Patent ID: 8733418

Claim:
A device for joining at least two plies of paper comprising an embossing roller provided with embossing protuberances on a surface thereof; a pressure roller cooperating with said embossing roller and defining therewith an embossing nip; a first feed path for a first ply towards said embossing nip; a ply-bonding unit, cooperating with said embossing roller, positioned downstream of the pressure roller and defining a ply-bonding nip; a second feed path for a second ply towards said ply-bonding nip; and moistening device constructed and arranged to moisten at least one of said at least two plies before joining; wherein said ply-bonding unit includes a set of ply-bonding wheels which are separate and spaced apart from each other in a cross-machine direction transverse to a direction of advancement of a ply feed path, and which are pressed against said embossing roller, said first feed path and said second feed path in the direction of advancement extend between said set of ply-bonding wheels and said embossing roller; wherein between said embossing roller and said set of ply-bonding wheels are provided (1) first areas which can receive localized pressure from said ply-bonding wheels and (2) second areas between respective ones of said ply-bonding wheels which do not receive pressure from said ply-bonding wheels when said ply-bonding wheels are positioned to exert localized pressure on said embossing roller; and wherein said moistening device is constructed and arranged to moisten said at least one of said first ply and said second ply as longitudinal strips, such that areas moistened correspond to or comprise a surface corresponding to said first areas which can receive the localized pressure from said ply-bonding wheels.