Patent ID: 7740744

Claim:
A roll stripping air knife comprising: a. a manifold block having: i. an internal longitudinal passageway defined therein; ii. a working face having a longitudinally extending exterior channel formed therein; iii. a plurality of primary discharge passages extending between said longitudinal air passageway and said longitudinally extending exterior channel and opening into said longitudinally extending exterior channel; iv. a plurality of primary discharge orifices defined therein extending in a longitudinal linear array extending along the length of said manifold block, 1. each primary discharge orifice connecting with an associated discharge passage connecting with said longitudinal passageway, 2. each said orifice having means for mounting a removable discharge nozzle thereupon, and 3. each said primary discharge orifice being generally oriented and directed in a primary discharge direction; v. a plurality of interconnected auxiliary orifices defined therein, each auxiliary orifice being generally directed laterally away from the primary discharge direction and connecting with said longitudinally extending exterior channel; vi. a plurality of removable nozzles, one mounted on each primary discharge orifice; and b. means for controllably supplying pressurized air to said manifold block, said auxiliary orifices being configured such that air flows inwardly therethrough when pressurized air is supplied to said manifold block and said nozzles are unobstructed but outwardly when said nozzles are obstructed.