Vaginal insert method of manufacture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9782244-B2
Application number	US-201314137844-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2013
Priority date	Dec 20, 2013
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

A method of manufacture for a vaginal insert. The vaginal insert may have a core, a cover, and a removal element. In various embodiments, the cover can be conformed to the vaginal insert.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A core insertion module for inserting a core of a vaginal insert into a cover blank to form a core and cover blank combination comprising:
a. a top level comprising:
i. a pallet table supporting a first pallet for receiving the core and cover blank combination; and
ii. a pre-tuck rod positioned above the pallet table wherein the pre-tuck rod moves downward in a direction towards the core to tuck the cover blank onto the core;

b. a bottom level comprising:
i. a core compression tray comprising at least one opening for receiving the core therein and capable of transitioning from an open configuration to a closed configuration and compressing the core when in the closed configuration; and
ii. a push rod positioned beneath the core compression tray that pushes the core away from the bottom level and in a direction towards the first pallet; and

c. a middle level between the bottom level and the top level and comprising a barrel drum within which a second pallet is placed wherein the second pallet supports the cover blank into which the push rod pushes the core to form the core and cover blank combination as the push rod pushes the core towards the first pallet wherein the core and cover blank combination is received.

2. The core insertion module of claim 1 wherein the core compression tray comprises a pair of jaws which shift toward each other at a 45° angle relative to the core insertion module to compress a core loaded within the core compression tray.

3. The core insertion module of claim 1 wherein the barrel drum is capable of rotating 180°.

4. The core insertion module of claim 1 wherein the second pallet table further comprises a transfer tube.

5. A core insertion module for inserting a core of a vaginal insert into a cover blank to form a core and cover blank combination comprising:
a. a top level comprising:
i. a pallet table supporting a first pallet for receiving the core and cover blank combination and capable of moving in an up and down movement; and
ii. a push rod positioned above the pallet table wherein the pre-tuck rod moves downward in a direction towards the core to tuck the cover blank onto the core;

b. a bottom level comprising:
i. a core compression tray comprising at least one opening for receiving the core therein and capable of transitioning from an open configuration to a closed configuration and compressing the core when in the closed configuration; and
ii. a push rod positioned beneath the core compression tray that pushes the core away from the bottom level and in a direction towards the first pallet; and

c. a middle level between the bottom level and the top level and comprising:
i. a barrel drum within which a second pallet is placed wherein the second pallet supports the cover blank into which the push rod pushes the core to form the core and cover blank combination as the push rod pushes the core towards the first pallet wherein the core and cover blank combination is received; and
ii. a core set tool.

6. The core insertion module of claim 5 wherein the core compression tray comprises a pair of jaws which shift toward each other at a 45° angle relative to the core insertion module to compress a core loaded within the core compression tray.

7. The core insertion module of claim 5 wherein the barrel drum is capable of rotating 180°.

8. The core insertion module of claim 5 wherein the second pallet table further comprises a transfer tube.

Assignees

• Kimberly Clark Co

Inventors

• Krupka Kurt G
• Pasterski Jesse J
• Romzek Chadwick I
• Ainsworth Scott A
• Heinen Jeffrey Louis

Classifications

• A61F2230/0078

  hyperboloidal · CPC title

• A61F2/0022 Primary

  placed deep in the body opening (occluding blood vessels by internal devices A61B17/12022) · CPC title

• B65H69/04

  by knotting · CPC title

• A61F2/0095

  Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants (for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02) · CPC title

• A61F2240/001

  Designing or manufacturing processes · CPC title