Air press for dewatering a wet web

A device for dewatering a wet web traveling in a machine direction, comprising:

• a frame structure;
• support fabrics structured and arranged to sandwich the wet web therebetween;
• an air press comprising an air plenum and a collection device positioned on opposite sides of the wet web and support fabrics, the air plenum and collection device operatively associated with one another and structured and arranged to establish a flow of pressurized fluid through the wet web, the air plenum comprising:
• stationary components mounted on the frame structure and defining a loading surface generally parallel to a plane containing the wet web;
• a sealing assembly that is structured and arranged to move relative to the stationary components between an operating position in which the sealing assembly forms an integral seal with the wet web and a retracted position, the sealing assembly defining a control surface generally parallel to the plane containing the wet web and structured and arranged to contact the loading surface;
• and
• means for moving the sealing assembly generally perpendicular to the plane containing the wet web, wherein contact between the control surface and the loading surface interrupts movement of the sealing assembly toward the wet web when the sealing assembly reaches the operating position,
• wherein the sealing assembly comprises cross-machine direction sealing members that deflect the course of travel of the wet web and fabrics toward the collection device.