Methods and apparatus for forming disposable products at high speeds with small machine footprint

US9907706B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Curt G. Joa, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Robert E. Andrews · Sheboygan, US
• Jeffrey W. Fritz · Plymouth, US
• Gottfried Jason Hohm · Sheboygan Falls, US
• Adam D. DeNoble · De Pere, US
• Tyler W. Pagel · Grafton, US
• Christopher A. Schwartz · Sheboygan, US
• Christopher J. Nelson · Hiram, US
• Darren Horness · Sheboygan, US
• Alan J. Rabe · Sheboygan, US
• Sean P. Follen · Cedar Grove, US
• Brian G. Jankuski · Glenbeulah, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 10, 2017
• Grant date: Mar 6, 2018
• Expiry date: Feb 10, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65H19/1836
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The present invention provides machinery used to create products (for instance disposable products). The machinery is operated at high speed, with the machine occupying a small footprint. Materials can be fed into the manufacturing process vertically (from above or below), using assembly stations to feed completed components into the system at appropriate stations. Additionally, restocking of raw components can be accomplished by robotic means of transferring the raw material from staging areas into infeeding or splicing stations, without the need for human operators.