CA1102230A - Web spreader - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A web spreader which has great versatility for adjustment to fit virtually any spreading requirement and capable of spreading webs uniformly regardless of the number of slits and adapted to be adjusted for gauge variations. A pair of spreader bars has the just slit strips of a web trained thereover in successive partial wrap wherein one of the bars may have an adjusted bow therein and the other of the bars has a capability for both a bow adjusted condition and means for incrementally adjusting its web strip wrap area to compensate for web variation.

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Description

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Tllis invention relal:es t:o web spreadel~s, and is particularly concerlled with improving the versati~ity of ~such spreaders.

In the production of sheet material, such ~s paper, large machines a~e often used to pxoduce the sheet procluct. In YieW of the large size of the machinery, the sheet is frequently ~gui~e large ~nd very o~:en too lal-ge to he utili~ed direct:ly. For example, in the manu-facture of paper, It iS not un~lsual ~0 produce paper jn the for m of a roll having a width of 30 feet and a ~iameter of 9 feet. Paper rolls o this s~ze ~re no~ n~rmally directly useable~ For example, in the case of newsprint, ~he rolls used by the printer are rnucll smaller bo~h in widtl and in diameter.

.. , ' While in the foregoing paragraph ancl llereinafter, refe~eIIce may }~e made to paper, it is to be unde.rstood that ~hlle ~ e invelltion has particular suital~ility in the manufacture of paper, it has ~,eneral .
applicahility to any sheet materlal.

In order to recluce the size of the paper roll, the large roll is usually rewouml onto a plur~lity of axially alig,ned cores o~ suitable IeIlgth on ~'1 rewind device. As the paper is wound ~om the large roll on~o the cores, the paper is sli~ leng~hwise to form a plurality of w~bs of proper width. The width corre,sponcls to the lengt~ o~ the core on which ~:he particular sheet ls wound. Overlap o:E paper hetweerl adjacen~ rolls on the rewirlding device obviously cannot l~e tolerated ~lnd, ~.
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for ~his reason, the:sli~ p~per is spreacl out-by means of one ox more spreader rolls or bars.

- By way o e~ampie of prior spreaders, UOS. Pa~en~ No. 3,6a~5,~33 is referred tO as representative of the so-called f~n type wher~in a web slit into rnultiple widths or strips has the strips divertecl generally fan-shape.
Por at least certain conclitions, nurnber of slits7 papex ~ade, etc., such a spr~ader is not sultable,' ox ~or other reasons it is preferred to have tlle web strips return to parallel running rela~ion ~ith the original weh, For this purpose a two bar arr~ngemeIlt sucll as disclo~;ed ~n UOS~ Pal:ent No. 3~463,377 is o:f particular value~ In l:he latter form of spreader ~he web strips ~re fanned-out a limited amount in 1:ra~elling over the first : :
sp.~eacler bar and then in running over ~he second spreader har are xeturned to a parallel running direc~ion while incre~sing slightly the spaced rel.ation-ship be~ween adjacent web stripsO

A problem with the two bar spreaders has ~een that where' si~nificant web thickness, bulk or length variations are encounte:red tllere' has heen ~ tendency for ~he sli~ s~riys to interweaYe ox corr.ugate due to locali~ed uneven tension resulting frorn the thickness, bulk or lengtl ~ariations.

1~ is tllerefoxe an impor~ant object of thc present invention to overcome ~he problem of web ~:hickness, bulk, length (baégy area~
varlations in the opexa~ion of a two bar web spFe~der.

.~nother objec~ of the inven~ion is tv provide a new ~nd imp,roved : -2-.
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metllod of and means Ior adjusting a web spreader to cornpensate for variations in web thickness, length or bulk.

