Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
1
PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF LENGTH
PORTIONS FROM A STRAND OF FLUID-ABSORBING MATERIAL
The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for the
continuous production of length portions from a strand of
fluid-absorbing material, the material strand being shaped
into a pressed strand by the pressing in of longitudinal
grooves at equal circumferential angular spacings by means of
press elements drivable in the direction of rotation and
simultaneously being transported in the run-through direction
as well as subsequently being subdivided into length portions
by movable severing elements.
A process and an apparatus of the abovementioned generic type
are known from WO 90/07314. According to this document, a
multi-layer fibre-material web is folded on itself by means of
a plurality of longitudinal folds and is rounded in cross-
section. The fibre-material web is thereafter surrounded with
a wrapping band, the longitudinal edges of which are sealed.
The fibre-material web is subsequently rolled down in steps,
at least to the cross-section of an absorption body, in a
roller frame by means of a multiplicity of pairs of rollers
offset relative to one another in the circumferential
direction, and a nonwoven strand is formed. During this
reduction in cross-section of the fibre-material web by means
of the said pairs of rollers, the nonwoven strand is provided
with four longitudinal grooves. The nonwoven strand can be
heated during the press-rolling. Length portions corresponding
to the absorption bodies are subsequently pre-severed, with
the exception of the thin connecting web, by nip-rolling, the
ends of these length portions acquiring the form of a hump and
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
2
a dip respectively, before they are separated completely.
Thereafter, a recovery tape can be fastened to the rear end of
the absorption body, in order to complete a tampon for
feminine hygiene.
4
Swiss Patent Specification 261,771 discloses a process and a
machine for the production of a wrapped tampon consisting of
a plurality of angular fluid-absorbing disks, such as cotton
wadding, which, stacked centrically, are folded up to form a
cup and are pressed into the form of a peg. The disk stack is
pressed by means of a ram into a tube which tapers comically
at the start and which is mounted fixedly on a table. Provided
on the tube circumference is a plurality of longitudinal
slots, through each of which projects the circumference of a
freely rotatable disk fastened to supporting arms screwed to
the table. During the piercing of the cup by the tube, these
disks are rotated, and folds or flutes are formed.
Subsequently, a heatable cylindrical die, having inner
longitudinal ribs which are aligned with the disks and which
further indent the flutes, is used. Thereafter, the die has to
be removed from the table and placed over a pressing member,
the convex surface of which projects, in this position, into
the lower end of the die. An axially acting pressing member
having a concave surface is then pressed into the upper end of
the die, so that, in the course of the dwell time in the die,
the peg is provided on the one hand with a finger dip and on
the other hand with a round hump.
Swiss Patent Specification 355 255 describes a longitudinally
stretchable me~struatinn tampon with recovery taps as well ~s
a fully automatic process and apparatus for the production of
this, the absorbent tampon body being surrounded completely by
a wrapping made o~ moisture-permeable material. The tampon
consists of a length portion of a mufti-layer wadding web
' folded in the long'_tudinal centre, the folding point forming
the rear end of the tampon body. The tampon body is surrounded
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
3
by a hydrophilic gauze, of which the two ends projecting above
the folding point serve as recovery means. The gauze is
fastened to the end of the tampon by means of a binder. The
tampon body is pressed laterally to form a cylindrical tampon
in a press die having a stationary and a movable press mould,
each semi-cylindrical, and is subsequently provided with a
round hump at the front end by axial pressing. The known
apparatus contains a curved guide channel for folding the
wadding web round to half width, an advancing and shaping
wheel projecting from above into the folding channel and
pressing the folding point of the web onto the channel bottom.
For laying on and folding the gauze web above the guide
channel, there are provided a guide roller and a double-flange
wheel, the flanges of which engage over the guide channel
closed at this point. The wadding web together with the gauze
web fastened to it is rotated through 90° on a table by means
of two folding-round rollers and is subsequently fed by two
driven press rollers to a circular knife for severing tampon
blanks which are thereafter transported to the tampon press.
The object on which the invention is based is to improve the
process and apparatus according to the pre-characterizing
clause of the present independent patent claims relating
respectively to them, in such a way that absorption bodies
made of a multi-layer web of absorbent material being folded
or wound about its longitudinal axis can be produced
continuously and reliably at a comparatively low outlay and at
a high production speed.
The invention achieves this object by means of the
. characterizing clause of the present independent patent claims
relating respectively to the process and to the apparatus.
It was found, surprisingly, that such a strand of a multi-
layer web, in a single operation, can be pressed, at least to
the final dimension of the absorption body, in only one plane
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 2003-04-10
77060-2
4
transverse to its direction of transport, merely by exerting
a linear radial pressing force on generatrices of the
nonwoven strand and, at the same time, synchronous motive
forces by which said web can be continuously further
transported simultaneously as a finished pressed strand at an
extremely high speed and be processed to the desired final
product in further stations.
The apparatus according to the invention for
carrying out the process according to the invention for the
production of absorption bodies accordingly consists of a
disk press having at least three essentially circular press
disks which are arranged on a supporting stand essentially
radially to the axis of the disk press in a common plane
oriented perpendicularly to the direction of transport of the
disk press, the press disks being connected to a drive motor
and to a device by means of which the press disks are
adjustable radially to the axis of the disk press and in the
direction of the press-disk axes.
According to one aspect of the present invention,
there is provided apparatus for the production of
longitudinally extending pressed absorption bodies, having a
front end and a rear end, from an endless nonwoven web
comprising a carrier plate provided with a passage orifice,
in which is arranged a tubular piece having a widened entry
orifice and provided with a plurality of slots extending in
the longitudinal direction, with a disk press having a
plurality of generally circular press disks, an outer
circumferential portion of which projects respectively
through a slot into the interior of the tubular piece, the
press disks being mounted rotatably on axles fastened on
press-disk holders which are arranged on the carrier plate at
angular spacings in a common plane perpendicular to the
tubular piece and which are adjustable radially relative to
CA 02219204 2006-O1-25
4a
the tubular piece, wherein an apparatus for forming the
endless nonwoven web precedes the tubular piece, an exit
orifice of which is arranged at a distance in front of a gap
formed by the press disks, there being provided a drive
device for synchronously driving the press disks, so that the
nonwoven web can be drawn by the press disks into the press-
disk gap and can simultaneously be pressed radially at least
to a final diameter of a pressed strand in a single
operation.
According to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a process for the production of
longitudinally extending pressed absorption bodies from an
endless nonwoven web comprising the steps of: a) rotating a
plurality of pressing elements which are substantially
arranged and configured in a plane at a single pressing
station; b) driving the nonwoven web in a first direction,
substantially perpendicular to the plane of the pressing
elements through the rotating plurality of pressing
elements, wherein the nonwoven web is compressed
simultaneously with the plurality of pressing elements to
its final dimension in a single operation, to form a
substantially cylindrical pressed strand having at least
three longitudinal grooves and a correspondingly number of
ribs therebetween arranged at substantially equal angular
spacings about the circumference of the cylindrical form;
and c) subdividing the pressed strand into portions of
specific length.
