JP6625338B2 - Apparatus and method for folding articles - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention mainly relates to a folding device and a folding method for folding an article product, a semi-finished product, a material, etc. of a worn article.

  5A, there is a worn article N such as a napkin in which a back sheet Bs or the like is folded in advance on a skin surface F2 in contact with the skin. In addition, in consideration of portability and storability, the worn article N is generally folded with a fold in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG. 5B.

  JP 2011-156304A discloses a technique in which a conveying device conveys an article while holding a central portion thereof, a folding belt contacts at least one end not held by the conveying device, and one end is folded toward the central portion. I have.

JP2011-156304A (FIG. 5)

  However, in the prior art, since the folding operation is performed while the belt is in contact with the belt, the intended folding state may not be obtained as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5B.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for folding an article which are easy to obtain an intended folded state.

The device of the present invention is a folding device for folding an article,
A transport device 4 that transports the article N in the transport direction X while holding the holding portion H of the article N on the transport surface 40;
The first end N1 is brought into contact with the non-held first end N1 of the article N being conveyed, which is not held by the conveyance device 4, so that the first end N1 overlaps the holding portion H. An endless first fold belt 11 to be folded;
There is provided changing means for changing the relative speed between the speed V of the transfer surface 40 of the transfer device 4 and the peripheral speed V1 of the first folding belt 11.

On the other hand, the method of the present invention is a method of folding the article N using a folding device,
Placing the article N on the transport surface 40 of the transport device 4;
A step of transporting the placed article N by the transport apparatus 4;
A first folding step in which the first fold belt 11 folds the first end portion N1 so that the first end portion N1 overlaps the holding portion H while the transport is being performed;
A changing step of changing the relative speed between the speed V of the transport surface 40 and the peripheral speed V1 of the first folding belt 11 by the changing means.

According to the present invention, the peripheral speed V1 of the first folding belt 11 can be made larger or smaller than the speed V of the conveying surface of the conveying device 4. Therefore, the first end portion N1 can be folded so that the displacement of the folding position in the transport direction X does not occur.

1A and 1B are a plan view and a front view, respectively, showing an embodiment of the folding device of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a sectional view taken along the line IIA-IIA of the folding device, and FIG. 2B is a schematic side view of the first and second bending devices. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the controller. FIG. 4A is a plan view showing a folding method, and FIGS. 4B to 4E are plan views each showing a state in which the end of the article N is displaced and folded. 5A and 5B are perspective views each showing an example of an article.

In the folding device, preferably, a transport motor M for rotating and driving the transport surface 40 of the transport device 4;
A first folding motor M1 for rotatingly driving the first folding belt 11;

  In this case, the relative speed can be easily changed by changing the rotation speed of the transport motor M and / or the first folding motor M1.

  More preferably, the folding apparatus further includes a controller 5 for controlling at least one of the rotation speed of the transport motor M and the rotation speed of the first folding motor M1.

In this case, the relative speed can be more easily changed by changing the rotation speed of the transport motor M and / or the first folding motor M1 via the controller 5.

In the present folding apparatus, preferably, the second end N2 is on the opposite side to the first end N1, and is in contact with a second end N2 in a non-holding state that is not held by the transport device 4. And an endless second folding belt 12 that folds the second end N2 so as to overlap the holding portion H.
In this case, it is possible to fold the article three times.

Preferably, in the present folding apparatus, the changing means includes means for changing a relative speed between a speed V of the conveying surface 40 of the conveying device 4 and a peripheral speed V2 of the second folding belt 12.
In this case, the peripheral speed V2 of the second folding belt 12 can be made larger or smaller than the speed V of the conveying surface of the conveying device 4. Therefore, the second end portion N2 can be folded so that the displacement of the folding position in the transport direction X does not occur.

More preferably, in the present folding device, a transport motor M for rotating and driving the transport surface 40 of the transport device 4;
A first folding motor M1 for rotationally driving the first folding belt 11,
A second folding motor M2 for rotating the second folding belt 12;

In this case, by changing the rotation speed of the transport motor M, the first folding motor M1, and / or the second folding motor M2, the relative speed of each motor can be easily changed.

