Patent ID: 8387497

Claim:
A process for preparing an aperture web, said process comprising: a) providing a web of a material comprising a top layer, a backing layer, and an absorbent layer positioned between the top layer and the backing layer, wherein said absorbent layer comprises an absorbent nonwoven web; b) providing a slitting apparatus comprising an anvil roll, a first cutting roll and a second cutting roll, wherein the first cutting and second cutting rolls are in communication with the anvil roll; c) passing the web between the first cutting roll and the anvil to form a first plurality of slits in the web; and d) passing the web between the second cutting roll and the anvil to form a second plurality of slits in the web, wherein at least one slit in the second plurality of slits intersects at least one slit from the first plurality of slits such that the area of the web between the intersecting slits is cut free from the web, thereby forming at least one aperture in the web, the aperture having an effective length in longitudinal direction in the range between about 2 mm and about 20 mm and an effective width in lateral direction in the range between about 0.5 mm and about 10 mm, wherein the absorbent nonwoven web is removed at the at least one aperture.