Patent ID: 11872114
Assignee: CURT G. JOA, INC.
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC A  B | IPC A  B

Claim 20:
21. A method of assembling a folding system, the method comprising:
providing a first folding station;
providing a second folding station downstream from the first folding station;
providing a main conveyor configured to transport absorbent sanitary products at a constant speed in a machine direction across each of the first and second folding stations;
providing a sloping compression conveyor between the first folding station and the second folding station, the compression conveyor positioned adjacent and beneath the main conveyor, and sloping in a downward direction from the first folding station toward the second folding station;
maintaining the absorbent sanitary products in a pad-down orientation on the main conveyor via a vacuum, and conveying the absorbent sanitary products in a machine direction;
controlling the first folding station to perform a first folding of the absorbent sanitary product at a first folding location between a leading edge and a midsection of the absorbent sanitary product;
the compression conveyor configured to receive the folded absorbent sanitary product from the first folding station and maintain absorbent sanitary product in a folded state against the main conveyor after the first folding, and provide the compressed folded absorbent sanitary product to the second folding station;
controlling the second folding station to perform a second folding of the absorbent sanitary product at a second folding location between a trailing edge and a midsection of the absorbent sanitary product;
wherein, during the first folding or second folding of the absorbent sanitary product, the method further comprises:
providing a first drum that rotates in the machine direction to engage an absorbent sanitary product and cause the leading edge of the absorbent sanitary product to rotate away from the main conveyor;
providing a second drum positioned adjacent the first drum and downstream in the machine direction that rotates in the machine direction to engage the absorbent sanitary product and cause the absorbent sanitary product to rotate back toward the main conveyor; and
providing one or more guide transporters that each comprises a plurality of folding fingers, with each of the one or more guide transporters configured to translate a folding finger of the plurality of folding fingers in the machine direction at a same speed as the main conveyor and position the folding finger to contact the absorbent sanitary product, so as to provide for folding of the absorbent sanitary product over the folding finger as the second drum causes the absorbent sanitary product to rotate back toward the main conveyor.