Abstract: Contactless support guides serve to create a cushion of pressurized air to hold a web of material such as paper spaced from a support face. The support face can be curved to transport the web through an angular deviation. The support face contains a large number of shallow pockets at least some of which emit air to create the cushion. Special additional pockets or slats are provided to create zones of higher pressure in the regions of the cushion where the web enters and exits the guide.

Abstract: A contactless support guide for a web of material is described. The guide comprises a web support face, a pressurized air supply manifold, and a plenum chamber positioned between the manifold and the support face. The support face is provided with a plurality of pockets, each pocket having an air inlet aperture leading to the plenum chamber. Means are provided for increasing the air pressure at the longitudinal edges of the support face at which the web enters and exits.

Abstract: A method for spraying pesticides, herbicides or the like in a moving path from above includes extending a support cable across and over the area to be sprayed and tensioning the cable between two vehicles, one on each side of the area to be sprayed. One or more material spraying nozzles or outlets are supported on the cable and fed by a material-delivering conduit also supported on the cable and connected to a source of material supply on one of the vehicles. The cable is tensioned to a preselected tension sufficient to limit sag in the cable, and tension in maintained substantially constant as the two vehicles are advanced forward with the cable and spray nozzle over the path to be sprayed, irrespective of convergence and divergence of the two vehicles. Constant tension is maintained by a hydraulic motor driving a cable storage reel at constant force.