Pad folding system and method

• Main Authors: DOBSLAW SCOTT D, HEUER DANIEL J, ELMER, II HAROLD R, NUNN STEPHEN L, FISCHER DALE J, HLABAN JAMES J, SARAF MOSHE, KUBALEK RICHARD W, KEENAN THOMAS P, LEWIS MICHAEL K
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 20.07.2010
• Subjects: BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; CONVEYING; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF,TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, E.G. STENTS; FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; FIRST-AID KITS; FOMENTATION; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS,CABLES; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNERANALOGOUS TO PAPER; MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN AMANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; MEASURING; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; PROSTHESES; STORING; TESTING; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; WEIGHING; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUSTO PAPER

The invention is directed to method and system for folding pads. In one aspect, the system includes a conveyor for conveying a series of pads, one after another, to a folding station. A folding apparatus at the folding station folds each pad along said major axis as the pad is conveyed in a forward direction. The folding apparatus includes a hold-down member adapted to contact a center section of each pad extending generally parallel to said major axis as the pad is conveyed forward. The folding apparatus also includes a pair of folders on opposite sides of the hold-down member adapted to contact side sections of the pad on opposite sides of said major axis as the pad is fed forward and as it is held down by the hold-down member to fold the side sections of the pad to positions facing one another. The pads may be used as feminine protection pads.