There are known apparatuses adapted to make a nonwoven fabric containing thermoplastic synthetic fibers or a film of thermoplastic synthetic resin run in the form of a fibrous web in a machine direction and to process such a web ultrasonically in the course of running.
For example, the ultrasonic processing machine disclosed in JP 1983-39836U (PTL 1) includes a processing horn and a pressure roller adapted to cooperate with the processing horn. The processing horn and the pressure roller respectively rotate to apply ultrasonic waves to an object so that the object may be continuously sealed.
The rotating seal system disclosed in JP 1998-513128 A (PTL 2) includes a drum rotating in the direction in which an object in the form of a fibrous web is being processed, a first heat energy input means attached to the peripheral surface of the drum so as to extend in the cross direction in which the drum rotates and a second heat energy input means attached to the drum so as to rotate together with the drum and simultaneously to move in the cross direction. The object being processed is located between the first heat energy input means and the second heat energy input means. The second heat energy input means moves in the cross direction in combination with the first heat energy input means to inject heat energy into the object being processed during rotation of the drum and, upon completion of heat energy input, the second heat energy input means moves away from the first heat energy input means to its initial position. One of the first and second heat energy input means is an ultrasonic vibrating horn and the other is an anvil.