Absorbent Article Web Folding Conveyance Belt Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the manufacturing of absorbent articles like disposable diapers, the folding process often results in the crotch region being twisted, leading to distortions and deformations, which can cause manufacturing failures and affect the appearance of the product due to incomplete support during conveyance between rollers.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a conveyance belt to maintain the first half region in contact and a guide system of rollers to align and fold the second half region accurately over the first half region, ensuring the crotch region is not twisted, with a folding center bar aligned with the centerline for precise folding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the first half region is conveyed between multiple rollers arranged at predetermined spacing, then the conveyance structure is simple, but the first half region is suspended in the air between rollers causing the crotch region to contact guide means and become twisted
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyance belt is divided into multiple sections (first conveyance belt section and second conveyance belt section) with different functions: the first section conveys the first half region while the second section guides the second half region. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific function, preventing twisting while maintaining simple structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyance belt acts as an intermediary between the first half region and the guide means, providing continuous support to the first half region during conveyance. This prevents the crotch region from contacting the guide means and becoming twisted, while still allowing the folding operation to proceed.
2Productivity
If the second half region is folded towards the first half region with the crotch region being twisted, then the folding process is completed, but distortion and deformation spread over the entire absorbent article
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyance belt provides preliminary support and alignment to the first half region before the folding operation occurs. By maintaining the first half region in a stable, non-twisted state during conveyance, the subsequent folding process produces accurate results without distortion spreading to the entire article.
3Ease of operation
If the crotch region contacts the guide means or folding center bar, then the folding operation can proceed, but the conveyance of the crotch region falls behind the waistline region causing twist
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyance belt serves as an intermediary that supports the first half region including the crotch region during conveyance. This prevents the crotch region from falling behind and contacting the guide means in a twisted state, while still allowing the folding operation to proceed smoothly.
Data Source
AI summary
A manufacturing method of an absorbent article according to the present invention includes the steps of a leg circumference forming process of forming a leg circumferential region on a web which is continuously fed in an MD, in a conveyance device, and a folding process of folding the web in two after the leg circumference forming process, so that a second half region on one divided by a center line in a CD comes closer to or overlaps a first half region on the other side. In the folding process, the first half region is conveyed on a conveyance belt which drives horizontally in parallel to an installation surface of the conveyance device (for example, a folding device) and the second half region is folded towards the first half region by a guide unit that guides the second half region.