A process and apparatus for forming a product comprising, in part or as a whole, a wad of finely divided material

摘要

The invention provides an apparatus for the manufacture of a product comprising, in part or as a whole, a wad (38) of fine­ly divided materials, which apparatus comprises a wad-forming station having a former (24) with a plurality of apertures (26) formed therein, a system adapted to supply a band (30) of fluid-permeable material along one side of the former (24) to close off that side of the apertures (26) therein in a fluid-permeable manner, said former (24) and band (30) of fluid permeable material being positioned between a first side of the wad-forming station which is to be at a higher pressure than a second side which is to be at a lower pres­sure, a fluid inlet (22) into the first side of the wad-­forming station and positioned transversely of the direction of movement of the band (30) of fluid-permeable material, at least one further fluid inlet into the said first side of the wad-forming station and facing the first inlet from the opposite transverse side, means for supplying finely divided materials to at least one of the fluid inlets (22), means for providing a pressure difference between the first and second sides of the wad-forming station, whereby the finely divided materials are caused to move into the apertures (26) in the former (24) and be deposited on the band (30) of fluid permeable material. The invention also provides a process for forming a wad, particularly for absorbing body fluids.