The invention is explained in more detail below by
means of the diagrammatic drawing of an exemplary embodiment
3o of a high-speed apparatus for the continuous production of
length portions from a pressed nonwoven strand. In this:
CA 02219204 2003-04-10
77060-2
4b
Fig. 1 shows a perspective, partially
diagrammatic view of the apparatus according to the
invention, with folding, wrapping-band attachment, pressing
and severing stations;
Fig. 2 shows a top view of the folding pattern
of the nonwoven web;
Fig. 3 shows a cross-section along the line 3-3
in Figure 2, which shows the first folding of the nonwoven
web;
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
Fig. 4 shows a cross-section along the line 4-4 in Figure
2, which shows the second folding of the nonwoven
web;
Fig. 5 shows a cross-section along the line 5-5 in Figure
2, which shows the third folding of the nonwoven
web;
Fig. 6 shows a cross-section along the line 6-6 in Figure
2, which shows the folded nonwoven web after a side
edge has been folded round onto the top side of the
folded part of the nonwoven web;
Fig. 7 shows a perspective front view of the wrapping-band
attachment station;
Fig. 8 shows a diagrammatic view of the exit side of a disk
press according to the invention;
Fig. 9 shows a view of the exit side of the disk press;
Fig. 10 shows a cutout from the disk press shown in Figure
8, with a press-disk holder and with a press disk
fastened rotatably to it;
Fig. 11 shows a middle longitudinal section through a press
disk and a bevel-wheel drive;
Fig. 12 shows a view of the entry side of the disk press,
with a drive motor far a toothed ring synchronously
driving the press disks;
- Fig. 13 shows a partially cutaway view of a device for the
simultaneous adjustment of the press-disk holders by
means of a rotatable control ring;
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
6
Fig. 14 shows a sectional view along the line 14-14 in
Figure 13;
Fig. 15 shows a sectional view along the line 15-15 in
Figure 13;
Fig. 16 and 17 show two different press-disk transverse
profiles;
Fig. 18 shows a view of a partially cutaway press disk having
a corrugated circumferential profile;
Fig. 19 shows a view of two press disks located opposite one
another in a diametral plane and having a supply
nozzle and a catch nozzle, in longitudinal section;
Fig. 20 shows a cross-section of the disk-press gap with a
press strand compressed by eight press disks;
Fig. 21 shows a representation of the angle of engagement of
the press disks into the fibre-material strand;
Fig. 22 shows a diagram of the transfer of the linearly
produced absorption bodies onto a continuously
rotating conveyor belt;
Fig.. 23 shows a diagram of a rotary system for shaping the
front and rear ends of absorption bodies;
Fig_ 24 shozas a tDp vieia of an absorption body provided with
a pre-pierced hole;
Fig. 25 shows a diagrammatic representation of a device for
the pre-piercing of a diametral hole in absorption
bodies for the attachment of a recovery tape;
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
7
Fig. 26, 27, 28 and 29 show four different work phases of
a device fcr drawing in the recovery tape through the
' pre-drilled hole in the absorption body;
Fig. 30 and 31 show an apparatus for the packaging of
absorption bodies; and
Fig. 32 shows a finished absorption body in perspective view-
The drawings illustrate a high-speed apparatus for the
continuous production, machining and packaging of absorption
bodies made from a pressed nonwoven web, which, in particular,
allows the processing of compressible, biologically degradable
natural materials, such as natural fibre material, for example
consisting of cotton fibres or other cellulose-containing
fibres, sponge, etc. Articles of this type are, for example,
absorption bodies for hygienic purposes, especially for
feminine hygiene, cleaning purposes, for example for cleaning
appliances which are used industrially or domestically, or for
sealing-off purposes, for example in windows or doors which,
if appropriate, are impregnated with a biologically degradable
sealing agent.
Fig. 1 shows an apparatus for the continuous production of
absorption bodies 130, in the present case of tampon blanks,
from each of which there is formed a tampon 132 for feminine
hygiene which, as shown in Fig. 32, is provided at its front
end with a round hump 135, on the circumference with eight
longitudinal grooves 131 and eight longitudinal ribs 139 and
at .its rear egad 134 with a finger dip 133 as an introduct~n
aid, and finally with a recovery tape 136, the ends of which
are connected by means of a knot 137.
According to Fig. 1, the apparatus consists of a stock roll 38
for a nonwoven web 40 which is processed continuously in
stations connected in series, namely a folding station A, a
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
8
wrapping-band attachment station B, a pressing station C and
a severing station D which, with the exception of the pressing
station C, are described essentially in WO 90/07314. -
Foldinct Station '
It is evident from Figure 1 that, in the direction of advance
of an arrow x of the nonwoven web 40, a stationary guide plate
42 for the endless nonwoven web 40 is arranged behind the
stock roll 38. Mounted above the guide plate 42 at a distance
is an endless conveyor belt 44 which is preferably vertically
adjustable and which, by means of frictional connection,
causes the nonwoven web 40 to be conveyed continuously in the
direction of the arrow x. In contrast to the embodiment shown,
an endless conveyor belt can also be provided instead of the
guide plate 42, in which case at least one of the conveyor
belts is drivable. These devices as well as the stations
described below and the devices associated with them are
arranged on a stand, of which only stand parts 46 and 48 are
indicated. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the guide
plate 42 extends at least over a substantial part of the
underside of the folding station A and is merely indicated in
Figure 1 for the sake of clarity.
Arranged above the nonwoven web 40, behind the conveyor belt
44 in the direction of advance x, is a baffle plate 50, behind
which is located a folding plate 52 followed by a rotatable
folding disk 54. By means of this first folding plate 52, a
longitudinal side 56 of the nonwoven web 40 on the right in
the direction of movement x is subjected, according to Fig. 2,
to a first folding operation I. At the same time, the
longitudinal side 56 of the nonwoven web 40 on the right in ,
the direction of movement x is folded round upwards parallel
to the longitudinal direction of the nonwoven web 40 in the ,
direction of an arrow a and is laid onto the top side of the
nonwoven web 40. It is evident from Fig. 2 and 3 that, after
the folding operation I, a right-hand longitudinal edge 58
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCTlEP96/01753
9
assumes a greater distance from a left-hand longitudinal edge
60 than the longitudinal mid-axis of the nonwoven web 40. In
' the present exemplary embodiment, the nonwoven web 40 has a
width of 25 cm. In this case, the width of a first fold 62
expediently amounts to 9 cm. Depending on the intended use of
the particular absorption bodies 130 produced, the dimensions
of the nonwoven web 40 can be made to vary greatly. As a rule,
however, the width of the nonwoven web 40 will be in the range
between 15 and 40 cm.
With further reference to Fig. 1, 2 and 4, it is evident that
the first folding operation I is followed by a second folding
operation II which, again, is carried out by means of suitable
folding plates and folding rollers, although these are not
shown in detail for the sake of clarity in the drawing. In
this folding operation II, the right-hand longitudinal edge 58
formed by the first fold 62 is folded round in the direction
of an arrow b onto the folded-round right-hand longitudinal
side 56 about a longitudinal fold 64 onto the top side of the
longitudinal side 56 and is laid approximately onto the middle
third of the width of the longitudinal side 56. With the said
width of the nonwoven web 40, this second folding takes place
over a width of approximately 2 cm.
As is evident from Fig. 1, 2, 4 and 5, there follows a folding
operation III, in which a four-layer bundle 66 is folded round
in the direction of an arrow c onto a still uncovered part 68
of the right-hand longitudinal side 56, to the left according
to Fig. 5, as seen in the direction of movement x of the
nonwoven web 4 0 , s o that the .nonwoven web 4 0 i s .naw 1 imi t ed by
a six-layer bundle 69 on its right-hand side in the direction
of movement x. With the said width of the nonwoven web 40,
this folding operation III extends over approximately 3.5 cm.
A left-hand longitudinal side 70 of the nonwoven web 40, still
remaining according to Fig. 5, is then folded round the left-
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
hand edge of the six-layer bundle 69 onto the top side of the
latter in the opposite direction according to arrow d in Fig.
1, 2 and 6, as seen in the direction of movement x of the '
nonwoven web 40, so that this folding operation IV forms a
seven-layer nonwoven web 72 which is surrounded completely by
the remaining left-hand longitudinal side 70 of the nonwoven
web 40. Provided at the end of the folding station A are
profiled rollers which impart the round cross-section
according to Fig. 6 to the seven-layer nonwoven web 72. Press
rollers of this type are known and are therefore not shown.
