	US 12,102,513 B2
	Apparatus and method for equipping tampon applicators with tampons
Samuel Schuler, Basel (CH); and Patrick Baumgartner, Tegerfelden (CH)
Assigned to Ruggli AG, Koblenz (CH)
Appl. No. 17/274,611
Filed by Ruggli AG, Koblenz (CH)
PCT Filed Aug. 30, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/073210 § 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 9, 2021, PCT Pub. No. WO2020/052999, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 19, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 1069/18 (CH), filed on Sep. 10, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0047429 A1, Feb. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. A61F 13/20 (2006.01); B65G 47/84 (2006.01)

CPC A61F 13/2097 (2013.01) [B65G 47/846 (2013.01)]

15 Claims

1. An apparatus for equipping tampon applicators with tampons, comprising

a. an encircling guide arrangement with an entry point, at which the tampon applicators are fed into the apparatus, and with an exit point, at which equipped tampon applicators are discharged;

b. an equipping unit arranged between the entry point and the exit point and designed for equipping tampon applicators with tampons;

C. a multiplicity of guide units which are guided on the guide arrangement and which serves for transporting the tampon applicators on the guide arrangement, and

wherein the guide units comprise at least one holding cassette with an applicator receptacle and a guide element, wherein the guide element comprises engagement means for the displaceable mounting of the guide unit on the guide arrangement, and the holding cassette is mounted movably with respect to the guide element, and

wherein the guide units are mounted on the guide arrangement by means of rollers.