Patent ID: 6890466

Claim:
A process of making elastically stretchable nonwoven fabric, said process comprising the steps of: extruding a molten thermoplastic elastomer through a plurality of nozzles to form filaments elongated in a direction; blowing hot air, heated at a first temperature higher than a melting point of said elastomer, on the filaments to maintain said filaments in a molten state and to move said filaments in said direction; blowing warm or cold air of a second temperature at least 20° C. lower than said melting point on the filaments so that surfaces of said filaments are unevenly cooled and said filaments are at least partially crimped; and collecting said filaments on a conveyor running transversely of said direction wherein, in the course from said step of blowing hot air on the filaments to said step of collecting said filaments on said conveyor, said filaments are heat-sealed or mechanically entangled together to form the nonwoven fabric.