Apparatus for improving printing surface of printing material

An apparatus for improving the surface of a continuously moving web of printing material in combination with a printing press, said apparatus being disposed at the feed end of said printing press and comprising:

• a first treating zone including:
• (1) at least one rotatably mounted pressure roller, (2) a first treating surface having a heat means as an integral part thereof and (3) a heating and moistening means prefacing said roller and treating surface, said rotatably mounted roller being disposed to contact said treating surface, said roller and treating surface being adapted to receive a web of material in contacting relationship therebetween under a preselected pressure with said surface of said web to be treated contacting said treating surface means rotating said roller at a surface speed at least equal to said surface speed of said web material and at a positive speed relative to said treating surface and exerting a preselected pressure upon said web of material thereby dragging said material under pressure across said treating surface.