The web drive has web feed and straightening devices in succession in the main feed direction. It operates by friction to take the web (11) to a web processing point (15). It includes diverting devices (14,16) at the web processing point. The diverting devices may be arranged so that the web can be moved further with as little slowing down as possible. The diverting radii of the diverting devices may be such that the tension force is low enough not to tear the paper but high enough to pull the paper out sufficiently to keep it completely flat.
