Apparatus and method for making a tampon applicator
AssigneePlaytex Products, Inc.
InventorJamshid Rejai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is provided a tampon applicator apparatus and method for creating and scoring petals or petal tips of the tampon applicator. The apparatus has a holding element for the tampon applicator, a score device for forming a score line at the base of the petals, and two or more punch devices for creating a petal. There is also provided a vacuum for removing the portions of the tampon applicator that are punched out.
Claims37
An apparatus for creating and scoring petals of a tampon applicator virtually simultaneously, the apparatus comprising:
- a holding element having a center portion for positioning and securing the tampon applicator, said holding element having more than three radially projecting spokes;
- at least two punch devices, each of said at least two punch devices having a punch arm positioned for sliding on a separate one of the more than three spokes toward the tampon applicator to strike the tampon applicator and create a petal;
- and
- a score device having a score arm positioned for sliding on a remaining one of said more than three spokes toward the tampon applicator to score the tampon applicator.
An apparatus for creating and scoring petals of a tampon applicator blank substantially simultaneously, the apparatus comprising:
- a first longitudinal member with a center, the tampon applicator blank being held on said first longitudinal member;
- a plurality of first radially projecting members, each of said plurality of first radially projecting members being radially disposed around said center;
- and
- a plurality of second radially projecting members, each of said plurality of second radially projecting members being radially disposed around said center, each of said plurality of second radially projecting members having a first arm with a first tool, said first arm being positioned for selectively sliding on said plurality of second radially projecting members, said first arm eliding in a direction toward the tampon applicator blank, said first tool striking the tampon applicator blank for creating the petal on the tampon applicator blank, wherein each of said plurality of first radially projecting members has a second arm with a second tool, said second arm for selectively sliding in said direction toward the tampon applicator blank, said second tool forming a score on or in the tampon applicator blank, said score being a substantially orthogonal shaped notch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.