Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for guiding a flat web of material (1) in which the web of material (1) runs in an arrangement of rotating rollers at a web speed vF. The web of material is guided in its peripheral region via a spreader roll (2) which produces a tensile stress in the transverse direction, i.e. crosswise relative to the machine direction of the web of material (1), wherein this tension in the transverse direction is controlled by means of closed-loop control of the circumferential speed vR of the spreader roll (2) and/or by open-loop control of the cant angle &agr; and/or of the wrap angle &bgr; between the surface of the spreader roll (3) and the web of material (1) and wherein the circumferential speed vR is greater than the web speed vF.

Abstract: A spreader for spreading a fabric having upper and lower sides, transversely spaced edges and longitudinally extending reenforcing cords spaced laterally across said fabric between said edges preparatory to treating the fabric in a calender, as the fabric moves in a given path to the calender. The spreader includes a mandrel having an outer generally cylindrical surface concentric with a rotational axis. The cylindrical surface has a helical groove having convolutions with a pitch generally equal to a desired cord distribution laterally of the fabric. The mandrel is rotatably mounted to a support structure such that the mandrel is positioned transverse to the fabric with the cylindrical surface of the mandrel aligned with the fabric path to be generally tangential to a side of the fabric as the fabric moves in the given path. A first motor positioned on the support structure rotates the mandrel about the axis at a given rotational speed.

Abstract: A spreader for spreading a fabric having upper and lower sides, transversely spaced edges and longitudinally extending tire reenforcing cords spaced laterally across said fabric between said edges preparatory to rubberizing said fabric in a calender, where the fabric moves in a given path to the calender, the spreader comprising a cantilever mounted mandrel having an outer generally cylindrical surface concentric with a rotational axis, with the cylindrical surface having a helical groove having convolutions with a pitch equal to a desired cord distribution laterally of the fabric; a mandrel support structure adjacent one edge of the fabric and having means for rotatably mounting the mandrel in a position transverse of the fabric with said cylindrical surface aligned with the fabric path to be generally tangential to a side of the fabric as the fabric moves in the given path; a first motor on the support structure for rotating the mandrel about the axis at a given rotational speed; a second motor for moving t

Abstract: A spreader for spreading a fabric having upper and lower sides, transversely spaced edges and longitudinally extending tire reenforcing cords spaced laterally across said fabric between said edges preparatory to rubberizing said fabric in a calender, where the fabric moves in a given path to the calender, the spreader comprising a cantilever mounted mandrel having an outer generally cylindrical surface concentric with a rotational axis, with the cylindrical surface having a helical groove having convolutions with a pitch equal to a desired cord distribution laterally of the fabric; a mandrel support structure adjacent one edge of the fabric and having means for rotatably mounting the mandrel in a position transverse of the fabric with said cylindrical surface aligned with the fabric path to be generally tangential to a side of the fabric as the fabric moves in the given path; a first motor on the support structure for rotating the mandrel about the axis at a given rotational speed; a second motor for moving t

Abstract: A relatively inexpensive web widening apparatus which is suitable for the manufacture of a widened web having a large width and a lightweight web while maintaining a high widening ratio and the uniformity of the web and can be operated with ease at a high efficiency comprises a widening tool in contact with the web, having first and second groups of widening plates arranged in a width direction of the web to face each other, at least one pair of cross guiders which can nip both side end portions of the web, and guide means for moving the widening plates of the first and second groups in such a manner that the interval between the widening plates expands gradually as they rotate and then narrows gradually.

Abstract: A spreader for spreading a fabric having upper and lower sides, transversely spaced edges and longitudinally extending tire reenforcing cords spaced laterally across the fabric between the edges preparatory to rubberizing the fabric in a calender, where the fabric moves in a given path to the calender, the spreader comprising a cantilever mounted mandrel having an outer generally cylindrical surface concentric with a rotational axis, with the cylindrical surface having a helical groove having convolutions with a pitch equal to a desired cord distribution laterally of the fabric; a mandrel support structure adjacent one edge of the fabric and having means for rotatably mounting the mandrel in a position transverse of the fabric with the cylindrical surface aligned with the fabric path to be generally tangential to a side of the fabric as the fabric moves in the given path; a first motor on the support structure for rotating the mandrel about the axis at a given rotational speed; a second motor for moving the s

