System and method for producing folded articles
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorBalbir Singh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system (10) for producing folded articles includes a cutting station (58) operable to segment a fabric web (42) into a continuous stream of individual web segments (86). The system also includes a rotary folder (96) comprising a plurality of folding rollers (104, 106). The rotary folder (96) rotates about an axis spaced apart from axes of the folding rollers (104, 106). The rotary folder (96) is operable to receive the web segments (86) at a first location and fold the web segments one or more times while rotating from the first location to a second location about the rotary folder (96) axis. The system further includes a transfer station (62) operable to receive the folded web segments (86) from the rotary folder (96) at the second location and deliver the folded web segments (86) to a third location.
Claims25
A system for producing folded articles comprising:
- a cutting station operable to segment a fabric web into a continuous stream of individual web segments:
- a rotary folder comprising a rotary folder axis and a plurality of folding rollers, each of the folding rollers rotating about the rotary folder axis, the rotary folder axis spaced apart from a rotational axis of each of the respective folding rollers, the rotary folder operable to receive the web segments at a first location and fold the web segments one or more times while rotating from the first location to a second location about the rotary folder axis;
- and
- a transfer station operable to receive the folded web segments from the rotary folder at the second location and deliver the folded web segments to a third location.
A system for producing folded articles comprising:
- a cutting station operable to segment a fabric web into a continuous stream of individual web segments:
- a rotary folder comprising a rotary folder axis and a plurality of folding rollers, the folding rollers rotating about the rotary folder axis, the rotary folder axis independent and spaced apart from a rotational axis of each of the respective folding rollers, the folding rollers operable to transversely fold the web segments while rotating from a first location to a second location about the rotary folder axis;
- and
- a transfer station operable to receive the folded web segments from the rotary folder at the second location and longitudinally fold the web segments.
A system for producing folded fabric articles comprising:
- a plurality of valve blocks coupled to a support each having an annular chamber operable to provide vacuum communication from a vacuum supply;
- a drum cover rotatably disposed over the valve blocks, the drum cover having a plurality of vacuum ports, wherein rotation of the drum cover about an axis relative to the valve blocks intermittently disposes the vacuum ports in relation to the chambers to connect and disconnect from vacuum communication to respectively retain and release portion of a web segment;
- and
- a folding mechanism disposed adjacent the drum cover and operable to fold the released portion of the web segment as the folding drum rotates about the axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.