Abstract: Apparatus for longitudinal compressive treatment of a continuous web of material, comprising a cylindrical drive roll (100), a sheet form assembly (112, 114) to engage and press the web against the drive roll, and a sheet holder (200) for positioning the sheet assembly over the drive roll. A configuration stands from one face of the sheet assembly, the sheet holder defines a channel (21) transverse to the direction of motion of the web, the cannel being open at one of tis ends for insertion of the assembly endwise into the sheet holder by sliding motion in the transverse direction, and the channel is engageable with the standing configuration to retain and position the sheet assembly int eh longitudinal direction. This holding arrangement provides for simple installation, while accomodating thermal expansion and contraction of the sheet assembly during operation.

Abstract: Apparatus for longitudinal compressive treatment of a continuous web of material. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical drive roll for advancing the web, a smooth-surfaced primary member to press the web against the drive roll, and a generally-stationary retarder downstream of the primary member to engage and retard the web before the web has left the drive roll. The retarder surface has a large multiplicity of parallel ridges and grooves set on a diagonal, and effective to cause longitudinal compression of the web and to cause the web to flow at an angle to the original direction of drive. The retarder surface also has a reorienting retarding surface, effective after the web advances incrementally at the angle, to effect further compression and to reorient the travel of the web to be generally parallel to the original direction of drive.