size of the processing device. 
     In a case where the continuous web includes an elastic member and the continuous web therefore has a contractile force along the direction in which the continuous web is carried, since the web is received onto the pad while being in the form of an uncut continuous web, it is possible to prevent the web from shrinking after being cut. Thus, since it is possible to prevent the shrinking of the web, it is easy to process the web after it is cut. 
     In the present invention, the relative level of the anvil with respect to the pad (the surface of the pad) or the relative level of the pad (the surface of the pad) with respect to the anvil may be changed by moving the anvil radially inward of the rotating unit with respect to the pad or by moving the pad radially outward of the rotating unit with respect to the anvil. Alternatively, the relative level may be changed by moving both of the anvil and the pad in the radial direction of the rotating unit. 
     The mechanism for changing the relative level of the anvil with respect to the pad or for changing the relative level of the pad with respect to the anvil may be guide means for regulating the path of revolution (rotation) of the anvil and/or the pad when the anvil or the pad revolves, or may be a driving section, such as an air cylinder, for moving the anvil and/or the pad in the radial direction of the rotating unit after the anvil and/or the pad revolve to a predetermined position. Specifically, level changing means may be provided for changing the level of the anvil and/or that of the pad at a position that is downstream of the cutting position and upstream of the hand-over position. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each pad has a holding surface for holding the web, and a shape of the pad on the holding surface along a direction of an axis of the rotating unit is generally straight at the hand-over position. 
     If the holding surface of the pad is flat as described above, both end portions of the pad opposing each other in the direction along the axis of the rotating unit come close to the surface of the downstream transfer device after the pad turns by 90 degrees. Therefore, the handover of the web is facilitated. 
     A processing method of the present invention is a web processing method for receiving a tip portion of a continuous web at a receiving position, for carrying a cut-off web cut out from the tip portion to a hand-over position downstream of the receiving position while changing an attitude of the cut-off web, and for handing over the cut-off web to a downstream transfer device at the hand-over position, the method using a rotating unit and a cutter. The rotating unit used in the present method includes a plurality of pads and a plurality of anvils, which are arranged alternately around the rotating unit and which revolve generally in a circumferential direction of the rotating unit. The cutter used in the present method is capable of cutting off a tip portion of the continuous web, together with the anvil, at a cutting position downstream of the receiving position. The method comprises: a step in which the pad receives the continuous web; a step in which the cutter cuts the continuous web at the cutting position, together with the anvil positioned at a first relative level with respect to a surface of the pad adjacent to the anvil such that the anvil can be brought into contact with the cutter; a step in which the pad revolves around an axis of the rotating unit while changing an attitude of the pad by turning about a line extending generally in a radial direction of the rotating unit, thereby carrying the cut-off web while changing an attitude of the cut-off web; and a step in which, when the pad changes its attitude, the anvil adjacent to the turning pad is relatively moved to a second relative level with respect to the surface of the pad so as not to hinder the pad changing its attitude. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic side view showing a web processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view showing how the attitude of a web is changed. 
         FIG. 3  is a development view showing an attitude of pads. 
         FIGS. 4(   a ),  4 ( b ) and  4 ( c ) are partial side views of the processing device each showing how relative levels of anvils and pads change. 
         FIG. 5(   a ) is a schematic transverse sectional view showing the processing device at the receiving position and the hand-over position,  FIG. 5(   b ) is a development view showing an example of how the attitude of the web is changed, and  FIG. 5(   c ) is a development view showing another example of how the attitude of the web is changed. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic perspective view showing the attitude of the pad at the receiving position and that at the hand-over position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               20 : Rotating unit 
               30 : Cutter 
               200 : Holding surface 
             A i : Anvil 
             P i : Pad 
             L 1 : First relative level 
             L 2 : Second relative level 
             X 1 : First axis 
             X 2 : Second axis 
             CP: Cutting position 
             RP: Receiving position 
             SP: Hand-over position 
             W: Continuous web 
             W 1 : Tip portion 
             W 2 : Cut-off web 
           
         
       
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will be understood more clearly from the following description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Note however that the embodiments and the drawings are given for the purpose of mere illustration and explanation and should not be used to define the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention can only be defined by the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding elements throughout several views. 