  More preferably, the folding apparatus further includes a controller 5 that controls a rotation speed of one or more of the transport motor M, the first folding motor M1, and the second folding motor M2.

In this case, by changing the rotation speed of the transport motor M, the first folding motor M1 and / or the second folding motor M2 via the controller 5, the relative speed of each motor can be more easily changed.

Preferably, the folding method further includes a changing step of changing the relative speed between the speed V of the transport surface 40 and the peripheral speed V2 of the second folding belt 12.
In this case, the rotation speed of not only the first folding motor M1 but also the second folding motor M2 can be changed. Therefore, by changing the belt speed of not only the first folding belt 11 but also the second folding belt 12, triple When folded, the desired folded state is obtained.

Preferably, in the main folding method, the relative speed is changed by changing a rotation speed of at least one of the transport motor M, the first folding motor M1, and the second folding motor M2 in the changing step. .
In this case, the folding state can be improved by changing the rotation speed of any one or more of the three motors.

Preferably, in the main folding device, the holding unit H is used to fold the first end portion N1 of the article N being conveyed, which is not held by the conveyance device 4 in the non-holding state, with the first folding belt 11. The apparatus further includes a first bending device 21 configured to bend so as to stand up.
Preferably, in the main folding device, the holding portion H is used before the second end N2 of the article N being conveyed, which is not held by the conveyance device 4 and is not held, is folded by the second folding belt 12. The apparatus further includes a second bending device 22 configured to bend so as to stand up.
Preferably, in the main folding method, a first bending step in which the first bending device 21 bends the article N so that the first end N1 stands up before the first folding step while the transport is being performed. Is further provided.

In these cases, by bending the bending device in advance before folding the first or second end portions N1 and N2, the article N bends at a predetermined virtual line, and the folding accuracy is further improved.

Features described and / or illustrated in connection with one of the above embodiments or the examples below may be the same or similar in one or more other embodiments or other examples, and / or It may be used in combination with or instead of features of other embodiments or examples.

The present invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the examples and figures are for illustration and description only and should not be used to define the scope of the invention. The scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims. In the accompanying drawings, the same part numbers in a plurality of drawings indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, the structure of the folding device will be described. The folding device of this embodiment folds the article N such as the napkin of FIG. 5A in triple as shown in FIG. 5B.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the folding device includes a transport device 4, first and second bending devices 21 and 22, and first and second folding belts 11 and 12.
As a driving source of the folding device, a transport motor M for rotating and driving the transport surface 40 of the transport device 4, a first folding motor M1 for rotating and driving the first folding belt 11, and the second folding motor A second folding motor M2 for driving the belt 12 to rotate.

The transport device 4 intermittently transports a large number of articles N in the transport direction X while holding the holding portions H of the articles N on the transport surface 40.
The holding portion H is a central portion between the first end N1 and the second end N2 of the article N. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1A, the article N may be placed on the transport surface 40 such that the length of the first end N1 in the longitudinal direction is longer than that of the second end N2.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the transport device 4 includes an endless transport belt 41 and a vacuum box 42.
The surface of the transport belt 41 constitutes the transport surface 40, and transports the article N on the transport surface 40 in the transport direction X by rotating the transport belt 41 by the transport motor M. Note that the transport belt 41 may be formed of a material having air permeability such as a mesh material or a woven fabric.

The suction surface of the vacuum box 42 is close to or in contact with the lower surface of the conveyor belt 41. Numerous suction holes are formed in the suction surface of the vacuum box 42, so that the negative pressure of the vacuum box 42 acts on the holding portion H of the article N through the transport belt 41. Accordingly, each article N is transported in the transport direction X at a predetermined pitch and without the holding portion H being displaced.
Note that, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a pressing belt 13 that presses a surface of the holding unit H opposite to a surface in contact with the transport surface 40 may be provided. In FIG. 2A, illustration of the pressing belt 13 is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 1A, stations 43 on which the first end N1 and the second end N2 of the article N are placed are provided on both sides in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction X of the conveying belt 41. .

