Continuous Strip Feeding for Tampon Preform Winding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tampon manufacturing methods face challenges in continuously feeding laminated strips into the subsequent processing unit without the need for an intermittently operating transfer unit, leading to difficulties in high-volume production and maintaining quality.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that enable continuous feeding of assembled strips into a continuous tampon manufacturing process by using a drive roller to push material strips between a winding fork and a guide bar, ensuring a contact-free transfer and allowing for high-speed production of up to 300 pieces per minute.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a stop-and-go process is used to place laminate strips on a winding needle, then the winding process can be performed, but continuous feeding is not achieved and production efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous feeding of laminate strips into the winding unit by synchronizing the conveyance of strips with the rotational movement of winding forks. The strips are fed continuously without stopping the winding unit, and the fork gap passes the guide bar without contact during rotation, enabling uninterrupted production and eliminating the stop-and-go process of conventional methods.
2Ease of operation
If a transfer gripper is used to move strips between stations, then material transfer can be achieved, but the process becomes intermittent and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the transfer gripper from the system entirely. Instead of using a mechanical transfer device to move strips between the packaging station and winding station, the invention uses direct continuous conveyance where strips are fed into the winding unit without intermediate transfer, achieving contact-free transfer and reducing device complexity.
3Productivity
If winding forks contact the guide bar during rotation, then positioning can be achieved, but material integrity may be compromised and production speed is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic positioning where the winding forks rotate and the fork gap passes the guide bar without contact. The positioning is achieved through the synchronized rotational movement of the winding forks rather than static contact, allowing higher production speeds while maintaining material integrity by eliminating friction and potential damage from contact.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for winding preforms for the manufacture of tampons feeds a material tape. Strips in the form of tapes are separated from this material tape and pushed into a continuously rotating winding drum by at least one drive roller in such a way that the strip is positioned between a winding fork and a guide bar such that when the winding fork moves around the guide bar, the latter pushes a section of the strip into a fork gap of the winding fork and thus enables entrainment. Also, a corresponding device carries out the method.