A plurality of folding units is arranged in a circumferential direction R of a drum that rotates about an axis. Each of the folding units includes: a pad for holding each workpiece while a center portion of the workpiece as viewed in a lengthwise direction is placed on the pad; and a first folding member and a second folding member arranged adjacent to both end portions of the workpiece respectively as viewed in the lengthwise direction and used for folding the workpiece so as to stack the both end portions over the center portion. The first folding member and the second folding member are arranged at the same position as the pad of each of the folding units as viewed in the circumferential direction, and a width direction of the drum parallel to the axis is defined in the lengthwise direction of the workpiece.

An individually-packaged absorbent article or an absorbent article. The absorbent article (1) includes a hip-hold portion (H) that includes a side area (10) protruding from a rear side-edge of a body (8). The side area (10) includes a first protruding portion (21) that includes a portion having a largest width from a longitudinal centerline (CL) of the body (8), a first recessed portion (31) adjacent to the rear end of the first protruding portion (21), and a second recessed portion (32) adjacent to the front end of the first protruding portion (21). The absorbent article (1) is folded such that a mountain fold line (Y) is formed in the side area (10) of the hip-hold portion (H), and the mountain fold line (Y) intersects with an edge of the side area (10) of the hip-hold portion (H) at a position between a first inflection point (F1) between the first recessed portion (31) and the first protruding portion (21) and a second inflection point (F2) between the first protruding portion (21) and the second recessed portion (32), and is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal centerline (CL).

An absorbent article includes: a first sheet-like member; a second sheet-like member; an elastic member that is inserted along a lateral direction between a pair of mutually-opposing facing surfaces of the first sheet-like member; joining portions that join the pair of mutually-opposing facing surfaces and that are spaced apart in the lateral direction; and side-seal sections that are disposed at each lateral end portion of the absorbent article. The joining portions are disposed on two sides of the elastic member in a vertical direction, which intersects the lateral direction and a front-rear direction, so that the elastic member is sandwiched and pressed between the joining portions.

A folding machine for folding fiber products and fiber products formed and stacked thereby are disclosed. The folding machine includes two folding devices, each of which includes a cutting device, a delivery wheel, a folding-line wheel, a platen wheel, and a folding wheel. The cutting device cuts the fiber product and transports the cut fiber product to the delivery wheel. The folding-line wheel is adjacent to the delivery wheel for making a first folding line on the fiber product carried by the delivery wheel, and then the platen wheel folds the fiber product along the first folding line. Subsequently, the once-folded fiber product is transported to the folding wheel. The folding wheels of the two folding devices are adjacent to each other and are used to fold the fiber product passing therethrough for a second time, and thus fiber products with three folds are formed.

An endurance athlete's tampon that eliminates a traditional string and is simpler to manufacture includes a sheet of absorbent material with a bottom edge at whose midpoint there is a downward extending tab, and wherein this tampon is formed by folding it about its lateral centerline that extends upward from the tab so that the sheet's proximal and distal edges are placed proximate one another. This folded sheet is then rolled such that its lateral centerline and tab are at the center of the rolled sheet and its proximal and distal edges are on the outer surface of the rolled sheet. This tab is configured to enable it to be used to remove the tampon after it has been placed in service.

In one example, a method of fabricating a product, such as a diaper, includes a step of folding a substrate of the product to form a plurality of pleats in the substrate. The method includes a step of applying a liquified elastic to the substrate such that the liquified elastic adheres to the substrate and extends across the plurality of pleats. The method includes a step of allowing the liquified elastic to solidify on the substrate.

A process and an apparatus for producing hygienic absorbent articles provided with at least one refastenable side seam from a chain of articles being formed having a first elastic sheet and a second elastic sheet, wherein the process and the apparatus are configured to perform operations on one or both of the elastic sheets in a cross direction, that is, with the elastic sheets parallel to the machine direction.

A garment comprises a main body including a front portion, a back portion, and a gusset connecting the front portion and the back portion. The gusset has left and right lateral edges partially defining respective left and right leg openings of the garment. A layer of absorbent material is coupled to an inner face of the main body at least at the gusset. A layer of waterproof material is sandwiched between the main body and the layer of absorbent material. Left and right elastic bands couple the layer of absorbent material and the layer of waterproof material to the main body along the respective left and right lateral edges of the gusset. A method for manufacturing the absorbent garment is also provided.

A packaging plant of groups of absorbent sanitary articles able to create various types of customized packages in relation to the needs of consumers, automatically and without interruptions in the production of absorbent sanitary articles. The present invention also relates to a method for managing a packaging plant. The present invention also relates to a transport apparatus for absorbent sanitary articles, as well as to a method for transporting absorbent sanitary articles.

The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for assembling disposable pant diapers having contoured elastic belts. During the assembly process, opposing end regions of chassis are connected with the elastic belts in the form of first and second continuous elastic laminates. The chassis are then folded to place the elastic laminates into a facing relationship. The inner longitudinal edges of one or both the elastic laminates are then cut to define a contoured shape. Discrete pieces of trim material may be removed from one or both the elastic laminates, and the first and second continuous elastic laminates are cut in the cross direction to form discrete pant diapers. In some configurations, a single knife both removes the trim material and cuts the elastic laminates in cross direction. And in some configurations, a first knife removes the trim material and a second knife cuts the elastic laminates in cross direction.