The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for folding and winding a predetermined length of non-woven fabric used for the industrial production of moistened wipes. The apparatus for folding and winding a predetermined length of non-woven fabric from a roll wound on a core is mounted on a countertop, equipped with a housing, provided with a drive unit. Mounted on a hub (1) is a cylinder (2), to which eccentrically attached are rods (3) from which at a certain distance is mounted a linear feed (4). The hub assembly (1) with the cylinder (2) with the rods (3) and the linear feed (4) can be mounted vertically or horizontally.

A sheet conveying device includes a first sheet conveyance passage, a second sheet conveyance passage, and a branching guide. The first sheet conveyance passage is a passage through which a sheet passes in a first direction. The second sheet conveyance passage shares a part of the first sheet conveyance passage and branches off from the first sheet conveyance passage in a second direction opposite the first direction of the first sheet conveyance passage. The branching guide is disposed at a position where the first sheet conveyance passage meets the second sheet conveyance passage. The branching guide is configured to move between a first position for the first direction and a second position for the second direction. A plurality of branching guides including the branching guide is spaced apart in a width direction of the sheet and separately switchable between the first position and the second position.

A sheet conveying device includes a first sheet conveyance passage, a second sheet conveyance passage, and a branching guide. The first sheet conveyance passage is a passage through which a sheet passes in a first direction. The second sheet conveyance passage shares a part of the first sheet conveyance passage and branches off from the first sheet conveyance passage in a second direction opposite the first direction of the first sheet conveyance passage. The branching guide is disposed at a position where the first sheet conveyance passage meets the second sheet conveyance passage. The branching guide is configured to move between a first position for the first direction and a second position for the second direction. A plurality of branching guides including the branching guide is spaced apart in a width direction of the sheet and separately switchable between the first position and the second position.

A bending system for separating a page from a cover of a value document, wherein the page is connected to a spine of the cover, the spine separating the cover in first and second cover potions, wherein an angle is formed between the first and second cover portions. The bending system includes a bending unit connected to a motor, wherein the motor is configured to operate the bending unit such that the bending unit bends the value document to a first state, where is larger than 180, and then back to a second state, where is at least 180 but less than in the first state, to separate the page from the cover. Also disclosed is an engrave system for engraving a front side and backside of a page of the value document and a document manufacturing device including the bending system and engrave system.

A biodegradable sampling bag for containing samples or the like, comprises a flexible enclosure defining a chamber adapted to contain therein the sample, the flexible enclosure being made of a plastic material, which contains an additive that renders the flexible enclosure biodegradable when exposed for a sufficient period of time to microbial action. The additive is adapted to enable microorganisms to metabolize the molecular structure of said flexible enclosure. The additive is effective in altering the polymer chain of the plastic material to allow microbial action of a suitable environment to colonize in and around the plastic material, whereby microbes can then form a biofilm on a surface of the flexible enclosure and secrete acids which break down the entire polymer chain. The flexible enclosure, when exposed to microbial action, is adapted to withstand biodegradation for a given period of time, typically of at least three months.

A biodegradable sampling bag for containing samples or the like, comprises a flexible enclosure defining a chamber adapted to contain therein the sample, the flexible enclosure being made of a plastic material, which contains an additive that renders the flexible enclosure biodegradable when exposed for a sufficient period of time to microbial action. The additive is adapted to enable microorganisms to metabolize the molecular structure of said flexible enclosure. The additive is effective in altering the polymer chain of the plastic material to allow microbial action of a suitable environment to colonize in and around the plastic material, whereby microbes can then form a biofilm on a surface of the flexible enclosure and secrete acids which break down the entire polymer chain. The flexible enclosure, when exposed to microbial action, is adapted to withstand biodegradation for a given period of time, typically of at least three months.

A handling device comprises a gripping unit which is movable in three dimensions and which is specified for receiving the stack of products disposed in a receiving region, for moving the stack, and for depositing the stack in a depositing region. The gripping unit comprises at least one upper holding element for holding down an upper side of the received stack, and at least one lower holding element for supporting a lower side, opposite the upper side, of the received stack.

Apparatus and methods are provided for folding discrete items such as diapers at high speeds. Discrete items are conveyed in a machine direction toward a pair of vacuum drums rotating in the machine direction and first carrying a top side of a leading edge of the discrete item away from the conveyor, and then carrying a bottom side of the leading edge with a second rotational vacuum drum back towards the conveyor. The diaper fold is created at a contact point with a folding finger which travels rotationally and straight in a fixed orientation about a pair of belts, into and out of contact with the diaper.

Apparatus and methods are provided for folding discrete items such as diapers at high speeds. Discrete items are conveyed in a machine direction toward a pair of vacuum drums rotating in the machine direction and first carrying a top side of a leading edge of the discrete item away from the conveyor, and then carrying a bottom side of the leading edge with a second rotational vacuum drum back towards the conveyor. The diaper fold is created at a contact point with a folding finger which travels rotationally and straight in a fixed orientation about a pair of belts, into and out of contact with the diaper.

An image processing device includes: a fold unit that folds a first adjustment sheet including an adjustment pattern, over the adjustment pattern based on a predetermined reference fold position; an image reader that reads an image of the adjustment pattern with the first adjustment sheet folded by the fold unit unfolded; a position identifying unit that, based on a fold line in the image of the adjustment pattern read by the image reader, identifies a position of the fold line; and a position adjusting unit that adjusts a fold position of the fold unit based on a difference between the position of the fold line identified by the position identifying unit and the reference fold position. The image reader includes a scanner that scans the first adjustment sheet relatively in a direction along fold of the first adjustment sheet, and reads the image of the adjustment pattern.