Patent ID: 6589150
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: A61F,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of folding a web of flap material to overlay the main body of an absorbent article in a continuous manufacturing operation for making said absorbent articles, said method comprising the steps of:transporting successive sanitary napkins along a conveyor means, each napkin having a web of laterally extending flap material; folding said flap material onto said main body of said sanitary napkin; providing an indexing means having a pair of spaced apart finger timing belts, each having a lug affixed thereto, and a finger means intermediate said lugs, said finger means having two ends, each end being mounted onto a respective lug, said finger timing belt imparting a varying velocity to said finger means and establishing repeatable linear and non-linear relationships between the velocities of said finger means and said conveyor means; folding said sanitary napkin such that upon completion of the folding, a transverse end portion of said sanitary napkin overlies said web of flap material; contacting said finger means with the sanitary napkin to thereby hold said web of flap material onto said main body of said sanitary napkin between said steps of folding the flap material and folding the sanitary napkin; and, removing said finger means from contact with said sanitary napkin upon completion of said step of folding of said sanitary napkin.