Abstract: A traveling web coater for applying a smooth uniform layer of liquid coating of controlled weight onto the surface of a traveling web including a gate coater having a plurality of gate rolls for metering and applying coating to a traveling web supported on a backing roll with an air knife positioned to direct air onto the web downstream from the gate rolls and to essentially smooth the coating removing a minimum amount of the coating which has been accurately metered by the gate rolls.

Abstract: An air knife having at least one lip which is slidable relative to its body via a plurality of cam plugs which are interposed between the slidable lip and the body member to adjustably extend and locate the lip tip relative to the other lip tip periodically as the lips become worn and the gap between them increases. The adjustable lip is secured to the body member by a plurality of cap screws which alternate with the cam plugs across the width of the air knife.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for applying a smooth layer of coating to the surface of a traveling web including a backup roll for carrying the web on its outer surface through a coating smoothing zone along the periphery of the roll, a coating applicator ahead of the zone including an applicator roll and a coating backing roll to form a pressure nip, an air knife at the smoothing zone directing a curtain of smoothing air against the oncoming web, a saveall in advance of the zone, for directing and an exhaust system downstream of the zone with a baffle to generate a cleansing flow of air to remove the airborne coating particles from the upper lip of the air knife.