Web conveyor

Abstract

In a web conveyor, a boundary between a belt conveyer and a belt conveyer provided between an end portion in upstream and an end portion in downstream of a holding conveyer. In other words, the holding conveyor that presses on the top surface of the web is disposed at the boundary between the belt conveyor and the belt conveyor.

1 . A web conveyor for conveying a web in a machine direction along a flow direction of steps for manufacturing absorbent articles, the web having a top surface on which workpieces are arranged at predetermined intervals, the web conveyor comprising:
 a belt conveyor that includes a region for adsorbing a bottom surface of the web, and conveys the web in the machine direction; and   a holding conveyor that holds at least top surfaces of the workpieces, wherein:   the belt conveyor has a length in the machine direction greater than a length of the holding conveyor in the machine direction, and extends downstream from an end portion of the holding conveyor at least at a downstream side;   the holding conveyor has a width arranged at least within a width of the workpieces; and   a boundary at which conveying conditions of the belt conveyor change exists between an upstream end portion and a downstream end portion of the holding conveyor.   
     
     
         2 . The web conveyor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the holding conveyor includes a suction mechanism for sucking the workpieces; and   the suction mechanism is arranged at least at the boundary at which the conveying conditions of the belt conveyor change.   
     
     
         3 . The web conveyor according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the belt conveyor includes:
 an endless belt having a plurality of through-holes; and 
 a plurality of suction mechanisms for sucking external air through the through-holes; and 
   the boundary at which the conveying conditions of the belt conveyor change is a boundary between the plurality of the suction mechanisms.   
     
     
         4 . The web conveyor according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the belt conveyor includes:
 a first conveyor for adsorbing the bottom surface of the web; and 
 a second conveyor for adsorbing the bottom surface of the web; 
   a straight line that is parallel to a conveying surface and orthogonal to the machine direction of the first conveyor, is parallel to a straight line that is parallel to the conveying surface and orthogonal to the machine direction of the second conveyor;   the second conveyor is disposed adjacently downstream to the first conveyor; and   the boundary at which the conveying conditions of the belt conveyor change is located between the first conveyor and the second conveyor.   
     
     
         5 . The web conveyor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a conveying surface of the belt conveyor has a curved portion; and   the boundary at which the conveying conditions of the belt conveyor change is the curved portion.   
     
     
         6 . The web conveyor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the boundary at which the conveying conditions of the belt conveyor change has a length in the machine direction greater than a length of the workpieces.   
     
     
         7 . The web conveyor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the web conveyor is arranged in an absorbent article manufacturing apparatus, which is formed by combining a plurality of units provided with mechanisms to perform at least a portion of the steps for manufacturing the absorbent articles, in a manner to straddle a boundary between the units;   the boundary between the units is located between the upstream end portion and the downstream end portion of the holding conveyor; and   internal pressure of a downstream unit is greater than internal pressure of an upstream unit.   
     
     
         8 . The web conveyor according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 a wall is disposed between the upstream unit and the downstream unit;   the wall is provide with an opening for passing from the unit to the unit, the web having the top surface on which the workpieces are arranged at predetermined intervals; and   the belt conveyor and the holding conveyor pass through the opening.   
     
     
         9 . The web conveyor according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the workpieces are absorbers for making up the absorbent articles; and   the upstream unit includes an absorber manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing the absorbers