Improvements in Medical and other Pads and Bandages and in the Processes for the Manufacture of the same.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 28th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 13th Sept., 1887.
Improvements in Medical and other Pads and Bandages and in the
Processes for the Manufacture of the same.
We WILLIAM BRADBURY ROBINSON Lint Cotton-Wool and Bandage Manufacturer
and ELIZABETH ROBINSON Spinster both of Brampton in the County of Derby do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in medical and other pads and
bandages and in the processes for the manufacture of the same.
In the manufacture of our improved pads and bandages a tubular woven cloth is
employed such as is referred to in the Specification on which I William Bradbury
Robinson have obtained Letters Patent No. 10359 in the year 1885.
This tubular cloth with its seams or selvages on the outer side is drawn on to a
metal mandril of a size to fit it and many yards of the tubular cloth are so accumulated
upon the mandril which itself also is tubular. The end of the cloth is then brought
round and entered into the interior of the mandril. At the same time a sliver or
slivers of medicated cotton wool or other absorbent material with which the pads are
to be charged is also brought to the mouth of the mandril.
the mandril and attached to
A hook or like convenient instrument is now passed drawn through the interior of
the fabric and sliver of filling and these together are
the mandril. Thus the seams or selvages of the fabric are brought to the inner side
and at the same time the filling is introduced into the tubular fabric without strain
upon the sliver.
A novel feature in our pad or bandage is that the band for its attachment is passed
through the tubular fabric.
The band material consisting of a long narrow strip of woven fabric is prepared by
laying it together in short folds so that in a length somewhat less than that of a pad a
length of this narrow strip of fabric sufficient to form one band is accumulated.
The folded strip is introduced into the mandril and passes through together with
the tubular fabric and filling this ensures an absolutely secure attachment of the pad
to the band.

page_text: Afterwards when the pads are cut off in lengths and by the same operation the band
fabric is also divided between pad and pad; its ends are then drawn out and the band
is distended to its full length. Sometimes the portion of the band fabric which
remains within the band is waterproofed ; this is done at intervals whilst the band
fabric is in a continuous length and previous to folding it.
This waterproofing of the band fabric renders it unnecessary to provide a layer of
unbleached cotton in the filling of the pad as has heretofore been the practice in pads
or bandages of this class.
These pads and bandages are applicable for many medical, surgical and other uses
and especially as catamenial bandages.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.
Processes for the Manufacture of the same.
We, WILLIAM BRADBURY ROBINSON, Lint Cotton-Wool and Bandage Manufacturer,
and ELIZABETH ROBINSON, Spinster, both of Brampton, in the County of Derby, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in medical and other pads and
bandages and in the processes for the manufacture of the same.
In the manufacture of our improved pads and bandages a tubular woven cloth is
employed such as is referred to in the Specification on which I William Bradbury
Robinson have obtained Letters Patent No. 10359 in the year 1885.
This tubular cloth with its seams or selvages on the outer side is drawn on to a
metal mandril of a size to fit it and many yards of the tubular cloth are so accumulated
upon the mandril which itself, also is tubular. The end of the cloth is then brought
round and entered into the interior of the mandril. At the same time a sliver or
slivers or it may be separate tufts or pieces of medicated cotton wool or other
absorbent material with which the pads are to be charged are also brought to the
mouth of the mandril.
A hook or like convenient instrument is now passed up the mandril and attached to
the fabric and it may be also to the sliver of filling and these together are drawn
through the interior of the mandril. A very convenient method is to first pass a tape
through the tube and then make use of this to draw the fabric forward. Thus the

