Stationary web spreader

Bowed spreader apparatus for laterally stressing a web of material carried in a selected direction along a conveyor path comprising

• an elongate stationary spreader bar supported adjacent and extending substantially laterally of said path, said spreader bar having a web support face which is convexly curved both about the longitudinal axis of the bar and along the longitudinal axis of the bar, such that the web of material carried thereover under tension is urged to spread laterally,
• the bar comprising a formed elongate support body having a degree of flexibility allowing the body to be bent into a bowed curve along its longitudinal axis, with a face surface of the body formed in a convex curve about the longitudinal axis of the body, and a plurality of rigid wear-resistant elements individually secured to and covering the face surface of the support body to form the web support face for the spreader bar,
• an elongate base extending laterally of the conveyor path with said support body secured to said base, and
• a profiling support interposed between the base and support body to bend the support body into a desired bowed configuration, said profiling support having a side which engages said support body and is configured to bend the support body into said desired bowed configuration, said profiling support is removable and may be interchanged with another profiling support of a different configuration to bend said support body into a different bowed configuration.

Apparatus for supporting a travelling web of material carried in a selected direction along a conveyor comprising

• an elongate stationary carrier bar for guiding the travelling web, said bar including an elongate formed support body having a degree of flexibility allowing it to be bent into a selected bowed curve along its longitudinal axis, a convex rounded surface disposed adjacent the web, said surface extending substantially across a width of the travelling web, and a plurality of rigid wear-resistant elements individually secured to and covering the convex surface of the support body to form a web carrying face for the carrier bar,
• an elongate substantially inflexible base extending laterally of the conveyor path and mounted adjacent the conveyor path, upon which base the carrier bar is mounted,
• a profiling support interposed between said base and carrier bar to bend the carrier bar into a desired bowed configuration, said profiling support comprising an elongate member having a first longitudinally extending surface which is supported by said base, and a second longitudinally extending surface on an opposite side of said profiling support from said first surface, said second surface having a curved configuration of the bowed configuration to which said carrier bar is bent;
• and
• a second profiling support having a bow shaped configuration different from that of said first-mentioned profiling support and said first-mentioned and second profiling supports are interchangeable in said apparatus to vary the bowed configuration of said carrier bar.

Apparatus for supporting a travelling web of material carried in a selected direction along a conveyor comprising

• an elongate stationary carrier bar for guiding the travelling web, said bar including an elongate formed support body having a degree of flexibility allowing it to be bent into a selected bowed curve along its longitudinal axis, a convex rounded surface disposed adjacent the web, said surface extending substantially across a width of the travelling web, and a plurality of rigid wear-resistant elements individually secured to and covering the convex surface of the support body to form a web support face for the carrier bar;
• said elements being disposed in multiple rows and columns across the convex rounded surface;
• an elongate substantially inflexible base extending laterally of the conveyor path and mounted adjacent the conveyor path, upon which base the carrier bar is mounted, and
• a profiling support interposed between said base and carrier bar to bend the carrier bar into a desired bowed configuration.

Apparatus for supporting a travelling web of material carried in a selected direction along a conveyor comprising

• an elongate stationary carrier bar for guiding the travelling web, said bar including an elongate formed support body having a degree of flexibility allowing it to be bent into a selected bowed curve along its longitudinal axis, a convex rounded surface disposed adjacent the web, said surface extending substantially across a width of the travelling web, and a plurality of rigid wear-resistant elements individually secured to and covering the convex surface of the support body to form a web support face for the carrier bar;
• the elements are disposed in multiple rows and columns extending across the convex rounded surface, each element having a front face, a rear face opposite said front face, and surrounding edge margins between said front and rear faces, said elements being secured at their rear faces to said support body with edge margins of an element contiguous but unjoined to edge margins of an adjacent element;
• an elongate substantially inflexible base extending laterally of the conveyor path and mounted adjacent the conveyor path, upon which base the carrier bar is mounted, and
• a profiling support interposed between said base and carrier bar to bend the carrier bar into a desired bowed configuration.