Patent ID: 7025833

Claim:
A web coating apparatus comprising: a rotatable drum comprising a web support surface and a plurality of passages, each passage comprising at least one exit portion positioned in the web support surface, each exit portion being in continuous fluid communication with a region external of and immediately adjacent to the web support surface; a source of pressurized gas in fluid communication with the passages; a coating deposition station positioned adjacent the web support surface; and a set of seals positioned near the web support surface, said set of seals forming a sealed region extending over an arc of the drum angularly spaced from the coating deposition station as the drum rotates relative to the set of seals, said set of seals operative to substantially prevent pressurized gas from escaping from the exit portions in the sealed region to a coating region adjacent the coating deposition station; said exit portions cyclically moving through the sealed region and the coating region as the drum rotates; wherein each seal seals against the web support surface.