Abstract: A technique for initiating the formation of pores in a polymeric material that contains a thermoplastic composition is provided. The thermoplastic composition contains microinclusion and nanoinclusion additives dispersed within a continuous phase that includes a matrix polymer. To initiate pore formation, the polymeric material is mechanically drawn (e.g., bending, stretching, twisting, etc.) to impart energy to the interface of the continuous phase and inclusion additives, which enables the inclusion additives to separate from the interface to create the porous network. The material is also drawn in a solid state in the sense that it is kept at a temperature below the melting temperature of the matrix polymer.

Abstract: A transport device includes a first belt member, a second belt member, a first roller, a second roller, a third roller, a fourth roller, a fifth roller, and a sixth roller. The second belt member is in contact with the first belt member to form a contact portion in cooperation with the first belt member. The first roller is capable of adjusting a tilt in a longitudinal direction of the first roller. The second roller is capable of adjusting a tilt in a longitudinal direction of the second roller. The third and fourth rollers are located adjacent to the first roller. The fifth and sixth rollers are located adjacent to the second roller. The third roller, the fourth roller, the fifth roller, and the sixth roller each have a uniform diameter in a longitudinal direction of the roller, and are disposed at positions other than the contact portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for longitudinal orientation of thermoplastic film material (4) comprises a width-reduction zone upstream of the longitudinal stretching zone, through which the width of the film is gradually reduced so as to allow longitudinal stretching without necking. The width-reduction zone comprises at least one, preferably several, pairs of pleating rollers (16, 17) comprising intermeshing grooves or discs for pleating the material, the length of said width reduction zone preferably being less than 3 times the original width of the film. The width-reducing zone has upstream (14) and downstream (15) rollers or roller assemblies, with curved axes and optionally also conveyor belts for providing smooth width reduction. Longitudinal stretching is preferably between at least two, and preferably more than two, pairs of stretching rollers (9, 10, 11, 12) which are relatively close together.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for increasing the skin or wound compatibility of a hygiene or wound care product, which has a cellulose nonwoven fabric and which is present in the form of a web, or of a precursor product of said hygiene or wound care product. The product is stretched and deviated in at least one direction in such manner that the cohesion of fibers or flakes of the cellulose nonwoven fabric is weakened, reduced, disrupted, or broken down at least in some sections.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a fabric has a drum with an elliptically-shaped cross-section having a pair of narrow sides and a pair of broad sides. Each of the narrow sides have an impact edge. Each of the pair of broad sides has a sliding surface. The drum has a differential helical expander formed on an outer surface thereof. A bearing and drive shaft set are affixed to the drum so as to impact rotational motion to the drum.

Abstract: A stretching assembly for cloth has a heating furnace, a pressing device and a shaping device. The heating furnace has two opposite sidewalls and a channel. The channel is formed through the opposite sidewalls of the heating furnace and has an inlet and an outlet. The pressing assembly is set to face the inlet of the heating furnace and has a first pressing wheel and a second pressing wheel. The first pressing wheel has multiple annular protruding segments formed on an external surface of the first pressing wheel. The second pressing wheel parallel the first pressing wheel to form a curved clearance between the pressing wheels and has multiple annular concave segments formed on an external surface of the second pressing wheel. The shaping device is set to face the outlet of the heating furnace, aligns with the pressing device and has two shaping wheels.

Abstract: A device for stretching webs of material transversely to a travel direction thereof, includes at least one rotary stretcher extending transversely to the travel direction of the web of material. The stretcher is composed of at least two round tubes which are aligned axially with each other and are supported by ball-and-socket joints on links. The links are mounted adjustably on a base frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for drawing a film web, made from a thermoplastic plastic, comprising at least one driven roller (2), driven at a speed V1 and at least one second driven roller (3), driven at a speed V2, where V1<V2. The rollers (2, 3) are serially arranged such that a drawing gap (4) is embodied between the two rollers (2, 3). A width-maintaining device is arranged in the drawing gap (4), which mechanically grips both edges of the film web such that the width of the film web is essentially maintained during the longitudinal drawing in the drawing gap (4). The invention further relates to a method for the longitudinal drawing of films which are drawn by means of said device.

