A web transport system for transporting a web of media along a web transport path in an in-track direction, including at least one non-contact web guide. The web guide includes a wall having a curved exterior surface, wherein the web of media travels around a bearing portion of the curved exterior surface from a web guide entry position to a web guide exit position, and a hollow interior containing a pressurized liquid. A first row of liquid ejection holes is provided in proximity to the web guide entry position, a second row of liquid ejection holes is provided in proximity to the web guide exit position, and an intermediate array of liquid ejection holes is provided between the first and second rows. A total number of liquid ejection holes in the intermediate array is less than a total number of liquid ejection holes in the second row.

A system for fabricating a sheet product includes a first rotatable roller assembly operative to emit a pressurized fluid through an outer surface of the first rotatable roller assembly, and a second rotatable roller assembly having an outer surface arranged proximate to the outer surface of the first rotatable roller assembly, the second rotatable roller assembly and the first rotatable roller assembly are operative to rotate in opposing directions, the second rotatable roller assembly and the first rotatable roller assembly defining a gap therebetween through which a sheet material passes in contact with the outer surface of the first rotatable roller assembly and the outer surface of the second rotatable roller assembly, the emitted pressurized fluid operative to impinge a surface of the sheet material and separate contact between the outer surface of the first rotatable roller assembly and the sheet material.

An apparatus for transporting a tail end in a fiber web machine from one structural section to another includes nozzles for guiding the tail end on the guide plate by means of an air flow such that the blown air is brought onto a guide plate shaped into a curve in such a way that the air flow of the blown air guides the tail end onto the curved guide plate by means of a bump functioning as an aerodynamic profile formed in the curved guide plate.

An apparatus for transporting a tail end in a fiber web machine from one structural section to another includes nozzles for guiding the tail end on the guide plate by means of an air flow such that the blown air is brought onto a guide plate shaped into a curve in such a way that the air flow of the blown air guides the tail end onto the curved guide plate by means of a bump functioning as an aerodynamic profile formed in the curved guide plate.

A machine for treating a fabric (T) with air, comprises a tunnel (10) for pneumatically transporting the fabric and means for injecting the air into the tunnel above and/or below the fabric and comprising at least one diverting valve (16;18) located substantially half way along the tunnel and having two channels (16a,16b;18a,18b) which are oriented to direct the air flow entering the tunnel in one direction or the other. The valve comprises an adjustable baffle (17;19) adapted to shut off access to the channels (16a,16b;18a,18b) either wholly or partly. In the treatment method of the invention, the air flow (F;F) entering the tunnel is divided into two unequal components (F.sub.1, F.sub.2; F.sub.1, F.sub.2) directed towards opposite ends of the tunnel.

A print media moving apparatus includes a web guide positioned immediately upstream relative to a roller. The web guide has an arcuate surface including three sections with the second section located between the first and third sections. The arcuate surface includes a peak in the second section. The roller, having a diameter and rotational axis, includes three sections with the second section located between the first and third section as viewed along the rotational axis. The diameter of the roller in the first and third sections is greater than in the second section. The three sections of the web guide correspond to the three sections of the roller such that the contour of the arcuate surface causes the print media, after leaving the web guide, to contact the first and third sections of the roller prior to contacting the second section of the roller.

A print media moving apparatus includes a web guide positioned immediately upstream relative to a roller. The web guide has an arcuate surface including three sections with the second section located between the first and third sections. The arcuate surface includes a peak in the second section. The roller, having a diameter and rotational axis, includes three sections with the second section located between the first and third section as viewed along the rotational axis. The diameter of the roller in the first and third sections is greater than in the second section. The three sections of the web guide correspond to the three sections of the roller such that the contour of the arcuate surface causes the print media, after leaving the web guide, to contact the first and third sections of the roller prior to contacting the second section of the roller.

A web transport system for transporting a web of media along a web-transport path including a fluid bar for guiding the web of media, and a scavenger blade positioned downstream of the fluid bar. A liquid is pumped through holes in an exterior bearing surface of the fluid bar, thereby pushing the web of media away from the fluid bar. The scavenger bar includes a blade edge facing the first surface of the web of media, the blade edge being spaced apart from the first surface of the web of media by a gap distance. The scavenger blade removes at least some liquid from the first surface of the web of media as it passes by the scavenger blade, thereby reducing the amount of liquid that is carried along to portions of the web-transport path that are downstream of the scavenger blade.

A web transport system for transporting a web of media along a web-transport path including a fluid bar for guiding the web of media, and a scavenger blade positioned downstream of the fluid bar. A liquid is pumped through holes in an exterior bearing surface of the fluid bar, thereby pushing the web of media away from the fluid bar. The scavenger bar includes a blade edge facing the first surface of the web of media, the blade edge being spaced apart from the first surface of the web of media by a gap distance. The scavenger blade removes at least some liquid from the first surface of the web of media as it passes by the scavenger blade, thereby reducing the amount of liquid that is carried along to portions of the web-transport path that are downstream of the scavenger blade.

A web transport system for transporting a web of media along a web-transport path includes a fluid bar for guiding the web of media, and first and second fluid shields positioned proximate to first and second ends of the fluid bar. A liquid is pumped through holes in an exterior bearing surface of the fluid bar into a region between the web of media and the bearing surface of the fluid bar, thereby pushing the web of media away from the fluid bar. The fluid shields are positioned to redirect fluid that is ejected from the region between the web of media and the bearing surface of the fluid bar along the edges of the web of media.