     An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic side view showing a processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the present device receives a tip portion W 1  of a continuous web W at the receiving position RP, and cuts the continuous web W at the cutting position CP downstream of the receiving position RP. Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the present device carries cut-off webs W 2 , produced by cutting the continuous web W, to the hand-over position SP downstream of the cutting position CP while changing the attitude of the cut-off webs W 2 . Then, the present device hands over the cut-off web W 2  to a transfer device  100 , located downstream of  FIG. 1 , at the hand-over position SP. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the present device includes a plurality of pads P i , a plurality of anvils (blade-receiving beds) A i , and a cutter  30 . 
     The cutter  30  includes at least one blade  31  fixed to a cutter roll  32 , for example. A plurality of blades  31  may be provided on the cutter  30 . 
     The anvils A i  are members for receiving the blades  31 , and may be fixed around a rotating unit  20 . A plurality of anvils A i  may be provided around the rotating unit  20  equiangularly (at an equal angular pitch). 
     The rotating unit  20  rotates in the first direction D 1 . The cutter  30  rotates in the second direction D 2 , opposite to the first direction D 1 , in synchronism with the rotating unit  20 . Thus, the rotating unit  20  and the cutter roll  32  rotate so that the blade  31  hits an anvil A i  when the anvil A i  reaches the cutting position CP. Each time the cutter roll  32  rotates by a predetermined angle (e.g.,  360  degrees, i.e., one rotation), the blade  31  hits the anvil A i  (A 1 ) at the cutting position CP, whereby the tip portion W 1  of the continuous web W is cut off one after another, thus producing the cut-off webs W 2 . 
     The pads P i  and the anvils A i  alternate with each other circumferentially around the rotating unit  20 , and rotate together with the rotating unit  20  in the circumferential direction of the rotating unit  20 . The pads P i  rotate generally about the first axis X 1  to be described later, for example. The anvils A i  rotate in the first direction D 1  generally about the second axis X 2 , which is parallel to the first axis X 1  but is shifted from the first axis X 1 . The second axis X 2  may be the center of rotation of the rotating unit  20 , for example. 
     The pads P i  may hold the tip portion W 1  of the continuous web W or the cut-off web W 2  by sucking onto the web, or by hooking the web W by needles, or the like, provided on the surface of the pads P i . For example, where the webs W, W 1  and W 2  are sucked onto the pads P i  by vacuum, a plurality of suction holes (not shown) may be provided on the surface of the pads P i . 
     After the pad P i  receives the tip portion W 1  of the continuous web W at the receiving position RP, the pad P i  rotates in the first direction D 1  from the receiving position RP. After being received, the tip portion W 1  of the continuous web W is cut off at the cutting position CP by means of the anvil A i  and the cutter  30  in cooperation, thereby producing the cut-off web W 2 . After the cutting, the cut-off web W 2  on the pad P i  is carried to the hand-over position SP. At the hand-over position SP, air may be blown through the suction holes of the pad P i  so that the cut-off web W 2  can easily be released from the pad P i . 
     A plurality of first arms  11  are fixed to the rotating unit  20  in a radial pattern. A second arm  12  is provided at the tip portion of each first arm  11  so that the second arm  12  can rotate with respect to the first arm  11 . A pad frame  13  is attached to the tip of the second arm  12 . As the rotating unit  20  rotates, the first and second arms  11  and  12  follow the rotation of the rotating unit  20 , and the pad frames  13  rotate in the first direction D 1  together with the rotating unit  20 . 
     Guide means  21  for regulating the circular path of the pads P i  is provided at the position indicated by a two-dot chain line around the rotating unit  20 . The guide means  21  guides the pad frames  13  along a circle centered about the first axis X 1 . Therefore, as the pad frames  13  are rotated via the arms  11  and  12  following the rotation of the rotating unit  20 , the pad frames  13  are rotated about the first axis X 1  while being guided by the guide means  21 . Thus, the pads P i  rotating about the first axis X 1  and the anvils A i  rotating about the second axis X 2  are in circular motion along different paths. 
