JP5386130B2 - Tampon manufacturing method and tampon manufacturing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a tampon manufacturing method and a tampon manufacturing apparatus. In particular, a tampon body, a housing cylinder that houses the tampon body and includes an opening formed at a tip and a plurality of petal-like portions surrounding the opening, and the tampon body that is movable in the housing cylinder, The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a tampon having an extrusion member that pushes out the opening from the opening to the outside of the storage cylinder, and an apparatus for manufacturing the tampon.

  A tampon main body, a storage cylinder that houses the tampon main body and includes an opening formed at a tip and a plurality of petal-like portions surrounding the opening; and is movable in the storage cylinder; A tampon having an extrusion member that pushes out of the storage cylinder from an opening is widely known as a sanitary product (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The tampon configured as described above, for example, manufactures each article constituting the tampon (that is, the tampon main body, the storage cylinder, and the extrusion member), and each of the extrusion member and the tampon main body from the opening of the storage cylinder to the storage cylinder. Manufactured by insertion.
JP-A-5-84263

  By the way, in order to improve the production speed of the tampon, it is required to smoothly insert the tampon body and the pushing member into the storage cylinder. However, in some cases, the plurality of petal-like portions provided in the storage cylinder may fall inward in the radial direction of the storage cylinder due to a collision between the storage cylinders or the like. If the plurality of petal-like portions are tilted inward in the radial direction of the storage cylinder, the opening serving as an insertion port for inserting the tampon main body and the extrusion member is narrowed, so that the tampon main body and the extrusion member are stored. It becomes difficult to insert into the cylinder.

  This invention is made | formed in view of said subject, The place made into the objective is to insert a tampon main body and an extrusion member smoothly in a storage cylinder.

In order to solve the above problems, the main present invention is:
A tampon main body, a storage cylinder that houses the tampon main body and includes an opening formed at a tip and a plurality of petal-like portions surrounding the opening; and is movable in the storage cylinder; A method for producing a tampon having an extrusion member pushed out of the storage cylinder from an opening,
A step of expanding the opening by bending each of the plurality of petal-like portions outward in the radial direction of the storage cylinder with respect to the storage cylinder;
Inserting the pushing member into the storage cylinder from the opening after performing the spreading process;
Inserting the tampon body through the opening into the storage cylinder after performing the spreading process;
A method for producing a tampon having
A step of mounting the storage cylinder on a mounting tool placed on a conveyor and transported in the transport direction by the conveyor;
The step of performing the spreading process is a step of performing the spreading process on the storage cylinder after the storage cylinder is mounted on the mounting tool.
The spreading process is performed by inserting the taper portion of a jig having a taper portion thickened from the front end toward the rear end at the front end portion into the storage cylinder from the opening, thereby allowing the jig to move to the plurality of petal-like portions. The tampon manufacturing method is characterized in that it is a process of pressing each of the two and bending the opening outward in the radial direction to push the opening .

  Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to smoothly insert the tampon main body and the pushing member into the storage cylinder.

  At least the following matters are disclosed by this specification and drawings.

First, a tampon main body, a storage cylinder that stores the tampon main body and includes an opening formed at a tip and a plurality of petal-like portions surrounding the opening, and the tampon main body is movable in the storage cylinder. A pushing member for extruding the opening from the opening to the outside of the storage cylinder,
A step of expanding the opening by bending each of the plurality of petal-like portions outward in the radial direction of the storage cylinder with respect to the storage cylinder;
Inserting the pushing member into the storage cylinder from the opening after performing the spreading process;
And a step of inserting the tampon main body into the storage cylinder through the opening after performing the spreading process. Such a tampon manufacturing method makes it possible to smoothly insert the pushing member and the tampon body into the storage cylinder.

Further, in the above tampon manufacturing method,
A step of mounting the storage cylinder on a mounting tool placed on a conveyor and transported in the transport direction by the conveyor;
The step of performing the spreading process may be a process of performing the spreading process on the storage cylinder after the storage cylinder is mounted on the mounting tool. With this method, the spreading process is effectively performed.

Further, in the above tampon manufacturing method,
The spreading process is performed by inserting the taper portion of a jig having a taper portion thickened from the front end toward the rear end at the front end portion into the storage cylinder from the opening, thereby allowing the jig to move to the plurality of petal-like portions. It is good also as a process which presses to each of these and bends each of the said outside in the said radial direction, and pushes the said opening apart. With such a method, it is possible to easily perform the spreading process.

Further, in the above tampon manufacturing method,
In the step of performing the spreading process, immediately after the jig is separated from each of the plurality of petal-like portions, the jig is tilted outward at a tilt angle of 1 degree or more and 45 degrees or less in the radial direction. May be pressed against each of them. With such a method, it is possible to avoid inconveniences caused by excessively increasing the tilt angle.

Further, in the above tampon manufacturing method,
In the step of mounting the storage cylinder on the mounting tool, the storage cylinder is mounted on the mounting tool such that each of the plurality of petal-shaped portions is exposed from the front end of the petal-shaped portion to the rear end of the petal-shaped portion. It may be installed. With this method, the jig can be appropriately pressed against each of the plurality of petal-like portions, and as a result, the opening can be appropriately expanded.

Further, in the above tampon manufacturing method,
In the step of performing the spreading process, the spreading process may be repeated a plurality of times for the storage cylinder. With such a method, it is possible to reliably expand the opening and insert the pushing member and the tampon main body into the storage cylinder from the opening.

Further, in the above tampon manufacturing method,
The step of performing the spreading process includes
Before inserting the pushing member into the storage cylinder, repeatedly performing the spreading process on the storage cylinder a plurality of times;
It is good also as having the process of performing the said expansion process again with respect to this storage cylinder after inserting the said extrusion member in the said storage cylinder and inserting the said tampon main body in this storage cylinder. With this method, the opening can be more reliably expanded when each of the pushing member and the tampon body is inserted into the storage cylinder.

And a storage cylinder including a tampon body, an opening formed at a tip of the tampon body, and a plurality of petal-shaped portions surrounding the opening; and the tampon body is movable in the storage cylinder, A tampon manufacturing apparatus having an extrusion member that pushes out the opening from the opening to the storage cylinder,
An expansion processing mechanism that performs an expansion process for expanding the opening by bending each of the plurality of petal-shaped portions outward in the radial direction of the storage cylinder with respect to the storage cylinder;
An extruding member insertion mechanism for inserting the extruding member into the storage cylinder from the opening after the spreading processing mechanism performs the spreading process;
A tampon manufacturing apparatus having a tampon main body insertion mechanism for inserting the tampon main body into the storage cylinder after the expansion processing mechanism performs the expansion processing can also be realized. Such a tampon manufacturing apparatus can smoothly insert the pushing member and the tampon main body into the storage cylinder.

In the above tampon manufacturing apparatus,
The spread processing mechanism has a jig for performing the spread processing,
The jig includes a taper portion that is provided at a front end portion of the jig and becomes thicker from a front end toward a rear end, and a tension member that is provided at a rear end portion of the jig and protrudes outward from an outer edge of the rear end of the taper portion. With the exit,
The widening mechanism is configured to insert the tapered portion of the jig into the storage cylinder from the opening, thereby causing the plurality of petal-like portions to be located at the tip of the overhanging portion and projecting outward from the outer edge. It is good also as performing the said spreading | diffusion process which presses against each of these and bends each said outside in the said radial direction, and pushes the said opening wide. With this configuration, it is possible to easily perform the spreading process.

In the above tampon manufacturing apparatus,
The spreading processing mechanism has another jig having a different shape from the jig,
The other jig is provided with a tapered portion at the distal end that becomes thicker from the distal end toward the rear end.
The tip of the tapered portion provided in the jig is flat,
The tip of the other tapered portion provided in the other jig is sharper than the tip of the tapered portion provided in the jig,
The spread processing mechanism is arranged on the storage cylinder before performing the spread processing.
By inserting the other tapered portion into the storage cylinder through the opening, the outer peripheral surface of the other tapered portion is pressed against each of the plurality of petal-like portions, and each of the plurality of tapered portions is bent outward in the radial direction. Another spreading process for spreading the opening may be performed. If it is a manufacturing apparatus of such composition, it becomes possible to perform subsequent spreading processing appropriately by performing other spreading processing.

=== About the structure of the tampon ===
In describing the tampon manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the configuration of the tampon 10 manufactured by the manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.

  1 and 2 are cross-sectional views showing components of the tampon 10. FIG. 1 shows the tampon 10 with the inner cylinder 50 contracted, and FIG. 2 shows the tampon 10 with the inner cylinder 50 extended. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the first inner cylinder 51 and the second inner cylinder 52 are connected to each other, and is an enlarged view of a portion marked with a symbol X in FIG. 4A and 4B are external views of the outer cylinder 40. FIG. FIG. 4C is a view of the outer cylinder 40 shown in FIG. 4A as viewed from the front end side. FIG. 5 is an external view of the first inner cylinder 51. FIG. 6 is an external view of the second inner cylinder 52. In the following description, of the both ends of the tampon 10 in the longitudinal direction, the side inserted into the vaginal cavity is referred to as the front end side, and the opposite side is referred to as the rear end side.

