IP Library › Granted Patent US 12680225
Granted Patent B2
US 12680225 · App. 18/705,986 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Folding assistance device and folding apparatus including folding assistance device

Inventors: Yusuke Maeshima (Saitama, JP); Haruo Kojima (Saitama, JP)
Assignee: TOTOFOLDER MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
D06F89/023
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12680225
App. No.
18/705,986
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

There are provided a folding assistance device capable of reliably folding a fabric formed of a relatively rigid nonwoven fabric, as compared with a fabric formed of cotton or synthetic fiber, and a folding apparatus including the folding assistance device. A folding assistance device ( 10 ) includes a pressing portion ( 20 ) that is attached to a folding apparatus ( 200 ) including a gauge ( 211 ) defining a folding position for folding a fabric (W) and presses the gauge to fold the fabric at the folding position with the fabric interposed therebetween, and a driving portion ( 30 ) that drives the pressing portion to come into contact with the gauge.

Claims (24)

1 . A folding assistance device comprising:

a pressing portion that is attached to a folding apparatus including a folding portion and a gauge that defines a folding position for folding a fabric and presses the fabric towards the gauge to fold the fabric at the folding position with the fabric interposed therebetween, wherein in a case when the fabric is folded at the folding position, the folding portion presses an upper edge of the folded fabric and the pressing portion presses a side edge of the folded fabric; and

a driving portion that drives the pressing portion to come into contact with the gauge.

2 . A folding assistance device for folding a fabric comprising:

a pressing portion that is attached to a folding apparatus including a folding portion, a gauge that defines a folding position for folding a fabric, and a conveyor that transports the fabric and presses the fabric towards the gauge to fold the fabric at the folding position with the fabric interposed therebetween, wherein in a case when the fabric is folded at the folding position, the folding portion presses an upper edge of the folded fabric and the pressing portion presses a side edge of the folded fabric; and

a driving portion that drives the pressing portion to come into contact with the gauge,

wherein the fabric is transported by the conveyor while being pressed against a pair of the gauges by the pressing portion.

3 . The folding assistance device according to claim 1 , wherein the driving portion is configured to adjust a pressing force for pressing the gauge with the fabric interposed therebetween.

4 . The folding assistance device according to claim 1 , wherein the driving portion rotates the pressing portion in plan view to press the gauge with the fabric interposed therebetween.

5 . The folding assistance device according to claim 4 , wherein the driving portion is a rotary actuator.

6 . The folding assistance device according to claim 1 , wherein the driving portion makes the pressing portion go straight to press the gauge with the fabric interposed therebetween.

7 . The folding assistance device according to claim 6 , wherein the driving portion is an air cylinder or an electric cylinder.

8 . A folding apparatus comprising: the folding assistance device according to claim 1 .

9 . The folding assistance device according to claim 2 , wherein the driving portion is configured to adjust a pressing force for pressing the gauge with the fabric interposed therebetween.

10 . The folding assistance device according to claim 2 , wherein the driving portion rotates the pressing portion in plan view to press the gauge with the fabric interposed therebetween.

11 . The folding assistance device according to claim 3 , wherein the driving portion rotates the pressing portion in plan view to press the gauge with the fabric interposed therebetween.

12 . The folding assistance device according to claim 2 , wherein the driving portion makes the pressing portion go straight to press the gauge with the fabric interposed therebetween.

13 . The folding assistance device according to claim 3 , wherein the driving portion makes the pressing portion go straight to press the gauge with the fabric interposed therebetween.

14 . A folding apparatus comprising: the folding assistance device according to claim 2 .

15 . A folding apparatus comprising: the folding assistance device according to claim 3 .

16 . A folding apparatus comprising: the folding assistance device according to claim 4 .

17 . A folding apparatus comprising: the folding assistance device according to claim 5 .

18 . A folding apparatus comprising: the folding assistance device according to claim 6 .

19 . A folding apparatus comprising: the folding assistance device according to claim 7 .