Folding and manufacture of pants

A method of folding pants, comprising:

• creating a folding nip between first and second transport devices, the folding nip comprising first and second vacuum rolls operatively associated with the respective first and second transport devices;
• transporting a plurality of discrete articles to the folding nip, each discrete article defining a leading half comprising opposed leading side panels, a trailing half comprising opposed trailing side panels, and an interconnecting region disposed between and interconnecting the leading and trailing halves, the leading and trailing side panels outstretched in a cross machine direction, the leading side panels comprising first fastening components, the trailing half comprising second fastening components capable of refastenably engaging the first fastening components;
• positioning the leading half and the outstretched leading side panels in proximity to the second vacuum roll and positioning the trailing half and the outstretched trailing side panels in proximity to the first vacuum roll;
• moving the interconnecting region into the folding nip;
• drawing the outstretched leading side panels toward the second vacuum roll and drawing the outstretched trailing side panels toward the first vacuum roll;
• advancing the leading and trailing halves into the folding nip;
• and
• maintaining the leading side panels separate from the trailing side panels while the interconnecting region is moved into the folding nip and until the discrete articles are downstream of the folding nip.

A method of folding pants, comprising:

• creating a folding nip between first and second transport devices, the folding nip comprising first and second nose rolls operatively associated with the respective first and second transport devices;
• interposing separation members between the first and second transport devices, the separation members disposed on opposite sides of a machine center line, the separation members disposed outward from the machine center line;
• transporting a plurality of discrete articles on the first transport device, each discrete article defining a leading half comprising opposed leading side panels, a trailing half comprising opposed trailing side panels, and an interconnecting region disposed between and interconnecting the leading and trailing halves, the leading and trailing side panels outstretched in a cross machine direction, the leading side panels comprising first fastening components, the trailing half comprising second fastening components capable of refastenably engaging the first fastening components;
• transporting the leading half past the folding nip;
• moving the interconnecting region into the folding nip;
• advancing the leading and trailing halves into the folding nip;
• and
• positioning the outstretched leading side panels on one side of the separation members and positioning the outstretched trailing side panels on an opposite side of the separation members.

An apparatus for folding pants having a leading half comprising opposed leading side panels, a trailing half comprising opposed trailing side panels, and an interconnecting region disposed between and interconnecting the leading and trailing halves, the apparatus comprising:

• first and second transport devices defining therebetween a folding nip, the folding nip comprising first and second vacuum rolls operatively associated with the respective first and second transport devices;
• separation members interposed between the first and second transport devices, the separation members disposed on opposite sides of a machine center line, the separation members disposed outward from the machine center line, the separation members each having an upstream end and an opposite downstream end, the upstream ends located in proximity to the first and second vacuum rolls, the downstream ends located downstream of the first and second vacuum rolls;
• and
• a control system adapted to repeatedly activate and deactivate vacuum operation of the first and second vacuum rolls.