WEB-STRETCHING PROCESS

A process is disclosed for the production of a stretched web of plastics material wherein a web comprising a thermoplastics resin is stretched uniaxially or biaxially by passing it through an apparatus comprising two endless articulated chains positioned to run along opposite sides of the web to be stretched. A plurality of web-gripping devices are mounted at intervals along the length of each chain. These are primary and secondary guide means for each chain for guiding the chain along a closed path in such a way that the degree of folding of the links of the chain can be varied at different points along the path, so varying the distance between adjacent gripping devices. Primary and secondary guide members are attached to each link of each chain and arranged to engage the primary and secondary guide means, respectively, and the web gripping devices are caused to grip and hold the web at a desired point along the path of each chain and to release the web at a second desired point along ...