Device for manufacturing of a tampon

The present invention relates to a device for producing a tampon inserted into an opening in the body, in particular into a female vagina, with a basically cylindrical absorbent part, having a rounded apex converging along the axis.

[0002] Tampons of the type just described are used to absorb body fluids while dressing wounds, but also during menstruation in women. The menstrual fluid goes from the outside to the tampon and penetrates from the outside into the absorbent body. The fluid then passes through the outer layers of the tampon to the usually thickened tampon core with the highest absorption capacity. However, when using regular tampons, there is a risk that the outer layers of the tampon become saturated with fluid even before the liquid enters the tampon core and there is a risk of fluid leaking out, even though the absorbent body core has not yet been saturated or has not been fully utilized.

[0003] To remedy this disadvantage, tampons have already been proposed whose absorbent body is provided with grooves running parallel to the axis of the cylinder on the outer surface. To improve the absorption properties of the tampon, it has also been proposed to make such grooves in a corrugated form and / or

-1 spirally extending around a basically cylindrical absorbent body.

[0004] Although improved absorption properties were obtained with the help of properly made tampons, it turned out that leaks of body fluid from the tampon closing the opening in the body were still observed, despite the fact that the tampon's absorption capacity was not fully utilized.

[0005] US 4,318,405 describes a tampon with a decreasing rounded apex, in which a capsule for placing pharmaceutically active substances is placed in a recess on the rounded apex. With the help of such a tampon, therapeutic substances can be introduced. As a result of the use of such a tampon, however, no improvement in the leakage of body fluid from the hole in the body was obtained.

[0006] US 4,077,408 describes a foam core tampon coated with a water-soluble coating. This was to ensure sufficient capacity for the tampon to expand during use. Of course, the water-soluble coating had to be dissolved before, which in turn led to problems with the leakage of body fluid.

[0007] Similar tampons are described in US 4,088,132. Also, such tampons are problematic in terms of reliable protection against leakage of body fluid.

[0008] Finally, US 3,343,225 and US 3,515,138 describe tampons according to the concept of the superior claim. 1, in which a recess is provided in the rounded tip of the tampon to improve the surface and absorption capacity of the tampon. In this known tampon, the transition between the substantially cylindrical absorbent body and the end face has also been rounded

-2 tampon, the funnel-shaped depression in the tampon's frontal face substantially covering the entire frontal face up to the rounded transition area.

[0009] It turned out, however, that with such a tampon, according to the tampon geometry described, the expected improvement in absorbent capacity could not be obtained and leakage of body fluid from the opening in the body was still observed, despite not fully utilizing the tampon's absorption capacity.

[0010] Given the problems in the prior art, it is the object of the invention to propose a device for producing tampons that ensure optimal use of the tampon's absorption capacity.

[0011] The device according to the invention for producing a tampon with a device for forming a rounded tip on a substantially cylindrical and already compressed tampon blank, equipped with at least one forming tool with a mandrel inserted axially during the forming operation into the tampon blank, which produces a favorable cavity in the absorbent body relatively suitable funnel-like channel in the rounded end of the tampon for introducing menstrual fluid, it is basically characterized by the fact that the forming tool has an annular jacket with an inner diameter which is reduced at least gradually along the axis and a mandrel embedded in the jacket.

[0012] The forming tool according to the invention therefore has a modular structure. A favorable convex outer surface of the rounded tip of the tampon is created by the tool mantle, facilitating the insertion of the tampon into the hole in the body, while the mandrel placed in the mantle creates a cavity, which positively affects the introduction of fluid

- menstrual to the lymph body. Thanks to the modular structure, it is possible in a multi-stage manufacturing process in which the absorbent body of the tampon is placed sequentially in different tools, using different mandrels using the same tool shell. Thanks to the modular forming tool described, a particularly well-required shape of the rounded tip of the tampon can be provided if a free space is left between the decreasing inner diameter of the inner boundary surface of the mantle and the mandrel and the inner mantle space at the end facing away from the mandrel is closed by the mandrel holder, which is one part with pin. The mandrel may optionally protrude along the axis beyond the mantle edge facing away from the mandrel housing, thus forming a recess extending completely through it and possibly projecting beyond the rounded top. As previously stated, the tip forming device may be equipped with two, three or more forming tools into which tampon blanks are sequentially inserted during the forming operation.

