present invention it is to be noted that the provision of baffle or closure plate 40 is of particular significance in that it not only effectively closes the bottom of the hood thereby substantially reducing the mass flow which must be effected by the blower but in addition plate 40 creates a relatively dead air zone immediately below the blanks that is as each blank moves through the transfer section there is only a nominal clearance space between the bottom surface of the blank and the top surface of the closure plate such clearance space being in the order of 1 4 to 1 inch in this restricted clearance zone the air under each blank is in communication with atmospheric air at both ends and both sides of the blank such that the pressure of the air in this restricted clearance zone is essentially full atmospheric pressure whereby the maximum possible pressure is exerted upwardly against the bottom surface of the blank thus closure plate 40 makes it possible to obtain very tight adherence of the blank against the belts and by substantially reducing the mass flow which would otherwise be required to achieve this high level of adherence in this regard while the preferred embodiment illustrates the use of a centrifugal blower or a vaneaxial fan may be used it is to be understood that an axial flow fan may also be used however it has been discovered that a centrifugal blower.