Before the execution of the folding operation IV, the left-
hand longitudinal side 70 of the nonwoven web 40 has
approximately a width of 6 cm. Depending on the particular
intended use of the absorption body, of course, another type
of longitudinal folding or layering of the nonwoven web 40 can
also be carried out.
Wrapping-band attachment station
It can be seen from Fig. 1 that the wrapping-band attachment
station B has a stock roll 80 for a wrapping band 82 in the
region of the completely layered and rounded nonwoven web 72.
The wrapping band 82 is fluid-permeable, and may have a
hydrophobic finish. The wrapping band 82 may be an apertured
plastic film, a reticulated plastic film, a nonwoven fabric,
a knitted fabric, or the like. The wrapping band 82 preferably
possesses, at least partially, thermoplastic constituents to
enable it to be thermally bonded. The thermoplastic
constituents may be fibrous or.powdered. The wrapping band 82
may also be adhesively bonded, ultrasonically bonded, and the
liJ~e. Useful wrapping band 82 materials and bonding mechar~ ~m-~
will be recognized by those ordinarily skilled in the art. _
Preferably, the wrapping band 82 consists of a nonwoven fibre ,
layer (nonwoven) which has thermoplastic constituents. This
wrapping band 82 is made wider than the circumference of the
nonwoven web 72. A guide roller 84 is arranged transversely to
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
11
the direction of movement x behind the stock roll 80 and at a
short distance underneath the nonwoven web 72. According to
- Fig. 7, this guide roller 84 has the function of guiding the
wrapping band 82, supplied from the stock roll 80 in the
direction of arrow d into a direction a approximately parallel
to the nonwoven web 72, and under a guide tube 86.
The guide tube 86 is provided on the underside with a
longitudinal slot 88 which can be seen in Fig. 7. Arranged on
the underside of the guide tube 86 is an endless conveyor belt
90 which is made narrower than the longitudinal slot 88. It is
thereby possible to guide an upper side 92 of the conveyor
belt 90 in the region of the longitudinal slot 88 of the guide
tube 86 by means of a support plate 91, in such a way that the
nonwoven web 72 is taken up by frictional connection. The
endless conveyor belt 90 is guided in the usual way around a
driving roller 94 and a deflecting roller 96 and is driven in
the direction of an arrow f, so that the upper side 92 can be
driven in the direction of movement x of the nonwoven web 72
at a speed which corresponds to the conveying speed of the
nonwoven web 72.
f
The wrapping band 82 is guided by means of the guide roller 84
between the top face of the upper side 92 of the conveyor belt
90 and the underside of the nonwoven web 72 in the region of
the longitudinal slot 88 and is taken up by means of the
frictional connection thereby occurring between the upper side
92 and nonwoven web 72.
The guide tub B6 ..~..s provided, on the sides on the left ark
right in the direction of movement x of the nonwoven web 72,
with respective int=oduction slots 98, 100 which are formed by
successively arranged segments 102, 104 and 106 of the guide
tube 86. It is evident that the two introduction slots 98, 100
are offset in the axial direction of the guide tube 86. At the
same time, the segment 104 is of a shape twisted in such a way
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
12
that a rear edge 108 of the first segment 102, the said rear
edge 108 forming an acute angle to the core of the guide tube
86 and extending in a similar way to a helix, assumes a -
shorter radial distance from the tube core than a front edge
110 of the segment 104, the said front edge 110 likewise
limiting the introduction slot 98.
In a similar way, the radius of an edge 112 of the segment 104
at the rear in the direction of movement x is made smaller
than the radius of a front edge 114 of the rear segment 106 of
the guide tube 86, the said front edge 114 likewise limiting
the right-hand introduction slot 100.
For reasons of clarity in the drawing, Fig. 7 does not show
the wrapping band 82 in its complete width which ensures that
the wrapping band has left-hand and right-hand side tabs 116,
118 which are folded upwards round the guide tube 86 by guide
rollers, known per se and therefore not shown, and which slide
along on the said guide tube 86. However, Fig. 7 shows the
left-hand side tab 116 of the wrapping band 82, such as it is
introduced into the left-hand introduction slot 98 in the
direction of an arrow g beyond the outer surface of the
segment 102 and'is laid by means of the segment 104 onto the
rounded, essentially cylindrical surface of the nonwoven web
72. In a similar way, the right-hand side tab 118 of the
wrapping band 82 is subsequently likewise laid onto the
surface of the rounded nonwoven web 72 by means of the segment
106 in the direction of an arrow h via the outside of the
segment 104 through the right-hand introduction slot 100. At
th.a sage t~q an outer longitudinal edge 124 of the right-
hand side tab 118 overlaps a longitudinal edge 126 of the
left-hand side tab 116 of the wrapping band 82, the said
longitudinal edge 126 being laid first onto the top side of
the nonwoven web 72.
Fig. 7 shows, furthermore, that the guide tube 86 is likewise
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
13
provided on the top side, in the region of the rear segment
106, with a middle longitudinal slot 120 for a closing device
122 which serves for connecting the longitudinal edges 124,
126 of the side tabs 116, 118 of the wrapping band 82 to one
another. In the present exemplary embodiment, the closing
device 122 consists of a heat-sealing roller 128 which is made
narrower than the longitudinal slot 120 and which consequently
bears through the longitudinal slot on the overlapping edges
124, 126 and seals these to one another as a result of the
softening of thermoplastic constituents of the wrapping band
82. The heat-sealing roller 128 can be heated in a way known
per se by electrical resistance heating and can be driven in
the direction of rotation of an arrow i at the conveying speed
of a rounded wrapped nonwoven web 140 which leaves the guide
tube 86 at the end of the latter.
Pressing Station
Fig. 8 and 9 show a perspective view and an orthogonal view of
the exit side of a disk press 150 according to the invention.
This disk press 150 consists of a vertically arranged carrier
plate 151, on the exit side of which eight press disks 160 are
arranged at equal circumferential angular spacings about a
middle passage orifice 152 of the carrier plate 151 or a press
axis 153 (Fig. 9?. To produce absorption bodies for tampons of
normal dimensions for feminine hygiene with a final diameter
of approximately 13 mm, said eight press disks 160 having a
diameter of at least 280 mm, preferably 300 mm, proved the
best possible. In principle, at least three press disks 160
are required, so that a nonwoven strand can be pressed
cDnt~~usly to its f~.~ dimension in a single operation.
However, the number of press disks and their dimension depend
primarily on the composition and dimensions of the nonwoven
strand to be pressed and on the desired extent of its pressing
as well as on the intended use of the absorption bodies. The
number of press disks 160 can therefore also be larger or
smaller than eight and also be even or odd. As a rule of
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
14
thumb, it may be considered that, the smaller the cross-
section of the nonwoven strand and of the pressed strand
obtained from this by pressing, the fewer press disks should
be used, although this rule allows or necessitates
modifications, depending on the form of the press disks and on
the depth of their feed setting during the pressing.
The press disks 150 are fastened rotatably to respective
press-disk holders 164 which are mounted on the carrier plate
151 so as to be radially adjustable relative to the passage
orifice 152 of the carrier plate 151 or to the press axis 153.
The press-disk holders 164 are respectively provided at their
radially inner end with supporting arms 162, on the radially
inner end of each of which one of the essentially circular
press disks 160 is mounted so as to be drivable about its axis
190 in the direction of rotation. All eight press-disk holders
164 are positioned, together with their supporting arms 162
and the press disks 160, on the carrier plate 151 in a plane
which is directed perpendicularly to the core of the passage
orifice 152 or to the press axis 153. Furthermore, all the
press disks 160 can be driven synchronously with the effect of
a simultaneous conveyance and pressing of the nonwoven strand,
as explained in more detail further below..
