Patent ID: 6457666
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A strand tension apparatus, comprising:(a) a strand delivery mechanism for controllably delivering a moving strand under tension downstream from a strand supply; (b) a strand take-up mechanism positioned downstream from the strand delivery mechanism for pulling the strand from the strand supply; (c) a tension controller positioned between the strand delivery mechanism and the strand take-up mechanism for adding tension to the moving strand as it moves downstream from the strand delivery mechanism to the strand take-up mechanism, said tension controller including a free-wheeling, non-driven strand feeding device frictionally-engaging the strand, the tension controller also including an adjustable drag force-applying means cooperating with the rotating strand feeding device for adding a predetermined tension within a range of adjustment to the strand as the strand is delivered downstream from the strand delivery mechanism; and (d) tension responsive drag-force varying means cooperating with the adjustable drag-force applying means and responsive to the tension on the strand being delivered from the strand delivery mechanism for reducing the amount of drag added to the strand by an amount equal to the tension of the strand being delivered to the tension controller, thereby resulting in delivery of a strand under uniform tension downstream from the tension controller to the take-up mechanism.