A further ob3ect of the invention is to provide a new and - improved two bar web spreader in which ~veb strips are run across a irst variably adjustable bowed spreader bar and thén ove:r a second ,Id~ustabl~ bowed spreac~er bar which is also incrementally adjustable . along its length to compensate for web 1:hickness, bulk or leng~ variations.
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According to ~ea~ures o~ the invention there is provided a web spreader adapted to be operatively disposed between a slltter and other }:)rocessing equipment such as a winder, sheeter and the like, and comprising a fLrst spreadex bar adap~ed to have web strips run across a limited wrap area thereof, said flrs~ spreader bar llaving a bowed relation to the web strips to spread them substantially fan-sllape, a second . .
~preader bar mounted adjacently downstream from the first l~ar and .

clapted to receive the web strips to run across a web strip area of the .
~econcl bar, said :second bar haviIlg a bowed relation to-the web s~rips for oricnting tbe strips from the fan spread relation ef~ected by said first bar into substantially parallel r~ulning relation, and means for selectively cffectillg adjustments of the web strip wrap area of the secorld bar incrementally along its length whereby to compensatefor varia~ions in web thickness, bulk or leng~h.

Accorcling to other ~atures of the invention thexe is providec~.~ . , a method of operatirlg a two bar spreader wherein each o~ the bars h~s a respective limited wrap axea longitudin~lly therealong and --'-- -- -- -- -- ' ' . ' .. -- --_ .. _ .. ______ A~ _. __,. ___. _ .~ , , . _ _ . _ . ., _ . ~ . _ ~ , , ~ , _~ . _. _ . , , _ .,,_, .. ,,.__, _ __,_ __ ._ .. _ .. _ .. _ . _ ._ .
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across which web strips running be~weell a slitter and o~her pxoce~;sing equipment such as a ~Yinder, sheeter, etc., travel in p~ssing ~hrough tlle spreader, and comprising, providing one of said spreader bars wi~ll a bowed relation to the web strips effecting spreading of the ~eb strips substantially fan-shape in travellLng across the limited wrap area of ~aid one spreader bar, providing a bowed relation of the other of saicl spreader bars to the weh strips effecting orientation of the s~ips frorn lhe f~n spread relation into substantially parallel running xelation ~n travelling across the limited wrap area o~ said other bar, and selectively c~cting adjustmen~s of the web strip wrap area of said other bar incrementally along its length and thereby compensating for variations ~n web thickness, bulk or length.

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Other objects, -features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following descriyti~n of a representative embocliment thereo, takcn in conjunction wi~h the. accompanying drawings although varia~ions and modificat:ions may be ef~ected Wit]lOUt departing from t~e spirit ancl scope of the novel concep~s embodied in tbe disclosure and Dl whiclh:

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view showillg a web spreadex embodying ~eatu.res of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an isornetric view showing a p~rtion af the spreader. ....

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken substantially along the lme III-III of Fig~ I; and ~ IG. 4 is a sectional, cletail view taken substantially alollg ~:he line I~ r o~ F'ig. ~. .

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Referring to Fig. 1, a weh spreader lO emboclying features of tlle invention is depicted in a desirahle operating orientation in an unwinder slit~er wincler mechanism of the type know~l as a :~ront dru3~l wrap winde:~, al~houg1l it will be appreci~tecl that tlle clevice may be applied to other equipmen~ such as the type known as a baclc d~um wrap winder, sheeters, or o~her processing equipment. In the illustrated instance, a web W to be slit is advanced from source SUCIl as a roll or papermaking machine and runs over a before-slitter roll 11 and then throug;h a sliLter 17 of suitable form such as tlle disk type. Beyond the slit~er~ web strips WS pass througll t1~e spreader 10 wherein the strips . , .

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are spread apart klterally. Beyond tl-le spreadex 10 th~ individual sprcad apart strips are wound upon respective cores 13 into xolls between drums 14.

In passing througll the spreader 10, the continuously running web strips WS pa~;s in generally zig-zag relation in partially wrapping xelation firsc across a bowed spreader bar 15 and then across a bowed .spxeade:r bar 17. By having the first bar lS bowed in generally a direction., )pposite that of the web travel, and the strips WS partially wrapping the conve~cly: bowed side of the bar the strips are separated in generall~
fan shape to the c~tent controlled by the radius of curvature o:f lhe l~ow.
.Then, by having the second sL~reader bar 17 bowed in generally a direc~:ion opposite that o:f the web travel, and the s~rips WS par~ially wr~pping the inside or concave l~ow of the bar .l7 the st~ips are straightened in ~lleir longi~udinal rulming direction so as to be in s~)st~ntially parallel side-by-side s~aced relation. . ..

