Abstract: Method and apparatus for advancing tape having an information recording surface relative to an information transducing head provide a sliding surface at a distance from the head, preferably paralleling a tape advance path in a transducing mode in which the tape moves with its information recording surface in engagement with the transducing head. For a fast tape advance mode, such as rapid rewind or fast forward, the tape is moved to the sliding surface away from the head. Preferably, the tape is so moved with the aid of a pressure gradient generated on a surface of the tape opposite its recording surface. The tape is then advanced along the sliding surface in the fast tape advance mode in spaced relationship to the transducing head, while preferably being maintained with the pressure gradient on the sliding surface for the duration of the particular fast tape advance.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting strip material from a first location to a second location including a first conduit, a venturi device disposed along the first conduit and means for generating fluid flow in the interior of the first conduit through the venturi device. A second conduit leads from the first location to the venturi device and an auxiliary fluid flow generating means is provided for entraining the strip material at the first location and transporting it through the second conduit to the venturi device.

Abstract: Method for conveying strip materials in a floated manner whereby a strip is allowed to pass between a pair of chambers vertically spaced apart from each other and provided with a plurality of jets or blow-off openings at one surface thereof so that jets of gases are blown therefrom against the strip so as to float the strip. If the strip to be conveyed is of a smaller width, then the width of gases blown from the lower chamber are correspondingly reduced so that a saving of energy required for blowing the gases may be achieved.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for continually preventing filament bridging between adjacent draw nozzles. The system comprises a heating element, generally in the form of a metal heating wire, which is disposed between adjacent nozzles and is positioned in the path of filaments attempting to bridge the nozzles. The temperature is maintained at a level high enough above the melting point of the filaments so that they will continuously and instantaneously melt when they contact the heating element.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing an air cushion to support web material during turning thereof and including means defining two plenums providing a flow path for pressurized gas prior to the gas exiting from a slit adjacent a generally curved fluid flow attachment surface. The dual plenum arrangement results in an even air distribution at the location of the slit thus contributing to web stability and control as the web floats on a cushion of air comprised of the pressurized air and ambient air along the generally curved fluid flow attachment surface due to the Coanda effect.

Abstract: Method for treatment of a solid material submerged in a body of liquid wherein the material is sticky and/or has relatively low tensile strength. The material being treated is supported, while so submerged, by a dynamic boundary layer of a liquid material between the treated material and a stationary porous restraining surface, the layer being created by the forced diffusion of said liquid through the pores of said stationary surface. The method is illustrated by heating and thereby foaming a strip of heat foamable thermoplastic resin while it is held submerged in a denser heat transfer liquid by a dynamic layer of said heat transfer liquid, said layer of heat transfer liquid being created by the forced diffusion thereof through a porous plate in operative communication with a pressurized chamber containing a supply of said liquid.

Abstract: Web flutter is suppressed by means of one or more foils along the path of movement of the web which may be porous, such as tissue, whether creped or not, or may be substantially non-porous. For porous web, the foil may be imperforate. For non-porous web, the foil may be foraminous. As the web travels at high speed in adjacently spaced relation to the foil, surface air pressure tends to be greater on the surface of the web opposite the web surface which faces the foil, thus tending to thrust the travelling web toward the foil, and thus stabilizing web travel and suppressing tendency for the web to flutter as it travels freely between supports such as a dryer and a calender.

Abstract: A jet box is constructed with a guide surface adjoining the slit type jet which includes a substantially plane region and a bent region which defines a bend of 30.degree. to 60.degree. with the plane region. In addition, a plurality of jet holes are disposed along the bend for ejecting additional propelling medium therefrom. The jet box may be provided with a slit-type jet formed of a plurality of laterally disposed orifices. In this case, an additional row of jet holes are provided in staggered relation to the jet holes in the bend between the plane and bent regions of the guide surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for guiding a span of high-speed magnetic recording tape past a recording/transducing head. Low volume pressurized air is utilized to lift the tape off of the guide assembly thereby eliminating sliding friction between the apparatus and the tape. The periphery of the guide is provided with a means to facilitate the formation of an air seal with the edges of the tape thereby substantially isolating the pressurized air from the atmosphere. Air jets are provided at the tangent points where the tape enters and departs from the air guide so as to prevent the tape from touching any portion of the guide during the transport operation. The pressurized air emitted from the air jets located at the tangent point where the tape enters the guide forms a supporting boundary layer of air along the surface of the tape which is carried along by the tape across the guide.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for dispersing a plurality of filaments, moving at high velocity, without substantial fiber aggregation, for subsequent uniform deposition on a web-forming surface, by the use of opposed Coanda nozzles. The Coanda nozzles are operated under nonsteady-state conditions whereby a substantially nonsymmetrical filament pattern is created between the opposed Coanda surfaces.

Abstract: A web spreader which has great versatility for adjustment to fit virtually any spreading requirement and capable of spreading webs uniformly regardless of the number of slits and adapted to be adjusted for gauge variations. A pair of spreader bars has the just slit strips of a web trained thereover in successive partial wrap wherein one of the bars may have an adjusted bow therein and the other of the bars has a capability for both a bow adjusted condition and means for incrementally adjusting its web strip wrap area to compensate for web variation.

