DEVICE AND METHOD FOR JOINING MULTI-PART TAMPON APPLICATORS

Abstract

A device for joining multi-part tampon applicators, in particular three-part tampon applicators, which include at least one outer cylinder and a first inner cylinder, includes at least one joining station with at least one receiving finger for receiving one outer cylinder and one first inner cylinder each, as well as a first inner cylinder supply for loading the at least one receiving finger with at least one first inner cylinder and an outer cylinder supply for loading the at least one receiving finger with at least one outer cylinder The device further includes a processing station for joining the at least one outer cylinder to the at least one first inner cylinder, and the at least one joining station is arranged radially on a circular disk, in particular so that the at least one receiving finger is oriented essentially radially. A method joins multi-part, in particular three-part, tampon applicators.

Claims

1. A device for joining multi-part tampon applicators, in particular three-part tampon applicators, wherein the multi-part tampon applicators comprise an outer cylinder (101) and a first inner cylinder (102), the device comprising: a. at least one joining station (12) with at least one receiving finger (13.1, 13.2) for receiving one outer cylinder (101) and one first inner cylinder (102) each; b. a first inner cylinder supply for loading the at least one receiving finger with at least one first inner cylinder (102); c. an outer cylinder supply for loading the at least one receiving finger (13.1, 13.2) with at least one outer cylinder (101); d. a first processing station (16) for joining the at least one outer cylinder (101) to the at least one first inner cylinder (102); wherein the at least one joining station (12) is arranged radially on a circular disk (11), in particular in such a way that the at least one receiving finger (13.1, 13.2) is oriented essentially radially.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the multi-part tampon applicators comprise a second inner cylinder and the device further comprises: a second inner cylinder supply for loading the at least one receiving finger with at least one second inner cylinder; wherein the first processing station is adapted for joining the at least one first inner cylinder to the at least one second inner cylinder.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one receiving finger has a plurality of diameters, in particular wherein the receiving finger has diameters that taper in radial alignment.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein each diameter is configured to respectively receive an outer cylinder, a first inner cylinder, and a second inner cylinder.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one receiving finger comprises at least one for holding an outer cylinder and/or a first inner cylinder.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first processing station and/or a second processing station is designed to reshape, in particular thermally reshape, an outer cylinder, first inner cylinder and/or second inner cylinder received on a receiving finger.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a plurality of joining stations, in particular comprising between two and twenty-four joining stations.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein each joining station comprises a plurality of receiving fingers each for receiving an outer cylinder and a first inner cylinder, in particular between two and sixteen receiving fingers.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the outer cylinder supply comprises a separation unit.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the circular disc is rotatable so that the joining station can each be brought into operative connection with a radially arranged inner cylinder supply, outer cylinder supply, first processing station and second processing station.

11. A method for joining multi-part tampon applicators, in particular three-part tampon applicators, comprising the steps: a. aligning a joining station with a first inner cylinder supply; b. loading a first receiving finger of the joining station with a first inner cylinder; c. aligning the joining station with an outer cylinder supply or a second inner cylinder supply; d. loading the receiving finger of the joining station with an outer cylinder or a second inner cylinder; wherein the alignment of the joining station (12) arranged radially on a circular disk (11) is effected by a circular rotation of the circular disk, in particular so that the receiving finger is brought into a coaxial operative connection with the inner cylinder supply and/or outer cylinder supply.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of: aligning the joining station with a forming station; and forming the first inner cylinder and/or the second inner cylinder by applying heat and pressure.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein when the joining station is loaded, the inner cylinder with the smallest diameter of the multipart tampon applicator is first loaded onto the first receiving finger, in particular loaded onto a tip region with the smallest diameter of the receiving finger.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the outer cylinder is clamped, in particular releasably clamped, on the receiving finger by means of a clamping mandrel exerting a restoring force.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the outer cylinder is ejected by means of a clamping mandrel exerting a restoring force on the receiving finger.

Description

FIGURE DESCRIPTION

[0089] Showing:

[0090] FIG. 1a a circular disk with a plurality of joining stations;

[0091] FIG. 1b the circular disk of FIG. 1a in plan view;

[0092] FIG. 2a an example of a joining station aligned with a processing station;

[0093] FIG. 2b the aligned joining station of FIG. 2a in detail;

[0094] FIG. 2b the joining station in FIG. 2a in a top view;

[0095] FIG. 3 a joining station according to the invention in a front view;

[0096] FIG. 4a a profile view of a receiving finger;

[0097] FIG. 4b the receiving finger of FIG. 4a loaded with two inner cylinders;

[0098] FIG. 4c the receiving finger of FIG. 4a loaded with all parts of a three-part tampon applicator;

[0099] FIG. 5 a separation unit;

[0100] FIG. 6 an alignment unit, and

[0101] FIG. 7 a processing station.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0102] FIG. 1a schematically shows a circular disk 11. The circular disk 11 is designed as an annular disk and is the central element of the device according to the invention. In the present example, the circular disk 11 has a plurality of joining stations 12. Specifically, in this example, there are twelve joining stations 12. The joining stations 12 are arranged radially on the circular disk 11 essentially along the outer circumference of the circular disk 11. In the present example, the circular disk 11 shows a central recess, but this is not necessary. Preferably, the circular disk 11 is rotatably driven. This can be done, for example, by means of a toothed gear on the underside of the circular disc 11 (not shown). Also conceivable would be a drive by means of a belt, an electric drive, or a circular motor with a corresponding active connection between the axle and the circular disk 11.

