Provided are an apparatus and method for manufacturing an absorptive article that are capable of suppressing the occurrence of wrinkles in a constituent element of the absorbing article when transferring the constituent element to a downstream conveying device.A main suction pad that moves along a cylindrical or conical first virtual path surface receives a constituent element (2k) from an upstream conveying device, changes the orientation by 90° and conveys the constituent element to a second position (11b). Sub- suction surfaces (42a, 44a) of the first and second sub- suction pads (42, 44) move around a second reference center line along a cylindrical or conical second virtual path surface centered on the second reference center line, while being aligned with each other with a space therebetween, suction end portions (2a, 2b) of the constituent element (2k) at the second position (11b), and transfer the constituent element (2k) to the downstream conveying device at a third position (11c). A distance (D2) between the first and second sub- suction surfaces (42a, 44a) at the third position (11c) is larger than the distance (D1) therebetween at the second position (11b).