Abstract: A material transporting device is disclosed wherein material is pneumatically moved along a louvered surface and converged to exit from the device in a narrowed pattern. Use of the device is particularly directed to rapid handling of scrap web material.

Abstract: A system for directing the tail of a web of flexible material to a predetermined location including a wall element having side edges and a web entry end and a web exit end and a Coanda nozzle located at the wall element web entry end to direct a gaseous flow therealong toward the web exit end. Venting means in the form of opposed foil elements extend from the Coanda nozzle toward the wall element side edges for laterally venting portions of the gaseous flow past the side edges to exert lateral forces on the web and spread it as the web is propelled along the wall element.

Abstract: Continuously running web material is transferred from a dryer, or the like, to a proximate calender, or the like, along flutter suppressing foils. The web may be calendered in a nip between a rotary calender roll and a reel drum with which a reel core is in nip relation for winding the web on the core. The calender may comprise a single roll or a plurality of rolls. A split torque arrangement is provided for the reel drum and the reel core. Especially useful for handling creped tissue paper web.

Abstract: Objectionable noise is inhibited in sheet spreaders of the type wherein strips of a slit traveling web are laterally separated by running the strips over spaced, bowed hollow spreader bars, frictional resistance being alleviated by floating the strips on a layer of air covering the areas of the bars wrapped by the strips. Tendency toward high frequency vibration and thus noise experienced in high speed operation is inhibited by ventilation in the tangency angles between the bars and the running strips.

Abstract: A system for the temporary storage of yarn comprising two oppositely rotatable vacuum drums, supply rollers for supplying yarn to the first of the drums, withdrawal rollers for removing yarn from the second drum and elements to read the size of the stock of yarn on the second drum and control the supply rollers, drums and withdrawal rollers. The second drum receives the yarn from the first drum in a manner to turn it over during transfer.

Abstract: In a web reel system including a rotatable reel drum and reel spool, the improvement comprising reel threading means operatively associated with the spool and drum and including at least one Coanda nozzle adapted to induce a gaseous flow about the periphery of the drum for entraining a web introduced into the gaseous flow and directing same between the drum and the spool.

Abstract: A material transporting device wherein material is pneumatically moved along a louvered surface and converged to exit from the device in a narrowed pattern. Use of the device is particularly directed to rapid handling of scrap web material.

Abstract: A fluid bearing for supporting, independently of each other, a plurality of webs. The bearing comprises a housing, for containing a fluid within its interior, having an outer surface for cooperating with a surface of each web of the plurality of webs. A guide flange is provided on the outer surface, defining with the outer surface a support channel. The guide flange maintains the plurality of webs within the boundaries of the defined support channel. A fluid outlet and a fluid inlet are provided for passing the fluid from the interior of the housing through the outer surface, within the channel, to form a fluid layer thereover having a fluid spike therein, for independently supporting each web.

Abstract: Web material is carried on air to advance the material in a fixed stable floating position through one or more decks of a treating plant, preferably a drier. The air is supplied through pairs of apertures arranged in the upper surface of blow-boxes distributed in the conveying path of the material which apertures eject the air in pairs of streams facing away from each other. To reduce deflection of the material between said pair of apertures the space between said apertures is supplied separately with a great volume of secondary air of the same static pressure as that prevailing on the upper surface of the material, which secondary air is taken along by ejector effect by the primary air streams ejected from the apertures of the blow-boxes.

Abstract: A system for directing the tail of a web of flexible material to a predetermined location laterally offset from the normal path of movement of said web. The system includes a first Coanda nozzle directing a gaseous flow along a chute associated therewith and comprising a bottom wall and side walls, so that the gaseous flow induced by the Coanda nozzle entrains the web tail and causes it to move laterally in the web plane as it is directed to the predetermined location. A second Coanda nozzle is positioned downstream from the first Coanda nozzle and is angularly disposed relative thereto so that the web is again moved laterally about the web plane an additional incremental amount.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for controlling the advancement of a strand by directing a fluid along the strand in a first direction opposite to the direction of advancement of the strand to retard the advancement of the strand sufficiently to create slack in the strand, and directing a fluid in a second direction transverse to the first direction to control slack in the strand.

Abstract: The invention described is a guide for directing a moving flexible member along a prescribed path. Suction slots are provided along the lateral walls of the guide for enabling the member to be directed along the desired path.

Abstract: A moving web is precision guided by twisting the moving web about an axis extending in a direction of movement of the web to provide a yaw force acting continuously in a predetermined direction transversely of the web, and resisting that yaw force at a predetermined location.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for freely suspending a moving web of material in a gaseous medium, which comprises impinging a stream of the gaseous medium over the entire width of one surface of the web in order to produce a first stationary stable pressure zone, forming at least one stationary stable suction zone adjacent said first stationary stable pressure zone, deflecting the gaseous medium passing beyond the edges of the web in order to produce a second stationary stable pressure zone on the opposite side of the web, and regulating said pressure and suction zones in order to maintain the web in a freely suspended state. The invention also includes an apparatus for performing the method.

