US3845520A

US3845520A - Apparatus for pressing absorbent cotton articles, particularly tampons for feminine hygiene

Info

Publication number: US3845520A
Application number: US00235770A
Authority: US
Inventors: S Simon
Original assignee: HAHN C GmbH
Current assignee: Hahn C dt GmbH; HAHN C GmbH
Priority date: 1971-03-25
Filing date: 1972-03-17
Publication date: 1974-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 1991-11-05
Also published as: DD96184A5; SU510154A3; DE2114530A1; ES401133A1; ZA721350B; IT961571B; AT326812B; GB1382679A; DE2114530C2; JPS5425358B1; CA966460A; NL148499B; NO129031B; DK131887C; RO89294A; AR193072A1; BE781119A; CS167975B2; BR7201756D0; NL7104582A

Abstract

An apparatus for pressing absorbent cotton articles, particularly tampons, for feminine hygiene which comprises at least one pair of first shaping means disposed in the direction of passage of the workpiece, at least one pressing means disposed in said direction of passage downstream of said first shaping means having at least one pair of pressing jaws having working faces, each of said working faces having a generally L-shaped configuration, the edge of the shorter leg adapted to abut the end of the longer leg of the other L-shaped working face to define a cavity when said jaws are in closed position.

Description

United States Patent [191 Simon [451 Nov. 5, 1974 APPARATUS FOR PRESSING ABSORBENT COTTON ARTICLES, PARTICULARLY TAMPONS FOR FEMININE HYGIENE [75] Inventor: Stefan Simon, Modling, Austria [73] Assignee: Dr. Carl Hahn GmbH, Dusseldorf,

Germany [22] Filed: Mar. 17, 1972 [21] Appl. No.1 235,770

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 25, 1971 Germany 2114530 [52] US. Cl. 19/l44.5 [51] Int. Cl A61! 15/00 [58] Field of Search 19/l44.5, 149; 128/285;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,058,275 10/1936 Voss ..l9/144.5

10/1954 Greiner et al 19/144.5 5/1964 Cloots et a1 19/144.5

Primary ExaminerDorsey Newton Attorney, Agent, or FirmJas0n Lipow [5 7 ABSTRACT An apparatus for pressing absorbent cotton articles, particularly tampons, for feminine hygiene which comprises at least one pair of first shaping means disposed in the direction of passage of the workpiece, at least one pressing means disposed in said direction of passage downstream of said first shaping means having at least one pair of pressing jaws having working faces, each of said working faces having a generally L- shaped configuration, the edge of the shorter leg adapted to abut the end of the longer leg of the other L-shaped working face to define a cavity when said jaws are in closed position.

10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEUNUV 5mm 3.845520 SHEET 20F 4 35b 35 Fig. 3

PATENTEDHUV 5

I914 p sum

3 or 14 APPARATUS FOR PRESSING ABSORBENT COTTON ARTICLES, PARTICULARLY TAMPONS FOR FEMININE HYGIENE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to an apparatus for pressing absorbent cotton articles, particularly tampons for feminine hygiene.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art Starting material for the manufacture of such tampons is usually an absorbent cotton fleece delivered by a carding machine, dividedinto small, short webs and initially rolled up into loose rools. These rolls, which are approximately as long as the completed tampons, are then radially compressed to a smaller diameter.

In order to increase production capacity, a parallel operation in as many areas of the production process as possible is desirable. Known press constructions which, as single units, are capable of pressing tampons of a definite grade in multistage pressing operations, cannot, however, be used in parallel in a corresponding number, since this would result in a spatial arrangement which would no longer be practicable with regard to graduation and feeding of the necessary forces or movements.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for pressing absorbent cotton articles, which is particularly suitable for parallel operation and in which the pressing process can be so sub-divided that the individual forces which have to be applied in a re-shaping SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Broadly, this invention contemplates an apparatus for pressing absorbent cotton articles, particularly tampons, for feminine hygiene which. comprises at least one pair of first shaping means disposed in the direction of passage of the workpiece, at least one pressing means disposed in said direction of passage downstream of said first shaping means having at least one pair of pressing jaws having working faces, each of said working faces having a generally L-shaped configuration, the edge of the shorter leg adapted to abut the end of the longer leg of the other L-shaped working face to define a cavity when said jaws are in closed position.

