Abstract: Digital printing device having a print media advancement system, and comprising: a sliding surface (3) of the print media, arranged at a printing area with above a printing module of the digital printing device; means for dragging (4) the print media, arranged downstream and/or upstream the printing area and arranged to make the print media advance in an advancement direction (x) above said sliding surface (3); wherein said sliding surface (3) comprises blowing portions (35) destined to realize an air cushion between sliding surface and print media (100). The sliding surface further comprises at least a suction portion (30), arranged to realise a depression by locally putting the print media near said sliding surface.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an organic electronic device according to one embodiment includes: a coating film formation step of applying a coating liquid for a functional layer having a predetermined function onto a plastic substrate to form a coating film; and a heating step of heating and curing the coating film by irradiating the coating film with infrared rays in an infrared heating furnace to form the functional layer. In the heating step, the coating film is heated and cured by the infrared rays while a member of the infrared heating furnace is cooled to 100° C. or less, the member being disposed around the plastic substrate so as to be separate from the plastic substrate.

Abstract: A coating can be provided on a substrate. Fabrication of the coating can include forming a solid layer in a specified region of the substrate while supporting the substrate in a coating system using a gas cushion. For example, a liquid coating can be printed over the specified region while the substrate is supported by the gas cushion. The substrate can be held for a specified duration after the printing the patterned liquid. The substrate can be conveyed to a treatment zone while supported using the gas cushion. The liquid coating can be treated to provide the solid layer including continuing to support the substrate using the gas cushion.

Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes a manifold including an air tube disposed about a water tube. The system also includes multiple nozzles coupled to the manifold, where each nozzle is coupled to the air tube and the water tube.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the non-contact drying of a web of material. The apparatus includes air flotation nozzles for floating the web, and direct air impingement nozzles for enhanced drying of the web. The nozzle arrangement is particularly well-suited to float and dry light weight webs under moderate to high tension. Increased cushion pressure is created to support the web preferably with the same horsepower as conventional arrangements. The increased cushion pressure pad of the nozzle arrangement allows for good flotation with reduced velocities below about 11,500 FPM. Machine direction wrinkles are removed and the result is positive flotation with no marking on the web or ink build up on the air bars. The nozzle arrangement includes pairs of flotation nozzles directly opposing pairs of direct impingement nozzles. A perforated member can be positioned between flotation nozzles within a pair of flotation nozzles to control return air.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for coating a metal strip with a coating containing a solvent and for drying and/or cross-linking said coating. Accordingly, the metal strip is provided with the coating in an inner chamber of a coating device. The coated metal strip is conducted through a drying unit and in an inner chamber of the latter is exposed to a form of energy by at least one radiation source that is cooled by a cooling gas, said form of energy being converted to heat in the coating and/or the metal strip. The cooling gas that is supplied to the radiation source flows through the latter, absorbs the waste heat from said source and is then conducted into the inner chamber of the drying unit, thus saving energy and gas. The invention also relates to an installation that is suitable for carrying out said method.

Abstract: A web stabilizer adapted to stabilize a web moving across a span between two components of a web machine or machines, the stabilizer including: a surface facing and adjacent the moving web, and at least one transition in the surface of the stabilizer, wherein the transition is a protrusion or recess in the surface between a leading edge of the stabilizer facing a direction of web travel and a trailing edge of the stabilizer.

Abstract: The present invention includes a nozzle insert for use in a drying machine of the type used in paper web drying. The nozzle insert of the present invention includes at least one intake having a central portion, wherein a pair of center vanes is disposed for directing airflow. The central portion is bounded by at least one turning vane adapted for directing airflow in a lateral direction. For each turning vane, there is at least one straightening vane adapted for curtailing swirling of the airflow. The vanes are oriented at optimal angles for directing the flow of the nozzle in a lateral direction, while permitting some air to penetrate the central portion through a series of ports. The intakes are bounded by a series of insulated bulkheads, which serve to direct airflow and contain heat-loss through thermal emission.

