Abstract: A tampon having an absorbent structure and an apertured film cover thermally bonded to the absorbent structure is disclosed. The cover is bonded to the absorbent structure through a plurality of discrete spots arranged about the surface of the absorbent structure to provide a cumulative cover-to-absorbent bond. The cumulative cover-to-absorbent bond has a shear strength of at least about 3 N. The plurality of discrete thermally-bonded spots define a bonded area and the bonded spots and the unbonded portions between the spots define a bond region. Preferably, the bonded area covers about 5% to about 30% of the bond region. In addition, a sealing element for a sealing roller is disclosed. The sealing element is profiled with a sealing pattern defined by sealing knobs arranged at distances to each other that project from a base of the sealing element. Each sealing knob has a perimeter shaped to eliminate aggressive edges.

Abstract: A method for separating a supply of material into distinct sections of material, while controlling the position and orientation of these distinct sections during further manipulation in a continuous process is disclosed. The method includes forming a line of weakness comprising perforations and scores extending substantially from the first edge to the second edge and applying a force substantially parallel to the length of the web sufficient to separate an individual sheet from the web at the line of weakness.

Abstract: A tampon, particularly for feminine hygiene, includes an absorbent body and a variably perforated or apertured cover. The absorbent body has an introduction end, a withdrawal end, and a longitudinal main portion therebetween. The cover includes a fluid-impervious plastic material in the form of a resilient three-dimensional web having a multiplicity of perforations. The perforations are varied over the length of the tampon so that a differentiated expansion of the tampon while absorbing fluid is achievable. Preferably, the degree of perforations of the cover increases towards the withdrawal end of the tampon at least over a portion of its length.

Abstract: A method for separating a supply of material into distinct sections of material, while controlling the position and orientation of these distinct sections during further manipulation in a continuous process is disclosed. The method includes forming a line of weakness comprising perforations and scores extending substantially from the first edge to the second edge and applying a force substantially parallel to the length of the web sufficient to separate an individual sheet from the web at the line of weakness.

Abstract: A tampon for feminine hygiene or medical purposes comprising a nonwoven cover having at least one, outwardly directed, smooth surface and substantially enclosing a liquid absorbing core wherein the nonwoven cover comprises at least partly thermoplastic, heat-sealable fibers and pressed to the final shape of the tampon. Before the tampon blank is covered with the nonwoven covering web, said web was subject to the use of heat and pressure during the manufacturing of the tampon as to smooth out at least the outer surface of the nonwoven covering web, whilst maintaining the structure of the nonwoven covering web and the absorbency of the tampon. Thereby, it is achieved that the tampon can also be more easily and more comfortably introduced into and withdrawn from a body cavity before and after the days of stronger menstruation or at the occurance of only less vaginal exudation as garment protection.

Abstract: A tampon, particularly for feminine hygiene, includes an absorbent body and a variably perforated or apertured cover. The absorbent body has an introduction end, a withdrawal end, and a longitudinal main portion therebetween. The cover includes a fluid-impervious plastic material in the form of a resilient three-dimensional web having a multiplicity of perforations. The perforations are varied over the length of the tampon so that a differentiated expansion of the tampon while absorbing fluid is achievable. Preferably, the degree of perforations of the cover increases towards the withdrawal end of the tampon at least over a portion of its length.

