US 10,588,785 B2Granted

Apparatuses and methods for folding absorbent articles

AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company

InventorsTodd Douglas Lenser, Mark David Whaley

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Abstract

The present disclosure relates to folding methods and apparatuses that operate to fold an advancing substrate in the cross direction along a central region to bring a second end region into a facing relationship with a first end region. In some embodiments, the second end region of the advancing substrate is folded around a folding axis 180° to bring the second end region into a facing relationship with the first end region. The folding axis may also be defined by an arc extending in the machine direction MD, wherein the second end region of the advancing substrate is helically folded toward the inside of the arc. A folding apparatus including a curved or arc-shaped folding axis may also be configured such the first and second web paths have substantially equal lengths.

Claims6

Dependent claims

An apparatus for folding a continuous length of absorbent articles comprising a plurality of intermittently spaced chassis advancing in a machine direction, each chassis having a first end portion and an opposing second end portion separated from each other in the cross direction by a central portion, and each chassis having a first surface and an opposing second surface, the apparatus comprising:

a conveyor adapted to advance the first end portions of the chassis in the machine direction;
a plurality of rollers adapted to advance the second end portions of the chassis in the machine direction, the plurality of rollers defining a web path that positions the second surface of the second end portion of the chassis into a facing relationship with second surface of the first end portion of the chassis as the chassis advance in machine direction;
wherein the plurality of rollers are intermittently spaced along the machine direction, each roller having a rotation axis, the rotation axis of each roller being substantially perpendicular to a folding axis extending in the machine direction, wherein the central portions of the chassis are folded about the folding axis, and
wherein the folding axis comprises a straight segment extending between a first curved segment and a second curved segment;
and
wherein the folding axis is defined by a rail and wherein the rail comprises seven segments having five different lengths.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/351,523Filed 15 Nov 2016 · division
Priority: 8 Feb 2012
Published: US 2017/0056254 A12 Mar 2017
Granted: 17 Mar 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

A61F 13/15747
Mechanical treatment, e.g. notching, twisting, compressing, shaping: folding; Pleating; Coiling; Stacking; Packaging
A61F 13/15764
Apparatus or processes for manufacturing: transferring, feeding or handling devices; Drives
A61F 13/15772
Apparatus or processes for manufacturing: control
A61F 13/49061
The diaper having an outer chassis forming the diaper and an independent absorbent structure attached to the chassis: the diaper having one or two…

Family

Application13/368,378Parent of this division · filed 8 Feb 2012
US 2017/0056254 A1Pre-grant publication · published 2 Mar 2017
US 9,526,662 B2Parent of this division
US 2013/0203580 A1Published application
US 10,588,785 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.