Patent ID: 8943658
Filing Date: 2015-02-03
Classification: A61F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for manufacturing a tampon, the tampon including a tampon main body having a cord, an accommodating cylinder accommodating the tampon main body, a pushing member movable inside the accommodating cylinder for pushing the tampon main body out of the accommodating cylinder, a leading-end part of the accommodating cylinder including a plurality of petaloid parts surrounding a leading-end opening of the accommodating cylinder, the tampon main body being formed by heating after pressing a cotton strip, said apparatus comprising: a pushing-member inserting mechanism configured to insert the pushing member into the accommodating cylinder through the leading-end opening; a first tampon main body inserting mechanism configured to insert the tampon main body into the accommodating cylinder, from a side including the cord, through the leading-end opening, the first tampon main body inserting mechanism including: a bending mechanism configured to bend each of the plurality of petaloid parts outwardly in a radial direction of the accommodating cylinder in a bending process, wherein the guide tube includes the drive section is configured to move the guide tube toward the accommodating cylinder on which the bending process is performed, and insert the accommodating cylinder into the guide tube from one end side in the longitudinal direction of the guide tube, and the guide tube is configured to guide the leading-end part of the accommodating cylinder into the cylindrical part to cause a leading end of the corresponding petaloid part to contact with an inner peripheral surface of the tapered part, and fit the leading-end part into the cylindrical part so as to cause the petaloid part to contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical part, whereby the guide tube is connected to the accommodating cylinder.