First and second bending devices 21 and 22 are provided on both sides of the conveyor belt 41 downstream of the station 43.
The first bending device 21 raises the first end portion N1 of the article N being transported, which is not held by the transport device 4 in a non-holding state, with respect to the holding portion H as shown in FIG. 4A. And bend it.
On the other hand, the second bending device 22 holds the second end N2 in the non-holding state in which the second end N2 opposite to the first end N1 is not held by the transfer device 4. Bend so as to stand up against the portion H.

In the case of the present embodiment, the first and second bending devices 21 and 22 in FIG. 1A include first and second nip rolls 21R and 22R, and first and second sailers 21S and 22S, respectively.
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 2B, the first and second nip rolls 21R and 22R sandwich the article N being conveyed between a pair of rolls 23R, respectively, and a holding portion H of the article N being conveyed. And the first and second ends N1 and N2. The illustration of the article N is omitted in FIGS. 1B and 2A.

The first sailor 21S in FIGS. 1A and 2A raises the first end N1 of the folded article N (FIG. 4A). On the other hand, the second sailor 22S of FIGS. 1A and 1B raises the second end N2 of the folded article N (FIG. 4A).
The height of the first sailor 21S that raises the first end N1 may be higher than the height of the second sailor 22S that raises the second end N2. Further, the second sailor 22S may extend to a downstream of the first sailer 21S.

The endless first fold belt 11 of FIG. 1A may be disposed upstream of the endless second fold belt 12.
The first folding belt 11 contacts the upright first end N1 and folds the first end N1 such that the first end N1 overlaps the holding portion H.
On the other hand, the second folding belt 12 is in contact with the upright second end N2, and the second end N2 is overlapped so that the second end N2 overlaps the holding portion H and the folded first end N1. Fold N2. That is, after the first end N1 is folded first, the second end N2 is folded.

In the case of this embodiment, each of the folding belts 11 and 12 is a belt-shaped belt, but may be a string-shaped endless belt. In the case of the present embodiment, the first and second folding belts 11 and 12 have a surface orthogonal to the transport surface 40 at the upstream and approach the transport surface 40 in parallel downstream, and the twisted surface is the article N 4A, the article N is folded threefold as shown in FIG. 4A.
That is, the surfaces of the folding belts 11 and 12 that are in contact with the ends N1 and N2 are arranged upstream so as to be orthogonal to the transport surface 40, and the surfaces face the transport surface 40 as going downstream. Twist.

As shown in FIG. 3, the three motors M, M1, M2 are connected to a controller 5. The controller 5 may include a display, an operation unit, a storage device, an arithmetic device, and an interface.

The controller 5 constitutes changing means and controls the rotation speed of the transfer motor M and the rotation speeds of the first folding motor M1 and the second folding motor M2, respectively, so that the transfer surface 40 of the transfer device 4 in FIG. Of the first and second folding belts 11 and 12 are changed.

Next, a regular folding method by the folding device will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4A, first, the article N is placed on the transport surface 40 of the transport device 4. The placed article N is transported in the transport direction X by the transport device 4.

While the transport is being performed, a first bending step is performed in which the first bending device 21 (FIG. 1) bends the article N so that the first end portion N1 stands up.
In addition, a second bending step is performed in which the second bending device 22 (FIG. 1) bends the article N so that the second end N2 stands up while the conveyance is being performed.

While the conveyance is being performed, a first folding step is performed in which the first folding belt 11 folds the first end N1 so that the first end N1 overlaps the holding portion H.
In addition, the second end portion N2 is folded by the second folding belt 12 such that the second end portion N2 overlaps the holding portion H and the folded first end portion N1 while the conveyance is being performed. A second folding step is performed. That is, the second end N2 is folded so as to overlap the first end N1 that has been folded earlier in the upstream.

Next, a case where the desired folded state is not achieved will be described.
4B to 4E show a state in which the first end N1 or the second end N2 is displaced from the holding portion H of the article N and is folded.

As shown in FIG. 4B, a case occurs in which the leading end of the first end portion N1 is displaced from the holding portion H in the transport direction X. In this case, for example, the peripheral speed V1 of the first folding belt 11 may be slightly reduced to prevent the deviation from occurring.

