PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a folding device for a disposable wearing article hardly causing a folding failure.SOLUTION: A folding device 10 includes: a first transport surface 1f for transporting an article in a first direction Y a pair of second and third transport surfaces 2f, 3f opposite to each other and spaced from each other through a clearance gap Δ, which extend in a second direction Z intersecting the first transport surface 1f for transporting an article W in the state of folding the article W to be U-shaped and a folding member 11 for pushing the article W into the clearance gap Δ to generate the folded state of the article W when the article W transported on the first transport surface 1f stretches over the clearance gap Δ between the second transport surface 2f and the third transport surface 3f. The folding member 11 enters the clearance gap Δ and retreats from the clearance gap Δ to perform the motion along the locus of an ellipse having a major axis in the second direction Z or a flat oval approximate to the ellipse.COPYRIGHT: (C)2014,JPO&INPIT【課題】折り不良の生じにくい使い捨て着用物品の折り装置を提供することである。【解決手段】物品を第1方向Yに搬送するための第1搬送面1fと、第1搬送面1fに交差する第2方向Zに延び物品WがU字状に折り曲げられた状態で物品Wを搬送するための一対の互いに対面し、かつ、互いに隙間Δを介して離間した第2および第3搬送面2f、3fと、第1搬送面1fで搬送されている物品Wが第2搬送面2fと第3搬送面3fのと間の隙間Δに跨った際に、物品Wを隙間Δに向かって押し込むことで、物品Wが折り曲げられた状態を生成する折り部材11とを備えた折り装置10において、折り部材11が隙間Δに侵入し、かつ、隙間Δから退避し、第2方向Zに長軸を持つ楕円又は楕円に近似した長円形の軌跡に沿った運動を行うことを特徴とする折り装置。【選択図】図3
