A laminate comprising a support element and an element having loops, which are fixed to each other, specifically calendared with each other

Abstract

To provide a laminate that is actually softer to the touch while preserving the visual effect of imagined greater softness to the touch.SOLUTION: The invention relates to a laminate comprising a support element (1) in the form of a first layer of fibers and / or filaments, in particular a first nonwoven, and an element (2) having loops in the form of a second fiber and / or filament web, in particular a second loop nonwoven, the two elements being fixed to each other, wherein the fixing causes islands (3, 3'), so-called calendering islands, to appear on the outer surface of the loop element, which are S-shaped and have heads symmetrical to each other, characterized in that each S-shaped island with symmetrical heads consists of two sub-islands forming opposite heads and of a non-fixed intermediate zone separating the two sub-islands forming opposite heads.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention comprises a support component in the form of a first nonwoven fabric and a component having loops in the form of a second nonwoven fabric having loops, and these two nonwoven fabric components are fixed to each other by calendering that forms calendar treatment islands arranged at intervals on the outer surface of the nonwoven fabric having loops, and relates to a laminate.

[0002] The present invention further relates to a engraved roller that forms calendar treatment islands during calendering, and further relates to a facility equipped with this type of engraved roller.

Background Art

[0003] This type of laminate in which the calendar treatment islands have a symmetric head portion and are S-shaped and the islands are arranged in rows and columns on the outer surface of the nonwoven fabric having loops is known from the prior art, specifically international application WO17190717. This arrangement of rows and columns of S-shaped islands has the advantage of giving a visually more flexible impression, especially by producing a kind of stroboscopic effect, but it is desirable that this type of laminate is actually softer to the touch while maintaining the visual effect that makes one imagine a softer touch.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] The present invention further relates to a laminate comprising a first web made of fibers and / or filaments, specifically a support component in the form of a first nonwoven fabric, and a component with loops, in the form of a second web made of fibers and / or filaments, specifically a second nonwoven fabric with loops, wherein these two components are fixed to each other, and by this fixation, a so-called S-shaped calendar island with a head portion symmetric to the outer surface of the component with loops appears. In the laminate, each S-shaped island with a symmetric head portion comprises two sub-islands forming head portions facing each other, and an intermediate non-fixed region separating the two sub-islands forming head portions facing each other.

[0005] By providing such S-shaped islands with a cut in the middle part, especially in the central part, not only a laminate can be obtained in which the two nonwoven fabric components, namely the support component and the component with loops, are equally well tethered to each other by calendar treatment as in the prior art, but also, firstly, the effective area with loops becomes larger, and secondly, when the islands are arranged in rows and columns, generally in the CD and MD directions, a passage in the form of a straight line extending from one side to the other side of the laminate can be formed on the upper surface of the laminate without crossing the calendar treatment area. According to the present invention, specifically, not only this type of vertical line, but also lines inclined to the left and lines inclined to the right can be obtained. Thereby, while maintaining good bonding performance, the feel becomes even softer than in the prior art.

[0006] Preferably, each sub-island has an asymmetric shape with respect to both points and straight lines.

[0007] Preferably, the two sub-islands have the same shape, and preferably, this same shape is not symmetric, specifically not symmetric with respect to both points and straight lines. The same shape means that the shape relationship between one sub-island and the other is similar or identical.

[0008] Preferably, each asymmetric sub-island specifically has a substantially elongated base portion in the CD direction, and a beak portion that protrudes from the base portion, specifically from the end of the base portion, and extends in a direction forming an angle with the length direction of the base portion, particularly an angle between 30° and 60°, especially about 45°.

[0009] Preferably, each sub-island continuously includes a substantially linear first base section, an intermediate base section substantially perpendicular to the first base section, a substantially linear second base section that may be at an angle between 1° and 10°, particularly 3° with respect to the first base section and is slightly inclined, a first section having a tip that may be at an angle between 45° and 80°, particularly 55° with respect to the second base section and is inclined in the opposite direction to the first base section, an intermediate tip section that may be at an angle between 75° and 110°, particularly 81° with respect to the first tip section and is inclined towards the edge of the first base section, and a second tip section that may be at an angle between 85° and 120°, particularly 87° with respect to the intermediate tip section and is inclined, and may be at an angle between 60° and 90°, particularly 70° with respect to the first base section and is inclined to connect to the first base section again, and is bounded by a closed outer perimeter.