As shown in FIG. 4C, a case occurs in which the leading end of the first end N1 is displaced from the holding unit H in the direction opposite to the transport direction X. In this case, for example, by slightly increasing the peripheral speed V1 of the first folding belt 11, the deviation may be prevented from occurring.

As shown in FIG. 4D, a case occurs where the tip of the second end N2 is displaced in the transport direction X with respect to the holding unit H. In this case, for example, the peripheral speed V2 of the second folding belt 12 may be slightly reduced to prevent the deviation.

As shown in FIG. 4E, a case may occur where the tip of the second end N2 is displaced from the holding portion H in the direction opposite to the transport direction X. In this case, for example, by slightly increasing the peripheral speed V2 of the second folding belt 12, it may be possible to prevent the deviation from occurring.

The method for preventing the deviation from occurring is not always clear, but by changing the relative speed between the speed V of the transport device 4 and the peripheral speeds 1 and 2 of the first fold belt 11 or the second fold belt 12. It is expected to be in the expected folded state.

Therefore, when the above-described folding misalignment occurs, for example, by operating the operation unit of the controller 5 of FIG. 3, the speed V of the transport surface 40 of FIG. A changing step of changing a relative speed with respect to the speed V1 is performed, or a changing step of changing a relative speed between the speed V of the transport surface 40 and the peripheral speed V2 of the second folding belt 12 is performed.

In addition, the number of rotations of each motor and the speeds V, V1, and V2 of each belt may be displayed on the display. Further, the operation unit may be integrated with the display unit by a touch panel.

As described above, the preferred embodiments have been described with reference to the drawings. However, those skilled in the art will easily envisage various changes and modifications within the obvious scope upon reading this specification.
For example, the fold may be double instead of triple. The controller may be provided for each motor.
Accordingly, such changes and modifications are to be construed as being within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be applied to a folding apparatus and a folding method for articles such as worn articles such as napkins and incontinence pads and absorbent articles for animals.

4: Conveying device 40: Conveying surface 41: Conveying belt 42: Vacuum box 43: Station 5: Controller 11: First folding belt 12: Second folding belt 13: Holding belt 21: First bending device 22: Second bending device 21R, 22R: roll 21S, 22S: sailor BS: back sheet F1: non-skin side F2: (wearing) skin side H: holding section M: transport motor M1: first folding motor M2: second folding motor N: worn article N1: first end N2: second end V: speed V1, V2: peripheral speed X: transport direction

Claims (10)

