System for assembling dental floss dispenser components
US6357102B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 13, 1995 |
| Grant date | Mar 19, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 9, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/53404
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system including an apparatus and method for assembling an insert and a cutter bar into a subassembly for use in dental floss dispensers. The insert includes a body portion defining an arbor for rotatably supporting a spool of dental floss and a superstructure contiguous with the body portion. The superstructure includes cutter bar receiving structure adapted to be grippingly engaged by a cutter bar having a cutting blade portion. The apparatus includes a rotatable assembly wheel having multiple pockets for receiving inserts, which wheel is rotatable into a plurality of positions corresponding to a plurality of assembly stations. An insert is inserted into a wheel pocket in a first direction at a first assembly station, a cutter bar is pushed onto the insert's cutter bar receiving structure at a second assembly station and the subassembly is discharged in a direction opposite to the direction of insertion at a third assembly station. The apparatus preferably includes several sensing means for determining the status of the subassembly throughout the assembly procedure. The apparatus is preferably controlled by a computer such that a plurality of subassemblies may be simultaneously…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.