The present invention resolves the above problem in that, in the direction of passage of the workpieces, there is a first shaping means, e.g., a pre-shaping tool having at least one pair of shaping jaws, and a press having at least one pair of pressing jaws serially disposed. The jaws are such that in the closed condition thereof their working surfaces are flush with shaperetaining surfaces associated with the pressing jaws and are located parallel with and at a constant distance from each other. The jaws have mutually remote long sides located close to the opposite shape-retaining surface of the other pressing jaw. There is, in each case, a projecting pressing profile which, when the pressing jaws are in the closed position, forms a hollow space corresponding to the final cross-section of the workpiece.

The pre-shaping of the workpieces pursuant to the invention requires only small forces in only one axial direction. The workpiece is thereby brought to a flat shape and subsequently pressed into its final shape in a manner which makes it possible to reduce the number of movements of the press likewise to only one movement. In contrast, in the case of a multiple location of a known multi-stage press, the entire press construction would, even for the low-power portion of the preshaping, have to be very strongly dimensioned, since in at least two axial directions, considerable masses would have to be moved in correspondingly heavy guides.

Where the apparatus according to the invention is concerned, however, a pre-shaping stage of the very lowpower involvement is followed by a pressing stage 1 in which, by virtue of the fact that parallel operation involves only one direction of movement, the force can be applied as the total of partial forces coinciding in an axial direction. This high proportion of force is easily controlled by the particular spatial arrangement of the grouped-together pressing members. It is furthermore possible also to remain geometrically within the framework sufficient for the feeding arrangements.

The bottom jaw of the pre-shaping tool, which in its lower opened receiving position, is at the height of a horizontal rhythmically movable workpiece carrier, located on the upstream side and is constructed as a rhythmically raisable andv lowerable lifting bar for the workpieces. This makes it possible to economize by not having a special device to transfer the workpieces from the workpiece carrier to the press.

In order to transfer the pre-shaped workpiece from the pre-shaping tool to the press, on that side of the preshaping tool which is directed away from the press, there is a two-part die consisting of a pusher and an ejector mandrel, and the cross section of which corresponds approximately to that of the pre-shaped workpiece, the die being adapted to move back and forth horizontally between the closed pair of shaping jaws, in the direction of the press. When the press is closed, due to the shape of the mandrel and the pusher,'only the ejector mandrel of this two-part die is coaxially movable through the cavityformed by the pair of closed pressing jaws. In this way, the completely pressed workpiece can be removed from the press and fed for example to a packaging machine.

The workpieces supplied by the workpiece carrier can be transferred into the pre-shaping tool in that, on the side of the workpiece carrier which is remote from the pre-shaping tool and the press, there are a number of horizontal push-rods, their number corresponding to the number of shaping chambers in the pre-shaping tool, the push-rods being adapted to be moved through the workpiece holders of the workpiece carrier in the cycle position thereof.

The adjacently-disposed shaping chambers of the pre-shaping tool is formed by webs secured at right angles to the lifting and shaping presser bars and parallel with and at equal distances from one another, being guided for upwards and downwards displacement perpendicularly in the fixed shapingbar located above.

The lower presser means is secured on a fixed, approximately horizontal beam and the upper presser jaws on a beam adapted for reciprocating movement parallel with the fixed beam and cam controlled through a toggle lever assembly. This construction is simple in design and permits of easy maintenance.