  The tampon 10 of the present embodiment is a sanitary product having a tampon body 20 and an applicator 30 as shown in FIG. The tampon body 20 has a cotton body 21 and a cord 22 sewn to the cotton body 21 as shown in FIG. The cotton body 21 is an absorbent body that closes the vaginal cavity and absorbs menstrual blood and the like, and is formed by cutting a cotton band covered on both sides with a nonwoven fabric and heat-molding it into a substantially bullet shape. The cord 22 extends from the rear end side of the cotton body 21, and is held by the user when the cotton body 21 in the vaginal cavity is pulled out of the vaginal cavity. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the cord 22 passes through the applicator 30 and is somewhat pulled out from the rear end of the applicator 30.

  The applicator 30 is an auxiliary tool for making it easier to introduce the tampon body 20 (specifically, the cotton body 21) into the vaginal cavity. As shown in FIG. 1, the applicator 30 includes an outer cylinder 40 as an example of a storage cylinder that stores the tampon main body 20, and an inner cylinder as an example of an extrusion member that pushes out the tampon main body 20 stored in the outer cylinder 40. 50.

  The outer cylinder 40 is a cylindrical body that is injection-molded using a thermoplastic resin, and has appropriate flexibility. The outer cylinder 40 includes a large diameter portion 41 provided at the front end portion and a small diameter portion 42 provided at the rear end portion and having an outer diameter smaller than that of the large diameter portion 41. The large diameter portion 41 has an inner diameter slightly longer than the diameter of the tampon main body 20 and is a portion that houses the tampon main body 20 therein. The large diameter portion 41 is inserted into the vaginal cavity in a state in which the tampon main body 20 is stored when the tampon 10 is used. The tampon body 20 is accommodated in the large diameter portion 41 so that the outer peripheral surface thereof is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 41. The small diameter portion 42 is a portion held by the user when the tampon 10 is used. However, the outer cylinder 40 may not be provided with the small diameter portion 42.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the outer cylinder 40 has an opening formed at the tip thereof (hereinafter referred to as a tip opening 43) and a plurality (six in this embodiment) surrounding the tip opening 43. And a petal-like portion 44. Each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 is bent in an arc shape inward in the radial direction of the outer cylinder 40 as shown in FIG. 4A when the tampon 10 is shipped. Therefore, when the outer cylinder 40 is inserted into the vaginal cavity, the distal end portion of the outer cylinder 40 is substantially hemispherical as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the distal end opening 43 is as shown in FIG. 4C. Is in a substantially closed state. On the other hand, as for the outer cylinder 40 immediately after injection molding, as shown in FIG. 4B, each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 is open (that is, along the central axis direction of the outer cylinder 40). The tip opening 43 is in an open state.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4A, the outer cylinder 40 includes an opening formed at the rear end thereof (hereinafter referred to as a rear end opening 45) and an annular rib 46 formed slightly on the front end side from the rear end opening 45. ing. Further, an annular step 47 is formed between the large diameter portion 41 and the small diameter portion 42.

  The inner cylinder 50 is a cylindrical body inserted into the small diameter portion 42 of the outer cylinder 40. The inner cylinder 50 is located on the rear end side of the tampon body 20 in the outer cylinder 40, moves along the central axis direction of the outer cylinder 40, and moves the tampon body 20 toward the tip opening 43 from the rear. Push forward. Thus, the tampon body 20 is pushed out of the outer cylinder 40 while pushing each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 outward in the radial direction of the outer cylinder 40 (in other words, while opening the tip opening 43). That is, the inner cylinder 50 is movable in the outer cylinder 40 and has a function of pushing the tampon main body 20 out of the outer cylinder 40 from the tip opening 43.

  In addition, the inner cylinder 50 of this embodiment has a structure that can be expanded and contracted in order to make the overall length of the tampon 10 more compact. More specifically, when the inner cylinder 50 contracts as shown in FIG. 1, the length of the inner cylinder 50 is shorter than the length of the outer cylinder 40, and becomes a length suitable for carrying the tampon 10. On the other hand, when the inner cylinder 50 is extended as shown in FIG. 2, the length of the inner cylinder 50 is sufficient to push the tampon body 20 out of the outer cylinder 40. In order to make the inner cylinder 50 extendable as described above, the inner cylinder 50 has a two-stage structure in the present embodiment. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the inner cylinder 50 of the present embodiment includes a first inner cylinder 51 and a second inner cylinder 52 that is slidably inserted into the first inner cylinder 51. Have.

  The first inner cylinder 51 is a cylindrical body that is injection molded of plastic. The first inner cylinder 51 has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the small diameter portion 42 of the outer cylinder 40. The first inner cylinder 51 is slidably inserted into the small diameter portion 42 as shown in FIG. On the outer peripheral surface of the front end portion of the first inner cylinder 51, as shown in FIG. 5, an annular flange 51a is formed. The flange portion 51 a has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the large-diameter portion 41 of the outer cylinder 40, and the inner cylinder 50 is engaged with the inner wall surface of the step 47 so that the inner cylinder 50 is in the rear end opening 45 of the outer cylinder 40. To prevent it from falling out. When the inner cylinder 50 pushes the tampon main body 20 out of the outer cylinder 40, the inner cylinder 50 moves so that the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion 51 a is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion 41. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an annular protrusion 51 b that protrudes inward in the radial direction of the first inner cylinder 51 is formed at the rear end portion of the inner peripheral surface of the first inner cylinder 51. .

  The second inner cylinder 52 is a cylindrical body that is injection-molded with a thermoplastic resin. The second inner cylinder 52 has an outer diameter that is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the first inner cylinder 51. The second inner cylinder 52 is inserted into the first inner cylinder 51 as shown in FIG. 1 when the inner cylinder 50 is contracted, and as shown in FIG. 2 when the inner cylinder 50 is extended. The front end portion of the second inner cylinder 52 is connected to the rear end portion of the first inner cylinder 51. On the outer peripheral surface of the front end portion of the second inner cylinder 52, as shown in FIG. 6, an arcuate flange portion 52a and a convex portion 52b positioned on the rear end side of the flange portion 52a are formed. . As shown in FIG. 3, the height of the convex portion 52 b becomes lower toward the rear end. The interval between the flange portion 52a and the convex portion 52b of the second inner cylinder 52 is slightly longer than the thickness of the annular protrusion 51b of the first inner cylinder 51.

  When the second inner cylinder 52 is pulled to the rear end side, the annular protrusion 51b of the first inner cylinder 51 is positioned between the flange portion 52a and the convex portion 52b of the second inner cylinder 52. In this state, as shown in FIG. 3, the annular protrusion 51b is locked to the flange portion 52a and the convex portion 52b, and the first inner cylinder 51 and the second inner cylinder 52 are connected.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a flared portion 52 c is formed at the rear end portion of the second inner cylinder 52. It is desirable that the outer diameter of the flare-shaped portion 52 c is at least larger than the inner diameter of the first inner cylinder 51 and is equal to or larger than the inner diameter of the small diameter portion 42 of the outer cylinder 40.

=== About the manufacturing method of the tampon 10 ===
<< Outline of Manufacturing Method of Tampon 10 >>
Next, the manufacturing method of the tampon 10 of this embodiment will be outlined with reference to FIG. 7 and FIGS. 8A to 8D. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a manufacturing flow of the tampon 10. 8A to 8D are transition diagrams showing how the tampon 10 is manufactured.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the manufacturing method of the tampon 10 includes a step (S001) of manufacturing each article constituting the tampon 10, and the manufactured articles are supplied to an assembly apparatus 100 described later, and the tampon 10 is assembled. It includes a step of manufacturing the tampon 10 (hereinafter, main manufacturing step S002), a step of inspecting the manufactured tampon 10 (S003), and a step of packaging the tampon 10 (S004).

  The main manufacturing step S002 will be described. First, each article constituting the tampon 10 is supplied to the assembling apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. 8A, the outer cylinder 40 at the time when it is supplied to the assembling apparatus 100 is in a state where each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 is open (in other words, a state where the tip opening 43 is open). Next, as shown in FIG. 8A, the first inner cylinder 51 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40 from the tip opening 43 of the outer cylinder 40. As for the 1st inner cylinder 51 inserted in the outer cylinder 40, the rear-end part protrudes from the rear-end opening 45 of the outer cylinder 40, and the collar part 51a will be in the state latched by the inner wall surface of the level | step difference 47 of the outer cylinder 40 ( (See FIG. 8B).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8B, the second inner cylinder 52 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40 from the tip opening 43. The second inner cylinder 52 inserted into the outer cylinder 40 has a rear end portion protruding from the opening on the rear end side of the first inner cylinder 51 and a collar portion 52 a locked to the inner peripheral surface of the first inner cylinder 51. (See FIG. 8C). As shown in FIG. 8B, the flare-like portion 52c has not yet been formed in the second inner cylinder 52 when it is supplied to the assembly apparatus 100. After the second inner cylinder 52 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40, the flared portion 52c is formed by thermoforming the rear end portion of the second inner cylinder 52. When the above steps are completed, the assembly of the applicator 30 is completed.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8C, the tampon main body 20 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40 through the tip opening 43. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8C, the tampon body 20 is inserted from the cord 22 side. When the tampon body 20 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40, the cotton body 21 is accommodated in the large-diameter portion 41 of the outer cylinder 40, and the cord 22 is connected to the rear end of the applicator 30 (specifically, the second inner cylinder 52 From the rear end side opening). When the insertion of the tampon body 20 is completed, the assembly of the tampon 10 is completed.

  Then, after assembling the tampon 10, as shown in FIG. 8D, each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 is bent so as to fall inward in the radial direction of the outer cylinder 40, and the tip of the outer cylinder 40 is substantially hemispherical. A process of heat forming into a shape (hereinafter also referred to as a tip processing process) is performed. When the tip processing is completed, the main manufacturing step S002 is completed.

