Machine for stretching films, comprising two tracks each having a first rail (1) on which clips (3) move and close together at a point for adjusting their pitch and a second rail (2) on which articulated carriages (5) move, in a chain driven by a toothed drive wheel (6), with two consecutive clips (3) respectively, characterised by a wheel (8) for indexing the point for adjusting the pitch of the clips (3).

Apparatus for shaping a segment of material includes a forming member having a curved sidewall shaped complementary to a desired shape of the segment of material, and a conforming member having an applicator side and an engagement side disposed for engagement with the curved sidewall of the forming member. The conforming member includes a plurality of attachment regions disposed on the applicator side. Each attachment region is adapted to hold the segment of material on the conforming member. Engagement of the conforming member with the forming member causes the attachment regions to move from a first shape profile to a second shape profile, the second shape profile being the desired shape of the segment of material.

A stretching machine configured to stretch a resin film includes a plurality of link mechanisms coupled to constitute an endless chain and a rail 14 on which the link mechanisms run. The rail 14 of the stretching machine has a slit 146 in a side surface 142a. The slit 146 extends in a direction inclined with respect to a direction in which the rail 14 extends.

A stretching machine configured to stretch a resin film includes a plurality of link mechanisms coupled to constitute an endless chain and a rail 14 on which the link mechanisms run. The rail 14 of the stretching machine has a slit 146 in a side surface 142a. The slit 146 extends in a direction inclined with respect to a direction in which the rail 14 extends.

The present disclosure relates to a gripper unit for a stretching unit as well as a stretching unit. The gripper unit includes a base body, a gripping jaw and at least one blade flap. The blade flap is located pivotably on the base body about a pivot axis and includes a complementary gripping jaw on one first end, the complementary gripping jaw interacting with the gripping jaw in a gripping position in order to grip a material web. In addition, the blade flap includes a neck section and a head section, wherein the neck section extends from the pivot axis to the head section, the head section forming a second end of the blade flap. The head section has an upper length (L.sub.K) measured in a direction of travel (R) of the gripper unit, which is at least 50% longer than a minimum length (L.sub.H) of the neck section.

A link mechanism 11 includes a pair of rail holders 24. The rail holders 24 include guide rollers 51a, 51b, 52a, and 52b configured to move along rails 13 and 14 while rotating, roller shafts 54 and 55 penetrating the guide rollers 51a, 51b, 52a, and 52b, bearings 56a, 56b, 57a, and 57b interposed between the guide rollers 51a, 51b, 52a, and 52b and the roller shafts 54 and 55 and rotatably supporting the guide rollers 51a, 51b, 52a, and 52b, and lower cover members 71 and upper cover members 72 provided on both end sides of the guide rollers 51a, 51b, 52a, and 52b in an axial direction and covering the bearings 56a, 56b, 57a, and 57b.