Patent ID: 6837956

Claim:
An aperturing device for aperturing a web having at least one cellulosic absorbent layer, comprising a pin roll having a surface with a plurality of tapered pins rising therefrom, an opposing female roll having a perimeter and comprising a plurality of receiving recesses adapted to receive the pins of the pin roll, wherein the pin roll and female roll are spaced apart and cooperatively associated to define a nip therebetween having a mid nip region with a mid-nip gap of finite gap width between the surface of the pin roll and the perimeter of the female roll, wherein the pins of the pin roll extend into the receiving recesses of the female roll in the aperturing nip, and the pins have a height above the surface of the pin roll and comprise a tapered section that has a length greater than the length of the section of the pin that extends into the receiving recess in the mid-nip region.