Stationary sliding bar

In a machine for one of making and off-line coating of a fiber material web, the fiber material web traveling through said machine, the fiber material web having a top web side and a bottom web side, the improvement consisting essentially of:

• a single stationary bar structured and arranged for guiding the traveling web, said bar including a convex, rounded surface disposed adjacent to the bottom web side, said rounded surface being smooth and continuous in a direction of movement of the traveling web, said rounded surface being structured and arranged to extend substantially across a width of the traveling web;
• and
• at least one powered web guide roll structured and arranged to carry and to drive the traveling web at an operating speed which is sufficient to define an aerodynamic floatation wedge between said rounded surface and the traveling web, said rounded surface and said operating speed coacting to define a means for separating and preventing contact between the traveling web and said bar.