The invention is directed to method and apparatus for making pads, such as interlabial
pads. The apparatus includes a blending apparatus that weighs and blends fibers
of different materials, at least one of which is absorbent. The blended fibers
are conveyed through a chute to a fiber collection station. At the fiber collection
station, collecting and feeding apparatus collects the blended fibers and feeds
them to a forming apparatus that forms the blended fibers into a continuous blended-fiber
web. The blended-fiber web is fed to a pad-making apparatus that cuts fluid-absorbent
bodies in the blended-fiber web and laminates the bodies with at least one continuous
cover web to form a laminated web. The laminated web is fed to a sealing and cutting
apparatus to make the pads. Folding apparatus is provided for folding each pad
along a major axis thereof.