Earplug insertion device

Abstract

Earplug insertion device 1, characterized in that it has a magazine suitable for receiving compressible and expandable foam earplugs 12, a compression device in which a compressible and expandable earplug 12 can be compressed lengthwise, and an earplug conveying device 1 for inserting the earplug 12 from the magazine into the compression device and then into the ear canal.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an earplug insertion device.

[0002] Open-cell compressible and expandable foam earplugs are often difficult to insert, especially if the inserter has cold, numb fingers due to vibration, or dirty hands, as these earplugs must be compressed before insertion so that they can fit into the ear canal and then expand again.

[0003] The object of the invention is to improve the state of the art and in particular to provide a device which makes it possible to insert open-pore compressible and expandable earplugs made of foam from a magazine into an ear canal in a simple and clean manner.

[0004] The problem is solved by the claims.

[0005] Earplug insertion device comprising a magazine suitable for receiving preferably open-pored, compressible and expandable foam earplugs, as well as a compression device in which a compressible and expandable earplug is compressible lengthwise, and an earplug conveying device for inserting the earplug from the magazine into the compression device and then into the ear canal.

[0006] The earplug insertion device according to the invention preferably comprises a magazine which preferably comprises a rotatable circular shaped body having bores with a depth and diameter of at least the length and diameter of an earplug, wherein the earplugs are arranged in a circle in the magazine.

[0007] Another embodiment of the magazine of the earplug insertion device according to the invention would be a magazine consisting of a cuboid-shaped body in which the earplugs are arranged one above the other and can be conveyed from bottom to top via a conveyor device. The conveyor device could be a spring arranged beneath the earplugs, which successively pushes the earplugs upward as each earplug is removed. Another conveyor device would be an endless conveyor, preferably running in an elliptical shape.

[0008] The earplug insertion device according to the invention has a compression device which preferably has a sleeve which is open at the top and in which the earplug can be conveyed with an insertion piston which preferably has the shape of a concave plate at its end, with which it comes into positive contact with the earplug.

[0009] The earplug insertion device according to the invention can also have a sleeve open at the top and at the ends as a compression device, in which the earplug is inserted with a flexible band, preferably made of metal or Teflon, which comes into positive contact with the earplug and encloses the earplug and compresses the earplug by pulling on the band.

[0010] The earplug conveying device preferably has a conveying piston which conveys the earplug from the magazine into the compression device and another piston, the insertion piston, which conveys the compressed earplug from the compression device into the ear canal.

[0011] The adjustment device according to the invention can also preferably have an adjustment device which has an adjustment device at the outlet of the earplug insertion device, i.e. at the point at which the earplug is inserted into the ear canal, which adjustment device preferably has a screw thread in order to change the distance between the outlet of the earplug insertion device and the adjustment device to the ear canal, preferably to lengthen it, in order to thus adjust the distance by which the earplug can be inserted into the ear canal. Figures Fig. 1 Fig. Figure 1 shows the entire earplug insertion device 1 in lateral cross-section. The earplug feed device 1 has a feed piston 3 with a thumb-pressing plate, which feeds the earplug from the magazine into the compression device, and another piston, the insertion piston 2, which feeds the compressed earplug from the compression device into the ear canal. The compression device is operated by the compression lever 4. Furthermore, an adjustment device 5 can be seen, which has an adjustment device at the outlet of the earplug insertion device, i.e. at the point at which the earplug is inserted into the ear canal, which adjustment device preferably has a screw thread in order to change the distance between the outlet of the earplug insertion device and the adjustment device to the ear canal, preferably to lengthen it, in order to thus adjust the way in which the earplug can be inserted into the ear canal. Fig. 2 Fig. 2 shows the compression device with the feed piston 3 which presses an earplug 12 into the compression device in the form of a flexible metal compression band 10 which is held together by a metal clamp 11 and can be pulled downwards in order to compress the earplug 12. Fig. 3 Fig. 3 shows a rotatable circular molded body 6 having bores 7 of depth and diameter at least equal to the length and diameter of an earplug, wherein the earplugs are arranged in a circle in the magazine 6, wherein the circular molded body 6, a rotary magazine 6 with earplug receiving openings 7, rotates about a rotary shaft 8. Fig. 4 Fig.4 shows an adjusting device 5 having a screw thread 9 for changing, preferably lengthening, the distance between the outlet of the earplug insertion device and the adjusting device to the ear canal, in order to adjust the distance by which the earplug can be inserted into the ear canal.

Claims

[1] Earplug insertion device 1, characterized by in that it has a magazine which is suitable for receiving compressible and expandable earplugs 12 made of foam and a compression device in which a compressible and expandable earplug 12 is compressible lengthwise and an earplug conveying device 1 for inserting the earplug 12 from the magazine into the compression device and then into the ear canal. [2] Earplug insertion device according to claim 1 characterized by that the magazine has a rotatable circular shaped body 6 which has bores 7 with a depth and diameter of at least the length and diameter of an earplug 12, the earplugs 12 being arranged in a circle. [3] Earplug insertion device according to claim 1 characterized bythat the magazine 6 is a cuboid-shaped body in which the earplugs 12 are arranged one above the other and can be conveyed from bottom to top via a conveying device. [4] Earplug insertion device according to claim 1 characterized by that the compression device has a sleeve open at the top and at the ends, in which the earplug 12 can be conveyed with an insertion piston 2 which has the shape of a concave plate at its end, with which it comes into positive contact with the earplug 12. [5] Earplug insertion device according to claim 1 characterized by that the compression device has a sleeve open at the top, in which the earplug 12 is fitted with a flexible band 10 which comes into positive contact with the earplug 12 and surrounds the earplug 12. [6] Earplug insertion device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by that the flexible band 10 is made of metal or Teflon. [7] Earplug insertion device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by that the earplug conveying device has a conveying piston 3 which conveys the earplug from the magazine into the compression device and another piston, the insertion piston 2, which conveys the compressed earplug 12 from the compression device into the ear canal. [8] Earplug insertion device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by that the earplug conveying device has an adjusting device 5 which changes the distance between the outlet of the earplug insertion device and the adjusting device to the ear canal, preferably to extend it, in order to adjust the way how far the earplug 12 can be inserted into the ear canal.

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