Patent ID: 6500307
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: D21F

Abstract:
An apparatus for increasing bulk of a foreshortened fibrous web comprising crepe, the apparatus comprising:two mutually opposite surfaces designed to receive and restrain the foreshortened web therebetween, wherein at least one of the surfaces has a plurality of fluid-permeable expansion conduits therethrough, and wherein at least one of the surfaces comprises projected areas so that the projected areas of one of the surfaces are registered with the expansion conduits of the other of the surfaces; a means for adding moisture to at least selected portions of the foreshortened web, the selected portions corresponding to the expansion conduits of at least one of the two surfaces when the foreshortened web is disposed therebetween; and a means for creating a temperature differential between the two surfaces such that when the web is restrained therebetween the temperature differential is sufficient to cause the moisture added to at least the selected portions of the web to move through the web in the direction from one surface toward the other, thereby relaxing crepe in the selected portions of the web and causing the selected portions to expand through the expansion conduits while the web as a whole is restrained between the two mutually opposite surfaces.