Patent GB-1525246-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for loading a medical needle holder with a filter element
IPC: A61M5/31
Filed: 1975-09-19
Abstract: 1525246 Apparatus for inserting a filter into a needle-holder ISHIKAWA MANUFACTORY CO Ltd 19 Sept 1975 [20 Sept 1974] 38472/75 Heading B1D Apparatus for loading a generally tubular needle holder 12 with a filter element 14  consisting of a filament yarn Y of synthetic resin, is mounted on a vertical plate 44 and comprises a passage 30 having an inlet and an outlet end, yarn feeding means 32 for conveying a continuous filament yarn of synthetic resin from a yarn supply package 34 and introducing the yarn into the passage through the inlet end, yarn measuring and cutting means 36 for measuring the length of the conveyed filament yarn and cutting the yarn in a predetermined length in each cycle of operation to load a needle holder, needle holder retaining means 38 for holding a needle holder 12 in a position having an open rearmost end of the holder located at the outlet end of the passage and yarn transferring means 40 for moving the cut length of the yarn into a transitive position within the passage and thereafter from the transitive position into the needle holder via the outlet end of the passage. The passage 30 comprises a horizontal portion 30a having the outlet end 46 (Fig. 6) and a vertical portion 30b having the inlet end 50 (Fig. 3). The yarn feeding means comprises a pin 58, tensioning rollers 60, 62 and feed rollers 68, 70, roller 68 being driven by an electric motor 86 behind plate 44. The yarn measuring and cutting means comprises a measuring unit 96 (Fig. 3) which produces a signal representing the length of yarn passed into inlet end 50 and on reaching a predetermined length sends the signal to a solenoid-operated drive unit 136 which retracts an actuating rod 134 carrying a cam member 122. The cam member 122 has cam surfaces 130 in a horizontal plane which act on rollers 166 to press scissor cutter knife portions 172, 172' together, and a cam surface 128 which acts on roller 158 and arms 152, 152' to lift a guide tube 106 which fits into the uppermost end 50 of portion 30b of passage 30 prior to the cutting operation of knife portions 172, 172' which cut the length of yarn required. The needle holder retaining means comprises a supporting and guiding block 178 (Fig. 6) having a cylindrical bore 180, a guide groove 182 and a locking groove 184 extending perpendicularly from one end of the guide groove. A movable hollow cylinder 186 is longitudinally and circumferentially slidable through bore 180 and carries needle-holder 12. On pressing a manipulating pin against the pressure of spring 200 towards end 46 of passage portion 30a and locking in groove 184, the needle holder 12 is held against end 46 of passage 30a ready to receive the filter. The yarn transferring means 40 comprises a block 206 which is vertically-movable on guides 204, 204' to align firstly a tube 214, having a perforated end, from a source of suction 220 with an open end of horizontal portion 30a in order to move the cut length of yarn to the transitive position adjacent this end of portion 30a and secondly a tube 234 with portion 30a in order that a rod passing through the tube may be used to push the filter mass through portion 30a out of end 46 and into the needle holder 12.