초록 ▼

A method of folding a pant-like disposable absorbent garment includes providing a garment defining first and second waist side regions, a waist center region positioned therebetween, and a crotch region longitudinally below the waist center region. In particular embodiments, the method further inclu

A method of folding a pant-like disposable absorbent garment includes providing a garment defining first and second waist side regions, a waist center region positioned therebetween, and a crotch region longitudinally below the waist center region. In particular embodiments, the method further includes folding the garment along a transversely extending fold line so as to bring the crotch region into superposed relation with the waist center region; providing a trough having a floor and first and second side walls; placing the waist center region in the trough; and, while the garment is in the trough, folding the garment along longitudinally extending first and second fold lines so as to position the first and second waist side regions, respectively, over the waist center region. The first and second fold lines are adjacent the first and second side walls, respectively.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of folding a pant-like disposable absorbent garment, the method comprising: providing said garment, said garment having a waist opening and two leg openings, said garment defining a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, said garment defining a first waist side region adjacen

1. A method of folding a pant-like disposable absorbent garment, the method comprising: providing said garment, said garment having a waist opening and two leg openings, said garment defining a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, said garment defining a first waist side region adjacent a first side edge, a second waist side region adjacent a second side edge, a waist center region positioned transversely between the first waist side region and the second waist side region, and a crotch region longitudinally below said waist center region, the garment further including an absorbent core;folding the garment along a transversely extending fold line so as to bring the crotch region into superposed relation with the waist center region;providing a trough, the trough comprising a floor, a first side wall, and a second side wall, the trough defining a trough width extending from the first side wall to the second side wall;pressing the waist center region into the trough; andfolding the garment along a longitudinally extending first fold line so as to position the first waist side region over the waist center region, the first fold line being adjacent the first side wall, and folding the garment along a longitudinally extending second fold line so as to position the second waist side region over the waist center region, the second fold line being adjacent the second side wall, wherein both such folding steps occur while the waist center region is in the trough. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein folding the garment along the transversely extending fold line occurs before folding the garment along the first and second fold lines. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein folding the garment along the transversely extending fold line occurs after folding the garment along the first and second fold lines. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the absorbent core defines a longitudinally extending first core side edge and a longitudinally extending second core side edge, the core defining a maximum core width, wherein the maximum core width exceeds the trough width, such that the first fold line and the second fold line each extend into the absorbent core. 5. A method of folding a pant-like disposable absorbent garment, the method defining a machine direction and a cross-machine direction, the method comprising: providing said garment, said garment having a waist opening and two leg openings, said garment defining a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, said garment defining a first waist side region adjacent a first side edge, a second waist side region adjacent a second side edge, a waist center region positioned transversely between the first waist side region and the second waist side region, and a crotch region longitudinally below said waist center region, the garment further including an absorbent core;folding the garment along a transversely extending fold line so as to bring the crotch region into superposed relation with the waist center region;transporting said garment in the machine direction, such that the longitudinal direction of the garment is in parallel alignment with the machine direction during said transporting;providing a trough that extends along the machine direction, the trough comprising a floor, a first side wall, and a second side wall, the trough defining a trough width extending along the floor from the first side wall to the second side wall, the trough width extending in a direction parallel to the cross-machine direction;pressing the waist center region into the trough; andfolding the garment along a longitudinally extending first fold line so as to position the first waist side region over the waist center region, the first fold line being adjacent the first side wall, and folding the garment along a longitudinally extending second fold line so as to position the second waist side region over the waist center region, the second fold line being adjacent the second side wall, wherein both such folding steps occur while the waist center region is in the trough. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein folding the garment along the transversely extending fold line occurs before folding the garment along the first and second fold lines. 7. The method of claim 5, wherein folding the garment along the transversely extending fold line occurs after folding the garment along the first and second fold lines. 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the absorbent core defines a longitudinally extending first core side edge and a longitudinally extending second core side edge, the core defining a maximum core width, wherein the maximum core width exceeds the trough width, such that the first fold line and the second fold line each extend into the absorbent core. 9. The method of claim 5, wherein the floor of the trough moves in the machine direction. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the floor of the trough extends in a flat plane. 11. The method of claim 9, wherein folding the garment along the first and second fold lines is accomplished via a pair of rotary tucking blade modules. 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first side wall comprises a first side conveyor, and wherein the second side wall comprises a second side conveyer, and wherein the floor comprises a floor conveyor, wherein the first side conveyor, the second side conveyor, and the floor conveyor advance together in the machine direction. 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the both the first and second side walls are stationary, and wherein both the first and second side walls comprise vacuum holes through which vacuum forces are imparted, and wherein the vacuum forces attract the garment to the first and second side walls. 14. The method of claim 5, wherein placing the waist center region in the trough comprises pressing the waist center region against the floor of the trough using a pressing mechanism, such that the garment is compressedly sandwiched between the floor and the pressing mechanism. 15. The method of claim 5, the garment defining a crotch end and a waist end, wherein after folding the garment along the transversely extending fold line so as to bring the crotch region into superposed relation with the waist center region, the waist end and the crotch end are different distances from the transversely extending fold line.