[0013] To simplify the manufacturing process, when several tools are used, they are intentionally placed on a common housing, rotatably mounted on an axis, the forming tools arranged on a circular line around the axis of rotation. The forming tools can then be set by turning the housing to a position opposite the tampon blank and further by moving the blank and forming tool relative to each other to initiate the required forming operation.

[0014] The forming tool for the device according to the invention is essentially characterized in that it has an annular jacket with a mandrel inserted therein, the mandrel being replaceable. Tampon according to the invention

Is produced, as is apparent from previous explanations, by inserting a substantially cylindrical and already compacted, both radially and linearly, of a tampon blank along the axis into the forming tool of the invention.

[0015] The tampon produced in the device according to the invention is essentially characterized in that the diameter of the recess at the edge facing the rounded apex is about 10 to 45%, usually about 20 to 40%, and particularly preferably about 25 to 35% of the absorbent body diameter .

[0016] The knowledge was used that the reason for the poor absorption properties of ordinary tampons is the rapid saturation of the tampon edge layers in the area of ​​the rounded apex, which results in the tampon flowing around the body fluid and flowing out of the closable opening in the body. As a result of further development of the invention, in the area of ​​the rounded apex, a funnel or an absorbent channel is made available, through which the body fluid there, and especially the menstrual fluid, penetrates directly into the absorbent core, which prevents premature saturation of the outer area of ​​the absorbent body in the rounded area tip and allows optimal use of the inner tampon area as well. In particular, it turned out that the construction of the recess, i.e. the concave surface area on the normally convex rounded tip of the tampon, has no significant effect on the properties during insertion of the tampon, which have been significantly improved by the rounded tip. The further development of the tampon according to the invention thus results in a combined improvement in the tampon's absorption properties, without affecting other functional properties.

[0017] The diameter of the well at its edge facing rounded

The tops, i.e. the largest diameter of the cavity perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical absorbent body, are selected so that it is smaller than half the diameter of the absorbent body. This reduction in the diameter of the cavity results from the knowledge that the problems observed in tampons according to US 3,343,225 were mainly due to the compression of the tampon in the cavity area, which counteracted the desired increase in surface area and the expected improvement in absorbency during use. If the recess diameter is selected in accordance with the present invention for a value below 50% of the absorbent body diameter, this provides sufficient tampon stability in the area of ​​the rounded apex equipped with the recess, and the desired increase in surface area and thereby improvement of the conditions for introducing body fluid into the tampon core is achieved, even when the tampon is subjected to lateral pressure during use.

[0018] If the diameter is less than 20% of the diameter of the absorbent body, a negative effect on the required properties regarding the introduction of body fluid into the absorbent core has been observed. If the diameter of the cavity increased to more than 40% of the diameter of the absorbent body, trouble was observed when inserting the tampon into the hole in the body. Funnel-like reduction of the cavity proved to be justified both for the technical reasons of the manufacturing process, and also because of the required optimal use of the tampon's absorption capacity.

[0019] For technical reasons of the manufacturing process, it has proved to be advantageous if, according to the invention, the recess provided in the tampon exhibits at least 2-digit rotational symmetry compared to the axis of symmetry running collinearly to the longitudinal axis of the absorbent body. Due to the good use of the tampon's absorption capacity, it is particularly justified

- making a recess that has 3-digit symmetry with a triangular cross-section, 4-digit symmetry with a square cross-section, and a rotary axis with a circular cross-section is particularly preferred.

[0020] To optimize the introduction of body fluid into the absorbent core, it has proved expedient if the cavity is at least 20%, especially at least 50% of the longitudinal length of the rounded apex and completely passes along the axis through the rounded apex and preferably, starting from the peripheral edge, extends through the entire rounded vertex up to the absorbent core. The diameter of the recess at the edge around the axis of the cylinder can be about 10 to 45%, especially 20 to 40%, usually about 25 to 35% of the diameter of the absorbent body.