The supporting arms 162 are respectively fastened axially
adjustably on the press-disk holders 164, so that a fine
adjustment to each press disk 160 radially to the press axis
153 is possible. Moreover, according to Figs. 13 and 14 the
supporting arms 162 are adjustable on bearing blocks 161 of
the press-disk hDlr3srs 164 about an axis parallel to the prs~a
axis 153, in such a way that the press disks 160 can be
adjusted parallel to themselves out of their plane radial to
the press axis 153, but also into another angular position
relative to the radial plane (inclination). This adjustability
of the supporting arms 162 and of the press disks 160
connected to them makes it possible, during pressing, to
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
control or adjust the important straight run-out and the
rectilinear profiling of the pressed strand during the
pressing of the latter.
In particular, it is evident from Fig. 9 and 10 that each
press-disk holder 164 is provided with screw bolts 166, by
means of which the associated supporting arm 162 can be fixed
in a desired angular position by means of screw nuts 168.
According to Figs. 8, 9 and 10 each supporting arm 162 bears
with a guide face 170 in the form of a cylinder cutout against
a correspondingly shaped stop face 172 of the press-disk
holder 164_ The centre of curvature of the said faces 170, 172
is located in the middle of the press disk 160.
Furthermore, Fig. 8, 9 and 10 reveal an actuating device 174
for the press-disk holder 164, by means of which each press-
disk holder 164 is radially adjustable individually. In the
present case, the actuating device 174 comprises eight holding
plates 171 (Fig. 10) which are fastened on the rear side of
the carrier plate 151 perpendicularly to the press axis at
equal angular spacings and in which actuating bolts 176 are
mounted rotatably, but non-adjustably axially. These actuating
bolts 176 are each connected to a press-disk holder 164 by
means of a screw thread not shown, so that, as a result of the
rotation of the actuating bolts 176, each press-disk holder
164 can be moved to and fro and therefore the radial distance
of the press disk 160 from the press axis and consequently the
depth of penetration of the press disks 160 into the nonwoven
material can bs set exactly_
The drive of each press disk 160 can be seen in more detail
from Fig. 10 and 11. According to Figure 11, a spur wheel 178
is fastened on a transmission shaft 179 which is rotatably
mounted axis-parallel to the press disk 160 in a bearing .180
and which is provided at its radially inner end with a driving
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 9G/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
16
bevel wheel 182. This driving bevel wheel 182 meshes with a
bevel-wheel disk 184 which is fastened to one end face of a
press-disk body 186 by means of screws not shown. The press-
disk body 186 is mounted rotatably by means of a roller
bearing 188 on the axis 190 which is axially adjustable in a
bore 192 of the supporting arm 162.
The press-disk body 186 is provided, on its outer end face
facing away from the supporting arm 162, with an outer stepped
annular face 194 for receiving a press-ring disk 196 which can
be clamped firmly against the annular face 194 of the press-
disk body 186 by means of a correspondingly shaped clamping
ring 198. This construction allows an economical use of
valuable materials for the overall construction of the press
disks 160 and a rapid exchange of their press-ring disks 196.
In each press-disk body 186, electrical resistance-heating
elements 200 are arranged at equal circumferential angular
spacings in radial bores 202 of the press-disk bodies 186 and
are connected via an electrical line 204 to a slip ring 206
which is located on the inner end face of the press-disk body
186 and against which a stationary wiper contact 208 bears. A
heating of the press disks 160 by means of the resistance-
heating elements 200 can be desirable, for example when only
natural-fibre material is to be subjected to a pressing
operation. In contrast, a heating of the press disks 160 can,
as a rule, be forgone or even be inexpedient if the fibre
material to be pressed contains fibres which consist
completely or partially of thermoplastic material.
A drive motor 210, which is supported on a bracket 212
fastened to the carrier plate 151, can be seen from the view
of the entry side of the carrier plate 151 in Fig. 12.
Connected to the drive motor 210 via a reduction gear 213 is
a driving spur wheel 214 which cooperates with an internal
toothing 216 of a toothed ring 218. The toothed ring 218 is
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96133682 PCT/EP96/01753
17
rotatably mounted concentrically to the press axis 153 on the
carrier plate 151, parallel to the main plane of the latter,
- on three bearing rollers 220 which are fastened freely
rotatably to the carrier plate 151 at equal angular spacings
relative to and at equal radial distances from the press axis
153. The internal toothing 216 of the toothed ring 218 meshes
respectively with the spur wheel 178, shown in Fig. 11, of
each press-disk holder 164, so that each press disk 160 can be
driven synchronously by the toothed ring 218 by means of the
drive motor 210. This ensures that the nonwoven strand to be
pressed is uniformly and exactly conveyed coaxially relative
to the press axis 153.
Figures 13, 14 and 15 show a device, by means of which the
press-disk holders 164 are synchronously adjustable radially
to the press axis 153. For this purpose, the carrier plate 151
has, on its entry side, eight guides 252 which are parallel to
the radial press-disk planes and which are arranged at a
distance from and parallel to the radial planes of the press
disks 160 in Figure 13. The bearing blocks 161 of the press-
disk holders 164 engage by means of guide tongues 253 into
these guides 252 in the manner of a tongue-and-groove
connection. In the bottom of each guide 252, four long holes
254 limiting a rectangle are arranged in pairs symmetrically
and parallel to a longitudinal mid-axis 242 of each guide 252
as well as parallel to the axis 190 of the associated press
disk 160 (Figures 13 and 14). Fastened to the underside of the
guide tongue 253 of each bearing block 161 are screw bolts,
not shown, which engage into the said long holes 254 and which
f~zr rip bearing block lb~- of each press-disk holder 164 to the
- carrier plate 151 by means of screw nuts or allow a radial
adjustment of the press-disk holders 164 to the extent limited
- by the long holes 254, as can be taken from Figures 13 and 14.
A device 230 for the synchronous radial adjustment of the
press-disk holders 164 for the press disks 160 is illustrated
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
18
in Fig. 14. This adjustment device 230 consists of a control
ring 232 which is rotatably mounted concentrically to the
press axis 153 in a circular groove 233 on the entry side of '
the carrier plate 151 in a plane parallel to the main plane of
the latter. Furthermore, the control ring 232 is provided, on ''
its front side facing away from the carrier plate 151, with a
number of control bolts 234 corresponding to the number of
press-disk holders 164 (Fig. 13 and 14), the said control
bolts 234 of course, once again, being fastened to the control
ring 232 at equal circumferential angular spacings and
projecting outwards perpendicularly to the main plane of the
latter. These control bolts 234 each engage into a control
groove 236 which is arranged, in a direction perpendicular to
the longitudinal direction and direction of adjustment of each
press-disk holder 164, in a supporting face 238 of the bearing
block 161 of each press-disk holder 164, the said supporting
face 238 facing the control ring 232. It is evident from Fig.
13 that the control grooves 236 in bearing blocks 161 of each
press-disk holder 164 consequently form, with a tangent drawn
to the control ring 232 along a longitudinal mid-axis of the
control bolt 234, an acute angle which ensures that the
press-disk holders 164 can be synchronously adjusted radially
inwards in the event of a rotation of the control ring 232 in
the clockwise direction and correspondingly radially outwards
in the event of a rotation in the anti-clockwise direction. An
extremely accurate synchronous feed setting of the press disks
160 and adaptation of these to the particular nonwoven strand
to be pressed, in particular to its fibre-material density and
diameter, are thereby possible.
