US 5,996,195 AGranted

Cross machine tensioning system and method

AssigneeMorrison Berkshire, Inc.

InventorsJames S. White, David M. Ascevich, Edward C. Kirchner

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Abstract

An apparatus for tensioning, stretching or pulling a traveling web of material (e.g., single or multiple layers) lateral to the longitudinal or machine direction of the traveling web is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one but usually a pair of clamping devices to be disposed opposite each other on lateral edges of the traveling web upstream of a processing area where the clamping devices include stationary members, where at least one stationary member includes first and second ends and a material-engagement surface, wherein, when in operational position, the first and second ends define a direction of the material-engagement surface that is transverse to the machine direction of the traveling web. A method of stretching or pulling a single layer or multiple layer web of material laterally to the machine direction of the traveling web to remove wrinkles also is disclosed.

Claims55

Dependent claims

A machine having first and second ends, and being adapted to move a web of material, which has lateral ends, in a machine direction from said first end to said second end of said machine, said machine further comprising:

a. at least first and second clamping devices disposed on opposite lateral ends of the web of material, each of said at least first and second clamping devices comprising:
1) a first stationary member having first and second ends and a material-engagement surface extending therebetween, said first and second ends defining a direction of said material-engagement surface that is transverse to said machine direction;
and
2) a second stationary member arranged in an opposing relationship to said first stationary member, at least one of said first and second stationary members being movable with respect to the other of said first and second stationary members between an open position, in which the web of material can freely pass through said first and second stationary members, and a closed position, in which said second stationary member urges a respective lateral end of the web into engagement with said material-engagement surface, whereby when the web of material moves in said machine direction across said transversely arranged material-engagement surface, the respective lateral end of the web is moved laterally of said machine direction.

1 more element

A system for tensioning a traveling web of material, which has lateral ends, the web having a relative movement in a machine direction, said system comprising:

a. at least first and second clamping devices disposed on opposite lateral ends of the web of material, each of said clamping devices comprising first and second stationary members arranged in an opposing relationship to one another;
b. each of said first stationary members comprising first and second ends and a material-engagement surface extending therebetween, said first and second ends defining a direction of said material-engagement surface that is transverse to said machine direction;
and
c. each of said second stationary members being arranged in an opposing relationship to each of said first stationary members, at least one of said first and second stationary members being movable with respect to the other of said first and second stationary members between an open position, in which the web of material can freely pass through each of said first and second stationary members, and a closed position, in which each of said second stationary member urges a respective lateral end of the web into engagement with said material-engagement surface of each of said first stationary member, whereby when the web of material moves in said machine direction across said transversely arranged material-engagement surface, the respective lateral end of the web is moved laterally of said machine direction.

1 more element

A method for tensioning a traveling web of material, which has lateral ends, comprising the steps of:

a. providing at least one clamping device having first and second opposed stationary members movable between an open position, in which the stationary members are separated from one another and a closed position, in which said stationary members are adapted to grip onto a lateral end of the web therebetween, for stretching the web of material, at least said first stationary member comprising first and second ends and a material-engagement surface;
b. adjusting the position of said first stationary member such that said first and second ends define a direction where said material-engagement surface is transverse to said machine direction;
c. moving the web of material in a machine direction past said at least one clamping device;
and
d. closing said first and second stationary members such that the second stationary member urges the lateral end of the web of material into engagement with said material-engagement surface of said first stationary member, whereby when the web of material moves in said machine direction across said transversely arranged material-engagement surface, the lateral end of the web is moved laterally of said machine direction.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.