Abstract: In laundry processing, a conveyor rotates a textile article in a first stage. The article is held while part of the article rests on the conveyor. By conveying while held, the textile article rotates, positioning an edge of the article. In a second stage, the conveyor conveys the article to a clamp. This clamp holds the article while the conveyor reverses direction and a blower attempts to flatten the article if folded. The textile article rotates, positioning the edge of the article to be more parallel with the direction of conveyance. In a third stage, the article is dragged by the edge over a gap where gravity and blowing attempt to flatten the article. In a fourth stage, the flattened article is positioned over a stack. A blower directs air at a center of the article to blow out the corners and assist in maintaining position.

Abstract: A method for producing a stretchable sheet that can uniform the shape, such as the width and thickness, and the strength, of a stretched nonwoven fabric. The method for producing a stretchable sheet according to the invention comprises a step of stretching a nonwoven fabric in the cross-machine direction perpendicular to the machine direction in which the nonwoven fabric is transported and a step of compressing the nonwoven fabric stretched in the step of stretching the nonwoven fabric, in the thickness direction of the nonwoven fabric.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for stretching one or more zones of a web are disclosed. Webs including stretched or activated zones are also disclosed. Each of the zones in the web is stretched in the cross-web direction, i.e., the direction transverse to the down-web direction. The stretching it can be performed continuously as the web is advancing through the apparatus in the down-web direction. The stretching can occur in the absence of physical contact with the stretched zone of the web. Strain induced on the stretched zones can be introduced gradually over a stretch distance. The strain may increase at a linear rate. The stretching methods and apparatus may be used to activate an elastic zone or zones within a web.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for stretching one or more zones of a web are disclosed. Webs including stretched or activated zones are also disclosed. Each of the zones in the web is stretched in the cross-web direction, i.e., the direction transverse to the down-web direction. The stretching it can be performed continuously as the web is advancing through the apparatus in the down-web direction. The stretching can occur in the absence of physical contact with the stretched zone of the web. Strain induced on the stretched zones can be introduced gradually over a stretch distance. The strain may increase at a linear rate. The stretching methods and apparatus may be used to activate an elastic zone or zones within a web.

Abstract: A web expanding device for or in a web-processing machine, especially a web-fed rotary printing press includes a frame and a cutting device (4) for longitudinally cutting a web (B) into a left-hand web strand (Bl) and a right-hand web strand (Br). A first deflecting device (5l) for the left-hand web strand (Bl) is provided along with a second left-hand deflecting device (6l) for the left-hand web strand (Bl), which is arranged after the first left-hand deflecting device (5l) in the direction of web delivery (F). A first right-hand deflecting device (5r) for the right-hand web strand (Br), which points toward the first left-hand deflecting device (5l) is provided along with a second right-hand deflecting device (6r) for the right-hand web strand (Br), which is arranged after the first right-hand deflecting device (5r) in the direction of web delivery (F) and points toward the second left-hand deflecting device (6l).

Abstract: Bowed spreader apparatus for laterally stretching, or stressing, a web of material carried in a selected direction along a conveyor path includes an elongate stationary spreader bar extending laterally of the path. The spreader bar has a web support face which is convexly curved both about the longitudinal axis of the bar and along the longitudinal axis. The bar includes a formed elongate support body having a degree of flexibility allowing the body to be bent in a bowed configuration. A face surface of the body is formed in a convex curve about the longitudinal axis of the body and a plurality of hardened elements are individually secured to and cover the face surface of the support body. An underlying interchangeable profiling support having a convexly curved upper surface forms the spreader bar into a selected bowed configuration.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for spreading fibers in a fibrous tow provides a fiber spreader for spreading a tow of fibers moving in a machine direction having a plurality of spaced pins, where the spacing between the pins is variable relative to the machine direction, and the position of the pins is variable relative to the machine direction. Variation of the spacing and position of the pins during motion of the pins contact with a tow moving generally in the machine direction provides a spread tow of lower, more uniform areal weight for further use in product applications. Variation in pin spacing and fiber spreading results from rotation of at least one pin relative to another after the pins are inserted into a tow. Alternate techniques for fiber spreading and additional features for stress relief of fibers during the fiber spreading operation are disclosed.

Abstract: A film stretching structure holds a non-self-supporting film, sheet or the like taut so that the film, sheet or the like may not crease or slacken. The film stretching structure comprises a frame structure having, as principal components, a quadrangular outer frame having two opposite side members for supporting a film, a sheet or the like thereon, and an inner frame having side members substantially parallel to those of the outer frame, respectively, and disposed inside the outer frame so as to form gaps between the side members of the outer frame and the corresponding side frames of the inner frame, respectively, and bar-shaped stretching members. A film, a sheet or the like is supported on the two opposite side members of the outer frame, and the stretching members are pushed together with portions of the film, the sheet or the like into the gaps contiguous with the opposite side members of the outer frame supporting the film, the sheet or the like to stretch the same.

