Device for steering and tensioning a web

A device for actively steering and tensioning a web as it moves along a predetermined path, comprising:

• a rotatable guide roller for contacting an inner side of said web while said web is partially wrapped around said guide roller to define a wrapping angle, a first end of said guide roller being carried on a tiltable support member which is tiltable about a tilt axis while a second opposite end of said guide roller is attached to a pivotal bearing, thereby enabling tilting of said guide roller over a predetermined angle;
• a non-contact sensor positioned to detect lateral misalignment of said web;
• a control device responsive to said sensor for controlling tilting of said support member thereby to correct for lateral misalignment of said web by corrective frictional steering thereof;
• and
• pressure devices for exerting a predetermined pressure on each end of said guide roller independently of the position of said tiltable support member, thereby, in use, to push said guide roller towards said web for tensioning thereof.