Patent ID: 6240817
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: A61F,B26F,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for forming an apertured film from a stretchable thermoplastic polymeric material comprising:a) providing a starting film comprising said stretchable thermoplastic polymeric material and having an upper surface and a lower surface;b) providing a backing member comprising localized support regions for supporting said starting film, recessed zones into which the film may be deformed by the application thereto of fluid forces, and means for allowing said applied fluid to be transported away from said backing member;c) supporting said starting film on said backing member with portions of the lower surface of said film being in contact with the support regions of said backing member and with the upper surface of said film facing away from said backing member;d) forming irregular size holes having an average EHD of about 7 to 30 mils in said starting film by directing a fluid in the form of substantially non-diverging, columnar streams from a first set of orifices against the upper surface of said starting film in a zone of contact to cause said starting film to stretch between said backing member localized support regions over said recessed zones, said orifices having a diameter greater than or equal to ten mils and the fluid supplied thereto causing said starting film to rupture into a multiplicity of said holes in said starting film between said localized support regions;e) moving said film from said contact zone; andf) removing said now-apertured film from said backing member.