US Patent 7192485 Application device

A device (510) for the direct or indirect application of liquid or pasty application medium (516) by means of an applicator unit (512) to a material web (520), in particular of paper or board, comprises a device (570) upstream of the applicator unit (512) in the running direction (L) of the substrate (U) in order to attenuate the air boundary layer (G) carried along by the substrate (U). The attenuation device can in this case comprise a sealing element (570) which is pressed in a sealing manner against the substrate (U) and rolls on the latter substantially without slippage, and/or can comprise an electrode arrangement and/or can comprise an ultrasound source and/or can comprise a resilient diaphragm element acting without contact.