Free span coater with backside support.

摘要

An apparatus (10) for free span coating on a web (12) includes a seamless sleeve (20) mounted around two rollers (22,24) which supports the backside (18) of the web (12) during coating. The sleeve (20) moves with the web (12) to minimize resistance to web movement, and supports the backside (18) of the web (12) while permitting free span coating on the front (19) of the web (12). The sleeve (20) is steered to maintain the position of the sleeve (20) on the rollers (22,24). A tensioning device tensions the sleeve (20) to provide a uniform tensioned support for the web (12). <IMAGE>