Abstract: The machine for the production of a nonwoven comprises an expanding device which is arranged in-between a first consolidation by water jets and a second consolidation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sheet processing apparatus 1 having a pair of rolls 2 and 3 with teeth on their periphery in engagement with each other. The rolls are adapted to have a sheet 10 introduced into the nip thereof while rotating to process the sheet 10. The teeth 20 (30) of the roll 2 (3) have a pitch of 1.0 to 5.0 mm, a tooth thickness of less than a half the pitch, and a tooth height equal to or more than the pitch. The depth of engagement between the teeth 20 of the roll 2 and the teeth 30 of the roll 3 is preferably 1.0 mm up to the tooth height.

Abstract: This invention provides a web expander comprising means for carrying a web 2 having longitudinal slits, means 5 for expanding the width of the web, and opening control means 6 for uniformly forming size and form of openings of the web expanded by said means for expanding. The means 5 for expanding the width consists of a flat expander 15 and two pairs of cloth guider 21, and opening control means 6 comprises two expander rolls 31 as a rotatable ribbed roll, the ribbed roll being adapted to be applied to one side of the traveling net-like web to rotate in the direction in which the net-like web 2 is reduced in width.

Abstract: A process for making a plurality of necked nonwoven strips having similar or identical cross-directional profiles includes the steps of slitting a neckable nonwoven web into a plurality of neckable nonwoven strips, passing the neckable nonwoven web between a first pair of nip rollers having a first surface velocity and a second pair of nip rollers having a second surface velocity greater than the first surface velocity, and necking the nonwoven web between the first pair of nip rollers and the second pair of nip rollers.

Abstract: The invention relates to rolls for use in spreading webs and minimizing the formation of wrinkles therein. The roll has a diameter in its central region that is greater than the diameter proximate its end portions. The diameter can taper straight from the central portion to the ends, can parabolically taper from the central portion to the ends, can utilize a combination of a parabolic shape and straight taper, or other profile variations.

Abstract: A method for making absorbent pads for various absorbent articles is provided. A strip of the absorbent web material is conveyed along a machine direction, the absorbent web material having a generally first constant cross-direction width and generally first uniform basis weight. Longitudinally defined portions of the web material are stretched in the cross direction so as to define longitudinal sections having a wider cross-direction width and decreased basis weight alternately spaced between longitudinally extending sections of the web material having a lesser cross-direction width and greater basis weight. The web is released eventually cut in a cross direction into individual absorbent pads such that each pad has a crotch section corresponding to the longitudinal section having the lesser cross-direction width and greater basis weight and at least one of a front section and back section corresponding to the wider cross-direction width and decreased basis weight.

Abstract: An improved bowed roll assembly and system that can be adjusted during operation to alter critical speeds to outside the range of the operational speed of the assembly, and methods of altering critical speeds of the roll assembly during its operation to inhibit harmonic vibration are provided. In one embodiment, the bowed roll assembly system includes a programmable logic controller (PLC) and accelerometer, and the critical speeds of the roll assembly are “learned” by the PLC which triggers changes to the pressure of the pressure applying member of the assembly to alter the roll's stiffness and the critical speeds.

Abstract: A stretcher roller for spreading out moving flexible strip material such as for example plastics film, paper or textiles, has a cylindrical outer surface of elastomeric material, with inclined incisions which are separated from one another by webs. The transition from the surface into an incision which makes an included angle of less than 90.degree. is of rounded or chamfered form. In this way a sharp-edged transition from the surface into the incision in question is avoided. Such sharp edges can damage the strip material if it enters the incision, which is particularly likely at the ends of the roller. The rounded transition avoids this damage.

Abstract: A woven fabric to be used in formation of a composite material includes multifilament warp and weft threads. Each of the warp threads and the weft threads have a total weight less than 80% of the weight of the fabric. The woven warp and weft threads have 0 twist/m and a torsion no greater than an original torsion of the threads before weaving. Each woven warp and weft thread has a width over the entire length thereof that is greater than or equal to an original width before weaving. The fabric is woven to have a given weight per unit area and a fiber volume ratio that is approximately constant throughout the fabric and that is satisfactory for use of the fabric in a composite material. The warp and weft threads of a yarn count that is greater than a yarn count traditionally used to achieve the fiber volume ratio for the given weight per unit area.