Abstract: An apparatus for guiding a span of high speed magnetic recording tape past a recording/transducing head. Pressurized air is utilized to lift the tape off of the guide thereby eliminating sliding friction between the apparatus and the tape. In addition, a pair of beveled flanges are provided on opposite sides of the path followed by the tape as it is transported, which are spaced apart at their base a distance less than the minimum width of the tape. In operation, an air film of substantially constant pressure is generated along the air chamber formed by the tape, guide, beveled flanges and tangent points where the tape enters and exits from the guide sufficient to lift the tape off of the guide to a point where its width substantially equals the horizontal distance between the beveled flanges, thereby maintaining the tape in a centered relationship with respect to the center line of the guide and impeding the airflow about the lateral edges of the tape.

Abstract: Uniform embossing on both sides of a web of paper may be obtained in a single pass through an embossing nip by interposing a thin film of tough, resilient material in the form of a continuous belt of approximately 0.050 inch thickness or less between the embossing roll and the backup roll. Stationary guide members, which may be combined with air bearings, are provided to insure proper tracking of the belt.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting tape includes an improvement for suppressing a predetermined flutter component comprising a member defining a surface for guiding the tape, equipment extending to that tape guiding surface and defining a gas column having a resonance frequency corresponding to the frequency of the flutter component, and equipment operatively associated with the surface defining member for coupling the gas column to the tape. This coupling equipment is of a type which establishes and maintains at the gas column a gas film of a controlled thickness between the guiding surface and the tape.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for supplying continuous material having a constant tension to a takeup device wherein a constant tension is maintained by passing the material through a vacuum column which controls the material supply and maintains a constant tension prior to the material reaching the takeup device.

Abstract: An improved system for directing a web of flexible material to a predetermined location, and more particularly, a system for directing the end or tail of a moving web into threading engagement with rolls forming a nip or the like. In this system a gas such as air is directed through a restricted opening under pressure whereupon it attaches itself to a flow attachment surface due to the "Coanda effect", so that it entrains ambient air and the moving web tail. In a preferred form of the system, after the web tail has been entrained and conveyed a predetermined distance, a substantial portion of the combined flow of the entraining gas and the entrained ambient air are diverted off toward a different direction. At the location of diversion, restraining means is provided for preventing the web tail from moving with such substantial portion of combined flow.

Abstract: A method of pneumatically traversing a linear fibrous element during its packaging in a rotated perforated canister as air is withdrawn from the canister through its sidewalls and bottom wall; the air moves downwardly through the package during package formation to prevent freedom of movement to the element in the package and air moves generally horizontally as it is withdrawn uniformly from all sides of the canister through its perforated sidewalls to reduce air turbulence in the canister to promote ordered collection of the fibrous element.

Abstract: A system for directing a web of flexible material to a predetermined location and more particularly to a system for directing the free end or tail of the web into threading engagement with rolls forming a hip or the like. In the system a gas such as air is directed through a restricted opening under pressure whereupon it attaches itself to a flow attachment surface due to the "Coanda effect", is directed to the predetermined location and entrains ambient air. The tail of the web is placed into the path of the moving gas and entrained thereby. The gas is moving at a velocity greater than the velocity of the moving web and thus the web tail is straightened out and directed to the predetermined location.

Abstract: An advancing tape is subjected to a first fluid pressure at one of its edge regions, and to a second fluid pressure at the other of its edge regions. The first fluid pressure is increased in response to movement of the mentioned one edge region away from a desired tape advance path. The tape is then returned to that desired tape advance path with the aid of the increased first fluid pressure. The second fluid pressure is increased in response to movement of the other edge region away from the desired tape advance path. The tape is thereupon returned onto the desired tape advance path with the latter increased second fluid pressure.

Abstract: To facilitate the introduction of running yarns into injector nozzles the cross section of the inlet openings of the said nozzles are enlarged before the yarns are laid in, the yarns are sucked into the enlarged openings and subsequently the openings are reduced to their initial dimensions. The injector nozzles are preferably used in jet stufferbox texturizing processes or with suction guns. Without special threading aids, yarns and threads supplied at high speed are sucked in automatically and conveyed into spaces under elevated pressure.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for transporting and conditioning a web through a conditioning chamber wherein the web pursues a sinusoidal path, being sustained by air issuing from an apparatus having rectangular openings to move air over a convex indentation and tangentially over the surface of a convex nozzle, and a plurality of air jets issuing from orifices in a direction generally perpendicular to the convex nozzle.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for adjusting the entry angle of a continuous web into an envelope-making machine. The entry angle of the web is capable of adjustment even though web supply roll, printing means, splicer, and other equipment normally located before the feed end of an envelope making machine are stationary and not attached to the envelope-making machine. The apparatus for adjusting web angle includes a first turn bar unit; a plate attached to the body of the envelope-making machine near the feed end of the machine, which can swivel about a point, the means of attachment being the point about which the plate swivels; and a second turn bar unit attached to the swivel plate. As the web advances into the first turn bar unit it is flat. The first turn bar unit turns the web so that as it moves from the turn bar unit it is on its edge or in edgewise orientation. The web remains on its edge as it enters the second turn bar unit.