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US3833973A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Simultaneous continuous biaxial web stretcher

Assignee: Kimberly Clark Corp
•
Filing: 1972-06-16
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Granted: 1974-09-10
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Expires: 1992-06-16
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Abstract

Abstract Apparatus for achieving simultaneous, continuous, biaxial orientation of webs including means for feeding the web to clamps positioned about a pair of oppositely canted sheaves, moving the clamped web around the circumference of the sheaves, and removing the biaxially stretched web from the sheaves at a location of wider separation than the feed zone. In one embodiment the clamps are driven by rods rotating parallel to the plane of the sheaves, but about a center which is displaced from that of the sheaves to obtain nearly balanced stretch profiles. Completely balanced stretch is achieved by using slightly s-shaped rods. The clamps accelerate with the web on one semicircle and decelerate on the opposite semicircle. Acceleration provides longitudinal stretching, while the divergence of the sheave circumferences provides lateral stretching.

Inventors

  • 👤 E Schwarz

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 17:05
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06C; D06C3/00; D06C2700/00; D06C2700/05

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 205 words
Apparatus for simultaneously and continuously biaxially stretching webs comprising, a circumferential track disposed in one plane, a second similar circumferential track disposed in a second plane at an angle to said first plane so that said tracks approach each other at one location and are more widely separated at the opposite location on said circumference, a plurality of independent clamps slidably positioned in each of said tracks for gripping said web, means for moving said clamps around said tracks in a circumferential path so that the clamp motion accelerates in the distance from the location where said tracks approach each other to the opposite location in said circumferential path, said moving means comprising a plurality of rods located in a plane parallel to the plane of each of said tracks, means for rotating said rods within the plane about an axis displaced from the center of the corresponding circumferential track in the parallel plane, and means combining the clamps in said parallel plane with said rods for movement therewith, means for feeding said web to said clamps at a location where said tracks are relatively close, and means for removing said web from the clamps at a location where said tracks are more widely separated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 205 words
Apparatus for simultaneously and continuously biaxially stretching webs comprising, a circumferential track disposed in one plane, a second similar circumferential track disposed in a second plane at an angle to said first plane so that said tracks approach each other at one location and are more widely separated at the opposite location on said circumference, a plurality of independent clamps slidably positioned in each of said tracks for gripping said web, means for moving said clamps around said tracks in a circumferential path so that the clamp motion accelerates in the distance from the location where said tracks approach each other to the opposite location in said circumferential path, said moving means comprising a plurality of rods located in a plane parallel to the plane of each of said tracks, means for rotating said rods within the plane about an axis displaced from the center of the corresponding circumferential track in the parallel plane, and means combining the clamps in said parallel plane with said rods for movement therewith, means for feeding said web to said clamps at a location where said tracks are relatively close, and means for removing said web from the clamps at a location where said tracks are more widely separated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 44 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said rods comprises, circumferential tracks about the extended ends of said rods, a drive wheel engaged with said circumferential tracks about said rods, and means for rotating said drive wheel and thereby said rods.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rods have a slight s-shaped configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circumferential tracks for said clamps form the ends of an oblique enclosed, hollow cylinder, and wherein means are included for controlling the temperature of said cylinder for the purpose of treating said web during stretching.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US49947A Cited
US2571355A Cited
US3445886A Cited
US3247544A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-09-09 1978-03-11 1978-09-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-09-09 1982-03-11 1982-09-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-09-09 1986-03-11 1986-09-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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