US3874032A - Method and apparatus for the manufacture of tampons - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for the manufacture of tampons Download PDF

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US3874032A
US3874032A US270978A US27097872A US3874032A US 3874032 A US3874032 A US 3874032A US 270978 A US270978 A US 270978A US 27097872 A US27097872 A US 27097872A US 3874032 A US3874032 A US 3874032A
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transfer
rolls
chain
transfer device
intermittently
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US270978A
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Stefan Simon
Wolfgang Johst
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Dr Carl Hahn GmbH
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Dr Carl Hahn GmbH
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/20—Tampons, e.g. catamenial tampons; Accessories therefor
    • A61F13/2082—Apparatus or processes of manufacturing
    • A61F13/2085—Catamenial tampons

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method of manufacturing tampons from a continuous band of batting, especially tampons made of cylindrical rolls of cotton batting for feminine hygiene, and to an apparatus for the practice of the method.
  • multi-line production is enabled without difficulty.
  • this invention contemplates an improvement in a process for the manufacture of tampons wherein a band of batting is wound into a plurality of rolls, the rolls are transferred to a pressing process wherein they are pressed into tampons and the tampons are transferred into storage or packaging, the improvement comprising intermittently feeding said plurality of rolls to a transfer means, intermittently removing said rolls from said transfer means and feeding them into a presser, intermittently removing them from said presser and intermittently feeding them to a second transfer I means. Thereafter they may be continuously delivered to storage or packaging.
  • this invention further contemplates an apparatus for carrying out the aforesaid process, which apparatus comprises a winding apparatus to form wound rolls from a fibrous batting, a transfer device to transfer the so-formed rolls to a presser, a presser which forms said rolls into a tampon, means for intermittently feeding said rolls from said winding apparatus to said transfer device and regulating means associated with said transfer device permitting continuous transmission of said rolls to said presser while the feed portion of said transfer device is stationary.
  • the invention also contemplates a process and apparatus for intermittently removing so-formed tampons from said presser and continuously delivering the same through a plurality of transfer means to storage and/or packaging.
  • the present invention through the use of laterally mounted buffer rail which adjusts the length of the moving transfer means disposed between the winding apparatus and the presser enables continuous feeding of the presser notwithstanding an intermittent feeding of the said transfer means by the winding apparatus at its feed portion.
  • the buffer rail is mounted on rollers that rest laterally to maintain a constant movement of the transfer means downstream from the feed portion by regulating the length of the moving portion of the transfer means.
  • the invention solves this problem in that rolls produced from the band of batting in an intermittently operating winding apparatus are transported in an uninterrupted series to a pressing apparatus by means of a transfer device, the wound rolls being advanced intermittently at the winding apparatus and continuously at the pressing apparatus, and being intermittently transferred to the intermittently operating pressing apparatus which presses them into tampons, whereupon these tampons are delivered by an additional continuously operating transfer device to a storage and from thence continuously to a packaging apparatus.
  • the transfer device between the winding apparatus and the pressing apparatus is used as a buffer for the rate of feed of the rolls, so that equalization can be achieved between the number of rolls put out by the winding device, which may include defective rolls which have to be eliminated, and the number that are processed by the pressing apparatus, and thus continuous operation may be sustained.
  • the transfer device between the winding and pressing apparatus be driven intermittently by the winding apparatus, and that this drive be interrupted upon the occurrence of a defective roll, while at the pressing apparatus, the transfer device, driven by the latter, will continue to operate constantly.
  • the transfer device is designed to serve as a buffer, operation at the pressing apparatus will not be impaired by these interruptions in the receiving of rolls from the winding apparatus. If a longer interruption should occur at the winding or pressing apparatus, it is desirable that the winding and pressing apparatus be automatically stopped with the transfer device that serves as a buffer being virtually completely full, or virtually empty, as the case may be.
  • a continuous advancing movement by the transfer device at the intermittently operating pressing apparatus is substantially brought about by the fact that the rolls at this pressing apparatus are introduced into the pressing apparatus by a transverse thrusting action performed while the conveyor system is turning a corner, because the arrangement may be made such that a roll will stand briefly still at the turn and perform nothing but a rotatory movement which can be utilized for the transfer action.
  • An increase in output is achieved by the fact that two winding apparatus are operated in parallel, each followed by a transfer device, and two rolls are transferred each time from each of these transfer devices to a fourline pressing apparatus, from which the tampons are taken by two transfer devices and then fed in a single line to the storage, from which they are again transported continuously to a packaging machine.