[0021] Making a recess in the tampon, however, reduces the amount of absorbent material in the tampon. For the sake of optimizing the use of absorption capacity, it has proved expedient if the volume of the well is 4% or less, usually 2% or less, and particularly preferably 1% or less, especially 0.75% or less of the total tampon volume. The increase in the desired effect of introducing body fluid into the tampon core can be increased in this case if the volume of the well is 0.1% or more, especially 0.2% or more, usually 0.5% or more of the total volume of the tampon.

[0022] As with ordinary tampons, the tampon produced with the device according to the invention can be equipped with a cover for the outer surface of the absorbent body, e.g. a cover made of non-woven fabric welded with cotton wool or a cover made of perforated foil, which prevents the tampon fibers from separating from the body tampon, when the tampon after taking over body fluid increases its

-7objętość. Shield materials used in accordance with the invention are described, for example, in DE 69811114 T2, EP 1194100 B1, EP 925050 B1 and US 68860874. The publication content of these descriptions has been included in this description only in terms of the state regarding the material of the shield. In addition, two, three or more straight, wavy and / or spiral grooves may be provided on the outer surface of the absorbent body in the tampon produced by the device according to the invention to improve absorbent properties. Usually, tampons are placed in plastic film during transport and storage. Typically, cellophane films are used for this. In the context of the invention, however, it has turned out that the separation of individual fibers in the region of the recess edge when removing the packaging film from the tampon can be effectively prevented if instead of the usual cellophane film OPP film is used instead of the usual cellophane film, and thus polypropylene film.

[0023] Conventional tampons are made in such a way that a nonwoven web with a cotton wool band is first welded so that the nonwoven web covers half the length of the cotton banding needed to make a tampon and protrudes from the cotton band. In the next manufacturing step, a wad of wadding is formed from the wadding web, in which the nonwoven coating forms the outer surface surrounding the roll, which overlaps the wadding string and is welded to the nonwoven cover on the previous roll layer, forming an outer surface surrounding the wadding roll. Finally, the wad of cotton wool is compressed both radially and linearly, primarily to form a cylindrical form of the absorbent body. As part of the radial compression, grooves are also provided which are anticipated on the outer surface of the absorbent body. To make the tampon ready, the already pressed tampon blank is placed in the forming tools of the forming equipment

-8 rounded vertex, the shape of which corresponds to the required shape of the rounded vertex.

[0024] Hereinafter, the invention will be explained in more detail on the basis of the drawings, from which all other details relevant to the invention that are not further detailed in the description follow.

[0025] The drawings show:

Fig. 1 a schematic view of a tampon made with the device according to the invention,

Fig. 2 a schematic view of the device according to the invention for producing a tampon and

Fig. 3 a schematic view of the forming tools of the devices according to the invention.

[0026] According to Fig. 1, the tampon consists essentially of a cylindrical absorbent body 10, which has a tapered rounded tip at one end along the axis 12. The absorbent body 10 has on its outer surface a number of grooves 14, running in parallel and parallel to each other. to the axis of the cylindrical absorbent body. In the area of ​​the rounded apex 12 there is a funnel-shaped recess 20, which, starting from the concentric edge 22 to the axis of the cylinder A, penetrates deep into the absorbent body 10 towards the opposite end 1_1 of the absorbent body, which in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing is rotationally symmetrical in relation to to the axis of the cylinder Ą. As it is clearly seen in fig. 1 b, the cross section of the recess 20 decreases, starting from the edge 22, towards the opposite tip of the end 11 of the absorbent body 10.

[0027] The diameter d of the depression on the edge 22 lying on the vertex, i.e. the largest diameter of the depression measured perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder A, is in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing about 30% of the diameter of the absorbent body.

[0028] The tampons according to figure 1 can be produced as shown in figure 2 by means of the devices described. According to Fig. 2, during the production of the tampon, a band of cotton wool 100 is first introduced into the tampon making machine, which is cut with the knife 102 to the length required for the individual tampons, as shown in dashed line 100a in Fig. 2a.