     The radius of rotation of the pads P i  is larger than that of the anvils A i . The first axis X 1 , being the center of rotation of the pads P i , is situated nearer the hand-over position SP than the second axis X 2 , being the center of rotation of the anvils A i . Therefore, the relative level of a pad P i  with respect to its adjacent anvil A i  changes outwardly with respect to the rotating unit  20  while moving from the cutting position CP to the hand-over position SP. The relative level of a pad P i  with respect to its adjacent anvil A i  changes inward of the rotating unit  20  while the pad P i  moves from the hand-over position SP to the cutting position CP. 
     The change in the relative level of the pad P i  with respect to its adjacent anvil A i  in the radial direction can be realized not only by using the guide means  21  but also by moving the pad P i  in the radial direction of the rotating unit  20  by means of an air cylinder or a motor, for example. 
     Each pad P i  is rotatably fitted into a pad frame  13  via a turning section  14 . Each pad P i  can be pivoted about the normal r generally perpendicular to the surface of the pad P i  (the normal r extending generally along the radial direction with respect to the first axis X 1  (the radial direction of the circular path for the rotation of the pads)), i.e., a line extending generally in the radial direction of the rotating unit  20 . Thus, it is possible to change the attitude of the cut-off web W 2 . 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic development view showing pivoting (turning) motion of the pad P i  during moving from the receiving position RP to the hand-over position SP. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the pad P i  starts pivoting to change its attitude after passing through the cutting position CP and after the anvil A i  shifts the relative level inward. The pad P i  pivots by a predetermined angle (e.g., 90 degrees) by the time when the pad P i  reaches the hand-over position SP. Therefore, the cut-off web W 2  on the pad P i  is handed over to the downstream transfer device  100  ( FIG. 1 ) in such a posture (attitude) that it has turned by the predetermined angle. While the pad P i  moves (returns) from the hand-over position SP to the receiving position RP shown in  FIG. 1 , the pad P i  pivots further by a predetermined angle (e.g., 90 degrees) into such an attitude that the pad P i  can received the continuous web W. 
     The pads P i  revolve about the first axis X 1  without pivoting, i.e., while maintaining the same attitude, at the receiving position RP, the cutting position CP and the hand-over position SP. 
     When the cutter  30  cuts the web W, the level of the surface As of the anvil A i  is positioned at the first relative level L 1  close to the level of the surface Ps of the pad P i , as shown in  FIGS. 4(   a ) and  4 ( b ), thereby allowing the web W to be cut by the blade  31 . At the cutting position CP, etc., the pad P i  cannot pivot because a pivoting pad at this position would be in contact with the anvil A i . The distance from the first axis X 1  to the surface As of the anvil A i  at the first relative level L 1  may be set to be generally equal to the distance from the first axis X 1  to the surface Ps of the pad P i . 
     While moving from the cutting position CP to the hand-over position SP, the level of the surface As of the anvil A i  is changed to the second relative level L 2 , i.e., retracted, inward of the rotating unit  20  ( FIG. 1 ) with respect to the surface Ps of the pad P i , as shown in  FIG. 4(   c ), so that the corner portion Pc of the pivoting pad P i  of  FIG. 3  will not be in contact with the anvil A i . Such a change in the relative level allows the pads P i  to pivot. The distance from the first axis X 1  to the surface As of the anvil A i  at the second relative level L 2  may be set to be smaller than the distance from the first axis X 1  to the surface Ps of the pad P i . 
     That is, while moving from the cutting position CP to the hand-over position SP, the pad P i  of  FIG. 1  is relatively moved outward with respect to the level of the surface As of the adjacent anvil A i . Thus, the surface As of the anvil A i  is relatively moved to the second relative level L 2 , which is retracted inward with respect to the surface Ps of the adjacent pad P i , thereby allowing the pad P i  to pivot about the normal r of the pad P i . 