Furthermore, Fig. 15 shows an arrangement 241 of particular
importance for a precision adjustment c. the supporting arms
162 in the direction of the axis 190 of each of the press .
disks 160 as shown ~n Fig. 13, 14 and 15. This arrangement 241
consists of two countersunk bores 244 in the supporting arm
162 of each of the press-disk holders 164 (Fig. 15), which are
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
19
arranged symmetrically to the longitudinal mid-axis 242 of the
guide 252 and which open out into threaded bores 246, into
which adjusting screws 248 are screwed. The adjusting screws
248 are provided with cone tips 250 at their front end.
According to Fig. 13, 14 and 15, the supporting arm 162 is
mounted adjustably parallel to the axis 190 of the press disk
160, on the outside of the bearing block 161 facing away from
the carrier plate 151, by means of a tongue-and-groove guide
255 and is fastened releasably by means of four screw
connections 259 merely indicated by dot-and-dash lines in Fig.
13 and 14. For this purpose, there are provided in a
supporting face 257 of the bearing blocks 161 for the
- supporting arms 162 transverse grooves 256 of small length
which have a V-shaped cross-section and which are arranged at
a distance from and parallel to one another in a plane
perpendicular to the longitudinal mid-axis 242 of the guides
252. According to Fig. 15, longitudinal mid-axes 258
coinciding with the vertex point of the V-profile of the
transverse grooves 256 are offset laterally inwards relative
to the cone tips 250 of each pair of adjusting screws 248.
Since the cone angle of each cone tip 250 of the adjusting
screws 248 corresponds to the angle of the V-shape transverse
profile of the transverse grooves 256, the cone tip 250 of the
adjusting screws 248 therefore bears respectively against one
of the two groove walls of the transverse grooves 256 facing
away from one another. It is therefore understandable that,
depending on the screw-in depth of the adjusting screws 248
into the transverse grooves 256, each press-disk holder 164,
together with the press disk 160 fastened to it, can
- adjusted extremely finely parallel to the axis 190 of the
press disk 160 in the direction of the tongue-and-groove guide
255. This adjustability of the press disks 160 parallel to
themselves out of their plane radial to the press axis 153
makes it possible, depending on the type of material used, for
the nonwoven strand to be pressed and on the depth of
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
penetration of the press disks 160 into the nonwoven strand,
to achieve an exact straight run-out of the press strand
during and after the pressing of the longitudinal grooves 131
into the fibre material.
In Fig. 15, the countersunk bore 244, together with the
adjusting screw 248 and the V-shaped transverse groove 256, is
shown shifted into the sectional plane, from which it is
evident that the adjusting screws 248 engage free of play into
the transverse grooves in the direction of the tongue-and-
groove guide 255.
Fig. 16 shows a transverse profile 260 of a press-ring disk
196 made of steel, the diameter of which is expediently in the
range of 280 to 300 mm for the pressing of absorption bodies,
especially for feminine hygiene, and the outer, rounded
pressing edge 262 of which has a width of approximately 0.723
mm. A transverse profile 260 widens radially inwards in a V-
shaped manner, profile flanks 261 forming an acute angle of
22.5° and merging into parallel side faces 263 at a radial
distance of 5.543 mm from the pressing edge 262. These
parallel side faces 263 run out, at a radial distance of
12.332 mm from the pressing edge 262, into parallel end faces
265, between which the press-ring disks 196 are 5.0 mm wide.
This profile of the press-ring disk 196 proves appropriate
particularly in respect of a fibre material which has a smooth
surface and which therefore generates relatively little
friction relative to the press-ring disk 196 during the
pressing.
For materials which have a less smooth surface or which are to
be carried to the core of the press strand to a lesser extent
during the pressing, under some circumstances it can be
advantageous to have a transverse profile 222, shown in Fig.
17, of a press-ring disk 224, in which, as can be seen,
profile flanks 226 possess, in contrast to the transverse
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
21
profile 260 shown is Fig. 16, annular grooves 228 of arcuate
cross-section. which are arranged at a distance from one
another concentrically to the mid-axis of the press-ring disk
224 and which generate reduced friction and consequently
reduced heating relative to the material of the strand to be
pressed and therefore also compact the material to be pressed
to a lesser extent in the direction of the longitudinal mid-
axis of the nonwoven strand. If appropriate, the angle-forming
profile flanks of the transverse profile of the press-ring
disks can also be roughened by knurling, knobs, projecting
annular beads or an enamelling, depending on the material of
which the strand to be pressed is composed and which
compaction and conveying speed of the material during the
pressing are desired.
Since the press disks 160 are all driven, in order to convey
the nonwoven strand simultaneously, during the pressing,
towards the exit side of the disk press 150, to one of the
downstream machining stations, it can be desirable to provide
one or more or all press disks 160 with an irregular pressing
edge. Thus, Fig. 18 shows a pressing edge 229 of a press-ring
disk 227 which has corrugations 231 in the circumferential
direction. This corrugated pressing edge 229 allows a varying
compaction of the fibre material in the core of a pressed
strand 240 and, at the same time, can assist the conveyance of
the pressed strand.
Depending on the fibre material used for the strand to be
pressed, the pressed edge can, if appropriate, also have a
type of tootba..ng ~/or knurling, in contrast to the exemplary
embodiment shown in Fig. 18. The foregoing statements
illustrate the importance of the surface nature and thickness
of the press-ring disks, a particular roughness or depth of
roughness of, for example, 8-10 microns proving advantageous,
so that the task of simultaneous conveyance and pressing of
the nonwoven strand can be mastered. Furthermore, it is
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 2~)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
22
necessary to ensure a high bending resistance of the press-
disk bodies and of the press-ring disks clamped in them, with
regard to the considerable forces to which they are exposed
during the pressing and conveyance of the nonwoven strand.
Fig. 19 shows, on the entry side of the disk press 150, a
tubular piece 154 , the free cross-section of which is narrowed
in the form of a supply nozzle 268 at the front end. As
regards the production of absorption bodies of normal size for
feminine hygiene, a reduction in cross-section of the supply
nozzle 268 in relation to the cross-section of the tubular
piece 154 of approximately 9% or in a ratioof 8:7 proves
appropriate. This cross-sectional ratio can, of course, be
varied in dependence on parameters to be taken into account.
The tubular piece 154 is arranged coaxially to the press axis
153 or a press-disk gap 219 and serves for supplying the
nonwoven strand 140 consisting of a compressible material,
preferably natural, biologically degradable fibre material,
such as cotton fibres. By means of the supply nozzle 268, the
round cross-section of the nonwoven strand 140 is compressed
and subsequently is guided freely into the press-disk gap 219
between the eight press disks 160 located diametrically
opposite one another in pairs. In the present exemplary
embodiment of the production of absorption bodies for
feminine-hygiene tampons, the nonwoven strand 140 is
compressed to form a pressed strand 240 having a cross-
sectional diameter of 15 mm. At the same time, as shown in
Fig. 20, eight longitudinal grooves 131 and eight longitudinal
ribs 139 are formed. In a narrowest press-disk gap 219 shown
in Fig_ 1.9., t~ .pressing edg~.s of the eight press disks J 6.0
form said pressed strand 240, the core of which has a diameter
of approximately 4 mm in the present exemplary embodiment.
