Method for bifolding an article and article made thereby

摘要

A method is provided for bifolding articles on a high speed production line on which the articles are moved along a predetermined path. The method includes the use of a vacuum conveyor assembly to engage the leading end portion of an article and transport it in the machine direction, thereby potentially reducing the occurrence of undesirable misalignment of the article end edges during a bifolding process.

主权项

1. A method for folding an article into a bifold configuration, the method comprising:
a. placing the article onto a folding drum surface, the disposable absorbent article having a leading end portion and a trailing end portion; b. holding the article to the folding drum surface with a holding force; c. transferring at least a portion the leading end portion of the article to a peel-roll surface positioned adjacent the folding drum surface; d. applying a peel-force to the leading end portion such that the leading end portion is held to the peel-roll surface by the peel-force; e. holding at least a portion of the trailing end portion to the folding drum surface; f. transferring the leading end portion from the peel-roll surface to a movable surface of a first vacuum conveyor, the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor configured to have a first speed and a second speed, the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor being driven by a drive mechanism coupled to the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor, the leading end portion being transferred to the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor when the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor engages the leading end portion at the first speed, the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor being configured to apply a vacuum force to the leading end portion when the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor engages the leading end portion; g. holding the leading end portion from (f) to the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor with the vacuum force; h. accelerating the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor to the second speed; i. transferring the leading end portion from the movable surface of the first vacuum conveyor to a second vacuum conveyor, the second vacuum conveyor including a second vacuum conveyor movable surface; and j. transferring the leading end portion from the second vacuum conveyor movable surface to the folding drum such that the article is folded into a bifolded configuration.