Although any means may be used to adjust the bow in the bars in one such construction, the spreader bar 15 comprises a :resilien~ly l~endable tube having its opposite ends mounted on b~:nding coupli~g.s 18 carried by respective bow generat~ng lever pla~es (:Figs. 1, 2 and 3)O
~dj~cent to the couplings 18, each of the bow generating plat~s 19 is pivotally engaged upon an clongated fulcrum strip 20 carricd by an end plate 21 mounted on a support.ing frame 27 by m~ans of trunnion 23,. The place 19 is held to tlle fulcrum strip 20 by suitable means comprising an assembly of a bolt 24 and a sp-ring 25. ~or bowing the tubular spre~ade:L
I)ar 15, the bow genera~ing pla~e~s 19 arc caused Lo rock abouc the fulc:rum ~ ` ~
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strips 20 toward the moulltillg plates 21 by means conveniently comprising m eacll instance a bolt 27 spacecl from the bo~v couplings 18 a suhstantiall~r greater leverage distance than tlle couplings are spaced from the fulcrum 20. T~le bolts 27 are fixedly attaclled to the respective end plates 21 flnd e~ctend through clearance bushi.ngs 28 in tlle plates 19. By drawing up on adjustment nuts 29 on the exposed end poxtions of tlle bolts 27, t:he plates 19 are rocked forcefully the desired distance towarcd the end plates 21 as represented in dot-dash outline in Fig. 3, and the spreader har 15 is correspondingly bowed, as shown~ to the desired bow radius whîcl is adapted to be adjus~ed to provide optimum web strip spreading results ill operation. In order to standardize the~bow adjusting capability of tlle tneehanism, the outer face of the plate 19 is adapted to b~: provided with calibration mdicIa 30 with which a suitable indicia 31 on ~he nut 2~ ; adapted to be registered to attain any preferred selected bow radius in ~l1c spreader bar 15 and to cooxdinate adjustrnents of the bow generator pl~ es 19 at opposite sicles of ~he device. . ~:

To the same general effeet:, the spreader bar 17 comprises a resilien~ly bendable tube (Figs~ 2 ancl 4~ attached ~t i~s ~)p.poisLe encls by means of respecLive bending couplings 32 secured fixedly to a bow gener~ting plate 33 mounted to roc~ upon an elongated fulcrllm st:rip 34 carxied by the end plate 21. ~ocking attachment of the plate 33 to the fulcrum strip 34 is by rmeans of a bol~ 35 and a yieldable spring 37O Bow generating rocking of the plate 33 is adaptecl tobe efected by ineans .
of a bolt 33 secured to tlle mounting end pla~e 21 at a poin~ spacecl substantially furtl~er ~rom the coupling 32 tllan tlle fulcrum strip 3~.

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Tlle bolt 38 c~ctends through ~ 13ushi.llg 39 in tlle plate 33 so tlla~ 3~y tiglltening up on a nu~ 40, tlle plate 33 will be rocked t~ward tlle mounting plate 21 for bowing tl~e sprea(ler bar 17 in generally a direction opposite tllat of web travel. For calibration purposes, an indicia mark 41 on the nut 40 may be aligned with any selected bow indicating indicia nark 4~ adJacent to the bolt nut 40 on the outer face of Ihe plate 33.

Although a primary bow of suitable radius in the spxeader bar 17 relative to the adjusted bow ra~lius fixed fox ~he spreader har 15 may provide satisfactory we~b spreading results whexe the web W
is of substantially uniform gauge or thic~ess9 bulk and length, the spreacler bar 17 is equipped to effect incrernental acljus~ments along its length in the web strip`wrap area to cornpensate for situations ~here irregularities occur in web thickness, bulk or. Iength. . To ~is end, ~neans are provlded whicll are relatively accessible while the spreader 10 is Ln web strip separating operation to ef-fect the desirable i~icrementf.7.1 wxàp are~
acljustments. In a ~lesirable construction, such Ineans comprls~ subsl:an-~ially rectang~llar blocks ~3 inside the tubular bar 17 and ~rojec~ing tllerei:ron~ through rectangular slots 44 extending on incremen~s along the length of the tube 17 short of tll~ opposite encl,s o~ tll~ tube, f~lung their ou~er edges, the blocks 43 a:re :rigidly attached to a,saddle l~ar ad~pt~r . .
. 45 of a width and transverse curvaturc to engage complernentally witi~
the appro~imat.ely 45 or less wrap area o-f ~:h~ .sp~e~der h?r 17 across which t!le strips WS run in operation. Respective control scr~ws 47 are threaded into ~he blocks a~3 and sllank portions of screws 47 ~x~ d througlI suitable apertures in tlle bar 17 about wllicll are secured tl~rust ' -7~
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seats ~8 agail~st which respective hubs 49 of manually engageaL~le adjustment hlob ~lleels 50 are in tllrusting engagement. Means suCIt as xespective pills 51 secure the adjus~ment wheel hubs 49 ~ixedly to the shanks of the associated adjusting screws 47. By means o the engagement of the blocks 43 by the edges of the spreader bar 17 a~
the rectangular slots 44, the saddle bar is caused to normally assume subscantially the bowing radius of cur~,-ature of the spreader bar 17.

