The Procter Gamble Company

Paul R Louis

Eugene R Sorensen

Thomas R Ballard

Nicholas Albert Ahr

William Robert Ouellette

William I Mullane, Jr

A macroscopically expanded three-dimensional plastic web exhibiting a non-glossy visible surface, and, if desired, a cloth-like or fiber-like tactile impression. The visible surface of a macroscopically expanded three-dimensional plastic web of the present invention is preferably provided with a regularly spaced, microscopic pattern of surface aberrations which is too fine to be discernible by the naked eye when the perpendicular distance between the viewer's eye and the plane of said web is about 12 inches or greater, but which pattern is effective in substantially eliminating specular reflection of incident light. Said webs may be produced by means of a one-sided forming process wherein said surface aberrations are transmitted through the thickness of said web during processing or by means of a two-sided forming process wherein said surface aberrations are imposed directly onto the visible surface of said web. Macroscopically expanded three-dimensional plastic webs of the present invention may be effectively employed as alternatives for cloth and fibrous structures which contact the wearer's skin, as well as for new and existing product applications where a non-plastic visual and tactile impression are desired.

Macroscopically expanded three-dimensional plastic web exhibiting

Apparatus for texturing a running ribbon of thermoplastic sheet material or film. The apparatus causes a ribbon of such film to be forwarded from a supply such as a roll of thermoplastic material, thence about a circumferentially extending portion of a rotating texturing cylinder, and then downstream where the textured film may be further processed or where it may be wound on a spool to form a roll thereof. The texturing cylinder comprises a tubular member having a coating of spheroidal particles adhered to the surface thereof. While the film is in contact with the texturing cylinder, it is both heated and urged against the texturing cylinder, causing the film to assume the textured image of the texturing cylinder. The apparatus may further control tension in the film both upstream and downstream of the texturing cylinder at predetermined constant levels. A method of making the texturing cylinder is also disclosed in which an epoxy film having spheroidal particles dispersed therein is electrostatically coated onto the radially outwardly facing surface of the texturing cylinder.

Apparatus for texturing a thermoplastic film

A method of and apparatus for texturing a running ribbon of thermoplastic sheet material or film. The apparatus causes a ribbon of such film to be forwarded from a supply such as a roll of thermoplastic material, then about a circumferentially extending portion of a rotating texturing cylinder, and then downstream where the textured film may be further processed or where it may be wound on a spool to form a roll thereof. The texturing cylinder comprises a tubular member having a coating of spheroidal particles adhered to the surface thereof. While the film is in contact with the texturing cylinder, it is both heated and urged against the texturing cylinder, causing the film to assume the textured image of the texturing cylinder. The apparatus may further control tension in the film both upstream and downstream of the texturing cylinder at predetermined constant levels. A method of making the texturing cylinder is also disclosed in which an epoxy film having spheroidal particles dispersed therein is electrostatically coated onto the radially outwardly facing surface of the texturing cylinder.

Growing community of inventors

Green Township, OH, United States of America

Paul R Louis