US 12,257,133 B2
Apparatus for forming a catamenial tampon
Nick Brooks, Warwick (GB); Peter Morgan, Warwickshire (GB); James Stembridge, Warwickshire (GB); and Trevor Whales, Warwickshire (GB)
Assigned to Johnson & Johnson GmbH, Neuss (DE)
Filed by Johnson & Johnson GmbH, Neuss (DE)
Filed on Mar. 4, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/594,414.
Application 18/594,414 is a division of application No. 17/022,298, filed on Sep. 16, 2020, granted, now 11,918,443.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/907,190, filed on Sep. 27, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0197542 A1, Jun. 20, 2024
Int. Cl. B30B 11/04 (2006.01); A61F 13/20 (2006.01); B30B 11/00 (2006.01); B30B 15/34 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 13/2088 (2013.01) [B30B 11/007 (2013.01); B30B 11/04 (2013.01); B30B 15/34 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A doming tool for absorbent tampon manufacture, said tool comprising a plurality of stations made of devices for shaping a tampon pledget tip, and a hollow mandrel engaging with the stations; said stations being supported by at least one mounting plate, wherein
a) said plurality of stations comprises at least one passive cavity and at least one chuck device:
b) said hollow mandrel is a prismatic tube containing a movable sliding insert, and said hollow mandrel and a movable sliding insert arranged and configured to support a tampon withdrawal end and partially a tampon lateral flank while the tampon tip is being shaped during use of the doming tool;
c) said sliding insert which comprises stop pins arranged and configured to engage with slots in walls of the hollow mandrel can move along the length of said hollow mandrel; and
d) said sliding insert comprises a cup shaped receptacle sized to engage with a tampon withdrawal end during use of the doming tool, and a rim of said cup shaped receptacle is tapered to engage with a portion of a tampon lateral flank during use of the doming tool.