Method and system for conveying rolled absorbent products

Abstract

A conveying system for conveying rolled absorbent products. The system can include a first conveyor and a second conveyor for moving rolled absorbent products. The rolled absorbent products can be either partially wrapped or naked. The first and second conveyors can each have aligned centerlines parallel to a direction of movement. A first transfer device can be coupled to the first conveyor for diverting at least a portion of the partially wrapped rolled absorbent products in a direction substantially orthogonal to the centerline of the first conveyor to another conveyor for moving the diverted rolled absorbent products to a subsequent unit operation. The un-diverted portion of the conveyed rolled absorbent products can be conveyed to the second conveyor. In operation rolled absorbent products can be conveyed in a generally straight path from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, or in a path that diverts away from the first conveyor to the subsequent unit operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A conveying system for conveying rolled absorbent products, the system comprising:
 a. a first conveyor and a second conveyor for moving rolled absorbent products, said rolled absorbent products being either partially wrapped or naked, said naked rolls being conveyed in streaming, side-by-side relationship, said first and second conveyors each having a centerline parallel to a direction of movement, and wherein each of said first and second conveyor centerlines is parallel; and   b. a first transfer device operatively coupled to said first conveyor, said first transfer device capable of diverting at least a portion of said partially wrapped rolled absorbent products to a fourth conveyor for moving said partially wrapped rolled absorbent products in a direction substantially orthogonal to said centerline of said first conveyor, wherein an un-diverted portion of said conveyed rolled absorbent products including at least a portion of said naked rolls is conveyed to said second conveyor;   c. wherein in operation said rolled absorbent products can be conveyed in a generally straight path from said first conveyor to said second conveyor, or in a path that diverts away from said first conveyor to said fourth conveyor.   
     
     
         2 . The conveying system of  claim 1 , wherein said fourth conveyor comprises at least two segments, including an outbound segment conveying rolled absorbent product away from said first conveyor, and an inbound segment conveying rolled absorbent product toward a third conveyor, said third conveyor also having a centerline parallel to a direction of movement, and wherein said third conveyor centerline is parallel to said first and second conveyor centerlines. 
     
     
         3 . The conveying system of  claim 2 , wherein said fourth conveyor comprises a transfer segment between said outbound segment and said inbound segment. 
     
     
         4 . The conveying system of  claim 2 , wherein said outbound segment of said fourth conveyor comprises a sealing station for sealing said wrapping on said partially wrapped rolled absorbent products. 
     
     
         5 . The conveying system of  claim 1 , wherein said first conveyor comprises a wrapping station, said wrapping station being capable of wrapping one or more rolled absorbent products. 
     
     
         6 . The conveying system of  claim 5 , wherein said fourth conveyor comprises a sealing station for sealing the ends of said partially wrapped rolled absorbent products. 
     
     
         7 . The conveying system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second transfer devices comprise at least one embedded roller conveyor. 
     
     
         8 . A conveying system for conveying rolled absorbent products, the system comprising:
 a. a first conveyor, a second conveyor, and a third conveyor, said first, second, and third conveyors each having a centerline parallel to a direction of movement, and wherein each of said first, and second, and third conveyor centerlines are parallel to the other conveyor centerlines;   b. a first transfer device operatively coupled to said first conveyor, said first transfer device capable of diverting at least a portion of said conveyed rolled absorbent products moving in a direction parallel to said centerline of said first conveyor to a fourth conveyor for moving rolled absorbent products in a direction substantially orthogonal to said centerline of said first conveyor, wherein an un-diverted portion of said conveyed rolled absorbent products is conveyed to said second conveyor; and   c. a second transfer device operatively coupled to said fourth conveyor, said second transfer device capable of diverting conveyed rolled absorbent products from said fourth conveyor to said third conveyor;   d. wherein in operation rolled absorbent products can be conveyed in a generally straight path from said first conveyor to said third conveyor via said second conveyor, or in a path that diverts away from said first conveyor and returns to said third conveyor via said fourth conveyor.   
     
     
         9 . The conveying system of  claim 8 , wherein said fourth conveyor comprises at least two segments, including an outbound segment conveying rolled absorbent product away from said first conveyor, and an inbound segment conveying rolled absorbent product toward said third conveyor. 
     
     
         10 . The conveying system of  claim 9 , wherein said fourth conveyor comprises a transfer segment between said outbound segment and said inbound segment. 
     
     
         11 . The conveying system of  claim 9 , wherein said outbound segment of said fourth conveyor comprises a sealing station for sealing said wrapping on said partially wrapped rolled absorbent products. 
     
     
         12 . The conveying system of  claim 8 , wherein said first conveyor comprises a wrapping station, said wrapping station being capable of wrapping one or more rolled absorbent products. 
     
     
         13 . The conveying system of  claim 12 , wherein said fourth conveyor comprises a sealing station for sealing said wrapped, rolled absorbent products. 
     
     
         14 . The conveying system of  claim 8 , wherein said first and second transfer devices comprise at least one embedded roller conveyor. 
     
     
         15 . A conveying system for conveying rolled absorbent products, the system comprising:
 a. a conveyor for moving rolled absorbent products, said rolled absorbent products being either partially wrapped or naked, said naked rolls being conveyed in streaming, side-by-side relationship in one or more lanes, said conveyor having a centerline parallel to a direction of movement; and   b. a transfer device operatively coupled to said conveyor, said transfer device capable of diverting at least a portion of said partially wrapped rolled absorbent products in a direction substantially orthogonal to said centerline of said conveyor to a subsequent unit operation, or alternatively of maintaining an un-diverted portion of said conveyed rolled absorbent products, including at least a portion of said naked rolls, conveyed parallel to said centerline of said conveyor;   c. wherein in operation rolled absorbent products can be conveyed in a generally straight path parallel to said centerline of said conveyor, or in a path that diverts away from said conveyor to said subsequent unit operation.   
     
     
         16 . The conveying system of  claim 15 , wherein said conveyor comprises a wrapping station, said wrapping station being capable of wrapping one or more rolled absorbent products prior to said subsequent unit operation. 
     
     
         17 . The conveying system of  claim 15 , wherein said subsequent unit operation comprises a sealing station for sealing said partially wrapped rolled absorbent products. 
     
     
         18 . The conveying system of  claim 15 , wherein said transfer device comprises at least one embedded roller conveyor. 
     
     
         19 . The conveying system of  claim 15 , wherein said rolled absorbent products comprise paper towels. 
     
     
         20 . The conveying system of  claim 15 , wherein said rolled absorbent products comprise bath tissue.