[0010] According to a preferred method of an embodiment of the present invention, the S-shaped calendar processing islands are aligned in directions inclined at an angle between 1° and 10° with respect to rows and columns, specifically the MD direction and the CD direction, or the MD direction and the CD direction respectively.

[0011] Specifically, the arrangement of the islands is such that straight lines can be drawn across the upper surface of the laminate in at least three different directions, particularly four directions, that are not parallel to each other without encountering another calendar processing area.

[0012] Preferably, at least three lines include four lines, namely a line in the MD direction or a line substantially perpendicular to the MD direction, a line in the CD direction or a line substantially horizontal to the CD direction, and two inclined lines that intersect each other and form an angle between 10° and 35°, more specifically between 10° and 30°, particularly between 15° and 25°, particularly about 21° with respect to the CD direction.

[0013] Specifically, there are two types of islands, namely S-shaped islands called positive and inverted or mirror-image S-shaped islands called negative. A given row includes a series of positive islands or negative islands, and the preceding and following rows include a series of negative islands or positive islands. Thus, the rows include negative islands and positive islands alternately.

[0014] Preferably, between each row, the islands or sub-islands are offset. Thus, each column includes alternating positive sub-islands and negative sub-islands, while the preceding and following columns include alternating positive island sub-islands and negative island sub-islands.

[0015] Specifically, the area of the component having a loop covered with a calendar treatment island is between 18% and 34% of the area of the non-woven fabric having a loop, more specifically between 20% and 25% of the area of the component having a loop.

[0016] The present invention further relates to a gravure roller designed to press, specifically thermally press, two webs made of fibers and / or filaments, which are specifically two non-woven supports, and a cloth with loops made, and then moor them together specifically by calendar treatment, and a pattern having a shape matching the truncated S-shaped islands of the laminate according to the present invention protrudes from the outer surface.

[0017] The present invention further relates to a calendar treatment facility for the laminate according to the present invention, which includes a support or press roller and a gravure roller, specifically the gravure roller according to the present invention.

[0018] Preferably, the peripheral speed of the engraving roller, specifically the upper roller, is controlled to be higher than that of the support roller, specifically the lower roller, preferably in a ratio between 1.1 and 1.5, particularly between 1.1 and 1.3.

[0019] Next, for example, a preferred method of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020]

Figure 1

[0021]

Figure 2

[0022]

Figure 3

[0023]

Figure 4

[0024]

Figure 5

[0025]

Figure 6

[0026]

Figure 7

[0027]

Figure 8

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a laminate 12 according to the present invention. The laminate 12 includes a lower support component 1 in the form of a nonwoven fabric, specifically a "spunbond" or "spunmelt" type nonwoven fabric (the "spunmelt" nonwoven fabric is specifically any type including SM, SMS, SSMMS, SMSMS, SMMMS, SMMS, SSMMSS, SSMMMSS, SSMMMSSS nonwoven fabrics, or any other combination of S and M layers, where S represents a "spunbond" type layer and M represents a "meltblown" type layer), for example, having a basis weight between 5 g / m 2 and 30 g / m 2 and capable of printing a specific decorative / information pattern, and a component 2 which is specifically carded, for example, heat-bonded, hydroentangled or has spunbond loops, having a basis weight between, for example, 10 g / m 2 and 35 g / m 2 and containing fibers and / or filaments between 1.5 and 6.0 dtex, and preferably the user must be able to see the pattern printed on the support component through it. The laminate 12 comprises the lower support component 1 and the component 2 having loops.

[0029] The two nonwoven fabrics are passed between a support roller and an engraving roller which are two rollers, whereby the fibers and / or filaments (synthetic or non-synthetic) of the two nonwoven fabrics are tethered to each other by being fused to each other in areas in the form of inverted S-shaped and S-shaped islands 3, 3' respectively corresponding to the engraving pattern created by the outer surface of the engraving roller.

[0030] Typically, the tethering is performed by a calendaring process, i.e., by applying pressure and / or heat to two components passing between rollers. However, the fiber or filament materials of the two components may be tethered to each other by fusion, ultrasonic welding, embossing, etc. In this application, for ease of explanation, the tethered area will be referred to as the "calendaring area". As a variant of this embodiment, it is possible to directly extrude fibers and / or filaments onto the support component (e.g., "spunmelt" or "spunbond" type nonwovens), and it is also possible to calendar a layer of fibers and / or filaments onto the support component to form the laminate according to the present invention. As a variant of this embodiment, fibers and / or filaments forming a first layer of fibers and / or filaments are extruded to form a support component, and then fibers and / or filaments forming a second layer of fibers and / or filaments are extruded to form a component having loops, and at least two layers of fibers and / or filaments forming the support component and the component having loops are calendared to form the laminate according to the present invention.

