A web tension device includes a pressure source and a stationary housing. A translatable unit is translatable into and out of a cavity of the housing and includes an inlet that is connectable to the pressure source. A distal end of the translatable unit includes a tensioning surface with openings to enable outflow of pressurized fluid to apply a pushing force to a web in a roll-to-roll process. Proximal openings enable outflow of the fluid into a gap between the housing and the translatable unit. When tension of the web is reduced, an outward force that is exerted by pressure in the gap pushes the translatable unit outward, pushing the web outward until an inward force that is exerted by the web balances the outward force. When tension of the web increases, the inward force pushes the translatable unit inward until the inward force is balanced by the outward force.

A device that attaches to a standard fabric compactor and allows narrow collar material to be processed through the standard fabric compactor. The device includes a pair of air openers. Each air opener includes an air inlet assembly and an air outlet assembly. The air inlet assembly of each air opener pulls air therein to form pulled air and pressurizes the pulled air to form pressurized air. The air outlet assembly of each air opener fluidly communicates with the air inlet assembly of an associated air opener, receives the narrow collar material therethrough, receives the pressurized air from the air inlet assembly of the associated air opener, and directs the pressurized air onto the narrow collar material, simultaneously from above and below, and in doing so, suspends the narrow collar material allowing the narrow collar material to be processed through the standard fabric compactor.

A web tension device includes a pressure source and a stationary housing. A translatable unit is translatable into and out of a cavity of the housing and includes an inlet that is connectable to the pressure source. A distal end of the translatable unit includes a tensioning surface with openings to enable outflow of pressurized fluid to apply a pushing force to a web in a roll-to-roll process. Proximal openings enable outflow of the fluid into a gap between the housing and the translatable unit. When tension of the web is reduced, an outward force that is exerted by pressure in the gap pushes the translatable unit outward, pushing the web outward until an inward force that is exerted by the web balances the outward force. When tension of the web increases, the inward force pushes the translatable unit inward until the inward force is balanced by the outward force.

Conveying systems and methods are provided that selectively controls gas-propelling devices to move objects over the conveyer table at different speeds and in different directions. The systems and methods include a conveyer table having of an array of gas-propelling devices that propel gas from a surface of the table. Each of the of gas-propelling devices can have layers arranged in a stack and a through-hole in the stack and the table. The surfaces of each of the layers are exposed in the interior of the through hole and a heating/cooling device selectively heats and/or cools the layers to generate thrust.

A device that attaches to a standard fabric compactor and allows narrow collar material to be processed through the standard fabric compactor. The device includes a pair of air openers. Each air opener includes an air inlet assembly and an air outlet assembly. The air inlet assembly of each air opener pulls air therein to form pulled air and pressurizes the pulled air to form pressurized air. The air outlet assembly of each air opener fluidly communicates with the air inlet assembly of an associated air opener, receives the narrow collar material therethrough, receives the pressurized air from the air inlet assembly of the associated air opener, and directs the pressurized air onto the narrow collar material, simultaneously from above and below, and in doing so, suspends the narrow collar material allowing the narrow collar material to be processed through the standard fabric compactor.

There is disclosed herein an arrangement for handling one or more stacks of sheets. The arrangement comprises a support surface being provided with a plurality of openings for supplying a gas underneath said one or more stacks of sheets, a maneuver unit being moveable relative to the support surface and comprising two side clamping devices, the two side clamping devices being arranged at a distance from each other. The arrangement further comprises at least one top clamping device configured to exert a downward pressure onto said one or more stacks of sheets. The two side clamping devices and said at least one top clamping device are at least partly independently maneuverable thereby allowing the arrangement to maneuver one stack of sheets and also to maneuver a plurality of stacks of sheets arranged in a row one after the other.