Abstract: Step air foil particularly for one-sided flotation of a running web, and web dryer incorporating the same. The air foil includes two discharge slots which allow for increased draw down force, which flattens machine direction wrinkles in a floating web. The air foil includes a primary discharge slot and a second discharge slot spaced from and stepped down from the primary discharge slot, a first web support surface between the primary discharge slot and the secondary discharge slot, and a second web support surface downstream of the secondary discharge slot in the direction of web travel. The air foil is in communication with an air supply which provides a supply of air that is uniformly distributed to the primary and secondary slots. Air discharged from the primary slot is gathered into the air stream of the secondary slot and creates an increased air cushion to provide greater support to the moving web and thereby remove machine direction web wrinkles caused by higher tension in light weight webs.

Abstract: The present invention includes a nozzle insert for use in a drying machine of the type used in paper web drying. The nozzle insert of the present invention includes at least one intake having a central portion, wherein a pair of center vanes is disposed for directing airflow. The central portion is bounded by at least one turning vane adapted for directing airflow in a lateral direction. For each turning vane, there is at least one straightening vane adapted for curtailing swirling of the airflow. The vanes are oriented at optimal angles for directing the flow of the nozzle in a lateral direction, while permitting some air to penetrate the central portion through a series of ports. The intakes are bounded by a series of insulated bulkheads, which serve to direct airflow and contain heat-loss through thermal emission.

Abstract: The preferred quality requirements postulated by producers for the product cold-rolled strip include, among good flatness and optimum thickness tolerances, also dryness of the strip in the outlet of strip rolling mills. Already existing devices that are disposed in the outlet of roll stands comprise stationarily installed and mobile partitions, a roll barrel and a roll strip venting device and a vapor escape. The aim of the invention is improve the aforementioned device by disposing above the rolled strip (10) a strip deflector (3) with an integrated fan-operated strip venting device (4) by means of a low-pressure nozzle (7) and an upper roll barrel gap seal (5) in the form of a slotted nozzle (6) and below the rolled strip (10) an extraction device (16) with integrated lower strip deflector (17).

Abstract: A web (16) running from an opening nip (K1) between a cylinder (10) and a supporting fabric (18) toward a roll (14), is supported by a negative pressure created by a blow box (30). In an intensified negative pressure region (34?), i.e. close to the disengaging point (40) between the supporting fabric and the cylinder, the pressure is greater than at a distance from this disengaging point. The negative pressure is controlled according to parameters which act on the runability of the web and which can be varied, such as web velocity, web solid contents, pulp composition, paper or paper board quality, web grammage, a characteristic of the web, such as porosity, traction acting in the web, or web tension, cylinder temperature, and/or the running situation, such as a web break, a threading situation, or a normal run, so the desired runability is maintained between the cylinder and the roll.

Abstract: An air-knife is described in the form of a segmented air distribution bar equipped with control valves along the length of the bar to enable a user to incrementally adjust the air distribution across the width of an inking roller of a printing press.

Abstract: An air knife constructed in accordance with the present invention directs a curtain of air across a region and most typically is used to direct the stream of air against a surface. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention the air knife includes an elongated housing having an inlet for receiving air into the housing. The housing includes an elongated gap that extends along the housing that allows air entering the housing through the inlet to exit the housing and form a curtain of air. The elongated housing is made from a piece of sheet metal bent to define a hollow region into which air is forced. The sheet metal defines a gap along a length of the housing from which the air exits. The elongated air knife forms an angle with respect to a direction of travel of glass sheets passing the air knife so that a leading edge of those glass sheets passes progressively different parts of the air knife.

Abstract: A nozzle arrangement in an airborne web-drying apparatus for drying a coated paper web (10) or the like. The nozzle arrangement comprises at least one overpressure nozzle (14), which is arranged to blow drying air both in the web's travel direction and against the web's travel direction. The nozzle arrangement comprises further a direct impingement nozzle (16) combined with the exit side and/or the entrance side (26) of the overpressure nozzle, in which direct impingement nozzle a plurality of nozzle slots or nozzle orifices (17) are formed in order to blow drying air mainly perpendicularly toward the web. The perpendicular distance (a1) from the nozzle surface (30) of the direct impingement nozzle (16) to the web is larger than the perpendicular distance (a2) from the supporting surface (32) of the overpressure nozzle (14) to the web.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for impingement of fluid onto a moving surface. The apparatus includes an asymmetric slot nozzle having an opening formed between an upstream wall and a downstream wall. The nozzle is disposed generally adjacent the surface onto which the fluid is to be impinged forming an impingement distance between each of the walls of the nozzle and the surface. The impingement distance of the upstream wall is greater than the impingement distance of the downstream wall such that at least a portion of the fluid is delivered through the nozzle in a direction that is counter to the machine direction.

