Web conveying and treating method and apparatus

Claim 1

In web treating apparatus having means for conveying a web along a path of movement therefor apparatus comprising: a plurality of pressure pads of generally rectangular configuration in a plane facing said path, spaced along said path, and located on both sides of the path with their lengths disposed transversely relative to the direction of said path, each pad having an apertured substantially even surface facing the path, all of said apertured surfaces generally paralleling the path at a uniform distance therefrom; said apertured surface of each pad having two rows of openings extending lengthwise of said surface and generally along its edges and separated by a longitudinal bisecting plane of said surface in spaced relation with either row, structure in said surface defining said openings of each row being aligned and arranged to discharge jets of air or other gas in a common oblique direction relative to, and free of, said surface toward said path and toward said bisecting plane; and said openings of both rows being aligned, arranged, and sufficiently spaced to cause air jets issuing from one row of openings to pass to a substantial extent between jets of air issuing from the other row of openings of the same pad with impingement and intermingling of the lateral portions of jets of air from both rows of openings adjacent said web path sufficient to establish positive pressure regions of air having a measurable static pressure confined between a web traversing said path and said pad surface.