Patent ID: 6245273
Filing Date: 2001-06-12
Classification: B29C,B31F,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for embossing and crimping a sheet material web assembly having a plurality of sheet material web layers, said method comprising:providing a plurality of layers of a sheet material web;providing a first roll having a first axis of rotation, said first roll comprising at least one first element extending radially therefrom and at least one second element extending radially therefrom, wherein said at least one first element has a greater radial height than said at least one second element;providing a second roll having a second axis of rotation substantially parallel to said first axis of rotation and comprising a resilient surface engaging said at least one first and second elements so as to form a first nip therebetween as said first and second rolls rotate relative to each other so as to bring said at least one first and second elements into engagement with said resilient surface;providing a third roll having a third axis of rotation substantially parallel to said first and second axis of rotation and comprising a non-resilient surface engaging said at least one first element of said first roll so as to form a second nip therebetween as said first and third rolls rotate relative to each other so as to bring said at least one first element into engagement with said non-resilient surface, wherein said at least one second element is spaced from said non-resilient surface of said third roll;passing said plurality of layers of sheet material web through said first nip formed between said at least one first and second elements of said first roll and said resilient surface of said second roll;forming an embossment in each of said layers of sheet material web by pressing said plurality of layers between said at least one first and second elements of said first roll and said resilient surface of said second roll as said plurality of layers are passed through the first nip;passing said plurality of layers of sheet material web through said second nip formed between said at least one first element of said first roll and said non-resilient surface of said third roll;crimping said plurality of layers of sheet material web together by pressing said plurality of layers between said at least one first element of said first roll and said non-resilient surface of said third roll as said plurality of layers are passed through said second nip while said at least one second element is spaced from said non-resilient surface.