  • the multiple-line operation followed by single-line operation is made possible particularly by the nature of the transfer that is performed as the conveyor chains turn corners.
  • To sustain continuous operation in parallel operations of this kind it is desirable that the degree to which the one transfer device serving as a buffer is filled with rolls or tampons be balanced with the other transfer device running in parallel therewith, when extreme situations occur.
  • the pressing machine be made first to operate faster and, vice versa, when it is emptying, that it be made to operate 10% slower, before the pressing machine or the winding machine, as the case may be, comes to a stop as the buffer rail reaches one or the other end position.
  • the tampons in the transfer devices connected to the output of the four-line pressing apparatus are transferred by means of two continuously circulating conveyor chains to a single continuously circulating conveyor chain, which again is made possible by the transfer which occurs at points where the conveyor chains turn corners.
  • the apparatus for the performance of the process comprises a transfer device between the winding apparatus and the pressing apparatus having an endless conveyor chain with roll cups mounted laterally on the links thereof, the said endless conveyor chain being driven through an intermittently drivable sprocket at the winding apparatus and through a continuously drivable sprocket in the area of the pressing apparatus, and being carried between these apparatus around two loose sprockets which are fastened at a distance from one another on a displaceably mounted rail.
  • the roll cups on the chain links in this case assure the preserva tion of the shape given to the individual rolls in the winding apparatus.
  • a device for the ejection of the defective rolls e.g., rolls with metal inclusions or with a defective removal ribbon which is necessary for the use of the tampon, or with no removal ribbon at all, is constituted according to a further improvement by the fact that, in the area of the winding apparatus, the conveyor chain is carried around a fixedly disposed sleeve which is aligned with an ejection plunger in the winding apparatus in such a manner that, when the conveyor chain is not moving,
  • the drive sprocket on the winding apparatus is advantageously coupled with an intermittently drivable shaft of the winding apparatus through a claw clutch.
  • This design of the transfer device is advantageously used also at the output end of the pressing apparatusf
  • one of these endless conveyor chains is, according to another development, carried around a continuously drivable chain drive shaft with which the second conveyor chain, with laterally mounted tampon holders for receiving the tampons, is in engagement in such a manner that, during a half rotation of this sleeve these tampon holders will be in coaxial alignment with the tampon cups of the first conveyor chain.
  • This chain drive shaft is provided in the area of engagement of the first conveyor chain with bores which align with the tampon cups mounted on this conveyor chain during its rotation and in which displaceable plungers are disposed by which the transfer is performed from the one transport chain to the other while it is turning the corner.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the system for the transportation and transfer of tampons between the individual processing stations.
  • FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along line II-II in FIG. I through a transfer device associated with a winding apparatus.
  • FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along line IIIIII in FIG. 1 through a first transfer device at the input end of a pressing apparatus and through a second transfer device at the output and of said pressing apparatus.
  • FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 1 through a third transfer device at the output of the pressing apparatus. It will be understood that when a plurality of similar functions are performed by similar parts, only one such part is shown in detail.
  • two single-line winding apparatus l disposed one over the other are producing, in an intermittently arranged sequence, rolls which are fed by means of two first transfer devices, shown in detail in FIG. 2, to two endless conveyor chains 15, 16, and by means of the latter to an intermittently operating, four-line pressing apparatus 2, shown in greater detail in FIG. 3.
  • From the pressing apparatus 2 sets of four tampons are transferred to a heated revolver 3a and thereafter to a heated revolver 3 of this pressing apparatus.
  • From said heated revolver 3 of this pressing apparatus sets of four tampons are transferred to two identical endless conveyor chains 21 coaxially with sprockets 34.
  • the conveyor chains 21 are carried in an additional transfer device 4 around two continuously drivable chain drive shafts at which two transfer points each are provided. At these two transfer points the tampons are transferred to a single endless conveyor chain 22 which is likewise carried around the two chain drive shafts 10 at the transfer points.
  • the conveyor chain 22, filled with tampons, runs into a storage station 5 from which it emerges at the discharge end as chain band 6 and delivers the tampons to a boxing station 7 on a continuously operating packaging machine or transfers them by means of a transfer device 8 to an additional conveyor chain which then leads to a packaging station.
  • the endless conveyor chains 15, 16, are provided with roll cups 20, a certain number of which are fastened at equal intervals laterally to the links of these chains (FIG. 2).
