US 11,071,655 B2Granted

Apparatus and method for high speed cross folding

AssigneeCurt G. Joa, Inc.

InventorsJohn A. McCabe, Gottfried Jason Hohm, Anthony A. Nelson, Zachary J. Giffey

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for folding discrete items such as diapers at high speeds. Discrete items are conveyed in a machine direction toward a pair of engaging members rotating in the machine direction and first carrying a top side of a leading edge of the discrete item with a first engaging member away from the conveyor, and then carrying a bottom side of the leading edge with a second engaging member back towards the conveyor. The diaper fold is created at a contact point with a folding finger which travels rotationally and straight in a fixed orientation about a travel path into and out of contact with the diaper.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A method for folding discrete items, the method comprising:

conveying an item in a machine direction via a feed conveyor;
engaging a first side of a leading portion of the item with a first drum positioned adjacent the feed conveyor, the first drum rotating the leading portion in a first rotational direction;
contacting a folding location of the item with a folding finger oriented in a cross-machine direction and traveling in the machine direction;
timing movement of the folding finger such that the folding finger is positioned within a notched portion formed in the first drum as the folding finger travels between the first drum and the feed conveyor, so as to allow for passage of the folding finger past the first drum;
releasing the first side of the leading portion of the item from the first drum;
engaging a second side of the item with a second drum positioned adjacent the first drum and downstream therefrom in the machine direction, the second drum rotating the item in the first rotational direction;
and
releasing the second side of the leading portion from the second drum to fold the leading portion of the item onto a trailing portion of the item, with the item remaining on the feed conveyor after folding the leading portion onto the trailing portion.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/358,778Filed 20 Mar 2019 · continuation
Priority: 23 Jan 2014
Published: US 2019/0216654 A118 Jul 2019
Granted: 27 Jul 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

A61F 13/15747
Mechanical treatment, e.g. notching, twisting, compressing, shaping: folding; Pleating; Coiling; Stacking; Packaging
B65H 45/12
Folding thin material: folding articles or webs with application of pressure to define or form crease lines
B65H 2404/2321
Blade, plate, finger: on two opposite belts or set of belts, i.e. having active handling section cooperating with and facing to each other
B65H 2404/62
Other elements in face contact with handled material: transversely-extending bars or tubes

Family

Application14/162,399Parent of this continuation · filed 23 Jan 2014
US 2019/0216654 A1Pre-grant publication · published 18 Jul 2019
US 10,792,196 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2015/0202092 A1Published application
US 11,071,655 B2This patent

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

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