Patent GB-625714-A (GB)
Title: A process and machine for manufacturing tampons
IPC: A61F13/20
Filed: 1947-05-12
Abstract: 625,714. Manufacturing tampons. JOHNSON & JOHNSON (GREAT BRITAIN), Ltd. May 12, 1947, No. 12833. Convention date, Jan. 13, 1944. '[Class 81 (ii)] In an automatic tampon machine pieces of fibrous material are fed to a series of dies in an intermittently moved die carrier and are operated upon and removed from the dies in synchronism with the movements of the carrier. The machine is driven by a motor 14, Fig. 2, connected by pulleys and gearing through a shaft 18 to two continuously rotated camshafts 40, 63 and to a Geneva detent mechanism 31 having an intermittently rotated output shaft 33. This shaft drives a hollow vertical shaft, on which the die carrier is mounted, and the carrier comprises a circular plate 45, Fig. 3, in which eight tubular dies are set with 45 degree spacing. The intermittent motion steps it round one eighth of a revolution at each movement and thus aligns each die in turn with the various operating mechanisms. A cotton wool web W, Fig. 2, is fed over a guide 201, between continuously driven rollers 202, 203 and under a triangular folding plate 205, (see also Fig. 3), which folds it down its centre line. It passes between two vertical guide posts 206 to a spreading device 207, which opens the fold and turns in the upper edges, and is finally flattened between continuously driven rollers 209. The steps in the folding are illustrated in Figs. 5 to 10 (not shown). The web now passes between a further pair of rollers 208, rotated by the intermittent drive shaft, which separate off pieces of material from the folded web and feed them in turn to table 98. The separated piece W, Fig. 11, is pushed into a symmetrical position over the die 50 by a member 110 on arm 109, which co-operates, through a roller 111, with a guide lever 100, both components 100, 109 being appropriately actuated by cams 93, 94, respectively, on continuously driven shaft 40. An inserting rod L is now brought down, to thrust the fabric into the die, by lowering a head 68 (see also Fig. 1), on a central shaft 72, which is actuated through a lever 75 and link 76 by shaft 26. After subsequent withdrawal of the rod L the die carrier 45 is rotated through 45 degrees to its next position, where a needle is thrust through the lower end of the fabric to form a hole for subsequent insertion of a draw string, (see Fig. 16, not shown). During the foregoing operation, a string loop is prepared adjacent the next position in the following manner. The end of a string S which protrudes from a friction clamp 116, Fig. 21, is lowered by lever 115, actuated by camshaft 63, until it reaches and is gripped by jaws 127, 129 actuated by the same shaft. Lever 115 is raised, drawing the string taut below it, and this is caught by a hooked member 138, on lever 137, and drawn towards the left. A V-shaped cut in a pivoted guide arm 173, (see also Fig. 35, not shown), now holds the right-hand sides of the loop together while the left-hand sides are spread by being drawn over a stationary guide 177. Finally, a chisel 162 is brought forward to sever the string. The subsequent forward movement of the die carrier brings the die 50, Fig. 40, enclosing the tampon W, across this loop and a pin 125, carrying the free ends of the string with it, is thrust through the preformed hole in the latter and then through the ready formed loop until they are gripped between jaws 177, 178. The hook 139 is now moved forward to disengage itself from the thread and the die is stepped forward so that the looped string is drawn tight, (see Fig. 44, not shown). The jaws 177, 178 release the string and the free ends are drawn into a suction trough 195, Fig. 3, to prevent fouling the mechanism, as the die moves to its subsequent position. A brush 156, Fig. 46, is now advanced by shaft 63 into engagement with the die and, with a downward movement, sweeps the loop to a central position at the bottom of the tampon. At the same time a pair of jaws 146 close on the free ends of the string and draw them downwards to perform the final tightening operation, while a guide, (see Fig. 51, not shown), positively locates the loop centrally. In the next two positions of the die carrier a plunger enters the die at each end and compresses the material longitudinally, and in the final position an ejector enters the die from the upper end and pushes the finished tampon out of the die on to a conveyer belt 4, Fig. 1; for removal to a packing point.