Abstract: A tentering system having a pair of spaced tenter rails defining a first end, a second end and a tentering path, and moveable material securement members carried by the tenter rails is disclosed. The tentering system may include first material guides at the first end of the tenter rails and second material guides at the second end of the tenter rails, and at least one drive motor for alternately and selectively driving the securement members in the first and second directions. In addition or in the alternative, a pair of direct drive motors is provided at the first end of the tenter rails, each of the direct drive motors including a clutch moveable between a drive position and a neutral position, and clutch actuating means to selectively and positively move the clutch from the neutral position to the drive position. In addition or in the alternative, first and second pairs of direct drive motors are provided at the first and second ends of the tenter rails, respectively.

Abstract: A method and system for manufacturing endless needled felts having at least one layer of longitudinally-extending spiral windings of a fiber web is disclosed. The system includes first and second machines, one being utilized for applying and tacking spiral windings of a fiber web to an endless web or fabric and the other being utilized for full needling of the applied and tacked fiber web to the endless web or fabric. The first machine has associated therewith a web feeding device for feeding a fiber web having a width substantially less than the working width of the first machine, and a needling device having an operative width corresponding to the width of the fiber web.

Abstract: A needle loom is disclosed. The loom comprises a frame; a needle beam; means, including a drive shaft and crank means carried by the drive shaft and coupled to the needle beam, for reciprocating the needle beam relative to the frame; and, means, including a guide means fixedly carried by the frame and a slide means pivotally carried by the needle beam and slidable relative to the guide means, for guiding the needle beam during its reciprocating movement relative to the frame.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a layered, cross-lapped web of predetermined width from a strip of batt material is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a pair of transversely spaced frame members, a delivery conveyor having a web support surface thereon positioned between the frame members and movable longitudinally relative thereto, a cross-lapping carriage transversely reciprocatively movable relative to the delivery conveyor and adapted to deliver the strip of batt material to the support surface to form the layered cross-lapped web on the delivery conveyor, and shielding aprons carried by the cross-lapping carriage and statically juxtaposed above the layered web for shielding portions of the web adjacent to the cross-lapping carriage from air eddies caused by the transverse reciprocative movement of the cross-lapping carriage.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing endless, needled, longitudinally oriented, paper machine felts having a predetermined width formed from a plurality of overlapping loops of a narrower width strip is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing an endless web includes means for supporting the endless web at a first location and a roll for supporting the endless web at a second location. The roll has first and second ends. First and second carriages are engaged to first and second substantially parallel tracks respectively for rotatably supporting the first and second ends of the roll respectively in a normal operating position and for moving the roll relative to the support means along the tracks. A bridge connects the first and second carriages. Means are mounted to the bridge for lifting the roll at a location between the first and second ends, whereby the roll is supported by the lifting means and the first carriage, whereby the endless web may be inserted or removed over the second end of the roll.The lifting means includes a cradle for supporting the roll, means for moving the cradle into and out of a position underneath the roll and means for elevating the cradle while the cradle is in the position under the roll.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for stretching and tensioning an endless web, such as a blanket or felt for papermaking machines. The apparatus includes a trackway having at least one movable stretch roll mounted thereon and movable relative to a work station for supporting and stretching the endless web or blanket. The movable roll is supported on a movable carriage arrangement at each end of the roll, with the carriage arrangement at one end including a first carriage section and a separable second carriage section. The first carriage section includes a device for lifting one end of the movable roll, and the second carriage section is connected to a saddle support which is pivoted into position to support the movable roll in the lifted position. The first carriage section is then disconnected from the second carriage section and is rolled away from its position under the movable roll. In this manner, the endless web can then be removed from the lifted end of the roll and replaced with another web.