[0031] By calendaring, the thickness of the islands 3, 3' (measured perpendicular to the upper surface of the laminate) is significantly reduced with respect to the thickness of the laminate outside the calendaring area. Thus, the non-calendaring area forms a loop extending beyond the islands 3, 3' and forms an area capable of receiving hooks for hook-and-loop tethering.

[0032] Specifically, the area of the nonwoven fabric 2 having loops covered by the calendaring islands ranges from 18% to 34% of the area of the nonwoven fabric 2 having loops, particularly between 20% and 25%, for example 22%.

[0033] Figures 2 and 6 are views from below of the laminate of Figure 1, and Figure 7 is a larger-scale view of the two islands 3 and 3' of reverse S-shape and S-shape.

[0034] Islands 3 and 3' are arranged on the upper surface of the laminate so as to be aligned in the rows in the CD direction and the columns in the MD direction.

[0035] Each inverted S-shaped island 3 shown on a larger scale in FIG. 7 is composed of two sub-islands 3A and 3B on the upper and lower sides, each forming the head portion of the inverted S of the shape of the island 3. The two sub-islands 3A and 3B forming the head portion of the S are of the same asymmetric shape.

[0036] Therefore, each inverted S-shaped or reverse island 3 includes two sub-islands 3A and 3B on the upper and lower sides separated by the empty space 4. The empty space 4 means that in the gap region 4, the two sub-islands on the upper and lower sides are arranged at intervals, and there are fibers and / or filaments of the non-woven fabric 2 having a loop not subjected to calendar processing between the two sub-islands 3A and 3B. In that case, the loop 21 can be used for engagement with the hook in the gap region 4.

[0037] The upper sub-island 3A continuously includes a substantially linear upper base section 31A, an intermediate base section 32A substantially perpendicular to the upper section 31A, a substantially linear lower base section 33A extending slightly inclined at an angle between 1° and 10°, preferably 3°, below the section 31A, a lower tip section 34A inclined downward at an angle between 45° and 80°, preferably 55°, with respect to the lower base section 33A, an intermediate tip section 35A inclined upward at an angle between 75° and 110°, preferably 81°, with respect to the lower tip section 34A, and an upper tip section 36A inclined at an angle between 85° and 120°, preferably 87°, and inclined at an angle between 60° and 90°, preferably 70°, with respect to the upper support section 31A and reconnecting to the upper support section 31A, and is bounded by a closed perimeter or outer perimeter.

[0038] Sections 31A, 32A, and 33A define the base portion of sub-island 3A. This base portion is bounded by sections 34A, 35A, and 36A and terminates at the tip portion facing the other S-shaped sub-island 3B.

[0039] The lower sub-island 3B consists of, in sequence, a substantially straight lower base section 31B, an intermediate base section 32B substantially perpendicular to the lower base section 31B, an upper base section 33B that extends substantially straight and is inclined at an angle between 1° and 10°, preferably 3°, below the section 31B, an upper tip section 34B that is inclined upward at an angle between 45° and 80°, preferably 55°, with respect to the upper support section 33B, an intermediate tip section 35B that is inclined downward at an angle between 75° and 110°, preferably 81°, with respect to the upper tip section 34B, and a lower tip section 36B that is inclined at an angle between 85° and 120°, preferably 87°, with respect to the intermediate tip section 35B and is inclined at an angle between 60° and 90°, preferably 70°, with respect to the lower support section 31B and reconnects to the lower support section 31B, and is bounded by a closed perimeter or outer circumference.

[0040] Sections 31B, 32B, and 33B define the base portion of sub-island 3B. This base portion is bounded by sections 34B, 35B, and 36B and ends at the tip portion facing the other S-shaped sub-island 3A.

[0041] Each S-shaped island 3' shown on a larger scale in FIG. 7 consists of two upper and lower sub-islands 3'A and 3'B, each forming one head portion of the S-shape of the island 3'. The two sub-islands 3'A and 3'B forming the head portion of the S-shape have exactly the same asymmetric shape.

