Method and apparatus for making tampons

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11779494-B2
Application number	US-201916716550-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2019
Priority date	Dec 17, 2018
Publication date	Oct 10, 2023
Grant date	Oct 10, 2023

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to apparatuses and methods for making tampons including primary and secondary absorbent members. During assembly, primary absorbent members, a continuous length of secondary absorbent members, and a continuous cord are advanced in a machine direction. Leading edges of the primary absorbent members are separated from each other in the machine direction by a pitch distance. Discrete secondary absorbent members are cut from the continuous length of secondary absorbent members. Leading edges of the discrete secondary absorbent members are also separated from each other in the machine direction by the pitch distance. The continuous cord is positioned on a first surface of the secondary absorbent members. And a second surface of a secondary absorbent member is positioned in contact with and in a facing relationship with a primary absorbent member. A thread is sewn through the continuous cord, the secondary absorbent member, and the primary absorbent member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for making a tampon, the method comprising steps of:
advancing primary absorbent members in a machine direction, wherein each primary absorbent member comprises a first surface and an opposing second surface extending in the machine direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the leading edges of advancing the primary absorbent members are separated from each other in the machine direction by a pitch distance;
advancing discrete secondary absorbent members, wherein each discrete secondary absorbent member comprises a first surface and an opposing second surface extending in the machine direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge;
separating the leading edges of the advancing discrete secondary absorbent members from each other in the machine direction by the pitch distance;
advancing a continuous cord in the machine direction;
positioning the continuous cord on the first surface of a first discrete secondary absorbent member;
positioning the second surface of the first discrete secondary absorbent member in contact with and in a facing relationship with the first surface of a first primary absorbent member;
sewing a thread through the continuous cord, the first discrete secondary absorbent member, and the first primary absorbent member.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
advancing a continuous length of secondary absorbent members; and
cutting the discrete secondary absorbent members from the continuous length of secondary absorbent members.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of cutting further comprises advancing the continuous length of secondary absorbent members between a rotating knife roll and anvil roll.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of separating further comprises accelerating the secondary absorbent members.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising advancing the continuous cord and the discrete secondary absorbent members on a rotating transfer wheel.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising advancing the continuous cord, the discrete secondary absorbent members, and the primary absorbent members between a presser foot and a sewing support surface.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the discrete secondary absorbent members comprise a plurality of fibers, wherein the step of cutting discrete secondary absorbent members further comprises bonding the fibers together at the trailing edge.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying overwrap material to the first primary absorbent member before positioning the second surface of the first discrete secondary absorbent member in contact with and in a facing relationship with the first surface of a first primary absorbent member.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the continuous cord extends across the trailing edges of the discrete secondary absorbent members.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the discrete secondary absorbent members comprise side edges extending between the leading edges and the trailing edges thereof, and wherein the continuous cord extends across the leading edges and the side edges of the discrete secondary absorbent members.

11. A method for making a tampon, the method comprising steps of:
advancing primary absorbent members at a first speed, S 1 , wherein each primary absorbent member comprises a first surface and an opposing second surface extending in the machine direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the leading edges of advancing the primary absorbent members are separated from each other in the machine direction by a pitch distance;
advancing a continuous length of secondary absorbent members at a second speed, S 2 , wherein the second speed, S 2 , is less than the first speed, S 1 ;
cutting discrete secondary absorbent members from the continuous length of secondary absorbent members, wherein each discrete secondary absorbent member comprises a first surface and an opposing second surface extending in the machine direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge;
accelerating the discrete secondary absorbent members from the second speed, S 2 , to the first speed, S 1 ;
advancing a continuous cord in the machine direction;
positioning the continuous cord on the first surface of the discrete secondary absorbent members;
positioning the second surface of a first discrete secondary absorbent member in contact with and in a facing relationship with the first surface of a first primary absorbent member; and
sewing a thread through the continuous cord, the first discrete secondary absorbent member, and the first primary absorbent member.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of accelerating further comprises separating the leading edges of the advancing discrete secondary absorbent members from each other in the machine direction by the pitch distance.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising advancing the continuous cord and the discrete secondary absorbent members at the first speed S 1 on a rotating transfer wheel.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising advancing the continuous cord, the first discrete secondary absorbent member, and the first primary absorbent member between a presser foot and a sewing support surface.

15. A method for making a tampon, the method comprising steps of:
advancing primary absorbent members in a machine direction, wherein each primary absorbent member comprises a first surface and an opposing second surface extending in the machine direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the leading edges of advancing the primary absorbent members are separated from each other in the machine direction by a pitch distance;
advancing discrete secondary absorbent members, wherein each discrete secondary absorbent member comprises a first surface and an opposing second surface extending in the machine direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge;
separating the leading edges of the advancing discrete secondary absorbent members from each other in the machine direction by the pitch distance;
advancing a continuous cord in the machine direction;
positioning the continuous cord on the first surface of a first primary absorbent member;
positioning the second surface of a first discrete secondary absorbent member in contact with and in a facing relationship with the continuous cord and the first surface of the first primary absorbent member; and
sewing a thread through the continuous cord, the first discrete secondary absorbent member, and the first primary absorbent member.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Strong Kevin Charles
• Durling Evan Joseph
• Knuth Hinrich
• Qureshi Khalid

Classifications

• A61F13/2085 Primary

  Catamenial tampons · CPC title

• A61F13/2082

  Apparatus or processes of manufacturing · CPC title

• B65H20/00

  Advancing webs · CPC title

• B65H35/00

  Delivering articles from cutting or line-perforating machines; Article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices, e.g. adhesive tape dispensers (cutting or perforating machines or devices in general B26D, B26F) · CPC title

• D05B3/12

  for fastening articles by sewing · CPC title