As will l~e observed, the saddle bar 4S~ which provides the limited surface are of the spreader bar 17 wrapped by the web strips WS, is at one slde of the ba~ 17 and only partially within the surface area of the bar 17- which has the curvature under bow stress~ By havlng the blocks 43 located at suitable incremental intervals along the length of the bar 17, such that the adjusting screws 47 are spaced in a typical instance at about 6 inch intervals, selectecl limited area tensioIl compen-S~tiIlg adjustmelits can be r~adily effected by manipulation of the adjLIs~men~
wlleels 50. By turning any selected one o~ the adjustment wheels 50 in the looseniog direction of the associated screw 47, the tension to which the saddle bar 45 is subjected in the bowed adjustmen~ of the bar 17 causes the sacldle bar 4~ to pull away ~rom the har 17 at tlle limited area o~ adjusted rela~sation, s~s~antially as indica~ed in dash outline` in Fig, 4. ~s a result, fine selective adjustments can be effected tl~roughout the length of the spreader bar 17 to compensate for an~r cletected web thicklless, bulk or length variation while the web spreader is in operation.

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In order to effect changes in wrap of the two bars lS and 17 means are providecl for turning t;he mounting plates 21 about the trunnions 23. Suitable mealls for this purpose comprise an adj ustmenl: screw 52 (Figso 1 and 2) attac~lecl to each of the plates 2~ througll a coupling 53 mounted in a connecting bloc~ 54 fixed on the associated plate~
At its opposite end the adjustment screw 52 extends threadedly througl a l)lock 55 fixed to the ~rarne 22. Through this arrangement by manipula~Lng a handle 57 ~ixed to the end of the screw S2 which cxtends tllrough ~he block 55 turning of the associated mounting pla~e 21 can be effected to ad~ust the spreader bars 15 and 17 relative to the path o~ the web strips across and between the bars for either adjusting the wrap of the web strips or for rnoving one or both o:E the bar~
entirely out of engagement with the web s~rips if desired.

To facilitate coo.rdinated adjust:ment of cach of the mounting plates ~1 gauging scale means rnay be provided comprising indicia id~ntified g~n.erally radiating spaced marks 58 on the ~rame 2~ adjacent tlle upper edge of the respective plate 21 as seen in Fig. 2 and witll wllicl a g~uge mark 59 on the edge of the pl~te 21 is adapted to be xegistered selectively to ~de~ermine a num~er of selectlve adjusted positions of tl~e spxeader bars 15 and 17 rel.atlve to the web travel patll betweell the bars. ` ``
: ' - . Where air flotation suppo:rt support of the web strips WS on the limi~ed web strlp spreading control wrap sur~ace o~ he bar i~ clesired~

air under pressure may be supplied ~:o such wral) surfaces througl ,, - , , 23tl~

perfol-~tions in tlle wrap surfaces. For example, tlle ad~us~able bow spreader bar 15 may be provided wi~h such perfvrations 60 (Fig. 3).
For a discussion of the effect and benefit of such air flo~ation refexence may be made toU.S. Patent 3,~63,377.