[0042] Therefore, each S-shaped or positive island 3’ includes two upper and lower sub-islands 3’A and 3’B separated by a free space 4’. The free space 4’ means that in the gap region 4’, the two upper and lower sub-islands are spaced apart from each other, and there are fibers and / or filaments of the non-woven fabric 2 having a loop that is not calendared between the two sub-islands 3’A and 3’B.

[0043] The upper sub-island 3’A continuously includes a substantially linear upper base section 31’A, an intermediate base section 32’A that is substantially perpendicular to the upper section 31’A, a substantially linear lower base section 33’A that extends slightly inclined at an angle between 1° and 10°, particularly at an angle of 3°, below the section 31’A, a lower tip section 34’A that is inclined downward at an angle between 45° and 80°, particularly at an angle of 55°, with respect to the lower base section 33’A, an intermediate tip section 35’A that is inclined upward at an angle between 75° and 110°, particularly at an angle of 81°, with respect to the lower tip section 34’A, and an upper tip section 36’A that is inclined at an angle between 85° and 120°, particularly at an angle of 87°, and is inclined at an angle between 60° and 90°, particularly at an angle of 70°, with respect to the upper base section 31’A and reconnects to the upper base section 31’A, and is bounded by a closed perimeter or outer circumference.

[0044] Sections 31’A, 32’A, and 33’A define the base portion of the sub-island 3’A. This base portion is bounded by sections 34’A, 35’A, and 36’A and terminates at the tip portion facing the other sub-island 3’B of each S-shape.

[0045] The lower sub-island 3’B is composed of, successively, a substantially linear lower base section 31’B, an intermediate base section 32’B that is substantially perpendicular to the lower section 31’B, a substantially linear upper base section 33’B that extends on the section 31’B with a slope of between 1° and 10°, preferably 3°, a substantially linear upper tip section 34’B that slopes upward at an angle of between 45° and 80°, preferably 55°, with respect to the upper base section 33’B, an intermediate tip section 35’B that slopes downward at an angle of between 75° and 110°, preferably 81°, with respect to the upper tip section 34’B, and a lower tip section 36’B that slopes at an angle of between 85° and 120°, preferably 87°, and slopes at an angle of between 60° and 90°, preferably 70°, with respect to the lower support section 31’B and reconnects to the lower support section 31’B, and is bounded by a closed perimeter or outer periphery.

[0046] Sections 31’B, 32’B, and 33’B define the base portion of the sub-island 3’B. This base portion is bounded by sections 34’B, 35’B, and 36’B and terminates at the tip portion facing the other S-shaped sub-island 3’A.

[0047] The two tip portions of the two sub-islands 3A and 3B, combined with the empty gap portion 4, form the S-shaped intermediate bar of the overall shape of the reverse island 3.

[0048] The two tip portions of the two sub-islands 3’A and 3’B, combined with the empty gap portion 4’, form the S-shaped intermediate bar of the overall shape of the positive island 3’.

[0049] Thus, each sub-island 3A, 3B, 3’A, and 3’B has an asymmetric shape, specifically a shape that is not symmetric with respect to a straight line and / or a point when viewed from above, while each island 3 and 3’ is symmetric with respect to the center point of the gap portions 4 and 4’.

[0050] The shape of the positive island 3' consists of two sub - islands 3'A and 3'B, and the gap portion 4' is a mirror image of the reverse island 3 consisting of the two sub - islands 3A and 3B and the gap portion 4.

[0051] As shown in the drawing, the reverse and positive islands 3 and 3' are arranged in rows (a direction forming an angle between 0° and 10° with the direction CD) and columns (a direction forming an angle between 0° and 10° with the direction MD or axis 10).

[0052] A given row contains a series of positive islands or reverse islands, and the rows before and after it contain a series of reverse islands or positive islands. Thus, the rows alternate between rows of reverse islands and rows of positive islands.

[0053] Furthermore, between each row, the islands are offset by the width of the sub - islands. Thus, each column continuously alternates between the upper sub - islands of the positive islands and the upper sub - islands of the reverse islands, while the columns before and after it continuously alternate between the lower sub - islands of the positive islands and the lower sub - islands of the reverse islands. This offset of the sub - islands results in an alternating vertical alignment (the direction MD or the direction of columns slightly inclined with respect to the direction MD) of the intermediate region 4 of the reverse islands and the intermediate region 4' of the positive islands.

