Abstract: In the manufacture of a tampon, an absorbent structure composed of an absorbent material can be formed into a tampon blank. In various embodiments, a withdrawal element can be attached to the absorbent structure either before or after the absorbent structure is formed into a tampon blank. The tampon blank can then undergo a compression step which can result in the pledget of the tampon. The pledget, and resultant tampon, can have at least one linear channel and at least one non-linear channel.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a tampon, an absorbent structure composed of an absorbent material can be formed into a tampon blank. In various embodiments, a withdrawal element can be attached to the absorbent structure either before or after the absorbent structure is formed into a tampon blank. The tampon blank can then undergo a compression step which can result in the pledget of the tampon. The pledget, and resultant tampon, can have at least one linear channel and at least one non-linear channel.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tampon includes the steps of at least partially overlaying a web of base material with a web of absorbent material. The web of absorbent material is secured to the web of base material with a first securement. At least one of the web of base material and the web of absorbent material is folded after the first securement. The web of absorbent material is further secured to the web of base material with a second securement that is a stronger securement than the first securement. The web of absorbent material and the web of base material together define a web of cover material. The web of cover material is applied to an absorbent structure. The web of cover material and the absorbent structure is manipulated such that the web of cover material extends about a circumference of the absorbent structure to form a tampon.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tampon includes transporting a web of material in a machine direction. The web of material has a base web and an absorbent web. The absorbent web has a free end and a bonded end wherein the bonded end is bonded to the base web. The free end of the absorbent web is moved in spaced relationship with the base web. The base web is bonded to a substrate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tampon includes the steps of at least partially overlaying a web of base material with a web of absorbent material. The web of absorbent material is secured to the web of base material with a first securement. At least one of the web of base material and the web of absorbent material is folded after the first securement. The web of absorbent material is further secured to the web of base material with a second securement that is a stronger securement than the first securement. The web of absorbent material and the web of base material together define a web of cover material. The web of cover material is applied to an absorbent structure. The web of cover material and the absorbent structure is manipulated such that the web of cover material extends about a circumference of the absorbent structure to form a tampon.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tampon comprises the steps of at least partially overlaying a web of base material with a web of absorbent material. The web of absorbent material is secured to the web of base material with a first securement. At least one of the web of base material and the web of absorbent material is folded after the first securement. The web of absorbent material is further secured to the web of base material with a second securement that is a stronger securement than the first securement. The web of absorbent material and the web of base material together define a web of cover material. The web of cover material is applied to an absorbent structure. The web of cover material and the absorbent structure is manipulated such that the web of cover material extends about a circumference of the absorbent structure to form a tampon.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tampon generally comprises forming a softwind including a core and a cover overlying and at least in part covering the core. The cover carries an absorbent web having a free end and a bonded end wherein the free end is capable of moving relative to the cover. The softwind is passed through a transfer assist device to facilitate the transferring of the free end of the absorbent web without the absorbent web becoming misaligned relative to the cover.

Abstract: A wrapping material for a tampon which can reduce or prevent contamination of the tampon and/or can reduce or prevent loss of a treatment agent from the tampon. A tampon wrapped in a wrapping material can experience a reduction in the contamination of the tampon and/or a reduction in the loss of a treatment agent from the tampon.

Abstract: An apparatus for compressing a material includes a central longitudinal axis, a plurality of levers, and a plurality of jaws, wherein each jaw is attached to a lever, and wherein each jaw has a compression surface having an area. The apparatus also includes a compressing mechanism configured to move each lever in a non-linear motion such that the area of a compression surface exposed to the material decreases with the inward movement of that compression surface; and a shaping element associated with at least one compression surface. The apparatus can include a plurality of shaping elements projecting from at least one compression surface, wherein the plurality of shaping elements is configured to impart a pattern in the material. The apparatus can include a plurality of shaping elements each projecting from a compression surface, wherein the plurality of shaping elements is configured to impart a plurality of grooves in the material.