[0029] After cutting the wadding web to the required length, a cutout of nonwoven fabric 104 is applied to the chopped wadding strip with an offset of about half the length of the wadding fabric 104 and then is welded with a welding jaw 106 under pressure and temperature with a wadding fabric 100. The non-woven cover protrudes longitudinally out of the cotton band with which it has been welded. In the next manufacturing step, a return thread 108 is placed around the strand of cotton, as shown in FIG. 2b. The band of 100 watts is then rolled up in so-called a coil in such a way that the non-woven sheath protruding out of the cotton wool strand will be on the coil, where it will be welded to the previous non-woven layer. For this purpose, a welding jaw 110 is used, as schematically shown in Fig. 2c.

[0030] The cotton roll 120 thus prepared is transferred to the open press 122, as shown in Fig. 2d. After closing the press 122, the blank is pressed together with making appropriate grooves and the appropriate diameter (depending on the size, e.g. mini, normal, super ...) and other adjustable parameters.

[0031] After lightly releasing the press 120, the thus obtained pressed and essentially cylindrical blank is squeezed by means of an ejector from the press backwards and transferred to the tubular drum 124. In the drum head 125, the blank is pressed in a predetermined order by the push rods 126 in forming tools devices for forming the rounded tip of a tampon. Depending on the form of the rounded apex required and the design of the tampon, there are 4 to 12 same or different forming tools in the rounded apex forming device 128.

[0032] The forming tools used in the device according to the invention for producing a tampon will be further explained based on Fig. 3. The forming tools marked as 200 have an annular casing 210 and a mandrel arrangement 220. The mandrel arrangement consists of a mandrel 222 and a mandrel holder 224. The mantle 210 has an inner bounding surface 212 with an inner diameter decreasing at least segmentally along the axis. Coat 210 has a rotationally symmetrical construction. The mandrel 222 is introduced into the casing 210 such that there is a free annular space between the area of ​​the decreasing inner diameter of the casing inner surface 212 and the mandrel, and the inner space of the mantle at the end facing away from the mandrel 222 is closed by the mandrel holder 224, made as one piece with with pin 222. According to fig. 3a, when using identical members of the casing 210, different mandrels may be used. The mandrels used may be longer, shorter, thicker or thinner, or the mandrels may be cylindrical, barrel or corrugated, the mandrel shape being selected according to the required shape of the recess in the rounded tip of the tampon. According to Fig. 3a, the tampon blank is introduced along the axis into the tool

By forming the 200, as a result the mandrel 222 enters along the axis into the tampon, while at the same time an outer ring of the rounded apex is formed. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, the volume of the well, starting from the peripheral edge 22 up to the bottom of the well facing the opposite U end of the absorbent body, is about 0.54% of the total volume of the tampon. The diameter of the well may eventually gradually decrease, starting from the diameter of the edge lying in the range of about 5 mm and end with a blade in the well, as clearly seen in Fig. 1b, forming a funnel-ending channel through which the menstrual fluid can be directed to the core absorbent body 10.

[0033] The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawing. Going beyond this, it is also envisaged to use tampons with different form of grooves 14 and / or with different cross-sections of the recess 20. Recess can be used of any cross-section, especially triangular, square or rectangular. In an embodiment of the invention, explained based on the drawing, the recess 20 extends through the entire rounded vertex 12. In other embodiments of the invention, the cavity 20 may extend beyond the rounded apex and enter the core of the absorbent body. In some cases, it has proved beneficial if the recess only enters part of the rounded apex

12. When manufacturing the tampon according to the invention, the tampon blanks are introduced into a molding tool made according to the invention. The recess can be made in several steps, with the tampon blank being inserted successively into identical or different forming tools. The forming tools can be placed on the drum forming tool and are positioned opposite the tampon by rotating around an axis, which

-12 allows during axial relative movement between the forming tool and the blank for subsequent insertion of the blank into various forming tools.