Patent ID: 6888045

Claim:
A method of producing a fibrous material layer mainly intended for being incorporated in an absorbent article, selected from the group consisting of a diaper, pant diaper, incontinence guard, sanitary napkin, and wound dressing, which comprises: opening at least one bundle of continuous fibers, so called tow; separating the tow fibers and evening the tow to a layer having the desired fiber distribution; and bonding the tow layer in a bonding pattern, but where the tow fibers otherwise are substantially unbonded to each other, wherein bonding is performed in two steps: a first step wherein bonding takes place by thermobonding, at which a pattern roll is used which provides the desired bonding pattern, said pattern roll being driven at a higher speed than the feeding speed of the tow layer, so as to create a relatively diffuse and strong bonding pattern in the tow layer; and a second step in which a more distinct second bonding pattern is created.