Machine for making diapers

Claim 3

The method defined in claim 1 wherein said surface before being collapsed is substantially rectangular in shape.

Claim 4

The method defined in claim 2 wherein said hinge lines interconnect portions which when said surface is collapsed are brought substantially together in a tight W-shaped configuration.

Claim 5

The method defined in claim 3 wherein said hinge lines are symmetrically disposed on either side of the longitudinal center line of the surface and include lines on each side of said longitudinal center line which, together with said diagonal hinge lines and a line forming a substantial portion of the longitudinal edge of the surface as a common base, form a pair of nested isoceles triangles whose apices are located on said central hinge line, one at the center thereof and the other at a point between the center and the longitudinal edge on that side of the center line.

Claim 6

The method defined in claim 1 wherein said end sections are brought together to collapse said surface with the diaper blank on the outside thereof.

Claim 7

The method defined in claim 5 wherein said folded diaper is withdrawn by a pair of counter-rotating rolls forming a nip and said diaper is fed into said nip as the collapsing of said surface is completed.

Claim 8

The method defined in claim 6 wherein each of said rolls is perforated around substantially half of its circumference and said rolls are timed so that the perforated portion of each roll registers with the unperforated portion of the other roll and a vacuum is drawn through said rolls so that successive diapers fed through said nip are discharged in opposite directions.

Claim 9

The method defined in claim 7 wherein said rolls are arranged to discharge and position the diapers in alternately interleaved stacks.

Claim 10

Apparatus for folding disposable diaper blanks into substantially infant-conforming configuration comprising in combination, a substantially rectangular folding surface having a plurality of perforated sections hinged together along lines dividing said surface into a plurality of triangular areas symmetrically disposed with respect to both the longitudinal and transverse center lines of said surface; one of said hinge lines lying on said transverse center line and; said other hinge lines being disposed symmetrically on either side of said longitudinal center line and including on each side thereof two pairs of lines which, together with a line forming a substantial portion of the longitudinal edge of the surface as a common base, form a pair of nested isosceles triangles whose apices are located on said transverse hinge line, one at the center thereof and the other at a point between the center and the longitudinal edge on that side of the center; and, means for collapsing said surface along said hinge lines to fold a diaper placed on said surface into a W-shaped cross sectional configuration as viewed in the plane containing said transverse hinge line.

Claim 11

Apparatus for folding disposable diaper blanks into substantially infant-conforming configuration comprising in combination, a substantially rectangular folding surface having a plurality of perforated sections hinged together along lines dividing said surface into a plurality of triangular areas symmetrically disposed with respect to both the longitudinal and transverse center lines of said surface; one of said hinge lines lying on said transverse center line and; said other hinge lines being disposed symmetrically on either side of said longitudinal center line and including on each side thereof two pairs of lines which, together with a line forming a substantial portion of the longitudinal edge of the surface as a common base, form a pair of nested isosceles triangles whose apices are located on said transverse hinge line, one at the center thereof and the other at a point between the center and the longitudinal edge on that side of the center; and, means for collapsing said surface along said hinge lines to fold a diaper placed on said surface into a W-shaped cross sectional configuration as viewed in the plane containing said transverse hinge line.

Claim 12

Apparatus as defined in claim 9 including means for drawing a vacuum from the other side of the surface to hold the diaper blank thereon.

Claim 13

Apparatus for folding disposable diaper blanks into substantially infant-conforming configuration comprising, in combination: a substantially flat perforated surface, said flat surface formed by a plurality of sections hingedly connected together so that all sections can be simultaneously collapsed together, said sections formed by two diagonal hinge lines extending from opposite sides of said flat surface and intersecting at the center of saiD flat surface to form four sections comprising a pair of opposite end sections and a pair of opposed side sections, a central hinge line bisecting said side sections and intersecting said diagonal hinge lines at said center of said flat surface; means for drawing a vacuum through said perforated surface; and means for simultaneously collapsing said surface along said hinge lines to fold the diaper blank by bringing said end sections of the surface together with said side sections interfolded therebetween.

Claim 14

Apparatus for folding disposable diaper blanks into substantially infant-conforming configuration comprising, in combination: a substantially flat perforated surface, said flat surface formed by a plurality of sections hingedly connected together so that all sections can be simultaneously collapsed together, said sections formed by two diagonal hinge lines extending from opposite sides of said flat surface and intersecting at the center of saiD flat surface to form four sections comprising a pair of opposite end sections and a pair of opposed side sections, a central hinge line bisecting said side sections and intersecting said diagonal hinge lines at said center of said flat surface; means for drawing a vacuum through said perforated surface; and means for simultaneously collapsing said surface along said hinge lines to fold the diaper blank by bringing said end sections of the surface together with said side sections interfolded therebetween.

Claim 15

Apparatus as defined in claim 11 including a pair of counter-rotating discharge rolls forming a nip into which the diaper blank is fed as the collapsing of said surface is completed.

Claim 16

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein each of said rolls is perforated around substantially half of its circumference and said rolls are timed so that the perforated portion of each roll registers with the unperforated portion of the other roll and a vacuum is drawn through said rolls so that successive diapers fed through said nip are discharged in opposite directions.

Claim 17

Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein each of said rolls includes a radially directed internal vane adapted to break the vacuum and release the diaper as the perforated peripheral portion of the roll passes by.

Claim 18

Apparatus as defined in claim 13 including a pair of curved stacking guides disposed in straddling relation to the rolls to intercept the leading edge of the successive diapers as they are alternately discharged by said rolls.

Claim 19

Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said rolls are arranged to discharge and position the diapers in alternately interleaved stacks.