Flap Folding System for Disposable Articles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional folding systems are unable to accurately fold wide, soft portions such as side flaps of disposable worn articles.
Innovation Solution
A folding system featuring a main rotation shaft, main pads, side pads, and a folding mechanism that rotates the side pads to oppose and parallel the main pads' holding surfaces, allowing for precise folding of flaps by holding the end portions on sub-holding surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional swing arms are used to fold flaps, then the folding mechanism is simple, but the fastening positions vary and folding accuracy is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The folding mechanism is segmented into multiple independent components: main pads for holding the article body, side pads for holding flap end portions, and a folding mechanism for rotating the side pads. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function precisely, improving overall folding accuracy while keeping each individual component relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The side pads preliminarily hold the end portions of the flaps before the folding action occurs. This preliminary positioning ensures that the flaps are correctly positioned and secured during the folding process, preventing variations in fastening positions and improving folding accuracy.
2Manufacturing precision
If swing arms only lift up end portions, then the mechanism is simple, but wide soft flaps cannot be accurately folded
Solution Approach 1:
The side pads act as intermediary elements between the main pads and the flap end portions. These side pads specifically engage with and hold the end portions of wide, soft flaps, providing the necessary support and positioning that simple swing arms cannot achieve, thereby enabling accurate folding of such flaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The folding mechanism applies different functions to different parts of the article: main pads hold the main body while side pads specifically hold the flap end portions. This local differentiation allows the mechanism to handle wide, soft flaps with the precision they require, while maintaining simplicity for the rest of the folding process.
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
Enables accurate and reliable folding of wide, soft flaps by ensuring the sub-holding surfaces of the side pads squarely oppose and are parallel to the main holding surfaces, maintaining the flaps in a securely fastened position.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of air holes h1 are opened in the main pad 11... a plurality of air holes h2 are opened in the side pad 12
Data Source
AI summary
A flap folding system for a disposable article, includes: main pads each for receiving a main body on a main holding surface thereof provided along a conveyance circle about a main rotation shaft and moving along the conveyance circle following rotation of the main rotation shaft while holding the main body on the main holding surface; a pair of side pads provided for each main pad adjacent to the conveyance circle of the main pad each for receiving an end portion of the flap in a girth direction on a sub-holding surface thereof provided along the conveyance circle and holding the end portion of the flap on the sub-holding surface; and a folding mechanism for rotating the side pads with respect to the main pad so that the sub-holding surfaces of the side pads oppose the main holding surface of the main pad, thereby folding the flap.