In order to permit of accurate adjustment of the press, it is desirable for the upper presser beam to be guided on a roller guide system by means of finely adjustable lower rollers, the roller guide system being raisable in a vertical plane just as the upper presser bar BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING By way of example and diagrammatically, the invention is illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

FIGS. la and lb show two movement phases of the preshaping tool;

FIGS. 10 and Id show two phases of the press;

FIG. 2 is a cross section through the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a section along the line IlI-lIl in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view taken from the top partially in section of a portion of the, apparatus of FIGS. 2 to 4, inclusive.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS In FIG. la, a workpiece 1 which can consist of a longitudinally unrolled absorbent cotton fleece, in other words, a roll of absorbent cotton, is located in the receiving position on an upwardly and downwardly movable shaping jaw 2 and underneath a fixed shaping jaw FIG. 1b shows the workpiece In at the end of the preshaping stage inside a chamber 4 in the pre-shaping tool which is laterally bounded by webs 5. These webs are secured on the lower movable shaping jaw 2 and are guided for upwards and downwards displacement in apertures 6 in the upper fixed shaping tool 3.

FIG. shows the pre-shaping workpiece la after it has been transferred to the cavity between two

presser jaws

7 and 8. The two

presser jaws

7, 8 are provided withshape-retaining

faces

9, 10 which are in parallel, spaced and opposing relationship, assuming a constant distance from each other corresponding approximately to the height of the pre-shaped workpiece. Projecting from the mutually remote long sides of the two presser jaws, in the direction of the relevant opposed

shaperetaining face

9 or 10 of the other presser jaw 8, are semi-cylindrical pressing profiles 11, I2 of concave cross section which, when the two

presser jaws

7, 8 are in the closed position, form a cylindrical cavity corresponding to the circular final cross section of the workpiece lb shown in FIG. ld.

FIG. 2 shows a roll 1 which is held in a cylindrical workpiece holder 13 of a, for example. endless workpiece carrier, not shown in greater detail. The workpiece carrier is conveyed in cadence into a transfer position, the number of workpieces which are adjacently disposed in one row corresponding to the number of chambers 4 or pairs of

pressing jaws

7, 8 of the press.

The number of horizontal push-rods 14, which are flush with the workpiece holders 13 of the workpiece carrier, in the inoperative position thereof, and which are smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of the workpiece holders, also corresponds to the number of adjacently-disposed chambers 4 and pairs of

pressing jaws

7, 8. That end of the push-rod which is away from the workpiece carrier is horizontally displaceably articulated to the upper end of a control lever 18 at 17, through an angle piece 16. The bottom end of the control lever 18 is pivotally attached at a point 20 on a console 19 disposed on the frame 18. Midway along the lever is a sensing roller 21 which follows a cam plate 22. The cam plate 22 is mounted on a cycle shaft 23 which is connected through an angle drive 24 to a main shaft 25 which can be driven by an electric motor 27 through a V-belt transmission 26. In this way, the workpieces 1 can be transferred from the workpiece holders 13 by the push-rods 14 to the shaping jaw of the preshaping tool.

The shaping jaw forms a lifting or chamber beam which is mounted on the upper side of a carriage 28 which is mounted for upwards and downwards displacement in a guide 29 mounted on the frame 15. The bottom end of the carriage, as shown in FIG. 4, is articulated at 30 on a double lever 31 which is pivotable about a horizontal axis 32 and which has an end constructed as a follower wheel 33 which, under the action of a spring, not shown, follows a control cam 34, the control cam being mounted on the shaft 25. In this way, the lifting or shaping beam can be moved into the upper extreme position shown in FIG. lb, when the workpiece 1 is compressed between the two

preshaping jaw

2 and 3 to a height corresponding to the nominal dimension of these jaw. This pre-shaping process requires only minimal forces and, in this position upstream of the actual press, allows the number of movements of the press body to be reduced to a single movement.

