Patent ID: 8778127

Claim:
A method for forming a bond, the method comprising the steps of: rotating a drum about an axis of rotation, the drum comprising a fluid nozzle and a press member; rotating an anvil roll adjacent the drum; advancing a first substrate in a machine direction onto the drum, the first substrate having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface of the first substrate is adjacent the drum; advancing a second substrate in the machine direction, wherein the first substrate is between the second substrate and the drum; wrapping the first and second substrates around a portion of the drum; heating a fluid to a temperature sufficient to at least partially melt substrates; moving the fluid nozzle radially outward from the drum; directing a jet of the heated fluid onto the first and second substrates; partially melting the first and second substrates; retracting the fluid nozzle radially inward into the drum; shifting the press member radially outward from the drum; and compressing the first and second substrates between the press member and the anvil roll.