Bonding Apparatus and Method

摘要

The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for mechanically modifying substrates. The apparatuses herein may include a tool roll and an anvil roll. The tool roll may include tooling members adapted to perform various different operations, such as bonding, cutting, embossing, and/or activation of advancing substrates. The tooling members and associated tooling surfaces may not extend completely around the circumference of the tool roll. As such, the tool roll also includes one or more bearer rings that engage the anvil roll during portions of the tool roll rotation where the tooling members are not in engagement with the anvil roll. The tooling members and bearer rings herein are configured to help reduce vibrations in the anvil and/or tool roll caused by the alternating engagements of the tooling surfaces and bearer rings with the anvil roll during rotation.

主权项

1. An apparatus for bonding substrates, the apparatus comprising:
a frame; an anvil roll rotatably connected with the frame and adapted to rotate about a first axis of rotation, the anvil roll comprising an outer circumferential surface; a bonding roll rotatably connected with the frame and adapted to rotate about a second axis of rotation, wherein the first axis of rotation is parallel with the second axis of rotation, the bonding roll comprising:
a bearer ring comprising a bearer surface extending from a first end to a second end to define a circumferential length, the bearer ring extending for less than 360 degrees around the second axis of rotation to define a circumferential gap region between the first end and the second end, the bearer ring comprising a contact stiffness, Kb;a pattern element comprising a pattern surface circumferentially offset from the bearer ring and positioned in the circumferential gap region, the pattern element comprising a contact stiffness Kp; wherein the bonding roll and the anvil roll are biased toward each other with a force F, such that as the anvil roll and bonding roll rotate, a pattern pressure Pp is created between the pattern surface and the outer circumferential surface of the anvil roll and a bearer pressure Pb is created between the bearer surface and the outer circumferential surface of the anvil roll; and wherein the force F displaces the pattern surface by a distance Xp, wherein Xp is defined by F/Kp and wherein the force F displaces the bearing surface by a distance Xb, wherein Xb is defined by F/Kb; and wherein Kp is about equal to Kb.