Apparatus for spreading and guiding a fabric web

Claim 1

IN A DYEING MACHINE FOR AN ENDLESS WEB OF CARPET OR THE LIKE AND HAVING DYE CONTAINER, A DRIVE REEL FOR REMOVING AND DEPOSITING THE CARPET IN SAID DYE CONTAINER, A PAIR OF AXIALLY ALIGNED ROLLERS DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY OF SENSING ELEMENT ENGAGES THE WEB, THEREBY SPREADING THE THE WEB BETWEEN SAID DRIVE REEL AND SAID DYE CONTAINER AND HAVING OPPOSITELY DIRECTED SPIRALS ON THE PERIPHERAL SURFACES THEREOF, MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID ROLLERS INDEPENDENTLY FOR ROTATION, DRIVE MEANS FOR IMPARTING ROTATION TO EACH SAID ROLLERS, BRAKE MEANS FOR EACH OF SAID ROLLERS, A PAIR OF SENSING ELEMENTS FOR ENGAGING THE OPPOSITE LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF THE WEB, AND CONTROL MEANS FOR EACH OF SAID ROLLERS, EACH OF SAID CONTROL MEANS BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE ENGAGEMENT AND DISENGAGEMENT OF ONE OF SAID SENSING ELEMENTS AND THE WEB FOR ACTUATING SAID DRIVE MEANS AND SAID BRAKE MEANS TO PROVIDE FOR CONTINUOUS ROTATION OF SAID ROLLERS WHEN THE WEB IS CENTERED RELATIVE TO SAID SENSING ELEMENTS DURING NORMAL, OPERATION AND TO STOP THE DRIVE MEANS AND TO SET THE BRAKE MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH ONE OF SAID ROLLERS WHEN THE RESPECTIVE SENSING ELEMENT ENGAGES THE WEB, THEREBY SPREADING THE WEB AND ALIGNING IT IN A CENTERED CONDITION RELATIVE TO SAID ROLLERS.