Methods and Apparatuses for Rejecting Defective Absorbent Articles from a Converting Line

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for rejecting defective absorbent articles from a converting line. At a downstream portion of a converting process, a continuous length of absorbent articles may be subjected to a final knife and cut to create discrete absorbent articles advancing on a first carrier. From the first carrier, the discrete absorbent articles may be transferred to a transfer apparatus, which in turn, transfers the discrete absorbent articles to a second carrier. The transfer apparatus may include carrier members that orbit around an axis of rotation and may be adapted to receive the absorbent articles from the first carrier and transfer the absorbent articles to the second carrier. Defective absorbent articles may be detected by an inspection system, which may be operably connected with the transfer apparatus and/or the first carrier to remove the defective absorbent articles from the converting process.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for rejecting defective absorbent articles, the system comprising:
 a first carrier including a carrier surface having a plurality of apertures;   a second carrier;   a carrier member adapted to orbit about a first axis of rotation, the carrier member adapted to pick up an absorbent article from the first carrier in a pick-up zone and transfer the absorbent article to the second carrier in a drop off zone;   a vacuum air system in fluid communication with apertures in the carrier surface along a first length of the first carrier;   a valve body in fluid communication with apertures in the carrier surface along a second length of the first carrier;   an insert operably connected with the valve body; and   an actuator connected with the insert and adapted to rotate the insert to a first position and a second position, wherein apertures in the second length are in fluid communication with the vacuum air system when the insert is in the first position, and wherein apertures in the second length are not in fluid communication with the vacuum system when the insert is in the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a positive air pressure system in fluid communication with the valve body, and wherein the positive air pressure system is in fluid communication with apertures in the second length of the first carrier. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein apertures in the first length are in continuous fluid communication with the vacuum air system. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an inspection sensor;   a controller operably connected with the inspection sensor and the actuator, the controller configured to receive an inspection parameter from the inspection sensor to generate a reject command based on the inspection parameter; and   wherein the actuator moves the insert to the first position in response to a reject command.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first carrier transports defective absorbent articles past the pick-up zone in response to the reject command.