A folding device for folding an article,
A transport device 4 that transports the article N in the transport direction X while holding the holding portion H of the article N on the transport surface 40;
The first end N1 is brought into contact with the non-held first end N1 of the article N being conveyed, which is not held by the conveyance device 4, so that the first end N1 overlaps the holding portion H. An endless first fold belt 11 to be folded;
Changing means for changing the relative speed between the speed V of the transfer surface 40 of the transfer device 4 and the peripheral speed V1 of the first folding belt 11;
The second end N2 is opposite to the first end N1 and is in contact with the second end N2 in a non-held state that is not held by the transport device 4 so that the second end N2 overlaps the holding portion H. An endless second folding belt 12 that folds the second end N2;
The changing means includes means for changing a relative speed between the speed V of the transfer surface 40 of the transfer device 4 and a peripheral speed V2 of the second folding belt 12;
The first end portion N1 of the article N being conveyed before being folded by the first folding belt 11 and not held by the transfer device 4 in the non-holding state is bent so as to rise with respect to the holding portion H. A first bending device 21;
The non-held second end portion N2 of the article N being conveyed before being folded by the second folding belt 12 and not held by the conveyance device 4 is bent so as to rise with respect to the holding portion H. A second bending device 22;
The changing means for changing the relative speed between the speed V and the peripheral speed V1 of the first folding belt 11 is such that the tip of the first end N1 is displaced in the transport direction X with respect to the holding portion H. In the case, the peripheral speed V1 of the first folding belt 11 is set to be reduced, while the tip of the first end portion N1 is in a direction opposite to the transport direction X with respect to the holding portion H. Is set so as to increase the peripheral speed V1 of the first folding belt 11,
The changing means for changing the relative speed between the speed V and the peripheral speed V2 of the second folding belt 12 is such that the tip of the second end N2 is displaced in the transport direction X with respect to the holding portion H. In the case, the peripheral speed V2 of the second folding belt 12 is set to be reduced, while the tip of the second end N2 is in a direction opposite to the transport direction X with respect to the holding portion H. , The peripheral speed V2 of the second folding belt 12 is set to be increased. 2. The folding device according to claim 1, wherein the changing unit includes:
A transport motor M for rotationally driving the transport surface 40 of the transport device 4,
A folding device comprising: a first folding motor M1 for driving the first folding belt 11 to rotate. 3. The folding device according to claim 2, wherein the changing unit includes:
A folding device, further comprising a controller 5 for controlling at least one of a rotation speed of the transport motor M and a rotation speed of the first folding motor M1. 2. The folding device according to claim 1, wherein the changing unit includes:
A transport motor M for rotationally driving the transport surface 40 of the transport device 4,
A first folding motor M1 for rotationally driving the first folding belt 11,
A folding device comprising: a second folding motor M <b> 2 for rotating and driving the second folding belt 12. The folding device according to claim 4, wherein the changing unit includes:
A folding device further comprising a controller 5 for controlling a rotation speed of one or more of the transport motor M, the first folding motor M1 and the second folding motor M2. The folding device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The first and second bending devices 21 and 22 include first and second sailers 21S and 22S, respectively.
The second sailor 22S extends downstream from the first sailor 21S,
The folding device, wherein the first fold belt 11 is disposed upstream of the second fold belt 12. The folding device according to claim 6,
A folding device provided with a holding belt for suppressing a surface of the holding portion H opposite to a surface in contact with the transport surface 40. A method for folding the article N using the folding device according to claim 1,
Placing the article N on the transport surface 40 of the transport device 4;
A step of transporting the placed article N by the transport apparatus 4;
A first folding step in which the first fold belt 11 folds the first end portion N1 so that the first end portion N1 overlaps the holding portion H while the transport is being performed;
A first bending step in which the first bending device 21 bends the article N so that the first end N1 stands up before the first folding step while the transport is being performed;
A second folding step in which the second folding belt 12 folds the second end N2 so that the second end N2 overlaps the holding portion H while the transport is being performed;
A second bending step in which the second bending device 22 bends the article N so that the second end N2 stands up before the second folding step while the transport is being performed;
A changing step of changing the relative speed between the speed V of the transport surface 40 and the peripheral speed V1 of the first folding belt 11,
A changing step of changing the relative speed between the speed V of the transport surface 40 and the peripheral speed V2 of the second folding belt 12,
In the changing step of changing the relative speed between the speed V and the peripheral speed V1 of the first folding belt 11, the tip of the first end portion N1 is displaced in the transport direction X with respect to the holding portion H. In the case, the peripheral speed V1 of the first folding belt 11 is reduced, while the tip of the first end portion N1 is displaced from the holding portion H in a direction opposite to the transport direction X. Increasing the peripheral speed V1 of the first folding belt 11,
The changing means for changing the relative speed between the speed V and the peripheral speed V2 of the second folding belt 12 is such that the tip of the second end N2 is displaced in the transport direction X with respect to the holding portion H. In the case, the peripheral speed V2 of the second folding belt 12 is reduced, while the tip of the second end N2 is displaced from the holding portion H in a direction opposite to the transport direction X. A folding method in which the peripheral speed V2 of the second folding belt 12 is increased. 9. The folding method according to claim 8, wherein
A folding method, wherein in the second folding step, the second end N2 is folded such that the second end N2 overlaps the holding portion H and the folded first end N1 . The folding method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein
In the changing step, the transport motor M for rotating and driving the transport surface 40 of the transport device 4, the first folding motor M1 for rotating and driving the first folding belt 11, or the second folding belt 12 is used. A folding method, wherein the relative speed is changed by changing the rotation speed of one or more of the second folding motors M2 for rotational driving .