AN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING AIR-LAID ABSORBENT CORES

The present invention relates to an apparatus for forming air-laid absorbent cores (13,14), comprising a first and second mat-forming wheel (1,2), means for transferring a core element on the first mat-forming wheel onto a core element on the second mat-forming wheel while the latter core element still is maintained in its mould, at least the air-laying means associated with the second mat-forming wheel comprises means for supplying a mixture of air-entrained fibrous material and discrete particles. According to the invention the apparatus comprise means for applying a protective layer to the bottom of each mould (4) of the second mat-forming wheel (2), which protective layer has the function of protecting the mould from discrete particles during air-laying of a mixture of air-entrained fibrous material and discrete particles, means for applying a web (15) of casing material on the peripheral surface of the first mat-forming wheel (1), whereby suction means (6) inside the first mat-forming wheel will draw the material in the web (15) to abutment against the bottom of a mould (3) passing said suction means, means for guiding said web of casing material onto the periphery of the second mat-forming wheel after having passed the nip between the first and second mat-forming wheel (1,2), and means for changing the synchronization of the mat-forming wheels in order to control the time at which the leading edge of a mould (3,4) on one of the mat-forming wheels passes the nip in relation to when the leading edge of a mould on the other mat-forming wheel passes the nip. The invention also relates to a method of producing cores with different sizes without change of moulds. La presente invención se refiere a un aparato para formar los núcleos absorbentes de exposición al aire (13, 14), comprendiendo una primera y segunda rueda de formación de esteras (1, 2), medios para transferir un elemento de núcleo en la primera rueda de formación de esteras en un elemento de núcleo en la segunda rueda de formación de esteras mientras que el último elemento de núcleo aún se mantiene en su molde, por lo menos los medios de exposición al aire asociados con la segunda rueda de formación de esteras comprende medios para suministrar una mezcla de material fibroso con aire introducido y partículas discretas. De acuerdo con la invención, el aparato comprende medios para aplicar una capa protectora de la parte inferior de cada molde (4) de la segunda rueda de formación de esteras (2), cu