  As will be described later, the assembling apparatus 100 includes a conveyor 110 (see FIG. 9). The transport conveyor 110 intermittently performs an operation (transport operation) for transporting the assembly in the transport direction. And each said process is performed sequentially between the said conveyance operations (namely, while an assembly is still).

<< Assembly Process of Tampon 10 >>
Next, the process of assembling the tampon 10 in the main manufacturing step S002 described above will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing an assembling apparatus 100 for assembling the tampon 10.

<Assembly device 100 of tampon 10>
The process of assembling the tampon 10 is executed by the assembling apparatus 100 shown in FIG. The assembling apparatus 100 is an example of a manufacturing apparatus for the tampon 10. As shown in FIG. 9, the assembling apparatus 100 includes a conveyor 110, an outer cylinder supply mechanism 120, an inner cylinder insertion mechanism 130 as an example of an extrusion member insertion mechanism, a tampon main body insertion mechanism 140, and a spread processing mechanism 150. ing. Hereinafter, each apparatus which comprises the assembly apparatus 100 is demonstrated.

(1) Conveyor 110
The transport conveyor 110 includes an outer cylinder 40 and articles inserted into the outer cylinder 40 in the transport direction (the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 9) (the first inner cylinder 51, the second inner cylinder 52, and the tampon body 20). It is a device that conveys. A mounting table 160 on which the outer cylinder 40 is mounted is placed on the transport conveyor 110, and the mounting table 160 is transported in the transport direction by the transport conveyor 110. Accordingly, the outer cylinder 40 mounted on the mounting table 160 and the article inserted into the outer cylinder 40 are transported along with the mounting table 160 in the transport direction.

  The mounting base 160 is an example of a mounting tool, and as shown in FIG. 9, the outer cylinder 40 is mounted in a state in which the central axis direction of the outer cylinder 40 is in the vertical direction and the tip opening 43 faces substantially upward. . The mounting table 160 is formed with a circular hole (not shown) formed along the vertical direction. The outer cylinder 40 is mounted on the mounting table 160 by fitting into the circular hole from the small diameter portion 42 side.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, in the state where the outer cylinder 40 is mounted on the mounting base 160, approximately half of the outer cylinder 40 on the front end side is exposed. For this reason, in a state where the outer cylinder 40 is mounted on the mounting table 160, each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 is exposed from the tip of the petal-like portion 44 to the rear end of the petal-like portion 44. Become. FIG. 10 is a view showing a state where the outer cylinder 40 is mounted on the mounting table 160.

(2) Outer cylinder supply mechanism 120
The outer cylinder supply mechanism 120 is a mechanism that supplies the outer cylinder 40 to the conveyor 110. As shown in FIG. 9, the outer cylinder supply mechanism 120 includes an outer cylinder conveyance feeder 121, a supply path 122 connected to the terminal end of the conveyance path included in the outer cylinder conveyance feeder 121, and an outer passage that has passed through the supply path 122. An outer cylinder setting unit (not shown) for setting the cylinder 40 on the mounting table 160 is provided.

  The outer cylinder conveyance feeder 121 is a parts feeder having a bowl-shaped vibrating table 121a, and conveys the outer cylinder 40 by vibrating the vibrating table 121a. More specifically, the vibration table 121a forms a spiral conveyance path. The outer cylinder conveyance feeder 121 vibrates the vibration table 121a to sequentially move the outer cylinder 40 accumulated on the bottom of the vibration table 121a from the bottom along the conveyance path. The outer cylinder 40 that has reached the end of the conveyance path is transferred to the supply path 122 and moves on the supply path 122.

  As shown in FIG. 9, accumulation portions 122 a and 122 c for temporarily accumulating the outer cylinder 40 are formed at the intermediate portion and the end portion of the supply path 122. In addition, a drop shooter 122b is formed between the stacking parts 122a and 122c, and the outer cylinders 40 stacked in the stacking part 122a provided in the intermediate part of the supply path 122 sequentially drop the drop shooter 122b. . In the drop shooter 122b, a regulation mechanism (not shown) that regulates the direction of the outer cylinder 40 to be a predetermined direction is provided. The outer cylinder 40 is subjected to the action of the restriction mechanism while passing through the drop shooter 122b, and the direction of the outer cylinder 40 is restricted so that the tip portion first exits the drop shooter 122b.

  Then, the outer cylinders 40 that have exited the drop shooter 122 b are accumulated in the accumulation section 122 c provided at the terminal portion of the supply path 122 in a state where the directions are uniform between the outer cylinders 40. The accumulation part 122c provided at the terminal part of the supply path 122 is inclined downwardly. And the outer cylinder 40 which reached | attained the termination | terminus of the downward supply path 122 through the said accumulation part 122c is capture | acquired by the above-mentioned outer cylinder setting part. Then, the outer cylinder setting unit mounts the captured outer cylinder 40 on the mounting table 160 mounted on the conveyor 110.

(3) Inner cylinder insertion mechanism 130
The inner cylinder insertion mechanism 130 is a mechanism for inserting the inner cylinder 50 into the outer cylinder 40. The inner cylinder insertion mechanism 130 of the present embodiment inserts the inner cylinder 50 from the distal end opening 43 into the outer cylinder 40 that is mounted on the mounting table 160 after the expansion processing mechanism 150 performs the expansion process described later. To do. The inner cylinder insertion mechanism 130 includes a mechanism for inserting the first inner cylinder 51 constituting the inner cylinder 50 into the outer cylinder 40 (hereinafter referred to as a first inner cylinder insertion mechanism 131), and a second inner cylinder that also constitutes the inner cylinder 50. A mechanism (hereinafter referred to as a second inner cylinder insertion mechanism 132) for inserting the cylinder 52 into the outer cylinder 40 is individually provided.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the first inner cylinder insertion mechanism 131 includes an inner cylinder conveyance feeder 133, an inner cylinder insertion portion 135 for inserting the first inner cylinder 51 into the outer cylinder 40, the inner cylinder conveyance feeder 133, and the And a supply tube 134 provided between the inner cylinder insertion portions 135.

  The inner cylinder conveyance feeder 133 is a parts feeder having substantially the same configuration as the outer cylinder conveyance feeder 121, and the first inner cylinder 51 is sequentially formed in a spiral shape by the vibration table 133a from the bottom of the bowl-shaped vibration table 133a. It moves along the transport route. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the end portion of the transport path is configured by a pair of rails 133b. The pair of rails 133b is a part of the vibration table 133a.

  A gap slightly longer than the outer diameter of the first inner cylinder 51 is formed between the pair of rails 133b. The first inner cylinder 51 moves along the rail 133b while being sandwiched between the pair of rails 133b. At this time, the flange 51a of the first inner cylinder 51 is hooked on the upper portion of the rail 133b, and the first inner cylinder 51 is suspended from the rail 133b. That is, when the first inner cylinder 51 moves along the rail 133b, the front end of the first inner cylinder 51 is positioned above the rear end. Then, when the first inner cylinder 51 passes through the end of the rail 133b, the first inner cylinder 51 falls with the tip positioned above the rear end, and is supplied to the inner cylinder insertion portion 135 through the supply tube 134.

  The inner cylinder insertion part 135 receives the first inner cylinder 51 that has fallen from the supply tube 134, and when the outer cylinder 40 is positioned below the inner cylinder insertion part 135, the received first inner cylinder 51 is moved downward. Press to insert into the outer cylinder 40. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the inner cylinder insertion portion 135 includes a pressing member 135 a that is movable in the vertical direction. The first inner cylinder 51 is pressed downward by moving the pressing member 135a downward in a state where the pressing member 135a is disposed on the first inner cylinder 51. The inner cylinder insertion portion 135 inserts the first inner cylinder 51 into the outer cylinder 40 from the distal end opening 43 with the distal end of the first inner cylinder 51 positioned above the rear end.

  Since the second inner cylinder insertion mechanism 132 has substantially the same configuration as the first inner cylinder insertion mechanism 131, description thereof is omitted. The inner cylinder insertion portion 135 provided for the second inner cylinder insertion mechanism 132 to insert the second inner cylinder 52 into the outer cylinder 40 is the first inner cylinder in the conveying direction of the conveyor 110 as shown in FIG. It is arranged on the downstream side of the inner cylinder insertion portion 135 provided in the insertion mechanism 131. That is, after the first inner cylinder insertion mechanism 131 inserts the first inner cylinder 51 into the outer cylinder 40, the second inner cylinder insertion mechanism 132 inserts the second inner cylinder 52 into the outer cylinder 40.

(4) Tampon body insertion mechanism 140
The tampon main body insertion mechanism 140 is a mechanism for inserting the tampon main body 20 into the outer cylinder 40 (in other words, the applicator 30 that has been assembled) with the first inner cylinder 51 and the second inner cylinder 52 inserted therein. The tampon main body insertion mechanism 140 according to the present embodiment inserts the tampon main body 20 from the distal end opening 43 into the outer cylinder 40 that is mounted on the mounting table 160 after the expansion processing mechanism 150 performs the expansion processing described later. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the tampon main body insertion mechanism 140 includes a guide tube 141, a suction device 142, and a pressing member 143. As shown in FIG. 9, the guide tube 141 is a cylinder that covers the tip of the outer cylinder 40. The guide tube 141 is movable in the vertical direction with the central axis direction along the vertical direction. Further, the guide tube 141 holds the tampon main body 20 in its inner space. The tampon main body 20 is inserted into the guide tube 141 by an insertion mechanism (not shown), and is held in the guide tube 141 with the cord 22 positioned below the cotton body 21, as shown in FIG. .

