Patent ID: 8998788
Filing Date: 2015-04-07
Classification: A61F,B31F,B65H

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for folding articles advancing in a machine direction wherein each article has a leading end and a trailing end, the apparatus comprising: a rotatable roll comprising a roll surface and an article disposed thereon, the roll surface including at least one protrusion and at least one pocket, wherein at least a portion of the leading end of the article is disposed on a protrusion, and wherein the roll is configured to apply vacuum at least a portion of the roll surface which is sufficient to hold at least a portion of the article to the surface of the roll; a peel assembly including one or more movable heads configured to rotate about an axis and receive at least a portion of the leading end of the article from the rotating roll, the one or more movable heads each being driven by a variable speed motor such that the movable heads each travel at a first speed when receiving the leading end of the article and then slow down to a second slower speed; and a folding assembly including a movable surface for engaging the leading end of the article and applying a peel force thereto such that at least a portion of the leading end of the article is transferred from the peel assembly to the movable surface of the folding assembly, the movable surface of the folding assembly being driven by a variable speed motor such that the movable surface receives the leading end of the article from the peel assembly and then speeds up to the first speed while carrying the leading end of the article back to the rotating roll, the folding assembly being configured to transfer the leading end back to the rotating roll such that the leading end and the trailing end are arranged in a face-to-face relationship to form a folded article.