  • the two winding apparatus 1 are capable of driving intermittently the two conveyor chains 15, 16, while they are continuously movable in the area of the pressing apparatus 2 by the sprockets 42, shown in FIG. 1. Between the winding apparatus and the pressing apparatus, these conveyor chains 15, 16 are furthermore carried around two loose sprockets 17a which are fastened on a buffer rail 17 which can be reciprocated horizontally in the direction of the arrows l8, l9.
  • the conveyor chain is driven by the winding apparatus 1 through a claw clutch (FIG. 2) having a claw clutch half 23 fastened to a shaft 29 of the winding apparatus and a reciprocating claw sleeve 24 by which the rotatory movement is transmitted through a claw clutch half 30 which is fastened to one end of the shaft 29.
  • a toothed-belt pulley 9 which transmits the rotatory movement by means of a toothed belt 9a (FIG. 1) to two chain sprockets 9b which are engaged with the conveyor chain 15 (FIG. 1).
  • the claw sleeve 24 is provided with a circumferential groove 24a which ejection plunger 31, in such a manner that a roll cup 20' in the receiving position is aligned with this sleeve 11, as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the ejection plunger 31 pushes a roll 35a prepared by the winding apparatus 1 into the roll cup 20 while the conveyor chain is stopped, after which the conveyor chain 15 is advanced by the intermittent drive of the winding apparatus 1 through the engaged claw clutch.
  • the solenoid actuator 27 receives an actuating pulse from product quality controldevices disposed in the area of the winding apparatus, so that the claw sleeve 24 is shifted by lever 26 to the right as seen in FIG. 2. While the conveyor chain 15 is stopped the claw sleeve may also be disengaged manually by means of an actuating lever 28.
  • the claw sleeve 24 engages the fixedly disposed claw clutch half 25. This causes the conveyor chain to remain in the rest position in the area of the winding apparatus during the next working cycle, in the course of which the winding apparatus prepares another roll which then ejects the defective roll out of the roll cup 20 through the sleeve 11.
  • the defective roll falls through a chute 41 into a waste receptacle which is not shown.
  • the endless conveyor chain 15 is carried around the two sprocket wheels 17a fastened to the displaceable buffer rail 17 in such a manner that they can be appropriately advanced to the pressing apparatus 2. Due to the intermittent drive at the winding apparatus and the continuous drive of the chain 15 in the area of the pressing apparatus through sprocket 42 there are different speeds within the conveyor chain which are compensated by the freely movable buffer rail 17.
  • the buffer rail 17 is guided by four rollers 33 (FIG. 2). Drive stoppages caused by defective rolls at the winding apparatus cause the rail to be displaced in the discharging direction 18.
  • the conveyor chain 15 may be considered as a buffer in the direction of movement towards the pressing apparatus 2, because the roll cups 20 on the conveyor chain are filled without interruption in spite of defective rolls, and in spite of diminished output from the winding apparatus the pressing apparatus 2 is able to continue to operate and accept rolls from the conveyor chain 15.
  • the rails 17 may assume opposite positions, the one rail, in the extreme case, being stopped in the farthermost position in direction 18 and the other rail being stopped in the farthermost position in direction 19.
  • a signal is transmitted by a limit switch to the solenoid actuator 27 for the conveyor chain on the buffer rail 17 that is stopped in the filling position 19, so that the rolls will be ejected until the conveyor chain has emptied to such an extent that the same position as the other buffer rail 17.
  • the end positions of the buffer rails 17 in filling direction 19 and in emptying direction 18 are detected by limit switches which give the signals to stop the winding or pressing apparatus, as the case may be.
  • the transfer of the roll from the conveyor chains and 16 to the pressing apparatus 2 is performed by a plunger 32 which is centrally disposed in a sprocket so as to be displaceable transversely of the conveyor chain 15.
  • a plunger 32 which is centrally disposed in a sprocket so as to be displaceable transversely of the conveyor chain 15.
  • Each of the conveyor chains 15 and 16 is guided at the pressing apparatus 2 around two such sprockets 12 engaging them on about 90 of their perimeter.
  • the arrangement is such that the axis of the roll cup mounted on the conveyor chains is in alignment with the axis of sprocket 12 and plunger 32 throughout this arc of engagement. In this position one winding cup 20 is also aligned with a lifter 2a of the pressing apparatus 2 which lifts the total of four rolls.