  The suction device 142 has a rear end side of the outer cylinder 40 (specifically, a rear end of the second inner cylinder 52 inserted into the outer cylinder 40) when the guide tube 141 covers the distal end portion of the outer cylinder 40. Intake from the side opening). The pressing member 143 is located at a position immediately above the upper end opening of the guide tube 141, and is supported so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The pressing member 143 is inserted into the guide tube 141 from the upper end opening of the guide tube 141 when the lower end portion of the guide tube 141 covers the distal end portion of the outer cylinder 40. Thus, the pressing member 143 presses the tampon main body 20 held by the guide tube 141 downward, and inserts the tampon main body 20 into the outer cylinder 40 from the distal end opening 43 of the outer cylinder 40.

  The tampon main body insertion mechanism 140 configured as described above moves the guide tube 141 downward when the outer cylinder 40 is located at a position where the distal end opening 43 of the outer cylinder 40 faces the lower end opening of the guide tube 141. . As a result, the lower end portion of the guide tube 141 covers the distal end portion of the outer cylinder 40. Then, the tampon main body insertion mechanism 140 presses the tampon main body 20 held in the guide tube 141 downward by the pressing member 143. As a result, the tampon main body 20 is pushed out from the guide tube 141 and inserted into the outer cylinder 40 from the distal end opening 43 of the outer cylinder 40.

  The tampon main body insertion mechanism 140 operates the suction device 142 when pushing out the tampon main body 20 from the guide tube 141. Thereby, when the tampon main body 20 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40, the cord 22 of the tampon main body 20 is pulled downward. As a result, the cord 22 passes through the outer cylinder 40 and is pulled out from the opening on the rear end side of the second inner cylinder 52 inserted into the outer cylinder 40 (in other words, the rear end of the assembled applicator 30). It becomes like this.

(5) Spreading processing mechanism 150
The expansion processing mechanism 150 is a mechanism that performs an expansion process on the outer cylinder 40 as a pre-process for inserting the inner cylinder 50 and the tampon main body 20 into the outer cylinder 40. The expanding process is a process of expanding the tip opening 43 by bending each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 surrounding the tip opening 43 of the outer cylinder 40 outward in the radial direction of the outer cylinder 40. In the present embodiment, the spreading processing mechanism 150 includes a first pusher unit 151, a second pusher unit 152, and a third pusher unit 153, as shown in FIG.

  The first pusher unit 151 performs a spreading process on the outer cylinder 40 before the first inner cylinder 51 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40. The first pusher unit 151 is located upstream of the first inner cylinder insertion mechanism 131 in the transport direction of the transport conveyor 110. Further, as shown in FIG. 11A, the first pusher unit 151 includes a plurality (four in this embodiment) of pushers 200 and 210, a mounting plate 220 to which the plurality of pushers 200 and 210 are attached, And a drive mechanism (not shown) for reciprocating the plate 220 in the vertical direction. FIG. 11A is a schematic diagram showing the first pusher unit 151.

  The pushers 200 and 210 are examples of jigs for the first pusher unit 151 to perform the spreading process on the outer cylinder 40, and are made of metal in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11A, the plurality of pushers 200 and 210 are arranged along the transport direction.

  The first pusher unit 151 attaches the plurality of pushers 200, 210 to the mounting plate by the drive mechanism when the outer cylinder 40 is positioned directly below one of the plurality of pushers 200, 210. 220 and move downward together. As a result, the tip portions of the pushers 200 and 210 are inserted into the outer tube 40 from the tip opening 43 of the outer tube 40 so that the pushers 200 and 210 are pressed against the inner wall surfaces of the plurality of petal-like portions 44. Become. As a result, each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 is bent outward in the radial direction of the outer cylinder 40 by the pushers 200 and 210, and the tip opening 43 is pushed and widened.

  As described above, the spreading process of the present embodiment is performed by pushing the pushers 200 and 210 into each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 by inserting the tip portions of the pushers 200 and 210 into the outer cylinder 40 from the tip opening 43. It is a process of bending the tip openings 43 mechanically by bending each of them outward in the radial direction with the pressing force applied to each of them.

  The shape of the pushers 200 and 210 will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 are external views of the pushers 200 and 210. FIG.

  The plurality of pushers 200 and 210 have substantially the same shape. More specifically, each of the plurality of pushers 200 and 210 has a substantially funnel shape as shown in FIGS. More specifically, each of the pushers 200 and 210 is provided at the front end portion, and the tapered portions 201 and 211 that are thickened from the front end toward the rear end, and the taper portions 201 and 211 provided at the rear end portion. And projecting portions 202 and 212 projecting outward from the outer edge of the rear end.

  The tapered portions 201 and 211 are substantially truncated cone portions. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the tips of the tapered portions 201 and 211 are circular flat surfaces. The diameters of the tips of the tapered portions 201 and 211 are shorter than the outer diameter of the outer cylinder 40 (more specifically, the outer diameter of the large diameter portion 41). In the present embodiment, the diameter of the tip of the tapered portion 201 provided in the most upstream pusher 200 is about 5 mm, and the diameter of the tip of the tapered portion 211 provided in the remaining pusher 210 is about 7 mm. In addition, the outer diameter of the outer cylinder 40 which concerns on this embodiment is about 13.5 mm (refer FIG. 14A).

  The diameters of the rear ends of the tapered portions 201 and 211 are larger than the outer diameter of the outer cylinder 40 (more specifically, the outer diameter of the large diameter portion 41). In the present embodiment, the diameter of the rear end of the tapered portion 201 included in the most upstream pusher 200 is about 18 mm, and the diameter of the rear end of the tapered portion 211 included in the remaining pusher 210 is about 20 mm.

  Further, the taper portion 201 provided in the most upstream pusher 200 has a length from the front end to the rear end (about 13 mm in the present embodiment) from the front end to the rear end of the petal-like portion 44 in an open state. It is longer than this length (in this embodiment, about 8.5 mm). In this embodiment, the length from the front end to the rear end of the tapered portion 211 provided in the remaining pusher 210 is about 8 mm.

  Moreover, the outer peripheral surfaces 201a and 211a of the taper portions 201 and 211 are curved surfaces that are curved so as to be recessed inward as shown in FIGS. In other words, the line of intersection between the outer peripheral surfaces 201a and 211a of the tapered portions 201 and 211 and the virtual plane passing through the central axis of the tapered portions 201 and 211 is a curved curve recessed inward (see FIG. 11A). In the present embodiment, the radius of curvature R of the outer peripheral surface 201a of the tapered portion 201 provided in the most upstream pusher 200 is about 10 mm, and the radius of curvature R of the outer peripheral surface 211a of the tapered portion 211 provided in the remaining pusher 210 is about 6. .5 mm.

  The overhang portions 202 and 212 are disk-shaped portions. The overhang portions 202 and 212 have overhang surfaces 202a and 212a that are located at the tips of the overhang portions 202 and 212 and project outward from the outer edges of the rear ends of the tapered portions 201 and 211. Further, the diameters of the overhang portions 202 and 212 are longer than the outer diameter of the outer cylinder 40. In this embodiment, the diameter of the overhang portion 202 included in the most upstream pusher 200 is about 30 mm, and the diameter of the overhang portion 212 included in the remaining pusher 210 is about 36 mm. Other dimension values are as shown in FIGS.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the surface finishing process is given to the part pressed against the inner wall surface of the petal-like part 44 among the outer surfaces of each pusher 200, 210 so that the inner wall surface may not be damaged. Specifically, the center line average roughness Ra of the portion pressed against the inner wall surface of the petal-like portion 44 has a predetermined numerical value range (preferably Ra = 3.2 to 6.3, Ra = 12.5 to the maximum). 25) The surface finishing process is performed so as to be within 25).

  By using the pushers 200 and 210 as described above, the first pusher unit 151 can perform the spreading process by a simple method. Hereinafter, the spreading process by the first pusher unit 151 will be described with reference to FIGS. 14A to 14D. 14A to 14D are explanatory diagrams of the spreading process. 14A to 14D illustrate a case where the spreading process is performed using the pusher 200 on the most upstream side among the plurality of pushers 200 and 210.

  When the outer cylinder 40 is positioned immediately below the pushers 200 and 210, the first pusher unit 151 moves the pushers 200 and 210 downward as shown in FIG. 14A. At this time, the outer cylinder 40 is in a state in which the tip opening 43 faces substantially upward. As a result, the tapered portions 201 and 211 included in the pushers 200 and 210 are inserted into the outer cylinder 40 from the tip opening 43. Soon, the outer peripheral surfaces 201 a and 211 a of the tapered portions 201 and 211 come into contact with the inner wall surfaces of the plurality of petal-like portions 44. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14B, each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 is bent so as to fall outward in the radial direction of the outer cylinder 40 along the outer peripheral surfaces 201 a and 211 a of the tapered portions 201 and 211.

  As described above, the outer peripheral surfaces 201a and 211a of the tapered portions 201 and 211 are curved surfaces. For this reason, when the outer peripheral surfaces 201a and 211a of the tapered portions 201 and 211 come into contact with the inner wall surfaces of the plurality of petal-like portions 44, the respective outer portions 201a and 211a are in contact with the outer peripheral surfaces 201a and 211a. It bends smoothly along.

