Apparatus for treating endless fabrics

Claim 1

IN AN APPARATUS FOR TREATING A MOVING LENGTH OF FABRIC IN THE FORM OF AN ENDLESS BELT THE COMBINATION OF PARALLEL GUIDE ROLLS, MEANS FOR ROTATING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID GUIDE ROLLS, SAID GUIDE ROLLS BEING MOUNTED TO RECEIVE SAID ENDLESS FABRIC AND TO ENGAGE SPACED TRANSVERSE PORTIONS THEREOF TO MOVE SAID FABRIC THROUGH AND ENDLESS PATH WHICH INCLUDES A REACH IN WHICH SAID FABRIC EXTENDS LENGTHWISE BETWEEN TWO OF SAID ROLLS SUBSTANTIALLY IN A PLANE TANGENT TO THE SURFACES THEREOF, MEANS FOR VARYING THE SPACING BETWEEN SAID TWO GUIDE ROLLS TO PLACE THE FABRIC IN SAID REACH UNDER ANY DESIRED DEGREE OF TENSION IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID FABRIC WITHIN SAID REACH, TENTER MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH OPPOSED EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID FABRIC WITHIN SAID REACH, MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID TENTER MEANS AT THE LINEAR SPEED OF THE FABRIC WITHIN SAID REACH, AND MEANS FOR VARYING THE SPACING BETWEEN SAID TENTER MEANS TO PLACE THE PORTION OF SAID FABRIC WHICH EXTENDS BETWEEN SAID TENTER MEANS UNDER ANY DESIRED DEGREE OF TENSION IN A DIRECTION TRANVERSE TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE FABRIC WITHIN SAID REACH.