Patent ID: 7996965

Claim:
A sheet or film clipping stretcher including first and second clip arrays composed of clips, respectively, and configured to clip both side edge parts of a sheet or film to stretch the sheet or film, the sheet or film clipping stretcher comprising first and second clip array circulators line-symmetrically arranged on a plane, and configured to circulate the first and second clip arrays along line-symmetric prescribed routes, respectively, the first and second clip array circulators each respectively comprising a plurality of clip support members rectangular in shape, and each respectively having a clip supported on one longitudinal end part thereof, and a longitudinal elongate hole formed therein at the other end side, a first shaft member provided in a vicinity of the one end part of a respective clip support member, a slider slidably engaged with the elongate hole of the respective clip support member, a second shaft member provided to the slider of the respective clip support member, a main link member having an end thereof pivotally connected to the first shaft member of the respective clip support member, and another end thereof pivotally connected to a second shaft member of a neighboring clip support member, a sub-link member having an end thereof pivotally connected to the first shaft member of the respective clip support member, and another end thereof pivotally connected by a pivot shaft to an intermediate part of a neighboring main link member, a reference rail engaged with an engaging element provided on the first shaft member of the respective clip support member, and defining a prescribed route, a pitch setting rail provided along with the reference rail, engaged with an engaging element provided on the second shaft member of the respective clip support member, and configured to set a pitch between neighboring clip support members in a variable manner depending on a spacing distance relative to the reference rail, and a drive sprocket configured to selectively engage with a driving roller provided on the first shaft member of the respective clip support member to have the respective clip support member travel along the prescribed route.