  When the taper portions 201 and 211 are further inserted into the outer cylinder 40, the projecting surfaces 202a and 212a of the projecting portions 202 and 212 included in the pushers 200 and 210 are formed as shown in FIG. It comes to be pressed against each inner wall surface. Thereby, each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 bends until it falls to the outside at a substantially right angle in the radial direction. At this time, as shown in FIG. 14C, the first pusher unit 151 has the projecting surfaces 202a and 212a about 5 mm below the front end position of the outer cylinder 40 before the spreading process (the front end position of the petal-like portion 44). The projecting surfaces 202a and 212a are pushed down so as to be positioned.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 14D, the first pusher unit 151 moves the pushers 200, 210 upward and pulls out the pushers 200, 210 from the outer cylinder 40 (in other words, the pushers 200, 210 are formed into a plurality of petals. Spaced from each of the portions 44).

  When the first pusher unit 151 performs the spreading process on the outer cylinder 40 by the above procedure, the tip opening 43 becomes wider than the time before the spreading process. That is, in this embodiment, by inserting the tapered portions 201 and 211 of the pushers 200 and 210 into the outer cylinder 40 from the tip opening 43, the protruding surfaces 202a and 212a of the protruding portions 202 and 212 of the pushers 200 and 210 are formed. An expanding process is performed in which each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 is pressed and each of the petals is bent outward in the radial direction of the outer cylinder 40 to expand the tip opening 43.

  When the spreading process is performed, the outer cylinder 40 (specifically, the rear end of each petal-like portion 44) comes to have creases. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 14D, immediately after the spreading process is performed, each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 falls to the outside in the radial direction of the outer cylinder 40. Note that the angle of inclination of the petal-like portion 44 (the angle indicated by the symbol θ in FIG. 14D) may be 1 degree or more.

  However, if the petal-like portion 44 is tilted 45 degrees or more outward in the radial direction, inconvenience occurs during the tip processing for processing the tip of the outer tube 40 into a substantially hemispherical shape. Furthermore, if the petal-like portion 44 is excessively bent, the outer cylinder 40 may be damaged. For this reason, in this embodiment, the crease is attached so that each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 falls down at an angle of 1 degree to 45 degrees outward in the radial direction. In other words, in the spreading process of the present embodiment, immediately after the pushers 200 and 210 are separated from each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44, each of them collapses outward in the radial direction at a tilt angle of 1 to 45 degrees. In this manner, the pushers 200 and 210 are pressed against the respective parts.

  In the present embodiment, the first pusher unit 151 performs the spreading process on the outer cylinder 40 mounted on the mounting table 160. Further, as described above, the outer cylinder 40 mounted on the mounting table 160 is in a state where each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 is exposed from the tip of the petal-like portion 44 to the rear end of the petal-like portion 44. . Accordingly, it becomes easy to press the pushers 200 and 210 against the inner wall surfaces of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 and bend each of them outward in the radial direction of the outer cylinder 40. Further, by pressing the pushers 200, 210 against the inner wall surfaces of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 in a state where the outer cylinder 40 is mounted on the mounting table 160, the pressing force applied to each of the petals-like portions 44 is caused between the petal-like portions 44. It becomes almost uniform.

  The first pusher unit 151 includes a plurality of pushers 200 and 210, and performs an expansion process on the outer cylinder 40 each time the outer cylinder 40 is positioned directly below the pushers 200 and 210. That is, in this embodiment, before the first inner cylinder 51 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40, the outer cylinder 40 is subjected to a spreading process a plurality of times (four times in this embodiment). Thereby, each article including the first inner cylinder 51 can be inserted into the outer cylinder 40 from the distal opening 43 in a state where the distal opening 43 is surely expanded.

  Furthermore, the first pusher unit 151 of the present embodiment includes, in addition to the plurality of pushers 200 and 210, another pusher having a shape different from that of the plurality of pushers 200 and 210 (hereinafter referred to as a preliminary pusher 230). The first pusher unit 151 performs a preliminary process using the preliminary pusher 230 on the outer cylinder 40 before performing the spreading process using each of the plurality of pushers 200 and 210. Preliminary processing refers to inserting the preliminary pusher 230 into the outer cylinder 40 from the distal end opening 43 of the outer cylinder 40, thereby pressing the preliminary pusher 230 against the inner wall surface of each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44. This is a process of expanding the distal end opening 43 of the outer cylinder 40 by bending outward in the radial direction of the outer cylinder 40. This preliminary process corresponds to another spreading process. Hereinafter, the preliminary pusher 230 will be described.

  The preliminary pusher 230 is an example of another jig, and is made of a resin material such as plastic. The preliminary pusher 230 is attached to the attachment plate 220 in the same manner as the plurality of pushers 200 and 210. As shown in FIG. 11A, the preliminary pusher 230 is located upstream of the pusher 200 on the most upstream side in the transport direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the preliminary pusher 230 includes another tapered portion 231 that increases in thickness from the front end toward the rear end at the front end portion of the preliminary pusher 230. FIG. 15 is an external view of the preliminary pusher 230.

  The other tapered portion 231 has a substantially conical shape and has a tip sharper than the tips of the tapered portions 201 and 211 provided in the pushers 200 and 210. As shown in FIG. 15, in this embodiment, the length from the front end to the rear end of the other tapered portion 231 is about 12 mm, and the diameter of the rear end of the other tapered portion 231 is about 16 mm. .

  The first pusher unit 151 having the preliminary pusher 230 having the above shape moves the preliminary pusher 230 downward when the outer cylinder 40 is positioned immediately below the preliminary pusher 230. As a result, another tapered portion 231 included in the preliminary pusher 230 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40 from the distal end opening 43 of the outer cylinder 40. When the other tapered portion 231 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40, the outer peripheral surface 231 a of the other tapered portion 231 is pressed against the inner wall surface of each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44. As a result, each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 bends outward along the outer peripheral surface 231a of the other tapered portion 231 in the radial direction of the outer cylinder 40, and the tip opening 43 is spread.

  As described above, in the preliminary treatment, the other tapered portion 231 provided in the preliminary pusher 230 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40 from the tip opening 43, so that the outer peripheral surface 231a of the other tapered portion 231 is formed into a plurality of petal-like portions 44. Is pressed to each of the two, and each of the two is bent outward in the radial direction to spread the tip opening 43. The first pusher unit 151 performs the preliminary process on the outer cylinder 40 before performing the spreading process. Hereinafter, the reason why the preliminary process is performed before the spreading process will be described.

  The tips of the tapered portions 201 and 211 provided in the pushers 200 and 210 of the present embodiment are flat surfaces as described above. On the other hand, in the outer cylinder 40, there may be a case where the petal-like portion 44 is somewhat tilted inward before the spreading process. When the tapered portions 201 and 211 of the pushers 200 and 210 are inserted into the outer cylinder 40 in a state in which the petal-like portion 44 is tilted inward, the tips of the tapered portions 201 and 211 are caught by the petal-like portion 44. There is a fear. As a result, the petal-like portion 44 is wound inside and it becomes difficult to insert the inner cylinder 50 and the tampon main body 20 into the outer cylinder 40. That is, when the spreading process of the present embodiment is performed on the outer cylinder 40 in a state where the petal-like portion 44 has fallen inward, it becomes difficult to insert each article into the outer cylinder 40.

  On the other hand, the tips of the other tapered portions 231 included in the preliminary pusher 230 are sharper than the tips of the tapered portions 201 and 211 included in the pushers 200 and 210. For this reason, even if the preliminary pusher 230 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40 in a state where the petal-like portion 44 has fallen inward, the tip of the preliminary pusher 230 is caught by the petal-like portion 44 so that the petal-like portion 44 is placed inside. You won't get caught in

  Then, when the other tapered portion 231 included in the preliminary pusher 230 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40 and the outer peripheral surface 231a of the other tapered portion 231 is pressed against the inner wall surface of the petal-like portion 44 that has fallen inward, The petal-like portion 44 is bent outward and opened in the radial direction of the outer cylinder 40. That is, if preliminary processing is performed in advance of the spreading process, the petal-like portion 44 is moved to such an extent that the tips of the tapered portions 201 and 211 provided in the pushers 200 and 210 are not caught by the petal-like portion 44 during the spreading process. It becomes possible to keep it open. As a result, the first pusher unit 151 can appropriately perform the subsequent spreading process on the outer cylinder 40.

  The second pusher unit 152 performs an expansion process on the outer cylinder 40 after the first inner cylinder 51 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40 until the second inner cylinder 52 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40. It is. The second pusher unit 152 is located between the first inner cylinder insertion mechanism 131 and the second inner cylinder insertion mechanism 132 in the transport direction. The third pusher unit 153 performs a spreading process on the outer cylinder 40 after the second inner cylinder 52 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40 until the tampon main body 20 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40. . The third pusher unit 153 is located between the second inner cylinder insertion mechanism 132 and the tampon main body insertion mechanism 140 in the transport direction.

  As shown in FIG. 11B, the second pusher unit 152 and the third pusher unit 153 have substantially the same configuration as the first pusher unit 151 except that the number of the pusher 210 is different from that of the first pusher unit 151. . FIG. 11B is a schematic diagram showing the second pusher unit 152. The third pusher unit 153 has the same configuration as that of the second pusher unit 152 and is not shown.

  Each unit of the second pusher unit 152 and the third pusher unit 153 includes one pusher 210 as an example of a jig for performing the spreading process, as shown in FIG. 11B. The pusher 210 is the same as the pusher 210 on the downstream side of the pusher 200 on the most upstream side among the plurality of pushers 200 and 210 included in the first pusher unit 151. That is, it is possible to perform the spreading process on the second pusher unit 152 and the third pusher unit 153 by a simple method.