[0054] However, this offset may be larger than the width of the sub-island, and if so, the overlapping of the alternating upper sub-islands 3A and 3'A, or the alternating lower sub-islands 3B and 3'B in a row is between 20% and 50% of the total width of the entire island, preferably between 30% and 50% (50% corresponds to the case of the offset of the width of the sub-island shown in the drawing). In addition, there is an offset between the positive island and the negative island between each row, and thus there is no mutual overlap between a certain row and the adjacent row, the lower sub-island 3B and the upper sub-island 3'A, or the upper sub-island 3A and the lower sub-island 3'B.

[0055] Therefore, a given row contains only either the upper or lower sub-islands alternately one by one, and within a given row, the sub-islands alternate between positive islands and negative islands.

[0056] As can be seen in FIG. 6, this arrangement of the islands is inclined at 0° to 10° with respect to the MD direction and parallel to each other, and perpendicular lines can be drawn in the direction of the center line 10 of the column at intervals approximately equal to the length of either the upper or lower sub-island depending on the selected column. Furthermore, inclined parallel lines 7 and 8 can be drawn such that the laminate can be traversed at an angle with respect to the CD direction and the MD direction without encountering any calendaring treatment regions.

[0057] The two sets of inclined parallel lines 7 and 8 specifically intersect at an angle different from 90° to each other, particularly between 10° and 45°, particularly at an angle of about 32°. Advantageously, each set of lines 7 and 8 forms an angle between 65° and 85°, preferably about 75°, with respect to the axis of the column. Various dimensions and / or straight lines can be adopted in a sample region containing three islands in the MD direction and three islands in the CD direction.

[0058] Specifically, the dimensions of the islands are as follows. - The lengths of sections 32A, 32B, 32’A, and 32’B are approximately 1.06 mm, especially between 0.8 mm and 1.5 mm. - The lengths of sections 31A, 31B, 31’A, and 31’B are approximately 6.5 mm, especially between 4 mm and 10 mm, particularly between 5 mm and 8 mm. - The lengths of sections 33A, 33B, 33’A, and 33’B are approximately 6.0 mm, especially between 4 mm and 10 mm, particularly between 5 mm and 8 mm. - The lengths of sections 36A, 36B, 36’A, and 36’B are approximately 1.9 mm, especially between 0.8 mm and 3.0 mm, particularly between 1 mm and 2.5 mm. - The distances between the two intermediate tip sections 35A and 35B, 35’A and 35’B that define the boundaries of the gap regions 4 or 4’ are each approximately 0.93 mm, especially between 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm, preferably between 0.8 mm and 1.5 mm. - The ratio of the longest length in the MD direction of the island to the longest length in the CD direction of the island is between 0.1 and 1.0, preferably between 0.2 and 0.6. - The ratio of the longest length in the MD direction of the sub - island to the longest length in the CD direction of the sub - island is between 0.1 and 0.6, preferably between 0.1 and 0.4. - The ratio of the longest length in the CD direction of this assembly to the longest length in the MD direction of the group including the positive island and the negative island is between 0.15 and 1.4, preferably between 0.25 and 1.0. - The lengths of the intermediate tip sections 35A, 35B, 35’A, and 35’B are approximately 0.53 mm, especially between 0.4 mm and 0.6 mm. - In rows and columns, the density of the islands is between 150 and 350 sub - islands per column meter, for example 242 sub - islands per column meter, and between 80 and 200 sub - islands per row meter, for example 129 sub - islands per row meter.

[0059] Figure 3 shows a engraved roller including the details of the embossing as shown in Figure 4.

[0060] To manufacture the laminate, two components 1 and 2 were passed together between two rollers and fixed to each other by calendering. According to one variant, printing may be performed on the lower surface of the support component 1 before or after the calendering process.

[0061] In the gap formed between two rollers, specifically the upper roller and the lower roller, the two components 1 and 2 are pressed together by the respective outer surfaces of either of the two rollers.

[0062] One or both of the two rollers are heated, and one of the two rollers includes a engraved pattern.

[0063] Furthermore, the respective speeds of the lower and upper rollers at the contact points with the laminate passing through the gap are adjusted to be equal in the passing direction of the two components, specifically in the machine direction or MD. However, specifically, the speed V1 at the contact point of the engraved roller, which is the upper roller, with the loop fiber component of the gap is faster than the speed V2 of the support roller, which is the lower roller and contacts the support component. To produce the laminate of FIG. 1, the ratio V1 / V2 in FIG. 3 is adjusted to 1.15.

