Methods and Apparatus for Forming Disposable Products at High Speeds with Small Machine Footprint:

Robert E. Andrews, Sheboygan, WI; Jeffrey W. Fritz, Plymouth, WI; Gottfried Jason Hohm, Sheboygan Falls, WI; Adam D. DeNoble, De Pere, WI; Tyler W. Pagel, Grafton, WI; Christopher A. Schwartz, Sheboygan Falls, WI; Christopher J. Nelson, Plymouth, WI; Darren R. Horness, Sheboygan, WI; Alan J. Rabe, Howards Grove, WI; Sean P. Follen, Sheboygan Falls, WI; and Brian G. Jankuski, Glenbeulah, WI.
Assigned to Curt G. Joa, Inc., Sheboygan Falls, WI.

Filed: 2/24/12
Issued: 2/14/17

A multi-level machine for manufacturing disposable products, the machine comprising a main processing lower floor level for manufacturing a disposable product and a material unwinding upper floor level, said material unwinding level carrying unmanned, auto-fed material unwinding systems comprising a plurality of turret systems, said turret systems carrying an expiring roll of material and a standby roll of material selectively coupled to said expiring roll of material, said auto-fed material unwinding systems operatively connected to said expiring roll of material at said material unwinding level and said auto-fed material unwinding systems feeding the materials vertically through material supply openings in a floor of the material unwinding upper floor level to the main processing lower floor level, said main processing lower floor level comprising a manufacturing station for manufacturing a disposable product, said waiting new material rolls staged at material addresses corresponding to at least one of said turret systems, said turret systems in communication with a system for retrieving and transporting said waiting new material roll from said material address to said turret system, said turret system receiving a roll from said system for retrieving and transporting said waiting new material roll from said material address to said turret system.