Tampon Winding Apparatus with Reciprocating Gripper and String Knotter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tampon manufacturing processes are inefficient in winding up tampon material, leading to suboptimal speed and accuracy in producing compressed, self-sustaining tampons.
Innovation Solution
A high-speed apparatus comprising a sliver guide, a gripper with reciprocating motion, a winding mandrel, and a string application and knotter apparatus with a circular ring bearing and string conveyor, allowing precise control of string length and knotting, enhances the winding process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traditional revolver system with grippers and clamping jaws is used to handle and wind tampon material, then the manufacturing process can be carried out, but the speed and accuracy of forming tampon blanks are suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical revolver system with grippers and clamping jaws with a modern apparatus using a pay-out spool, wind-up spool, and controlled reciprocating motion system. This substitution enables high-speed operation while maintaining precision through controlled motorized movements and tension management, directly resolving the contradiction between speed and accuracy in tampon blank formation
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus employs dynamic control through reciprocating motion of the wind-up spool, variable tension management during winding, and controlled pay-out from the spool. These dynamic adjustments allow the system to operate at high speeds while maintaining consistent winding quality and blank formation accuracy, addressing both productivity and manufacturing precision requirements
2Productivity
If the string application and knotter apparatus operates at high speed, then productivity increases, but controlling string length and knotting precision becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The knotter apparatus incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor string tension, pay-out rate, and winding position in real-time. This feedback allows the control system to adjust operational parameters dynamically, ensuring consistent string length and precise knotting even at high manufacturing speeds, thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity and precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-measuring and pre-positioning the string before the actual winding and knotting processes. The pay-out spool is controlled to deliver the exact required string length before engagement with the knotter, ensuring precision is built into the process from the start rather than relying solely on high-speed adjustments
Data Source
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AI summary
of the Disclosure An improved apparatus for forming tampon blanks for further processing into compressed, self-sustaining tampons, permits increased speed and accuracy of the process step. The apparatus includes a sliver guide; a gripper capable of reciprocating motion and arranged and configured to cooperate with the sliver 5 guide to grasp an end of a sliver maintained therein; a winding mandrel; a plurality of winding cups; and e) a string application and knotter apparatus comprising a circular ring bearing having a string conveyor mounted thereon. The circular ring bearing of the string application and knotter apparatus defines a plane perpendicular to the sliver guide and motion of the gripper and parallel to the 10 winding axis of the winding mandrel.