  • the individual roll cups 20, as best seen in FIG. 1, are open on one longitudinal side, this elongated opening being larger than the diameter of the plunger 32. In this manner, a roll cup can be pivoted out of reach of the plunger even if the latter should still be in the extended position.
  • the intermittent step-drive for the two endless conveyor chains 15 and 16 in the winding machine area is induced over a switching curve 101, the shaft 102, the driving chain and the motor 109.
  • the continuous drive of the conveyor chains in the presser area is induced over the chain wheels 105 and 106 and the chain 107 and 108 and the motor 109.
  • the tampons are presented in crosshatching in the roll cups 20 of the chains 15 and 16.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 there is described a transportation element 100 of the winding apparatus. From these transporting elements 100 the rolls 35a are pushed in the transporting cups 20 (roll cups) of the chains 15 and 16 by means of the ejection plunger 31.
  • Groups of four rolls are transported in front (before) of the lifting device of the pressing device 2 by means of two transporting cups each (FIG. 3). During the quasi-stationary instant (turning of the roll cups 20 only around their own axle center). The four rolls are pushed out of the roll cups 20 on the lifter 20 by means of the plunger 32. The lifter 2a presses the 4 rolls against the upper evaluation angle 110, which is fixed to the press (separate patent application). Then four flat plungers 111 push the pressed flat rolls in the press. After the pressing procedure, the pressed rolls are pushed by round plungers (Ser. No. 235,770, filed Mar.
  • FIG. 3 represents in a clear way the arrangement of the two revolvers 3a and 3 with the joint step drive over the sprockets 112, 113 and 114. It can be seen in FIG. 1 as well.
  • the conveyor elements for conveying the tampons from the lower to the upper revolver as well as the pushing out of the upper revolver in the tampon cups 13 of both chains 21 can be seen from FIG. 3.
  • the continuous driven roll cups 13 are turning round their own axle center around the sprocket wheel 34 of FIG. 4 and reach at a quasi-stationary position.
  • the intermittent drive of the conveyor chains exists only in the area of the winding machine for the chains 15 and 16 and can be seen from FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and explained above.
  • FIG. 1 one common drive motor 104 is represented for the drive of the both winding devices 1 as well as for the intermittent drive of the chains 15 and 16.
  • FIG. 1 shows the drive of the step-switched revolvers 3 and 311 over the switching gear 115, the continuous drive of the conveyor chains 15 and 16 in the area of the presser as well as the continuous drive of both chains 21 with the tampon cups 13 and the continuous drive of the conveyor chain 22 of the joint (common) drive motor 109.
  • the rolls are formed into tampons 35.
  • the tampons are pushed into a cylindrical bushing 53 of a first revolver 3a by means of the ejector mandrel 52.
  • This first revolver 3a is intermittently turned about 270 to a transfer station, so that the bushing 53 with the tampon is positioned in opposition to a bushing 62 ofa second revolver 3 the axis of it being parallel to the axis of the first revolver 3a.
  • the bushings of both revolvers 3a, 3 are heated.
  • the second revolver 3 is intermittently turned with the same rate as the first revolver about 270 to an ejection station, in which the bushing is coaxially in alignment with the tampon cups 13, which are fastened laterally to the links of the two conveyor chains 21 (FIG. 4).
  • a transfer plunger 55 is movable to and fro in a U-shaped guide 54 within a plane through the main axis of both revolvers 31, 3 and coaxially to the bushings 53 and 62 of the second revolver 3.
  • the rear end of this plunger forms a toothed rack 56, which mates with a toothed rim 57 of a lever 59 which is pivotably connected to a pivot 58.
  • the other end of the lever is hinged at 60 to a control rod 61, which is movable through a cam in a well known manner (not shown).
  • a discharge plunger 64 operates in the same manner as the plunger 55 and is provided at the ejection station and movably guided in a U-shaped guide 63 radially to the axis of the second revolver 3 and coaxially to the bushing 62.
  • the rear end of said plunger 64 forms with a lever 68 a rack-and-pinion-gear 65, 67.
  • the lever 68 is pivotable about a pivot 66 and the free end of the lever is hinged to a control rod 70 at 69.
  • the two buffer rails 17 have the following functions:
  • the buffer rail 17 is moved about the difference of this displacement in the direction of the arrow 18.
  • the chain 15 or 16 is moved about one pitch of the distance of the roll-cups with a higher rate than the chain is continuously driven by the sprockets 12 and 42 respectively at the same time.
