An apparatus for producing a stretchable sheet includes a pair of gear rolls each having a plurality of teeth arranged on a circumference thereof. The apparatus is configured to draw a raw sheet by passing the raw sheet through a gap between the pair of gear rolls. The raw sheet contains a plurality of types of fibers, and has a plurality of recessed sections formed by pressing. The recessed sections are formed collinearly at least along the drawing direction at a predetermined formation pitch in the drawing direction. An arrangement pitch of the teeth in the drawing direction is greater than the formation pitch and smaller than twice the formation pitch.

A layered nonwoven fabric with excellent feel on the skin and liquid permeability, and a method for producing the layered nonwoven fabric. The layered nonwoven fabric includes an upper layer consisting of a first nonwoven fabric and a lower layer consisting of a second nonwoven fabric. The layered nonwoven fabric has a first surface on the first nonwoven fabric side with a plurality of protrusions and recesses and a second surface on the second nonwoven fabric side. The protrusions on the first surface have a higher basis weight than the recesses on the first surface, and the protrusions on the first surface have a lower fiber density than the recesses on the first surface.

A layered nonwoven fabric with excellent feel on the skin and liquid permeability, and a method for producing the layered nonwoven fabric. The layered nonwoven fabric includes an upper layer consisting of a first nonwoven fabric and a lower layer consisting of a second nonwoven fabric. The layered nonwoven fabric has a first surface on the first nonwoven fabric side with a plurality of protrusions and recesses and a second surface on the second nonwoven fabric side. The protrusions on the first surface have a higher basis weight than the recesses on the first surface, and the protrusions on the first surface have a lower fiber density than the recesses on the first surface.

A machine for handling limp materials has at least a first and a second gripping device adapted for gripping the same piece of limp material at the same time. At least one of the gripping devices is connected to a drive system adapted for displacing the gripping devices with respect to each other. One of the gripping devices is a manipulator having a displacement mechanism adapted for actively displacing the limp material in a direction which is generally within a plane in which the limp material is held in the manipulator. The machine further has at least one sensor adapted for detecting the limp material and/or regions of interest.

A machine for handling limp materials has at least a first and a second gripping device adapted for gripping the same piece of limp material at the same time. At least one of the gripping devices is connected to a drive system adapted for displacing the gripping devices with respect to each other. One of the gripping devices is a manipulator having a displacement mechanism adapted for actively displacing the limp material in a direction which is generally within a plane in which the limp material is held in the manipulator. The machine further has at least one sensor adapted for detecting the limp material and/or regions of interest.

The present layered stretchable sheet includes: a plurality of attachment portions at which a pair of non-woven fabrics and a film are thermally bonded together, wherein each one of the attachment portions includes at least one thermal bonding area where the pair of non-woven fabrics and the film are thermally bonded together; at least one boundary line that defines the thermal bonding area; a first vent that is defined by a first opening of the film appearing in a stretched state of the film along the boundary line and that exerts air permeability; and a second vent that is defined by a second opening where a part of the film is absent, the second opening being adjacent to the thermal bonding area and being delimited by the boundary line, wherein the second vent exerts air permeability both in the stretched state and in a non-stretched state.

The present layered stretchable sheet includes: a plurality of attachment portions at which a pair of non-woven fabrics and a film are thermally bonded together, wherein each one of the attachment portions includes at least one thermal bonding area where the pair of non-woven fabrics and the film are thermally bonded together; at least one boundary line that defines the thermal bonding area; a first vent that is defined by a first opening of the film appearing in a stretched state of the film along the boundary line and that exerts air permeability; and a second vent that is defined by a second opening where a part of the film is absent, the second opening being adjacent to the thermal bonding area and being delimited by the boundary line, wherein the second vent exerts air permeability both in the stretched state and in a non-stretched state.