Devices for conveying, stretching, and taking-away polymer films
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for processing a film, the apparatus comprising:
- a conveyor comprising gripping members that hold opposing edge portions of the film and convey, under influence of a drive member, the film along a machine direction within the apparatus, wherein a portion of the conveyor is configured and arranged to provide diverging paths along which the gripping members move to stretch the film; and
an isolated take-away system that receives the film from the conveyor after stretching the film, the take-away system comprising a first set of opposing tracks, a second set of opposing tracks, a plurality of first gripping members configured and arranged to grasp opposing first take-away regions of the film after a desired amount of stretching and convey the film along the first set of opposing tracks, and a plurality of second gripping members configured and arranged to grasp opposing second take-away regions of the film and convey the film along the second set of opposing tracks, wherein the second take-away regions are nearer a center of the film than the first take-away regions.
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Abstract
Stretched polymeric films can be used in a variety of applications, including optical applications. The stretching conditions and shape of the stretching tracks in a stretching apparatus can determine or influence film properties. Take-away systems can be used to receive the film after stretching. The configuration of the take-away system can, in at least some instances, influence final film properties.
53 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for processing a film, the apparatus comprising:
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a conveyor comprising gripping members that hold opposing edge portions of the film and convey, under influence of a drive member, the film along a machine direction within the apparatus, wherein a portion of the conveyor is configured and arranged to provide diverging paths along which the gripping members move to stretch the film; and an isolated take-away system that receives the film from the conveyor after stretching the film, the take-away system comprising a first set of opposing tracks, a second set of opposing tracks, a plurality of first gripping members configured and arranged to grasp opposing first take-away regions of the film after a desired amount of stretching and convey the film along the first set of opposing tracks, and a plurality of second gripping members configured and arranged to grasp opposing second take-away regions of the film and convey the film along the second set of opposing tracks, wherein the second take-away regions are nearer a center of the film than the first take-away regions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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6. An apparatus for processing a film, the apparatus comprising:
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a conveyor configured and arranged to convey the film along a machine direction, the conveyor comprising gripping members that are configured and arranged to hold opposing edge portions of the film; a stretching region in which the gripping members are configured and arranged to travel along diverging paths to stretch the film; and a post-conditioning region disposed after the stretching region and comprising at least one zone in which the gripping members are configured and arranged to travel alone converging paths; wherein the post-conditioning region comprises at least a first zone and a second zone, wherein the gripping members are configured and arranged to travel along paths converging at a first angle in the first zone and along paths converging at a second angle in the second zone, wherein the first and second angles are substantially different. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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Specification