  • the buffer rail is moving in the previous initial or normal position in direction of the arrow 19.
  • the balance of failures is the second function of the buffer rail 17 and the chain 15 or 16. If a defective roll is pushed into a roll-cup of the chain 15 or 16, the continuous drive of the chain is automatically stopped and the roll-cup with the defective roll in it is maintained in the transfer range one cycle of the machine. The following perfect roll pushes the defective roll out of the roll-cup and only thereafter the chain will be moved about one further pitch. During the standstill of the chain about one cycle of the machine, the buffer rail is shifted about the half distance of the distance of two roll-cups of the chain in the direction of the arrow 18.
  • both buffer rails 17 are moved in extremely different positions by the ejection of a plurality of defective rolls, that means, that one of the both buffer rails is shifted much more in for instance the direction of discharge 18 than the other buffer rail, the other chain system will receive an electronic signal for the ejection of perfect rolls until that time at which both buffer rails will reach again the same position.
  • the index number of the presser is slowed down about for a short time by an electric control to bring both buffer rails again in their middle position (in FIG. 1 the full charge position is shown). Both winding apparatuses will be operated until the buffer rails 17 have reached their middle position and thereafter the electric control will be operated in such a way that the presser operates with a normal rate.
  • the upper winding apparatus delivers defective rolls.
  • the buffer rail 17 would be shifted more and more into the direction of the discharge (arrow 18), because of the fact that the chain system at the transfer station from the winding apparatus to the transfer chain will come to a standstill during each machine cycle. During this time each roll in a roll-cup at the transfer point will be pushed out by the following defective roll.
  • the buffer rail 17 is in its extreme position at the left side of FIG. 1, this position will be electronically scanned and the electronic control will give a signal ejection to the other winding apparatus below. With this signal perfect rolls will be ejected at the transfer point of the winding apparatus below to approach also the extreme left position with the buffer rail 17 as it does the upper buffer rail. If now both buffer rails are moved in a position very narrow to the empty position", then the presser is driven 10% slower and both buffer rails will be moved slowly to their middle position.
  • both winding apparatuses will work for such a time, until both buffer rails will reach their extreme right position in FIG. 1, that means the direction of filling. In this end position again an end switch will be closed by the buffer rail, by which the winding apparatus is stopped. Therefore, in the case of an extreme left or right end-positions of the buffer rail the latter will operate an end switch as to stop the winding-apparatus at the extreme right endposition of the buffer rail 17 or to stop the presser machine at the extreme left endposition of the buffer rail in FIG. 1.
  • the tampons 35 are pushed from the two continuously running conveyor chains 21 into tampon containers 14 on the continuously circulating conveyor chain 22 at two transfer points.
  • Each of the conveyor chains 21 is driven in common with the conveyor chain 22 by a chain sprocket 10a, 10b, through the hollow chain drive shaft 10 which is connected to a driving motor through a drive pinion at the end of the shaft, in a manner which is not shown.
  • This system is so arranged that, during one half revolution of the chain drive shaft 10, a sleeve-like tampon cup 13 on conveyor chain 21 will be in alignment, in the sprocket engagement area, with one of the tampon containers 14 whose shape matches that of a tampon and which are carried on the second conveyor chain.
  • the transfer of the tampon 35 takes place while the conveyor chains 21 and 22 are rotating around the chain drive shaft 10 and is performed by means of two plungers 40 which are mounted for rotation about the chain drive shaft 10 in walls of the chassis of the transfer device 4 and are guided by bores in the chain drive shaft 10.
  • plungers 40 are disposed for axial displacement in each of the two chain drive shafts, being displaceable by means of rollers 39a which are fastened to blocks 39 which are engaged by a fixed control cam 36 of drumlike construction.
  • the blocks 39 are displaceably disposed on guide rods which are mounted in disks 37 and 38.
  • the cam 36 is affixed to the machine frame, and the machined cam track is of such shape that, when the chain drive shaft 10 rotates by 180, a plunger 40 performs a sinusoidal reciprocating movement in the course of which the transfer takes place.
  • conveyor chain 22 in this embodiment has a l-inch division, each chain division being associated with one tampon holder 14.
  • Conveyor chain 21 has a division of five-eighths inch and carries one tampon cup every six links.
  • the filled conveyor chain 22 then passes into the storage station 5 from which the tampons are fed to a packaging machine. e.g., a blister packaging machine.
