Patent ID: 7892399

Claim:
An air stabilization system for supporting 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 wherein the operative surface is segmented into a central region, a first lateral region, and a second lateral region, which define coplanar surfaces that are substantially flush with each other; (b) a first nozzle, positioned on the operative surface at the web entry end and between the first lateral region and the central region, that defines a first slot that extends across the operative surface along a first direction that is substantially transverse to the MD wherein a first elongated jet of pressurized gas is exhausted through the first slot and moves toward an upstream 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 upstream side and wherein the first elongated opening is disposed on a first elevation of the operative surface; and (c) a second nozzle, positioned on the operative surface at the web exit end and between the second lateral region and the central region, that defines a second slot that extends across the operative surface along a second direction that is substantially transverse to the MD, wherein a second elongated jet of pressurized gas is simultaneously exhausted through the second slot and moves toward a downstream MD to impart a second controlled force on the web 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 and the second elongated opening is disposed on a second elevation of the operative surface 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.