[0103] The joining stations 12 have a plurality of receiving fingers. In the present example, the joining station 12 has a total of four receiving fingers 13.1, 13.2. The receiving fingers 13.1, 13.2 extend essentially radially from the center of the circular disk from its outer circumference. In this way, the joining stations 12 and the corresponding receiving fingers 13.1, 13.2 can be brought into operative connection with processing stations or supply units likewise provided radially on the outside of the circumference. The corresponding equipment, i.e., the number of joining stations and the corresponding number of receiving fingers, can be adapted by the person skilled to the geometric conditions and to the corresponding available supplies or processing stations. In the present example, the receiving fingers are all provided substantially on one plane. However, joining stations with vertically offset receiving fingers or even staggered receiving fingers are also conceivable. Such joining stations can, for example, be built in a floor-by-floor manner with a certain number of receiving fingers on one level.

[0104] In FIG. 1b, a station element 10 according to FIG. 1a is shown in top view. The circular disk 11 has a central recess 14, which serves primarily to reduce the moving mass. A total of twelve joining stations 12 are mounted on the circular disk 11, comprising a joining block 12.1 from which four receiving fingers 13.1, 13.2 project out of the outer circumference of the circular disk 11 into a processing area. In this processing area, for example, supplies and processing stations can intervene. These supplies and processing stations can perform single or a plurality of operations on the cylinders, which are first fixed on the receiving fingers. The processing steps may include further loading, forming, embossing, impregnating, coating, perforating, and/or ejecting a cylinder. Due to the fact that the processing takes place on a radius, the present station 10 can be used in a space-saving manner. Robots can optionally intervene in the area of the circular disk 11 to perform any necessary operations at the joining stations. In the processing area, i.e., directly at the outer circumference of the circular disc 11, a drop-through can be provided, where, e.g., defectively found cylinders or tampon applicators can be collected and discharged after successful ejection. Alternatively, this area can also be used to receive the finished tampon applicators, which are stripped from the receiving fingers after joining is complete.

[0105] The compact design allows optical sensors to survey the entire processing area. This means that the work steps can always be monitored, and it is possible to intervene at an early stage should any malfunctions occur. Optical sensors can also be used at several points for detailed monitoring of individual processing steps. For example, the final forming actions can be monitored using optical sensors. For example, it is possible to check whether an incorrectly formed tampon applicator is present within a batch and to sort it out accordingly.

[0106] In FIG. 2a, a circular disk 11 with a single joining station 12 is shown for simplicity. Four receiving fingers protrude from this joining station 12 into a processing area. This joining station 12 has moved into the angular range and thus into operative connection with a processing station 16. The processing station 16 has a plurality of presses 17 that are concentrically aligned with the receiving fingers. The presses 17 may be oriented, for example, to cause a forming of a proximal end of a tampon applicator. A second inner cylinder correspondingly fitted to the outermost and smallest diameter of the receiving finger 13 could, for example, be widened and reshaped proximally by means of a corresponding mating shape of the pressing knobs 17, so that a natural stop is created. The presses 17 are mounted on a block 15 and rest on a plate 18. The plate 18 is arranged to move against the radius of the circular disk 11. Alternatively, the joining stations can also be moved against the corresponding processing stations in the radial direction.

[0107] FIG. 2b shows this arrangement again in more detail. Two joining stations 12 are shown on the circular disk 11, which have a plurality, totaling four receiving fingers 13 in the present example. Opposite to these in a concentric orientation and essentially parallel to the radial extension A of the circular disk 11, pressing knobs 17 are arranged on a processing plate 15 of a processing station 16. This pressure plate 15 is movable so that it can move towards the receiving fingers 13 against the radial extension A, and accordingly exert a forming action on loaded cylinders.

[0108] In FIG. 2c, this device is shown in plan view, in which the circular disk 11 has said mentioned guide station 12, which has four radially extending receiving fingers 13. The longitudinal direction of the receiving fingers is concentric with the pressing knobs 17 on a processing plate 15. The processing plate 15 is mounted on a rail so that it can be displaced on a locking plate 18 in the direction of the receiving fingers to generate a contact pressure on them.

[0109] FIG. 3 shows a corresponding joining station 12 in detail. The joining station 12 here has four sleeves 12.2, from each of which a receiving finger 13 protrudes. The receiving finger 13 has a plurality of diameters 31, 32, 33. Overall, starting from the sleeve, the finger 13 has a first diameter 33. Two clamping mandrels 35, 34 are provided on this first diameter. This first diameter 33 is suitable to accommodate an outer cylinder. The two clamping mandrels 33, 34 serve to hold this outer cylinder by means of a restoring force. In operation, the outer cylinder in this example would be the last cylinder to be applied to the receiving finger.

