JP2603912B2 - Diaper folding device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for forming a diaper by folding a piece of cloth.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Among diapers, adult diapers use many cloths made of thick cloth and need to be folded several times, so that it is very difficult to automatically fold them by a machine. there were. For this reason, there has been a problem that the conventional method relies on manual labor, and thus the number of processed sheets is limited, and the quality is largely affected by the skill level of the operator.

[0003]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to fold and supply adult diapers continuously with high speed and high quality. The point is to be able to do it.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a charging conveyor 1 for feeding a first cloth body in a longitudinal direction.
0, located at the downstream of the movable conveyor 11 whose front end can move upstream or downstream from the outlet end of the input conveyor, and slides and moves the cloth and drops the center line in the longitudinal direction of the cloth in order to drop it downward. A dropping plate 12 which is removably disposed on the dropping plate, a clamping conveyor 13 which is located on the dropping plate, and which feeds the cloth body to the folding position A while clamping the cloth body with the sliding surface; A receiving support plate 14 rotatable around the vertical axis by 90 ° for supporting and receiving the central portion of the cloth dropped from the dropping plate which is separated to the left and right in a substantially rectangular shape, and below the exit of the loading conveyor 10 When the second and third fabrics are lowered from the space between the input conveyor 10 and the movable conveyor 11 by about one third of the total length, the clamping conveyors 13 and the movable conveyor 11 arranged vertically 3 fold the cloth between A folding means 15 for carrying out the first folding step, the second on the substantially rectangular shaped portion of the first fabric member is on the receiving support plate 14 which has already changed 90 ° orientation,
In order to drop the third fold of the third cloth and overlap it, it is detected that the leading ends of the second and third folds of the third cloth have reached the stacking position A, and the sliding plate is detected. And a first, second, and second sensor 16 that is located downstream of the stacking position and overlaps on the receiving support plate.
When the feed member 17 that holds the distal end portion of the third cloth body is moved downstream, the placing section 18 on which the substantially rectangular portions of the first, second, and third cloth bodies overlap each other are placed. A pair of left and right reversing members 19 for reversing the left and right portions of the first cloth body hanging from the mounting portion on the third cloth body overlapping in a substantially rectangular shape in order; A diaper folding device is constituted by the final folding means 20 for hanging the rear portions of the second and third cloth bodies on the portion folded in a substantially square shape, which hangs on the rear side of the upper portion. Things.

[0005]

According to the apparatus of the present invention, a diaper can be formed by combining at least three washed and dried cloths having the same size. The first cloth body is rotated about the vertical axis by 90 ° on the receiving support plate 14 at the stacking position A, so that the first cloth body is a part to be wound around the waist.

[0006] First from the charging conveyor 10 to the drop plate 12
The movable conveyor 11 for transferring the cloth body of the second and third cloth bodies retreats to a position where the front end substantially coincides with the front end of the sandwiching conveyor 13, and the input conveyor 10 and the downstream conveyors 11, 13 And the second and third cloths hang down. About one-third of the entire length of the fabric is folded between the two conveyors 11 and 13 by the folding means 15, and the fabric is sent to the stacking position A with the folded back as the tip.

The position of the tip is detected by a sensor 16 in order to align the tips of the second and third folded cloths with the edge of the first cloth placed on the support plate 14, Drop plate 1
2 is opened, the second cloth body is dropped on the first sliding body, and a third third folded part of the third cloth body is dropped and stacked. Therefore, at this stage, the three cloth bodies are combined in a substantially T-shape with respect to the flow direction. After the second cloth is folded on the first cloth after being folded one third, the third cloth is similarly folded by a third,
And it piles on a 2nd cloth.

The first, second, and third cloths, which are substantially T-shaped on the support plate 14, are sent to the mounting portion 18 downstream of the folding position, where the first cloths are suspended. The reversing member 1 is placed on the three cloths that receive the left and right parts and overlap on the support plate.
The diapers are alternately folded by 9 and the parts hanging down to the rear side are folded over them to form diapers.

[0009]

1 shows an embodiment of a diaper folding apparatus according to the present invention.

The cloth is inserted from the left side of FIG. 1 and moves rightward. As the cloth for forming the diaper, at least three cloths of the same standard having a certain size are used. The form of the cloth body is a rectangle having a width to length ratio of about 1: 2 to 1: 4. Each of the cloths is fed in the longitudinal direction, but the feeding conveyor 10 only needs to have a minimum width slightly larger than the width of the elongated cloth.

