Wrapper sealing process and article

1. A process for overwrapping a catamenial device such as a tampon comprising the steps of:

a) providing a substantially cylindrical overwrapper material having an open end, a closed end, a first length, and a diameter;

b) inserting a catamenial tampon having a tapered insertion end, a longitudinal axis, and a length less than the first length into the cylindrical overwrapper material, the open end of the overwrapper material extending parallel to the longitudinal axis beyond the insertion end of the inserted catamenial tampon; and

c) closing the open end of the overwrapper material by:

i) applying at least three concave clamping jaws to the open end of the overwrapper material to urge the overwrapper material toward the longitudinal axis of the catamenial tampon, wherein the excess overwrapper material extends along the longitudinal axis; to conform portions of the overwrapper material to the insertion end of the catamenial tampon; and to seal overwrapper material between adjacent clamping jaws to form fins extending outwardly from the conformed portions along the longitudinal axis wherein said fins do not extend beyond said diameter of the overwrapper perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and

ii) pressing the fins to the conformed portions of the overwrapper material.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein each fin extends outwardly in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein each fin extends outwardly in a plane offset at least about 5° from the longitudinal axis.

4. The process of claim 3 , wherein each fin extends outwardly in a plane offset by about 10° to about 30° from the longitudinal axis.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the step of closing the open end of the overwrapper material comprises applying four concave clamping jaws.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the step of applying the clamping jaws to seal overwrapper material between adjacent clamping jaws further comprises heating the overwrapper material.

7. The process of claim 6 , wherein the step of heating the overwrapper material comprises heating the overwrapper material to about 150 to 200° C. for about 0.2 seconds.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the step of pressing the fins to the conformed portions of the overwrapper material further comprises heating the overwrapper material.

9. The process of claim 8 , wherein the step of pressing the fins and heating the overwrapper material comprises heating the overwrapper material to about 125° to 160° C. for about 0.2 seconds.

10. Apparatus for closing an overwrapper material about a rounded end of a cylindrical tampon, the apparatus comprising:

a) a clamping device comprising at least three clamping jaws, each jaw having a recess area and at least one sealing surface, each sealing surface having means to heat the surface operatively connected thereto, wherein the recess areas of adjacent clamping jaws are capable of closing about a rounded end of a generally cylindrical tampon having a diameter perpendicular to a longitudinal axis to conform overwrapper material about the rounded end and folding excess overwrapper material between a sealing surface on a first clamping jaw and an opposed sealing surface on an adjacent clamping jaw to permit the excess overwrapper material to extend along the longitudinal axis and to form fins extending outwardly from the longitudinal axis that do not extend beyond said diameter of the tampon perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and

b) a finishing former arranged and configured to conform the outwardly extending fins to the rounded end of the generally cylindrical tampon.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein adjacent clamping jaws meet in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein adjacent clamping jaws meet in a plane including the longitudinal axis.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein adjacent clamping jaws meet in a plane offset at least about 5° from the longitudinal axis.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein adjacent clamping jaws meet in a plane offset by about 10° to about 30° from the longitudinal axis.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the clamping device comprises four clamping jaws.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the clamping jaws further comprise means to heat the jaws.