  • a packaging machine e.g., a blister packaging machine.
  • a paddle wheel presses the tampons out of the recesses of the sprocket into the recesses in a blister material running on the blister drum, whereupon the packaging of the tampons may be performed in a conventional manner. With the manufacturing installation described, an output of 240 tampons per minute can be achieved.
  • An improvement according to claim 1 further comprising continuously feeding the rolls from said third and fourth transfer means in parallel to a single continuously moving receiving means and passing said rolls along a common path to a downstream work station.
  • An improvement according to claim 2 additionally comprising removing the rolls from the first and second transfer means by directing a transverse thrust against them.
  • An improvement according to claim 3 further comprising continuously transporting thereafter tampons along a common path to a packaging apparatus.
  • An improvement according to claim 2 further comprising pressing the rolls into tampons in said pressing apparatus and injecting some of the so-formed tampons into said third transfer means and some of said tampons into said fourth transfer means, the rate at which said rolls are pressed being at a greater rate upon the feeding of rolls upstream thereof to respective first and second transfer means than upon the transfer of rolls from said first and second transfer means to said pressing apparatus.
  • an apparatus for making tampons comprising a winding apparatus to form wound rolls from a fibrous batting, a pressing apparatus which forms said rolls into tampons, a transfer device to transfer the rolls to said pressing apparatus, means for intermittently feeding rolls to said transfer device, the improvement which comprises regulating means associated with said transfer device permitting continuous transmission of said rolls to said pressing apparatus while the portion of said transfer device positioned at said means for feeding said transfer device is maintained stationary, said transfer device comprising an endless conveyor, said regulating means comprising means for changing the path of said endless conveyor to lengthen or shorten the distance of travel between the means for feeding said' transfer device and said pressing apparatus, and means for continuously moving said conveyor at said pressing apparatus when said conveyor is at its stopped position at said means for feeding said transfer device.
  • said transfer device comprises a buffer rail, an endless conveyor chain having links, which chain carries over said buffer rail roll cups sized to receive said rolls from said winding apparatus, said cups mounted laterally on said links of said chain, said chain carried at said winding apparatus over an intermittently drivable sprocket and proximate said pressing over a continuously drivable sprocket, means for driving said intermittently drivable sprocket and means for driving said continuously drivable sprocket said intermittently drivable sprocket carrying said chain proximate said pressing apparatus, over said continuously drivable sprocket, means for displacing said buffer rail laterally to permit continuous movement of a portion of said chain away from said winding apparatus while the portion of the chain at said winding apparatus is stationary.
  • said buffer rail is mounted to permit reciprocal lateral movement, said rail is disposed on at least one roller, said apparatus further comprising two buffer rail sprocketed wheels, one of which is connected to one end of said buffer rail, the other of which is connected to the other end of said buffer rail and said sprocketed wheels engage said chain.
  • said apparatus further comprises a stationarily disposed sleeve and an ejection plunger of said winding apparatus said conveyor chain proximate said winding apparatus is carried into alignment with said stationarily disposed sleeve, said sleeve is in alignment with said ejection plunger of said winding apparatus, which plunger, upon actuation, ejects a formed roll from the transfer device disposed between the winding apparatus and the presser, such that when the conveyor chain is at a standstill, a roll cup of a size to recieve a roll is aligned with said sleeve.
  • said conveyor chain at the winding apparatus is connected to a drive sprocket
  • said apparatus comprises a claw coupling, an intermittently drivable shaft of the winding apparatus and means for intermittently driving said shaft, said claw coupling said drive sprocket with said intermittently drivable shaft and means for disengaging said claw coupling.
  • An improvement according to claim 10 wherein said means for disengaging said claw comprises an electromagnet and a shifting lever, said shifting lever connected and responsive to said electromagnet.
  • each roll cup is constructed open on one side over the longitudinal dimension in the form of a slot-like opening which is larger than said plunger.
  • a second transfer means connected to the output of said pressing apparatus comprising at least one endless conveyor chain with tampon cups sized to receive a tampon which cups are mounted laterally on the links of said endless conveyor chain, said chain mounted at said pressing apparatus on at leastone loose sprocket, a tampon receiving revolver in said pressing apparatus having at least one bore therein and means for revolving said revolver, said loose sprocket being in an transfer area of 90 such that the axis of a tampon cup is in substantial alignment in this transfer area with the axis of said bore.
