Machine for the automated packaging of needles and attached sutures and method of utilizing the packaging machine

A machine for the automated packaging of needles having attached sutures for forming a suture package, including automatically winding said sutures within the confines of a tray and attaching a cover to said tray so as to constitute said suture package, said machine having at least one tool nest for supporting said tray, and means for imparting a forwarding motion to said tool nest and to said tray supported thereon for indexed advance to a plurality of sequential spaced workstations stationarily arranged proximate the path of advancing movement of said tool nest;

• said machine comprising:
• (a) a first said workstation for mounting an empty said tray on a support surface located on said at least one tool nest;
• (b) a second workstation comprising means for inserting a plurality of needles and attached sutures into said tray such that said needles are fastened in said tray in a predetermined array;
• said inserting means receiving a plurality of needles and attached sutures from a supply source for successively inserting said needles onto predetermined needle-clamping locations in said tray to form said array of needles and attached sutures;
• and means operatively communicating with said at least one tool nest impart incrementally vertically displacing movements to said supporting surface and tray so as to correlate the successive insertion of said needles with said predetermined needle-clamping locations in said tray to form said needle array;
• (c) a third workstation including means for winding said sutures into a peripheral channel of said tray;
• (d) and a fourth workstation including means for applying a cover to said tray to form said suture package and concurrently severing a portion of the cover forming a label permanently attached to said tray.

A machine for the automated packaging of needles having attached sutures for forming a suture package, including automatically winding said sutures within the confines of a tray and attaching a cover to said tray so as to constitute said suture package, said machine having at least one tool nest for supporting said tray, and means for imparting a forwarding motion to said tool nest and to said tray supported thereon for indexed advance to a plurality of sequential spaced workstations stationarily arranged proximate the path of advancing movement of said tool nest;

• said machine comprising:
• (a) a first said workstation for mounting an empty said tray on a support surface located on said at least one tool nest;
• (b) a second workstation comprising means for inserting a plurality of needles and attached sutures into said tray such that said needles are fastened in said tray in a predetermined array and said attached sutures include portions depending downwardly and outwardly from said tray;
• (c) a third workstation including means for gathering said depending suture portions into a bundled strand and imparting axial tension thereto;
• means for imparting rotational movement to said support surface and said tray about an axis extending normal to the plane of said support surface and tray;
• and means operatively associated with said suture portion gathering means for winding said bundled strand of depending suture portions into a peripheral tray channel;
• said suture winding means comprising a stylus arrangement for contacting said tensioned and bundled suture strands and guiding said strands into said tray channel to facilitate winding of said sutures into said tray during rotation of said tray on said support surface, said stylus arrangement including stylus legs contacting said sutures, a piston rod having one end mounting said stylus legs;
• a stationary cylinder mounting said piston rod for reciprocatory motion therein to enable said stylus legs to selectively engage into and follow said tray channel during rotation of said tray;
• (d) and a fourth workstation including means for applying a cover to said tray to form said suture package and concurrently severing a portion of the cover forming a label permanently attached to said tray.

A machine for the automated packaging of needles having attached sutures for forming a suture package, including automatically winding said sutures within the confines of a tray and attaching a cover to said tray so as to constitute said suture package, said machine having at least one tool nest for supporting said tray, and means for imparting a forwarding motion to said tool nest and to said tray supported thereon for indexed advance to a plurality of sequential spaced workstations stationarily arranged proximate the path of advancing movement of said tool nest;

• said machine comprising:
• (a) a first said workstation for mounting an empty said tray on a support surface located on said at least one tool nest;
• (b) a second workstation comprising means for inserting a plurality of needles and attached sutures into said tray such that said needles are fastened in said tray in a predetermined array;
• (c) a third workstation including means for winding said sutures into a peripheral channel of said tray;
• (d) and a fourth workstation including means for applying a cover to said tray to form said suture package containing said needles and attached wound sutures;
• and means for imparting pressure to said cover so as to form latching structure in said cover fastening said cover to said tray and concurrently severing a portion of the cover forming a label permanently attached to said tray;
• said means for applying said covers on said tray at said cover-applying workstation comprising a pivotable arm having grippers for successively obtaining individual covers from a supply of covers;
• and means for pivoting said grippers into alignment with the tray on said support surface and extending said grippers to position said cover on said tray such that guide pins extend through openings in said cover, releasing said cover and withdrawing said grippers.