US3422496A - Method for manufacturing tampons - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 21, 1969 J. WOLFF ET AL METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING I'AMPONS Filed Sept. 13. 1965 United States Patent METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING TAMPONS Justus Wolff and Bernd Messing, Wuppertal-Barmen, Germany, assignors to Dr. Carl Hahn KG, Dusseldorf,

Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed Sept. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 487,095 Claims priority, application Netherlands, Sept. 14, 1964,

6410706 U.S. Cl. 19--144.5 4 Claims Int. Cl. A61l15/00;A61f 13/00 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Method for manufacturing tampons from substantially cylindrical tampon blanks in apparatus provided with a plurality of edge bearing pressing jaws and a plurality of arcuate surface pressing jaws alternately disposed about the axis of the blank comprising: initially closing all of the pressing jaws to center the blank thereamong; and then compressing the blank to its final diameter, preferably first with the edge bearing pressing jaws and then with the arcuate surface pressing jaws.

This invention relates in general to the manufacture of tampons, such as are used in feminine hygiene, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for manufacturing finished tampons from blanks of coiled absorbent material, such as cotton fleece sheets.

According to the invention, an approximately cylindrical tampon blank is subjected to radial compression along a plurality of peripheral contact lines lying on radial planes symmetrically disposed about a predetermined longitudinal axis which represents the central longitudinal axis intended for the finished product. The tainpon blank is compressed to the extent where its radial dimensions along such contact lines are reduced to the radial dimensions therealong intended for the finished product. This results in a semi-finished tampon having a scalloped transverse cross section, with the scalloped portions lying between adjacent compression lines. These scalloped portions are then compressed radially to form a finished cylindrical tampon of increased density.

For performing these two distinct radial compression steps, the invention provides an apparatus having a plurality of jaw members disposed for movement along respective radial paths surrounding the intended finished tampon central axis.

Each of these jaw members are provided with inwardly facing, i.e toward the central axis, pressing portions which are disposed to contact corresponding portions of the tampon blank for effecting radial compression thereof. To perform the required line pressing and scalloped pressing functions, alternate jaw members are provided with edge line type pressing portions and cylindrical segment surface pressing portions,

The jaw members are disposed for limited inward movement along their respective radial paths with their pressing portions in contact with the tampon blank, with the limit inward radial positions of the jaw members corresponding to the dimensions of the finished tampon.

While all of the jaw members can be moved inwardly in unison to effect complete radial compression of the tampon blank, it is preferable according to the invention that the jaw members having edge type pressing portions be moved inwardly in unison to first compress the tampon blank to its final dimension along the peripheral contact lines of such edges, and then to effect compression of the scalloped portions thus initially produced by means of the jaw members having cylindrical segment pressing portions.

Patented Jan. 21, 1969 ice To provide assurance that the finished tampon will have a density which increases uniformly toward its geometrical axis, the invention provides for initially closing all of the jaw members simultaneously so that their pressing portions contact the tampon blank along lengthwise portions thereof which are concentrically located with respect to the intended finished tampon central axis. This initial jaw closing operation is performed after the jaws have been spread apart to define an opening having sufficient clearance for inserting the tampon blank, and is performed prior to any further radial compression of the tampon blank, although it is understood that some minimal local compression will result when the jaws are initially closed for supporting and centering the tampon blank, by reason of the contact between such blank and the pressing portions of the jaw members.

The invention is based upon the discovery that, by virtue of the initial uniform closing movement of all of the jaw members pressing portions approximately as far as the diameter of the tampon blank, a secure centering of the blank in the jaws takes place such that any unilateral gripping of the underside of the tampon blank by the lower press jaws which support it as in cases where the tampon blank is positioned horizontally for pressing, is substantially eliminated. Consequently, there is substantially no premature or unilateral clamping of the blank about any line offset from the intended central axis.

Hence, during the subsequent radial compression steps, which are also performed so as to preserve the initial consolidation concentricity afforded by uniform closing of-all jaws, the tampon blank material is further consolidated concentrically and uniformly towards the central longitudinal axis of the finished tampon. This assures that the region of greatest strength in the finished tampon will coincide with the central longitudinal axis thereof, and will not be shifted toward the periphery of the tampon, such as might occur as a result of premature compression of the blank at portions of its periphery. Such a uni-form radial compression is particularly desirable because it renders the tampon easier for the user to manipulate for introduction into her body cavity, and prevents buckling which would render such manipulation difficult.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method for the manufacture of tampons suitable for feminine hygiene.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method as aforesaid which is suitable for the mass production of high quality tampons having uniform stability for convenience in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for manufacturing tampons in accordance with the aforesaid method.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic end view of an apparatus for manufacturing tampons in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrating such apparatus and a tampon blank in a configuration corresponding to the initial gripping and centering of such blank in accordace with the method of the invention.