  • said apparatus comprises means for continuously driving said chain drive shaft and a second conveyor chain having laterally mounted tampon holders engaging said drive shaft such that, during a rotation of the chain drive shaft, a tampon holder is coaxially aligned with a tampon cup of the endless conveyor chain in an engagement of 90C.
  • said means for displacing said plungers transversely comprises a fixedly disposed control cam and a roller engaged by said cam.
  • An apparatus for making tampons and transferring said tampons to packaging or storage which comprises a first winding apparatus and a second winding apparatus, each of which form round rolls from a fibrous batting, a first transfer device, a second transfer device and a common pressing apparatus, said first transfer device operable to transfer the rolls from said first winding apparatus to said common presser, said second transfer device operable to transfer the rollers from said second winding apparatus to said common presser, said presser applicable to form the rolls fed thereto into tampons, means for intermittently feeding wound rolls to said first transfer device, means for intermittently feeding wound rolls to said second transfer device, means for continuously moving said first transfer device independent of said second transfer device and for maintaining said continuous movement toward said common pressing apparatus while a portion of said first transfer device is maintained stationary, means for continuously moving said second transfer device independent of said first transfer device and maintaining said continuous movement toward said common pressing apparatus while a portion of said second transfer device is maintained stationary.
  • An apparatus according to claim 21 further comprising means for lengthening and shortening the path of travel of said first transfer device independent of the path of travel of said second transfer device in response to feed by wound roll thereto and means for lengthening and shortening the path of travel of said second transfer device independent of the path of travel of said first transfer device in response to feed of a wound roll thereto.
  • each of said means for lengthening and shortening the path of travel of said first and second transfer devices com prises a buffer rail and said transfer device comprises mit continuous movement of said chain away from said winding apparatus while the portion of the chain at said winding apparatus is stationary.
  • An apparatus further comprising balancing means responsive to each of said means for lengthening and shortening the path of travel of said first and second transfer devices, said balancing means balancing the degree of feed to the first and second transfer devices so that neither transfer device is overfilled with or emptied of rolls.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Vascular Medicine (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
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US270978A 1971-07-15 1972-07-12 Method and apparatus for the manufacture of tampons Expired - Lifetime US3874032A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

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DE2135495A DE2135495C3 (de) 1971-07-15 1971-07-15 Anlage zum Herstellen und Verpacken von Tampons

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US3874032A true US3874032A (en) 1975-04-01

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US270978A Expired - Lifetime US3874032A (en) 1971-07-15 1972-07-12 Method and apparatus for the manufacture of tampons

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US (1) US3874032A (ru)
JP (1) JPS5744335B1 (ru)
AR (1) AR197873A1 (ru)
AT (1) AT333944B (ru)
AU (1) AU475874B2 (ru)
BE (1) BE786167A (ru)
BR (1) BR7204672D0 (ru)
CA (1) CA961817A (ru)
CH (1) CH540045A (ru)
CS (1) CS178115B2 (ru)
DD (1) DD98446A5 (ru)
DE (1) DE2135495C3 (ru)
DK (1) DK132372C (ru)
ES (1) ES404813A1 (ru)
FI (1) FI57351C (ru)
FR (1) FR2146041A5 (ru)
GB (1) GB1398632A (ru)
IT (1) IT964676B (ru)
NO (1) NO129984B (ru)
PL (1) PL82719B1 (ru)
RO (1) RO61854A (ru)
SE (1) SE410818B (ru)
SU (1) SU510152A3 (ru)
YU (1) YU35839B (ru)
ZA (1) ZA724545B (ru)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5165152A (en) * 1989-01-03 1992-11-24 Mcneil-Ppc, Inc. Process and apparatus for the continuous production of absorbent bodies
US6682626B2 (en) 2001-09-14 2004-01-27 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Method and apparatus for assembling refastenable absorbent garments
