EP2582347A1

EP2582347A1 - Method for wrapping a body in fiber material

Info

Publication number: EP2582347A1
Application number: EP11724415.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rudolf Kaiser
Original assignee: Ruggli Projects AG
Current assignee: Ruggli Projects AG
Priority date: 2010-06-16
Filing date: 2011-06-06
Publication date: 2013-04-24
Also published as: CN103037828A; AU2011267215A1; MX2012014545A; JP2013533764A; CA2801605A1; EP2397117A1; US20130067707A1; WO2011157583A1; BR112012031911A2; KR20130093074A

Abstract

The invention solves the problem of wrapping a body, such as a vibration generator present in a capsule, in a fiber material in order to form a tampon (2), for example. The solution is that the fiber material is wound about the body.

Description

Method of wrapping a body with fibrous material

The invention relates to a method for wrapping a body with fiber material.

From the documents US5782779, US6183428 and US2007 / 0260210 are tampon assemblies with a tampon body

embedded vibrating element known. Such

Tampon arrangements are used against menstrual problems. As far as the embedding of the vibrating element in the tampon body is concerned, only the document

US2007 / 0260210 that the vibrating element is contained in a capsule, on the outside thereof

Retaining elements are arranged to prevent the capsule is torn out of the tampon body in particular during retraction of the assembly from the vagina. The tampon body is in this document as a hollow body

described in which the capsule is obviously inserted. On the one hand, the production of a hollow body is made

Fiber material not easy, on the other hand, the subsequent joining with the capsule means one

additional effort.

Based on this prior art, the invention is based on the object to propose a method which does not have the disadvantages mentioned and in particular simple, fast and inexpensive to carry out.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the fiber material is wound around the body. This inventive solution has the advantage that by the winding of the fiber material around the body operations for the separate production of a hollow body

Fiber material omitted.

According to one embodiment of the inventive method, the fiber material is formed as a sheet. A sheet is well suited for forming a wrapper. Preferably, this is the fiber material formed as a band. A band is particularly well suited to the formation of an enclosure, which should eventually form an absorbent body. According to another embodiment, the body is a preferably elongated capsule with a content. As content diagnostic or therapeutic facilities including facilities for the delivery of drugs are conceivable. According to a further embodiment, it is provided that the content of the capsule comprises an energy consumer.

Energy consumers can be, for example, electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically operated devices. According to another embodiment, the

Energy consumers a vibration generator. Such an arrangement may, for example, as mentioned above, be used to influence the menstruation. Another embodiment provides that the body is connected to a flexible traction means, which preferably contains at least one conductor for energy. The traction means may be for retracting the assembly from a body opening serve and the conductor to supply a consumer with energy.

According to another embodiment, the body is held in a holding tool and the holding tool with the body held therein and the fiber material are rotated relative to each other to form a coil. In this way, several layers of the fiber material are built around the body relatively easily and quickly.

According to a further embodiment, the holding tool is fork-shaped and has at least two fork legs. The body can be held between these two thighs.

In another embodiment, the fiber material is placed between the body and at least one of the fork legs prior to rotation. As a result, the fiber material is held relative to the body and can be wound up.

Another embodiment provides that the fiber material is brought before rotating between the body and at least two of the fork legs. Thus, the body is already wrapped before rotating on a portion of its circumference of fiber material.

According to a further embodiment, the fiber material is placed in a loop around the body and the flexible traction means is parallel to the body via the loop

guided. Due to the resulting deflection of the flexible traction means results in an excellent exit safety of the traction device from the body and later also the body of the winding. According to a further embodiment, the body is inserted into the holding tool, the fiber material is next to the holding tool axially adjacent to the body in the region of

Pulling means placed and the body is turned about an axis perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, such that the body pulls the fiber material to form the loop in the holding tool. Thus, the aforementioned deflection of the traction means is achieved in a simple manner.

According to another embodiment, the resulting winding is axially stripped from the holding tool and brought into a mold after rotating. By this mold, the winding is given the final shape, for example the shape of a tampon. Preferably, this has the

Mold has an inner diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the coil. This will do that

Fiber material compressed in the mold. After an additional guide from the winding shape with the mold is given a rounded tip. This tip facilitates the insertion of the assembly, for example in a Körperöff ung. Finally, according to another embodiment

provided that the mold is heated. This ensures in particular that the winding deformed

Condition is maintained. Embodiments of the method according to the invention will now be explained using the example of the production of a tampon arrangement with reference to the appended drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preassembled arrangement with a capsule and a