The roller 22 at the tip of the charging conveyor 10
Is located at a position slightly higher than the moving height of the cloth body downstream therefrom, and along the upper side thereof, the curved guide member 23
However, it is attached so that the cloth body can be guided downward. A clamping conveyor 13 for clamping and transporting the cloth between the movable conveyor 11 and the drop plate 12 and the upward surface thereof is continuously arranged downstream of the input conveyor 10 at the downstream side.

The movable conveyor 11 has a movable roller 2 at the rear end.
4 can move so as to take a flat transport position (I) behind the leading end of the feeding conveyor 10, that is, toward the loading conveyor 10, and a 1/3 folding position (II) slightly away from the leading end of the feeding conveyor. . Reference numeral 25 denotes a cylinder as a driving device of the movable conveyor 11, which moves the movable roller 24 to the two positions (I, II) by rotating a member 27 to which the roller 24 and the lower roller 26 are attached. At the flat transport position (I), the movable roller 24 is slightly lowered to open the entrance. The position of the front roller 26 'may be fixed.

The drop plate 12 has a sliding surface 29 formed so as to be slippery for sliding and moving the cloth body (FIG. 3), and the sensor 6 detects that it has moved to the stacking position A. In order to drop the cloth when it is made, it is composed of a pair of members (a, b) arranged to be separated from each other on the left and right of the center line in the longitudinal direction of the cloth. The end portions of the two members 12 (a, b) may be closed or slightly open (shown), and in the open state, they are separated by more than the width of the cloth. 28 is drop plate 12
Cylinders as drive devices for moving (a, b) to the left and right, 31 and 32 are front and rear guide shafts extending in the left and right direction, and guide the drop plate 12 (a, b).

Below the drop plate 12 at the stacking position A, a receiving support plate 14 is provided for receiving and supporting the central portion of the cloth body in a substantially rectangular shape. Therefore, the front and rear sides of the rectangular cloth hang down from the front and rear of the receiving support plate 14, but in order to turn this to the left and right, the vertical axis 3 on which the receiving support plate 14 is attached
Approximately 90 around 3. Rotate. Reference numeral 34 denotes a motor as the driving device.

The holding conveyor 13 is a movable conveyor 1
A plurality of roller groups 35 having a length covering from the rear end of one to the front end of the drop plate 12 constitute a part of folding means for one-third folding.

The folding means 15 for performing the third folding on the second and third cloth bodies includes a movable roller 24 (II) moved to the third folding position (II) and the above-mentioned roller. The cloth body is arranged so as to be folded in the width direction and pushed in between the rear end of the group 35 and the cloth body. In the case of the embodiment, the folding means 15
Consists of a nozzle that blows air onto the cloth in a linear manner. In order to take the air injection timing for the one-third folding, a one-third folding sensor 36 for detecting the front end position of the cloth is disposed at an appropriate position. Reference numeral 30 denotes a driving device such as a conveyor.

The sensor 6 is disposed near the front end of the drop plate 12 to detect that the first cloth has been sent to the stop position of the drop plate 12, while the sensor 6 is located near the front end of the drop plate 12. A sensor 16 for detecting the tip position is arranged near the front end of the receiving support plate 14. Since the second and third cloths are sent with the one-third folded portion first, the leading ends thereof fall on the receiving support plate 14, and therefore, when viewed in plan, the first cloth The body and the second and third cloths are folded in a substantially T-shape (however, the left and right sides of the first cloth and the rear sides of the second and third cloths which are not actually mounted on the receiving support plate 14). Each part of hangs down.)

The feed member 17 is a member for moving the substantially rectangular tip portions of the first, second and third cloth bodies overlapping on the receiving support plate to the mounting portion 18. The mounting portion 18 is disposed downstream of the receiving plate 14, where the hanging portion is folded. A transfer plate 21 for passing the overlapping substantially rectangular portions of the first, second, and third cloth bodies is raised and lowered on the downstream side of the receiving and supporting plate 14 in order to send the sheet to the mounting portion 18 that is disposed slightly apart. It is provided as possible. 37 is a cylinder as a drive device for setting the transfer plate 21 to the transfer position, 38 is a cylinder as a drive device for reciprocating the feed member 17,
Numeral 39 denotes the feed member 1 for holding the cloth by the feed member 17.
7 shows a cylinder as a driving device for performing a clamping operation.

The mounting portion 18 is a portion for performing a folding operation of the left and right hanging portion, and is composed of a conveyor. At this stage, the conveyor does not operate. At the lower left and right sides of the mounting portion 18, the left and right portions of the hanging first cloth body are placed on the approximately square-folded third third cloth body at the top. A pair of reversing members 19 (a, b) that reverse to overlap are provided. Inverting member 19 (a,
b) is rotatable about three-quarters of a turn about a pivot point at the upper end. Reference numeral 40 denotes a cylinder as a driving device for each of the reversing members 19 (a, b).

