US 11,946,862 B2
Method for in-line analysis of a composite product in a machine for the production of absorbent sanitary articles
Anselmo Cicchitti, San Giovanni Teatino (IT); and Enrico Iavazzo, San Giovanni Teatino (IT)
Assigned to Fameccanica.Data S.p.A.
Filed by Fameccanica.Data S.p.A., San Giovanni Teatino (IT)
Filed on Jul. 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/381,411.
Claims priority of application No. 102020000017836 (IT), filed on Jul. 23, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0023105 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 21/31 (2006.01); G01N 21/25 (2006.01); G01N 21/359 (2014.01); G01N 21/59 (2006.01); A61F 13/15 (2006.01); A61F 13/53 (2006.01); G01N 21/84 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 21/314 (2013.01) [G01N 21/25 (2013.01); G01N 21/359 (2013.01); G01N 21/59 (2013.01); A61F 2013/1578 (2013.01); A61F 2013/15821 (2013.01); A61F 2013/530481 (2013.01); G01N 2021/8444 (2013.01); G01N 2021/845 (2013.01); G01N 2021/8472 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for in-line analysis of a composite product, the method comprising:
a preliminary step and an operating step,
wherein said preliminary step comprises:
arranging two samples of target materials, which are part of said composite product, composed of cellulose fluff and granular superabsorbent polymer (SAP), respectively,
carrying out a spectral analysis of said two samples of target materials using a first sensor,
determining spectral reflectance or transmittance data of each of said two samples of target materials, and
identifying a reference wavelength at which a difference between the spectral reflectances or transmittances of said two samples of target materials is maximum; wherein said reference wavelength is between 1300 nm and 1500 nm;
and wherein said operating step comprises:
advancing said composite product in a feed direction in a machine for producing absorbent sanitary products, at a speed from 100 to 800 m/min,
illuminating said composite product with electromagnetic radiation having an emission range including said reference wavelength,
receiving electromagnetic radiation reflected by, or transmitted through, said composite product by an optical sensor sensitive to said reference wavelength, and
processing signals provided by said optical sensor, and obtaining information on characteristic parameters of said two samples of target materials contained in the composite product.