page_text: Figure 1 is a side elevation and Figure 2 is a plan of an article manufactured in
accordance with our invention.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of apparatus which we employ, and
Figure 4 shows a sectional plan of a portion of the apparatus and the article in
process of manufacture drawn to a larger scale.
The articles shown by the Figures 1 and 2 consists of a tubular fabric preferably
woven as described in the specification to which we have previously referred and
containing within it at intervals tufts or pieces of absorbent cotton or other absorbent
material. These tufts or pieces are at the parts marked a a and the intermediate
parts where the tubular fabric does not contain absorbent material are marked bb.
Also according to our invention we sometimes insert cotton or absorbent material
into the tubular fabric continuously from end to end.
In making up the bandages or pads the tubular fabric is cut through at intervals
where the letters are marked upon the drawing. The separate pads so obtained
may have the unfilled part of the tubular fabric formed into a loop through which a
tape or band for attaching the pad or bandage may be secured. Or the separate pads
may be sewn each upon a narrow band of fabric and in the middle of the band. This
band then serves to attach the bandage or pad. We prefer however to insert the
band through the tubular fabric as is herein after more fully described.
The dimensions of the bandage or pad may be varied but the following will
frequently be found suitable for the pad proper or the part of the tubular fabric
filled with cotton or absorbent material a length of ten inches and a breadth of
four inches and for the band a length of twenty four inches and a breadth of three
inches.
Referring now to Figures 3 and 4. c is an endless belt passing around rollers d d.
which are caused to rotate continuously at a convenient speed. On the belt c the
cotton or absorbent material is laid either continuously or as the drawing represents
in detached tufts or pieces marked e. e. in the drawing. If the band for attaching the
bandage or pad is to be passed through the tube of woven fabric it also is laid upon
the belte underneath the absorbent material.

page_text: The band preferably is previously prepared by waterproofing it at intervals so that
the tufts or pieces e may rest upon parts of the band which are waterproof. This
waterproofing serves to prevent fluid passing through the bandage or pad when
in use.
The method which we prefer for waterproofing the band at intervals along its
length is by the application of boiled linseed oil thereto or it may be saturated. with
alum and then dipped into a solution of soap or other simple waterproofing processes
may be employed.
The band is folded before it is laid upon the belt c but leaving the waterproofed
parts exposed so that the tufts or pieces of cotton or absorbent material e may be
placed upon them and beneath the waterproofed parts, the band is doubled to and fro
so as to accumulate a sufficient length. is an oval metal tube carried by a fixed
support and upon its exterior a long length of the tubular woven fabric is packed.
In Figure 4 the fabric on the exterior of the tube f is marked g. h is a roller with
pins on its periphery, it is driven at the same surface speed as the rollers d d. The
way of working is preferably as follows:-a tape is passed through the tube f to its
fore end and is there attached to the fabric g, it is also held on to the pins on the
roller h. Then the apparatus is started, the fabric is drawn through the tube fand
the tufts or pieces e, and also the folded band pass into the tube as they come up.
The operation is aided where necessary by the attendant at the mouth of the tube f.
After coming from the machine the material is divided at intervals as already
described and if the band is contained within the tubular fabric its ends are drawn
out but without disturbing the absorbent material. The band and the pad proper may
be further attached by the aid of a few stitches with needle and thread.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
1. The process substantially as described in manufacturing pads and bandages
consisting in collecting a length of tubular fabric on the outside of a tube and drawing
it off through the inside of the tube whilst cotton or other absorbent material is
introduced into it.
2. The process substantially as described of manufacturing pads and bandages
consisting in collecting a length of tubular fabric on the outside of a tube and
drawing it off through the inside of the tube whilst passing in cotton or other
absorbent material together with a folded band, the said band when the material is
cut off in lengths each suitable for a pad or bandage being applicable for the
attachment of the pad or bandage as herein set forth.
3. The improved pad or bandage substantially as described consisting of a tubular
fabric with cotton or other absorbent material within it and with a band passing
through it applicable for the attachment of the pad or bandage as herein set forth.
4. The improved pad or bandage substantially as described and consisting of a
tubular fabric with cotton or other absorbent material within it and with a band
applicable for the attachment of the pad or bandage passing through it; such band
being waterproofed in the part which underlies the absorbent material as herein set
forth.