Abstract: An adjustable deckel profiler is disclosed, for use in apparatus for drying a moving paper web. The profiler is a slidable member which interacts with impingement air to control and adjust the air against the moving web. Means are provided for adjusting and setting the profiler relative to cross machine drying air profiling.

Abstract: Disclosed is a drying nozzle for realizing a high-efficiency drying device capable of drying an object to be processed to a sufficient degree. The drying nozzle includes a drying gas supply portion having an air supply tube for supplying air for drying a substrate whose surface is wet with a liquid by being sprayed against the surface of the substrate, and a gas/liquid mixture discharge portion which is spaced apart from the surface of the substrate by a predetermined distance to thereby make the thickness of the liquid adhering to the surface of the substrate prior to the drying constant and which has a porous material having a large number of through-holes for discharging the air/liquid mixture consisting of air and the liquid,from the surface of the substrate, the drying gas supply portion and the gas/liquid mixture discharge portion being arranged along the surface of the object so as to be adjacent to each other.

Abstract: A thermal equalizer for use in a paper web drying machine and process is disclosed. The equalizer is located at the junction of a crescent header and the associated nozzle box and its use results in a more uniform temperature and nozzle velocity in the cross-machine direction.

Abstract: In an apparatus for heat treating a material web that enters and exits the apparatus through respective gaps, an air cushion generating unit includes a slot nozzle through which a ventilator blows a laminar flow of air, which then flows laminarly along a convexly curved surface of the unit, to form a laminar air cushion which flows directly along the material web through one of the gaps, then expands outside of this gap, and is sucked back into the air cushion generating unit and recirculated through the slot nozzle. The laminar air cushion steadily holds and supports the material web so that the mechanical gap size can be reduced while reducing losses of hot process air and still avoiding physical contact with the material web.

Abstract: An air bar for steering a web of material has a hollow interior subjected to an air bar supply pressure. At least one air jet exit is connected to the hollow interior of the air bar. A metering device is assigned to the hollow interior of the air bar for varying the air pressured formed below the web of material for moving the web of material in a lateral direction.

Abstract: A method and flotation dryer unit effects drying of a web such as a coated paper web. The flotation dryer unit advantageously includes several nozzle boxes extending across the web for feeding drying air toward the web to be dried, a distribution chamber for drying air for leading the dry air into the nozzle boxes, and a suction chamber for gathering the drying air led toward the web from the web area and for directing it to the side of the web. The suction chamber is divided into an equalizing space and an air transport chamber by a perforated plate for equalizing the return air flow occurring from the web area.

Abstract: A blower nozzle, especially for heating or cooling web-like materials, especially plastic foil webs, comprises at least one distribution chamber (11) and often a supply chamber (7). In the improvement, between the supply chamber (7) and the distribution chamber (11) there is at least one other chamber (9), so that the treatment gas can flow from the supply chamber (7) to the at least one further chamber (9) via an overflow aperture arrangement (17) and from the further chamber (9) via another overflow aperture arrangement (23) into the distribution chamber (11) for further conveyance to the outlet aperture arrangement (27).

Abstract: A combination infrared/air convection dryer or oven for travelling webs. A shutter assembly is provided between the infrared radiation source and the moving web in order to selectively expose the web to infrared radiation, and to create a sealed air chamber when in the closed position. Enhanced drying of the web and/or a coating on the web at high speed is achieved without a concomitant increase in dryer length. When the drying atmosphere has a high concentration of solvent, exposure of that atmosphere to the heating elements, which can cause explosions, is eliminated by actuation of the shutters. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, air bars are used to floatingly support the moving web to avoid contact of the web with dryer elements.

Abstract: Apparatus for drying coated web material and preferably moving web material comprises a nozzle, means for supplying air to the nozzle and means to distribute the air through said nozzle substantially uniformly across the web width, said nozzle arcing from a position perpendicular with respect to the plane of the web to a position substantially parallel with respect to the plane of the web, said nozzle having an exit slot wherein the air is discharged from the exit slot at an angle of between 1.degree. and 45.degree. with respect to the plane of the web.