Abstract: A device for smoothing out a running material web having a marginal edge and a downstream direction of travel. At least two driven, threaded spindles engage the marginal edge of the material web. A web-guiding body is located upstream of the first spindle in the downstream direction. The web-guiding body has a guiding segment which extends beyond the free end of the spindle and is located between the web and a plane which intersects the spindle axis and extends parallel to the web. A rounded segment connects the guiding segment to a leading segment, which is spaced from the web by more than a radius of the threaded spindle. Alternatively, the web-guiding body includes several surfaces which surround a majority of the spindles on a side opposite the material web.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided an apparatus for conveying a web. The apparatus is able to continuously stretch the web or continuously release the stretching forces from a web in the cross-machine direction. The apparatus includes two pairs of opposing belts wherein each belt travels along an endless path. The pairs of belts diverge or converge from each other in the cross-machine direction. Each pair of belts comprises an upper belt and a lower belt which are adjacent to each other. Each of the upper and lower belts has a non-planar outer surface which contacts the web. The non-planar outer surfaces of each upper belt continuously abuts the non-planar outer surface of its adjacent lower belt along a predetermined distance when traveling in the machine direction. This creates at least one nip for continuously gripping the web while it is being conveyed. The apparatus also includes a means for driving the belts so as to convey the web in the machine direction.

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: In an apparatus for the production of articles from a planar web of thermoplastic material, having heating, hot shaping and punching devices, a web conveying mechanism for stepwisely transporting the web along the substantially planar path through the apparatus includes a plurality of driven stationary conveying units arranged at opposite edges of the web along the path thereof, each conveying unit including a driving wheel and a cooperating free wheeling supporting roller arranged opposite to each other and having their axes of rotation extending substantially parallel to each other and to the plane of the web, the driving wheel having a wedge-like converging circumference with a toothed circumferential edge and connected to a driving mechanism which synchronously drives the driving wheels, and the free wheeling supporting roller having a cylindrical circumference supporting the web in an adjustable position relative to the driving wheel, such that the toothed circumferential edge partly penetrates the web a

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a fixed roller and a movable roller movable toward and away from the fixed roller to correct the deviation of a travelling fabric by nipping a selvage thereof with the two rollers. The movable roller is biased by a spring toward the fixed roller for nipping the fabric but is normally held away from the fixed roller by a forward stroke of a cylinder against the action of the spring. The spring is provided with a member for adjusting the spring force, and the stroke of the cylinder is also adjustable. The axis of the movable roller is slightly shiftable automatically relative to the fixed roller to assure proper nipping engagement with the fabric.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric is produced by forming a batt of fibers which are oriented primarily transverse relative to the direction of movement of the batt, stretching said batt longitudinally relative to the direction of movement of the batt, and needling the stretched batt. Also apparatus suitable for the production of the novel fabric is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises guide means including a stationary roller and a movable roller opposed to the stationary roller and movable toward or away therefrom to nip a selvage of the fabric between the rollers when required to correct deviation of the fabric, and unfolding and spreading means including at least three screw rollers arranged side by side at the feed side of the guide means and along the direction of travel of the fabric. Each of the screw rollers is rotatable by a motor in the direction of unfolding and spreading the fabric, at least one of the screw rollers other than the screw rollers at the opposite sides thereof being pivotally movable toward or away from the surface of the fabric. The stationary roller of the guide means includes a roller main body and a shaft rotatable by the motor in the same direction as the direction of travel of the fabric.

Abstract: Apparatus for laterally stretching a web of textile fabric comprising a pair of web-stretching devices disposed at opposite sides of the web, each web-stretching device comprising at least a pair of parallel uncurling fingers and a control roller disposed therebetween. The fingers and the roller engage a selvage of the web to exercise a lateral pulling force thereon, and when a detector detects lateral displacement of the web, the position of the control roller relative to the fingers is changed to change the lateral pulling force on the web so as to correct the lateral displacement. At the same time the position of the detector is changed so as to prevent overshooting and render the sensitivity higher and response quicker. When the width of the web changes, the distance between the two web-stretching devices is changed so as to compensate for the change of the web width.

Abstract: A width-maintaining cylinder having at least one bearing arranged on a support at an angle to the longitudinal axis thereof. The bearing has a flange and a circular cylinder bearing surface for a small wheel set at an angle. The bearing has contact surfaces on both sides and can be clamped on the support between two tensioning elements. The contact surfaces of the bearing which can be pressed against one another are at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the support.

Abstract: A web guiding and centering apparatus for guiding and centering a moving web of substantially constant width relative to a fixed center line includes two guiding devices positioned equally distant from the selected center line, each guiding device comprising a pair of co-acting guide rolls inclined in the direction of travel of the moving web for engaging an edge portion of the web on opposite faces thereof. One guide roll of each pair is pivotally and resiliently biased toward the other roll of the same pair about a pivot which is outboard of the web. At least one roll of each pair has a composite surface which includes an outboard surface portion of relatively hard, low coefficient of friction material and an inboard surface portion of a relatively soft, high coefficient of friction material.