  Then, the second pusher unit 152 and the third pusher unit 153 perform the spreading process in substantially the same procedure as the spreading process by the first pusher unit 151. The second pusher unit 152 is expanded once with respect to the outer cylinder 40 between the time when the first inner cylinder 51 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40 and the time when the second inner cylinder 52 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40. Process. The third pusher unit 153 performs a spreading process on the outer cylinder 40 once after the second inner cylinder 52 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40 until the tampon main body 20 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40. .

  Note that the second pusher unit 152 and the third pusher unit 153 do not perform the preliminary processing before performing the spreading processing (in other words, the preliminary pusher 230 is not provided). This is because, at the stage where each of the second pusher unit 152 and the third pusher unit 153 performs the spreading process, each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 has fallen at least outward in the radial direction, and it is necessary to perform a preliminary process again. Because there is no.

  As described above, the spread processing mechanism 150 according to the present embodiment is configured so that each time the outer cylinder 40 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40 before each of the first inner cylinder 51, the second inner cylinder 52, and the tampon body 20 is inserted. A spreading process is performed on the cylinder 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and at least from when the outer cylinder 40 is mounted on the mounting base 160 until the inner cylinder 50 (the first inner cylinder 51 in this embodiment) is inserted into the outer cylinder 40. What is necessary is just to spread between them.

  In the present embodiment, the spreading mechanism 150 is applied to the outer cylinder 40 in a state in which the temperature of the pushers 200 and 210 is maintained at a temperature lower than the melting point of the thermoplastic resin constituting the outer cylinder 40 by 50 degrees or less. The spread process is performed. That is, the outer cylinder 40 is heated and softened as in the case of thermoforming, and the distal end opening 43 is not expanded, but the distal end opening 43 is expanded only by the pressing force applied by the pushers 200 and 210. For this reason, in this embodiment, each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 is not thermally deformed as in the case of thermoforming. The temperature of the pushers 200 and 210 may be in the range of the glass transition point of the thermoplastic resin to a temperature that is 50 degrees lower than the melting point of the thermoplastic resin, and preferably room temperature.

<Assembly procedure of Tampon 10>
Next, a procedure for assembling the tampon 10 by the assembling apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a view showing an assembly flow of the tampon 10.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the assembly of the tampon 10 starts from a step (S 011) of mounting the outer cylinder 40 on the mounting table 160 mounted on the transport conveyor 110 by the outer cylinder supply mechanism 120. The transport conveyor 110 intermittently performs a transport operation of transporting the mounting table 160 by a predetermined distance. On the other hand, the outer cylinder supply mechanism 120 is synchronized with the conveyor 110 and mounts the outer cylinder 40 on the mounting table 160 during the conveying operation (while the mounting table 160 is stationary). In the present embodiment, as described above, the outer cylinder 40 is mounted on the mounting base 160 so that each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 is exposed from the front end of the petal-like portion 44 to the rear end of the petal-like portion 44. To be installed.

  Thereafter, the outer cylinder 40 mounted on the mounting base 160 is transported together with the mounting base 160 to the downstream side in the transport direction by intermittently repeating the transporting operation. When the outer cylinder 40 is positioned immediately below the auxiliary pusher 230 in the transport direction, the spreader mechanism 150 (specifically, the first pusher unit 151) applies the outer cylinder 40 mounted on the mounting table 160 to the outer cylinder 40. Pre-processing is performed (S012). The spreading processing mechanism 150 is synchronized with the conveyor 110 and performs a preliminary process on the outer cylinder 40 while the outer cylinder 40 is stationary at a position located directly below the preliminary pusher 230.

  When the carrying operation is performed once after the preliminary processing is performed, the outer cylinder 40 is positioned directly below the pusher 200 on the most upstream side among the plurality of pushers 200 and 210 included in the first pusher unit 151. While the outer cylinder 40 is stationary at such a position, the spreader mechanism 150 (specifically, the first pusher unit 151) causes the outer cylinder 40 (the outer cylinder 40 mounted on the mounting table 160) to be moved. A spreading process is performed (S013).

  In the present embodiment, as described above, in the spreading process, the overhanging surface 202a of the overhanging portion 202 provided in the most upstream pusher 200 is pressed against the inner wall surface of each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44. As a result, each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 is bent at a substantially right angle outward in the radial direction of the outer cylinder 40. Then, when the pusher 200 on the most upstream side is extracted from the outer cylinder 40 (separated from each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44), the first spreading process is completed. Immediately after the first spreading process, the outer cylinder 40 is creased, and each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 falls to the outside in the radial direction at a fall angle of 1 to 45 degrees. .

  After carrying out the first spreading process, when the carrying operation is executed once, the outer cylinder 40 is positioned immediately below the pusher 210 adjacent to the most upstream pusher 200 (that is, the second pusher 210). Become. While the outer cylinder 40 is stationary at this position, the second expansion process is performed on the outer cylinder 40. Thereafter, the conveying operation and the spreading process are alternately repeated, and the spreading process is performed four times in total. Then, as the number of times the spreading process is performed increases, the falling angle of the petal-like portion 44 immediately after the spreading process gradually increases. Even after the fourth spreading process, the fall angle of the petal-like portion 44 is in the range of 1 to 45 degrees.

  After the expansion process is performed a plurality of times on the outer cylinder 40, the conveying operation is repeated, and the outer cylinder 40 on which the expansion process has been performed is conveyed together with the mounting table 160 to the downstream side in the conveyance direction. When the outer cylinder 40 is positioned below the first inner cylinder insertion mechanism 131, the first inner cylinder 51 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40 from the tip opening 43 by the first inner cylinder insertion mechanism 131 (S014). That is, in the present embodiment, after the outer cylinder 40 that has been subjected to the spreading process is transported together with the mounting table 160 to the downstream side in the transport direction by the transport conveyor 110, the first inner cylinder 51 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40. Note that the inner cylinder insertion mechanism 130 is synchronized with the conveyor 110, and the first inner cylinder insertion mechanism 131 is configured such that the outer cylinder 40 is stationary while the outer cylinder 40 is stationary below the first inner cylinder insertion mechanism 131. The first inner cylinder 51 is inserted into.

  After inserting the first inner cylinder 51 into the outer cylinder 40, the conveying operation is repeated. Then, while the outer cylinder 40 is positioned directly below the pusher 210 included in the second pusher unit 152 and the outer cylinder 40 is stationary at that position, the expanding process is performed again on the outer cylinder 40 (S015). ). Note that even immediately after the spreading process, the fall angle of the petal-like portion 44 is in the range of 1 to 45 degrees.

  Thereafter, the conveying operation is repeated, and while the outer cylinder 40 is positioned at a position below the second inner cylinder insertion mechanism 132 and is stationary at the position, the second inner cylinder 52 is advanced by the second inner cylinder insertion mechanism 132. It inserts into this outer cylinder 40 from the opening 43 (S016). That is, after the first inner cylinder 51 is inserted, the outer cylinder 40 that has been re-expanded is transported together with the mounting table 160 to the downstream side in the transport direction by the transport conveyor 110, and then the second inner cylinder 52 is Insert into the outer tube 40.

  After the second inner cylinder 52 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40, the conveying operation is repeated. When the outer cylinder 40 (the outer cylinder 40 into which the first inner cylinder 51 and the second inner cylinder 52 are inserted) reaches the position where the thermoforming unit (not shown) is installed in the transport direction, Heat forming is performed to form a flare-like portion 52c at the rear end of the tube 52 (S017). When the heat forming is completed, the assembly of the applicator 30 is completed.

  After performing the heat forming, the conveying operation is further repeated. The outer cylinder 40 (in other words, the assembled applicator 30) is positioned immediately below the pusher 210 included in the third pusher unit 153, and the outer cylinder 40 is stationary at the position. For 40, the spreading process is performed again (S018). Note that even immediately after the spreading process, the fall angle of the petal-like portion 44 is in the range of 1 to 45 degrees.

  Thereafter, the conveying operation is repeated, and when the outer cylinder 40 (in other words, the assembled applicator 30) is positioned below the tampon body insertion mechanism 140, the tampon body insertion mechanism 140 causes the tampon body 20 to be opened at the tip opening 43. Is inserted into the outer cylinder 40 (S019). That is, the outer cylinder 40 that has been subjected to the re-expansion process after the inner cylinder 50 (the first inner cylinder 51 and the second inner cylinder 52) has been inserted is transported together with the mounting table 160 to the downstream side in the transport direction by the transport conveyor 110. Then, the tampon main body 20 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40. The tampon main body insertion mechanism 140 is also synchronized with the transport conveyor 110 and is held in the guide tube 141 while the outer cylinder 40 is stationary with the tip opening 43 facing the lower end opening of the guide tube 141. The tampon main body 20 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40 from the tip opening 43.

  The assembly of the tampon 10 is completed by the series of steps described above. The assembled tampon 10 is transported together with the mounting table 160 toward the step of processing the tip portion of the outer cylinder 40 into a substantially hemispherical shape while being mounted on the mounting table 160.

