US 4,210,987 AGranted

Apparatus for feeding a moving web to a stenter apparatus

AssigneeImperial Chemical Industries PLC

InventorsNigel C. Benson, John M. F. Hughes, Denis Kingslake, David G. Symonds

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Abstract

A process and apparatus for introducing a moving web to a stenter apparatus at the commencement of the stenter apparatus operation comprises gripping and transporting the web between at least two belt conveyors which are driven at a linear speed substantially equal to the linear speed of the edge grips of the stenter apparatus, transferring the moving web into the moving edge grips of the stenter apparatus, and disengaging the belt conveyors from gripping and transporting contact with the moving web when continuous web transportation through the stenter apparatus has been established. Useful in processes for the production of oriented and heat-set thermoplastics films such as polyethylene terephthalate films for feeding the film to the stenter apparatus at the beginning of the film production process or if a malfunction necessitating re-feeding occurs in the stenter apparatus. Preferably incorporates means for feeding the film to a dump until re-feeding can occur, then severing the film and re-feeding.

Claims7

Dependent claims

An assembly comprising a stenter apparatus and means for initially introducing a moving web into said stenter apparatus;

said stenter apparatus comprising linearly moving edge grips movable at a given linear speed over predetermined paths;
and
said introducing means comprising:
at least one conveyor belt located on one side of the moving web and at least one other conveyor belt located on the other side of the moving web, each of said conveyor belts extending into said stenter apparatus and terminating inwardly of the paths of said edge grips of said stenter apparatus;
said conveyor belts being positioned so that the edge margins of the web extend beyond the edges of the conveyor belts;
means for driving said conveyor belts at a linear speed substantially equal to the linear speed of said stenter apparatus edge grips;
and means for operatively moving said belt conveyors into and out of operative association with the web so that when said belt conveyors are in operative association with the web they grip and transport the web into operative association with said edge grips of said stenter apparatus, and so that when said belt conveyors are not in operative association with the web they do not engage or affect the movement of the web.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.