A folding apparatus for folding absorbent sanitary articles having an absorbent central body and two wings projecting from opposite side edges of said absorbent central body, comprising: a vacuum conveyor comprising a conveyor belt which holds the absorbent central bodies of said absorbent sanitary articles and moves said absorbent sanitary articles in a longitudinal direction, and a pair of stationary folding elements that engage respective wings of said absorbent sanitary articles while these are moved in said longitudinal direction by said vacuum conveyor, wherein said conveyor belt comprises a plurality of recessed seats which receive the absorbent central bodies of said absorbent sanitary articles, with said wings extending laterally outwards from said recessed seats on an outer surface of said conveyor belt.

A folding apparatus for folding absorbent sanitary articles having an absorbent central body and two wings projecting from opposite side edges of said absorbent central body, comprising: a vacuum conveyor comprising a conveyor belt which holds the absorbent central bodies of said absorbent sanitary articles and moves said absorbent sanitary articles in a longitudinal direction, and a pair of stationary folding elements that engage respective wings of said absorbent sanitary articles while these are moved in said longitudinal direction by said vacuum conveyor, wherein said conveyor belt comprises a plurality of recessed seats which receive the absorbent central bodies of said absorbent sanitary articles, with said wings extending laterally outwards from said recessed seats on an outer surface of said conveyor belt.

A method in which, while an article is carried with a main portion in contact with a carrying surface and a to-be-folded portion in contact with a folder plate, includes: a first guiding step, wherein a first guide surface guides the to-be-folded portion of the unfolded article, on a side of the carrying surface, in parallel to the carrying surface; a second guiding step, following the first guiding step, wherein a second guide surface, while being in contact with the to-be-folded portion, gradually raises the to-be-folded portion while moving downstream; and a third guiding step, following the second guiding step, wherein a third guide surface guides the to-be-folded portion so that the to-be-folded portion is folded onto the main portion.

A method in which, while an article is carried with a main portion in contact with a carrying surface and a to-be-folded portion in contact with a folder plate, includes: a first guiding step, wherein a first guide surface guides the to-be-folded portion of the unfolded article, on a side of the carrying surface, in parallel to the carrying surface; a second guiding step, following the first guiding step, wherein a second guide surface, while being in contact with the to-be-folded portion, gradually raises the to-be-folded portion while moving downstream; and a third guiding step, following the second guiding step, wherein a third guide surface guides the to-be-folded portion so that the to-be-folded portion is folded onto the main portion.

Each of the sheets is conveyed by a horizontal conveyance unit in a state of being overlapped with a next sheet from above. Each of the sheets is conveyed out of the horizontal conveyance unit in a state of being folded along a fold line with the fold line oriented upward, the fold line extending in a conveyance direction of the horizontal conveyance unit. An oblique conveyance unit receives the sheet from the horizontal conveyance unit and successively conveys the sheets in an oblique downward direction. A sensor is arranged to detect passage of the sheets at a position where steps pass. Each of the steps is formed by two sheets adjacent to each other diverted to the oblique downward direction by the oblique conveyance unit.

Each of the sheets is conveyed by a horizontal conveyance unit in a state of being overlapped with a next sheet from above. Each of the sheets is conveyed out of the horizontal conveyance unit in a state of being folded along a fold line with the fold line oriented upward, the fold line extending in a conveyance direction of the horizontal conveyance unit. An oblique conveyance unit receives the sheet from the horizontal conveyance unit and successively conveys the sheets in an oblique downward direction. A sensor is arranged to detect passage of the sheets at a position where steps pass. Each of the steps is formed by two sheets adjacent to each other diverted to the oblique downward direction by the oblique conveyance unit.

A tape applicator configured for applying a tape to a carton (e.g., for sealing and/or assembling the carton). The tape applicator may include an edge folder assembly having an edge folder roller operatively coupled to a support member that allows the edge folder roller to rotate around the support member. The edge folder assembly may also include an alignment assembly (e.g., a self-alignment assembly) that allows the edge folder roller to move axially along the support member. The alignment assembly may comprise one or more biasing members (e.g., springs, or the like) and/or one or more restraining members (e.g., washers, or the like) to aid in allowing the edge folder roller to rotate and/or move axially with respect to the one or more support members in order to account for shifting of the tape transversely through the tape applicator.

A tape applicator configured for applying a tape to a carton (e.g., for sealing and/or assembling the carton). The tape applicator may include an edge folder assembly having an edge folder roller operatively coupled to a support member that allows the edge folder roller to rotate around the support member. The edge folder assembly may also include an alignment assembly (e.g., a self-alignment assembly) that allows the edge folder roller to move axially along the support member. The alignment assembly may comprise one or more biasing members (e.g., springs, or the like) and/or one or more restraining members (e.g., washers, or the like) to aid in allowing the edge folder roller to rotate and/or move axially with respect to the one or more support members in order to account for shifting of the tape transversely through the tape applicator.

The invention relates to a winding apparatus for winding a material web traveling in a direction of travel, having at least one blade for cutting the material web in a web direction into a plurality of partial material webs, and having a folding apparatus for folding the edges of the partial material webs. To furnish a winding apparatus that enables a material web with folded edges to be wound with as little wrinkling as possible, a folding element is furnished for each edge of the partial material webs. The at least one blade may be moved transversely to the direction of travel using a first oscillating apparatus. Using a second oscillating apparatus, the folding elements for the left-hand edges of the partial material webs, as viewed in the direction of travel, may be moved transversely to the direction of travel. Using a third oscillating apparatus, the folding elements for the right-hand edges of the partial material webs, as viewed in the direction of travel, may be moved transversely to the direction of travel. The first oscillating apparatus, second oscillating apparatus and third oscillating apparatus may be controlled by a control unit in such a manner that the folded edges of the partial material webs may be wound at an offset to one another.

The invention relates to a winding apparatus for winding a material web traveling in a direction of travel, having at least one blade for cutting the material web in a web direction into a plurality of partial material webs, and having a folding apparatus for folding the edges of the partial material webs. To furnish a winding apparatus that enables a material web with folded edges to be wound with as little wrinkling as possible, a folding element is furnished for each edge of the partial material webs. The at least one blade may be moved transversely to the direction of travel using a first oscillating apparatus. Using a second oscillating apparatus, the folding elements for the left-hand edges of the partial material webs, as viewed in the direction of travel, may be moved transversely to the direction of travel. Using a third oscillating apparatus, the folding elements for the right-hand edges of the partial material webs, as viewed in the direction of travel, may be moved transversely to the direction of travel. The first oscillating apparatus, second oscillating apparatus and third oscillating apparatus may be controlled by a control unit in such a manner that the folded edges of the partial material webs may be wound at an offset to one another.