Patent ID: 8939879
Filing Date: 2015-01-27
Classification: A61F,B65H

Abstract:
1. A method for folding an article; the method comprising: transferring a leading end portion of the article from a first carrier moving at a first speed to a movable surface of a first transfer apparatus moving at the first speed, and slowing the leading end portion to a second speed such that slack is formed in the article; transferring a trailing end portion of the article to the moving surface of the first transfer apparatus at the first speed; accelerating the leading end portion of the article to a third speed that is greater than the first speed; accelerating the trailing end portion of the article to the third speed; transferring the article to a rotating folding drum moving at the third speed, the folding drum comprising at least one pocket and at least one protrusion; transferring the leading end portion of the article to a movable surface of a second transfer apparatus, and slowing the leading end portion to a fourth speed; transferring the leading end portion of the article to a movable surface of a third transfer apparatus, and accelerating the leading end portion to the third speed; transferring the leading end portion to the folding drum at the third speed such that the leading end portion and the trailing end portion are arranged in a face-to-face relationship to form a folded article.