Method and unit for folding incontinence pads

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9776824-B2
Application number	US-201113991109-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2011
Priority date	Dec 23, 2010
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

A method and unit for folding light incontinence pads having a substantially rectangular shape elongate according to a longitudinal axis and comprising a central absorbent pad and an outer edge, according to which a first end portion of the incontinence pad is folded on a central portion of the incontinence pad about a first fold line transversal to the longitudinal axis, a second end portion of the incontinence pad is folded on the first end portion about a second fold line transversal to the longitudinal axis, and elasticated segments of the edge located between the first and second fold lines are folded on the central portion; the step of folding the elasticated segments of the edge being between a first sub-step of partly folding the first end portion and a second sub-step of completely folding the first end portion on the central portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for folding an incontinence pad, comprising:
providing an incontinence pad having a substantially rectangular shape elongate according to a longitudinal axis and including a central absorbent pad and an outer edge,
performing a first step of folding, about a first fold line transversal to the axis, a first end portion of the incontinence pad on a central portion of the incontinence pad, wherein, the first step of folding is performed by a first sub-step of beginning folding the first portion and a second sub-step of completely folding the first portion on the central portion,
performing a second step of folding, about a second fold line transversal to the axis, a second end portion of the incontinence pad on the first end portion,
performing a step of folding elasticated segments of the outer edge located between the first and second fold lines on the central portion;
wherein the step of folding the elasticated segments of the outer edge begins between the first sub-step of beginning folding the first portion and the second sub-step of completely folding the first portion on the central portion;
slackening a tension of the elasticated segments of the outer edge prior to the second sub-step of completely folding the first portion on the central portion.

2. The method for folding according to claim 1 , wherein the step of folding the elasticated segments includes pressing and retaining the elasticated segments on the central portion.

3. The method for folding according to claim 2 , wherein the pressing and retaining the elasticated segments comprises definition of the fold lines.

4. The method for folding according to claim 2 , wherein the pressing and retaining the elasticated segments concludes at an end of the second step of folding.

5. The method for folding according to claim 2 , wherein the pressing and retaining the elasticated segments concludes after the second step of folding.

6. The method for folding according to claim 1 , wherein the slackening the tension of the elasticated segments of the outer edge is performed simultaneously with the first sub-step of beginning folding the first portion.

7. The method for folding according to claim 1 , wherein the slackening the tension of the elasticated segments of the outer edge is performed by the first sub-step of beginning folding the first portion.

Assignees

• Rosani Marco
• Pastrello Gabriele
• Bugini Luca
• Piantoni Matteo
• Perego Alberto
• Gdm Spa

Inventors

• Rosani Marco
• Pastrello Gabriele
• Bugini Luca
• Piantoni Matteo
• Perego Alberto

Classifications

• B65H45/00 Primary

  Folding thin material (specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of particular products, see appropriate subclasses, e.g. D06F89/00) · CPC title

• B65H2701/177

  Fibrous or compressible material · CPC title

• B65H45/12

  Folding articles or webs with application of pressure to define or form crease lines (B65H20/28 takes precedence; pleating, kilting or goffering textile fabrics D06J) · CPC title

• B65H2801/57

  Diaper manufacture · CPC title

• A61F13/15747 Primary

  Folding; Pleating; Coiling; Stacking; Packaging · CPC title