The present disclosure relates to apparatuses and methods for making tampons including primary and secondary absorbent members. During assembly, primary absorbent members, a continuous length of secondary absorbent members, and a continuous cord are advanced in a machine direction. Leading edges of the primary absorbent members are separated from each other in the machine direction by a pitch distance. Discrete secondary absorbent members are cut from the continuous length of secondary absorbent members. Leading edges of the discrete secondary absorbent members are also separated from each other in the machine direction by the pitch distance. The continuous cord is positioned on the secondary absorbent members. And a secondary absorbent member is positioned in contact with a primary absorbent member. A thread is combined with the continuous cord, the secondary absorbent member, and the primary absorbent member.

Methods and apparatuses for manufacturing multiple different articles are provided. One apparatus embodiment includes a first intravaginal article assembly module; a second intravaginal article assembly module; and an applicator module capable of receiving and handling applicators suitable for both first intravaginal articles from the first intravaginal article assembly module and second intravaginal articles from the second intravaginal article assembly module. The apparatus only operates with one of the first intravaginal article assembly module and the second intravaginal article assembly module at one time. The first intravaginal articles are absorbent articles and the second intravaginal articles are non-absorbent articles.

An improved apparatus for forming tampon blanks for further processing into compressed, self-sustaining tampons, permits increased speed and accuracy of the process step. The apparatus includes a sliver guide; a gripper capable of reciprocating motion and arranged and configured to cooperate with the sliver 5 guide to grasp an end of a sliver maintained therein; a winding mandrel; a plurality of winding cups; and e) a string application and knotter apparatus comprising a circular ring bearing having a string conveyor mounted thereon. The circular ring bearing of the string application and knotter apparatus defines a plane perpendicular to the sliver guide and motion of the gripper and parallel to the 10 winding axis of the winding mandrel.

The present invention relates to a morpho-anatomic flexible web (1) intended to be introduced into a vaginal or rectal cavity (40,50) of a human or animal, being provided with means of removal (4) from said vaginal or rectal cavity (40,50), said web (1) having a proximal end which corresponds to the part of the web (1) that first contacts said cavity (40,50) and a distal end which corresponds to the part of the web (1) that last enters said cavity (40,50) and said web (1) comprising two sheets (16,17) that at least partly overlap, defining an overlapping area, wherein said first and second sheets (16,17) are fixed to one another by means of at least two stopping elements (11,12,13), defining at least one pouch (10) in the interior of the overlapping area for holding a substance (60), and wherein said web (1) further comprises at least one blocking element (20) for retaining an applicator (30) in a substantially fixed position relative to the web (1), said blocking element (20) having at least one blocking side (22) which is perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the web (1) into the vaginal or rectal cavity (40,50), preferably said blocking side (22) being situated below the mouth of the pouch (10) such that part of the web may fold over said mouth of the pouch to completely close it. The present invention also relates to the use of the web (1) for retention of bodily fluids from said cavities or for delivery of a substance such as a microbicide gel (for example anti-HIV microbicide), or a probiotic or both.

The present invention relates to methods of assembling a withdrawal cord with an intravaginal member. In some embodiments, the withdrawal cord is affixed to an intravaginal member through the use of an anchor.

An apparatus for delivering a discrete cord having a supply path comprising a fluid flow, a deployed cord supply, a transfer member having a first surface comprising one or more orifices capable of receiving the deployed cord supply, and a cutting apparatus comprising a cutting implement enabled to sever the deployed cord supply to form a discrete cord. The fluid flow directs the deployed cord supply towards the transfer member first surface. The transfer member first surface abuts the cutting apparatus.

A tampon for feminine hygiene, having an insertion end, a recovery end, a recovery tape, and a longitudinal axis. The tampon is made of compressed fibrous material and has an outer surface that is at least partially provided with spirally shaped, pressed longitudinal grooves. The grooves define spirally shaped longitudinal ribs. Also disclosed is a method for producing the tampon.

The present disclosure relates to apparatuses and methods for making tampons including primary and secondary absorbent members. During assembly, primary absorbent members, a continuous length of secondary absorbent members, and a continuous cord are advanced in a machine direction. Leading edges of the primary absorbent members are separated from each other in the machine direction by a pitch distance. Discrete secondary absorbent members are cut from the continuous length of secondary absorbent members. Leading edges of the discrete secondary absorbent members are also separated from each other in the machine direction by the pitch distance. The continuous cord is positioned on the secondary absorbent members. And a secondary absorbent member is positioned in contact with a primary absorbent member. A thread is combined with the continuous cord, the secondary absorbent member, and the primary absorbent member.

A method of delivering a discrete cord to a transfer member, wherein the method includes providing a supply path fluidly connected to a metered cord supply. The supply path comprises a fluid flow, a transfer member, and a cutting apparatus. The transfer member comprises a first surface, a second surface, and a plurality of orifices on the first surface. The method also comprises moving a deployed cord supply towards the transfer member through the supply path by the fluid flow. The method further comprises moving a portion of the deployed cord supply into an orifice of the transfer member and cutting the deployed cord supply to create a discrete cord comprising a first end and a second end; wherein a portion of the discrete cord is in the orifice to the transfer member.

A tampon pledget is made by assembling one or more pads in a pad compression configuration, radially compressing the pad compression configuration in a traverse direction into a cylindrical form, and axially compressing the cylindrical form in a direction along a vertical axis to form the tampon pledget. In one embodiment, the axial compression is performed as a pressure is applied to at least one of a first and a second end of the cylindrical form. In one aspect of the present invention, the formed tampon pledget has an absorbent capacity as measured by the syngyna test of between about 6.0 grams to 9.0 grams and a density of about 0.4603 grams/cubic centimeter. In another aspect of the invention, the formed tampon pledget has an absorbent capacity as measured by the syngyna test of between about 9.0 grams to 12.0 grams and a density of about 0.4755 grams/cubic centimeter.