Patent ID: 8088255
Filing Date: 2012-01-03
Classification: B65H,D21F,D21G

Abstract:
1. An air stabilization system for non-contact support of a flexible continuous web that is moving in a downstream machine direction (MD) that comprises: (a) a body having an operative surface facing the web wherein the operative surface has a web entry end and a web exit end that is downstream from the web entry end; (b) a first nozzle, positioned at the web entry end, that defines a first slot that extends across the surface of the operative surface along a first direction that is substantially transverse to the MD and wherein a first elongated jet of pressurized gas is exhausted through the first slot in the downstream MD to impart a first controlled force on the web wherein the first nozzle comprises a slot in the body that is in fluid communication with a first source of gas and has a first elongated opening at a first surface of the body wherein the first slot has a first curved convex surface at the first elongated opening on its downstream side, wherein first elongated opening is disposed on a first segment of the operative surface which has a first upper portion and a first lower portion that is downstream from the first upper portion, wherein the first upper portion is vertically spaced from the first lower portion, and wherein the first upper portion and the first lower portion are substantially parallel to each other and the surface connecting the first upper portion to the first lower portion defines a first plane that is substantially perpendicular to the first upper portion and the first lower portion; and (c) a second nozzle, positioned at the web exit end, that defines a second slot that extends across the surface of the operative surface along a second direction that is substantially transverse to the MD wherein the second nozzle comprises a slot in the body that is in fluid communication with a second source of gas and has a second elongated opening at a second surface of the body wherein the second slot has a second curved convex surface at the second elongated opening on its downstream side, wherein the second elongated opening is disposed on a second segment of the operative surface which has a first upper portion and a first lower portion that is downstream from the first upper portion, wherein the second upper portion is vertically spaced from the second lower portion, and wherein the second upper portion and the second lower portion are substantially parallel to each other and the surface connecting the second upper portion to the second lower portion defines a second plane that is substantially perpendicular to the second upper portion and the second lower portion, wherein a second elongated jet of pressurized gas is simultaneously exhausted through the second slot in the downstream MD to impart a second controlled force on the web and whereby the first force and the second force maintain at least a portion of the moving web, that is located between the web entry end and the web exit end, at a substantially fixed distance to the operative surface, wherein the operative surface defines a continuous planar surface between the first slot and the second slot.