Above the push-rods 14 in FIG. 2 and parallel therewith are a number of two-part dies 35 corresponding to the number of push-rods or press tools and which again are guided for horizontal displacement in the frame 15, their cross section in each case corresponding approximately to the cross section of the pre-shaped workpiece la. This two-part die consists of an ejector mandrel 35a and a pusher 35b, shown in FIG. 3, the total cross section of which is somewhat smaller than the cavity between the opened

pressing jaws

7, 8, which is filled by the pre-shaped workpiece la, as shown in FIG. 1c. The circular cross section of the ejector mandrel 35a is in turn somewhat smaller in size than the cylindrical cavity enclosed by the pressing profiles l1, 12 when the

pressing jaws

7, 8 are in the closed position shown in FIG. 1d. Artriculated for movement in an approximately perpendicular plane on the rear end of the twopart dies are strips 36, the other end of which is articulatingly connected to the upper end of a control lever 37. The bottom end of this control lever is pivotably mounted on the bottom of the frame 15, at 38. A sensing wheel 370 on the control lever 37 follows a control cam 39, the movement of which causes the control lever 37 which is urged against the control cam by a spring, not shown, to move leftwards in FIG. 2, so that the pressed-flat workpiece la between the shaping

jaws

2, 3 can be displaced into the hollow cavity between the

pressing jaws

7, 8 according to FIG. la. As soon as the pressing jaws have given the preliminary blank 1a the final form 1b shown in FIG. 1d, then from the aforedescribed, forwardly-pushed position of the two-part die, only the ejector mandrel 35a can alone be pushed between the pressing profiles ll, 12 to eject the completed and pressed workpiece 1b. For this purpose, the ejector mandrel 35a is mounted on an auxiliary guide 40 which is connected through an intermediate link 41 to a control lever 42 having a wheel 43 which follows a control cam 44 which is likewise mounted on the cycle shaft 23. v

The workpieces l which are pushed into the lifting or shaping beam by means of the push-rods 14 (in FIG. 2) are compressed between the lower movable shaping jaw 2 and the upper fixed shaping tool 3, as shown in FIG. lb.

The

ejector mandrels

35a and 35b transfer the compressed workpiece from the four chambers of the lifting device to the pressing means. The pushers 35b and the ejector mandrels 35 carry out strokes of equal length per unit of time during the displacement of the workpieces from the lifting beam to the pressing means. The length of the stroke is regulated in such a way that the pressed-fiat workpieces are placed lengthwise between the sidewalls of the frame. When the workpieces are inserted into the pressing and shaping means, the

ejector mandrels

35a and 35b are retracted by approximately 3 mm. to avoid a contact of the front side of the ejector mandrels with the

pressing jaws

7 and 8 which are mounted on the movable upper beam 46. During the further process the shaping and pressing operation is effected over the movable upper beam 46 and the

pressing jaws

7 and 8.

After the shaping operation is finished and after the upper beam opens by approximately l mm, the round ejector mandrels 35a are moved in-forward direction to eject the pressed-flat workpieces from the chambers of the shaping and pressing means and to transfer theminto the heating means which is placed at the rear of the shaping means.

The ejector mandrels 35a carry out a double-stroke during their working cycle, namely in the first part they are moving in engagement with the pusher 35b for the insertion of the pressed-flat workpiece, and in the second part they carry out the ejection stroke for the onward transportation of the pressed workpiece from the shaping and pressing means to other tools (heating means).

When the workpieces are ejected from the shaping and pressing means, the ejector mandrels 35a and the pushers 35b are retracted in the initial position and a new movement cycle starts.

The pushers 35b are in engagement with the cross bar 102 over push-rods 101 and the lever 37 is engaged to the cross bar over the link 36.

The ejector mandrels 35a are in engagement with the cross bar 40, which is gliding to and fro on two round guides 103 which are mounted on the frame 15. The movement is initiated over two intermediate links 41 and two levers 42.

