Ring-like elastic belt with improved side seams

A method of manufacturing a ring-like elastic belt comprising steps of:

• advancing a continuous first substrate layer in a machine direction, the continuous first substrate layer having a first surface and an opposing second surface and defining a width in a cross machine direction;
• advancing a continuous second substrate layer in the machine direction, the continuous second substrate layer having a first surface and an opposing second surface and having a smaller width than the continuous first substrate layer;
• advancing a plurality of elastic bodies in the machine direction in a stretched state;
• joining the elastic bodies between the first surface of the continuous first substrate layer and the first surface of the continuous second substrate layer;
• cutting the assembly in the machine direction where the continuous first substrate layer and continuous second substrate layer are overlayed to define a continuous front belt and a continuous back belt;
• folding the continuous first substrate layer along the machine direction of at least one of the continuous front belt and the continuous back belt, the folded portion of the continuous first substrate layer defining a continuous fold over region;
• overlaying the continuous front belt and the continuous back belt such that the cross machine edges of the continuous front belt and the continuous back belt are matched;
• and
• intermittently seaming the obtained assembly by directing a jet of heated air to at least partially melt the substrates of the continuous front belt and the substrates of the continuous back belt, and compressing the melted portion between an outer circumferential surface of an anvil roll and a pressing member;
• wherein the pressing member comprises a regular surface and an indented surface, wherein the continuous fold over region is configured to meet the indented surface of the pressing member.

A method of manufacturing a ring-like elastic belt comprising steps of:

• advancing a continuous first substrate layer in a machine direction, the continuous first substrate layer having a first surface and an opposing second surface and defining a width in a cross machine direction;
• advancing a continuous second substrate layer in the machine direction, the continuous second substrate layer having a first surface and an opposing second surface and having a smaller width than the continuous first substrate layer;
• advancing a plurality of elastic bodies in the machine direction in a stretched state;
• joining the elastic bodies between the first surface of the continuous first substrate layer and the first surface of the continuous second substrate layer;
• cutting the assembly in the machine direction where the continuous first substrate layer and continuous second substrate layer are overlayed to define a continuous front belt and a continuous back belt;
• folding the continuous first substrate layer along the machine direction of at least one of the continuous front belt and the continuous back belt, the folded portion of the continuous first substrate layer defining a continuous fold over region;
• overlaying the continuous front belt and the continuous back belt such that the cross machine edges of the continuous front belt and the continuous back belt are matched;
• and
• intermittently seaming the obtained assembly by directing a jet of heated air to at least partially melt the substrates of the continuous front belt and the substrates of the continuous back belt, and compressing the melted portion between an outer circumferential surface of an anvil roll and a pressing member;
• wherein the compression is conducted for at least 2 times.