Furthermore, in Fig. 19, a catch nozzle 270 for the pressed
strand 240 is arranged at a distance behind the narrowest
press-disk gap 219 in the conveying direction x. This axial
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96l01753
23
distance can, for example, be 10 to 15 mm from the press-disk
gap 219. A widened entry orifice 156 of this catch nozzle 270
- is dimensioned somewhat larger than the cross-section which
the pressed strand 240 assumes behind the narrowest cross-
section of the press-disk gap 219. Thus, the entry cross-
section of the catch nozzle 270 can have a diameter of, for
example, 18 mm. The catch nozzle 270 is provided with a number
of longitudinal slots 158, namely eight, having the same
length and width and corresponding to the number of press
disks, the said longitudinal slots 158 extending at equal
angular spacings over the circumference of the catch nozzle
270 in the planes of the respective associated press disk 160,
and each engaging radially and with free play into one of the
eight press disks 160. The longitudinal slots 158 extend, for
example, over a length of 30 mm. The free cross-section of the
catch nozzle 270 narrows behind the longitudinal slots 158
over a middle length portion 274 at least to the narrowest
cross-section of the press-disk gap 219., This middle length
portion 274 can have a length of 10 mm and a clear, circular-
cylindrical cross-section with a diameter of 11 mm. That is to
say, the cross-section of the pressed strand 240 is reduced
appreciably in the middle length portion 274 of the catch
nozzle 270 in relation to the cross-section of the pressed
strand 240 in the press-disk gap 219. This reduction in cross-
section of the catch nozzle 270 serves for closing the
pressed-in, open longitudinal grooves 131 by an abutment of
the radially outer ends of adjacent ribs 139 of the pressed
strand 240 to provide a substantially cylindrical outer
surface of the pressed strand 240 having longitudinal open
c.ha.n~.els inside of .said closed grooves . In contrast thereto.,
. it is also possible to provide the middle length portion 274
of the catch nozzle 270 with a clear cross-section by which
the cross-section of the catch nozzle 270 serves for
maintaining the pressed-in open longitudinal grooves 131 of
the pressed strand 240. Thus, the final diameter of the
pressed strand 240 and the characteristic and structure of its
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
24
surface, f.i. also its open longitudinal grooves 131 as shown
in Fig. 20, can be strongly affected by varying the inside
diameter of the middle length portion 274 of a catch nozzle
270.
The catch nozzle 270 is widened over an end portion 276 in the
conveying direction of the arrow x. The end portion 276 is
reinforced -in a flange-like manner and is provided with
electrical resistance-heating elements 278, by means of which
the catch nozzle 270 can be heated to an ironing temperature
in the range of 70 to 90°C for the pressed strand 240. As a
result, if desired, a smoothing or ironing effect can be
exerted on the surface of the pressed strand 240. This ironing
effect can be employed advantageously when a nonwoven web 140
consists solely of natural or cellulose-containing fibres,
that is to say contains no thermoplastic fibres or
constituents. In contrast, heating may be inexpedient, for
example when the nonwoven web 140 is wrapped in a non-woven
material which consists at least partially of thermoplastic
material, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, in order to
improve the capillary action relative to the inside of the
absorption body. A conical widening 273 of the clear cross-
section at the exit end of the catch nozzle 270 allows some
expansion of the pressed strand 240 as a result of the
inherent elasticity of its fibre material. This cross-
sectional widening 273 can, for example, have a clear diameter
of 12 to 12.5 mm. A cylindrical end portion 275 of the cross-
sectional widening 273 serves for the reception of and as a
stop for a plastic tube of corresponding diameter which is not
shown and which is mounted in a f loafing manner in the end
portion. _
Fig. 20 shows the press-disk gap 219 in cross-section, the .
eight press disks 160 each pressing into the pressed strand
240 one of the eight longitudinal grooves 131 extending in the
longitudinal direction of the pressed strand, and at the same
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
time forming a central pressed-strand core282 of greater
compaction of the material. Formed between the flanks of the
adjacent press disks 160 are eight longitudinal ribs 139, in
which the material is radially outwardly subjected to
increasingly lower compaction. The greater capillary action
achieved thereby can be utilized in an advantageous way for
the absorption of fluids, depending on the intended use of the
pressed strand 240 and of the articles produced from it.
If it is desired to achieve an essentially cylindrical
circumferential face of the pressed strand 240, this can be
attained by a greater or lesser reduction of the cross-section
in the middle length portion 274, shown in Fig. 19, of the
catch nozzle 270, in conjunction with the ironing effect
provided there for the outer circumference of the pressed
strand 240 as mentioned above.
Fig. 21 shows an engagement angle Q of 20° to 25° of a press
disk 160, which was determined as the best possible for the
pressing of the nonwoven strand 140, when a pressed strand 240
for the production of absorption bodies for feminine hygiene
is to be produced from the folded nonwoven strand 140
consisting of natural fibres in Fig. 1.
The pressed strand 240 can be impregnated with a medium before
the separation of absorption bodies 130. The liquid
impregnation medium can be applied to the pressed strand 240
by spraying or by a dipping method. The liquid impregnation
medium can be a water-repellant, like glycerine as a water
repellant impregnation medium_ But, the impregnation medium
can also be powdery. In this connection it should be
understandable, that impregnated length portions of said
_ pressed strand 240 can be used as sealing material.
Severing Station
The severing station D in Fig. 1 consists of at least two
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
26
pairs of nip rollers 330, 332 which are arranged offset at 90°
and can be respectively driven in opposition and which are
arranged on both sides of the pressed strand 240. The nip -
rollers of the two pairs of nip rollers 330, 332 are each
provided with a nipping boss 334, 336 and 338, 340. The
nipping bosses 334, 336 reduce the cross-section between
successive length portions of the pressed strand 240, which
correspond approximately to the length of the absorption body
130, with the exception of a thin, axial connecting web not
shown. This connecting web is severed by the last pair of nip
rollers 332 and, as a result of the relatively high
circumferential speed of the nip rollers 338, 340,
corresponding to the conveying speed of the pressed strand
240, is ejected by means of a relatively strong axial
momentum. During the nipping-off of the absorption body 130 by
the pairs of nip rollers 330, 332, a front end 342 of the
absorption body 130 is simultaneously preformed in a crude
shape of a round hump 135, as can be seen from Fig. 1. In
contrast, the rear end face of the absorption body 130 already
has a pre formed crude shape of a round finger dip 133. Said
round humps 135 and round finger dips 133 can be moistened
slightly after the severance of the connecting webs between
successive absorption bodies 130 to add to finally smoothing
at least said round humps 135 and, if desired, also said
finger dips 133 of each absorption body 130separated from the
pressed strand 240.
If a wrapping band 82 is used, it is recommended to arrange at
least one pair of cutting rollers as a cutting device at the
~3 ./~,r at the s.taxt pf the severing station D, so that t~
wrapping band 82 surrounding the pressed strand 240 and/or the .
thin, axial connecting web between successive portions of the
pressed strand 240 can be cut through. The cutting rollers are ,
not shown because they are generally known in the art.
Fig. 1 shows that, after severance, the absorption body 130 is
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
27
transferred into an endless driving belt 344 which is
continuously movable transversely to the direction of the
arrow x and which is made narrower than the length of the
absorption bodies 130. For receiving the absorption bodies
130, the driving belt 344 is provided with a multiplicity of
U-shaped transverse grooves 346 which are each closed at the
top by means of a driving cover 348 after the reception of the
absorption body 130. The means for transferring the absorption
bodies into the drivers belong to the state of the art and are
therefore not shown.
The transfer of the absorption bodies 130 out of the linear
production of these according to Fig. 1 via the driving belt
344 onto a conveyor belt 356 is illustrated diagrammatically
in Fig. 22. As already indicated in Fig. 1, the absorption
bodies 130 are fed successively to the driving belt 344 which
is driven continuously in the direction of the arrow n and
which- has- tthe~-L7-shaped transverse grooves -346-,- tine--widtiz -of
which is made substantially larger than the diameter of the
absorption bodies 130. Parallely arranged on the right of the
driving belt 344 in Fig. 22 is the continuously drivable
conveyor belt 356 provided with receptacles 357, the width of
which is made only a little larger than the diameter of the
absorption bodies 130. Arranged on the side of the driving
belt 344 facing away from the conveyor belt 356 are
accompanying pushing-over devices which are known per se and
are therefore not shown and which are arranged coaxially to
the transverse grooves 346 of the driving belt 344 and serve
for transferring the absorption bodies 130 arranged in the
transverse grooves 346 into the receptacles 357 of the
conveyor belt 356, as shown in Fig. 22 with the aid.of an
absorption body 130 which is on the point of being transferred
completely to a receptacle 357 of the conveyor belt 356.