Holding tool in the starting position before the

Joining with fiber material,

Figure 2 shows the arrangement in the holding tool and a about it

laid sliver,

FIG. 3 shows a turning process of the capsule,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the arrangement and the

Holding tool before winding,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the arrangement and of the

Holding tool after winding,

FIG. 6 shows the arrangement with further tools,

FIG. 7 shows a finished tampon arrangement,

FIG. 8 shows an alternative arrangement of the components before

Wrap,

Figure 9 starting from Figure 8 is a front view of

Components after winding,

10 shows a further alternative arrangement of the components before winding, FIGS. 11 and 12 show a further alternative arrangement of FIGS

Components before winding and

Figure 13 starting from the figures 11 and 12 a

Front view of the components after winding. Exemplary embodiments of the method according to the invention are described below with reference to the production of a

Tampon assembly 1 (see Figure 7) with a

Vibration generator described. However, the invention is not limited to the production of such tampon assemblies. Rather, the invention is applicable to the production of any body that is enveloped with fiber material. Further, the body could, for example, a

Include heating element or sensors or be formed as a capsule with a drug.

FIG. 1 shows a preassembled arrangement 15 consisting of a capsule 6 containing a vibration generator, a cable 4 serving as a power line and as a retraction means, and a power supply and control unit 5. It is the object of the method described below to use a tampon 2 (FIG ), which at least partially surrounds the capsule 6. 7 with a fork-shaped holding tool is designated with two fork legs, which is intended to receive the capsule 6 and hold. The capsule 6 is preferably, starting from the position shown in Figure 1 sideways between the fork legs of the

Holding tool 7 pushed.

Figure 2 shows the holding tool 7 with inserted capsule 6. A sliver 8 is placed at the cable end of the capsule in a loop around the holding tool 7 around, such that the capsule 6 is not covered by the sliver. A nonwoven tape 9 is connected to the sliver 8 and provided at the end of the process to cover the surface of the finished tampon at least partially. FIG. 3 shows how the capsule in the holding tool 7 is turned. In this case, two intermediate positions of the capsule 6 are shown with dashed lines. If the capsule is rotated further from the position shown in FIG. 3 in the counterclockwise direction, it comes with the reference numeral 14

designated area with the outer surface of the loop in contact and pulls the further moving the sliver 8 between the fork legs of the holding tool 7. After the turning operation is completed, the capsule is compared to Figure 2 rotated 180 degrees coaxially in the holding tool 7 and the

Sliver 8 is clamped to form a loop between the capsule 6 and the two fork legs of the holding tool 7, while the cable 4 runs outside of this loop parallel to the capsule 6. Through this

Process step, two major advantages. First, the cable 4 is deflected at the end of the capsule 6, whereby the security against the tearing of the cable 4 from the capsule 6 is increased. Second, the cable 4 extends from the end of the capsule around the longitudinal edge of the sliver 8, which ultimately increases the safety against the tearing of the capsule 6 out of the tampon.

If, at the end of the method step according to FIG. 3, the capsule 6 is seated coaxially in the holding tool 7, it is rotated counterclockwise with respect to the figure, together with the cable 4 and the power supply and control unit 5. Meanwhile, the sliver 8 is guided so that it is wound around the holding tool 7 and the capsule 6 held therein. Figure 4 shows a plan view of the arrangement 1 and the holding tool 7, starting from the illustration in Figure 3, after completion

Turning process. The capsule 6 is looped around by the sliver 8 and lies between the legs of the holding tool 7. By turning the holding tool 7 about its longitudinal axis now the two free ends of the sliver 8 outside wrapped around the two fork legs around. The figure also shows that the cable 4 outside over the first layer of

Sliver 8 is guided and is wrapped in the sequence of further layers of the sliver 8. It is also possible to wrap the sliver 8 by suitable means around the holding tool 7 with the capsule 6 held therein while the holding tool 7 is stationary. Also one

combined, counter-rotating rotation of the

Holding tool 7 and the sliver 8 is possible in principle.

FIG. 5 shows the winding 10 formed by the rotational movement described and the holding tool 7. Here too, it can be seen that the cable 4 is directed around it from the end of the capsule 6 such that the sliver 8 is in this area between the capsule 6 and the cable 4

runs "Figure 6 shows the winding 10 before the next

Method step, which comprises stripping the roll 10 from the holding tool 7 and compacting and forming the roll into a tampon 2 (FIG. 7). For stripping the roll 10, a stripping tool 11 is provided which is longitudinal

slidably seated on the holding tool 7 and a

Longitudinal slot 16, so that later the cable 4 can be removed. By a relative longitudinal movement of the

Abstreifwerkzeugs 11 relative to the holding tool 7, the winding 10 is stripped from the holding tool 7 and in a