  As described above, the method for manufacturing the tampon 10 according to the present embodiment includes the step of mounting the outer cylinder 40 on the mounting base 160 (S011) and the step of performing the spreading process on the outer cylinder 40 (S013, S015, S018). ), A process of inserting the inner cylinder 50 into the outer cylinder 40 from the tip opening 43 after performing the spreading process (S014, S016), and a tampon body 20 being inserted into the outer cylinder 40 from the tip opening 43 after performing the spreading process. (S019). Further, the step of performing the spreading process includes the step of repeating the spreading process a plurality of times (S013) on the outer cylinder 40 before inserting the first inner cylinder 51 into the outer cylinder 40, and the first inner cylinder 51. A step (S015) of re-expanding the outer cylinder 40 between the insertion into the outer cylinder 40 and the insertion of the second inner cylinder 52 into the outer cylinder 40; There is a step (S018) of re-expanding the outer cylinder 40 between the insertion into the outer cylinder 40 and the insertion of the tampon body 20 into the outer cylinder 40.

=== Effectiveness of the manufacturing method of the tampon 10 according to the present embodiment ===
In the manufacturing method of the tampon 10 according to the present embodiment, each of the plurality of petal-like portions 44 surrounding the distal end opening 43 of the outer cylinder 40 is bent outward in the radial direction of the outer cylinder 40 with respect to the outer cylinder 40. To widen the tip opening 43. Then, after performing the spreading process, the inner cylinder 50 (specifically, the first inner cylinder 51 and the second inner cylinder 52) and the tampon main body 20 are inserted into the outer cylinder 40 from the tip opening 43. Thereby, the inner cylinder 50 and the tampon main body 20 can be smoothly inserted into the outer cylinder 40. Hereinafter, the effectiveness of the manufacturing method of the tampon 10 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

  When manufacturing the tampon 10 of the present embodiment, each of the outer cylinder 40, the inner cylinder 50, and the tampon main body 20 has the above-described shape, and thus the inner cylinder 50 and the tampon main body 20 are removed from the distal end opening 43. 40 will be inserted. That is, the tip opening 43 serves as an insertion port when the inner cylinder 50 and the tampon main body 20 are inserted into the outer cylinder 40. As described in the section of the problem to be solved by the invention, in order to improve the production speed of the tampon 10, it is necessary to smoothly insert the inner cylinder 50 and the tampon main body 20 into the outer cylinder 40 from the tip opening 43. There is.

  By the way, when the outer cylinder 40 is injection-molded and mounted on the mounting table 160, the petal-like portion 44 falls inward in the radial direction due to a collision between the outer cylinders 40 or the like. There is. When the petal-like portion 44 falls inward in the radial direction, the tip opening 43 becomes small, so that it becomes difficult to insert the inner cylinder 50 and the tampon main body 20 into the outer cylinder 40 from the tip opening 43. In addition, if the inner cylinder 50 and the tampon main body 20 are forcibly inserted into the outer cylinder 40 in such a state, the petal-like portion 44 is caught inside the outer cylinder 40 and the defective tampon 10 is manufactured. .

  In particular, like the tampon 10 of the present embodiment, the difference between the outer diameter of the inner cylinder 50 and the inner diameter of the outer cylinder 40 (specifically, the outer diameter and the large-diameter portion 41 of the flange 51a of the first inner cylinder 51). And the difference between the diameter of the tampon body 20 and the inner diameter of the outer cylinder 40 are both small, the tip opening 43 is reduced and the inner cylinder 50 is removed from the tip opening 43. And it becomes more difficult to insert the tampon body 20 into the outer cylinder 40.

  For this reason, it is necessary to take measures for facilitating insertion of the inner cylinder 50 and the tampon main body 20 into the outer cylinder 40 in preparation for the case where the petal-like portion 44 falls inward. As this measure, for example, it is conceivable to make the outer diameter of the inner cylinder 50 and the diameter of the tampon body 20 smaller than the inner diameter of the outer cylinder 40. In this measure, the inner cylinder 50 and the tampon main body 20 can be easily inserted into the outer cylinder 40, but between the outer cylinder 40 and the inner cylinder 50 (or between the outer cylinder 40 and the tampon main body 20). ), Which causes trouble when the tampon 10 is used.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, before the inner cylinder 50 and the tampon main body 20 are inserted into the outer cylinder 40, the above-described spreading process is performed on the outer cylinder 40. As a result, the inner cylinder 50 and the tampon main body 20 can be inserted into the outer cylinder 40 from the tip opening 43 with the tip opening 43 being widened. As a result, the inner cylinder 50 and the tampon main body 20 can be smoothly inserted into the outer cylinder 40 without changing the outer diameter of the inner cylinder 50 and the diameter of the tampon main body 20. Further, since each of the plurality of petal-like parts 44 is bent outward in the radial direction of the outer cylinder 40, it is possible to prevent the above-described problem, that is, the petal-like part 44 from being caught inside the outer cylinder 40. become. Thereby, tampon 10 comes to be assembled appropriately.

  As described above, the inner cylinder 50 and the tampon main body 20 are smoothly formed into the outer cylinder 40 by performing the spreading process on the outer cylinder 40 before inserting the inner cylinder 50 and the tampon main body 20 into the outer cylinder 40. It is possible to insert and further assemble the tampon 10 properly. Therefore, if it is the manufacturing method of the tampon 10 of this embodiment, it becomes possible to improve the production speed of the tampon 10.

  Further, in the present embodiment, after the outer cylinder 40 is mounted on the mounting table 160, the outer cylinder 40 is expanded. That is, the process of performing the spreading process is a process of performing the spreading process on the outer cylinder 40 after the outer cylinder 40 is mounted on the mounting tool 160. This is from the time when the outer cylinder 40 is injection molded until it is mounted on the mounting table 160 (specifically, after being placed on the vibration table 121a of the outer cylinder conveying feeder 121, the outer cylinder 40 is supplied to the conveying conveyor 110. This is because there is a high possibility that the petal-like portion 44 falls inward. Therefore, when the outer cylinder 40 is mounted on the mounting table 160 and then the expansion process is performed on the outer cylinder 40, the expansion process is effectively performed. Then, after the outer cylinder 40 that has been subjected to the spreading process is transported together with the mounting table 160 to the downstream side in the transport direction by the transport conveyor 110, the inner cylinder 50 (the first inner cylinder 51 and the second inner cylinder 52) is transferred to the outer cylinder. Insert into 40. Thereafter, the outer cylinder 40 in which the inner cylinder 50 is inserted is transported together with the mounting table 160 to the downstream side in the transport direction by the transport conveyor 110, and then the tampon main body 20 is inserted into the outer cylinder 40. This facilitates maintaining the tip opening 43 in an expanded state until the inner cylinder 50 and the tampon main body 20 are inserted into the outer cylinder 40.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the outer cylinder 40 continues to be mounted on the same mounting table 160 after the outer cylinder 40 is mounted on the mounting table 160 until the assembly of the tampon 10 is completed will be described as an example. However, it is not limited to this (refer FIG. 9). For example, in a configuration in which one outer cylinder 40 is conveyed by a plurality of conveyance conveyors 110, when the outer cylinder 40 is transferred from one conveyance conveyor 110 to another conveyance conveyor 110, a mounting base on which the outer cylinder 40 is mounted. 160 switches. That is, the case where the outer cylinder 40 mounted on the mounting table 160 is mounted again on another mounting table 160 can be considered. Even in such a case, the outer cylinder 40 is mounted after the outer cylinder 40 is mounted on the mounting base 160 on which the outer cylinder 40 is first mounted (that is, the mounting base 160 that receives the outer cylinder 40 from the outer cylinder supply mechanism 120). If the spreading process is performed on the image, the spreading process can be effectively performed.

  In the present embodiment, the first inner cylinder 51, the second inner cylinder 52, and the tampon main body 20 are each subjected to a spreading process on the outer cylinder 40 at a stage prior to the step of inserting the main cylinder 20 into the outer cylinder 40. (S013, S015, S018 in FIG. 16). Thereby, when each of the 1st inner cylinder 51, the 2nd inner cylinder 52, and the tampon main body 20 is inserted in the outer cylinder 40, it becomes possible to expand the front-end | tip opening 43 more reliably.

=== Other Embodiments ===
In each of the above embodiments, the manufacturing method and the manufacturing apparatus (assembly apparatus 100) of the tampon 10 of the present invention have been mainly described. However, the above embodiments are for facilitating the understanding of the present invention. The invention is not limited. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and the present invention includes the equivalents thereof. The set values, dimensional values, shapes, and the like described above are merely examples for exhibiting the effects of the present invention, and do not limit the present invention.

  In the above-described embodiment, the tampon 10 having the two-stage inner cylinder 50 (that is, the extendable inner cylinder 50) as the pushing member has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the tampon 10 having the inner cylinder 50 of which the length is fixed (it does not expand and contract) may be used.

  In the above embodiment, the outer cylinder 40 is mounted on the mounting table 160 with the tip opening 43 facing substantially upward. That is, the above embodiment is configured to insert the inner cylinder 50 (the first inner cylinder 51 and the second inner cylinder 52) and the tampon main body 20 into the outer cylinder 40 from above. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the outer cylinder 40 is placed on the conveyor 110 with the tip opening 43 facing substantially sideways, and the inner cylinder 50 and the tampon main body 20 are externally arranged from the side. The structure inserted in 40 may be sufficient. In order to perform the spreading process on the outer cylinder 40 in such a configuration, the pushers 200 and 210 are inserted into the outer cylinder 40 from the side, and the pushers 200 and 210 are respectively inserted into the plurality of petal-like portions 44 from the side. You can press it.