FIG. 2 is another schematic end view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing such apparatus and tampon blank in a configuration corresponding to the completion of the edge pressing step in the method according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a further schematic end view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing such apparatus and tampon blank in a con-figuration corresponding to the completion of the final pressing step in the method according to the invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the apparatus 10 provides for the molding of tampon blanks 11a, such as are formed from approximately cylindrical coiled sheets of cotton fleece, into finished tampons suitable for use in feminine hygiene. This molding of the blanks 11a is perfonmed by a plurality of jaw members12 and 13 which radially compress the tampon blank 11a into a semifinished tampon blank 11b shown in FIG. 2, and then finally into the finished tampon 110 shown in FIG. 3.

Two distinct types of jaw members 12 and 13 are provided, one type represented by the four pointed jaws 12 serves for radially compressing the tampon blank 11a along peripheral contact lines 14 lying on radial planes symmetrically disposed about a predetermined longitudinal axis X which represents the central longitudinal axis X intended for the finished product 11c. For this purpose, each of the jaws 12 are constructed with lateral faces 15 intersecting to define an edge line 16 which contacts the blank along a corresponding peripheral contact line 14. Although the lateral faces 15 can exert some compression on the tampon blank 11a, it is convenient to regard the edge lines 16 of the jaws 12 as their pressing portions, since when such jaws are moved radially inward with their edges 16 in contact with the tampon blank, the principal compression forces are transmitted through the edges 16. The other type of jaw members 13 are constructed with concave cylindrical segment surface pressing portions 17 which are each bounded by a pair of lateral surfaces 18, preferably planar and parallel to each other.

The jaws 12 and 13 are disposed for movement along respective radial paths R R surrounding the axis X. As can be noted from the drawing, the jaws 12 are disposed for movement along the radial paths R R R and R Thus, the jaw members 12 and 13 are arranged alternately to provide jaws 12 with edge pressing portions 16 and jaws 13 with cylindrical segment surface pressing portions 17 arranged in a circumferential alternating sequence around the axis X.

Preferably, the jaws 12 and 13 are disposed symmetrically about the axis X and extend longitudinally therealong for a distance corresponding to the length of the tampon blank 11a which is approximately the same as the length of the finished tampon 110.

For purposes of example, the drawing shows an apparatus 10 having jaw members 12 and 13 constructed and arranged to produce a finished tampon 110 of substantially circular cylindrical shape from a tampon blank 11a which is approximately circular cylindrical in shape, although by modifications of the jaw members 12 and 13 as will become apparent to the artisan from the description of the invention herein, other finished tampon shapes (not shown) can also be produced.

For simplicity, the means for effecting the intended movements of the jaw members 12 and 13 along their respective radial paths R -R to receive a tampon blank 11a and to effect radial compression of same into the semifinished blank 11b and thence into the finished tampon 110 are not illustrated, and any suitable conventional motive means (not shown) can be used. Likewise, it is assumed that suitable guide means (not shown) are provided in the apparatus 10 for maintaining the jaw members 12 and 13 on their intended radial movement paths R R Such guide means (not shown) can be any suitable type commonly used for similar purposes, such as for example, a collar having appropriately machined slots (not shown).

Furthermore, as can be readily noted from the drawing, the edges 16 and the center lines of the cylindrical segment surfaces 17 are disposed in alignment wih planes defined by the axis X and their respectively associated radial paths R1Rg.

The jaw members 12 and 13 as indicated by FIG. 1 \are disposed at a first set of radial positions along their respective movement paths R -R to define an open jaw configuration for receiving a tampon blank 11a and supporting same in equilibrium substantially concentric with the axis X. Thus, the jaw members 12 and 13 are arranged for outward radial movement slightly beyond such an open jaw configuration to provide clearance for the insertion of the blank 11a, and for inward radial movement in unison from such an exended open jaw configuration into the uniform open jaw supporting configuration of FIG. 1.

