Apparatus and method for degrading a web in the machine direction while preserving cross-machine direction strength

1. An embossing system for perforate embossing at least a portion of a web comprising:

a first embossing roll having embossing elements; and

at least a second embossing roll having embossing elements, wherein the embossing elements of the first and second embossing rolls define perforate nips for embossing and perforating the web,

wherein at least a portion of at least the first or second embossing roll is crowned, and

wherein at least a portion of the perforate nips are substantially oriented in the cross-machine direction.

2. The embossing system according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second embossing rolls is crowned.

3. The embossing system according to claim 1 wherein the crown of the embossing roll is substantially parabolic in shape.

4. The embossing system according to claim 1 wherein the crown is at least approximately 1 mil.

5. The embossing system according to claim 4 wherein the crown is at east approximately 2 mils.

6. The embossing system according to claim 5 wherein the crown is at least approximately 3 mils.

7. The embossing system according to claim 6 wherein the crown is at least approximately 5 mils.

8. A perforate embossing roll having embossing elements wherein at least a majority of the embossing elements substantially oriented in the cross-machine direction and wherein the embossing roll is crowned.

9. The perforate embossing mu according to claim 8 wherein the crown of the embossing roll is substantially parabolic in shape.

10. The perforate embossing roll according to claim 8 wherein substantially all of the embossing elements are substantially oriented in the cross-machine direction.

11. The perforate embossing roll according to claim 8 wherein the crown is at least approximately 1 mil.

12. The perforate embossing roll according to claim 11 wherein the crown is at least approximately 2 mils.

13. The perforate embossing roll according to claim 12 wherein the crown is at least approximately 3 mils.

14. The perforate embossing roll according to claim 13 wherein the crown is at least approximately 5 mils.

15. An embossing system for perforate embossing at least a portion of a web comprising:

a first embossing roll having embossing elements, the first embossing roll being in communication with a first gear; and

at least a second embossing roll having embossing elements, the second embossing roll being in communication with a second gear, wherein the embossing elements of the first and second embossing rolls define perforate nips for embossing and perforating the web; and

wherein at least a portion of the perforate nips are substantially oriented in the cross-machine direction, and

wherein the first gear and the second gear have a precision rating of greater than Q-6.

16. The embossing system according to claim 15 further comprising a precision hub in direct communication with at least one of the first gear and second gear to reduce circumferential alignment drift of at least one embossing roll.

17. The embossing system of claim 15 wherein the first gear and the second gear have a precision rating of at least about Q-8.

18. The embossing system of claim 17 wherein the first gear and the second gear have a precision rating of at least about Q-10.

19. The embossing system of claim 15 wherein the first gear and the second gear are pre-heat treated gears.

20. The embossing system of claim 15 wherein the first gear and the second gear are hobbed gears.

21. The embossing system of claim 15 wherein the first gear and the second gear are ground gears.

22. The embossing system according to claim 15 wherein the first gear and the second gear are shaved gears.

23. An embossing system for perforate embossing at least a portion of a web comprising:

a first embossing roll having embossing elements, the first embossing roll having a first alignment means; and

at least a second embossing roll having embossing elements, the second embossing roll having a second alignment means,

wherein the embossing elements of the first and second embossing rolls define perforate nips for embossing and perforating the web; and

wherein at least a portion of the perforate nips are substantially oriented in the cross-machine direction.

24. The embossing system of claim 23 wherein at least one of the first or second alignment means includes a collar having a keyway.

25. The embossing system of claim 23 wherein the first alignment means includes an adjustable collar and the second alignment means includes a fixed collar.

26. The embossing system of claim 23 wherein at least one of the first or second alignment means includes scribe marks.

27. The embossing system of claim 23 wherein the first and second alignment means include matched keyways.

28. A perforate embossing roll having embossing elements wherein at least a majority of the embossing elements are substantially oriented in the cross-machine direction and wherein the embossing roll has an alignment means.

29. The perforate embossing roll according to claim 28 wherein substantially all of the embossing elements are substantially oriented in the cross-machine direction.

30. The perforate embossing roll according to claim 28 wherein the alignment means includes an adjustable collar.

31. The perforate embossing roll according to claim 28 wherein the alignment means includes a scribe mark.

32. The perforate embossing roll according to claim 28 wherein the alignment means includes a fixed collar.

33. The perforate embossing roll according to claim 28 wherein the alignment means includes a matched keyway.

34. A method of engaging at least two perforate embossing rolls comprising:

providing a first embossing roll having at least a portion of the embossing elements substantially oriented in the cross-machine direction, the embossing roll having a first collar, and the first collar having a first keyway;

providing at least a second embossing roll having at least a portion of the embossing elements substantially oriented in the cross-machine direction, the embossing roll having a second collar, and the second collar having a second keyway;

bringing the first and second embossing rolls into close proximity;

aligning the first and second keyways; and

bringing the first and second embossing rolls into engagement.

