Tampon with penetrating groove segments

Apparatus for manufacturing an intravaginal tampon for feminine hygiene comprising:

• a. a tampon press having a central press axis comprising:
• i. a plurality of elongate press dies disposed about the central press axis to form a press cavity, the elongate press dies comprising a plurality of longitudinal penetrating dies having pressing faces corresponding to a plurality of longitudinal groove segments in a desired compressed tampon pledget and including at least one first penetrating die having a pressing shape corresponding to a desired first groove segment shape and at least one second penetrating die having a pressing face corresponding to a second groove segment shape, wherein the first groove segment shape and the second groove segment shape combine to form a groove form on a tampon formed in the press, the pressing face of the first penetrating die extends longitudinally beyond the pressing face of the second penetrating die toward an end of the press cavity whereby the first and second penetrating die are capable of passing through the same space within the press to form the groove form;
• ii. a control mechanism to control movement of the elongate press dies into and out of the press cavity
• b. a cylindrical carrier having a diameter less than that of the predetermined finished diameter
• c. means to enclose the compressed tampon pledget in a primary package having an internal diameter substantially equal to the predetermined finished diameter.