[0064] In the present invention, the nonwoven fabric is to be understood as referring to a product obtained as a result of forming a web of reinforced fibers and / or filaments. The reinforcement can be mechanical, chemical, or thermal and results from bonding between the fibers and / or filaments. The reinforcement can be direct, i.e., directly effected between the fibers and / or filaments by fusion, or indirect, i.e., via an intermediate layer between the fibers and / or filaments, such as an adhesive layer or bonding layer. The term nonwoven fabric refers to a structure in the form of a strip or web of fibers and / or filaments that are non-uniform, irregular or randomly interlaced. The nonwoven fabric can have a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure. The nonwoven fabric can also be combined with another material, such as a film, for the formation of a laminate. The nonwoven material can be made from various synthetic materials and / or natural materials. For example, natural materials include cellulose fibers such as cotton, jute, pulp, linen, etc., and may also include processed cellulose fibers such as rayon or viscose (cellulose acetate). Natural fibers for nonwoven fabric materials can be produced using various methods such as carding. For example, synthetic materials include, but are not limited to, polyolefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene, polyamides such as polyamide 6, polyamide 6.6, polyamide 10, polyamide 11, polyamide 12, polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polylactic acid (PLA), polycarbonate, polystyrene, thermoplastic elastomer, vinyl polymer, polyurethane, and mixtures and copolymers thereof, and synthetic thermoplastic polymers used for the formation of fibers and / or filaments, but are not limited thereto. Some of these materials can be bio-derived (e.g., bio-PE, PLA, polyamide 11, viscose (cellulose acetate), etc.) and / or biodegradable (e.g., PLA) bioplastics.

[0065] Generally, fibers and filaments differ mainly in terms of their length and manufacturing method.

[0066] The filaments are single elements with a very high ratio of length to diameter including their cross-sections, are extruded continuously to directly form a web of nonwoven fabric, and are then understood to be integrated by thermal bonding or any other method so as to achieve the desired performance and / or their transport. Preferably, the filaments have a length of more than 120 mm.

[0067] Fibers is a general term referring to a base material or a component of a base material that can be spun and / or used in the manufacture of nonwoven fabrics with a length shorter than that of the filaments. There are two types of fibers, short fibers formed from discontinuous materials less than 50 mm (preferably from 25 mm to 50 mm), and very long fibers formed discontinuously with a length of more than 50 mm (preferably from 60 mm to 120 mm).

[0068] Unlike the filaments that are integrated directly after extrusion, the fibers are generally oriented and gathered into a web during the carding process well known to those skilled in the art. This web can then be integrated by thermal bonding or any other method so as to achieve the desired performance and / or their transport. According to the present invention, nonwoven fabrics having loops containing fibers with high elongation can be advantageously used. According to the present invention, nonwoven supports containing nonwoven fabrics having loops, or fibers and / or filaments with circular or non-circular (tri-lobed or multi-lobed) cross-sections can be advantageously used. The use of non-circular fibers and / or filaments gives a brilliant feeling.

[0069] According to the present invention, nonwoven fabrics or nonwoven support fabrics having loops containing single-material or multi-component fibers and / or filaments ("core / sheath" or "side / side") can be advantageously used.

[0070] Fibers with high elongation are understood to mean fibers having an ultimate tensile strength with an elongation of more than 250%, that is, fibers that can be stretched to at least 2.5 times the length at rest before stretching.

[0071] More specifically, fibers having high elongation have an ultimate tensile strength at elongation exceeding 300%, or an ultimate tensile strength at elongation between 300% and 600%, more specifically between 350% and 500%.

[0072] According to one method of the embodiment, the nonwoven fabric having loops contains at least 50% of fibers having high elongation, particularly fibers having high elongation.

[0073] According to the present invention, a loop will be understood to mean a filament and / or fiber having two ends joined to a support at each support point or at the same support point. A loop may also be formed from several filaments or fibers connected to each other, two of which are joined to the support at one point or at two different points. In this case, the loop may have a specific asymmetric shape (see Figure 1).

[0074] The nonwoven fabric having loops will be understood to mean a nonwoven fabric that forms loops that can be used with hooks after being moored (assembled / fixed / calendered) to a support.

