Sheet Processing Apparatus and Process of Producing Sheet

Abstract

Disclosed is a sheet processing apparatus 1 having a pair of rolls 2 and 3 with teeth on their periphery in engagement with each other. The rolls are adapted to have a sheet 10 introduced into the nip thereof while rotating to process the sheet 10 . The teeth 20 ( 30 ) of the roll 2 ( 3 ) have a pitch of 1.0 to 5.0 mm, a tooth thickness of less than a half the pitch, and a tooth height equal to or more than the pitch. The depth of engagement between the teeth 20 of the roll 2 and the teeth 30 of the roll 3 is preferably 1.0 mm up to the tooth height.

1 . A sheet processing apparatus comprising a pair of rolls having teeth on the peripheral surface thereof in engagement with each other, the rolls being adapted to have a base sheet introduced into the nip thereof while rotating to process the base sheet,
 the teeth of each roll being in parallel to the axis of the roll, and   the teeth on each roll having a pitch of 1.0 to 5.0 mm, a tooth thickness of less than a half the pitch, and a tooth height equal to or more than the pitch.   
   
   
       2 . The sheet processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the rolls have a depth of engagement of 1.0 mm up to the tooth height. 
   
   
       3 . The sheet processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising slip preventing means for preventing the base sheet being fed between the pair of rolls from slipping in the machine direction. 
   
   
       4 . The sheet processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , which is configured to stretch the base sheet. 
   
   
       5 . The sheet processing apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the stretching is to a stretch ratio of 50% to 400%. 
   
   
       6 . A process of producing a sheet comprising the steps of introducing a base sheet into the nip of a pair of the rotating rolls of the sheet processing apparatus of  claim 1  to stretch the base sheet. 
   
   
       7 . The process of producing a sheet according to  claim 6 , wherein the pair of rolls comprises a plurality of pairs of rolls arranged in the machine direction, and the base sheet is repeatedly stretched. 
   
   
       8 . The process of producing a sheet according to  claim 6 , wherein tension is applied to the base sheet before being processed while it is introduced into the nip of the rolls. 
   
   
       9 . The process of producing a sheet according to  claim 6 , wherein tension is applied to the base sheet after being processed while it is withdrawn from between the rolls. 
   
   
       10 . The process of producing a sheet according to  claim 9 , wherein the tension applied to the base sheet after being processed is weaker than the tension applied to the base sheet before being processed. 
   
   
       11 . The process of producing a sheet according to  claim 6 , wherein the base sheet comprises nonwoven fabric, and the stretching is to impart stretchability to the base sheet in the running direction of the base sheet. 
   
   
       12 . A process of producing a pull-on garment using a sheet produced by the process of producing a sheet according to  claim 6 , comprising the steps of:
 folding a continuous form exterior material comprising the sheet having been stretched in half lengthwise,   joining the folded continuous form exterior material at prescribed intervals in the longitudinal direction to form joints, and   cutting the continuous form exterior material along the joints into individuals.   
   
   
       13 . The process of producing a pull-on garment according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of forming the continuous form exterior material in which the sheet as a member of the exterior material is joined to an inner sheet adapted to be disposed on the skin facing side of the exterior material. 
   
   
       14 . The process of producing a pull-on garment according to  claim 13 , further comprising the step of placing absorbent bodies in which absorbent bodies are placed on the inner sheet of the continuous form exterior material before the step of folding.