Patent attributes
The present invention relates to a press (100) for manufacturing a tampon, comprising at least three press jaws (6) arranged in a star around a central longitudinal press axis (4) forming a press opening (2), whereby there is provided on a single or separate adjacent press jaws (6): —a penetrating segment, PSLG, (13) configured to penetrate the absorbing material with a longitudinal groove, and —penetrating segments, PSSG, (11) configured to penetrate the absorbing material with a plurality of side grooves that are arranged in the longitudinal direction, wherein the press is configured to: a) load a cylindrical blank (200) in the press opening (2), b) move the press jaws (6) to a closed position to press the cylindrical blank (200) so forming a preform (210), c) move the press jaws (6) to a holding position between the closed position and open position, so that the preform can be removed, d) remove the preform while the jaws (6) are in the holding position, and e) move the press jaws (6) to the open position for loading of a subsequent cylindrical blank. It further relates to a method for manufacture of the tampon.