Patent ID: 9067357
Filing Date: 2015-06-30
Classification: A61F,B26F,B29C,B29L,B31F,B32B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A process for deforming a precursor web using an apparatus, wherein the precursor web has two surfaces, the process comprising: a) feeding the precursor web in a machine direction into a first nip that is formed between a first pair of generally cylindrical mating rolls, said first pair of mating rolls comprising a first roll and a second roll, at least one of said first and second rolls having a surface with forming elements thereon, wherein when said precursor web is fed into said first nip, said precursor web is permanently deformed in a first location to form a first time deformed precursor web; b) feeding the precursor web into a non-permanently deforming intermediate transfer nip to contact the precursor web and transfer said web to a third nip while substantially maintaining registration of the web, wherein said transfer nip is formed by two transfer nip rolls comprising a first transfer nip roll and a second transfer nip roll, and said two transfer nip rolls have a pattern of elements thereon, said elements having radially outwardmost portions, wherein the radially outwardmost portions on said first transfer nip roll substantially align with the radially outwardmost portions on said second transfer nip roll; and c) feeding said precursor web into a third nip between a third roll and a fourth roll, wherein at least one of said third and fourth rolls has forming elements on its surface, and when said precursor web is fed into said third nip, said precursor web is deformed in a second location in which at least some of said forming elements in said third nip deform said first-time deformed precursor web at least partially in different locations than said precursor web was deformed in said first nip to form a second-time deformed precursor web, wherein said precursor web remains substantially in contact with at least one roll at all times along the portion of its length from the location where the web enters the first nip to the location where the web exits the last nip.