Patent ID: 8092651

Claim:
A method of configuring and operating a papermaking machine for making a paper web, comprising the steps of: using a forming section to form a wet paper web; employing a press section to receive the wet paper web from the forming section and dewater the wet paper web, the press section comprising a press having two cooperating press members forming a press nip therebetween, a press felt arranged in a loop such that the press felt passes through the press nip, an impermeable transfer belt arranged in a loop such that the transfer belt passes through the press nip and the wet paper web passes through the press nip enclosed between the press felt and the transfer belt, and a permeable structuring fabric being arranged in a loop within which a suction transfer device is disposed, the suction transfer device having a suction zone in which suction is exerted through the structuring fabric, the suction zone including a transfer point spaced a distance D from the press nip in a machine direction along which the transfer belt runs, the transfer belt bringing the paper web into contact with the structuring fabric in the suction zone for a length L in the machine direction, such that suction is exerted on the paper web to transfer the paper web from the transfer belt onto the structuring fabric at the transfer point, the transfer belt having a surface in contact with the wet paper web characterized by a non-uniform distribution of microscopic-scale depressions; using a drying cylinder onto which the structuring fabric transfers the paper web to dry the paper web; and selecting the distance D taking into account at least a linear speed of the transfer belt, a basis weight of the paper web, and a roughness characteristic of the surface of the transfer belt in contact with the wet paper web, such that within the distance D a thin water film between the paper web and the surface of the transfer belt at least partially dissipates to allow the paper web to be separated from the transfer belt and to be suctioned onto the structuring fabric.