The pushers 35b are guided in the frame and the four push-rods 101 are guided in the cross-bar 40; i.e., during the insertion movement of the pressed-fiat workpieces into the shaping and pressing means, the cross bars 40 and 102 are simultaneously moyed forward over the corresponding

levers

42 and 37; then both movements come to a stop for the shaping operation and after the cross bar 40 with the ejector mandrels 35a is moved forward in the second part of the stroke.

The bottom pressing jaws are located on a fixed beam 45 mounted on the frame 15. The upper pressing jaws are mounted on the underside of a beam 46 located above the fixed beam. Through a strip 47, this beam is articulated on the short end of an angle lever 48, of which the point of rotation on the frame is marked by reference numeral 49. A follower50 on the long arm of the lever 48 is pressed-by means not shown against the periphery of the control cam 51 mounted on the shaft 25. The accurate and wear-free guiding of the upper beam 46 is achieved by upper rollers 52 and lower roller 53 which are finely adjustable by means of eccentric members. By the rotation of the shaft 25 in the direction of the arrow X and the consequent movement of the toggle lever assembly, the inter se identically constructed

pressing jaws

7 and 8 can be displaced horizontally, their pressing profiles moving towards each other as far as the nominal diameter. For cleaning or changing the jaws a roller guide 54 in which the rollers 52 are mounted, can be raised about an axis 54a provided in the frame 15. After this roller guide has been raised, then the upper beam 46 can also be raised.

By virtue of the spatial graduation of the preshaping and pressing, the movements of the pre-shaping tool and of the pressing jaws can take place in a superimposed relationship which results in a saving on time in favor of the technically difficult pressing.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for pressing absorbent cotton articles, particularly tampons, for feminine hygiene which comprises at least one pair of first shaping means disposed in the direction of passage of the workpiece, in serial relationship therewith, said apparatus having a workpiece carrying means and a pair of pressing jaws, said workpiece carrying means locatedupstream of said pair of pressing jaws, said first shaping means comprising a pair of shaping jaws comprising an upper shaping jaw and a lower shaping jaw, one of which is positioned over the other in facing relationship therewith, means for moving said lower shaping jaw upwardly and downwardly, said apparatus further having at least one pressing means disposed in said direction of passage downstream of said first shaping means having at least one pair of pressing jaws comprising an upper presser jaw and a lower presser jaw having working faces, each of said working faces having a generally L-shaped configuration, the edge of the shorter leg adapted to abut the end of the longer leg of the other L-shaped working face, the working face of the shorter leg of the L-shaped member having a recess therein that faces the working face of the opposed shorter leg having a like recess in the working face thereof to define a cavity when said jaws are in closed position, said lower shaping jaw disposed at its lower most extreme in alignment with said workpiece carrying means.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a horizontally movable two-part die is disposed in registry with said first shaping means and said pressing means to transfer said workpiece from said first shaping means to said pressing means, said two-part die comprising an ejector mandrel and a pusher, said die having a cross section generally corresponding to the cross section of a workpiece after it has been subjected to said first shaping means, means for reciprocatingly displacing said die horizontally between the open pressing jaws of said pressing means.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the ejector mandrel and the pusher are so shaped that only the ejector mandrel can enter the closed jaws of said pressing means.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a horizontal reciprocatable push-rod is disposed in alignment with said workpiece carrying means and said lower shaping jaw upstream thereof, said push-rod connected to an operating means, said operating means connected to said push-rod and adapted to advance said push-rod forward when said lower shaping jaw is disposed at its lowermost extremity.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 having a chamber beam, said first shaping means comprising a plurality of shaping chambers, each of which is defined in part by a lower shaping jaw and a fixed upper shaping jaw and formed by equally spaced parallel webs located at right angles to and on said lower shaping jaw, said webs disposed within apertures in said chamber beam disposed thereabove to guide said webs.

6. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein there are a plurality of pairs of pressing jaws each pair of said pressing jaws having a lower pressing jaw and an upper pressing jaw, a generally horizontal fixed beam and a generally reciprocatingly movable upper pressing beam, a first means for mounting said lower pressing jaws in a general horizontal position, the upper pressing jaws of which are mounted on said reciprocatingly movable upper pressing beam generally parallel to said fixed beam, and a cam connected to said movable upper pressing beam through a series of toggle levers, a second means for movably mounting the upper pressing jaws reciprocatingly to said first means.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the upper pressing beam is guided by bottom rollers on a roller guide which is vertically raisable.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6 having a chamber beam having apertures therein, said first shaping means comprising a chamber defined in part by said lower shaping jaw and formed by equally spaced parallel webs located at right angle to and on said lower shaping jaw, said webs disposed within said apertures, said fixed shaping beam disposed above to guide said lower shaping jaw, said lower shaping jaw adapted to be in alignment at its lower most extremity with said workpiece carrying means located on the upstream side thereof, a horizontal reciprocable push-rod disposed in alignment with said workpiece carrying means and said lower shaping jaw upstream thereof. operating means connected to said push-rod adapted to advance said push-rod forward when said lower shaping jaw is disposed at its lowermost extremity and wherein the upper pressing beam is guided by bottom rollers on a roller guide.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said means for reciprocatingly displacing said die is a cam connected said horizontal reciprocatable push-rod and said upper beam.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said ejector mandrel is mounted on an auxiliary guide which is connected through an intermediate link to a control lever responsive to the actuation of an independent cam means therefor.

22g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 845, 520 Dated November 5, 197 4 Invent-or(s) Stefan, Simon It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In Column 1, line 68, 68, "workpiece" should. readv workpieces---.

In Column L, line M6, "Artriculated." should read Articulated In Column 5, line 63, "pressing jaws" should read. pressing jaws Z Claims Claim 8, Col. 8, line 8, "fixed shaping" should read chamber Claim 8, 'Col. 8, line 12, "reciprocable" should read. reciprocatable Signed and sealed this 3rd day of June 1975.

(SEAL) Attest: L c. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 7 and Trademarks

Claims

1. An apparatus for pressing absorbent cotton articles, particularly tampons, for feminine hygiene which comprises at least one pair of first shaping means disposed in the direction of passage of the workpiece, in serial relationship therewith, said apparatus having a workpiece carrying means and a pair of pressing jaws, said workpiece carrying means located upstream of said pair of pressing jaws, said first shaping means comprising a pair of shaping jaws comprising an upper shaping jaw and a lower shaping jaw, one of which is positioned over the other in facing relationship therewith, means for moving said lower shaping jaw upwardly and downwardly, said apparatus further having at least one pressing means disposed in said direction of passage downstream of said first shaping means having at least one pair of pressing jaws comprising an upper presser jaw and a lower presser jaw having working faces, each of said working faces having a generally L-shaped configuration, the edge of the shorter leg adapted to abut the end of the longer leg of the other L-shapEd working face, the working face of the shorter leg of the L-shaped member having a recess therein that faces the working face of the opposed shorter leg having a like recess in the working face thereof to define a cavity when said jaws are in closed position, said lower shaping jaw disposed at its lower most extreme in alignment with said workpiece carrying means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6 having a chamber beam having apertures therein, said first shaping means comprising a chamber defined in part by said lower shaping jaw and formed by equally spaced parallel webs located at right angle to and on said lower shaping jaw, said webs disposed within said apertures, said fixed shaping beam disposed above to guide said lower shaping jaw, said lower shaping jaw adapted to be in alignment at its lower most extremity with said workpiece carrying means located on the upstream side thereof, a horizontal reciprocable push-rod disposed in alignment with said workpiece carrying means and said lower shaping jaw upstream thereof, operating means connected to said push-rod adapted to advance said push-rod forward when said lower shaping jaw is disposed at its lowermost extremity and wherein the upper pressing beam is guided by bottom rollers on a roller guide.