ABSTRACT
Regardless of the process, the web must remain flat as it moves through the machine, so web spreading is a constant concern for any converter operation. Sometimes the web reacts to a process in a manner that induces wrinkles where the web would otherwise run flat. Sometimes a prior process has implanted stresses in the web that form wrinkles over rollers where other webs will run flat. Sometimes machine rollers are marginally aligned and webs with a small amount of skew will wrinkle while flat webs will not. Whatever the cause, spreading is needed on all converting machines, especially as the web is unwound from the supply roll and at the exit of heat treating stations. Web spreading is also necessary in web-producing machines prior to the machine windups.