[0075] In one variant, it is possible to activate the nonwoven fabric having loops before fixing it to a component. Activation of the nonwoven fabric is a treatment that reduces the aggregation of the nonwoven fabric layer structure and loosens the fibers and / or filaments. Activation may also be carried out by two activation rollers having teeth or disks as is well known in the art.

[0076] The direction MD is the machine direction, i.e., the direction in which the laminate is transported onto the production line during calendering, and the direction CD is the transverse or "crossing" direction perpendicular to the direction MD.

[0077] Figure 8 shows the teeth of a sculptured roller having an entry angle (direction MD) and an exit angle. The entry angle X1 is preferably smaller than the exit angle X2 in order to leave more space for the formation of loops and to prevent damage to the fibers and / or filaments during the calendering stage. Preferably, the entry angle is between 5° and 14°, more specifically an angle of about 8°. The exit angle is between 10° and 22°, in particular an angle of about 14°.

Claims

1. A laminate comprising a support component (1) in the form of a first web made of fibers and / or filaments, and a component (2) having loops in the form of a second web made of fibers and / or filaments, wherein the two components are fixed to each other and a so-called calendar treatment island (3, 3') having an S-shaped configuration with a head portion symmetrical to the outer surface of the component having the loops is formed by the fixing. In the laminate, each S-shaped island having a symmetrical head portion comprises two sub-islands (3A, 3B, 3'A, 3'B) forming head portions facing each other, and an intermediate non-fixed region (4, 4') separating the two sub-islands forming head portions facing each other. The shape of each sub-island (3A, 3B, 3'A, 3'B) has no symmetry with respect to a point or a straight line, and the arrangement of the islands on the upper surface of the laminate is such that a straight line crossing the upper surface of the laminate can be drawn in at least three different directions without entering the calendar treatment region.

2. The laminate according to claim 1, wherein the two sub-islands of each island have the same shape.

3. The laminate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each asymmetrical sub-island comprises a substantially elongated base portion and a beak portion protruding from one end of the base portion.

4. Each of the sub-islands (3A, 3B, 3'A, 3'B) includes a substantially linear first base section (31A, 31B, 31'A, 31'B), a substantially linear second base section (33A, 33B, 33'A, 33'B) slightly inclined with respect to the first base section, an intermediate base section (32A, 32B, 32'A, 32'B) extending to form a side between the first base section and the second base section, and a section forming the beak portion connecting the first base section and the second base section on the side opposite to the intermediate base section, and is bounded by a closed outer peripheral line. The laminate according to claim 3.

5. The section forming the mouth part includes a first tip section (34A, 34B, 34'A, 34'B) extending from the second base section in a direction opposite to the first base section, and a second tip section (36A, 36B, 36'A, 36'B) extending from the first base section in the direction of the first tip section, and the first tip section and the second tip section are connected to each other by an intermediate tip section (35A, 35B, 35'A, 35'B) that bends from the first tip section to the second tip section on a side opposite to the intermediate base section. The laminate according to claim 4, characterized in that.

6. The laminate according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the intermediate base section is substantially perpendicular to the first base section.

7. The laminate according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the S-shaped calendar processing islands are aligned in rows and columns.

8. There are two types of islands, namely, an S-shaped type of island called positive and an inverted or mirror-image S-shaped type of island called negative. A given row includes a series of positive or negative islands, and the preceding and succeeding rows include a series of negative or positive islands. Therefore, the rows alternate between rows of negative islands and rows of positive islands. The laminate according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that.

9. Between each row, the islands are offset by the amount of the sub-islands. Therefore, each column continuously alternates between sub-islands of positive islands and sub-islands of negative islands, and the preceding and succeeding columns include continuously alternating sub-islands of positive islands and negative islands. The laminate according to claim 8, characterized in that.

10. The laminate according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the area covered by the calendar processing islands is between 18% and 34% of the area of the component (2) having the loop.

11. A sculptured roller designed to press against each other a support component (1) in the form of a first web made of fibers and / or filaments and a component (2) having loops in the form of a second web made of fibers and / or filaments and to moor them together, the pattern having a shape conforming to the truncated S-shaped islands of the laminate according to any one of claims 1 to 10 protruding from the outer surface.

12. A calendering facility for a laminate, comprising a support roller and the sculptured roller according to claim 11.

13. The facility according to claim 12, characterized in that the peripheral speed of the sculptured roller is adjusted to be higher than the peripheral speed of the support roller.

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