Fife Corporation

John M Plumb

The present invention relates to a guide apparatus for guiding a moving web of material having a tuft portion mounted on a backing portion such that the backing portion extends outwardly from the tuft portion to form at least one tuft edge. The web is movable in a web direction through a travel path threaded through the guide apparatus. The guide apparatus comprises a base and a platform pivotally mounted on the base to pivot about a pivot range. At least two parallel steering rollers are mounted on the platform and disposed transversely of the web direction of travel when the web travels across the platform. A sensor is positioned substantially adjacent to the travel path of the web to sense a lateral position of the tuft edge and to output an output signal indicative of the lateral position of the tuft edge when the web travels through the travel path. Control device for generating control signals responsive to the signals produced by the sensor for automatically correcting a deviation from a predetermined position of the web position. Finally, platform drive device responsive to the control signals generated by the control means is provided for pivoting the platform and thereby controlling the angular position of the platform relative to the base.

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Edmond, OK, United States of America

John M Plumb