Mold 12 is pushed, which has an opening with a

Inner diameter which is smaller than that

Outer diameter of the roll 10 and substantially the diameter of the finished tampon 2 (see Figure 7)

equivalent. Due to said difference in diameter of the Winding radially compressed. The end of the opening in the

Forming tool 12 is rounded and preferably has the shape of a hemisphere. By the stripping tool 11, the winding 10 is also compressed axially, so that the finished tampon at its insertion end receives a rounded head 3 (Figure 7). The mold 12 is heated, for example to 100 ° C and the compressed roll 10 remains for a certain time, for example 20 seconds in the mold 12. This results in the finished tampon after removal from the mold 12 remains dimensionally stable. Also, the

Heat for partially welding the nonwoven tape 9 serve, which preferably consists of a fusible material for this purpose. To remove the tampon 2 is pushed by means of an ejector 13 from the mold 12.

Figure 7 shows the finished tampon assembly 1 with the tampon 2, the rounded head 3, the cable 4 and the

Power supply and control unit 5. Figures 8 and 9 show that the capsule 6 also from

Sliver 8 can be wrapped without being previously turned in the holding tool 7. For this purpose, the capsule 6 and the holding tool 7 are next to each other with parallel longitudinal axes with the interposition of the sliver 8

arranged. Then the capsule 6 and / or the

Holding tool 7 moved in parallel, so that

Finally, the capsule 6 as shown in Figure 8 between the legs of the holding tool 7 is located with a position of the sliver 8 is between her and each leg of the holding tool 7. FIG. 9 shows a

Top view of the capsule 6 and the holding tool. 7

starting from the illustration in Figure 8, after

completed winding process. Another possibility for bringing the capsule 6, the holding tool 7 and the sliver 8 into a starting position for winding is shown in FIG. This is

Preferably, first the sliver 8 as shown between the legs of the holding tool 7 and brought

Subsequently, the capsule 6 is sideways in the

Retaining tool 7 inserted, such that they on the lower side in the figure directly with a leg of the

Holding tool 7 is in contact and on the upper side in the figure between the capsule 6 and the upper leg of the holding tool 7 is a position of the sliver 8.

Finally, Figures 11 to 13 show yet another possibility, the capsule 6, the holding tool 7 and the

Sliver 8 to bring in a starting position for the winding. In contrast to the method described above, the holding tool 7 in this case has three fork legs. This makes it possible to capsule 6 and the sliver in any order between the fork legs

bring. For example, as shown in Figure 11, the sliver 8 between the legs shown on the left in this figure and the other two legs of the holding tool 7 are inserted and the capsule 6 is inserted between the other two legs, as can be seen in Figure 12. FIG. 13 shows, in an end view, the course of the sliver 8 with respect to the capsule 6 and FIG

Holding tool 7 after winding. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

tampon arrangement

tampon

head

electric wire

Power supply and control unit

vibration drive

holding tool

sliver

reel

stripping tool

mold

ejector

outside

pre-assembled arrangement

longitudinal slot

Claims

claims

1. A method for wrapping a body (6) with

Fiber material, characterized in that fiber material (8) is wound around the body (6).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the fiber material is formed as a sheet (8).

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the fiber material is formed as a band (8).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (6) a

preferably elongated capsule with a content.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the content of the capsule (6) comprises an energy consumer.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the energy consumer is a vibration generator.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (6) is connected to a flexible traction means (4), which preferably contains at least one conductor for energy.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (6) in one

Holding tool (7) is held and that the holding tool (7) with the held therein body (6) and the

Fiber material (8) are rotated relative to each other to form a winding (10).

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the holding tool (7) is fork-shaped and has at least two fork legs.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the fiber material is brought before rotating between the body (6) and at least one of the fork legs.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the fiber material is brought before rotating between the body (6) and at least two of the fork legs.

12. The method according to claims 7 and 11, characterized in that the fiber material (8) is placed in a loop around the body and that the flexible traction means (4) over the loop parallel to the body (6) is guided.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the body (6) in the holding tool (7) is inserted, that the fiber material (8) next to the holding tool (7) axially adjacent to the body (6) in the region of the traction means (4 ) and that the body (6) is turned about an axis perpendicular to its longitudinal axis such that the body (6) pulls the fiber material (8) into the holding tool to form the loop.

14. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that after rotation of the resulting Winding (10) is stripped axially from the holding tool (7) and placed in a mold (12).

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the mold (12) has an inner diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the coil (10).

16. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 15, characterized in that the winding with the mold (12) is given a rounded tip (3).

17. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the mold (12) is heated.