Web guiding apparatus

Claim 2

An improved web guiding apparatus of the kind adapted for use with flexible web material (a) which has a longitudinal axis, two oppositely spaced longitudinal edges and a particular surface extending between the last-mentioned edges (b) and which when longitudinally bowed is generally resistive to transverse flexing, wherein a web guideway is provided for guiding such web material longitudinally along a curvilinear path from first to second, spaced, path portions which are arranged in transversely offset relation, and wherein the improvement comprises: said web guideway including means, disposed for abutment with the two longitudinal edges of web material moving along said curvilinear path, for longitudinally bowing the moving web without contacting the particular web surface and for supporting the moving web for rotation about the longitudinal web axis.

Claim 3

An improved web guiding apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said web urging, bowing and supporting means includes: oppositely facing guide surface areas of said web guideway which longitudinally extend between said first and second path portions in substantially conformal relation with the curvature of said path, and are crosswise curved about the longitudinal axis of web material moving along said path.

Claim 4

An improved web guiding apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said web supporting means includes: oppositely facing guide surface areas of said web guideway which longitudinally extend between said first and second path portions in substantially conformal relation with the curvature of said path, and are crosswise curved about the longitudinal axis of web material moving along said path.

Claim 5

An improved web guiding apparatus of the kind adapted for use with flexible web material (a) which has a longitudinal axis, two oppositely spaced longitudinal edges and a particular surface extending between the lastmentioned edges (b) and which when longitudinally bowed is generally resistive to transverse flexing, wherein such web material is guided longitudinally along a multi-loop path having a series of parallel, path sections which are curved respectively about parallel, coplanar axes and individually have two spaced portions arranged in transversely offset relation, wherein a plurality of web guideways are provided for guiding such web material respectivelY along said path sections, and wherein the improvement comprises: each of said web guideways including means, disposed for abutment only with the two longitudinal edges of web material moving along a respective one of said path sections, for urging the moving web in a direction transverse to the longitudinal web axis, for longitudinally bowing the moving web without contacting the particular web surface, and for supporting the moving web for rotation about the longitudinal web axis.

Claim 6

An improved web guiding apparatus of the kind adapted for use with flexible web material (a) which has a longitudinal axis, two oppositely spaced longitudinal edges and a particular surface extending between the lastmentioned edges (b) and which when longitudinally bowed is generally resistive to transverse flexing, wherein such web material is guided longitudinally along a multi-loop path having a series of parallel, path sections which are curved respectively about parallel, coplanar axes and individually have two spaced portions arranged in transversely offset relation, wherein a plurality of web guideways are provided for guiding such web material respectivelY along said path sections, and wherein the improvement comprises: each of said web guideways including means, disposed for abutment only with the two longitudinal edges of web material moving along a respective one of said path sections, for urging the moving web in a direction transverse to the longitudinal web axis, for longitudinally bowing the moving web without contacting the particular web surface, and for supporting the moving web for rotation about the longitudinal web axis.

Claim 7

An improved web guiding apparatus of the kind adapted for use with flexible web material (a) which has a longitudinal axis, two oppositely spaced longitudinal edges and a particular surface extending between the last-mentioned edges (b) and which when longitudinally bowed is generally resistive to transverse flexing, wherein such web material is guided longitudinally along a multi-loop path (a) having an upper series of parallel, path sections which are curved respectively about parallel, coplanar axes and individually have two spaced portions arranged in transversely off-set relation (b) and further having a lower series of parallel, path sections which are curved respectively about a common axis and individually have two spaced portions arranged in parallel facing relation, wherein a plurality of upper web guideways are provided for guiding such web material respectively along said upper path sections, wherein a plurality of upper web guideways are provided for guiding such web material respectively along said upper path sections, wherein a plurality of lower web guideways are provided for guiding such web material respectively along said lower path sections, wherein a plurality of rollers are provided for guiding such web material between said upper and lower path sections, and wherein the improvement comprises: each of said upper web guideways including a web guiding surface which longitudinally extends between said two transversely offset portions of a respective one of said upper path sections and is crosswise curved about the longitudinal axis of web material moving along said one upper path section for abutment with the two longitudinal web edges, to support the moving web for rotation about the longitudinal web axis and urge the moving web in a direction transverse to the longitudinal web axis, and which further is longitudinally arched in substantially conformal relation with the curvature of said one upper path section, to longitudinally bow the moving web without contacting the particular web surface; and each of said lower web guideways including a web guiding surface which longitudinally extends between said two spaced portions of a respective one of said lower path sections, is crosswise curved about the longitudinal axis of web material moving along said one lower path section for abutment with the two longitudinal web edges, and is longitudinally arched in substantially conformal relation with the curvature of the said one lower path section, to longitudinally bow the moving web without contacting the particular web surface.

Claim 8

An improved web guiding apparatus of the kind adapted for use with flexible web material (a) which has a longitudinal axis, two oppositely spaced longitudinal edges and a particular surface extending between the last-mentioned edges (b) and which when longitudinally bowed is generally resistive to transverse flexing, wherein such web material is guided longitudinally along a multi-loop path (a) having an upper series of parallel, path sections which are curved respectively about parallel, coplanar axes and individually have two spaced portions arranged in transversely off-set relation (b) and further having a lower series of parallel, path sections which are curved respectively about a common axis and individually have two spaced portions arranged in parallel facing relation, wherein a plurality of upper web guideways are provided for guiding such web material respectively along said upper path sections, wherein a plurality of upper web guideways are provided for guiding such web material respectively along said upper path sections, wherein a plurality of lower web guideways are provided for guiding such web material respectively along said lower path sections, wherein a plurality of rollers are provided for guiding such web material between said upper and lower path sections, and wherein the improvement comprises: each of said upper web guideways including a web guiding surface which longitudinally extends between said two transversely offset portions of a respective one of said upper path sections and is crosswise curved about the longitudinal axis of web material moving along said one upper path section for abutment with the two longitudinal web edges, to support the moving web for rotation about the longitudinal web axis and urge the moving web in a direction transverse to the longitudinal web axis, and which further is longitudinally arched in substantially conformal relation with the curvature of said one upper path section, to longitudinally bow the moving web without contacting the particular web surface; and each of said lower web guideways including a web guiding surface which longitudinally extends between said two spaced portions of a respective one of said lower path sections, is crosswise curved about the longitudinal axis of web material moving along said one lower path section for abutment with the two longitudinal web edges, and is longitudinally arched in substantially conformal relation with the curvature of the said one lower path section, to longitudinally bow the moving web without contacting the particular web surface.

Claim 9

An improved web guiding apparatus of the kind adapted for use with flexible web material which has a longitudinal axis and two longitudinal edges, wherein a web guideway is provided for guiding such web material longitudinally along a curvilinear path from first to second, spaced, path portions which are arranged in transversely offset relation, and wherein the improvement comprises: said web guideway including means, disposed for abutment with the two longitudinal edges of web material moving along said curvilinear path, for supporting the moving web for rotation about the longitudinal web axis.

Claim 10

An improved web guiding apparatus of the kind adapted for use with flexible web material which has a longitudinal axis and two longitudinal edges, wherein a web guideway is provided for guiding such web material longitudinally along a curvilinear path from first to second, spaced, path portions which are arranged in transversely offset relation, and wherein the improvement comprises: said web guideway including means, disposed for abutment with the two longitudinal edges of web material moving along said curvilinear path, for supporting the moving web for rotation about the longitudinal web axis.