Importance

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Abstract

A tenter entry feed assembly and method is disclosed for a tenter which includes a pair of spaced entry feed assemblies (A, 25, 27). Each entry feed assembly includes a parallel pinning rail section (B), an adjacent elongated fabric conveyor (C, 40), and an elongated contoured feedplate (55) adjacent to each conveyor. Also carried by each entry feed assembly is a sprocket wheel (46) at least one of which is keyed for rotation with a shaft (48). The fabric conveyors (C) and contoured feed plates (55) extend next to a main feed roll (54) of the entry system. In this manner, a pinning point (29) is defined which is very close to the main feed roll and the distance between the feed roll and the pinning point is substantially reduced so that control over the fabric may be had positively by conveyor (40) in the zone. Pinning of the selvages of the fabric (F) occurs in a natural relaxed state generally without tension. An output (88) of shaft (48) is connected to a phase adjusting drive ( 94). Phase adjusting drive (94) may be utilized to drive conveyors (C) in a 1:1 relationship with the tenter chain or in an overfeed or underfeed relationship. First and second phase adjusting drives (132, 150) are provided for adjusting the speed of conveyors (C) independently of one another in order to take out any bias or other distortion markings in the fabric. Direct mechanical connection is provided between a drive (52) of the tenter and the phase adjusting drives of conveyor (C) so that fabric is fed for pinning in direct response to start up of the tenter.

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First Claim