Abstract: A tentering chain is equipped with a mechanism for the stepless, continuous adjustment of the chain pitch which is the on-center spacing between two neighboring chain link journal bolts or pins. Such chains are used for this simultaneous, biaxial treatment of synthetic material films or webs. For this purpose, the chains carry tenter bodies with hooks or clamps for gripping the film edge. The tenter bodies carry guide rollers which engage guide rails along the travel path of the tentering chain. In order to dimension the tenter body with its gripping elements as small as possible, while still permitting a large shrinking or stretching of the film web, the chain link journal bolts or pins are mounted in the respective tenter body for an adjustment of the pin position in a direction of the chain travel. In all positions of the journal pin or pins these pins extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the chain.

Abstract: A tentering chain has a continuously adjustable chain pitch for the simultaneous biaxial treatment of film webs. Tenter bodies conventionally equipped with clamps or hooks for gripping an edge of the film web are carried by the tentering chain. Guide rails operate the tenter clamps. Neighboring tenter bodies are interconnected by chain links. Each chain link is connected by a hinging connection at each end to the respective tenter body. At least one of the two hinging connections of a chain link is adjustable by a hinging bolt having an eccentric section or sections and a circular section or sections. The adjustable eccentric hinging bolts are mounted for rotation in the tenter bodies and the eccentric section engages the respective end of the chain link. For this purpose the chain link has a bore in which the eccentric section is received.