Abstract: A improved upper level de-twisting mechanism is provided to facilitate the handling of rope form fabric as it is drawn from a bulk container, typically in wet condition, and conveyed to a processing operation, such as spreading. The mechanism includes a rigid support positioned under a lifting roller and mounting a poteye through which the fabric is drawn. Three or more grooved guide rollers engage the lower flange of the poteye, supporting it for rotation about its axis. A reversible drive motor is mounted along side the poteye and drive belts are trained about the drive motor output and the grooved external contours of the poteye for controllably rotating the poteye.

Abstract: A running carriage (33) delivers, spreads, and piles a sheet material to be spread to form a piled sheet material (24), while running on a spreading table (22) of a cloth spreading machine (21). The piled sheet material (24) is placed on an underlay sheet (25) which has a larger area than that of the piled sheet material (24). At the bottom of the running carriage (33), a foot presser (27) is provided. The foot presser (27) is designed to be vertically displaced by a cylinder (28). A blower motor (29) drives a fan (30) to blow air through nozzles (31) towards the surface of the spreading table (22), thereby reducing the load of the piled sheet material (24). The underlay sheet (25) is pressed by the foot presser (27) and the running carriage (33) starts running, whereby the piled sheet material (24) is delivered.

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 sleeve stretcher assembly for the ends of an elastomer sleeve of a spreader roller which includes a stationary shaft having at least one of its end portions configured as a tube. A slide rod is adapted for sliding interior of said tube in a direction parallel to an axis of the shaft. A hub member is arrayed exterior of said tube while being connected to the slide rod by a pivot means. An axis of the hub member is selectively tilted with respect to an axis of said shaft by a tilt adjusting means. The slide rod is selectively positioned interior of the tube by a linear adjusting means. The selected linear adjustment is maintained by a locking means.

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 roller for guiding and stretching bands and/or film webs (21) for winding apparatus (FIG.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the lateral position of a web moving along a path of travel across a scroll roll or other roll capable of imparting lateral movement to the web. The apparatus includes sensors to detect lateral position of the web and elements, preferably conical brushes, which are movable into and out of contact with the web to cause the roll when in contact to move the web in a corrective lateral direction. A mechanism is employed for imparting movement to the web contacting elements which will achieve impact of the elements against the web at a velocity approaching zero. Further, the web contacting element is adapted for pivotal movement away from the web upon contact with the web, thus permitting webs of differing thickness across a normal thickness range to be controlled without additional adjustment to the apparatus.

Abstract: A device for stretching the width of strip material including two rotatably mounted circular pulleys having portions of their peripheries at a close spacing at a first location and portions of their peripheries at a larger spacing at a second location. Two flexible belts are mounted for movement along predetermined paths including clamping path portions with portions of the belts and pulleys in engagement from an inlet position adjacent the first location to an outlet position adjacent the second location. Edge portions of the strip material are guided between the belts and the peripheral surfaces at the inlet position and the portion of the strip material extending from the inlet position to the outlet position is clamped to the peripheral surface of the pulley by the belts and is stretched to widen its width as the pulleys rotate during movement of the strip material from the inlet position to the outlet position.

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: This invention pertains to a spreader roll adapted to remove wrinkles, ripples, bags and torque marks from fast-traveling webs of material of fabric, plastic or combinations thereof. The resulting fast-traveling web has a smooth, uninterrupted surface. This spreader roll is not a bowed or grooved roll, but is a straight roll having a resilient outer tubular rubber sleeve. The supporting shaft is straight, rigid, non-rotating, and is carried by support blocks. This outer sleeve is retained at each end by clamp means which is carried by anti-friction bearings. This clamp means includes a bearing ring which is pivotally carried by the central shaft. Each pivoted bearing ring is individually adjusted to stretch the resilient cover to remove the distorting wrinkles, ripples, bags or torque marks in the fast-moving web. A multiplicity of disc brushes is carried on a freely rotating tubular member and these brushes are positioned by spacer rings.

Abstract: An apparatus for tentering a hide including endless tentering mats (1, 2) driven along continuous upper and lower paths. The mats (1, 2) are pressed together over a portion of the continuous path by compressed air. A stretching assembly that grips the mat edges is used to continuously stretch the portions of the mats that are pressed together as they advance. An endless wire (5) is used to feed hides into the nip between the mats (1, 2).

