Apparatus and method for producing compresses having a cooling effect

A manufacturing plant for vacuum-packed compresses having a cooling effect, comprising a vacuum-packing unit and a dry compress manufacturing unit,

• said dry compress manufacturing unit comprising:
• a device for longitudinally moving a water-permeable textile lower sheet which is continuously unwound and delivered flat to a delivery end of said dry compress manufacturing unit, underneath an absorbent particle powder feed hopper;
• a device for depositing successive doses of said powder in grooves formed longitudinally in said moving lower sheet by reversible heat deformation;
• a device for covering the moving lower sheet and the powder with an upper sheet which is continuously unwound and delivered flat at the same time as said lower sheet to said delivery end of said dry compress manufacturing unit to form an assembly;
• a device for isolating adjacent powder-filled grooves from each other transversely by longitudinally welding said upper sheet and lower sheet together along intervals between said adjacent grooves;
• a device for forming successive compartments in each groove, each containing a dose of said absorbent particle powder, by welding said sheets together along transverse weld lines across the width of the moving assembly;
• and
• a device for cutting the resulting moving assembly into successive dry compresses by moving the assembly between rollers, one of which has a blade, thereby producing successive dry compresses, each containing doses of absorbent particles enclosed tight in separate grooves;
• and
• said vacuum-packing unit comprising:
• a device for thermoplastically forming individual receptacles in a watertight, airtight sheet which is delivered flat to said delivery end of said vacuum-packing unit;
• a device for depositing a water bag manufactured by a water bag manufacturing unit and a dry compress manufactured by the dry compress manufacturing unit in each receptacle, one on top of the other;
• a device for covering the sheet of formed receptacles each filled with a water bag and a dry compress with a second watertight, airtight sheet which is delivered flat at the same time as said first watertight, airtight sheet to said delivery end of the vacuum-packing unit;
• a device for closing edges around each filled receptacle by welding said first and second watertight, airtight sheets together, except for a rear edge of each said receptacle;
• a device for successively creating a vacuum within each filled receptacle before transverse welding of the rear edge of each receptacle and complete closure of each receptacle by welding of said rear edge;
• and
• a device for cutting the filled and completely closed receptacles with a punch to obtain individual vacuum-packed compresses having a cooling effect.

A manufacturing plant for vacuum-packed compresses having a cooling effect comprising:

• (i) a dry compress manufacturing unit comprising:
• a device for longitudinally moving a water-permeable textile lower sheet which is continuously unwound and delivered flat to a delivery end of said dry compress manufacturing unit, underneath an absorbent particle powder feed hopper;
• a device for depositing successive doses of said powder in grooves formed longitudinally in said moving lower sheet by reversible heat deformation;
• a device for covering the moving sheet and powder with an upper sheet which is continuously unwound and delivered flat at the same time as said lower sheet to said delivery end of said dry compress manufacturing unit to form an assembly;
• a device for isolating adjacent powder-filled grooves from each other transversely by longitudinally welding said upper sheet and lower sheet together along intervals between said adjacent grooves;
• a device for forming successive compartments in each groove, each containing a dose of said absorbent particle powder, by welding said sheets together along transverse weld lines across the width of the moving assembly;
• and
• a device for cutting the resulting moving assembly into successive dry compresses by moving the assembly between rollers one of which has a blade, thereby producing successive dry compresses, each containing doses of absorbent particles enclosed tight in separate grooves;
• (ii) a water bag manufacturing unit comprising:
• a device for bringing together and longitudinally welding two sides of a plastic sheet to form a longitudinally extending open-end tube, said weld being carried out to ensure watertight closure of the tube and resistance to subsequent handling thereof and to form a frangible area designed to give way;
• a device for placing the longitudinally extending open-end tube in thermoplastic welding jaws perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube and for transversely welding the tube to form a bag with a lower weld;
• a device for feeding pressurised water in successive doses into the transversely welded tube to fill the bag with water;
• a device for checking the filling level of the water in the tube by means of a water level probe;
• a device for forming an upper transverse weld in the water-filled tube when the water level has reached a predetermined level, thus forming a closed bag to enclose the water, with the upper weld placed sufficiently below an upper level of the water in the tube to expel any excess water and ensure that no water bubbles are trapped in the bag;
• and
• a device for cutting the water filled bag from the tube to thus form successive water filled bags;
• and
• (iii) a vacuum-packed compress manufacturing unit comprising:
• a device for thermoplastically forming individual receptacles in a watertight, airtight sheet which is delivered flat to said delivery end of said vacuum-packed compress manufacturing unit;
• a device for depositing a water bag manufactured by the water bag manufacturing unit and a dry compress manufactured by the dry compress manufacturing unit in each receptacle, one on top of the other;
• a device for covering the sheet of formed receptacles each filled with a water bag and a dry compress with a second watertight, airtight sheet which is delivered flat at the same time as said first watertight, airtight sheet to said delivery end of the vacuum-packing unit;
• a device for closing edges around each filled receptacle by welding said first and second watertight, airtight sheets together, except for a rear edge of each said receptacle;
• a device for successively creating a vacuum within each filled receptacle before transverse welding of the rear edge of each receptacle and complete closure of each receptacle by welding of said rear edge;
• and
• a device for cutting the filled and completely closed receptacles with a punch to obtain individual vacuum-packed compresses having a cooling effect, each containing a dry compress and a water bag.

A process for manufacturing compresses having a cooling effect and containing absorbent polymer particles, comprising:

• manufacturing dry compresses wherein said particles are enclosed between a lower sheet and an upper sheet of particle retention material which are continuously delivered along a dry compress manufacturing unit in which the following operations take place, successively:
• grooves are formed in said lower sheet by the application of heating pins aligned perpendicular to a direction of travel of the lower sheet, successive doses of absorbent polymer powder are deposited in said grooves over a predetermined length of said grooves after which the lower sheet is covered with said upper sheet;
• the two sheets are longitudinally welded together along intervals between adjacent grooves in order to separate laterally said grooves into distinct absorbent polymer-filled compartments;
• the ends of said compartments are transversely welded along a line perpendicular to the direction of travel, at either side of said predetermined length of said grooves in which there is no polymer;
• and
• then cutting along said transverse weld lines to obtain successive dry compresses.