An apparatus and method for manufacturing an absorptive article 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 from an upstream conveying device, changes the orientation by 90° and conveys the constituent element to a second position. Sub-suction surfaces of the first and second sub-suction pads 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 of the constituent element at the second position, and transfer the constituent element to the downstream conveying device at a third position.