Flexible manufacturing and article arrays from the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10219955-B2
Application number	US-201514721187-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 26, 2015
Priority date	Jun 6, 2014
Publication date	Mar 5, 2019
Grant date	Mar 5, 2019

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for manufacturing multiple different articles are provided. One apparatus embodiment includes a first intravaginal article assembly module; a second intravaginal article assembly module; and an applicator module capable of receiving and handling applicators suitable for both first intravaginal articles from the first intravaginal article assembly module and second intravaginal articles from the second intravaginal article assembly module. The apparatus only operates with one of the first intravaginal article assembly module and the second intravaginal article assembly module at one time. The first intravaginal articles are absorbent articles and the second intravaginal articles are non-absorbent articles.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-article manufacturing apparatus, comprising:
(a) a first intravaginal article assembly module;
(b) a second intravaginal article assembly module; and
(c) an applicator module capable of receiving and handling applicators suitable for both first intravaginal articles from the first intravaginal article assembly module and second intravaginal articles from the second intravaginal article assembly module;
(d) wherein the apparatus only operates with one of the first intravaginal article assembly module and the second intravaginal article assembly module at one time; and
(e) wherein the first intravaginal articles are absorbent articles and the second intravaginal articles are non-absorbent articles.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second intravaginal articles are non-expanding articles.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second intravaginal articles are expanding articles.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein both the first intravaginal articles and the second intravaginal articles comprises natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or mixtures thereof.

5. A multi-article manufacturing apparatus, comprising:
(a) a tampon assembly module;
(b) a pessary assembly module; and
(c) an applicator module capable of receiving and handling applicators suitable for both tampons from the tampon assembly module and pessaries from the pessary assembly module;
(d) wherein the apparatus only operates with one of the tampon assembly module and the pessary assembly module at one time.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising (e) a wrapper module for individually wrapping applicators containing tampons or pessaries.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising (f) a packaging module for packaging together a plurality of individually wrapped applicators containing tampons or pessaries.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising (g) a plurality of carriers that are independently moveable, each of the plurality of carriers being capable of transporting individual tampons and individual pessaries from the respective assembly modules to the applicator module.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising (h) a plurality of pistons each of which pushes an individual tampon or pessary from a carrier and into an applicator at the applicator module.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Strong Kevin Charles

Classifications

• Y10T29/49828

  Progressively advancing of work assembly station or assembled portion of work · CPC title

• A61F13/5519

  packages containing more than one kind of item, e.g. tampon and napkin, or diaper and an exchangeable insert · CPC title

• A61F6/08

  Pessaries, i.e. devices worn in the vagina to support the uterus, remedy a malposition or prevent conception {, e.g. combined with devices protecting against contagion} · CPC title

• A61F13/2085

  Catamenial tampons · CPC title

• A61F13/2097 Primary

  method of manufacturing tampon applicators · CPC title