Apparatus for increasing bulk of foreshortened fibrous web

An apparatus for increasing bulk of a foreshortened fibrous web comprises a working surface designed to receive a foreshortened web thereon, a means for adding moisture to at least selected portions of the web thereby relaxing the crepe in the selected portions, and a means for retaining the crepe in the rest of the web. A preferred apparatus comprises a pair of opposite surfaces, at least one of which having expansion conduits therethrough, the web being impressed between the surfaces. A temperature differential is created between the two opposite surfaces, sufficient to drive the moisture added to the selected portions therethrough, thus relaxing the crepe in the selected portions which expand into the expansion conduits, while the crepe is retained in the rest of the web impressed between the two surfaces.