Patent ID: 7354543

Claim:
A press assembly comprising: a plurality of press modules, each press module having a first drive shaft operably connected to a first platen and an oppositely-disposed surface, wherein the first platen and the oppositely-disposed surface cooperatively define a gap therebetween; a drive assembly including at least one motor and a drive train connecting the at least one motor to the first drive shaft; wherein rotating the first drive shaft moves the first platen along a circular path of travel in a machine direction such that the gap between the first platen and the oppositely-disposed surface periodically narrows and widens during rotation of the first drive shaft; and wherein the first drive shaft comprises at least one concentric cylindrical section having an axis of symmetry that is coaxial with an axis of rotation of the first drive shaft and at least one eccentric cylindrical section having an axis of symmetry that is offset from the axis of rotation of the first drive shaft.