Pledget loading apparatus

Claim 1

An apparatus for applying a cut segment of a flocculent material to an elongated needle instrument having a needle, comprising, in combination, an instrument receiver unit for receiving therein at least an axial portion of said needle instrument in such a manner that the needle of the instrument axially projects out of the receiver unit, said instrument receiver unit having an axial bore extending and laterally open throughout the length of the unit, thrust-out means operative to thrust the needle instrument laterally out of the axial bore in said instrument receiver unit into a predetermined first position laterally adjacent the receiver unit, transfer means operative to convey the needle instrument from said first position to a predetermined second position remote from the first position, supply means for storing a continuous length of flocculent material thereon and feeding a leading end portion of the continuous length of flocculent material to a predetermined delivery area into which the needle of said instrument is to axially extend when the instrument is received in said instrument receiver unit, and cutting means operative to cut said leading end portion into a segment in said delivery area.

Claim 2

An apparatus for applying a cut segment of a flocculent material to an elongated needle instrument having a needle, comprising, in combination, an instrument receiver unit for receiving therein at least an axial portion of said needle instrument in such a manner that the needle of the instrument axially projects out of the receiver unit, said instrument receiver unit having an axial bore extending and laterally open throughout the length of the unit, thrust-out means operative to thrust the needle instrument laterally out of the axial bore in said instrument receiver unit into a predetermined first position laterally adjacent the receiver unit, transfer means operative to convey the needle instrument from said first position to a predetermined second position remote from the first position, supply means for storing a continuous length of flocculent material thereon and feeding a leading end portion of the continuous length of flocculent material to a predetermined delivery area into which the needle of said instrument is to axially extend when the instrument is received in said instrument receiver unit, and cutting means operative to cut said leading end portion into a segment in said delivery area.

Claim 7

An apparatus as set forth in any of claims 1 to 5, in which said needle instrument has a shank portion larger in diameter than said needle and in which said transfer means comprises an endless needle-carrier belt having a substantially straight travelling path portion extending in a direction substantially parallel with the spacing between said first position and said second position, said needle-carrier belt being adapted to have said needle rollably received thereon along said travelling path portion and a belt and pulley arrangement including an endless belt having a substantially straight travelling path portion substantially parallel with said travelling path portion of said needle-carrier belt, said endless belt of said belt and pulley arrangement being adapted to have said shank portion rollably received thereon along said travelling path portion thereof.

Claim 10

An apparatus as set forth in any of claims 1 to 5, in which said supply means comprises a support member pivotally movable about a fixed horizontal axis, a spool rotatable about an axis fixed with respect to said support member and substantially parallel with the axis about which the support member is pivotally movable, said spool being adapted to have said continuous length of flocculent material wound in layers thereon, a feed roller rotatable about an axis substantially parallel with the axis of rotation of said spool, said spool being radially aligned with said feed roller and being adapted to bear in rollable and weight-transmitting relationship on the feed roller, a nip roller rotatable about an axis substantially parallel with the axis of rotation of said feed roller, and biasing means urging said nip roller into rollable contact with said feed roller.