35. The method according to claim 34 wherein at least one of the first or second collar is an adjustable collar ring.

36. A method for embossing and perforating at least a portion of a web comprising:

providing a first embossing roll having embossing elements, the first embossing roll being in communication with a first gear; and

providing at least a second embossing roll having embossing elements, the second embossing roll being in communication with a second gear,

wherein at least a predominate number of the embossing elements are substantially oriented in the cross-machine direction and wherein the first and second embossing rolls define a perforate nip for embossing and perforating the web, and wherein the first gear and the second gear have a precision rating of greater than Q-6; and

passing the web between the first and second embossing rolls wherein the first and second embossing rolls are configured and the engagement and alignment therebetween are controlled to result in an element clearance that will achieve a non-picking clearance while achieving at least a 15% reduction in the machine direction tensile strength of the web.

37. The method according to claim 36 wherein the first gear and the second gear have a precision rating of at least about Q-8.

38. The method according to claim 37 wherein the first gear and the second gear have a precision rating of at least about Q-10.

39. The method according to claim 36 wherein the first gear and the second gear are pre-heat treated.

40. The method according to claim 36 wherein the first gear and the second gear are hobbed gears.

41. The method according to claim 36 wherein the first gear and the second gear are ground gears.

42. The method according to claim 36 wherein the first and second gears are shaved gears.

43. The method according to claim 36 further comprising a precision hub in direct communication with at least one of the first gear and second gear to reduce circumferential alignment drift of at least one embossing roll.

44. A method for perforate embossing a web without increasing the MD/CD tensile ratio of the web comprising:

passing a web through an embossing system, wherein the embossing system comprises a first embossing roll having embossing elements and wherein the first embossing roll is in communication with a first gear, and at least a second embossing roll having embossing elements, wherein the second embossing roll is in communication with a second gear, the first and second gears having a precision rating of at least Q-6, and wherein the first and second embossing rolls define a plurality of perforate nips for embossing and perforating the web; and

wherein at least a predominant number of the perforate nips are substantially oriented in the cross-machine direction.

45. The method according to claim 44 further including a precision hub.

46. A method of perforate embossing a web comprising:

passing a web through an embossing system, wherein the embossing system comprises a first embossing roll having embossing elements, wherein the first embossing roll is in communication with a first gear, and at least a second embossing roll having embossing elements, wherein the second embossing roll is in communication with a second gear, the first and second gears having a precision rating of greater than Q-6, and wherein the first and second embossing rolls define a plurality of perforate nips for embossing and perforating the web; and

wherein the MD/CD tensile ratio of the web is not increased.

47. A perforate embossing roll having embossing elements wherein at least a portion of the embossing elements are substantially oriented in the cross-machine direction, wherein the embossing roll is in communication with a gear, and

wherein the gear has a precision rating of greater than Q-6.

48. The perforate embossing roll according to claim 47 wherein the gear has a precision rating of at least approximately Q-8.

49. The perforate embossing roll according to claim 48 wherein the gear has a precision rating of at least approximately Q-10.

50. The perforate embossing roll according to claim 47 wherein the gear is a pre-heat treated gear.

51. The perforate embossing roll according to claim 47 wherein the gear is a hobbed gear.

52. The perforate embossing roll according to claim 47 wherein the gear is a ground gear.

53. The perforate embossing roll according to claim 47 wherein the gear is a shaved gear.

54. An embossing system for perforate embossing at least a portion of a web comprising:

a first embossing roll having embossing elements; and

at least a second embossing roll having embossing elements, wherein the embossing elements of the first and second embossing rolls define perforate nips for embossing and perforating the web,

wherein the first and second embossing rolls have an alignment means, and

wherein at least a portion of the perforate nips are substantially oriented in the cross-machine direction.

55. The embossing system of claim 54 wherein the alignment means includes a collar having a keyway.

56. A method of engaging at least two embossing rolls comprising:

providing a first embossing roll having perforate embossing elements substantially oriented in the cross machine direction;

providing at least a second embossing roll having perforate embossing elements substantially oriented in the cross machine direction, the first and second embossing rolls having an alignment means;

bringing the first and second embossing rolls into close proximity;

aligning the alignment means; and

bringing the first and second embossing rolls into engagement.

57. The method according to claim 56 wherein the alignment means includes a collar having a keyway.

58. A method of perforate embossing a web by passing the web through an embossing system, wherein the embossing system comprises:

a first embossing roll having embossing elements, wherein the first embossing roll is in communication with a first gear;

at least one second embossing roll having embossing elements, wherein the at least one second embossing roll is in communication with a second gear;

wherein the first embossing roll and the at least one second embossing roll define a plurality of perforate nips for embossing and perforating the web, wherein at least a majority of the embossing elements are substantially oriented in the cross-machine direction, and wherein at least one of the first embossing roll and the at least one second embossing roll is crowned such that the caliper profile, Delta c , of the web is less than 2.