ALr flotation capability Por the spreader bar 17 presents a different sil:uation because the saddle bar 45 (Fig. ~ ; necessarily sepa~able relative to the kody of the hollow bar 17. Therefore ~o .
provide for air flotation lubric.ation o the web strips, tlle auxiliary bar ~3 has an air channel 61 longitudinally therein from which por~s 62 deliver air to the surface of the saddle bar 45 acros~ which the web rips SW xlde in operation. Air under pressure from any suitahle soilrce such as an air compressor of compressed air tank may be deliYered to the channel 61 in any suitable manner, such ~s th~ou~h a supply duct 63 ~Fîg. 2) In operation of the web spreader 10 each of tlle spreacler b~rs 1~ and 17 is inltially adjusted to the required bow for the web Inaterial ~o be handled, by means of the bow adjust~ng plates 19 and 33, re~pectively, at each opposite end of each of the bars. Before or after S~c~l bow adjustrnent of the bars, the bar asseml:ly is adjusted to .
at~ain the desired degree Qf ~Ivrap o~ the web strips WS across the bars.
Typic~lly such wrap may b~ U? to 45 vf the circulax bax periphexiesr althou$h for diffe~ent types of webs, il: may be desirable to effec~
corresponding adjustments in tlle degree oP wrap in accordance with Lield e~perience. After bar adjustmer~s llave been made, tl~e web strips WS are threaded onto and between the bars ~nd ontv the wind-up cores, -10- ~

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as one example, or into or through other processing equipmen~. .TIIe .
rewinding ox other processing is then started.and run at t:hread speed to detexmine if tlle slit separation is uniform all the way across the run. If the separatioll spacing i5 not satisfactory to begLn with, the how of ei~her or both of the spreader bars can be readily acljusted while the slitt~ng and xewinding continues, at production speed or at a slo~er than pxocluction speed, if desired, because the adjustment bolt nuts 29 and 40 are readily accessible. Then, if at some localiY:ed ~reas tension appeaxs to.be ununiorm SUCII as may be indicated by a baggy condition in respect to any one or more o~ the web s~rips WS, acljus~ment can l~e quickly effected by manipulation of the adjustment handle wheel 50 at tl~e indicated polnt along the spreader bar 17 whereby to attain co.mpensatirlg acijustment in the affected local axea o:E the ~acldle bar 4$~

-. When all of the weh strips WS appear tO be running cor:rectly fox p~opex xewind, full procluc~ion speed in the slitting and rewind opexation ~nay pxoceecl, or il necessary ~he initial or start-up rewiIld may be discaxded an~l the web stxips staxted onto fresh cores in ordex to have all of the ` xe~ound ïOlls or. druins of the desired square ends and substan~ially uniorm tension.

, It will ~e ~ulderstood that variations and modi~ications may be elfected without depaxting from l:he spirit and scope of the. novel . - ~ concepts of this invention.
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Claims (17)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A web spreader adapted to be operatively disposed between a slitter and other processing equipment, and comprising:
a first spreader bar adapted to have web strips run across a limited wrap area thereof;
said first spreader bar having a bowed relation to the web strips to spread them substantially fan-shape;
a second resiliently bendable spreader bar mounted adjacently downstream from the first bar and adapted to receive the web strips to run across a web strip wrap area of the second bar;
bow generating members mounting the opposite ends of said second bar, and means for adjusting said bow generating members for resiliently bending said second bar for effecting a primary bowed relation to the web strips for orienting the strips from the fan spread relation effected by said first bar into substantially parallel running relation;
and means for selectively effecting secondary adjustments of the web strip wrap area of the second bar incrementally at any of a plurality of respective limited areas along its length without altering said primary bowed relation whereby to compensate for variations in web thickness, bulk or length where any of these conditions may appear in any of the web strips.

2. A web spreader according to claim 1, wherein each of the spreader bars is resiliently bendable, and bow generating members mounting the opposite ends of each of said bars and means for adjusting said bow generating members mounting each of said bars for effecting selective resilient bending bowing adjustment of the bars.

3. A spreader according to claim 1, wherein each of the bars is secured at its opposite ends to respective bow generating lever members, fulcrum means mounting said lever members, and said means for adjusting adapted to actuate said lever members relative to the fulcrum means for effecting bending bow adjustments of the respective spreader bars.

4. A spreader according to claim 3, including means mounting the fulcrum means and the lever members for effecting simultaneous adjustments in the positions of the spreader bars relative to the path of web strips to be spread by the spreader bars.

