Patent ID: 6936137

Claim:
A device for non-contact support of a continuous web that is moving in a downstream direction that comprises: (a) a body having an operative surface facing the web wherein the operative surface has an upper portion and a lower portion that is downstream from the upper portion and wherein the body defines a slot that is in fluid communication with a source of gas and that has an opening at the upper surface, and wherein the slot has a curved convex surface at the opening on its downstream side and wherein the upper portion is vertically spaced from the lower portion and wherein the vertical distance between the upper portion to the lower portion is about 100 μm to about 1000 μm; and (b) means for directing a gas from the gas source through the slot so that a jet of gas moves through the opening and toward the lower portion whereby a low pressure field is established as the gas passes from the upper portion to the lower portion thereby maintaining a portion of the moving web at a substantially fixed distance to the operative surface.