Abstract: A tampon has a generally uniform fiber distribution along its length, an insertion end, a withdrawal end, and a longitudinal axis. A finger recess having a depth of at least about 5 mm is formed into the withdrawal end. Nonetheless, a column strength of at least about 10 Newtons (N) can still be achieved. The tampon can be formed by winding an absorbent fibrous web around a winding mandrel; transferring the blank into a press; inserting a forming mandrel into one end of a tampon blank while the tampon blank is positioned in the press; moving a plurality of press jaws toward a central longitudinal press axis to compress the tampon blank and to form a compressed tampon having a finger recess formed into the one end of the tampon; and ejecting the compressed tampon from the press.

Abstract: A gas injection disc is provided which includes an outer ring and a tubular modular insert which slips into the outer ring. The outer ring is provided with an inner bore, a ring-shaped plenum located around the inner bore, an outer gas sealing surface around the plenum, and two gas feed paths extending from the periphery of the outer ring to the plenum. The gas feed paths are each provided with a gas feed attachment for coupling gas supply tubes thereto. The insert is provided with a plurality of radially aligned injectant holes, an inner gas sealing surface, and an axial bore. The insert is seated in the inner bore of the outer ring such that the inner and outer gas sealing surface face each other with a small gap provided therebetween which enables the insertion of the insert into the inner bore. The insert thereby substantially encloses the plenum, and the injectant holes are aligned with the plenum to receive injectant gases and direct the injectant gases into the axial bore of the insert.