Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
An apparatus for treating an elongated web moving in a transport direction, said apparatus comprising: a housing means defining a vertical zig-zag path having a succession of oppositely directed and inclined stretches having angular intersections, the stretches alternately extending to right and left and having a vertical rise distance less than the horizontal travel; a pair of generally parallel and confronting walls in said housing and flanking each of said stretches above and below the web; means in said housing means guiding and passing said web along said path through said housing means in said direction, said guiding means including respective deflection elements at the intersections of adjacent stretches directing said web alternately from right to left and from left to right at the intersections, said deflection elements being disposed in two vertical rows and being staggered from side to side of the path in a vertical direction; an array of nozzles on each of said walls, said nozzles being inclined to said web path; and means for supplying a gas to said nozzles for creating a gas cushion to each side of and above and below said web in each stretch for supporting said web in said housing.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
199 words
An apparatus for treating an elongated web moving in a transport direction, said apparatus comprising: a housing means defining a vertical zig-zag path having a succession of oppositely directed and inclined stretches having angular intersections, the stretches alternately extending to right and left and having a vertical rise distance less than the horizontal travel; a pair of generally parallel and confronting walls in said housing and flanking each of said stretches above and below the web; means in said housing means guiding and passing said web along said path through said housing means in said direction, said guiding means including respective deflection elements at the intersections of adjacent stretches directing said web alternately from right to left and from left to right at the intersections, said deflection elements being disposed in two vertical rows and being staggered from side to side of the path in a vertical direction; an array of nozzles on each of said walls, said nozzles being inclined to said web path; and means for supplying a gas to said nozzles for creating a gas cushion to each side of and above and below said web in each stretch for supporting said web in said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising means for drawing off gas from said cushion in a direction parallel to the walls and perpendicular to said transport direction.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
192 words
An apparatus for treating an elongated web moving in a transport direction, said apparatus comprising: a housing defining a vertical zig-zag path having a succession of oppositely directed and inclined stretches, the stretches alternately extending to right and left and having a vertical rise distance less than the horizontal travel; a pair of generally parallel and confronting walls in said housing and flanking each of said stretches above and below the web; means in said housing for guiding and passing said web along said path through said housing in said direction; an array of nozzles on each of said walls; means for supplying a gas to said nozzles for creating a gas cushion to each side of and above and below said web in each stretch for supporting said web in said housing; and means for drawing off gas from said cushion in a direction parallel to the walls and perpendicular to said transport direction, each of said walls being formed with a multiplicity of alternating parallel troughs and crests, said nozzles being provided generally at said crests, and said means for withdrawing being effective at the ends of the said troughs.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
192 words
An apparatus for treating an elongated web moving in a transport direction, said apparatus comprising: a housing defining a vertical zig-zag path having a succession of oppositely directed and inclined stretches, the stretches alternately extending to right and left and having a vertical rise distance less than the horizontal travel; a pair of generally parallel and confronting walls in said housing and flanking each of said stretches above and below the web; means in said housing for guiding and passing said web along said path through said housing in said direction; an array of nozzles on each of said walls; means for supplying a gas to said nozzles for creating a gas cushion to each side of and above and below said web in each stretch for supporting said web in said housing; and means for drawing off gas from said cushion in a direction parallel to the walls and perpendicular to said transport direction, each of said walls being formed with a multiplicity of alternating parallel troughs and crests, said nozzles being provided generally at said crests, and said means for withdrawing being effective at the ends of the said troughs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein said means for withdrawing is connected to alternate ends of said troughs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein said means for supplying and said means for withdrawing include a blower having a pressure side connected to said nozzles and a suction side connected to said alternate ends of said trough.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein each of said crests is provided with a row of said nozzles directed generally upstream and at an angle to said web in the respective stretch and another row of nozzles directed generally downstream and at an angle to the web in the respective stretch.