In accordance with the method of the invention, after the tampon blank 11a is supported and centered as in FIG. 1, the jaw members 12 are moved radially inward in unison to radially compress said blank 11a along its peripheral edge lines 14 to form the semi-finished tampon 11b illustrated in FIG. 2. In this edgewise compression step, the edges 16 of the jaws 12 are brought inward to a second set of radial positions whereby the radial dimensions of semi-finished tampon 11b along its edge lines 14 are substantially equal to the radial dimensions in the finished tampon 110. During the compression by the jaw members 12, the other jaw members 13 remain in their previous positions indicated in FIG. 1.

The semi-finished tampon 11b is then finally compressed by the jaws 13 along its scalloped portions 19 which extend into the radial passages 20 defined by the lateral surfaces 15 of the jaw members 12 when extended inward after compression as shown in FIG. 2. In performing this final compression step, the jaws 12 remain in the same positions illustrated in FIG. 2, and the jaws 13 are moved radially inward along their respective radial paths R R R and R guided by their lateral surfaces 18 which slidably engage along the lateral surfaces 15 defining the passages 20, until the cylindrical segment pressing surfaces 17 of said jaws 13 are disposed in radial positions corresponding to those of the edges 16 of the jaws 12, thereby forming the finished tampon 110.

As will be appreciated by the artisan from FIG. 3, the cylindrical segment surfaces 17 of the jaws 13 are arranged to join along the edges 16 of the jaws 12 to form a substantially laterally enclosed cylindrical female mold which produces the cylindrically shaped finished tampon 11c.

Consequently, for the specific embodiment of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-3 where four cylindrical segment type jaws 13 and four edge type jaws 12 are used, the cylindrical segment surfaces 17 of the jaws 13 are each constructed to present substantially a one-quarter cylindrical surface (neglecting the finite width of the edges 16 on the jaws 12). Likewise, as is apparent in this specific embodiment of the invention, the radial paths R -R are disposed apart, to provide for a mutually symmetric arrangement of the jaws 12 spaced apart in relation to each other, and the jaws 13 also spaced 90 apart with respect to each other and uniformly spaced 45 apart from adjacent jaws 12.

It is not intended to represent that the specific apparatus embodiment shown and described herein is the only apparatus capable of performing the method of the invention. On the contrary, other apparatus embodiments (not shown) having more than four edge type jaws 12 and four cylindrical segment type jaws 13 can be constructed on the same basis as the apparatus 10. Of course with corresponding difiFerent geometrical arrangements to perform substantially the same method of tampon manufacture. Likewise, an apparatus (not shown) having three jaws similar to the jaws 12 and three jaws similar to the jaws 13 can be used. While an apparatus (not shown) having two jaws similar to the jaws 13, but with half-cylindrical segments surfaces could theoretically be used, such an arrangement is not recommended because of potential problems in providing suitable operating edge type jaws.

What is claimed is:

1. In the manufacture of tampons by providing a substantially cylindrical tampon blank; inserting such blank into a compression zone having a multiplicity of spaced pressing means having line contact therewith alternated with a multiplicity of spaced pressing means having surface contact therewith; about the periphery thereof with the longest dimension of said pressing means being substantially longitudinal with respect to said tampon; compressing said blank between said line contact pressing means to form a scalloped semi-finished tampon with the deepest indentations therein approximating the de sired final diameter of said tampon; and then compressing the largest diameter portions of said scalloped semifinished tampon between said surface pressing means to produce a substantially cylindrical compressed tampon; the improvement which comprises initially simultaneously hearing all of said line and surface pressing means against said tampon blank to about the initial diameter of said blank whereby said tampon blank is centered between all such pressing means; and thereafter compressing said blank between said line pressing means and said surface pressing means.

2. The improved process claimed in claim 1 wherein said line pressing means and said surface pressing means compress said tampon blank successively, respectively.

3. The improved process claimed in claim 1 wherein said surface contact is a longitudinal portion of a cylinder having a radius of curvature substantially equivalent to the surface of the finished tampon.

4. The improved process claimed in claim 1 wherein said tampon is cotton fleece.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 164,903 6/1875 Cahoon 100-232 2,566,190 8/1951 Greiner et al. 19-144.5 3,088,168 5/1963 Lloyd et a1 100 -232 XR 3,134,139 5/1964 Wentorf 100-232 XR 2,464,310 3/1949 Harwood 19-l44.5 2,798,260 7/1957 Niepmann et al. 19-1445 20 ROBERT R. MACKEY, Primary Examiner.

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