Folding Apparatus Slide Portion for Absorbent Article Web Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing folding apparatus for absorbent articles often results in a twisted crotch portion when folding a continuous web into two, leading to distortion and deformation of the absorbent article, causing defects in the manufacturing process.
Innovation Solution
A folding apparatus with a supporting mechanism featuring a slide portion with a friction coefficient of 0.4 or less, which allows the web to slide smoothly and prevents the crotch portion from being conveyed behind the waistline portions, ensuring proper alignment and preventing twists during the folding process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the folding guide bar contacts the web at the crotch portion during folding, then the web can be folded into two, but the crotch portion is conveyed behind the waistline portions causing twist
Solution Approach 1:
A slide portion is introduced as an intermediary element between the folding guide bar and the web. This slide portion has a friction coefficient of not more than 0.4, allowing the web to slide smoothly during folding. The slide portion mediates the interaction to prevent the crotch portion from being conveyed behind the waistline portions, thus eliminating the twist while maintaining the folding function.
Solution Approach 2:
The friction coefficient of the contact surface is changed as a key parameter. By reducing the friction coefficient to not more than 0.4 through the use of a slide portion, the web can slide smoothly during the folding process. This parameter change prevents the harmful conveyance of the crotch portion behind the waistline portions while maintaining effective folding.
2Device complexity
If the web is folded by bringing one side edge toward the opposite side edge, then the folding process is simplified, but the crotch portion becomes twisted and distorted
Solution Approach 1:
The slide portion serves as a mediator between the simple folding mechanism and the web material. It enables the simple side-edge-to-side-edge folding method to work correctly by reducing friction, preventing the crotch portion from twisting and distorting during the folding process.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the friction coefficient parameter to not more than 0.4 through the slide portion, the simple folding mechanism can achieve proper folding without causing distortion to the article geometry. The parameter change allows the straightforward folding method to maintain the correct shape of the absorbent article.
3Measurement precision
If the folding guide bar supports the web at the folding line, then the folding position is controlled, but the crotch portion is conveyed behind other portions causing defect
Solution Approach 1:
The slide portion acts as an intermediary between the folding guide bar's positioning function and the web material. It allows the folding line to be precisely controlled while preventing the harmful effect of conveying the crotch portion behind other portions, thus maintaining both positioning precision and product quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The friction coefficient is changed to not more than 0.4 through the slide portion, enabling the folding guide bar to precisely control the folding line position without causing the crotch portion to be conveyed behind other portions. This parameter change ensures both accurate positioning and reliable product quality.
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 effectively inhibits the formation of defective absorbent articles by maintaining the alignment of the crotch portion with the waistline portions, enhancing the appearance and integrity of the absorbent article.
Implementation Method 1
The slide portion has a friction coefficient of not more than 0.4
Data Source
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AI summary
The folding apparatus 100 by which a continuous web to form an absorbent article 1 is folded into two along a folding line extending in a conveyance direction MD of the web 7 by bringing one side edge 10A of the web 7 toward an opposite side edge 20A thereof. The folding apparatus 100 includes a large-diameter roller 110 configured to press a reference region 11 extending from the folding line to the opposite side edge 20A, a folding guide bar 130 configured to support the web 7 at the folding line and a guide mechanism 140 configured to guide a folded region 12 toward the reference region 11, the folded region 12 extending from the folding line to the one side edge 10A. The folding guide bar 130 includes a slide portion 131 configured to allow the web 7 to slide thereon. The slide portion 131 has a friction coefficient of not more than 0.4.