US 11,945,669 B2
Disposable product assembly systems and methods
Sean P. Follen, Cedar Grove, WI (US); and Robert E. Andrews, Falmouth, ME (US)
Assigned to Curt G. Joa, Inc., Sheboygan Falls, WI (US)
Filed by CURT G. JOA, INC., Sheboygan Falls, WI (US)
Filed on Apr. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/719,726.
Application 17/719,726 is a continuation of application No. 16/947,963, filed on Aug. 26, 2020, granted, now 11,325,801.
Application 16/947,963 is a continuation of application No. 15/290,714, filed on Oct. 11, 2016, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/240,622, filed on Oct. 13, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2022/0324669 A1, Oct. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. B65H 19/12 (2006.01); A61F 13/15 (2006.01)
CPC B65H 19/123 (2013.01) [A61F 13/15804 (2013.01); B65H 2301/41702 (2013.01); B65H 2301/41704 (2013.01); B65H 2301/522 (2013.01); B65H 2405/422 (2013.01); B65H 2408/241 (2013.01); B65H 2555/30 (2013.01); B65H 2801/57 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
an unwinding unit having a first rotatable shaft to support an expiring material roll and a second rotatable shaft to support a new material roll;
a cutting device configured to sever a running web of the expiring material roll, thereby creating a leading portion of the running web and a trailing portion of the running web;
a web splicing unit operable with the unwinding unit to selectively splice the leading portion of the running web with a waiting web of the new material roll; and
a vacuum system positioned proximate the running web and configured to pull a free end of the trailing portion of the running web away from the web splicing unit after the running web is severed.