Abstract: A tissue web cleaner and method of cleaning tissue webs in a rewinder utilize the Coanda effect to produce an improved tissue product. The Coanda effect web cleaner utilizes the smooth flow of a thin layer of air to scrub off dust and lint embedded and entangled in the web surface while stabilizing the web in its travel. Two of these Coanda effect web cleaners arranged on opposite sides of a multiple-ply web in a rewinder are effective when operated according to the method of the invention to produce a rewound tissue with an unexpectedly low loose dust and lint count on its surfaces.

Abstract: An active web stabilizer including a structure having a leading edge and a working surface coupled by a curved surface, the working surface being positioned proximate to a passing web. An internal pressurized air duct extends along the working surface orthogonally to the passing web. An air nozzle is provided at the leading edge and is in fluid communication with the air duct, the nozzle directing air flow around the curved surface and along the working surface. The air duct includes first and second chambers separated by a perforated baffle. An extension surface extends from the working surface and includes a trailing end which is angled away from the passing web. A comb is associated with the nozzle to promote web spreading.

Abstract: An air-cushion nozzle for an air-treatment device has a hollow housing having an upper wall formed by a pair of end plates and a central plate. The end plates form with the central plate a pair of generally parallel slots directed upwardly generally toward each other and one of the end plates is formed adjacent and along a full length of the respective slot with an array of throughgoing holes. The central plate is substantially imperforate between the slots. The housing is internally pressurized, normally with hot air, to form from each slot an upwardly directed elongated jet of air and from each of the holes a respective upwardly directed further jet of air.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in drying webs and is applicable with particular advantage, although not limited to, a process carried out in a paper making machine; that of the application of `size` or `coating`.A web dryer (1) comprises two air bar assemblies (3,5) between which a web (7) travels, each air bar assembly (3,5) comprises a plurality of parallel and spaced apart air bars (9), each air bar (9) being elongate and arranged such that its longitudinal axis is transverse to the direction of travel (A) of the web (7), in which each of the air bar assemblies (3,5) includes at least two sets of air bar, a first set (13) comprises coanda air bars, and the second set (15) comprises jet impingement air bars.

Abstract: To accomplish a web transfer, which in reliability is comparable to the one obtained with a closed draw, in any operating environment, but especially where it is desirable to transfer a fast running tissue web (4) from the drying section of a tissue machine, e.g., a Yankee dryer (2), to a reel-up (3), a web support device (10) extends across the width of the web (4) and along a predetermined run of the web (4) from the Yankee dryer (2) to the reel-up (3). The web support device has a support surface (11) formed by a series of plate member assemblies (23) having means for creating a flow of air in the direction of the web run. Between the web (4) and the support surface (11) the flow of air forms an air layer (15) of reduced static pressure, so as to stabilize the web (4) against flutter. The predetermined run may extend through a calender (7) and past scanner equipment (8). Pneumatic tail threading capabilities may be included.

Abstract: In a drying section of a paper making machine, the paper web is conducted through a plurality of single tier dryer sections and then transferred to at least one final double tier dryer section for completing the drying process. The paper web is threaded through the open draw between the single tier dryer sections and the double tier dryer section and through the open draws between the lower cylinders and the upper cylinders in the double tier dryer section by use of air jets which blow at the paper web from opposite sides thereof. The air jets include at least one jet which blows in a direction generally opposite to that of the paper web.

