Apparatus for uncurling the edges of a running web

Claim 1

Apparatus for uncurling and drying the edges of a running web, comprising a. walls defining a substantially closed housing containing a hot gaseous atmosphere therein, b. a conveyor belt having a flat horizontal upper reach disposed in said housing for conveying said web through said housing in a flat and substantially tensionless condition, Pg,8 c. a plurality of fixed, rigid tubes mounted to said housing and extending in spaced parallel relation, transversely above the upper reach of said belt and said web, d. a tubular nozzle telescopically connected to each end of each of said fixed tubes and terminating in a downwardly and outwardly directed restricted slot opening oriented parallel to the edge of said web, e. at least one lead screw having oppositely threaded portions mounted to opposite side walls of said housing with at least one end extending through one of said walls, said lead screw being parallel to said tubes, f. a pair of followers mounted in spaced relation to each lead screw and threaded one to each threaded portion, g. a bracket mounted to each follower and movable therewith, h. all of said nozzles adjacent one side of said web connected to the same bracket and follower whereby rotation of said lead screw will move all of said nozzles along one side of said web in the same transverse direction and all of said nozzles along the other side of said web in the opposite direction, i. conduit means connected to each of said fixed tubes, and, j. blower means connected to said conduit means, k. the intake of said blower means communicating with the interior of said housing whereby the heated gaseous atmosphere is recirculated from said housing through said nozzles to uncurl and dry the edges of said web.