PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a folding apparatus and a folding method, which can fold an absorbent article while maintaining a shape of an absorber that includes a high basis weight area and a low basis weight area.SOLUTION: A folding apparatus folds an absorbent article 10 which includes an absorber 40 having a first area 42 consisting of an absorbent material of a first basis weight and a second area 44 consisting of an absorbent material of a second basis weight smaller than the first basis weight and extending at least along a first direction W. The folding apparatus comprises a folding plate 260 having a tip 262 extending along one direction. In a state in which the tip 262 of the folding plate 260 is oriented along the first direction W and at least a part of the tip 262 of the folding plate 260 is positioned above the second area 44, the folding plate 260 is pressed against the absorbent article 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5【課題】高目付領域及び低目付領域を含む吸収体の形状を維持しつつ、吸収性物品を折り畳むことができる折り畳み装置及び折り畳み方法を提供する。【解決手段】折り畳み装置は、第１の目付量の吸収材からなる第１の領域42と、第１の目付量よりも小さい第２の目付量の吸収材からなり、少なくとも第１の方向Wに沿って延びる第２の領域44と、を有する吸収体40を含む吸収性物品10を折り畳む装置に関する。この折り畳み装置は、一方向に沿って延びた先端262を有する折り板260を有する。折り板260は、折り板260の先端262が第１の方向Wに沿って配向し、かつ折り板260の先端262の少なくとも一部が第２の領域44上に位置する状態で、吸収性物品10に押し当てられるように構成されている。【選択図】図５