The conveyor belt 356 has the job of feeding the absorption
bodies to a hump-fo=-ming and finger-dip-forming station which
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP9G/01753
28
is described below with reference to Fig. 23.
Humn forming and f~zaer-dip-forming station -
The conveyor belt 356 movable in the direction of the arrow n,
with absorption bodies 130 arranged on it, can be seen in Fig.
23. A rotary system 290 for smoothing humps 135 at the front
end of the absorption bodies 130 constituting tampon blanks is
provided on the side of this conveyor belt 356 which is on the
left in the direction n. A further rotary system 300 for
smoothing said finger dips 133 at the rear end of the
absorption bodies 130 is arranged on the right-hand side of
the conveyor belt 356 located opposite the rotary system 290
in the direction of the arrow n.
Although, the finally smoothing of the round humps 135 at the
front end and, if it is desired, the round finger dips 133 at
the rear end of each absorption body 130 separated from the
pressed strand 240 may taken place by ultrasonic means or by
ironing.
In both cases, the rotary system 290 can consist of an endless
flexible member 292 which rotates in the direction of an arrow
r in the anti-clockwise direction in a plane directed parallel
to the plane of movement of the conveyor belt 356. A working
side 294 forms, with the direction of movement n of the
conveyor belt 356, an acute angle which closes in the
direction n. In the present embodiment ironing means are used,
which are rotating heatable forming dies 296 being fastened to
the outside of the endless member 292. Said heatable forming
dies 296 extend outwards Exam the conveyor belt 356 in the
plane of movement o. the conveyor belt 356 and are provided at
their free ends, or_ the end face, with concave hemispherical
forming heads 298 for the forming of convex hemispherical
humps 135 at the f=ont end of the absorption bodies 130. The
forming dies 296 are fastened at equal spacings from one
another corresponding to the spacings of the absorption bodies
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
29
130 which are arranged on the conveyor belt 356 at a distance
from and parallel to one another transversely to the
longitudinal direction of the latter. The forming dies 296
form, at least with the working side 294 of the conveyor belt
356, an acute angle opening in the direction of movement n of
the conveyor belt 356, in such a way that each forming die 296
is located coaxially opposite the front end of an associated
absorption body 130 on the conveyor belt 356. Fig. 23 shows
that the working side 294 approaches the conveyor belt 356 in
its direction of movement n in such a way that the spacing
between the forming heads 298 and the front end of the
absorption bodies 130 diminishes increasingly, until the
forming heads 298 meet the front ends of the absorption bodies
130 and deform these into a round hump 135.
The rotary system 300 for forming finger dips 133 at the rear
end of the absorption bodies 130 likewise consists of an
endless flexible member 302 rotating in the clockwise
direction s in a plane which is parallel to the direction of
movement n of the conveyor belt 356. As is evident, the rotary
system 300 is arranged mirror-symmetrically relative to the
rotary system 290. Accordingly, at least one working side 299
of the member 302 is arranged at an acute angle to the
conveyor belt 356 which, once again, closes in the direction
n. Fastened to the outside of the endless member 302 are
forming dies 304 which extend outwards in the plane of
rotation of the endless member 302 and which, at their free
ends, carry forming heads 305 having a convex forming face for
forming the finger dips 133 in the rear end of each absorption
body 130_ For this purpo~sa., here too, the farming dies 304 are
- respectively aligned coaxially, in the region of the working
side 298, with the absorption bodies 130 transversely arranged
. in succession at a distance from one another on the conveyor
belt 356. The arrangement of the forming dies 304 is such that
these come to bear on the rear end of an absorption body 130
at the moment when a forming die 296 for forming the round
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
hump 135 also comes to bear on the front -end of the same
absorption body 130. Consequently, the forming dies 296, 304
of the two rotary systems 290, 300 at the same time form
abutments for one another, so that, even after the forming of
the round hump 135 and of the finger dip 133, the absorption
bodies 130 maintain their position on the conveyor belt 356.
Recovery-tare attachment station
Fig. 24 to 29 illustrate the operations which are carried out
in the recovery-tape attachment station. Fig. 24 shows an
absorption body 130 which is shaped to form a tampon and
which, after the smoothing or ironing of the round hump 135 at
the front end and of the finger dip 133 at the rear end of the
absorption body 130, has been fed by means of the conveyor
belt 356 to a recovery-tape attachment station. In this
station, as mentioned, the tampon is provided with a hole 308
which, according to Fig. 24, extends at a distance of, for
example, 6 mm from the rear end 134 of the absorption body 130
diametrically through the latter. According to Fig. 25, the
attachment of this continuous hole 308 extending diametrically
through the absorption body 130 is made by means of a rotating
awl 310 which is movable to and fro diametrically relative to
the absorption body 130 and which is driven in the direction
of rotation. The tip, as a result of its rotation, at the same
time forces the individual fibres in the absorption body 130
apart from one another carefully, without severing them. The
diameter of the continuous pre-pierced hole 308 amounts, for
example, to 0.6 mm.
Fig. 26 to 29 slzflw individual work phases of the drawing of ~
recovery tape 136 into the hole 308 in the absorption body
130. In Fig. 26, the recovery tape 136 is guided from a stock
reel 312 through ar_ eye 314 of a needle 316 which is movable
to and fro axially and which is a component of a rotary
system, not shown, which is similar to that in Fig. 23 and by
means of which the needle 316 is carried along synchronously
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
31
with the movement of the absorption body 130 in the direction
of movement of the conveyor belt 356. Consequently, during the
continuous conveying movement of the needle 316 and the
absorption body 130, the needle 316 can, according to Fig. 27,
be guided through the hole 308 together with the recovery tape
13 6 , a loose end 13 6a of the recovery tape 13 6 hanging down
out of the needle eye 314 and, if appropriate, being brought
into the effective range of a clamping device 318 by a suction
device.
The clamping device 318 is, once again, a component of a
rotary system and consists of two clamping jaws 320, 322 which
are movable coaxially to and fro and which, in Fig. 27, are
arranged at a distance from one another or form an interspace,
into which the loose end 136a of the recovery tape 136 hangs
down. In Fig. 28, the clamping jaws 320, 322 have been moved
up against one another and have clamped the loose end 136a of
the recovery tape 136 between them. As soon as this clamping
operation has taken place, the needle 316 is drawn out of the
absorption body 130. As Fig. 28 also shows, there is provided
above the direction of movement of the absorption bodies 130
a severing device 324 which takes effect in a horizontal plane
and which is likewise a component of the rotary system. After
the needle 316 has been drawn back out of the absorption body
130, this severing device 324 is actuated, so that, according
to Fig. 29, the recovery tape 136 is severed between the
needle 316 and the absorption body 130. Thereafter, each
absorption body 130, together with its recovery tape 136 drawn
through the hole 308, is fed to a pneumatic knotting device
known p~.r se and therefore not shown. Simultaneously, rhp
recovery tape 136 1 eading to the reel 312 is ready with its
loose end 136a in the needle eye 314 for a renewed drawing-in
operation.
