Abstract: An oven for thermal treating a web includes: an over chamber; a web transport for transporting a web through the oven chamber; a heater for heating the web in the oven chamber; an exhaust system connected to the oven chamber; a model-based controller for controlling the web temperature profile; and an air delivery system. The model-based controller includes: (i) a plurality of sensor inputs; (ii) a plurality of control signal outputs; (iii) a multi-variable controller with first principles guidelines and oven and process boundaries for a first specific oven; (iv) a desire process profile; and (v) a translator module for permitting the desire process profile to be transferred to at least a second specific oven.

Abstract: The nozzle velocity profile of a textile treating assembly, such as a tenter oven, is determined in a simple and effective manner. A pitot tube is mounted on a fabric web-engaging support. A pressure transducer is operatively connected to the pitot tube and produces an electrical signal proportional to the difference between the static and total pressures sensed by the pitot tube for each nozzle. A wire is releasably connected to the transducer and extends to the exterior of the tenter oven, and is connected to a reeling assembly at the exterior of the tenter oven. The position of the sensing portion of the pitot tube is adjustable so that it can extend above or below the fabric web.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for obtaining a temperature profile of a moving substrate, particularly a fabric web moving through a linear drying or heat-setting oven. Without arresting fabric movement, a temperature sensing probe, preferably a thermocouple mounted on a support, is placed in engagement with a specific point of the fabric web, sharpened pins on the support, penetrating and engaging the web. The temperature probe is connected by a wire to a reel. The reel has a handle held by the operator about which the reel rotates to let out and take up the wire while providing electrical continuity between the wire and a stationary recorder. Level unwinding of the wire takes place from the reel as the probe moves with the fabric through the oven, the probe continuously monitoring the temperature of the specific fabric point and feeding signals back to the recorder through the wire.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for obtaining a temperature profile of a moving substrate, particularly a fabric web moving through a linear drying or heat-setting oven. Without arresting fabric movement, a temperature sensing probe, preferably a thermocouple mounted on a support, is placed in engagement with a specific point of the fabric web, sharpened pins on the support, penetrating and engaging the web. The temperature probe is connected by a wire to a reel. The reel has a handle held by the operator about which the reel rotates to letout and takeup the wire while providing electrical continuity between the wire and a stationary recorder. Level unwinding of the wire takes place from the reel as the probe moves with the fabric through the oven, the probe continuously monitoring the temperature of the specific fabric point and feeding signals back to the recorder through the wire.