Method of winding up tampon material

1. Apparatus for forming tampon blanks for further processing into compressed, self-sustaining tampons, the apparatus comprising:

a) a sliver guide;

b) a gripper capable of reciprocating motion and arranged and configured to cooperate with the sliver guide to grasp an end of a sliver maintained therein;

c) a winding mandrel;

d) a plurality of carriers; and

e) a string application and knotter apparatus comprising a substantially rigid circular ring bearing having a string conveyor mounted thereon arranged and configured to rotate about the sliver;

wherein the circular ring bearing of the string application and knotter apparatus defines a plane perpendicular to the sliver guide and motion of the gripper and parallel to the winding axis of the winding mandrel.

2. A process for manufacturing tampon blanks for further processing into compressed, self-sustaining tampons, the process comprising the steps of:

a) drawing a fibrous web from a fibrous web supply, through a sliver guide and across a carrier disposed on a turntable by grabbing a free end of the fibrous web supply with a gripper and drawing the gripper away from the fibrous web supply;

b) severing the fibrous web from the fibrous web supply to form an elongate fibrous web having a first end held by the gripper and a second end, distal the first;

c) elevating the carrier while the first end remains held by the gripper and the second end is restrained by the sliver guide wherein the carrier is disposed perpendicular to a central portion of the elongate fibrous web;

d) advancing a winding mandrel across the central portion of the elongate fibrous web, wherein the winding mandrel has a slot arranged and configured to accept the elongate fibrous web therein;

e) rotating the winding mandrel as the gripper releases the first end of the elongate fibrous web to form a tampon blank; and

f) transferring the tampon blank to the carrier.