Apparatus and method of compression
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsRonald Alex HILT, Jon Philip ROOYAKKERS, Steven Craig GEHLING
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Abstract
An apparatus for compressing a material such as a tampon or a pessary device, and a method of compressing a material such as a tampon or a pessary device are described. The apparatus can have a press unit support structure rotatable about a fixed axis. An axial direction press unit is associated with the press unit support structure. Second press unit is associated with the press unit support structure wherein the second press unit is one of a non-linear direction press unit or a press unit having a compression surface area which decreases with the movement of compression.
Claims21
A process of compressing a material, the process comprising the steps of:
- a. providing an apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- i. a press unit support structure rotatable about an axis,
- ii. a first press unit associated with the press unit support structure;
- and
- iii a second press unit associated with the press unit support structure;
- b. loading a first material into the first press unit;
- c. rotating the press unit support structure less than a full revolution about the axis,
- d. compressing the first material;
- e. loading a second material into the second press unit;
- f. rotating the press unit support structure less than a full rotation about the axis;
- and
- g. unloading the first material from the first press unit.
A process for compressing a material, the process comprising the steps of:
- a. providing an apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- i. a press unit support structure rotatable about a fixed axis;
- ii. a first press unit associated with the press unit support structure;
- and
- iii. a second press unit associated with the press unit support structure;
- b. loading a first material into the first press unit and loading a first material into the second press unit at substantially the same time;
- c. rotating the press unit support structure less than a full revolution about the axis;
- d. compressing the first material in the first press unit and compressing the first material in the second press unit at substantially the same time;
- and
- e unloading the first material from the first press unit and the unloading the first material from the second press unit at substantially the same time
A process for compressing a material, the process comprising the steps of:
- a. providing an apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- i a press unit support structure rotatable about a fixed axis;
- ii. a first press unit associated with the press unit support structure;
- and
- iii. a second press unit associated with the press unit support structure;
- b. loading a first material into the first press unit,
- c rotating the press unit support structure less than a full revolution about the axis;
- d. compressing the first material in the first press unit;
- and
- e. unloading the first material from the first press unit and loading a second material into the second press unit at substantially the same time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.