Machine and method for embossing paper web products

A machine for embossing paper web products with two or more plies of paper web, comprising

• at least one pair of embossing nips for plies of paper,
• at least one laminating nip to bond said plies of paper,
• at least two feed paths for plies of paper from an entrance of the machine toward said at least one laminating nip,
• a pair of embossing cylinders, each embossing cylinder of said pair of embossing cylinders having on an outer surface thereof a respective plurality of embossing protrusions, said each embossing cylinder defining a section of one feed path of said at least two feed paths for at least one ply of said plies of paper in a form of a wrap angle for said at least one ply, and defining therebetween a transfer nip for said plies of paper,
• a pair of pressure cylinders, each pressure cylinder of said pair of pressure cylinders being side by side with a respective said embossing cylinder, said embossing nip being defined between each pair formed of said embossing cylinder and said pressure cylinder,
• a laminating device for assembly of said plies delivered from said transfer nip, to bond said plies,
• at least one distribution device of material to facilitate ply-bonding arranged along said one feed path of said at least one ply upstream of said laminating device, wherein said distribution device of material to facilitate ply-bonding comprises a steam distributor arranged along said one feed path of said at least one ply in said machine, adapted to distribute steam on said at least one ply, and at least one heating device for at least one of said pair of embossing cylinders.

A method for embossing plies of paper comprising steps as follows:

• providing at least one pair of embossing nips for plies of paper,
• providing at least one laminating nip to bond said plies of paper,
• providing at least two feed paths for said plies of paper toward said laminating nip,
• providing a pair of embossing cylinders, each embossing cylinder of said pair of embossing cylinders having on an outer surface thereof a respective plurality of embossing protrusions, said each embossing cylinder defining a section of one feed path of said at least two feed paths for at least one first ply of said plies of paper in a form of a wrap angle for said at least one first ply, and defining therebetween a transfer nip for said plies of paper,
• providing a pair of pressure cylinders, each pressure cylinder of said pair of pressure cylinders associated with a respective one of said embossing cylinder of said pair of embossing cylinders, said embossing nip being defined between each pair formed of said embossing cylinder and said pressure cylinder,
• providing a laminating device for assembly of said plies delivered from said transfer nip, to bond said plies,
• providing at least one distribution device of material to facilitate ply-bonding arranged along said feed path of the at least one first ply upstream of said laminating device,
• providing at least one heating device for at least one embossing cylinder of said pair of embossing cylinders,
• passing the at least one first ply through said first embossing nip,
• passing at least one second ply through said second embossing nip,
• heating said at least one first ply and/or said at least one second ply while said at least one first ply and said at least one second ply passes along a section between said embossing nip and said transfer nip,
• passing said at least one first ply and said at least one second ply through said transfer nip,
• laminating said at least one first ply and said at least one second ply to form a consolidated paper web product.