Absorbent Assembly Folding via Dual Suction Holding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing wearing articles, such as absorbent garments, face challenges in accurately folding the main body without damaging it and maintaining the folded position, due to uneven thickness and positional instability during the folding process.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus utilizing suction-holding sections to align and fold the main body in half, with externally heating and pressing the superimposed portions to releasably join them, ensuring accurate folding and maintaining the folded state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a strong pressing force from the tucker bar is applied to the bend line portion of the absorbent assembly, then the absorbent assembly can be half-folded, but this causes damage to the absorbent assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses suction-holding sections with vacuum suction to hold the absorbent assembly during folding, replacing the mechanical pressing force of the tucker bar. The suction force gently secures the material without applying damaging pressure, enabling folding while preventing damage to the absorbent body and elastic members.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical pressing system (tucker bar) with a pneumatic suction system. The suction-holding sections use vacuum pressure to hold and fold the absorbent assembly, substituting the harmful mechanical compression with a gentler pneumatic field that achieves the same folding function without damage.
2Ease of operation
If the absorbent assembly is half-folded on the basis of the pressing position of the tucker bar, then folding can be achieved, but the folding line becomes positionally unstable resulting in poor accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The suction-holding sections are positioned and controlled to provide consistent, repeatable suction points on the absorbent assembly. This creates a stable reference system for folding, where the suction force naturally guides the material to the correct folding line position, ensuring high accuracy and consistency across multiple folding operations.
3Reliability
If a suction-holding force is applied directly to one region of the half-folded workpiece, then that region can be held, but the suction-holding force cannot be sufficiently applied to the other region located on the opposite side
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the holding function into two separate suction-holding sections: one for the front surface and one for the rear surface of the absorbent assembly. Each section independently holds its respective region, ensuring that both sides of the folded workpiece are securely maintained without interference from the other side.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a single-sided holding approach to a dual-sided holding system. By applying suction force from both the front and rear surfaces of the absorbent assembly, the invention achieves three-dimensional control of the folded workpiece, ensuring stable positioning of both regions simultaneously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for precise folding of the main body while minimizing damage and maintaining the folded position effectively, enabling reliable production of wearing articles like disposable diapers with improved accuracy and reduced production costs.
Implementation Method 1
a first suction-holding section (34a) having a first suction-holding surface capable of suction-holding a forward surface of the main body (2)
Implementation Method 2
a temporarily joining portion adapted to externally heat and/or press superimposed portions of the developed module half-folded by the half-folding step
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
Provided are a wearing article production method and apparatus capable of accurately folding a main body in half while inhibiting damage of the main body, and maintaining a folded position of the main body after the half-folding operation, and a wearing article produced thereby. The method comprises the steps of: preparing a first suction-holding section (34a) and a second suction-holding section (34b); positioning the first suction-holding section and the second suction-holding section (34b) in such a manner that respective surfaces of the first suction-holding section (34a) and the second suction-holding section (34b) are aligned side-by-side while facing the same side; suction-holding a forward surface of a main body (2) of an developed module (1Z) by the first suction-holding section (34a), and suction-holding a rearward surface of the main body (2) of the developed module (1Z) by the second suction-holding section (34b); closing the first suction-holding section (34a) and the second suction-holding section (34b) to fold the main body (2) in half; and releasably joining superimposed portions of the developed module (1Z) half-folded by the half-folding step.