5. A spreader according to claim 1, including means mounting the spreader bars for simultaneous positional adjustment relative to the path of travel of web strips through the spreader.

6. A spreader according to claim 1, wherein said web strip wrap area of said second bar comprises a saddle member mounted on said second bar and having said means for effecting adjustments attached thereto.

7. A web spreader according to claim 1, wherein said means for selectively effecting adjustments of the web strip wrap area are operable to effect selective incremental secondary adjustments while the web spreader is in operation with web strips running across the web strip area of the second bar.

8. A method of operating a two bar spreader wherein each of the bars has a respective limited wrap area longitudinally therealong and across which web scrips running between a slitter and other processing equipment are caused to travel in passing through the spreader, and comprising:
Providing one of said spreader bars with a bowed relation to the web strips and effecting spreading of the web strips substantially fan-shape in travelling across the limited wrap area of said one spreader bar;
the other of said spreader bars being of resiliently bendable structure, and mounting the opposite ends of said other of said spreader bars on bow generating members;
adjusting said bow generating members and thereby bending said other of said spreader bars and providing a primary bowed relation of the other of said spreader bars to the web strips and effecting orientation of the strips from the fan spread relation into substantially parallel running relation in travelling across the limited wrap area of said other bar;
and selectively effecting secondary adjustments of the web strip wrap area of said other bar incrementally at any of a plurality of respective limited areas along its length without altering said primary bowed relation and thereby compensating for variations in web thickness, bulk or length where any of these conditions may appear in any of the web strips.

9. A method according to claim 8, comprising adjusting bow generating lever members secured to opposite ends of both of said spreader bars and thereby resiliently bending the bars to provide the bowed relation thereof to the web strips.

10. A method according to claim 8, comprising simultaneously adjusting the positions of said spreader bars relative to the path of web strips running through the spreader.

11. A method according to claim 8, which comprises adjusting a saddle member mounted on said other of said bars and providing its limited wrap area, and thereby effecting adjustment to compensate for variations in web thickness, bulk or length.

12. A method according to claim 8, comprising initially adjusting each of said spreader bars for its respective bowed relation to the web strips, immediately after slitting threading the web strips over said limited wrap areas, placing the leading end portions of the strips in control of the other processing equipment, commencing processing the strips, detecting any uneven tension in the strips resulting from variations in web thickness, bulk or length, and effecting said secondary adjustments of the web strip area of said other spreader bar to compensate for the variations and thereby attaining substantially uniform tension in all of the strips during travel across said bars.

13. A method according to claim 8, comprising effecting said incremental secondary adjustments along said other bar while the web spreader is in operation with the web strips travelling through the spreader.

14. A web spreader adapted to be operatively disposed between a slitter and other processing equipment, and comprising:
a spreader bar adapted to have web strips run across a limited wrap area thereof;
said spreader bar having a primary bowed relation to the web strips so that the strips will be guided in laterally spaced relation over said wrap area of said bar;
and means for selectively effecting secondary adjustments of the web strip wrap area of said spreader bar incrementally along its length without altering said primary bowed relation whereby to compensate for variations in web thickness, bulk or length;
said web strip wrap area of said spreader bar comprising a saddle member mounted on said spreader bar and having said means for effecting adjustments attached thereto.

15. A web spreader according to claim 14, wherein said spreader bar is hollow, said means for effecting adjustments extend from within said hollow bar to said saddle member, and means for supplying web strip flotation air to the wrap area surface of said saddle member from within said bar through said means for effecting adjustments.

16. A method of operating a spreader wherein a spreader bar has a respective limited wrap area longitudinally therealong and across which web strips running between a slitter and other processing equipment are caused to travel in passing through the spreader, and comprising:

providing said spreader bar with a primary bowed relation to the web strips and guiding the web strips in spread relation in travelling across the limited wrap area of said spreader bar;
and selectively effecting secondary adjustments of the limited wrap area of said spreader bar incrementally along its length without altering said primary bowed relation by adjusting a saddle member mounted on said spreader bar and providing said limited wrap area, and thereby effecting adjustment to compensate for variations in web thickness, bulk or length.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein said spreader bar is hollow and has means for effecting said adjustments extending from within the bar to the saddle member, and comprising providing floatation air to the wrap area surface of said saddle member from within said hollow bar through said means for effecting adjustments.