Patent ID: 8021591

Claim:
A method of incrementally stretching a web, the method comprising the steps of: a. providing a web; b. providing a single activation member having an outer surface comprising a plurality of teeth and grooves; c. providing an activation belt having a first side and a second side, said first side of the activation belt comprising a plurality of teeth and grooves that complement the plurality of teeth and grooves of the single activation member, wherein multiple back-up rollers are located adjacent to the second side of the activation belt to force a section of the activation belt into engagement with the single activation member, wherein there is a radial distance between the outer surface of the single activation member and each of the back-up rollers, and there is a first back-up roller and a last back-up roller; d. forming a deformation zone between the activation belt and the single activation member where the activation belt is forced into engagement with the single activation member, wherein a section of the plurality of teeth and grooves of the single activation member engage a first section of the plurality of teeth and grooves of the activation belt at a controlled depth of engagement, and the radial distance between the outer surface of the single activation member and the back-up rollers decrease an amount for each succeeding back-up roller from the first back-up roller to the last back-up roller so that the depth of engagement increases continuously over the deformation zone; and e. conveying the web through the deformation zone wherein at least some of the teeth of the single activation member and at least some of the teeth of the activation belt directly contact the web and the web is incrementally stretched.