Abstract: A method and an apparatus are indicated for the production of a cylindrical packing tube which is open at one end and closed at the other, is made from deformable tear-resistant packing material and is intended, in particular, for tampons used in female hygiene, wherein a portion of the packing material is drawn by suction onto a winding spindle provided with suction apertures and through the rotation of the winding spindle is wrapped around the latter, while the overlapping ends of the portion are joined together to form the packing tube, whose end projecting beyond the winding spindle is closed, whereupon the packing tube is removed from the winding spindle. The method is characterized in that that end of the cylindrical packing tube which projects beyond the winding spindle is held fast and during the rotation of the winding spindle is closed so as to form a twist. The method permits the production of a uniform closure pattern of the packing tube irrespective of the shape of the tampon insertion end.

Abstract: An improvement in an apparatus for winding a batt of material in strip form carrying a free end of a withdrawal tape to form a rolled body thereof having withdrawal tape attached thereto which comprise a forked shaped totatable winding mandrel having fork tines, means for moving said winding mandrel back and forth in the plane of movement of said batt of material said fork tines positioned so as to straddle the longitudinal side of said batting material which carries the free end of the withdrawal tape with it, the improvement residing in that said winding mandrel contains an interior bore lengthwise thereof which bore is connected to a vacuum source means for transporting said batt of material in rolled form from said winding mandrel to a subsequent work station disposed on the side of the so-formed roll that carries the free end of the withdrawal tape.

Abstract: An improvement in a process for preparing a tampon having a withdrawal string or tape positioned against the withdrawal end of the tampon, the improvement comprising forming the tampon body by winding a batting material strip to which is attached a withdrawal string or tape while maintaining said string or tape disposed away from said material strip and in containing it coaxial with respect to the roll axis of the batting material strip disposing the same in a cavity disposed at the withdrawal end of the so formed tampon.