Compliant top plate doctoring apparatus

In a machine for processing a web traveling in a machine direction and in contact with a moving support surface, a doctoring apparatus extending in the cross machine direction at a location adjacent to said support surface, said doctoring apparatus comprising:

• a base, a shelf and a compliant top plate, each of which extends continuously in the cross machine direction, said base being adapted to be fixed to a doctor back with said shelf projecting forwardly therefrom in the machine direction towards said roll, and said top plate overlying said shelf and having a rear portion fixed with respect to said base and a front portion projecting forwardly in the machine direction beyond said shelf;
• a plurality of blade support members secured to the underside of the front portion of said top plate, said blade support members being spaced one from the other in the cross machine direction, with front portions cooperating in spaced relationship with the underside of the front portion of said top plate to define mutually aligned receiving slots, and with rear portions underlying and cooperating in spaced relationship with said shelf to define mutually aligned recesses;
• a doctor blade having a rear portion removably retained in said receiving slots and having a front portion projecting forwardly beyond said top plate to terminate in a leading edge positioned for application to the surface of said roll;
• and
• a resilient element confined in said recess between said shelf and the rear portions of said blade support members.

A doctor apparatus comprising:

• a base adapted to be fixed to a doctor back, said base having a rigid shelf projecting forwardly therefrom;
• a blade holder assembly including a compliant plate having a rear portion fixed with respect to said base, and having a front portion projecting forwardly beyond said shelf, said blade holder assembly cooperating in spaced relationship with said shelf to define a recess located between said base and the front portion of said plate;
• a doctor blade removably retained on and projecting forwardly from the front portion of said plate;
• and
• a resilient element confined in said recess.