Abstract: A tampon for feminine hygiene or medical purposes comprising a nonwoven cover having at least one, outwardly directed, smooth surface and substantially enclosing a liquid absorbing core wherein the nonwoven cover comprises at least partly thermoplastic, heat-sealable fibers and pressed to the final shape of the tampon. Before the tampon blank is covered with the nonwoven covering web, said web was subject to the use of heat and pressure during the manufacturing of the tampon as to smooth out at least the outer surface of the nonwoven covering web, whilst maintaining the structure of the nonwoven covering web and the absorbency of the tampon. Thereby, it is achieved that the tampon can also be more easily and more comfortably introduced into and withdrawn from a body cavity before and after the days of stronger menstruation or at the occurance of only less vaginal exudation as garment protection.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermally bonding a cover material onto an absorbent, fibrous web has a substantially cylindrical, rotatable sealing roller and a rotatable anvil roller disposed adjacent the sealing roller to provide a nip therebetween. The cover material and fibrous web can be sealed and calendered in the nip of this apparatus. The sealing roller includes a sealing element and an ironing element, and both of these elements have thermally conductive material and a leading and a trailing end in the direction of rotation.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermally bonding a cover material onto an absorbent, fibrous web has a substantially cylindrical, rotatable sealing roller and a rotatable anvil roller disposed adjacent the sealing roller to provide a nip therebetween. The cover material and fibrous web can be sealed and calendered in the nip of this apparatus. The sealing roller includes a sealing element and an ironing element, and both of these elements have thermally conductive material and a leading and a trailing end in the direction of rotation. The sealing roller has at least one pair of sealing and ironing elements positioned sequentially on the circumferential surface of the sealing roller in the direction of rotation. At least one end of the ironing element is thermally insulated from an adjacent end of an adjacent sealing element.

Abstract: Tampon applicator for feminine hygiene, comprising a cylindrical applicator barrel of paper-like material, having a front end comprising segments which are bent forwards and inward with respect to the longitudinal center axis of the applicator barrel, forming a dome whereby a weakening of the segments is provided for reducing their resistance to a spreading movement of the segments during the pushing out of a tampon from the applicator barrel. The bases of the segments are formed by the front, solid-cylindrical end of the applicator barrel and the weakening of the segments is provided on the inner surface and at an axial distance from the base of the segments. The tampon applicator reduces the ejecting pressure by means of the predetermined breaking lines at the inner surface of each segment while the smooth outside of the segments reduces irritations when in use. Additionally, the invention relates to a process and an apparatus for manufacturing said tampon applicator.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a tampon for feminine hygiene, having an insertion end, a recovery end (34), a recovery tape (35) and a longitudinal axis. The tampon (30) is made of compressed fibrous material having an outer surface. The outer surface of the tampon (30) is at least partially provided with spirally shaped, pressed longitudinal grooves (42) which define sprially shaped longitudinal ribs. The tampon (30) is preferably compressed radially with respect to its longitudinal axis. The tampon can have an essentially uniform density over its cross-section, or it can have a core of highly compressed fibrous material from which core longitudinal ribs extend radially outward. Furthermore, the invention is related to a method and operated for producing said tampon.

Abstract: Tampon applicator for feminine hygiene, comprising a cylindrical applicator barrel of paper-like material, having a front end comprising segments which are bent forwards and inward with respect to the longitudinal center axis of the applicator barrel, forming a dome whereby a weakening of the segments is provided for reducing their resistance to a spreading movement of the segments during the pushing out of a tampon from the applicator barrel. The bases of the segments are formed by the front, solid-cylindrical end of the applicator barrel and the weakening of the segments is provided on the inner surface and at an axial distance from the base of the segments. The tampon applicator reduces the ejecting pressure by means of the predetermined breaking lines at the inner surface of each segment while the smooth outside of the segments reduces irritations when in use. Additionally, the invention relates to a process and an apparatus for manufacturing said tampon applicator.

Abstract: A tampon for feminine hygiene or medical purposes comprising a nonwoven cover having at least one, outwardly directed, smooth surface and substantially enclosing a liquid absorbing core wherein the nonwoven cover comprises at least partly thermoplastic, heat-sealable fibers and pressed to the final shape of the tampon. Before the tampon blank is covered with the nonwoven covering web, said web was subject to the use of heat and pressure during the manufacturing of the tampon as to smooth out at least the outer surface of the nonwoven covering web, whilst maintaining the structure of the nonwoven covering web and the absorbency of the tampon. Thereby, it is achieved that the tampon can also be more easily and more comfortably introduced into and withdrawn from a body cavity before and after the days of stronger menstruation or at the occurance of only less vaginal exudation as garment protection.

