Method of forming a paperboard tampon applicator having an outwardly rolled gripper end

Abstract

A method of forming an improved finger grip at the gripper end of a paperboard tampon tube is disclosed. This gripper end has an outwardly rolled edge produced by applying moisture to the gripper end of the paperboard tube having a diameter of less than about 25 mm, heating a forming tool to about 100.degree. F. to about 350.degree. F., rotating the paperboard tube with respect to the forming tool at a rate of about 50 to 1000 rpm, and contacting the gripper end of the paperboard tube with the forming tool for about 0.2 to about 5 seconds. In this manner, the forming tool rolls the gripper end of the paperboard tube outwardly to form a radiused surface at the outside of the gripper end of the paperboard applicator tube. The resulting tampon applicator is also disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.