     While moving from the hand-over position SP to around the receiving position RP or the cutting position CP, the surface Ps of the pad P i  is relatively moved inward of the rotating unit  20  with respect to the surface As of the adjacent anvil A i  to be at the first relative level L 1 . Therefore, at the cutting position CP, the surface As of the anvil A i  returns to the first relative level L 1  close to the level of the surface Ps of the pad P i , whereby the cut-off web W 2  can be cut out from the continuous web W by means of the cutter  30  together with the anvil A i . 
     The change of the relative levels L 1  and L 2  may be realized by shifting the level of the anvil A i  or shifting both the level of the anvil A i  and that of the pad P i , instead of by shifting the level of the pad P i  in the radial direction of the rotating unit  20  as described above. 
     Now, an example of the guide means  21 , etc., will be described with reference to a transverse sectional view of  FIG. 5(   a ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 5(   a ), the guide means  21  may include a ridge portion  21   a  fixed to a stationary cylinder section  50 , and a groove member  21   b  fitted around the ridge portion  21   a . The pad frame  13  is connected to the second arm  12  and the groove member  21   b.    
     The stationary cylinder section  50  is fixed to the frame of the installation (not shown), and rotatably supports a rotary shaft  20   a  of the rotating unit  20 . The center of the stationary cylinder section  50  and the guide means  21  is the first axis X 1 , and the center of rotation of the rotating unit  20  is the second axis X 2 . Thus, the pad frames  13  rotate about the first axis X 1 , which is eccentric to the second axis X 2 . 
     The arrangement of the ridge portion  21   a  and the groove member  21   b  may be reversed. That is, the groove member  21   b  may be fixed to the stationary cylinder section  50 , and the pad frame  13  may be connected to the ridge portion  21   a.    
     Now, pivoting means for pivoting the pads P i  will be described. 
     A cam groove  51  is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the stationary cylinder section  50 . A roller  15  provided on the pivoting section  14  of each pad P i  is fitted in the cam groove  51 . As the pad P i  rotates about the first axis X 1  from the receiving position RP to the hand-over position SP, the roller  15  moves in the direction of the axis X 1  along the cam groove  51 , whereby the pivoting section  14  and the pad P i  pivot by about 90 degrees. Thus, the attitude of the cut-off web W 2  on the pad P i  is changed. 
     A structure as disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 01-272803 or Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-96808 may be employed for the pivoting means. 
     Now, the operation of the present device will be described. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4(   a ), the tip portion W 1  of the supplied continuous web W is held by the pad P i  at the receiving position RP, and carried in the downstream D 1  direction by the pad P i , which revolves in the first direction D 1 . As the tip portion W 1  of the web W passes through the cutting position CP, as shown in  FIG. 4(   b ), the blade  31  of the cutter  30  hits the surface As of the anvil A i  at the first relative level L 1  at the cutting position CP. Thus, the blade  31  cuts the continuous web W to cut off the tip portion W 1  of the web. Thus, the cut-off web W 2  is produced. 
     After the cutting, as shown in  FIG. 4(   c ), the surface Ps of the pad P i  is gradually moved outward of the rotating unit  20  with respect to the surface As of the adjacent anvil A i  while being revolved in the first direction D 1 . In other words, the level of the anvil A i  is relatively moved toward below the pad P i . Thus, the pad P i  can pivot about the normal r. In such a state, the pad P i  starts pivoting, and by the time when the pad P i  reaches the hand-over position SP, the attitude of the pad P i  is changed, and, as a result, the attitude of the cut-off web W 2  on the pad P i  is changed. 
     At the hand-over position SP, the pad P i  of  FIG. 1  releases the hold of the cut-off web W 2 , thereby handing over the cut-off web W, whose attitude has been changed, to the downstream transfer device  100 . The transfer device  100  may include a pad for sucking the cut-off web W 2  thereonto, or may carry the cut-off web W 2  on a conveyer. Then, the pad P i , while being further revolved in the first direction D 1 , is relatively moved with respect to the adjacent anvil A i  inward of the rotating unit  20  and is further pivoted, thereby returning back to its original attitude by the time when the pad P i  reaches the receiving position RP. 