  In the above embodiment, the inner cylinder 50 and the tampon main body 20 are separately inserted into the outer cylinder 40, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a configuration in which the tampon main body 20 is accommodated in the outer cylinder 40 in a state where the tampon main body 20 is inserted into the inner cylinder 50 is conceivable. When manufacturing the tampon 10 having such a configuration, after inserting the tampon main body 20 into the inner cylinder 50, the inner cylinder 50 into which the tampon main body 20 is inserted may be inserted into the outer cylinder 40 (that is, the tampon 10). The main body 20 and the inner cylinder 50 may be simultaneously inserted into the outer cylinder 40).

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the expansion process is performed on the outer cylinder 40 one by one has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which the spreading process is simultaneously performed on the plurality of outer cylinders 40 may be employed. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, if a plurality of pushers 200, 210 having the same shape are attached to the mounting plate 220 as a pair, a plurality of outer cylinders 40 (in the configuration shown in FIG. It is possible to perform the spreading process simultaneously on the individual outer cylinders 40). FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a configuration in which a plurality of outer cylinders 40 are simultaneously expanded, and corresponds to FIG. 11A.

3 is a cross-sectional view showing components of the tampon 10. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing components of the tampon 10. FIG. It is a figure which shows a mode that the 1st inner cylinder 51 and the 2nd inner cylinder 52 are connected. FIG. 4A is an external view of the outer cylinder 40. FIG. 4B is a view of the outer cylinder 40 shown in FIG. 4A as viewed from the distal end side. FIG. 4C is a view of the outer cylinder 40 shown in FIG. 4A as viewed from the front end side. 2 is an external view of a first inner cylinder 51. FIG. 3 is an external view of a second inner cylinder 52. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a manufacturing flow of the tampon 10. 8A to 8D are transition diagrams showing how the tampon 10 is manufactured. It is a figure which shows typically the assembly apparatus 100 which assembles the tampon. It is a figure which shows the state in which the outer cylinder 40 was mounted in the mounting base 160. FIG. FIG. 11A is a schematic diagram showing the first pusher unit 151. FIG. 11B is a schematic diagram showing the second pusher unit 152. 1 is an external view of a pusher 200. FIG. It is an external view of the pusher 210. FIG. 14A to 14D are explanatory diagrams of the spreading process. 3 is an external view of a preliminary pusher 230. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an assembly flow of the tampon 10. It is a figure which shows the structure which performs a spreading process simultaneously with respect to the some outer cylinder.

Explanation of symbols

10 tampons,
20 tampon body, 21 cotton body, 22 cord, 30 applicator,
40 outer cylinder (storage cylinder), 41 large diameter part, 42 small diameter part, 43 tip opening (opening),
44 petal-like part, 45 rear end opening, 46 annular rib, 47 step,
50 inner cylinder (extrusion member), 51 first inner cylinder, 51a collar part, 51b annular projection,
52 2nd inner cylinder, 52a collar part, 52b convex part, 52c flare-shaped part,
100 assembly device (manufacturing device of tampon 10), 110 transport conveyor,
120 outer cylinder supply mechanism, 121 outer cylinder conveying feeder, 121a shaking table,
122 supply path, 122a stacking unit,
122b drop shooter, 122c stacking unit,
130 inner cylinder insertion mechanism (extrusion member insertion mechanism),
131 first inner cylinder insertion mechanism, 132 second inner cylinder insertion mechanism,
133 Inner cylinder feeder, 133a Shaking table, 133b Rail,
134 supply tube, 135 inner cylinder insertion part, 135a pressing member,
140 Tampon body insertion mechanism, 141 guide tube,
142 suction device, 143 pressing member,
150 spreading processing mechanism, 151 first pusher unit,
152 second pusher unit, 153 third pusher unit,
160 mounting table (mounting tool), 200,210 pusher (tool),
201, 211 taper part, 201a, 211a outer peripheral surface,
202, 212 overhang,
202a, 212a overhanging surfaces (surfaces located at the tip of the overhanging portion 202 and overhanging the outer edge of the rear end of the tapered portion 201), 220 mounting plate,
230 Preliminary pusher (other jig), 231 Other taper part, 231a Outer peripheral surface

Claims (7)

A tampon main body, a storage cylinder that houses the tampon main body and includes an opening formed at a tip and a plurality of petal-like portions surrounding the opening; and is movable in the storage cylinder; A method for producing a tampon having an extrusion member pushed out of the storage cylinder from an opening,
A step of expanding the opening by bending each of the plurality of petal-like portions outward in the radial direction of the storage cylinder with respect to the storage cylinder;
Inserting the pushing member into the storage cylinder from the opening after performing the spreading process;
Inserting the tampon body through the opening into the storage cylinder after performing the spreading process;
A method for producing a tampon having
A step of mounting the storage cylinder on a mounting tool placed on a conveyor and transported in the transport direction by the conveyor;
The step of performing the spreading process is a step of performing the spreading process on the storage cylinder after the storage cylinder is mounted on the mounting tool.
The spreading process is performed by inserting the taper portion of a jig having a taper portion thickened from the front end toward the rear end at the front end portion into the storage cylinder from the opening, thereby allowing the jig to move to the plurality of petal-like portions. A method of manufacturing a tampon, characterized in that the process is a process of pressing each of the two and bending the opening outward in the radial direction to push the opening . The method for producing a tampon according to claim 1 ,
In the step of performing the spreading process, immediately after the jig is separated from each of the plurality of petal-like portions, the jig is tilted outward at a tilt angle of 1 degree or more and 45 degrees or less in the radial direction. A method of manufacturing a tampon, wherein the tampon is pressed against each of the above. In the manufacturing method of the tampon of any one of Claim 1 or Claim 2 ,
In the step of mounting the storage cylinder on the mounting tool, the storage cylinder is mounted on the mounting tool such that each of the plurality of petal-shaped portions is exposed from the front end of the petal-shaped portion to the rear end of the petal-shaped portion. A method of manufacturing a tampon characterized by being mounted. A tampon main body, a storage cylinder that houses the tampon main body and includes an opening formed at a tip and a plurality of petal-like portions surrounding the opening; and is movable in the storage cylinder; A method for producing a tampon having an extrusion member pushed out of the storage cylinder from an opening,
A step of expanding the opening by bending each of the plurality of petal-like portions outward in the radial direction of the storage cylinder with respect to the storage cylinder;
Inserting the pushing member into the storage cylinder from the opening after performing the spreading process;
Inserting the tampon body through the opening into the storage cylinder after performing the spreading process;
A method for producing a tampon having
In the step of performing the spreading process, the spreading process is repeatedly performed on the storage cylinder a plurality of times. A tampon main body, a storage cylinder that houses the tampon main body and includes an opening formed at a tip and a plurality of petal-like portions surrounding the opening; and is movable in the storage cylinder; A method for producing a tampon having an extrusion member pushed out of the storage cylinder from an opening,
A step of expanding the opening by bending each of the plurality of petal-like portions outward in the radial direction of the storage cylinder with respect to the storage cylinder;
Inserting the pushing member into the storage cylinder from the opening after performing the spreading process;
Inserting the tampon body through the opening into the storage cylinder after performing the spreading process;
And the step of performing the spreading process,
Before inserting the pushing member into the storage cylinder, repeatedly performing the spreading process on the storage cylinder a plurality of times;
A step of performing the spreading process on the storage cylinder again after the pushing member is inserted into the storage cylinder and before the tampon body is inserted into the storage cylinder. Production method. A tampon main body, a storage cylinder that houses the tampon main body and includes an opening formed at a tip and a plurality of petal-like portions surrounding the opening; and is movable in the storage cylinder; An apparatus for producing a tampon having an extrusion member pushed out of the storage cylinder from an opening,
An expansion processing mechanism that performs an expansion process for expanding the opening by bending each of the plurality of petal-shaped portions outward in the radial direction of the storage cylinder with respect to the storage cylinder;
An extruding member insertion mechanism for inserting the extruding member into the storage cylinder from the opening after the spreading processing mechanism performs the spreading process;
A tampon body insertion mechanism that inserts the tampon body into the storage cylinder from the opening after the spreading process mechanism performs the spreading process;
Have
The spread processing mechanism has a jig for performing the spread processing,
The jig includes a taper portion that is provided at a front end portion of the jig and becomes thicker from a front end toward a rear end, and a tension member that is provided at a rear end portion of the jig and protrudes outward from an outer edge of the rear end of the taper portion. With the exit,
The widening mechanism is configured to insert the tapered portion of the jig into the storage cylinder from the opening, thereby causing the plurality of petal-like portions to be located at the tip of the overhanging portion and projecting outward from the outer edge. The tampon manufacturing apparatus is characterized in that the expansion process is performed by pressing each of the first and second members and bending each of them outward in the radial direction to push the opening . In the tampon manufacturing apparatus according to claim 6 ,
The spreading processing mechanism has another jig having a different shape from the jig,
The other jig is provided with a tapered portion at the distal end that becomes thicker from the distal end toward the rear end.
The tip of the tapered portion provided in the jig is flat,
The tip of the other tapered portion provided in the other jig is sharper than the tip of the tapered portion provided in the jig,
The spread processing mechanism is arranged on the storage cylinder before performing the spread processing.
By inserting the other tapered portion into the storage cylinder through the opening, the outer peripheral surface of the other tapered portion is pressed against each of the plurality of petal-like portions, and each of the plurality of tapered portions is bent outward in the radial direction. An apparatus for manufacturing a tampon characterized by performing another spreading process for expanding an opening.

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