US 2013/0160194 A1Published application

Method and apparatus for producing wearing article, and wearing article

AssigneeZuiko Corporation

InventorTakahiro Shimada

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Abstract

The method comprises the steps of: preparing a first suction-holding section and a second suction-holding section; positioning the first suction-holding section and the second suction-holding section in such a manner that respective surfaces of the first suction-holding section and the second suction-holding section are aligned side-by-side while facing the same side; suction-holding a forward surface of a main body of an developed module by the first suction-holding section, and suction-holding a rearward surface of the main body of the developed module by the second suction-holding section; closing the first suction-holding section and the second suction-holding section to fold the main body in half; and releasably joining superimposed portions of the developed module half-folded by the half-folding step.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for producing a wearing article which comprises a main body adapted to extend from a front abdominal region to a rear dorsal region via a crotch region of a wearer, and a side panel for covering a lateral surface of a waist region of the wearer, comprising:

an developed module preparing step of preparing an developed module which comprises the main body, and at least two side panel segments extending from at least one of front and rear end portions of the main body, laterally in respective opposite directions;
a suction-holding section preparing step of preparing a first suction-holding section having a first suction-holding surface capable of suction-holding a forward surface of the main body in the developed module, and a second suction-holding section having a second suction-holding surface capable of suction-holding a rearward surface of the main body in the developed module;
a suction-holding section positioning step of positioning the first suction-holding section and the second suction-holding section in such a manner that the first suction-holding surface and the second suction-holding surface are aligned side-by-side while facing a same side;
a suction-holding step of, after the suction-holding section positioning step, suction-holding the forward surface of the main body in the developed module by the first suction-holding surface, and suction-holding the rearward surface of the main body in the developed module by the second suction-holding surface;
a half-folding step of, after the suction-holding step, closing the first suction-holding section and the second suction-holding section in such a manner that the first suction-holding surface and the second suction-holding surface face each other, thereby folding the main body in half;
and
a temporarily joining step of externally heating and/or pressing superimposed portions of the developed module half-folded by the half-folding step, thereby releasably joining the superimposed portions of the developed module.

4 more elements

An apparatus for producing a wearing article using an developed module which comprises a main body, and at least two side panel segments extending from at least one of front and rear end portions of the main body, laterally in respective opposite directions, wherein the wearing article is capable of being worn in a state in which the main body extends from a front abdominal region to a rear dorsal region via a crotch region of a wearer, and the side panel segments cover a lateral surface of a waist region of the wearer, the apparatus comprising:

a first suction-holding section having a first suction-holding surface capable of suction-holding a forward surface of the main body in the developed module;
a second suction-holding section having a second suction-holding surface capable of suction-holding a rearward surface of the main body in the developed module;
a support member supporting the first suction-holding section and the second suction-holding section in such a manner that the suction-holding sections are relatively displaceable between an open position where the first suction-holding surface and the second suction-holding surface are aligned side-by-side while facing a same side, and a closed position where the first suction-holding surface and the second suction-holding surface face each other;
and
a temporarily joining portion provided in at least one of the first suction-holding section and the second suction-holding section, and adapted to externally heat and/or press superimposed portions of the developed module half-folded between the first and second suction-holding surfaces at the closed position, thereby releasably joining the superimposed portions together.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/820,770Filed 26 Aug 2011
Priority: JP 2010-2021329 Sep 2010
Published: 27 Jun 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

A61F 13/15699
Apparatus or processes for manufacturing: forming webs by bringing together several webs, e.g. by laminating or folding several webs, with or…
A41B 9/00
Undergarments
A61F 13/15747
Mechanical treatment, e.g. notching, twisting, compressing, shaping: folding; Pleating; Coiling; Stacking; Packaging
A61F 13/15756
Apparatus or processes for manufacturing: applying tabs, strips, tapes, loops; Knotting the ends of pads