Abstract: A new low-profile tentering system for a tenter machine is realized according to the present invention by a tenter frame including low-profile rail assemblies for carrying an endless carrier. A series of attachment blocks of the endless carrier have tentering connectors to provide for transporting a sheet material under widthwise tension in a longitudinal path through the tenter machine.Each rail assembly has guideways for supporting and carrying an endless carrier within the guideways. The tentering system of this invention uniquely uses a plurality spherical bearing balls for transporting the endless carrier within slots of the guideways. The endless carrier includes an endless belt or endless chain connecting a series of attachment blocks for holding the bearing balls in a position so that they can freely rotate within the guideways. Tentering connectors are carried by the attachment blocks of the endless carrier for supporting spaced apart edges of the sheet material.

Abstract: This invention relates to a machine for mixing and blending liquid chemicals with a gas or air, and more particularly for providing an air and chemical mixture having the consistency of a foam substance for coating the surface of a fabric or other substrate material. The invention provides a mixing apparatus having a plurality of peristaltic type pumps that operate at a system pressure that will permit pulsed mixing of air with chemical substances without using high system pressures to achieve a predetermined mix ratio for a chemical compound. The addition of a premix unit helps to achieve the mixing by providing a two stage mixing process when used along with a blending foamer. A unique air injector of the premix unit aids in the initial injection of air into the chemical substance. The blending foamer has an improved rotor configuration and mounting to also achieve enhanced mixing. The mixing apparatus provides a foam substance of a chemical compound for coating a substrate material in a coating machine.

Abstract: A compact web dryer oven, (A,A') is disclosed which is heat efficient, may be open for convenient cleaning, and raises automatically under the effects of an explosion to relieve pressure and reduce damage to the oven interior. The oven includes a lower housing (B) and an upper housing (C) which are essentially identical. Each housing includes an air distribution system having a short path and recycle time which may include a hot air discharge blower (H,110,112,114), and an air distributing plenum (I, 116). Lower and upper hot air registers (E,F) receive the proportioned air flow. The air registers include spaced tubular members (22) transverse to the air diffuser manifold having an air divider nozzle (G) positioned between each member. A first nozzle (32), second nozzle (34), and third nozzle (42) are defined relative to tubular members (22) and nozzle bodies (G) which accelerate the flow of air in a manner to balance the air currents at the web.

Abstract: A compact web dryer oven (A) is disclosed which is heat efficient, may be open for convenient cleaning, and raises automatically under the effects of an explosion to relieve pressure and reduce damage to the oven interior. The oven includes a lower housing (B) and an upper housing (C) which are essentially identical. Each housing includes an air distribution system having a short path and recycle time which includes a hot air discharge blower (H), an air reducing plenum (I), and a redirecting chamber (J) which directs the air in a vertical direction. An elongated air diffuser manifold (K) extends the length of the housing and includes a radial arrangement of pipes (71) and radial air openings (72) which distribute the air (45) in equal parts across the width of web (W). Lower and upper hot air registers (E,F) receive the proportioned air flow. The air registers include spaced tubular members (22) transverse to the air diffuser manifold having an air divider nozzle (G) positioned between each member.

Abstract: A web sensor for sensing the edge of a web in a feather like action is disclosed which includes a feeler (10) carried by rotary disk (12) which fits into a pair of housing sections (20, 24) and is coupled to the housing by means of weighted balls (32, 34, 36). The weighted balls are carried in a circumferential slot (42) with a clearance (44). The weighted balls extend into arcuate slots (38, 40) in the housing sections and dampen rapid oscillations in the pendular motion of feeler (10). Turning of rotary disk (12) interrupts a pair of energy beams which may be light (50A, 52A) or an air jet (124, 126). Depending upon which energy beam is interrupted, the web is moved accordingly until feeler (10) resumes its neutral position.

