Patent ID: 11931231
Assignee: ZUIKO CORPORATION
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A  B | IPC A  B

Claim 0:
1. A folding device comprising a plurality of folding units arranged in a circumferential direction of a drum that rotates about an axis, each of the folding units including:
a pad for holding a center portion of a workpiece on a pad surface;
a retaining mechanism configured to hold the center portion of the workpiece onto the pad;
a first folding member for folding a first part of the workpiece over the center portion, wherein the first holding member is located on a first side of the pad and has a folding surface;
a first pivot point having a pivot shaft located on the first side of the pad and arranged parallel to the pad surface, wherein:
the first folding member is rotatably coupled to the first pivot point, such that the first folding member is configured to rotate about the first pivot point and exert a force onto the first part of the workpiece with the folding surface of the first folding member to fold the first part over the center portion; and
during the rotation of the first folding member about the first pivot point, the pivot shaft of the first pivot point moves in a direction perpendicular to the pad surface, wherein the first pivot point moves beyond a plane of the pad surface, allowing the folding surface of the first folding member to exert the force onto the first part of the workpiece during the folding of the first part over the center portion;

a second folding member for folding a second part of the workpiece different from the first part over the center portion, wherein the second folding member is located on a second side of the pad opposite the first side of the pad and has a folding surface; and
a second pivot point having a pivot shaft located on the second side of the pad and arranged parallel to the pad surface, wherein:
the second folding member is rotatably coupled to the second pivot point, such that the second folding member is configured to rotate about the second pivot point and exert a force onto the second part of the workpiece with the folding surface of the second folding member to fold the second part over the center portion; and
during the rotation of the second folding member about the second pivot point, the pivot shaft of the second pivot point moves in a direction perpendicular to the pad surface, wherein the second pivot point moves beyond the plane of the pad surface, allowing the folding surface of the second folding member to exert the force onto the second part of the workpiece during the folding of the second part over the center portion.