A final folding means 20 is provided to overlap the portion of the second and third cloth bodies, which have been substantially folded, after hanging down on the rear side, with the already folded substantially rectangular shape. The means 20 comprises a reversing conveyor 41 used for the mounting portion 18 and a folding conveyor 42 arranged at the rear end. The roller 43 at the rear end of the reverse conveyor 41 is in contact with the belt 44 of the folding conveyor 42 so as to bend the belt. When the upper surface on which the cloth is placed is rotated (that is, reversely rotated), the folding belt 44 and the roller are rotated. 43, the part that hangs backward and the part that has already been folded into a substantially rectangular shape are entrained, and
Is sent on the opening / closing plate 45 at the lower part.

The opening / closing plate 45 is composed of two parts (a, b) on the left and right sides, and is opened downward like the drop plate 12 (a, b) to drop the folded cloth body downward. 46 is an opening / closing plate 45
(A, b) shows a cylinder as a driving device, and 47 shows a motor as a driving device of the folding conveyor 42. A discharge conveyor 48 is provided below the opening / closing plate 45, and sequentially discharges completed diapers (folded cloth bodies).

[0022] <working process> introducing the first fabric body W ₁ to the feed conveyor 10 in the longitudinal direction (FIG. 6). At this time, the movable conveyor 11 has the movable roller 24 advanced to the flat transport position (I) below the tip roller 22 and the guide member 23
The first cloth body guided by the above is introduced between the holding conveyor 13 (FIG. 7). The first cloth slides on the drop plate 12 and stops once the tip reaches the sensor 6, and the drop plate 12 (a, b) opens right and left and is placed on the receiving support plate 14. It is dropped (FIG. 8), the substantially square part in the center is supported (see above in FIG. 4), and then the receiving support plate 14 for arranging the hanging parts at both ends on the left and right is rotated about the longitudinal axis (FIG. 8). 9 and FIG. 4, below 3).

The second cloth W ₂ is put into the feeding conveyor 10 along the longitudinal direction. At this time, the movable conveyor 11 is pulled into the one-third folding position (II) where the movable roller 24 reaches the rear end of the nipping conveyor, and when the leading end of the second cloth hangs down about one-third of the entire length, a sensor is provided. Air is ejected from the folding means 15 in response to the detection signal at 36, and a one-third folding operation is performed (see two folding in FIGS. 10 and 4). One third
The folded second cloth body is dropped onto the first cloth body on the receiving support plate when the tip reaches the sensor 16 (FIG. 11,
(See 3 in the second sheet of FIG. 4).

The third cloth W ₃ is loaded into the loading conveyor 10 along the longitudinal direction. Also at this time, the conveyor 24 has the roll 24 at the rear end drawn into the one-third folding position.
1/3 for the third cloth as well as for the third cloth
Folding is performed (see folding in FIGS. 12 and 4). 3
When the tip is detected by the sensor 16, the third cloth body that has been folded in half is further dropped on the second cloth body on the support plate (three folds in FIGS. 13 and 4). At this time, when viewed from a plane, the first, second, and third cloth bodies are
4 and has a substantially square shape. Support plate 14
Returns the orientation to 90 degrees.

The folded cloth body W has hanging portions on the left and right and the rear side, and only the front side has no hanging portion, but the feed member 17 moves from the front (upstream direction) thereof, and is folded. The cloth body is clamped, and the cloth body is moved onto the placing portion 18 via the raised transfer plate 21 (right of 4 in FIG. 5).

Here, a pair of right and left reversing members 19 (a, b)
, In order from the bottom, flip up the left and right hanging parts of the second and third cloth bodies and fold them on the main body part folded in a substantially square shape (5 in FIG. 14 and FIG. 5). Until this time, the hanging portion on the rear side has extended onto the transfer plate 21.

When the reversing conveyor 41 serving also as the mounting portion 18 is operated, the rear portion is moved to the reversing conveyor 41.
1 and the folding conveyor 42, while being overlapped with the body part folded in a substantially square shape (FIG. 1).
5 and 6) of FIG. 5, the opening / closing plate 45 as a completed diaper O.
Will be sent up. Thus, the diaper is ready for use, but the folded part is sandwiched between the upper and lower conveyors 11, 12 and 13 or 41, 42 and pressed, so that the diaper is well folded and hard to lose its shape. .

[0028]

Since the present invention is constructed and operates as described above, the present invention is applicable not only to a small and thin one, but also to a case where a cloth made of a thick cloth such as an adult diaper is folded several times. However, it can be folded continuously at high speed, and the finished diaper has a certain high quality, so that diapers of any size can be supplied as needed. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory side view showing an embodiment of a diaper folding device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the above device.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a first half of a working process by the device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the latter half of the working process by the device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a plan view showing a step of charging a first cloth body. (B) The side view which shows the input process of a 1st cloth.

