Absorbent products, and apparatus and method for producing the same

An absorbent core for use in an absorbent article for absorbing discharged bodily fluid comprises a first absorbent material dispersed throughout the core, and a second absorbent material provided in a discrete strip, and substantially surrounded by the first absorbent material. An apparatus and method for producing such cores comprises a mold support advanceable in a predetermined direction and having at least one mold therein, and a tubular conduit for the second material alignably positioned such that a portion of the conduit will pass through at least a portion of the mold as the mold support is advanced. The mold support may comprise a forming drum or a forming belt. The tubular conduit has a distal end through which the second absorbent material may be expelled. Particles of the first absorbent material are preferably deposited by air-entrainment into the molds, and these particles surround the tubular conduit in order to form a cavity into which the second absorbent material is deposited from the distal end of the conduit.