Packacrinct Station
Fig. 30 illustrates a device for producing packaging pouches
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
32
350 from two plastic film strips 331, 333 which are each drawn
off from a stock roll 335 and 337 in the direction of an arrow
z. The two stock rolls 335, 337 are followed by two heated
welding rollers 339, 341 which are drivable in the direction
of rotation and which are arranged one above the other in a
cross-sectional plane relative to the direction of transport
z of the plastic film strips 331, 333. Each of the welding
rollers 339, 341 is provided with welding ribs 343, 345
extending parallel to their axes, in such a way that, in the
event of a synchronous rotational movement of the arrows g and
h in opposite directions, the welding ribs 343, 345 of the two
welding rollers 339, 341 are located respectively opposite one
another and weld the film strips 331, 333 to one another along
parallel seals 306. The welding ribs 343, 345 are, of course,
separated from one another by equal circumferential angles of
60° in the present case, the interspaces between the
successive welding ribs 343 and 345 having indentations 347,
349 which make it possible, by means of the two film strips
331, 333, to form the pouches 350, the cross-section of which
is made somewhat larger than the cross-section of the
absorption bodies 130.
Fig. 31 illustrates diagrammatically the packaging of the
absorption bodies 130. The web welded together from the upper
film strip 331 and the lower film strip 333 to form pouches
350 of a blister strip 351 is continuously driven parallel to
and synchronously with a row of absorption bodies 130 in the
direction of the arrows p, o parallel to one another, in such
a way that the absorption bodies 130 come to rest coaxially to
the ~ ~~~~°~. 35D, of which the ends or bottoms 352 facing away
from the absorption bodies 130 are closed by welding. -
Subsequently, the absorption bodies 130 produced as finished
tampons 132 for feminine hygiene with a recovery tape 136 are
pushed into the pouches 350 in the direction of an arrow q.
Thereafter, the recovery tape 136 is attached in the form of
a coil or spiral to the rear end 134 of each tampon 132,
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
33
whereupon the projecting pouch edges 353 are folded against
the rear ends 134 of the absorption bodies 130 positioned in
the pouches 350 and are welded to one another in an air-tight
manner. The blister pack produced in this way can, if
required, be severed in the form of individual packs 355 by
severance from the subsequent packs in the region of the
welding seams 306 separating the packs, as indicated by the
scissors shown in Fig. 31, or blister packs can be brought
onto the market as multiple packs, from which the user can
separate a pack in the region of the welding seams 306 each
time as required, and for this case the welding seams 306 can
have perforations.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
34
List of Reference Symbols
a arrow
b arrow
c arrow
d arrow
a arrow
f arrow
g arrow
h arrow
i arrow
n arrow
o arrow
p arrow
q arrow
r arrow
s clockwise direction
x direction of advance
z arrow
A Folding station
B Wrapping-band attachment station
C Pressing station
D Severing station
a acute angle
(3 angle of action
.T F.i.~st f~ld~.ng aperatian
II Second folding operation -
III Third folding operation
IV Fourth folding operation
38 stock roll
40 Nonwoven web
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
42 Guide plate
44 Endless conveyor belt
46 Stand part
48 Stand part
- 50 Baffle plate
52 Folding plate
54 Folding disk
56 Right-hand longitudinal side (nonwoven web 40)
58 Right-hand longitudinal edge
60 Left-hand longitudinal edge
62 First fold
64 Longitudinal fold
66 Four-layer bundle
68 Uncovered part (right-hand longitudinal side 56)
69 Six-layer bundle
70 Left-hand longitudinal side (nonwoven web 40)
72 Seven-layer nonwoven web
80 Stock roll
82 Wrapping band
84 Guide roller
86 Guide tube
88 Longitudinal slot (guide tube 86)
90 Endless conveyor belt
91 Support plate
92 Upper side
94 Driving roller
96 Deflecting roller
98 Introduction slot (guide tube 86)
100 dto.
102 Segment (guide tube 86)
104 dto.
106 dto.
108 Rear edge (segment 102)
110 Front edge (segment 104)
112 Rear edge (segment 104)
114 Front edge (segment 106)
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96133682 PCT/EP96/01753
36
116 Side tab (Wrapping band 82)
118 dto.
120 Middle longitudinal slot (guide tube 86) '
122 Closing device
124 Outer longitudinal edge (side tab 118)
126 Longitudinal edge (side tab 116)
128 Heat-sealing roller
130 Absorption body
131 Longitudinal grooves
132 Tampon
133 Finger dip
134 Rear end (tampon)
135 Round hump
136 Recovery tape
136a Loose end (recovery tape 136)
137 Knot
139 Longitudinal ribs
140 Nonwoven web (rounded, wrapped)
150 Disk press
151 Carrier plate (or bearing plate)
152 Passage orifice
153 Press axis
154 Tubular piece
156 Widened entry orifice
158 Longitudinal slots (catch nozzle 270)
160 Press disks
161 Bearing blocks
162 Supporting arms
164 Press-disk holders
1bb Sc,~'~sa bolts
168 Screw nuts
170 Guide face in the form of a cylinder cutout
171 Holding plates
172 Stop f ace
174 Actuating device
176 Actuating bolt
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
37
178 Spur wheel
179 Transmission shaft
180 Bearing
182 Driving bevel wheel
184 Bevel-wheel disk
186 Press-disk body
188 Roller bearing
190 Axis
192 Bore (supporting arm 162)
194 Stepped annular face
196 Press-ring disk
198 Clamping ring
200 Electrical resistance-heating elements
202 Radial bores
204 Electrical line
206 Slip ring
208 Stationary sliding contact
210 Drive motor
212 Bracket
213 Reduction gear
214 Driving spur wheel
216 Internal toothing
218 Toothed ring
219 Press-disk gap
220 Bearing rollers
222 Transverse profile
224 Press-ring disk
226 Profile flanks
227 Press-ring disk
228 Annular ~'DDV~S
229 Pressing edge (press-ring disk 227)
230 Adjusting device
. 231 Corrugations
232 Control ring
233 Circular groove
234 Control bolt
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
38
236 Control groove
238 Supporting face
240 Pressed strand '
241 Arrangement
242 Longitudinal mid-axis
244 Countersunk bore
246 Threaded bores
248 Adjusting screws
250 Cone tips
252 Guides
253 Guide tongues
254 Long holes
255 Tongue-and-groove connection
256 V-shaped transverse groove
257 Supporting face
258 Longitudinal mid-axis
259 Screw connection
260 Transverse profile
261 Profile flanks
262 Pressing edge (press-ring disk 196)
263 Side faces
265 End faces
268 Supply nozzle
270 Catch nozzle
273 Conical widening
274 Middle length portion
275 Cylindrical end portion
276 End portion
278 Resistance-heating element
282 Pressed-strand core
290 Rotary system
292 Flexible member (rotary system 290?
294 Working side
296 Forming dies
298 Forming heads
299 Working side
SUBST)TUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
39
300 Rotary system
302 Endless flexible member (rotary system 300)
304 Forming dies
305 Forming heads
306 welding seam
308 Hole
310 Awl
312 Stock reel
314 Eye
316 Needle
318 Clamping device
320 Clamping jaw
322 Clamping jaw
324 Severing device
330 Pair of nip rollers
331 Film strip
332 Pair of nip rollers
333 Film strip
334 Nipping boss
335 Stock rolls
336 Nipping boss
337 Stock rolls
338 Nipping boss
339 Welding rollers
340 Nipping boss
341 Welding rollers
342 Front end (absorption body 130)
343 Welding ribs
344 Carrier belt
345 Welding ribs
346 Transverse grooves
347 Indentations
348 Driving cover
3 4 9 Indent at ior_s
350 Packaging pouches
351 Blister strip
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
CA 02219204 1997-10-24
WO 96/33682 PCT/EP96/01753
352 Ends or bottoms (packaging pouches 350)
353 Nipping groove
355 Individual packs
356 Conveyor belt
357 Receptacles (conveyor belt 356) '
SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