FIG. 7A is a plan view showing a step of transferring a first cloth body. (B) The side view which shows the transfer process of a 1st cloth.

FIG. 8A is a plan view showing a step of dropping a first cloth body. (B) The side view which shows the fall process of a 1st cloth.

FIG. 9A is a plan view showing a step of rotating a first cloth body. (B) A side view showing a rotation process of the 1st cloth.

FIG. 10A is a plan view showing a third folding step of the second cloth body. (B) The side view which shows the 1/3 folding process of a 2nd cloth.

FIG. 11A is a plan view showing a step of dropping a second cloth. (B) The side view which shows the fall process of a 2nd cloth.

FIG. 12A is a plan view illustrating a third folding process of a third cloth body. (B) The side view which shows the 1/3 folding process of a 3rd cloth.

FIG. 13A is a plan view showing a step of dropping a third cloth body. (B) The side view which shows the fall process of a 3rd cloth.

FIG. 14A is a side view showing a step of flipping up and down the folded cloth body. (B) The front view which shows the flip-up process of the folded cloth body right and left.

FIG. 15A is a side view of the reverse conveyor operating state. (B) Side view after operation of a reverse rotation conveyor.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-64-43462 (JP, A) JP-A-57-38266 (JP, A) JP-A-55-74948 (JP, A) JP-A-59-38948 86554 (JP, A) Fully open Hira 2-8399 (JP, U) Fully open 1988-190165 (JP, U) Fully open, 60-187166 (JP, U) Fully open, 56-17255 (JP, U) Tokiko Sho 57-34000 (JP, B2)

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An apparatus for forming a diaper by folding three cloth bodies having a fixed size,
The feeding conveyor 10 for feeding the first cloth body in the longitudinal direction, and the downstream side of the movable conveyor 11 whose front end can move upstream or downstream from the outlet end of the charging conveyor, slide the cloth body and move the cloth body downward. And a drop plate 12 which is disposed on the left and right sides of the center line in the longitudinal direction of the cloth so as to be separated therefrom, and a gripper which is located on the drop plate and which feeds the cloth to the stacking position A while holding the cloth body between the slide plate and the sliding surface. Conveyor 13 and located below the dropping plate in the stacking position, can rotate 90 ° around the vertical axis to receive and support the central portion of the cloth dropped from the dropping plate that is separated to the left and right in a substantially rectangular shape. A support plate 14;
The input conveyor 10 is located below the exit of the input conveyor 10.
When the second and third fabrics are lowered from the space between the movable conveyor 11 and the second and third fabrics by approximately one third of the total length, the fabrics are folded between the vertically arranged clamping conveyor 13 and the movable conveyor 11. Folding means 1 for performing a third folding process
5 and a third folded portion of the second and third cloths is dropped and overlapped on a substantially square portion of the first cloth on the support plate 14 which has already been turned 90 °. One third
A sensor 16 that detects that the leading ends of the folded second and third cloth bodies have reached the stacking position A and issues a signal for opening the sliding plate to the left and right, and is located downstream of the stacking position;
When the first, second, and third cloth bodies are moved downstream by the feed member 17 that holds the leading ends of the first, second, and third cloth bodies that overlap on the support plate, the first, second, and third cloth bodies are moved. The placing portion 18 on which the overlapping substantially rectangular portion is placed, and the left and right portions of the first cloth body hanging down from the placing portion are sequentially stacked on the third cloth body overlapping in a substantially rectangular shape. A pair of right and left reversing members 19 that are to be reversed, and a rear portion of the second and third cloth bodies that hang down to the rear side of a portion that overlaps substantially on a rectangle are overlapped with a portion that is folded into a substantially square shape. And a final folding means 20. 2. The folding means 15 comprises a nozzle for blowing air linearly in the width direction of the second and third cloth bodies lowered from between the charging conveyor and the movable conveyor.
The diaper folding device according to the item. 3. A receiving plate 14 and a mounting portion 18 downstream thereof.
And a passing plate 21 for passing the substantially rectangular portions of the first, second, and third cloth bodies overlapping on the receiving support plate to the mounting portion is provided so as to be able to undulate. Claim 1
The diaper folding device according to the item. 4. The mounting portion 18 is set on the upper surface of the reversing conveyor 41, and between the folding body 42 and the folding conveyor 42 arranged to be in contact with the rear end of the reversing conveyor 41, 2. The diaper folding device according to claim 1, wherein the final folding is performed by folding up a portion hanging down on the diaper.