Abstract: A tampon, particularly for feminine hygiene, includes an absorbent body and a variably perforated or apertured cover. The absorbent body has an introduction end, a withdrawal end, and a longitudinal main portion therebetween. The cover includes a fluid-impervious plastic material in the form of a resilient three-dimensional web having a multiplicity of perforations. The perforations are varied over the length of the tampon so that a differentiated expansion of the tampon while absorbing fluid is achievable. Preferably, the degree of perforations of the cover increases towards the withdrawal end of the tampon at least over a portion of its length.

Abstract: A method for forming shaped fibrous articles. The method involves introducing at least a portion of a fibrous element into a shaping tool and subjecting the fibrous element in the shaping tool to ultrasonic energy. This imparts the shape of the shaping tool to the surface of the fibrous element. The apparatus has a guide-holder to receive and removably retain a fibrous element and an ultrasonic shaping tool which can be applied to the fibrous element. The shaping tool has a recess corresponding to a predetermined shape for the article. Preferably, the shaping tool and guide-holder are reciprocally moveable with respect to one another.

Abstract: A moldable material is injected substantially simultaneously into a mold cavity for the outer sleeve formed between an outer sleeve mold and an outer sleeve core in an injection unit and into a mold cavity for the inner sleeve formed between an inner sleeve mold and an inner sleeve core in a clamping unit of a mold. These mold cavities are connected by at least one relatively thin runner to form at least one predetermined breaking point between the rear end of the outer sleeve and the front end of the inner sleeve of a one-part applicator molding. The invention also relates to an apparatus for producing the tampon applicator according to, but not restricted to, the process as described above.

Abstract: A digital tampon (20) for feminine hygiene, having a round dome (33) and a recovery tape (24), consists of a blank which is shaped by winding up a length of continuous random fibre web and which is pressed to produce a preform having a fibre core, longitudinal ribs and longitudinal grooves. The longitudinal ribs are pressed weakly to the final shape of the tampon (20; 28). The preform, before being pressed to the final shape of the tampon (20), is shaped as a result of the separate, but simultaneous radial pressing of directly adjacent sectors of its entire circumferential surface to form a longitudinal groove and a longitudinal rib respectively on each sector of the circumferential surface. The longitudinal groove and longitudinal rib assigned to each sector of the circumferential surface (182) are arranged respectively in succession in the same order in the circumferential direction of the preform.

Abstract: A digital tampon (20) for feminine hygiene, having a round dome (33) and a recovery tape (24), consists of a blank which is shaped by winding up a length of continuous random fibre web and which is pressed to produce a preform having a fibre core, longitudinal ribs and longitudinal grooves. The longitudinal ribs are pressed weakly to the final shape of the tampon (20; 28). The preform, before being pressed to the final shape of the tampon (20), is shaped as a result of the separate, but simultaneous radial pressing of directly adjacent sectors of its entire circumferential surface to form a longitudinal groove and a longitudinal rib respectively on each sector of the circumferential surface. The longitudinal groove and longitudinal rib assigned to each sector of the circumferential surface (182) are arranged respectively in succession in the same order in the circumferential direction of the preform.

Abstract: A digital tampon (20) for feminine hygiene, having a round dome (33) and a recovery tape (24), consists of a blank which is shaped by winding up a length of continuous random fiber web and which is pressed to produce a preform having a fiber core, longitudinal ribs and longitudinal grooves. The longitudinal ribs are pressed weakly to the final shape of the tampon (20; 28). The preform, before being pressed to the final shape of the tampon (20), is shaped as a result of the separate, but simultaneous radial pressing of directly adjacent sectors of its entire circumferential surface to form a longitudinal groove and a longitudinal rib respectively on each sector of the circumferential surface. The longitudinal groove and longitudinal rib assigned to each sector of the circumferential surface (182) are arranged respectively in succession in the same order in the circumferential direction of the preform.