Abstract: A relatively inexpensive web widening apparatus which is suitable for the manufacture of a widened web having a large width and a lightweight web while maintaining a high widening ratio and the uniformity of the web and can be operated with ease at a high efficiency comprises a widening tool in contact with the web, having first and second groups of widening plates arranged in a width direction of the web to face each other, at least one pair of cross guiders which can nip both side end portions of the web, and guide means for moving the widening plates of the first and second groups in such a manner that the interval between the widening plates expands gradually as they rotate and then narrows gradually.

Abstract: A device for inserting laundry articles into a feeder, comprising a conveyor which is adapted to first grip a stretched portion of a front edge on the laundry article and then to convey the laundry article into the feeder with the front edge foremost in the direction of feed, an underlying horn being positioned in front of the conveyor with respect to the direction of feed such that the laundry article is pulled across the horn, an overlying horn being provided between the conveyor and the underlying horn such that the laundry article during the insertion is pulled below the overlying horn in engagement with it. This ensures effective smoothing-out of any creases on the laundry article before it is inserted into the feeder.

Abstract: A device to correct the longitudinal torsion in a tubular fabric includes a plurality of conveyor belts placed on two opposite sides of a balloon shaped by air pressure in a vertical segment of a fabric tube, each one composed of several rotatable rules which press the balloon up with its movement to pull it in the direction of a plurality of squeezer rubber cylinders which are in a transversal sliding direction in friction contact with the fabric to eliminate the longitudinal torsion from it.

Abstract: A film or web stretcher particularly for thermoplastic film has a plurality of stretching cylinders, at least one or more of which cooperate with a press-on roller particularly at the inlet and/or outlet of the stretcher. A mounting arm (6) at each end of the stretcher cylinder permits the mounting of the press-on roller in such a way that the latter can be tilted through a limited angular range about the rotational axis of the stretching cylinder by a first drive. A second drive, such as a piston cylinder device adjusts the press-on roller relative to the stretching cylinder to thereby apply a press-on force. The first drive may, for example, be accomplished by a manually driven device for positioning the press-on roller and its cooperating components in any one of two end positions and in any position between the two end positions. The press-on roller may be directly mounted to the mounting arms (6) or through support brackets (9) to the arms (6).

Abstract: A widening device for increasing the width of a moving web of material comprises a rotatable profiled roller, the outer surface of which defines a plurality of radial projections and recesses distributed along the length of the roller and first and second co-operating rollers rotatable at the same speed as the profiled roller. The first and second co-operating rollers define projections and recesses complementary to those of profiled roller and define first and second treatment nips which serve to increase the width of a web of material passed therethrough. The projections on the co-operating roller defining the second treatment nip extend more deeply into the recesses of the profiled roller than do the projections on the co-operating roller which defines the first treatment nip so that the web of material is stretched gradually over two stages with the stretching effect being uniform across the entire width of the web.

Abstract: In a cloth piece spreading apparatus which carries out a process in which, after a corner C.sub.1 of a rectangular cloth piece 15 and a position Ya on the side of the cloth piece which includes this corner C.sub.1 are gripped by a movable gripper 16 to which there are attached two clips 17, and the cloth piece 15 is suspended naturally, the cloth piece 15 is pulled by the gripper 16 and is moved horizontally to the upper surface of a bench 35, which consists of a belt conveyor and the like, while undergoing contact resistance with a convex shaped front edge portion 36 of the bench 35, and is then pulled up onto the bench 35, there is provided a suction duct 47 having numerous suction holes 48 in the half the surface of the cloth edge side of the cloth pulling path on bench 35.

Abstract: A honeycomb manufacturing expander mechanism which includes a cam or guide plate having two sets of guide slots respectively extending outwardly in opposite directions away from a center portion of the plate. The inboard ends of the slots in each set are equally spaced from each other. In extending outwardly, the slots in each set converge such that the spacing between the outboard ends of each slot is less than that of the inboard ends. Disposed beneath the plate are a pair of mutually parallel bars, each carrying a plurality of expander pins which extend upwardly through corresponding slots in the plate. The bars are movable in concert from positions beneath the inboard ends of the slots to positions beneath the outboard ends of the slots by one or more motor-driven lead screw drives.

