Tampon Press Jaws With Intersecting Grooves For Leakage Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercially available intravaginal tampons often experience premature failure due to fluid leakage before being completely saturated, as they lack immediate fluid absorption capabilities, and existing manufacturing processes for tampons with grooves are complex and not fully described.
Innovation Solution
A modified tampon press with elongate press dies forming intersecting, penetrating groove segments, ensuring consistent and clean finishing of tampons with well-defined groove forms, which enhances fluid absorption and reduces leakage by creating distinct absorption zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If grooves are added to the tampon surface to improve fluid absorption, then fluid absorption capability is improved, but manufacturing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The groove patterns are pre-formed into the press jaws themselves, so that during the normal compression process the grooves are automatically imprinted on the tampon surface. This eliminates the need for separate groove-forming steps and resolves the contradiction by making groove creation part of the preliminary preparation of the pressing tool rather than an additional manufacturing step.
Solution Approach 2:
The press jaws automatically imprint the groove patterns during the compression process without requiring external intervention or additional equipment. The grooves are formed as a byproduct of the pressing action itself, allowing the manufacturing process to serve multiple functions simultaneously and avoiding increased process complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple press jaws are used to form grooves, then groove formation capability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple groove-forming functions are merged into a single press jaw by incorporating multiple groove patterns on one jaw surface. This reduces the number of separate press jaws needed and simplifies the overall configuration while maintaining the capability to form multiple groove patterns, thereby resolving the contradiction between precision and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The press jaw is designed with multi-functionality, capable of forming multiple different groove patterns through its various groove configurations. This universal design allows one press jaw to perform the work of multiple specialized jaws, reducing system complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision for groove formation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The tampon press reliably produces tampons with intersecting, penetrating groove segments, reducing fluid leakage and improving absorption efficiency, maintaining a self-sustaining shape and effective fluid handling characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
an apparatus for producing a compressed tampon pledget
Implementation Method 2
it should be absorbed and retained by the absorbent material of the tampon
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for manufacturing an intravaginal tampon for feminine hygiene includes a tampon press having a plurality of elongate press dies disposed about central press axis to form a press cavity and a cylindrical carrier having a diameter less than that of the predetermined finished diameter. The elongate press dies include a plurality of longitudinal penetrating dies, each having a pressing face notch disposed proximate a first end thereof and an end notch disposed on an edge perpendicular to the pressing face at the opposite second end thereof that cooperate with corresponding notches in an adjacent penetrating die.