Automated Thread Fastening for Veterinary Tampons

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for fastening threads to tampons, used for administering drugs or hormones in veterinary applications, are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and difficult to automate, often requiring excessive force to remove the tampon without risking damage to the sponge material.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of two hollow needles to pierce the tampon, a mould to guide the thread, and suction pressure to automate the thread insertion, combined with a knotting process using suction nozzles to secure the thread, ensuring high tensile strength and efficient automation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If manual thread fastening is used, then the process is simple to implement, but it requires considerable time and labor and is difficult to automate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of thread fasteningVSAvoidcomplexity of fastening device

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical thread fastening with an automated system that uses suction pressure to draw the thread through the tampon. The suction device creates a pressure difference that automatically pulls the thread through the needle and mould, eliminating the need for manual manipulation while maintaining process simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs suction pressure (pneumatics) as the driving force to automate the thread insertion process. The suction device creates a pressure difference that automatically draws the thread through the tampon, replacing manual mechanical operations with a pneumatic mechanism that is easily automatable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Force

If sufficient force is applied to withdraw the tampon, then the tampon can be removed from the vagina, but the sponge material may be torn-up

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetensile force for tampon withdrawalVSAvoidtensile strength of sponge material

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the thread fastening into multiple segments: the thread passes through the tampon multiple times via needles, with intermediate segments extending along the surface of the tampon. This segmentation distributes the tensile force across multiple attachment points, allowing strong withdrawal force without concentrating stress on a single point that could tear the sponge material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-point attachment to a multi-dimensional fastening structure where the thread extends along the surface of the tampon in multiple locations. This dimensional expansion distributes the mechanical load across a larger surface area and multiple attachment points, preventing localized stress concentration that could damage the sponge material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Strength

If the thread is fastened securely with high tensile strength, then the tampon can withstand withdrawal force, but more thread material is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetensile strength of fastening structureVSAvoidthread consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by having the thread extend along the surface of the tampon at specific strategic locations rather than uniformly throughout. The intermediate segments are positioned to provide optimal tensile strength distribution, achieving strong fastening with minimal thread material by concentrating the thread path where it is most needed for load bearing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 method provides a tampon with a high tensile strength fastening structure that can withstand significant force, is easily automated, and reduces thread consumption while allowing space for drug or hormone application on the tampon surface.

Implementation Method 1

applying a suction pressure to the proximal end of the other of the two needles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction pressure: Suction

Implementation Method 2

imposing a pressure difference such that the pressure at the proximal end of the said other needle is lower than the pressure at the proximal end of the first needle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure difference: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS8961485B2Method and equipment for fastening a thread to a tampon

Publication Date: 2015.02.24 INTERVET INT BV

AI summary

A method for fastening a thread (24) to a tampon (10), in particular a veterinary tampon, comprising the steps of passing the thread through the tampon by means of a needle (12, 14), and knotting the loose ends of the thread, wherein that the step of passing the thread through the tampon comprises: -piercing the tampon (10) with two hollow needles (12, 14), -inserting the distal ends of the needles into a mould (20) that forms a passage (16) interconnecting the open ends of the hollow needles, feeding the thread (24) to the proximal end of one (12) of the two needles, -applying a suction pressure to the proximal end of the other (14) of the two needles, -opening the mould (20), and -withdrawing the needles (12, 14) from the tampon (10).