Abstract: A device for continuously imparting a predetermined twist to an elongated tubular shaped flaccid work piece composed of first and second sets of arcuate shaped spaced apart ribs delimiting a space having a funnel shaped portion, a moving device affixed to the first and second set capable of moving the first and second set of ribs in misalignment with one another, and a device for supplying gas under pressure to the space delimited by the first and second sets of ribs.

Abstract: A fluid-operated stabilizing apparatus receives an article having loose, wrinkled overlapping surfaces and by use of fluid flow control devices directs flows of fluid to the overlapping surfaces to fluidly shake the surfaces to smooth out wrinkles and any folded portions thereof, and then to align and hold the surfaces for subsequent treatment, such as bonding together. A method is also provided for smoothing and aligning the overlapping surfaces for subsequent treatment.

Abstract: A wrap material spreader roll includes a smooth, cylindrical tube having spiral flights at opposite end portions thereof formed from spirally wound elongate members such as wires, or the like, the elongate members having respective inner ends defined by a radially inwardly projecting portion which is received in a respective hole provided in the tube. The spreader roll is mounted to opposite support walls by respective standard bolts having hexagonal flange heads received in hexagonal bores provided in the inner races of a pair of roller bearings that are pressed into the opposite ends of the tube, the bolts having respective threaded stems received in the smaller lower portions of keyhole-shaped openings provided in the walls and having flange nuts received thereon.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the oscillating pinch roll assembly or web handling apparatus includes a rotatable spindle having an input which accepts the tubular web. A pinch roller is mounted at the input. A plurality of rollers are circumferentially disposed around the pinch roller and the axis of rotation of those rollers is parallel to the center line of the tubular web. A turning bar is disposed in the interior of the spindle and turns the flattened web exiting the pinch rollers 90 degrees and feeds the horizontal web to a first roller of the plurality of rollers disposed at the periphery of the spindle. The traveling web always passes over this first roller. By rotating the spindle in an oscillatory manner about the center axis of the tubular web, the horizontally traveling, flat web is wound and unwound around the outer periphery of the spindle and is fed to a fixed idler roller.

Abstract: A spreader bar shoe mounted on the spreader bar of a paper making machine to smooth the sheet or web of paper prior to it being wound onto the takeup reel at the end of the paper machine. The spreader shoe is in the form of an elongated base of plastic material mounted on the spreader bar with segmental inserts forming a wear resistant strip in the outer surface of the base for engagement by the paper sheet with the segmental inserts being secured in a recess by a resilient interface material in the form of silicone to permit limited relative movement between the brittle insert segments and the plastic base due to differences in thermal expansion of the dissimilar materials of the brittle ceramic inserts and the plastic base.

Abstract: An apparatus for the liquid flow treatment of fabrics in which a fabric is set in the form of an endless rope and the fabric and a treating liquid are circulated to effect the liquid flow treatment, the apparatus comprising a lateral cylindrical fabric reservoir tank for storing and delivering the fabric, which tank has an inclined rear portion so that the depth of the treating liquid is gradually increased in the direction of advance of the fabric, a header portion arranged above an inlet part of the tank and provided in the interior thereof with a fabric driving reel or roll for pulling up the fabric from the tank, a treating liquid jet nozzle connected to an outlet part of the header portion to generate a stream of the treating liquid, a fabric delivery tube extended from the jet nozzle to a fabric inlet part of the rear portion of the tank to deliver the fabric substantially linearly together with the treating liquid stream generated by the jet nozzle, a fabric-expanding plate which is arranged so that th

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a laying carriage which travels over a laying surface to deposit web material on the surface. The web material falls as a suspended web. Behind the suspended web there is at least one air nozzle which directs a jet of air at the suspended web, so avoiding creasing of the material as it is laid. The nozzle is on the end of a flexible air supply line which provides for easy adjustment of the position and orientation of the nozzle.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric is produced by forming a batt of fibers which are oriented primarily transverse relative to the direction of movement of the batt, stretching said batt longitudinally relative to the direction of movement of the batt, and needling the stretched batt. Also apparatus suitable for the production of the novel fabric is disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus for removing wrinkles in a thin flexible moving web such as paper or textiles. The web is passed over a bar curved to effect a shear force on the web and/or a tensile force on the web in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the web. The bar is oscillated resonantly or nonresonantly with one component of the oscillation being in a direction normal to the web surface so that its intermittent contact with the web causes any wrinkles therein to collapse. Gas, under super-atmospheric pressure can be passed through ports in the bar surface and into contact with the web to assist in collapsing wrinkles. SPREFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONSThis application is a continuation-in-part of Application Ser. No. 521,179, filed Nov. 6, 1974, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of now-abandoned Ser. No. 436,838, filed Jan. 28, 1974, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of now-abandoned Ser. No. 331,199, filed Feb. 9, 1973 .