[0110] This first diameter is followed by a second diameter 32, which is smaller than the inner diameter of the first inner cylinder. In operation, this first inner cylinder would be the second cylinder applied in the present example, which refers to three-piece tampon applicators.

[0111] Directly adjacent to this second diameter is a third diameter which tapers over a shoulder and terminates in a tip 36. This last diameter 31 is suitable to accommodate a second inner cylinder.

[0112] In operation, a second outer cylinder would first be slipped onto this last diameter 31. Through the tapered region, starting from the central diameter 32, the second inner cylinder is substantially releasably clamped to the receiving finger.

[0113] To illustrate this mode of operation, FIGS. 4a to 4c show this step-by-step loading. FIG. 4a shows a receiving finger 13 in profile. To the left of a sleeve 12.2 the joining station would start. A first diameter 33 projects from the sleeve 12.2, which has two clamping mandrels 35, 34 formed as brackets. The two clamping mandrels 35, 34 exert a restoring force on the receiving finger so that after picking up an outer cylinder, the latter is held.

[0114] The first diameter 33 closes with a stop followed by a second diameter 32. This second diameter 32 is followed by another stop and a tapered section into the third diameter 36. The receiving finger terminates in a substantially tapered tip 31.

[0115] In FIG. 4b, two inner cylinders 102, 103 are already applied to the receiving finger. A second inner cylinder 103 was first slipped on over the last diameter so that it abuts the stop and is jammed in the tapered area. A first inner cylinder 102 is slipped over the latter, which extends substantially to the end of the second diameter.

[0116] FIG. 4c now shows how an outer cylinder is slipped over these two inner cylinders 102, 103.

[0117] The clamping mandrels 35, 34, which are formed as brackets, exert a restoring force on the outer cylinder 101. In this case, a first bracket part 35 protrudes at an angle from the sleeve 12.2 and exerts a contact pressure on the outer cylinder 101. A second bracket part 34 integral with the first bracket part 35 also protrudes at an angle and serves as a steering plate for receiving the outer cylinder 101.

[0118] FIG. 5 shows a separation unit as it can be used to separate outer cylinders for the supply. It is important that corresponding outer cylinders, which have a petal-shaped distal mouth, are separated from each other, otherwise they can easily become hooked and cannot be loaded onto the receiving fingers in an orderly manner.

[0119] In the present example, the cylinders 100 are conveyed on belts 73. Drive rollers 74.1, 74.2 drive the corresponding belts. In the example shown, a transfer takes place from one belt system to the other. Rubberized acceleration rollers 75.1, 75.2 are provided above this transfer point, which are also driven by means of a belt drive 77.1, 77.2. Here, the outer cylinders 100 pass from a drive having a first speed 70.1, 70.2 to an area having a drive having a second speed 75.1, 75.2. The acceleration separates any interlocked outer cylinders. The belts are driven by drive shafts 71, 76 running at different speeds.

[0120] FIG. 6 shows an alignment unit which also aligns said mentioned outer cylinders 100 in the same way for loading the receiving fingers. As before, the supply of the outer cylinders 100 is accomplished by two parallel belt drive systems, each with two belts 73.1, 73.2; 74.3, 74.4. A robot with a robot arm 82 and a gripper 81 grips the outer cylinders 100 and transfers them to a conveyor 80 in which the outer cylinders 100 are substantially parallel and all oriented the same way. The supply ends in a further robot system (not shown), which can, for example, remove a batch of outer cylinders from this conveyor unit 80 and load them accordingly onto the receiving fingers for loading.

[0121] FIG. 7 shows how a joining station 12 with receiving finger is currently in operative connection with a processing station. The joining station 12 includes an outer cylinder 101 on a sleeve 12.2 on a first diameter 33. A first inner cylinder 102 is inserted into this, and a second inner cylinder 103 is also inserted into this.

[0122] The outer cylinder 101 is held in place by means of a resilient clamping mandrel formed as a bracket having a first bracket part 35 and a second bracket part 34.

[0123] The processing station includes a pressing knob 50 formed concentrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the receiving finger, which pushes into the proximal end of the second inner cylinder, expanding it by means of a conical shape so as to produce an overall trumpet-shaped proximal end of the second inner cylinder 103.

[0124] This reshaping prevents the second inner cylinder 103 from falling out of the three-part tampon applicator by, for example, pushing through the mouth of the outer cylinder 101. This step can complete a joint according to the invention. However, this joining can also take place over a number of individual sub-steps. For example, a first forming can take place with a certain first contact pressure and a second forming with a certain second contact pressure. For each forming operation, a separate processing station with respective pressure knobs can be provided. This gradual reshaping can be repeated as many times as necessary to obtain the desired trumpet-shaped expansion of the proximal end of the tampon applicator. The device according to the invention can be used to join tampon applicators from several hollow cylinders in a space-saving and efficient manner in a fast throughput. The device according to the invention is particularly suitable for joining three-part tampon applicators with a telescopic plunger which is extended and locked in place.