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: To simplify a transverse stretching apparatus and provide rollers which do not require a change in the respective axes of rotation, two rollers are located adjacent, parallel, and spaced from each other, in which each of the rollers have outer cylindrical sections of respectively different diameters, with an intermediate essentially conical section, merging smoothly with the outer cylindrical section. The rollers are so located that the smaller diameter circumferential section of one of the rollers (4) is opposite the larger circumferential section of the other roller (5), and, when in essentially axial alignment, define a neutral position in which the sums of the diameters of the rollers at any axial plane passing transversely through the axes of rotation, will be the same. Upon relatively axially shifting the rollers with respect to each other (compare FIGS.

Abstract: A wrinkle-preventing mechanism for a high-speed printer, in which the web constituting the printing medium passes between skewed image and pressure cylinders while being subjected thereby to a high pressure, includes a flat-surfaced, rigid pressure pad underlying the web path toward the nip of the cylinders, a skewed, freely rotatable, elastomer-surfaced drag-inducing roller for pressing the web over its entire width against the pressure pad, and a loading system for applying forces to the roller to provide the requisite loading across the entire width of the web. A skew angle for the drag-inducing roller of about 2.degree.-5.degree. relative to the perpendicular to the direction of movement of the web toward the nip is preferred.

Abstract: An expander roller comprises a straight shaft, rotary disk groups having a plurality of rotary disks rotatably put on said shaft, and a stretchable and resilient cylindrical member closely fitted on said rotary disk groups.The rotary disk groups are formed by left- and right-hand rotary disk groups of which respective rotary disks are inclined in the opposite directions from the center to the both ends of said shaft, the inclination angles of the respective rotary disks in each group being gradually increased in the direction from the center to each end of said shaft.With the rotation of the rotary disks by the travelling force of a travelling article, the resilient cylindrical member is rotated as being expanded and contracted along its entire width in the opposite directions from the center to the both ends of said member. The travelling article is expanded with expansion of the resilient cylindrical member.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing real or false twist from a moving fabric in rope form. Freely rotatable, diagonally opposite elements are located on opposite sides of an fabric path of travel. Each element has a helically wound fabric contact member therearound with the helix direction of the diagonally opposite elements being the same. Fabric passing between the elements and engaging the contact members of the elements imparts rotation to the elements while the contact members impart rotation to the fabric for twist removal. A twist direction detector is located downstream of the elements to detect any remaining twist in the fabric, and a twist measurement sensor is located downstream of the twist detector to determine the amount of any remaining twist.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel groove roller and roller assembly comprised of two of such grooved rollers wherein the grooved roller is comprised of a plurality of discs having varying diameters and positioned on a shaft thereby forming a grooved roller of self-centering groove components. In a preferred embodiment, discs of one diameter and discs of another diameter are alternately mounted on the shaft. Also disclosed is a roller assembly formed of two of such grooved rollers in interdigitating or intermeshing relationship for laterally stretching incremental portions of an orientable thermoplastic substrate by introducing such substrate into a nip formed by such interdigitating grooved rollers whereby the velocity of introduction thereof is controlled to substantially the rotational velocity of such grooved rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus is afforded for transversely stretching a continuously advancing flexible web between a pair of opposed banks of tranversely-spaced pressure elements, one of which banks is stationary and whose elements have slide surfaces, the margins of the web being restrained to prevent substantial inward movement of said margins.

Abstract: Apparatus for untwisting a textile length which has become gathered and twisted into rope-like form includes a rotatable guide through which the textile is passed in a manner such as to be constrained for rotation therewith. The guide is rotatable by a reversible drive. Twist detecting means comprising two mutually axially-displaceable rifled rollers, are arranged to control the drive such as to rotate the guide in a sense dependent on the detected sense of twisting of the textile. To avoid the need for conventional bearings in the mounting of the guide, opposite ends of the guide are provided with respective annular tracks engaged by respective groups of rollers rotatably carried on a support structure. One of the track-engaging rollers is driven from the drive to cause rotation of the guide.

Abstract: A device for maintaining a predetermined alignment of a running web and more particularly maintaining the alignment of the belt of an endless conveyor comprising an idler spool over which the web or belt passes and which is laterally movable relative to its supporting framework. Means are provided for lifting one end of the idler spool and lowering the other in response to the lateral shifting of the belt and spool from a predetermined aligned position to cause the spool and the belt to again seek the predetermined aligned position.