The Procter Gamble Company

Matthew Alexander Gittings

Michael Devin Long

Tanner Laurie Williams

Jeromy Thomas Raycheck

Kaoru Ishihara

Theodore Cory Fites

Ling Tong

Jason Edward Naylor

Christopher Erin Kiger

Jeffry Rosiak

Tina Brown

Kazuya Ogawa

Wei Zhou

Todd M Fegelman

Gord E Graham

Justin Chance Leazer

Tianzhuo Zhu

Kyzuya Ogawa

Zhiqiang Huang

A method and apparatus to transfer and fold a partially folded absorbent article. The transfer apparatus includes a frame that is rotatable about a first axis of rotation and a transfer member that is rotatable about a second axis of rotation. The transfer member includes a receiving surface. While advancing absorbent article, the transfer member rotates the absorbent article about the second axis of rotation. The partially folded absorbent article is transferred to a folding apparatus. The folding apparatus advances the partially folded absorbent article such that the end regions of the belt of the partially folded absorbent article are directed away from the folding apparatus. The end regions are engaged by a folding assembly. The folding assembly guides and/or pushes the end regions toward the central region of the belt and/or the chassis to form a folded absorbent article.

Method and apparatus for advancing and folding an absorbent article

Diaper with bond pattern

A converting apparatus operates to control and transfer a folded absorbent article from a first carrier apparatus to a second carrier apparatus. The converting apparatus includes a transfer apparatus and a fluid supply member located adjacent to the transfer apparatus. The transfer apparatus includes a frame that is rotatable about a first axis of rotation and a transfer member that is rotatable about a second axis of rotation. The transfer member defines a receiving surface. The receiving surface includes a plurality of apertures that may operate in cooperation with the fluid supply member to remove any waist region folds in the absorbent article such that a substantially flat absorbent article may be transferred from the transfer apparatus to the second carrier apparatus.

Method and apparatus for controlling and advancing an absorbent article

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Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Matthew Alexander Gittings