Patent ID: 6865783

Claim:
Stentering machine having a pretreatment zone ( 1 ) and a drying zone ( 3 ) for continuous treatment of a web of material ( 2 ) spread out between stentering chains ( 7 ) comprised of chain links ( 21 ), the two lengthwise edges ( 27 ) of which are to be attached to the chain links in a coupling zone ( 6 ), in releasable manner, wherein each of the chain links ( 21 ) possesses linking pins ( 22 ) that are to be coupled with an adjacent chain link, in each instance, in pivoting manner, at the distance of the chain pitch ( 5 ), and wherein guide rails ( 8 ), which are horizontal in the drying zone ( 3 ), are assigned to the stentering chains ( 7 ), wherein in the case of a pretreatment zone ( 1 ) and vertical web guidance provided in the coupling zone ( 6 ), a 90° deflection zone ( 9 ) of the stentering chains ( 7 ) on guide rails ( 8 ) that are curved, with a smooth transition into the horizontal guide rail course of the drying zone ( 3 ) follows the coupling zone ( 6 ), and that in the deflection zone ( 9 ), the arc segment (B) of the guide rails ( 8 ) that corresponds to each chain link ( 21 ) is at most approximately 1% longer than the related chord (S).