US6730188B2 (en) 2001-09-14 2004-05-04 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Method and apparatus for assembling refastenable absorbent garments
US6743321B2 (en) 2001-09-14 2004-06-01 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Method and apparatus for assembling refastenable absorbent garments
US20040226152A1 (en) * 2003-05-12 2004-11-18 Prosise Robert Lawrence Process for producing stabilized tampons
US20070234532A1 (en) * 2003-05-12 2007-10-11 Gilbert Steven R Process for producing a stabilized compressed tampon
CN106604705A (zh) * 2014-09-30 2017-04-26 金伯利-克拉克环球有限公司 压缩的设备和方法
EP3263080A1 (en) 2016-06-28 2018-01-03 Ontex BVBA Transport method and apparatus for tampons

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19720545B4 (de) * 1997-05-16 2007-12-13 Maschinenfabrik Rieter Ag Vorrichtung zum Transport von Wickeln und leeren Hülsen
CN110143426A (zh) * 2019-05-07 2019-08-20 冠卓智能科技(天津)有限公司 一种环形理片机
RU2768168C1 (ru) * 2020-12-30 2022-03-23 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью «Фармацевтический Медицинский Полис Республики Татарстан» (ООО «ФармМедПолис РТ») Способ изготовления тампона для сбора и нанесения химических или биологических материалов

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2976579A (en) * 1958-04-09 1961-03-28 William H Rabell Method for making tampons
US3465390A (en) * 1966-01-06 1969-09-09 Mayfield Lab Inc Multiphase linear flow machine for making tampons

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2976579A (en) * 1958-04-09 1961-03-28 William H Rabell Method for making tampons
US3465390A (en) * 1966-01-06 1969-09-09 Mayfield Lab Inc Multiphase linear flow machine for making tampons

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5165152A (en) * 1989-01-03 1992-11-24 Mcneil-Ppc, Inc. Process and apparatus for the continuous production of absorbent bodies
US6976521B2 (en) 2001-09-14 2005-12-20 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Apparatus for assembling refastenable absorbent garments
US6682626B2 (en) 2001-09-14 2004-01-27 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Method and apparatus for assembling refastenable absorbent garments
US6730188B2 (en) 2001-09-14 2004-05-04 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Method and apparatus for assembling refastenable absorbent garments
US6743321B2 (en) 2001-09-14 2004-06-01 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Method and apparatus for assembling refastenable absorbent garments
US20040144496A1 (en) * 2001-09-14 2004-07-29 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Apparatus for assembling refastenable absorbent garments
US20040193135A1 (en) * 2001-09-14 2004-09-30 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Refastenable absorbent garment
US20040226152A1 (en) * 2003-05-12 2004-11-18 Prosise Robert Lawrence Process for producing stabilized tampons
US20040244165A1 (en) * 2003-05-12 2004-12-09 The Procter & Gamble Company Process for producing stabilized tampons
US7120977B2 (en) 2003-05-12 2006-10-17 The Procter & Gamble Company Process for producing stabilized tampons
US7124483B2 (en) 2003-05-12 2006-10-24 The Procter & Gamble Company Process for producing stabilized tampons
US20070234532A1 (en) * 2003-05-12 2007-10-11 Gilbert Steven R Process for producing a stabilized compressed tampon
US7472463B2 (en) * 2003-05-12 2009-01-06 The Procter & Gamble Company Process for producing a stabilized compressed tampon
CN106604705A (zh) * 2014-09-30 2017-04-26 金伯利-克拉克环球有限公司 压缩的设备和方法
EP3263080A1 (en) 2016-06-28 2018-01-03 Ontex BVBA Transport method and apparatus for tampons

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
RO61854A (fr) 1978-01-15
SU510152A3 (ru) 1976-04-05
ES404813A1 (es) 1976-01-16
CH540045A (de) 1973-08-15
DE2135495A1 (de) 1973-01-25
DK132372B (da) 1975-12-01
DE2135495B2 (de) 1981-04-02
IT964676B (it) 1974-01-31
YU177372A (en) 1981-02-28
AT333944B (de) 1976-12-27
ZA724545B (en) 1973-03-28
SE410818B (sv) 1979-11-12
BR7204672D0 (pt) 1973-05-24
ATA531472A (de) 1976-04-15
JPS5744335B1 (ru) 1982-09-21
DE2135495C3 (de) 1982-03-25
AU475874B2 (en) 1976-09-09
CA961817A (en) 1975-01-28
AR197873A1 (es) 1974-05-15
GB1398632A (en) 1975-06-25
NO129984B (ru) 1974-06-24
BE786167A (fr) 1972-11-03
FI57351B (fi) 1980-04-30
PL82719B1 (ru) 1975-10-31
DD98446A5 (ru) 1973-06-20
FI57351C (fi) 1980-08-11
CS178115B2 (ru) 1977-08-31
DK132372C (da) 1976-05-03
FR2146041A5 (ru) 1973-02-23
AU4426272A (en) 1974-01-10
YU35839B (en) 1981-08-31

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