     Thus, with the present processing device, at the time of cutting the web, the blade  31  can hit the surface As of the anvil A i  so as to cut the web W, and, at the time of changing the attitude of the cut-off web, the pad P i  becomes capable of pivoting. Thus, with the single rotating unit  20 , it is possible both to cut the web W and to change the attitude thereof. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost and the size of the processing device. 
     If the pads P i  and the anvils A i  are moved in circular motion about the two different axes X 1  and X 2 , respectively, it is easy to change the relative levels of the pad P i  and the anvil A i . 
       FIGS. 5(   b ) and  5 ( c ) each show an arrangement of the cut-off webs W 2 . 
     The attitude of the pad P i  may be changed so that the cut-off webs W 2   i  are arranged in a staggered pattern, as shown in  FIG. 5(   b ). In this case, the pads P i  are moved alternately in the first direction of the width direction D 3  (the downward direction in  FIG. 5(   b )) and in the second direction (the upward direction in  FIG. 5(   b )) opposite to the first direction, whereby the cut-off webs W 2   i  and W 2   i+1  are arranged in a staggered pattern. Thus, the cut-off web W 2   i  is shifted in the first direction of the width direction D 3 , and the cut-off web W 2   i+1  adjacent to the cut-off web W 2   i  is shifted in the second direction of the width direction D 3 . 
     The webs W 2   i  may be aligned in a single line as shown in  FIG. 5(   c ). 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic perspective view showing the pad P i . 
     Each pad P i  has a holding surface  200  for holding the cut-off web W 2 . The shape of the holding surface  200  along the circumferential direction D 1  of the rotating unit  20  at the hand-over position SP is outwardly-protruding curved. The shape of the holding surface  200  along the direction of the first axis X 1  of the rotating unit  20  at the hand-over position SP is generally straight. Thus, the holding surface  200  appears generally as a straight line in the cross section of the pad P i  taken along a line parallel to the first axis X 1  at the hand-over position SP. 
     If tapered surfaces are formed at end portions  201  opposing each other in the direction along the first axis X 1  of the holding surface  200  at the hand-over position SP, the opposite end portions  201  will be positioned slightly away from the downstream transfer device  100 . Therefore, in this case, when the opposite end portions of the cut-off web W 2  held on the holding surface  200  are sucked and received by the transfer device  100 , the opposite end portions of the cut-off web W 2  would be more likely to get creased. In contrast, if the shape of the holding surface  200  along the direction of the first axis X 1  is straight as in the present embodiment, the opposite end portions  201  of the holding surface  200  come close to the pad of the transfer device as is a central portion  202  of the holding surface  200 . Therefore, the handover of the cut-off web W 2  is facilitated, and the opposite end portions of the cut-off web W 2  are less likely to get creased, etc. 
     At the receiving position RP, the shape of the holding surface  200  along the circumferential direction D 1  of the rotating unit  20  is straight. As shown in  FIG. 1 , with the present device, the continuous web W before being cut is received by the pad P i . Therefore, the continuous web W can be received even if the shape of the holding surface  200  is straight. 
     While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, obvious variations and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the present specification. 
     For example, at the cutting position, the level of the surface of the anvil may be protruding outward of the rotating unit with respect to the level of the surface of the pad, may be equal to the level of the surface of the pad, or may be slightly retracted from the level of the surface of the pad. 
     The surface of the pad may be an arc-shaped curved surface. 
     The path of rotation of the pad need not necessarily be circular, but may be elliptic or of any other suitable shape. 
     The pads or the anvils need not necessarily rotate about a fixed position such as the axis X 1  or X 2 . 
     The pad need not necessarily pivot about the normal, but may pivot around another line intersecting the surface of the pad. 
     Thus, such variations and modifications shall fall within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention is applicable to a processing device for processing a web, e.g., disposable worn articles such as sanitary products, disposable underpants and disposable diapers, medical materials such as wound dressings, building materials such as heat-insulating materials, etc.