Patent GB-781890-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to method of attaching withdrawal string to tampons and mechanism for carrying out the method
Inventor: CARRIER JOHN ALDEN
IPC: A61F13/20
Filed: 1955-07-08
Abstract: 781,890. Sewing machines. SANITARY PRODUCTS CORPORATION. July 8, 1955, No. 19834/55. Class 112 A method of attaching a withdrawable string to a catamenial tampon comprises extending string through the eye of a needle and anchoring the free end of the string, advancing the needle past the point of anchorage and through the tampon to carry a doubled portion of string beyond the latter, holding the loop provided by the doubled portion and withdrawing the needle, severing the string between the point of anchorage and the tampon, and finally pulling the resultant loose ends of string through the loop. A needle 26 is carried by a horizontal needle bar 25 arranged to reciprocate in a frame 12. Tampons 19 are mounted in holders 18 carried at intervals around the periphery of a turret 16 which rotates in a horizontal plane and is arranged to stop when each successive holder is on the axis of reciprocation of the needle. The looptaker means comprise a triangular hook 30 carried by a shaft 32 journalled at one end of a H-shaped frame 33 the other end of which is pivoted on a fixed shaft 34. A sleeve 38, journalled on shaft 34, carries a gear quadrant 37 coupled by a loose pinion 36, mounted on frame 33, to a pinion 35 fixed to shaft 32. A crank 39 carried by sleeve 38 is coupled to an actuator 40 adapted to rock sleeve 38 and thereby shaft 32. An extension 41 of frame 33 is coupled to an actuator 42 adapted to rock the frame. The thread-holding means is in the form of a vice having a fixed jaw 46 carried at the upper end of an openfronted casing 43, and a movable jaw 45. The latter is slidable in a block 48 which is carried by a stem 49 and is slidable in the casing 43, the movable jaw resting on a compression spring 52 which is supported in stem 49. A lever 56 is coupled to the latter for imparting movement thereto. String-cutting blades 62 and 63 are carried respectively by the head of casing 43 and block 48. The latter also carries a string-guiding pin 64 and a string-guiding finger 65. A pair of bell crank levers, pivoted on pins 69, 70 carried on opposite sides of casing 43, have forwardly extending arms 71, 72 adapted to move the string laterally towards the vice jaws and cutting blades, and rearwardly extending arms 67, 68 which are coupled by a rod 106 to an actuator 107 adapted to rock the bell crank levers. An arm 28, carrying a bill 28<SP>1</SP> adapted to produce initial slack in the string, is pivoted at 73 to the casing 43 and is coupled by a linkage 76, 78, 80 to an actuator 81 adapted to rock the arm 28. The means for pulling the string through the loop comprise an arm 95 fixed to a shaft 86 journalled in a bracket 84, and an arm 99 carried by a sleeve 98 journalled on the shaft 86. Extending from said arms are contiguous, string-clamping bills 96 and 100, the former being longer than the latter and having a laterally disposed tip 97. A crank 88 carried by shaft 86 is coupled by a linkage 90. 91 to an actuator 93 adapted to rock bill 96, and a crank 101 carried by sleeve 98 is coupled by a linkage 103, 104 to an actuator 105 adapted to rock bill 100 String S is initially drawn from a holder 27 through the eye of the fully-retracted needle, and after being passed across bill 28<SP>1</SP>, which is in the raised position, and to the rear of arm 72, is anchored in the vice jaws. The needle is then advanced to carry a doubled length of string through the tampon, bill 28<SP>1</SP> being lowered just before the needle enters the tampon to provide sufficient slack in the string to prevent breakage of the latter. After reaching its farthermost position the needle is slightly retracted and stopped to create a slack loop of string Shaft 32 then rotates, whereby hook 30 enters the loop and spreads it, when the needle is retracted to its original position and frame 33 is rocked to carry the loop over the upper end of the tampon. Arms 95, 99 are then rocked to carry bills 96, 100 through the loop with the end of bill 100 separated from tip 97, and when the latter rides over the string between the tampon and the vice, bill 100 moves forward to grip the string. Block 48 is then lowered to release the end of the string, and arms 71, 72 rock rearwardly to carry the string between the vice jaws and the cutting blades. Block 48 then moves upwardly, when the vice jaws grip the string and continued movement of the block, permitted by spring 52, closes the cutting blades to sever the string. Hook 30 and frame 33 then operate to release the loop, and arms 95, 99 return to their original position, thereby carrying the severed ends of the string through the loop and tightening the latter, bill 100 finally moving to release the string ends. Bill 28<SP>1</SP> is then raised, arms 71, 72 are rocked forwardly, block 48 lowers sufficiently to open the cutting blades but not enough to open the vice jaws, and the turret moves the next holder into position.