Web folding apparatus, web folding method, and worn article producing method

A web folding apparatus comprising:

• a folding section for folding a continuous web in two so that opposite side edges of the web in a transverse direction between which an intermediate portion of the web is in are brought into a predetermined positional relationship with each other by bringing the intermediate portion of the web into contact with an abutting member extending in a longitudinal direction of the web;
• a pair of carrying means arranged along opposite sides of the web being folded in the folding section for carrying the web in the longitudinal direction;
• a plurality of holding means provided in each of the carrying means for moving in the longitudinal direction together with the web while holding side portions of the web along the longitudinal direction at least up to an upstream end portion of the abutting member wherein the holding means are displaceable in the transverse direction of the web;
• displacement means for displacing the holding means in the transverse direction in, or upstream of, the upstream end portion of the abutting member so as to correct a positional relationship between the web to be in contact with the abutting member and the abutting member;
• detection means for detecting a detected portion in the web serving as a reference for two-fold folding to thereby output positional information regarding a position of the web in the transverse direction;
• and
• control means for controlling the displacement means based on the positional information.