Abstract: A tenter entry feed assembly and method is disclosed for a tenter which includes a pair of spaced entry feed assemblies (A, 25, 27). Each entry feed assembly includes a parallel pinning rail section (B), an adjacent elongated fabric conveyor (C, 40), and an elongated contoured feedplate (55) adjacent to each conveyor. Also carried by each entry feed assembly is a sprocket wheel (46) at least one of which is keyed for rotation with a shaft (48). The fabric conveyors (C) and contoured feed plates (55) extend next to a main feed roll (54) of the entry system. In this manner, a pinning point (29) is defined which is very close to the main feed roll and the distance between the feed roll and the pinning point is substantially reduced so that control over the fabric may be had positively by conveyor (40) in the zone. Pinning of the selvages of the fabric (F) occurs in a natural relaxed state generally without tension. An output (88) of shaft (48) is connected to a phase adjusting drive ( 94).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying a smooth uniform coating to a web (W) having variations in thickness and density and surface irregularities is disclosed. The invention includes a vertical floating pressure table (B) which supports the traveling web (W) against a transfer roll (20) and a scrape blade (46). Coating material (C) metered by a doctor blade (34) is applied to the transfer roll (20) at (40) and then applied to the web in a uniform layer (78). The pressure table (B) is supported against the web by a counter-balancing linkage arrangement (D) which maintains a constant uniform pressure on the table (B) and web (W) regardless of the vertical movements of a table platform (60) in response to web variations an irregularities. A smooth uniform coating (80) is provided.

Abstract: Coating apparatus (10) is disclosed which includes a foam table assembly (A), a coating roll (D), and an automatic trough control system (58). A blade assembly (B) having a coating blade (44) may be selectably positioned over a foam table (20) of the foam table assembly (A) or the coating roll (D) depending upon the type of coating technique desired. A roll mandrel assembly pivotably supports the coating roll (D) by means of a pair of pivot arms (124, 126). Air cylinders (138, 140) provide a constant pressure on the pivot arms which holds the coating roll (D) in a coating position under the constant pressure. The coating roll deflects upon the passage of a thickened seam portion (S) of the fabric. During the deflection, the constant pressure is maintained on the coating roll. The support arms (124, 126) are carried on carriages (102, 106) to move the support arms laterally to accommodate different length coating rolls.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for a coating machine of the type which comprises a vertically disposed coating blade (30) beneath which a traveling web (W) passes through the coating machine for application of a coating compound. A trough feed system (48) supports the weight of the coating compound in close proximity to the coating blade to define a metering gap (60) for metering the coating compound. An adjustable mounting assembly (32, 34) provides adjustment of the trough longitudinally with respect to the coating blade to thereby vary the width of the metering gap. A pair of adjustable end dams (B) are carried within the interior of the trough (48) for containing the width of the coating compound to that generally of the fabric (W). The end dam comprises an adjustable frame (C) having an adjustable frame section (72) which bears against the trough and adjusts to the shape of the trough when moved. A relatively stationary vertical leg (70) is braced against the coating blade.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for facilitating passage of a seam (S) on a web (W) traveling underneath the edge of a knife blade (34) on a coating machine (A). The apparatus includes a machine frame (10) and a support surface (32) carried by the frame over which the web (W) travels. The vertical knife blade (34) is carried in a superimposed position adjacently above the support surface for contacting the web traveling between the knife blade and support surface to apply a coating material to the web. A movable blade assembly unit (B) is provided for carrying the knife blade (34) in the vertical disposition and for movement relative to the frame. A blade motion guide mechamism (C, 76, 78, 80, 82 D) is provided for positively guiding the movement of the blade assembly unit (B, 38, 40, 42, 44) on the frame when the blade is moved by the seam (S) in a backward arcuate lifting motion from a blade-down position to a blade-up position facilitating seam passage.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying a smooth uniform coating to a web (W) having variations in thickness and density and surface irregularities is disclosed. The invention includes a vertical floating pressure table (B) which supports the traveling web (W) against a transfer roll (20) and a scrape blade (46). Coating material (C) metered by a doctor blade (34) is applied to the transfer roll (20) at (40) and then applied to the web in a uniform layer (78). The pressure table (B) is supported against the web by a counter-balancing linkage arrangement (D) which maintains a constant uniform pressure on the table (B) and web (W) regardless of the vertical movements of a table platform (60) in response to web variations an irregularities. A smooth uniform coating (80) is provided.

Abstract: A spreader roller for textiles which is fabricated by positioning a smooth cylindrical supporting member coaxially within a corrugated tube having inner and outer helical ridges, the outer ridges on one longitudinal half of the tube being of opposite hand to the outer ridges on the other half of the tube. The corrugated tube is fastened to the supporting member along the inner helical ridges, preferably by plug welding at spaced points along the inner ridges.