Apparatus for forming catamenial napkins

Claim 2

Apparatus for forming a catamenial napkin comprising, in combination, dies movable relative to each other and between which a catamenial napkin is arranged, said dies being arcuately shaped on opposed faces, means operable to move one of said dies toward and away from the other, means on at least one of said dies to compress selected areas only of said napkin, movable end die portions on one die, and means to move the end die portions toward one another to fold end portions of the napkin inwardly when the dies are moved toward each other.

Claim 3

The apparatus recited in claim 1, in which the compression means on the die comprises spaced ribs on the effective face thereof.

Claim 4

The apparatus recited in claim 2, in which the other die has means thereon to compress a transverse groove in the napkin to facilitate its being folded laterally.

Claim 5

The apparatus recited in claim 1, in which both dies have means to compress selected areas of the napkin.

Claim 6

Apparatus for forming a catamenial napkin comprising, in combination, a base, a lower die movably mounted on said base, means normally holding said die elevated above said base, means to guide said die for vertical reciprocation relative to the base, a movable upper die arranged above and normally spaced from the lower die to admit a napkin therebetween, means operable to move said upper die toward and away from the lower die and to cause both dies to move in the direction of the base when the dies are brought together with the napkin between them, means on the upper die to generate longitudinal grooves in one face of the napkin when the dies are brought together under pressure, wing dies movably mounted at the ends of the lower die and over which end portions of the napkin extend, and means to move said wing dies upwardly relative to the lower die.

Claim 7

Apparatus for forming a catamenial napkin comprising, in combination, a base, a lower die movably mounted on said base, means normally holding said die elevated above said base, means to guide said die for vertical reciprocation relative to the base, a movable upper die arranged above and normally spaced from the lower die to admit a napkin therebetween, means operable to move said upper die toward and away from the lower die and to cause both dies to move in the direction of the base when the dies are brought together with the napkin between them, means on the upper die to generate longitudinal grooves in one face of the napkin when the dies are brought together under pressure, wing dies movably mounted at the ends of the lower die and over which end portions of the napkin extend, and means to move said wing dies upwardly relative to the lower die.

Claim 8

The apparatus recited in claim 5, in which the upper die carries means to cooperate with the wing dies to generate at least one lateral crease in each end portion of the napkin.

Claim 9

The apparatus recited in claim 5, in which means is provided to rock the wing dies in an upward direction when the lower die is moved toward the base.

Claim 10

The apparatus recited in claim 5, in which the means to generate the longitudinal grooves comprises ribs on the effective face of the upper die.

Claim 11

The apparatus recited in claim 5, in which the opposed faces of the dies are arcuately shaped in a longitudinal direction.

Claim 12

The apparatus recited in claim 5, in which means is provided on the lower die to generate a longitudinal groove in the napkin when the dies are brought together under pressure.

Claim 13

The apparatus recited in claim 5, in which heater elements are contained in each die.

Claim 14

The apparatus recited in claim 5, which includes a plurality of upper and lower dies and a source of pressurized fluid and valve controlled piston-cylinder assemblies provided to periodically lower selected of the upper dies.

Claim 15

The apparatus recited in claim 5, in which upper and lower endless conveyors are provided and a series of upper dies are carried by the upper conveyor and a series of lower dies are carried by the lower conveyor.

Claim 16

The apparatus recited in claim 13, in which means is provided to supply pressurized fluid to the upper dies to actuate the same.

Claim 17

The apparatus recited in claim 5, in which upper and lower disc assemblies are provided, and a plurality of upper and lower dies are mounted respectively on the upper and lower disc assemblies.

Claim 18

The apparatus recited in claim 15, in which common means is provided to supply pressurized fluid to the upper dies to actuate same.

Claim 19

The apparatus recited in claim 15, in which means is provided to index rotation of the disc assemblies.