Compliant anvil

An apparatus comprising:

• a tooling roll;
• and
• an anvil roll operably engaged with the tooling roll at a nip,
• wherein the tooling roll and the anvil roll are rotatable about respective axes of rotation, the axes of rotation and the nip being perpendicular to a machine direction and parallel with a cross direction,
• wherein the anvil roll comprises:
• an outer surface comprising a plurality of discrete engaging portions disposed thereabout, wherein the discrete engaging portions are radially inwardly displaceable with respect to the anvil roll axis of rotation, wherein the engaging portions have radially outermost surfaces and are configured to engage one or more features of the tooling roll in the nip, wherein each of the plurality of discrete engaging portions extend from a first side to a second side of the anvil roll in a direction substantially perpendicular to the machine direction to form a portion of the outer surface;
• a rigid portion positioned adjacent to at least two of the plurality of discrete engaging portions;
• and
• a plurality of discrete spring elements, wherein at least three spring elements of the plurality of discrete spring elements being in mechanical communication with each of the plurality of discrete engaging portions, wherein the at least three spring elements are each separated in the cross direction by a void and disposed radially beneath the outer surface, wherein the plurality of discrete spring elements are configured to flex and thereby provide for elastic radially inward displacement of the plurality of discrete engaging portions relative the rigid portion as the discrete engaging portions rotate through the nip, and thereby provide compliance, wherein two spring elements of the last three spring elements have different spring constants.