Abstract: A process and apparatus for spreading a multiple filament tow by passing the tow through a series of rotating discs having asymmetrical rollers mounted thereon.

Abstract: A drying apparatus includes a dryer for a textile web. The dryer includes a drying chamber and at least one air-permeable drum arranged to rotate in the drying chamber. The textile web is guidable over a partial section of the circumference of the drum and heated drying air is flowable through the textile web. The dryer further includes a device to introduce heat for heating up the drying air. The device includes an internal hot gas source and an external hot gas source. The internal hot gas source is a component of the dryer and the external hot gas source is arranged peripherally to the dryer and includes a hot gas line connected at least indirectly to the dryer.

Abstract: In a method and device for applying a thread to a moving substrate, a thread is continuously dispensed to a pick-up point adjacent to the point of contact of two rotating wheels (2, 3) that are inclined towards each other. The peripheries of the wheels have fingers (7) which hook the thread and move it to one side or the other as the wheels rotate, and then deposit the thread extended between the fingers 180° from the pick-up point. Long spaces between the fingers (7) on one wheel or the other make it possible to lay the thread longitudinally (8b) or in a long diagonal line instead of merely in a lateral zigzag pattern. The method and device may be used to make an absorbent article, such as a diaper.

Abstract: A device for transversely stretching a web includes a pair of pulleys arranged in the substantially same plane and rotating in the opposite directions to each other and a pair of belts running around the pulleys, respectively. The web is widthwise stretched, by gripping opposite side edges thereof by the pulleys and the belts and conveying the web in a divergent manner. At least one pair of pressing rolls are provided at an inclination relative to the belts for pressing the opposite side edges of the web onto the belts prior to being gripped between the pulleys and the belts. According to this structure, a device for transversely stretching a web is realized which is capable of effectively preventing the web from being dropped from the grip.

Abstract: A width stretching unit for textile webs includes a first needle disc unit having first and second needle discs disposed along a first axis at a distance corresponding to the width of the web of material and a second needle disc unit having a second axis which is situated in the pivoting plane parallel to the first axis, and having third and forth needle discs arranged perpendicular to the second axis that rotate about the second axis with the same peripheral speed as the first and second needle discs. The axial distance between the third and fourth needle discs is equal to the axial distance between the first and second needle discs in a zone of increased distance between the first and second needle discs.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for stretching a continuously moving elastomeric web in a cross machine direction includes a pair of rotatable, cylindrical rims which are located adjacent the elastomeric web. A supporting mechanism is connected to the cylindrical rims to guide the rims for rotation about their axes. The axes of the cylindrical rims are oriented to position the rims at a close spacing at a first location and a far spacing at a second location. The far spacing is substantially greater than the close spacing relative to the elastic web path. A gripping means is located on the cylindrical rims such that, as the rims are rotated by a driving means, the gripping means receives the elastomeric web and holds the elastomeric web as it is stretched in the cross machine direction. The driving means is connected to the cylindrical rims. In addition, each cylindrical rim may have a center opening therethrough defined by its inner circumferential surface.

Abstract: A web transport apparatus that will not cause the web to break by exerting external forces in different ways on two lateral sides. The transport apparatus includes a group of pins that are studded on flat plates connected together to form a chain on either side of a web so that it is transported in multiple stages as it is retained on two lateral sides. An annular member supports the web from the inside by pins in each of the reversing sections that rotate to reverse the direction of web transport, with the piercing end of each pin facing either inward or outward. The annular member has a central shaft located at the center of the locus of rotation of the flat plates and has an outside diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the locus of rotation of the web. Preferably, the annular members rotate at the same speed as the web.

Abstract: A pair of stretching pulleys are rotatably mounted on a pair of support plates within a housing. A belt is wound around the upper part of the stretching pulley and a number of turn pulleys. A film introduced onto the stretching pulley is held between the belt and the stretching pulley and is transferred. Air flow generated by a fan and heated with a heater is blown against the film through a louver and circulates through bellows mounted to the housing to return to the fan. The stretching pulley is partially cooled in a water bath. The support plates are rotatably connected to screw shafts, thereby changing a distance and angle between the plates. The stretch width or stretch ratio of the film is thus adjusted with the change of the distance and angle.

Abstract: An elastic ribbon is fed over a vacuum drum. Rotating cutter blades use the drum as an anvil to cut the ribbon into spaced apart segments. A sheet comprising a diaper web runs over a roll that is spaced from the drum. A segment transferring and stretching device is arranged between the drum and roll. One embodiment of the transferring device has grippers rotating together about the axes that are not coaxial but are at opposite acute angles relative to the roll and drum axes. The grippers engage an unstretched elastic segment on the drum when the grippers are close together but as they rotate they spread apart and stretch the segment which is then pressed onto the glue treated sheet. In another embodiment of the elastic segment stretching and transferring device, grippers are mounted to the periphery of a vacuum drum. At least one of the grippers is moved alternately toward and away from the other under the influence of a stationary cam as the drum rotates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing wrinkles from a table skirt includes a cylinder capable of holding the table skirt and having a porous portion. The apparatus further includes devices for rotating the cylinder and for delivering steam from an outside source through the cylinder so that the steam passes through the porous portion and removes the wrinkles.

Abstract: This invention relates to the improvements of a spreading equipment which unwinds textile material wound on a material roller by making patterns and cutting the materials and spreads it on a table. These improvements especially relates to such a construction as is that the equipment provided with a material support shaft at the rear edge position and a feed-out roller at the middle position is equipped with a pair of needle wheels symmetrically located so that they correspond to both selvages of material mounted on the material support shaft at the middle parts on the equipment body and can independently freely rotate and that, under such conditions, the selvage portions of materials pass on the needle wheels semicircularly as being caught on the wheels.

Abstract: Longitudinal and transverse stretching of a tubular film is effected by gripping opposite selvages of the tubular film between a pair of substantially coplanar pulleys and a pair of endless belt means trained arcuately around the pulleys, respectively, and by rotating the pulleys at a peripheral speed greater than a speed of feed of the tubular film. As the film selvages progress along a pair of arcuate divergent paths, respectively, around the pulleys, the film is heated, reversed in direction of travel, and cut along the selvages into a pair of biaxially stretched sheets. Before stretching of the film, live steam is introduced into the tubular film for heating the same.

Abstract: An apparatus for longitudinally stretching a web comprising a pair of spaced apart rotatable members. Associated with each member are a plurality of angularly spaced primary clamps, each radially movable outward, during member rotation, from a primary web engaging position, in which the primary clamps initially engage the edges of the web being transported between the members, for longitudinally stretching the clamped web. Further associated with each member is a plurality of angularly spaced secondary clamps, each angularly interposed between primary clamps and radially movable outward during member rotation from a secondary web engaging position, which is spaced radially outward from the primary web engaging position. The secondary clamps engage the intermediate edges of the web extending between primary clamps, thereby minimizing edge scalloping of the web during continued stretching thereof in unison with engaged primary clamps.