Abstract: In a drying section of a paper making machine, the paper web is conducted through a plurality of single tier dryer sections and then transferred to at least one final double tier dryer section for completing the drying process. The paper web is threaded through the open draw between the single tier dryer sections and the double tier dryer section and through the open draws between the lower cylinders and the upper cylinders in the double tier dryer section by use of air jets which blow at the paper web from opposite sides thereof. The air jets include at least one jet which blows in a direction generally opposite to that of the paper web.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) assisted flotation air bar dryer apparatus and method for drying and/or curing a traveling web includes RF generating means for delivering RF through field and RF stray field to the web to heat the web, air bars to direct air flow to the web for cooling to facilitate emission of moisture therefrom and to avoid blistering due to overheating, an RF field reflector to reflect RF energy to the web, and a control system to monitor and to control air temperature and/or flow, RF field strength, and/or web temperature to maintain a balance between heating and cooling to obtain efficient high speed drying while avoid damage to the web.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for evaporating a coating solvent from a coating on a first substrate and for minimizing the formation of mottle. A drying oven includes a plurality of air foils positioned adjacent to the second substrate surface. Each of the plurality of air foils have a foil slot through which a stream of drying gas is supplied to the drying oven. The foil slot length is adjusted to not be significantly greater than the first substrate width to minimize air flow over the first and second coating edges which minimizes the creation of mottle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning a moving web of sheet material. The apparatus includes a Coanda nozzle having an elongated, curved foil and a slit for directing gas at a high rate of speed along the foil. The gas from the foil impacts a layer of air entrained by the web of sheet material flowing in an opposed direction. Impact occurs within a gap formed between the foil and the web which becomes increasingly restricted in the direction of movement of the web. The entrained layer of air is caused to reverse direction within the gap and is mixed with the gas from the nozzle under turbulent conditions to clean the web and remove particulate material such as dust therefrom.

Abstract: A method and device for contact-free treatment of a web in which the web is treated, for example supported, reversed, spread, carried, and/or dried, by blowings which provide a carrier-face zone. The carrier-face zone has a curved form regulatable in a direction transverse to the direction of progress of the web. The nozzle-carrier face unit of the device is bent to the curved form in the cross direction of the machine while a frame part of the device is kept in a stationary position. The device includes a regulation arrangement for bending the nozzle-carrier-face unit to a curve form in the direction transverse to the running direction of the web while the frame part of the device is supported in a stationary position.

Abstract: A method of drying [apparatus for ] a strip of material or web, which may advantageously be performed by providing a drying apparatus including a conditioning zone immediately following but fully integrated with the [dryer] drying zone, to lower the bulk temperature of web. The web of material can be introduced to conditioned air which is substantially free of contaminants being evolved from the coating on the web. The temperature of the conditioned air is low enough to absorb heat from the web, effectively lowering the solvent evaporation rate, and can be controlled such that it is greater than the dew point of the contaminants being evolved from the web, thereby mitigating condensation that normally forms and visible vapors that form outside of the dryer enclosure. Pressure control is provided in the conditioning zone so that solvent vapors will not escape and so that ambient make-up air can be regulated as required.

Abstract: A non-contact web conveying apparatus in which static pressure support type air blowing boxes are arranged on both sides of a web in such a manner that the air blowing boxes are provided in staggered positions in the direction of movement of the web. The web is conveyed while being suspended so that the web waves continuously in the direction of movement. A protrusion is provided in the middle of the air blowing box between air jetting outlets which are formed at both opposite edges of the air blowing box. In this way, the web is stably conveyed without creasing or fluttering.

Abstract: A nozzle box assembly for use in apparatus for supporting and guiding a horizontally moving web of sheet material comprises an elongated housing defining an elongated, first chamber which extends centrally and axially of the housing. Second and third chambers are located on opposite sides of the first chamber and extend parallel thereto. The second and third chambers each include an elongated discharge nozzle slot extending parallel to the first chamber and discharging on opposite sides of a Coanda surface. Pressurized gas is supplied to the first chamber and a first and a second plurality of flow openings in the housing respectively act to conduct gas from the first chamber to the second and third chambers in a particularly uniform manner. First and second independently operable valves are mounted in the housing for controlling gas flow through the first and said second plurality of flow openings to thereby control flow to the second and third chambers and from the discharge nozzle slots.

Abstract: To accomplish a web transfer, which in reliability is comparable to the one obtained with a closed draw, in any operating environment, but especially where it is desirable to transfer a fast running tissue web (4) from the drying section of a tissue machine, e.g., a Yankee dryer (2), to a reel-up (3), a web support device (10) extends across the width of the web (4) and along a predetermined run of the web support device has a support surface (11) formed by a series of plate member assemblies (23) having means for creating a flow of air in the direction of the web run. Between the web (4) and the support surface (11) the flow of air forms an air layer (15) of reduced static pressure, so as to stabilize the web (4) against flutter. The predetermined run may extend through a calender (7) and past scanner equipment (8). Pneumatic tail threading capabilities may be included.