Diaper Side Panel Folding Precision via Rotating Pads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for manufacturing open-type diapers fail to fold side panels with high precision due to positional misalignment during the folding process.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a continuous web that includes a diaper body and side panels, where the diaper body is folded along a virtual line to align skin-contact surfaces, and the side panels are folded onto a non-skin-contact surface using rotating pads to ensure precise alignment and attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If side panels are folded using a folding machine with blades, then the diaper body can be processed continuously, but positional misalignment occurs during folding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a tape as an intermediary element between the side panels and the folding machine blades. The tape is attached to the side panels before folding, serving as a reference marker that guides the folding process. This intermediary allows the folding machine to operate continuously while maintaining precise alignment, as the tape provides a visual or physical reference for correct positioning during the folding operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional blade-based mechanical folding system with a tape-guided folding mechanism. Instead of relying solely on the mechanical precision of blades to achieve accurate folding, the system uses tapes attached to the side panels as guides. This substitution allows for easier alignment and reduces the complexity of maintaining precise mechanical tolerances in the folding machine, thereby improving both productivity and precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If side panels are tentatively attached in advance to enable pants-type wearing, then the hip portion can be pulled up or down, but folding precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by attaching tapes to the side panels before the folding operation. This preliminary marking or positioning step ensures that when the side panels are subsequently folded and tentatively attached, they maintain precise alignment. The tapes serve as pre-established guides that prevent misalignment during the folding process, thereby enabling both the pants-type wearing functionality and high folding precision.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional folding methods are used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but side panels fold misaligned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces tapes as intermediary elements that simplify the folding process while improving precision. The tapes are attached to the side panels and serve as guides during folding, making the process easier to control and more precise. This intermediary approach maintains the simplicity of the manufacturing process by avoiding complex mechanical adjustments, while simultaneously achieving high alignment accuracy through the guiding function of the tapes.
Data Source
AI summary
A method including: a step of carrying a continuous web; a cut-off step of cutting the continuous web into individual worn articles 1; a first folding step of folding the diaper body 2 so that a skin-contact surface of a front portion 20 and a skin-contact surface of a back portion 21 lie one each other; and a folding step of folding a pair of side panels 3, wherein in the folding step, the pair of side panels 3 are folded as second pads 32, which rotate in a folding direction in which the side panels 3 are folded with respect to a first pad 31, rotate in the folding direction, while the diaper body 2 is held on the first pad 31 and while the side panels 3 are held by the second pads 32.