Abstract: An apparatus for compressing a material includes a plurality of levers and a plurality of jaws, wherein each jaw is attached to a lever, and wherein each jaw has a compression surface having an area. The apparatus also includes a compressing mechanism configured to move each lever in a non-linear motion such that the area of a compression surface exposed to the material decreases with the inward movement of that compression surface. Each jaw can be attached to a lever such that a gap is defined between adjacent jaws, the gap having a gap centerline. The compressing mechanism can be configured to move each jaw in a non-linear motion such that the gap centerline of the gap between adjacent jaws is predominantly tangential to an apparatus central longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for compressing a material includes a central longitudinal axis, a plurality of levers each having a tool carrier and defining a lever longitudinal axis, and a plurality of jaws each attached to a lever at a tool carrier to form a lever/jaw combination, wherein each jaw has a compression surface having an area. The apparatus also includes a compressing mechanism configured to move each lever in a non-linear motion such that the area of a compression surface exposed to the material decreases with the inward movement of that compression surface, wherein each lever/jaw combination includes a biasing mechanism configured such that adjacent jaws contact each other. The plane of each compression surface can be predominantly tangential to the apparatus central longitudinal axis. Each biasing mechanism can be configured to bias its jaw along the lever longitudinal axis toward an adjacent jaw.

Abstract: A method of integrating a tampon includes providing an absorbent blank having a longitudinal centerline and compressing the absorbent blank in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline to form a pledget having a compressed diameter. The method also includes penetrating the pledget in the perpendicular direction to a compressed depth of at least 20% of the compressed diameter to form a discrete indentation.

Abstract: A method of integrating a tampon includes providing an absorbent blank having a longitudinal centerline and compressing the absorbent blank in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline to form a pledget having a compressed diameter. The method also includes penetrating the pledget in the perpendicular direction to a compressed depth of at least 20% of the compressed diameter to form a discrete indentation.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tampon includes transporting a web of material in a machine direction. The web of material has a base web and an absorbent web. The absorbent web has a free end and a bonded end wherein the bonded end is bonded to the base web. At least the free end of the absorbent web of the web to is controlled to inhibit movement of the absorbent web relative to the base web. The web of material is cut into discrete web segments while controlling at least the free end of the absorbent web. The discrete web segments is bonded to a substrate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tampon generally comprises forming a softwind including a core and a cover overlying and at least in part covering the core. The cover carries an absorbent web having a free end and a bonded end wherein the free end is capable of moving relative to the cover. The softwind is passed through a transfer assist device to facilitate the transferring of the free end of the absorbent web without the absorbent web becoming misaligned relative to the cover.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tampon includes transporting a web of material in a machine direction. The web of material has a base web and an absorbent web. The absorbent web has a free end and a bonded end wherein the bonded end is bonded to the base web. At least the free end of the absorbent web of the web to is controlled to inhibit movement of the absorbent web relative to the base web. The web of material is cut into discrete web segments while controlling at least the free end of the absorbent web. The discrete web segments is bonded to a substrate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tampon comprises the steps of at least partially overlaying a web of base material with a web of absorbent material. The web of absorbent material is secured to the web of base material with a first securement. At least one of the web of base material and the web of absorbent material is folded after the first securement. The web of absorbent material is further secured to the web of base material with a second securement that is a stronger securement than the first securement. The web of absorbent material and the web of base material together define a web of cover material. The web of cover material is applied to an absorbent structure. The web of cover material and the absorbent structure is manipulated such that the web of cover material extends about a circumference of the absorbent structure to form a tampon.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tampon includes transporting a web of material in a machine direction. The web of material has a base web and an absorbent web. The absorbent web has a free end and a bonded end wherein the bonded end is bonded to the base web. The free end of the absorbent web is moved in spaced relationship with the base web. The base web is bonded to a substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for compressing a material includes a plurality of levers and a plurality of jaws, wherein each jaw is attached to a lever, and wherein each jaw has a compression surface having an area. The apparatus also includes a compressing mechanism configured to move each lever in a non-linear motion such that the area of a compression surface exposed to the material decreases with the inward movement of that compression surface. Each jaw can be attached to a lever such that a gap is defined between adjacent jaws, the gap having a gap centerline. The compressing mechanism can be configured to move each jaw in a non-linear motion such that the gap centerline of the gap between adjacent jaws is predominantly tangential to an apparatus central longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A method for positioning side panels during manufacture of a pant includes positioning the side panels on side panel transfer devices. The side panels move perpendicular to a pant transport plane as the pant is transported in the machine direction and the side panels reside on the side panel transfer devices. The side panels can include refastenable fastening components. The method and apparatus can move the fastening components closer together in the cross-machine direction or maintain the fastening components at a constant cross-machine position while the side panels reside on the side panel transfer devices.