1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to a divider for a package. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a divider for a tampon package that also includes warnings safety information relating to the tampons, and is included as part of the package. The present disclosure further provides a method of filling the package at a fast, or high speed.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires certain devices to have “specific labeling, which may include not only package labeling, but informational literature, patient release forms, performance testing, and/or specific tolerances or prohibitions on labeling, but informational literature, patient release forms, performance testing, and/or specific tolerances or prohibitions on certain ingredients.” (http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/Overview/DeviceLabeling/GeneralDeviceLabelingRequirements/ucm052182.htm, last visited Oct. 19, 2009)
There are special labeling requirements for certain devices, one of which is menstrual tampons. The labeling requirements for tampons are mostly directed to relevant information about Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). 21 C.F.R. §801.430.
Tampons are often sold in boxes of a dozen or more. For years, all commercial tampon manufacturers have included paper inserts, specifically information booklets, in boxes of tampons, which communicate both safety and recommended usage information pertaining to menstrual tampons. (See
This traditional method of conveying information using a paper insert/information booklet is both uneconomical and operationally inefficient, as the packaging machines will often jam. The paper used for inserts is thin, and folded in several places, so including the insert in packages of tampons produced at high speeds involves mechanical and operational complexity. Conditions as commonplace as high heat or humidity, or even minor folds or tears in the paper, can cause errors in the packaging process, which lead to frequent machine shutdowns and product rejections. This process thus involves unnecessary cost, scrap, and waste. Accordingly, there is a need to overcome these disadvantages. There is also a need to fill such a package, or a number of such packages, at a high speed.
The present disclosure provides a way of communicating safety and usage information for medical devices, in particular TSS information pertaining to menstrual tampons, which avoids the above-discussed disadvantages of currently available methods. The present disclosure provides a special “divider” that is a part of the package containing individually wrapped tampons. The divider contains essentially the same safety and recommended usage information as that provided in the more traditional package insert/information booklet. Since the divider would be part of the actual package containing the individually wrapped tampons, inclusion of the divider would be trivial to the packaging operation. There would be no loss of information, lower mechanical complexity, less labor, and lower scrap. Also, due to the features of the process of filling the package with the divider, more packages are filled per unit time.
Thus, in one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a package having a package body having an opposable top, a bottom, and a wall, to define an interior space, the interior space for receipt of a plurality of products, and a divider in the interior space, wherein the divider separates the products into at least two separate groups of products, and wherein the divider has information relating to the products printed thereon, the information being displayed prominently when the package body is opened
In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides A method of filling a package with a plurality of products. The method comprises providing the plurality of products to a feeder, separating the plurality of products, placing each of the separated products into a desired orientation, individually wrapping each of the separated products, to form a plurality of wrapped products, collating a number of the wrapped products into a group of products, storing a second number of the groups of products in a buffer, and placing two of the groups of products in the package. During the placing step, a divider is inserted between the groups of products.
Referring to the drawings
In addition, divider 10 could serve a secondary but important additional role. Divider 10 can also be used in “multipacks”. These are packages 20 of tampons 25 having different absorbencies (e.g. regular, super etc.). Previously, when packing multipacks, tampons of one absorbency were grouped and placed into a sleeve. Another group of tampons having a different absorbency would then be added to the sleeved group, and the two groups would be placed in a package together. The paper insert would then be placed over the two groups of tampons. (See
Divider 10 can be made of the same material as the stock that is used to make package 20, which can be 20-point board. In different embodiments, divider 10 can be made of 12-point board, or 10-point board. The present disclosure, however, contemplates other types of materials for divider 10, such as other weights and types of cardboard, or paper.
In traditional packaging methods, such as that used for the package shown in
By contrast, in the high speed process of the present disclosure, divider 10 is used. As previously discussed, divider 10 can have the required warning information printed thereon. Divider 10 also has perforated edge 16, so that flag 14 can bend. This satisfies the requirement that the consumer see the warning information upon opening package 20. The consumer can also tear off flag 14, and still keep the remainder of divider 10 in place to keep different tampons separate, which is helpful when package 20 is a multipack. Although process 100 is described below in a tampon packaging application, process 100 can be useful in any packaging application where it is desirable to separate and/or provide information relating to the packaged products on a divider.
Referring now to
Feeder 110 separates and orientates tampons 25 in a desired direction. After is leaving feeder 110, tampons 25 are transferred to wrapper 120, where they are wrapped individually. Tampons 25 are then transferred to collator 130.
Referring to
This feature is highly advantageous, since it is much easier to process tampons 25 of group 26 when they are aligned in single file. In previously available collators employing conveyors and paddles, the products being collated were allowed to loosely fill the space between paddles. As the conveyor went around a bend, the space between adjacent paddles would grow, since the paddles would form a “v” shape. The products disposed in the space between the paddles would be loosely packed, and disorganized. When packaging tampons, this can be highly disadvantageous, since it makes processing the tampons more difficult and time-consuming. Collator 130 thus overcomes these drawbacks.
Two paddle conveyors 131 can be used in method 100, corresponding to the number of lines 105. Each paddle conveyor 131 can carry the same type of tampon 25, or in the case where package 20 is a multipack, each paddle conveyor 131 can carry a different type of tampon 25. Each paddle conveyor 131 can be programmed for a different number or group 26 of tampons 25, if desired. Each of groups 26 in each of paddle areas 133 are then transferred to buffer 140.
Referring to
Thus, buffer 140 can carry enough groups 26 of tampons 25 to keep lines 105 running in the event that any or all of them shut down (e.g., if there is a machine jam or a manufacturing defect that causes a shutdown). In one embodiment, there are two towers 141 for each of lines 105, but the present disclosure contemplates any number of towers 141 per line 105. In one embodiment, buffer 140 can store enough groups 26 of tampons 25 to run the machine for four minutes, even when each or both of lines 105 are stopped.
Referring to
The present disclosure having been thus described with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.