Apparatus for folding a flexible article

Apparatus for folding a flexible article (1), for example a diaper, in which the article is advanced in a transport direction and in a substantially flat state by conveyor means (2) to a folding station and discharged from said station in a folded state, characterized in that the folding station includes a driven main folding roll (4) which co-acts with an underlying counter roll (9), said two rolls defining therbetween a nip for capturing and further transport of the article from the conveyor (2) to at least one driven transport roll (11,12) intended for guiding the forward end (10) of the article (1), as seen in the transport direction, onto a first arcuate surface of a first portion of a folding roll member (16,17) for co-acting with the main folding roll (4), the first portion of the folding roll member being arranged to be driven in a first folding phase in a first rotational direction (B) and for frictionally engaging the first arcuate surface with the article (1) to transport said article through a given distance up against the upper part of the main folding roll (4) and, the folding roll member having a second portion, with a second arcuate surface, for co-acting with the main folding roll during a second folding phase, and for being driven in a second rotational direction (A) opposite to the first rotational direction and for frictionally engaging the second arcuate surface with the article to move the forward part of said article, as seen in the transport direction, down from the upper part of the main folding roll;

• and arranged in the interior of the main folding roll (4) is a folding-finger device (7) which, during said second folding phase, is intended to be moved by drive means (22;
• 34) out from the main folding roll so as to press a central part of the article (1) into the nip between the folding roll member (16,17) and the transport roll (12) located therebeneath,
• wherein the first and second portion of the folding roll member have a common axis of rotation.

Apparatus for folding a flexible article (1), for example a diaper, in which the article is advanced in a transport direction and in a substantially flat state by conveyor means (2) to a folding station and discharged from said station in a folded state, characterized in that the folding station includes a driven main folding roll (4) which co-acts with an underlying counter roll (9), said two rolls defining therebetween a nip for capturing and further transport of the article from the conveyor (2) to at least one driven transport roll (11,12) intended for guiding the forward end (10) of the article (1), as seen in the transport direction, onto a first arcuate surface of a first folding roll for co-acting with the main folding roll (4), the first folding roll being arranged to be driven in a first folding phase in a first rotational direction (B) and for frictionally engaging the first arcuate surface with the article (1) to transport said article through a given distance up against the upper part of the main folding roll (4), a second folding roll, having a second arcuate surface, for co-acting with the main folding roll during a second folding phase, and for being driven in a second rotational direction (A) opposite to the first rotational direction and for frictionally engaging the second arcuate surface with the article to move the forward part of said article, as seen in the transport direction, down from the upper part of the main folding roll;

• and arranged in the interior of the main folding roll (4) is a folding-finger device (7) which, during said second folding phase, is intended to be moved by drive means out from the main folding roll so as to press a central part of the article (1) into the nip between the second folding roll and the transport roll (12) located therebeneath,
• wherein the first and second folding rolls are rotatably coupled.

Apparatus for folding a flexible article (1), for example a diaper, in which the article is advanced in a transport direction and in a substantially flat state by conveyor means (2) to a folding station and discharged from said station in a folded state, characterized in that the folding station includes a driven main folding roll (4) which co-acts with an underlying counter roll (9), said two rolls defining therebetween a nip for capturing and further transport of the article from the conveyor (2) to at least one driven transport roll (11,12) intended for guiding the forward end (10) of the article (1), as seen in the transport direction, onto a first arcuate surface of a first portion of a folding roll member (16,17) for co-acting with the main folding roll (4), the first portion of the folding roll member being arranged to be driven in a first folding phase in a first rotational direction (B) and for frictionally engaging the article (1) between the first arcuate surface and the main folding roll to transport said article through a given distance up against the upper part of the main folding roll (4) and, the folding roll member having a second portion, with a second arcuate surface, for co-acting with the main folding roll during a second folding phase, and for being driven in a second rotational direction (A) opposite to the first rotational direction and for frictionally engaging the article between the second arcuate surface and the main folding roll to move the forward part of said article, as seen in the transport direction, down from the upper part of the main folding roll;

• and arranged in the interior of the main folding roll (4) is a folding-finger device (7) which, during said second folding phase, is intended to be moved by drive means (22;
• 34) out from the main folding roll so as to press a central part of the article (1) into the nip between the folding roll member (16,17) and the transport roll (12) located therebeneath.