Continuous method of providing individual sheets from a continuous web

Abstract

A method for separating a supply of material into distinct sections of material, while controlling the position and orientation of these distinct sections during further manipulation in a continuous process is disclosed. The method includes forming a line of weakness comprising perforations and scores extending substantially from the first edge to the second edge and applying a force substantially parallel to the length of the web sufficient to separate an individual sheet from the web at the line of weakness.

1 . A continuous method of providing individual sheets from a web having opposed, first and second edges and a substantially infinite length, comprising the following steps: 
 a) forming a line of weakness comprising perforations and scores extending substantially from the first edge to the second edge; and    b) applying a force substantially parallel to the length of the web sufficient to separate an individual sheet from the web at the line of weakness.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of forming the line of weakness comprises applying laser energy to the web.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of forming the line of weakness comprises applying ultrasonic energy to the web.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of forming the line of weakness comprises passing the web through a nip between a knife and knife abutting means.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the web comprises polymeric film.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the polymeric film has apertures formed therein.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the line of weakness is substantially perpendicular to the length of the web.  
     
     
         8 . A continuous method of providing individual sheets from a web having opposed, first and second edges and a substantially infinite length, comprising the following steps: 
 a) providing a knife and a knife abutting means, both having a web contacting surface, wherein at least one of the knife and abutting means web contacting surfaces comprises a plurality of surface continuities and a plurality of surface discontinuities having a depth and a lateral width;    b) positioning a first portion of the web in a nip between the web contacting surfaces, wherein a second portion of the web extending beyond the contacting surfaces defines an individual sheet;    c) converging the knife and the knife abutting means, thereby perforating the web in regions corresponding to the surface continuities and scoring the material in regions corresponding to the surface discontinuities; and    d) applying a force substantially parallel to the length of the web sufficient to separate the individual sheet from the web at the line of weakness.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the discontinuities provide a total depth of less than about 95% of the material's thickness.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the discontinuities provide a total depth of about 10% to about 75% of the web's thickness.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the web comprises polymeric film.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the polymeric film has apertures formed therein.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the discontinuities comprise grooves.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the abutting means comprises a cylindrical anvil.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the lateral width of the discontinuities is about 0.5 mm to about 6 mm.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the discontinuities are randomly spaced.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the discontinuities are uniformly spaced.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the width of the discontinuities vary.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the width of the discontinuities is greater at the web contacting surface than the width of the discontinuities distal to the web contacting surface.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the width of the discontinuities at the web contacting surface is substantially equal to the width of the discontinuities distal to the web contacting surface.  
     
     
         21 . canceled.  
     
     
         22 . canceled.  
     
     
         23 . canceled.